12 years ago, a group of important Continental leaders led by Past National JFNA Chair, Charles Bronfman, and several prominent lay leaders of JDC (purely a coincidence, I'm certain) attacked UIA (which I chaired at the time) and JFNA for their alleged placing the tax deductability of allocations to JAFI at risk as these leaders claimed the deductions were fatally tainted by JAFI's "politicization." JFNA and UIA vigorously responded and, ultimately, brilliant lawyering by our counsel and staff professionals led by JFNA's then CFO, Sam Astrof, offered convincing arguments that rebutted the philanthropists' allegations.
I thought of those times as I read the newspaper articles reciting the totally politicized process that will lead inexorably to the Prime Minister naming his choice to the position. There have been moments in the past when the federation system stood tall, rejecting the PM's nominee for another. For example, there was the nomination and election of Avraham Burg -- so enthusiastically endorsed by Brian Lurie, then the CEO of UJA, and most if not all of the Federation chief executives that they even overcame our communal patriarch, Max Fisher's, z'l, initial misgivings (most of which would ultimately prove true). As it turned out, Avrum was about as "political" a Chair as any other, always seemingly calculating whether a given decision would impact on his then political aspirations.
If there was a question as to whether Diaspora Jewry would stand tall in 2017 -- well, asked...and answered.
Then, in the run-up to the succession process 2018, it was as if the powers that be wanted to confirm Bronfman and his associates' arguments. First, the "lists" emerged. One of those allegedly came from JFNA but appeared to have been drafted by the Office of the Prime Minister. The "names" suggested included politicians who were under investigation in several of the matters that threaten the Prime Minister and, also, some with superb relations to the Diaspora -- most notably, Labor's Boogie Herzog, our great friend, MK Nachman Shai, and Ambassadors Ron Prosor and Michael Oren. But the politicization was clear: Bougie Herzog was publicly "rejected" -- https://www.jpost.com/.../Workd-Likud-vetoes-Herzog-as-Agency-chairman-558774
Compunding the politicization the Agency named World Zionist Organization Chair, Duvdev
Duvani, one of the most shrewd of political operatives who has steered the WZO
into direct competition with JAFI, as Chair of the Nominating Committee.
Then, BOOM, we received this advisory from the UIA Board Chair, Andy Groveman, on
the very cusp of the JAFI Board of Governors meeting:
Isaac "Bougie" Herzog -- the Prime Minister's choice was rejected -- something that hadn't happened since that Burg episode. An excellent choice; a good man.
I offer congratulations to JAFI Board Chair Michael Siegal and forgive my well-earned cynicism.
But....it is Israel after all. Things can change by the hour. I, like you, will soon learn where this is will end. Will JAFI emerge with strong,
new leadership -- or will it emerge "leaderless?"
And will this decision make a difference?
Rwexler
If there was a question as to whether Diaspora Jewry would stand tall in 2017 -- well, asked...and answered.
Then, in the run-up to the succession process 2018, it was as if the powers that be wanted to confirm Bronfman and his associates' arguments. First, the "lists" emerged. One of those allegedly came from JFNA but appeared to have been drafted by the Office of the Prime Minister. The "names" suggested included politicians who were under investigation in several of the matters that threaten the Prime Minister and, also, some with superb relations to the Diaspora -- most notably, Labor's Boogie Herzog, our great friend, MK Nachman Shai, and Ambassadors Ron Prosor and Michael Oren. But the politicization was clear: Bougie Herzog was publicly "rejected" -- https://www.jpost.com/.../Workd-Likud-vetoes-Herzog-as-Agency-chairman-558774
Compunding the politicization the Agency named World Zionist Organization Chair, Duvdev
Duvani, one of the most shrewd of political operatives who has steered the WZO
into direct competition with JAFI, as Chair of the Nominating Committee.
Then, BOOM, we received this advisory from the UIA Board Chair, Andy Groveman, on
the very cusp of the JAFI Board of Governors meeting:
Read all about this choice in https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/search-panel-taps-isaac-herzog-as-jewish-agency-chief-1.6198107?utm_term=20180621-14:49&utm_campaign=Judy+Maltz&utm_medium=email&writerAlerts=true&utm_source=smartfocus&utm_content=www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.6198107"The Leadership Nominating Committee of the Jewish Agency for Israel will recommend on Sunday to the Jewish Agency Board of Governors the election of MK Isaac Herzog as the next Chairman of the Executive for a term of four years. MK Herzog will assume office no later than August 1, 2018."
Isaac "Bougie" Herzog -- the Prime Minister's choice was rejected -- something that hadn't happened since that Burg episode. An excellent choice; a good man.
I offer congratulations to JAFI Board Chair Michael Siegal and forgive my well-earned cynicism.
But....it is Israel after all. Things can change by the hour. I, like you, will soon learn where this is will end. Will JAFI emerge with strong,
new leadership -- or will it emerge "leaderless?"
And will this decision make a difference?
Rwexler
But what is the point of JAFI anyway?
ReplyDeleteWhat do they do anymore?
They have been kicked out of Aliya by more effective organizations in N America and much of Europe.
They have been kicked out of most of their absorption role in Israel
They search for new missions, whether it be ephemeral and non-specific causes like "Jewish Peoplehood", which means something different to everyone, or pursue everything from supplementing Hillel staff US colleges, to summer camps in Russia to supermarket startups in Israel that shut down within 11 months after burning through multiple millions?
JAFI should have been absorbed into the new government in 1948, just like all the other pre-state entities like JNF.
It is the largest home of cronyism and patronage in Israel
Isn't it time to disband this fossilized institution, which is beset by so much bureaucracy, not to mention the numerous multi-hundred million dollar real estate scandals involving its pension fund?
Why should Bibi expect anything different from diaspora Jewry, considering the way he has treated it?
ReplyDeleteA bully needs to be met head on. This decision by itself might not make a difference, but the more and more examples we have of this, Natalie Portman, etc. the better. Bibi and his amen chorus need to understand that while disparaging diaspora Jewry may play to his political base, it will have continuing consequences in other ways.
Yes, it's a good thing that Herzog, a long-time friend to North American communities, has been elected Executive Chair -- but Executive Chair of what? If ever there was a black hole into which we pour our dollars, it's sitting there in its historic building as if it were still performing State functions. It's not. In fact, all of its programs could be performed better by other organizations or the Government. The best thing that Isaac Herzog could do would be to put an end to this bloated bureaucratic waste.
ReplyDeleteWill Herzog force JAFI to accept HIS choice for Director General, whomever that person may be, hopefully a woman leader, from outside JAFI. Or will he settle for some bureaucrat from within the Agency?
ReplyDelete