This used to be the Mission annually when under the auspices of the United Jewish Appeal, z'l, always with an Israel component. That self-created requirement ended in 2007, a Mission which David Fisher, JFNA's Campaign Chair, and I led to Paris and Israel. Now, we head to places like New Delhi and Mumbai without a thought to going to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
1. Mission to India, happening now.
The PMC /KDS mission to India is just wrapping up, after months of planning and preparation – early reports confirm that it’s proving to be a once in a lifetime adventure for all those participating. This backgrounder on the Jewish Community in India gives a snapshot into India’s Jewish history and community, including the Kolkuta community’s Magen David synagogue.
The invitation to the travel experience suggests just what was expected:
"Join us and truly experience India by turning your Jewish values into action and healing the world."Huh? How? What?
The first four days of this thing don't even bother to reference a single Jewish or Jewish-related activity -- but plenty of time for shopping, "(getting) ready to bargain at the famed Palika Bazaar," and travel to Agra and Mumbai. Anyway, the final day (that's Day 8 in India, BTW), is titled "Life in a Slum."
To JFNA, Israel has become "played out" for its most major donors. And, yet: for JNF-USA*
10s of Missions are traveling to Israel, experiencing the land and the people and JNF's projects in which their Mission participants are directly invested...or will be. How is that possible? It's because JNF-USA is focused on its work and its Mission. JFNA, not. Not at all.
Perhaps one or two of the participants on this JFNA most major gifts Mission actually asked: "What the hell are we doing here?"
Hate as I do to hearken back to the days of yore, as you know, during my time in Israel there was always a core group of wonderful leaders from across the country who formed the core group for the Prime Minister's Missions -- they just enjoyed being together in Israel. Each year we would recruit a willing crowd; often Chicago leaders were in the forefront. Mark Wilf will remember those days when his Dad, Joe, z'l, would join other UJA leaders time and time again; emotional, joyful, ending each Mission at the Prime Minister's Residence (that's the Prime Minister of Israel, not India) to proudly announce the results of our Caucus.
Obviously...not any more. Maybe that should be JFNA's tagline...Not any more.
Rwexler
* For those of you, my readers, who have been paying attention, JNF-USA has engaged me as a Major Gifts Consultant for its incredible Beer Sheva Campus project.
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3 comments:
Yes, indeed, we have definitely moved forward from the days that there was an agenda and Israel was at its center.
Our Israel Office is now called JFNA Global Operations and has adopted a truly international agenda, sending out press clippings and background reports about every corner of the globe. It will, no doubt, be moving from Jerusalem soon to a much more strategic location for the Jewish people - Bali perhaps?
Yes, our organization has come a long way. No agenda but definitely global! All over the world - all over the place - going nowhere fast. From here on, it can only go downhill, but at least it will go down globally.
I'm not sure it can travel further downhill than it already has. Thanks to Silverman, Sandler, Gurvis and Caspi for the ride.
Mazal Tov on your new responsibility. Mazal Tov to the JNF for turning to you!
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