We are already witness to the deconstruction of UIA in the guise of the 2019 "plan." Now, what? Best one can tell From the Desk of Cindy Shapira is that it ain't going to get any better. Why? The next steps are going to be ...well, let Cindy explain:
"...in light of UIA's important work and JFNA's overarching Israel and Overseas mission, we will be looking together with I & O Chair, David Butler and Becky Caspi on how best to manage this vital work in the future."To clarify: if the "Israel and Overseas mission" is "overarching" to JFNA leadership, they have a particularly strange way to evidence this "mission." For, in reality, Israel and Overseas has been nothing more than an afterthought, the funds for its Israel and Overseas work both a literal black hole (someone ask how many staff, for G-d's sake, and what those folks do) and an ATM from which JFNA periodically diverts funds (e.g.,the Negev Project funding) from the purposes for which they were raised (e.g., Victims of Terror Fund). None of these seem to rouse JFNA Israel and Overseas lay leadership from their slumber; so it is hard to imagine these circumstances will awaken them.
Danny Allen, z'l, in an exercise of self-sacrificial professionalism was never hesitant to confront his professional overseers on matters of principle; he paid the price with his job. JFNA assured that future UIA CEO's would report first and foremost to the JFNA CEO, secondarily to JFNA-Israel's CEO. Upon the approval of the deconstruction of UIA last year, UIA's CEO was relegated to reporting within the JFNA-Israel bureacracy alone. Hence, Mallach's "high wire act." What was an important role in an important organization is now nothing more than another professional among many on the JFNA-Israel payroll. And, while the UIA Chief Professional Officer has always been headquartered in NYC, don't be surprised if the future "CEO" is situated in Jerusalem, the better to be constrained by Ms. Caspi.
Those who opposed the 2019 deconstruction of UIA can only hang their heads while watching this further emasculation, knowing that some of them have been called "lunatics" and worse in the hallways of JFNA.
Again, more's the pity.
Rwexler
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4 comments:
You are 100% correct, my dad never hesitated to stand up for what was right and what was in the best interest of his beloved UIA. What JFNA has done to a once great and crucial organization is depressing. Your prediction about where the next UIA CEO will sit is likely correct, that is if they hire anyone to begin with. I would not be surprised if the title changes entirely and becomes even more of a diminutive role. Thank you for the insights and reporting. - Noah Allen
Noah,
Your Aba ז׳ל was a professional and principled leader who stood up for what was right. He didn’t just surf along in his career. He understood the value of the collective. In his lifetime he forgot far more than the totality of the current Israel JFNA leadership will ever know.
A life well lived is frequently measured by what one leaves behind. Your Aba left behind a cadre of disciples. A day does not go by when someone does not refer to him in the Jewish/Israel mileu. Not to mention how proud he was of you.
His memory will continue to be an inspiration to all who worked with him.
זכר צדיק לברכה
It is clear to everyone that if Danny Allen z"l had been around JFNA's sinister and cynical moves to kill UIA would have failed. If not, he would have at least rallied the lay leadership to go down fighting and not to stand for being treated as they were.
David didn't "balance" anything. He served his supervisors at JFNA and either bypassed or helped control the UIA lay leadership. He was hired to be a JFNA bureaucrat and delivered the goods. Now that that is done, they don't need him anymore so he too will be "moving on."
Cindy Shapira doesn't need David or anyone else because she couldn't care less about UIA. Her announcement as you quote it is certainly proof of that.
Becky Caspi can certainly manage UIA on her own going forward, because just like the Israel and Overseas work that she already "manages," UIA also doesn't really exist anymore.
It all amounts to a big ZERO, although it is doubtful that we will ever see any real "zero-based budgeting" as far as Becky Caspi's empire is concerned. It seems that Global Operations remains "protected territory" in the JFNA organization, although that will also change, no doubt, as the JFNA budget continues to evaporate.
Hopefully, other organizations arise to fill the void and at least to some degree keep the system alive as far as seriously meeting our commitments to Israel and Jewish Peoplehood beyond our own communities.
It is time for those UIA Board members that were not "dismissed" last year to pick up and resign in protest instead of continuing to fool themselves in believing that they can do anything at all to serve the important mission and proud tradition of UIA in the current organizational environment.
There is a difference between giving up and knowing when you have had enough.
I would say far below zero. They are in negative territory already, not only not accomplishing anything but also causing real waste and damage!
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