IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING....

     If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there....

And, of course, the corollary...no road will get you there. The episode discussed here points to one of our legacy Jewish organizational partners which is, at least in the instance discussed here, in The Jerusalem Post, and in an article on ejewishphilanthropy, an organization that has lost its way but still might regain it. The Post report can be read here: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/christian-org-with-jewish-agency-ties-rejects-missionizing-allegations-649418

If you are an American Board member of JAFI, how might you react to this headline: Messianic Evangelicals Partner with Jewish Agency Running Absorption Center for Olim and Lone Soldiers? I might want to get to the bottom of this mess. But, hey, that's just me. You??? Jewish Agency leaders? Any one else? The leadership of the  Jewish Agency now appears to be both in denial and fully engaged with this balagan. There has been no better piece on this mess than in ejp's article today: https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/jewish-agency-accuses-evangelical-contractors-of-numerous-violations-but-denies-they-evangelized-new-immigrants/

Who would have thought that as 2020 finally comes to an end, we would have learned that the Jewish Agency for Israel appears to have partnered four-plus years ago with a messianic Christian entity dedicated to bringing Jews to Israel and converting them. But, so it was and so it is. Yes, take a careful look at the Jewish Agency's "partnership" with "Return Ministries" in the development, operation and populating of the Bikat Kinarot Village. Here is how "Return Ministries," a Canadian messianic Christian entity, described it: https://news.kehila.org/bikat-kinarot-center-working-together-for-israel-project/  The Jewish Agency's weak denials in the Post article of the Ministries' involvement rang as hollow as did the Ministries' denial of purpose; and in statements issued since, JAFI has tried to redefine Return Ministries roles and minimize them.

So begin with a written commitment in the Return Ministries project materials to refrain from engaging in efforts to convert those who stay at Bikat Kinarot. But, that appeared to be at best misleading and at worst a misrepresentation. Return Ministries asserts on its website:

"Clarity for our Jewish Friends

    ...not a proselytizing missionary institution

             ...not a messianic Jewish institution..."

One organization decided to take a closer look. A group of concerned Jews within the non-profit Outreach Judaism began asking the right questions:

"Outreach Judaism is an international organization that responds directly to the issues raised by missionaries and cults, by exploring Judaism in contradistinction to fundamentalist Christianity."

Outreach and Beyneynu, another organization fighting those entities which may be engaged in conversion activities, have led the fight and, in doing so, have engaged with some American Jewish leaders.

Here is the video that Outreach Judaism prepared: https://youtu.be/zkobV5gxJTc          You must watch it; and, then, the question: who proposed that JAFI partner with a messianic fundamentalist Christian entity in a Project clearly focused on converting Jews to Christianity? Yes, how was this approved? Was JAFI lay leadership even aware of the "partnership?" And, now that they are, what are they doing about it? Outreach Judaism framed the question for us: 

Why are Jewish Agency programs for vulnerable populations being run by Christian missionaries? (Jewish Agency counsel asserted, among other demands, in the letter cited below: "Return Ministries has no involvement in the Jewish Agency's programs and the Jewish Agency strongly opposes to [sic] any prohibited missionary activity..."  In other words: "don't believe your lying eyes.")

With no real answers forthcoming as yet since these questions first arose, Beyneynu  leaders asked again in a letter to JAFI and other leadership on December 6. And, how has the Jewish Agency responded to the Beyneynu letter? With its in-house counsel's letter threatening the Beyneynu authors with legal action for, among other things: violating Israeli law by failing to obtain the consent of the letter's recipients prior to their receiving it (under this theory, all correspondence in Israel could not be sent without acceptance by the addressee in advance); not having its facts correct (without explaining what the true facts are); a demand to cease and desist; and a threat of legal action against the organization and the authors. 

Many were expecting a factual response at the least; one that would explain how and why the Jewish Agency embarked on this "partnership" in the first place and what it is doing to terminate it. Instead...none of the above and threats to those who exposed the "partnership" in the first place. As one of my friends described. it: "READY, FIRE, AIM."

And, over the past months, while all of these events were transpiring, some American Jewish leaders raised these questions quietly and directly with Jewish Agency lay and professional leaders who, to their credit, took these concerns far more seriously than the Agency's counsel's letter would have suggested. But, should not the Agency act to terminate this 10 year contract and the missionary entity's presence on the Bikat Kinarot campus. 

There have been many positive changes in the Jewish Agency's leadership since the deal was made with Return Ministries. The current leadership appeares to be taking this matter seriously. And, so, JAFI needs to provide clear and unequivocal answers, not threats and unsubtantiated denials ...and its leaders need to do so and to act now.

I  wish all of you a healthy and safe and far better 2021.

Rwexler

PLUS CA CHANGE....

Hey, those of you who will want to write to me after reading this Post to admonish me that I can't criticize Israeli election practices unless I live there. Don't bother.

I mean, really: 4 elections in 2 years. What nation does that? Especially when the first three have produced similar results and gridlock?

I recall sitting with Israeli friends in Jerusalem literally a couple of decades ago listening to them complain about the Israeli election "process" to such an extent that they would no longer vote. I remember admonishing them for their cynicism about the Israeli political process then. Now I’ve concluded that these Israelis weren’t cynical enough -- not then and definitely not now even though I wish they would vote. 4 elections in 2 years …Jesus.

So, now, like you, I read that Likud is in disarray...Blue and White no longer exists...yada,yada, yada. Based on the last three elections isn't it safe to predict that the outcome on March 23, 2021, Election Day -- this one, just like the last one -- will be the same --  Groundhog Day.  Somehow Bibi will survive, won't be able to form a government, will join in a new Coalition, insist he be the first PM of the new government, assure that his coalition partner is frustrated at every turn, Coalition splinters and...new elections...again.

The following is attributed to Albert Einstein:

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over again and expecting a different result."

As the author of this Blog I have been reminded of my own insanity many, many times but that's personal -- what Israelis choose to go through twice a year in institutional, governmental insanity of the highest order.

Now, of course, I have no solution for this -- only the Israelis do as is their right and their obligation should they so wish.

Which, the scoreboard says, they don't.

A happy, healthy and safe 2021 to each and all of you, my friends.

Rwexler  

 

UGLINESS

 I have a number (thankfully a small number) of friends and correspondents who somehow, against all...all...facts, continue to believe that Joe Biden is not the President-Elect of the United States. They mass mail out the inane blathering of, e.g., Caroline Glick and Victor David Hanson, who suggest, if not state directly, that those Jews who have failed to support Donald Trump's election, have turned their backs on Israel, some going so far as to argue that the election was stolen from their chosen Demi-God the rulings of over 60 courts across the swing states notwithstanding.

Now, JTA has published a report that 2 Jewish Wisconsin judges denounced a Trump lawsuit. Now anti-Semites are harassing them. These two judges, Jill Kanofsky and Rebecca Dallet, "are concerned for their safety" because of the ugly threats they have received since their vote to dismiss another frivolous lawsuit challenging the Presidential election results in Wisconsin. I and many of you are waiting to learn of, e.g., the Republican Jewish Coalition's public rejection of these anti-semitic acts; and I am also waiting for any of my pro-Trump correspondents to transmit the JTA story -- they can link to it here --https://www.jta.org/2020/12/17/politics/2-jewish-wisconsin-judges-denounced-a-trump-lawsuit-now-anti-semites-are-harassing-them -- to their list-serve. 

I am not holding my breath.

Rwexler

ASSOCIATE VP OF ... WHAT?

Friends of the Blog were good enough to alert me to a message JFNA shared with its constituencies last week:

"This week's Shabbat Message is written by Shayna Kreisler, Senior Director of National Young Leadership Cabinet. Shayna is moving into a new role at JFNA as the Associate Vice President of Lay Leadership." (Emphasis added)

Perhaps JFNA, where budgets are stretched to the limit, is rewarding its professionals with titles instead of cash. One thing I'm certain of, confirmed by this announcement, is that JFNA employs an Associate Vice President of Titles. A very special talent is needed to constantly come up with titles like these.

I hearkened back to one of the organizations I once led where, in another time of austerity, I suggested that, in lieu of a raise, we promote our Chef to Senior Vice President of Lunch. (Of course, this left open the possibility, at the next review, of upping that position to SVP of Lunch and Dinner.) As I recall, in response to this offer our Chef left the organization.

Creative "titling" is not unique to JFNA; it permeates our communities as well. For example, there is now a proliferation of Chief Impact Officers in communities around the Continent. With a title that vague, how does one measure success? One Large City of which I'm familiar has a Chief Creative Officer who, at another time, another era might have been called the SVP Marketing and Communications (or perhaps not). That same Federation has a Senior Vice-President, Donor Relations f/k/a Campaign or Development Director but Campaign is, as we have learned, not something we like to highlight let alone talk about.

Some have suggested that these creative efforts are the ultimate victory of the bureaucracy, the technocracy over real, measured and measurable achievement. Distracted by bright, shiny objects, these organizations spew out their own sets of distractions.

After all, no matter the constancy of the pleas, so many federations continue to refuse to send on to JFNA current on-going FRD results. Clearly, it's not because the data aren't available; it's that either those communities which refuse to send them on to JFNA are either embarrassed by the interim and final totals or don't trust them with JFNA...or both. (In the UJA era and in the early years post-merger, the Campaign Department used to receive those reports as one way to identify communities that needed greater continental investment and became the focus of UJA/Campaign deployment of professional and lay leadership... needless to say, not any more.)

To me, the proliferation more and more creative titles is nothing more painting lipstick on that pig. BTW, Associate Vice-President of Lunch is still available.

Rwexler

IF YOU WEREN'T FRIGHTENED ENOUGH...

Yes, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is wholly appropriate to be in fear for one's present and future. It's another thing altogether when our communal organizations play on our collective and individual fears to announce that "the end is near." Yet, I opened up an email from one federation that, over the past decade and more, always showed a public face of strength, creativity and stability, and here's what screamed out at me:

This is an urgent request for help.

          We need you now -- when our community is at its breaking point.

          GIVE NOW

(And, no, I won't publish this community's name. Suffice it to say that back in 1980's when the United Jewish Appeal was compiling current annual campaign statistics updated weekly [yes, that was a thing then], this same federation always...always... announced double digit increases that exceeded my own federation. I would call my great friend and professional partner, Chicago's Joel Shinsky, z'l, who would assure me that at year-end that community would show a flat or worse campaign. Talked off the ledge, I watched and waited and Joel was always right.) 

Back to the community's plea -- to bring it back from the "breaking point." Hit the Donate Now link and you arrive at a special ask for an aggregate (at least I thought it was a total) "$100K to Strengthen Jewish _________" So, that's all it will take to pull this community from that "breaking point?" Really? Shouldn't there be one or many more who could just write a check for $100K? 

Friends, as anyone taking a fair look at the impacts of this plague would readily agree that we are challenged as never before. This is our rainiest of rainy days. Yet, generally, our endowment funds, especially those which are "independent" are just not doing enough to help -- not in the federated community in question here; not anywhere. That $91 million fund created at the beginning of the pandemic has never been followed by others and even of that $91 million 60-80% has been offered as loans on terms more familiar to a Bank than an Emergency Fund -- I have learned that notwithstanding the need, many organizations exploring loans have found the conditions demanded more oppressive than if the same organizations approached a bank with whom the organizations had no prior relationship. But, I am being too harsh -- at least the few Foundations that created this Fund did so with good faith; there are hundreds more which have done nothing.

And...JFNA? Nice job with reaching for federal rescue funding; no fund-raising; no success in reaching foundations for emergency funding beyond the original few -- the few which reached out to JFNA with funds in hand. Many of you have written me to say: these are exactly the times that demonstrate the need for a continental organization. Yep, the need is there, it's here. Yep.

What are you all waiting for -- a rainier day? For our agencies to go bankrupt? For thousands, 10s of thousands of those of our People most in need to fall through the gaping holes in the safety net we have taken such pride in building?

Of course the unnamed community asking its donors for "$100K" has set the bar for success so low. Get on with the task of uplifting; set the bar high...there is no shame in failing when reaching for the stars.

There should be shame in doing little. Greater shame in doing almost nothing at all.

Rwexler

ACTION AND REACTION

Friends, at this point I should be beyond surprised by anything that happens in the organized Jewish community; but, of course, I'm not. So I was not totally surprised when I received a direct mail fund-raising solicitation from the JDC last week.I don't recall ever receiving such a plea from the Joint before -- although, perhaps, I missed one in the past.

So, what drove the Joint proceeding in this manner; ignoring even those communities that still make a significant allocation to the Joint's core budget. Can one fairly conclude that the JDC was apparently more focused on the reality thst just days before the mailing hit, JFNA announced that the federations' aggregate core budget allocation to JDC had dropped below $30 million in calendar 2020, the lowest allocation in my memory -- not only to JDC but to JAFI and ORT? (BTW, back a little over a decade, pursuant to an assignment from the JFNA leadership at the time, I negotiated a firm commitment from the JDC and JAFI to be subject to a national Campaign Guideline; which, when brought to the JFNA Board for approval, the guidelines were first "tabled" in response to objections from JFNA leaders who wore their conflicts of interest on their sleeves [they also served as leaders of smaller federation beneficiaries which ignored local Guidelines] never to arise again. My professional partner in this effort, the wonderful Yitzchak Shavit, z'l, advised me: "Forget it, Richard, these mamzirs will never let this see the light of day." So true.)

Our system, when it was a real system, was once bound by our collective response and characterized by an informal (in some places, formal) commitment to systemic discipline. Seems so long ago, so very long ago. Back in the day our communal beneficiaries respected the annual campaign, restrained by the funds they were receiving from the community's central address; today, in most communities, the beneficiaries -- local, national and overseas -- have been "encouraged" (by diminished or lack of funding) to compete with what was the central organization or what was that central body has become but a conduit for beneficiary funding with maybe some crumbs falling off the table. Thus, that self-discipline is but a memory; and in so many places, what was a "system" has become a chaotic mess.

Think about it: the communal system premised in part on the centrality of the federation annual campaign splintered into a thousand pieces; allocations becoming a smaller and smaller piece of beneficiary agencies' budgets; agencies forced to engage in fund-raising, hire development directors, competing with what was the core funder in years past. This is not a new phenomenon; what was a trickle over the years has become a flood. There are not enough fingers to plug the growing number of holes in the communal dike.

Those in leadership at 25 Broadway, if they truly understood what was happening locally, might step up or, at the least, strive to right the ship -- examine what is happening in communities where federation has ceased to be the central planning body (a precursor to the abandonment of its central fund-raising function) and what the affects on community qua community have been. And from the understanding gained through this process, recommend necessary chan.

Doing nothing is hard; you never know when you're done.

R,wexler