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

BEATING DEAD HORSES

Over the past decade-plus few decisions (or lack thereof) have been more disappointing than JFNA leadership's refusal to recognize that the federations' investment in JFNA-Israel has produced no return, maybe even a negative one. 

Yes, I have written on the subject frequently, most recently in reflection on the reality that even with the continuing staff bloat after some small "right-sizing," JFNA-Israel was caught by total surprise with the decisions and "compromises" at the World Zionist Congress meetings and the recent "discovery" that JAFI was "partnering" with a Messianic Evangelical "charity" dedicated to the ultimate conversion of all to Christianity. And, these are just two of many.

The system's Israel Office CEO's were once professionals with strong resumes, great personal access to the highest offices in the Israel Government -- Menachem Revivi and MK Nachman Shai. They were totally dedicated to the mission, and not to personal self-aggrandizement. That was then and this is now.

Friends, you know that I've watched the Israel Office of our national system from the beginning. When I chaired my Federation in 1986-1987, we created our community's Israel presence and I received a call from the CEO of national UJA, a wonderful friend and mentor, Stanley Horowitz, z'l, who pleaded with me to rely on UJA's nascent Israel Office rather than staff up. We staffed up; it worked very well. And, what Horowitz and UJA created morphed from a small focused operation to the unfocused, unsuccessful bloat that is JFNA-Israel today and for the past decade.

And, that might be ok were JFNA's operation a success at any level. Focus on Israel's Civil Society? Sure. There is still (I think) Irep, the sole surviving remnant of the Global Planning Table, z'l, funded by a few foundations to advocate and educate for, e.g., pluralism initiatives. Almost nothing. Or the Negev. Here's what JFNA-Israel claims:

"Federation enhances the quality of life for its current and future residents. We're developing leaders so they can create a cohesive, resourceful community. Together with the Israeli government, we're helping maintain universities and hospitals..."

There's more but it's all an exercise in creative writing. Almost nothing...but bulls#*t like this stuff. (JNF-USA is actually raising large sums for Negev projects from mega to small. That's where the action is for those who know and love the Negev.)

Or take Israel advocacy. It appears that that advocacy is the last thing this JFNA-Israel office wanted to touch. (It had in the past when the brilliant professional, Doron Krakow, now the CEO of JCCA, with Jane Sherman as a strong lay presence, and many JAFI and JDC leaders tried advocacy for....what??... a year?) So JFNA did almost no advocacy and then used its pathetic "study" of UIA as an excuse to hand advocacy back to JAFI and JDC -- an "it's their problem" non-answer to the problem of the bottoming-out of overseas allocations.

In fact, JFNA's leaders don't need a forensic audit to understand that JFNA-Israel isn't producing, isn't working out and hasn't and needs to be reconstructed from top to bottom starting yesterday. The fact that JFNA leaders would hand the UIA Unit --which had been producing quality results for the federations for decades and which had a body of federation leaders as its dedicated leaders -- to this ineffective structure is still one of the sorriest decisions the JFNA Board has made since the merger. 

Worse, in the midst of the pandemic, at a time during which JFNA has reduced its workforce appropriate to anticipated resource reductions, JFNA has now engaged a Search Firm to pursue a new hire for a new position -- an "Associate Vice President, Israel and Oversea," to office in New York headquarters and to report to the self-same Senior V-P, JFNA-Israel who has been at the helm for over a decade. Instead of further populating this version of JFNA-Israel, it strikes this writer that it is exactly the right time to undertake a careful examination of how to make this silo within JFNA effective at last. (Further, that study must not be led by those who have had leadership responsibilities for that operation over the past decade.)

And, reverting to the days immediately post-merger, a Task Force on Israel, staffed by Bob Aronson and chaired by Marvin Lender, strongly recommended that the merged entity's Israel operation office in the New York HQ with a small focused staff in Jerusalem. Someone might want to pull that tome off the shelf and study it. Envision what an effective JFNA-Israel operation might look like and what it might accomplish. 

And, then do it!!

Rwexler

 

ALLOW ME A RANT

Chicago and its suburbs, my metropolitan area, has been the home of only a few Jewish delis worthy of the name and steeped in the tradition -- among them, Manny's. Eleven City Diner, The Bagel, and in the suburbs: Max's and Max & Benny's. To that list, recent additions Half Sour, JB's Deli and Steingold's have continued the traditional with the latter stretching the definition honorably. All of these believe in over-stuffed sandwiches teeming with lox (sadly only a few offer anything even approaching the hand sliced smoked salmon available in NYC and LA) and bagels, corned beef and pastrami, Reuben sandwiches my mother would never have permitted to enter my mouth, latkes, white fish salad, blintzes, stuffed cabbage,creamed herring and one version or another of matzo ball soup among so many other dishes. 

OK, so the tradition continues, reduced in number but offering a connection to the Jewish delis of old, though none of these are Kosher. (I recently enjoyed a spectacular pastrami sandwich at a New York deli that proudly shown a lighted "Kosher" sign in its window. When I asked how that could be as they offered a full menu on Shabbat, I was answered with a "Shhhh.") 

I love traditional deli food even as age and infirmity have limited my consumption.

To my horror, however, new restaurants are arriving on the Chicago scene that play off the deli theme in ways that confuse even horrify me. First, Sam & Gertie's, advertised as "the world's first vegan Jewish deli." This is oxymoronic, an insult to the traditions -- were there a "Deli Certifying Agency," Sam & Gertie's would be forever barred from claiming the title of "deli." (I don't know what "Laks" is; I just know that it ain't lox.) 

And, just today I read in Chicago Eater that "A Contemporary Jewish Deli With Blue Corn Matzo Ball Soup Will Soon Debut in the West Loop." Friends, when God first made chicken matzo ball soup did she ever dream that we would need an "improvement" over the original. I don't think so and -- we don't. At this Rye Deli and Drink:

"The bagel selection features flavors including za’atar, Maldon sea salt and thyme, oat sunflower seed and pepita, and more." 

I'm telling you, friends, I wish all of these places well but, more so, those Jewish delis that show their respect for deli traditions by adhering to them.

I guess you do not have to be reminded: I am a dinosaur.

_________________________

I have loved all of your Comments -- on- and off-line. Especially the Last Comment but all of them.

Those of you who offered me your observations on the "appetizing" dairy restaurants brought back a memory that I wanted to share.

In 1997 I was ending my terms as UJA National Campaign Chair. As was our UJA tradition, we organized a celebratory "thank you" dinner for our leadership. My wife, Bobbi, shopped for an appropriate venue -- one that would be kosher or dairy and historically Jewish. She chose Ratner's, z'l, on the Lower East Side; run-down, full of the flavor, the tam, of a different time. 

We had a private room packed with the UJA lay and professional leaders and spouses, a wonderful evening, and pretty good food -- so many traditional dishes, the tables practically groaned. The dinner was topped off with a large layer cake with aome appropriate inscription coupled with "Richard" emblazoned on the frosting. It took a long time to say good-bye that night and as Bobbi and I left the restaurant, there in the display cake was what was left of my cake...for sale!!

Ratner's was already struggling to remain open -- which it did in 2004. I assume my lefrtover cake was still there, begging to be sold.

New York!!

Rwexler

THE NEED FOR A TOTAL RESTRUCTURE

Recently I was bemiused (in the worst way) reading page after wasted page of meaningless gibberish from the Jeweish Agency with regard to what its leadership described as a governance restructure. In reality, this was much ado about...nothing. And that is the shame because no organization is in m ore need of a total reexamination -- and, if it cannot or will not do so, JFNA, for the federations it is to represent, ought to take this on. JAFI is clearly anorganization that subscribes to the mantra: if you don't know where you are going, any path will get you there...or...won't.

The component parts of JAFI ownership just no longer work together -- and, as old as I am, I don't know if they ever did:

• The WZO -- a purely political organization, whose leadership control the purse strings as never before, have a 50% direct ownership of JAFI and for the past decade, thanks to a sorry "deal" a decade ago, now competes with the Agency. WZO also "owns" Keren Ha'Yesod, the Jewish fund-raising arm for the Jewish world beyond the USA, at least controls its membership and elects its leadership, giving WZO another 20% slice of Jewish Agency governance -- for those of you still with me, that totals 70%.
• Keren Ha'Yesod -- supposedly dedicated to raising money to fund programs of the Jewish Agency, in truth (a) it raises almost none and (b) much of what it does raise funds its staff and leadership. (While recent articles have stated that KH raises about $200,000,000 annually, it would have been a literal triumph if KH raised that over. a decade.) Most of KH funds raised flow from Canadian Jewry, who should find its representation within JFNA/UIA in a restructuring but whose leaders prefer being a "big fish" in the "small pond" that is Keren Ha'Yesod rather than being a "minnow" in the large pond that is JFNA/UIA (true one, but with a meagre $70,000,000 (and probably less) allocated by JFNA, that "pond" has become no more than a "large pond." KH has produced great leadership, appears to have no term limits for its leaders on JAFI Board and Executive.
• JFNA/UIA -- Setting aside the reality that federation Jewish Agency allocations have shrunk by over $100 million since the merger, and for many named to the Jewish Agency Board, these leaders are just passing through as opposed to the often lifelong service and dedication of their predecessors. I applaud those who provide JAFI with real leadership from North America -- among them, Michael Siegal, Beth Kieffer Leonard, Betsy Gidwitz, Sharon Janks, Bruce Sholk, Larry Silvers, Dede Feinberg, and the past Board Chairs -- and hope that their legacy will be a comprehensive examination of JAFI's roles and functions in the "new normal" and...real, substantive change.

So, what would make things better and, perhaps, provide the Jewish Agency with the resources -- financial and human -- that promises a future? In this observer's vision:

• KH should fully remove itself from WZO's ownership and restructure, aligning itself within a restructured JFNA/UIA/KH entity. Anyone who looks at KH leadership would readily conclude that David Koschitzky, Mark Leibler, Johanna Arbib Perugia, Steven Lowy and others, as examples, would readily arise as leaders of a new entity -- no more "little pond/big pond."
• The religious streams and Diaspora Zionist non-profits which have found their representation within the WZO framework would find full expression within the JFNA/UIA/KH entity.
• The JAFI's current enormous pension obligations should first be frozen and then shifted to the Government of Israel, and future employee pensions determineed by best business practices.
• The WZO would continue down its own path. If it desires to continue to compete with the Jewish Agency (rather than funding its work), it should be required to tender its Jewish Agency ownership ownership and go on its own way. If WZO is to continue to "own" any part of JAFI, its ownership/voting interests should be determined by its financial contributions to the Agency's core budget proportional to that of JFNA/UIA/KH.
• The reformed entity will elect the Board Chair and Chair of the Executive and all other elected position and its lay leadership will determine plans, focus and purposes going forward.

What are your ideas? Because "business as usual" is soon going to be no business at all.

Rwexler

MORE

Yes, back with more:

• Earlier this week we learned that the brilliant dynamic founder of JACPAC, Linda Sher, has died at 74 from the ravages of ovarian cancer. Anyone who knew Linda (as I came to know her through my common service with her late husband, David, on the UJA Young Leadership Cabinet), knew her for her love of the Jewish People, her self-effacing promotion of the work of Jewish women in support of candidates across the political spectrum both within JACPAC, her creation as the first national Jewish Women's PAC, and without. Linda was constantly in motion, described by those who knew her best and loved her the most as combining  incredible "...enthusiasm with tornado-like energy." Linda's legacy is found in her beautiful family and in the  1000s of Jewish women engaged in politics at her urging and with her constant support. She will be so missed. May her memory be for a blessing.

• The success of the GA, at least as measured by participation, remains front of mind for JFNA CEO Eric Fingerhut. He noted for the 2nd time since the GA ended the incredible participation of "10,000 people." "10,000" has become the new "3,000" of yesteryear -- a dramatic number to be sure. Yet, the Opening Plenary counted 2,800 participants -- isn't 2,800 good enough? Just asking for a friend.

• The JFNA Board Chair and CEO wrote the Board announcing in the most fulsome way that after 7 years Mark Gurvis has decided to leave his role as Executive Vice-President at year-end, continuing as a "Senior Consultant" for a year. Mark recently stated that he came to the role of EVP out of a planning process -- the emet was that JFNA lay leadership had quickly determined after Jerry Silverman's engagement as CEO that Jerry needed to be best supported by a professional who could take on the management responsibilities and who had federation experience. Certainly, Mark took on these difficult roles with professionalism. It appeared from the Chair/CEO letter that there is no current intent to hire a successor. This probably means that Eric, who has succeeded to the role of FRD Director as well, will now operate without an EVP!!

• Kal ha'kavod and mazel tov to Kathy Manning on her election as the Democratic Congressperson from North Carolina's 6th Congressional District. As she has in all things, Kathy will be a great political leader inspired by he family and her multiple Jewish leadership roles.

Rwexler

JUST CANNOT HANDLE THE TRUTH

The great Maureen Dowd has a unique ability to reduce the insanity of our times to a line, a metaphor, a quote; as she did in last Sunday's coliumn in The New York Times -- We Hereby Dump Trump. In her inimical style she reduced Donald Trump's (and so many of his "friends'") argument to overturn the election results to its essence:

"The election has been stolen! 

          What's your proof?

          Because I'm losing."

And so many Jews have bought into the lies being promoted by Giuliani, Barr, Grenell and some lawyers from Jones Day and other firms unsupported by an iota of evidence because they, apparently, are paid or have drunk the Trump Kool-Aid. And, in so doing, they have decided to set facts and reason to the side just as Trump does, and, like Trump, they subscribe to whatever conspiracy theories that "keeps hope alive" while devastating our democracy.

Examples abound: one of the most popular (and egregious) is that in a small Republican-run township in Michigan, where a software issue may have "converted" 6,000 Trump votes to votes for Biden. These true believers never report (as a simple Google search would have disclosed) that the error was discovered and the votes were cast for Trump. Others of you have circulated the works of pro-Trump Jewish activists repeating, almost in haec verba, the fact-free unsupported conclusions of Giuliani, Barr, Grenell and that pack.

And, then, there is the screed from the pen of the perennial critic of mainstream American Jewry, Caroline Glick -- about which she seems to know so little but about whom she has an insatiable appetite for uninformed criticism. The best-informed estimate of the Jewish vote last week (APVotecast) put the margin between Biden/Harris and Trump at 38 percentage points. This sent Ms. Glick into a foaming lather of rabidity in her post-election column: The Isolated American Jews. While Glick begins with her own reductio ad absurdum -- that the rest of the Jewish world (British Jewry rejecting the Labour Party of Jeremy Corbyn and voting Conservative [completely ignoring the reality of Jeremy Corbyn]), why aren't we given that Ocasio-Cortez and Omar are reason enough given that, in Glick's opinion, those two are the Democratic Party. Glick's extrapolation is as irrational as would be accusing the Republican Party of being fascist because they elected, with Trump's support, some idiot to Congress who proudly wears her membership in and support of Qanon. 

And, Glick goes on: "Donald Trump is the most pro-Israel and pro-Jewish president in US history." I will leave the "most pro-Israel" to the historians, but "most pro-Jewish?" Really?

My strong sense, listening to my friends, my colleagues, my children and grandchildren, is that American Jews didn't/don't see Donald Trump -- he of Charlottesville equivalency, separating refugee children from their parents while losing over 600 of them, his refusal to condemn the anti-semitic hate groups like the Proud Boys, Qanon and others, rejecting the battle against climate change and the abandonment of leadership and responsibility in waving the white flag in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic -- and, always, the corruption,  the lies, the self-dealing, the impeachment -- "most pro-Jewish?" Not close. In the most conservative and pro-Trump polling of Jewish voters it is clear that Trumpism was rejected as was any claim of Trump being the "most pro-Jewish."

As American Jews, we have great challenges and responsibilities -- to hold our leaders to reflect our values and to hold them to the promise of our democracy. Those of us who continue to sow confusion post-election with unsupported claims might want to listen to the observation of Rupert Murdoch's New York Post (!!):

"Downcast Trump makes baseless election fraud claims in White House address"

That's "baseless election fraud claims" as in baseless. 

As Prime Minister Netanyahu said:

"Congratulations @Joe Biden and @Kamala Harris. Joe, we've had a long & warm personal relationship for nearly 40 years, and I know you as great friend of Israel."

Repeat after me: Joe Biden is the duly elected President-elect of the United States. Come on, you can do it. 

Rwexler

 

 

BUSINESS AS USUAL

When I first read of the coup taking place in the midst of the World Zionist Congress just weeks ago, and being an observer of its World Zionist Organization up close and personal for decades, I sighed, realized that this was just "business as usual" for the professional Zionists who make up both the WZC and WZO "leadership." And, then, I wrote about this latest fiasco that leaves many of us with a really bad taste in our mouths.

Yes, we here in the States are in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic which, after some early success, has laid our extended family in Israel lower than low. None of this, however, distracted these professional Zionists, who have slurped at the public trough from, seemingly, time immemorial, from pursuing their latest political putsch with an avarice heretofore unknown. After all, this WZC/WZO thing is all about jobs and money...and no accountability -- other than to each other and the Israeli political parties.

First, some history.

Back a quarter-century, American Jewish leaders had determined that the accusations of "politicization" at the Jewish Agency needed to be confronted. The great JAFI Board Chair (and past Chair of the Council of Jewish Federations), Corky Goodman, called a meeting in New York among those American leaders and the leaders of the World Zionist Organization, led at the time by our great friend and leader, Sallai Meridor, JAFI's Chair of the Executive, later to serve as the Israeli Ambassador to the United States. All of those holding Zionist portfolios within JAFI were there -- many still are. The meeting was without rancor but the discussions grew passionate at times. The Americans demanded reform, proposing/demanding that the WZO give up its ownership within the Jewish Agency for significant transition funding.

We met together and then in separate rooms -- we were making what appeared to be significant progress. Sallai asked if he, alone, could meet with us. He was our friend and partner in the truest senses. He made a plea: the World Zionist Congress would meet in a matter of months. If this deal went through, Sallai believed (and convinced us) that he would be ousted and the deal would never be implemented. He pled with us to retain the status quo through the WZC and, thereafter, we would dot the "i's" and cross the "t's" of the deal. It never happened.

A few years later, a few of us, led by Richie Pearlstone, then the Jewish Agency Board Chair, and mapped out a plan that would assure the Agency's independence from the WZO while recognizing the need to incorporate the roles of, e.g., the religious streams within JAFI -- roles then and now offered these Rabbis through the WZO. We worked our constituencies and had the support of JFNA's lay and professional leaders. And, then, it all fell apart. Richie called a meeting with JAFI's rabbionic leadership. Our presentation had hardly begun when these Rabbis and lay leaders, almost to a person, objected -- who will guarantee our jobs, positions as did the WZO? As we attempted to respond, from the corner of my eye I saw the JFNA leaders leave the room. We were on our own and we went nowhere...again.

Many continued to push for separation. Shortly after the last failure. Richie reached out to two JAFI leaders and a Large City Executive to negotiate a separation from the WZO. Shortly thereafter, the JAFI Executive was presented with an agreement that effectively and innocently did nothing more than recite a separation that required millions in short term payments to the WZO which retained its ownership of Keren Ha'Yesod and its 50% ownership of JAFI itself. We were told that this was the deal, "not a comma could be changed;" there could be  no discussion. 

Effectively, this horrible "deal" set up the WZO as a competitor with the Jewish Agency while continuing to own most of JAFI itself. One can only assume that "conflict of interest" doesn't translate into Hebrew.

And, here we are. After internal negotiations among the Zionist "lifers" within the World Zionist Congress, jobs were distributed and redistributed (as at JFNA most of the names and faces stay the same, only their titles differ). The handing out of these jobs and positions became so fierce that litigation is now on-going. For a blow-by-blow read Haaretz Judy Maltz's excellent detailed reporting  in Battle over control of key Zionist fundraising organization pits Jewish donors against Netanyahu. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-battle-over-control-of-zionist-fundraising-group-pits-jewish-donors-against-israel-1.9285069 (Hysterical, at least to me, is that the article states that KH "...raises an average of $200 million a year for causes in Israel." I can assure all of you that that "average" may be over a decade, if that.and almost none of the amount "raised" is available for JAFI's core.) Yet, the litigation was filed by three great leaders and philanthropists, Steven Lowy, David Koschitzky and Mark Leibler -- I wish them well.

And, so it goes. I have been told by so many that the incoming Chair of the WZO, Yaakov Hagoel, is a terrific guy, a wonderful leader. He will be tested in his new leadership position while being under constant scrutiny from his predecessor and others in this terrible internal competition for status and jobs. The Lawsuit above is but one example.

Friends, as a system (if in North America we are still a "system"), as we've pointed out on these pages, we now allocate about $70 million to the core budget of the Jewish Agency. Our influence over JAFI is far greater than our allocations would suggest. That influence ought to be used now; for this is not a time for business as usual.

Rwexler

  

THE 2020 GA AND MORE

 JFNA convened a GA this week streaming it worldwide. And its workshops/breakouts which I joined were uniformly excellent; the Plenary sessions, noit so much. (If you go to JFNA's website and you wish to do so, some of the Plenary "experiences" are available on replay; so you can come to your own conculsions. Here are some observations:

• Registration: At the JFNA Board meeting just days before the GA, there was a great deal made of the projected attendance -- 9,000 pre-registrations. Sounded like a lot -- after all, this is the same JFNA that announced a laughable 3,000 registrants for GA after GA for the last decade until confronted with a real number of...750. And, by the time the GA ended, that number was up to 10,000. Honest!! Yet, there were 2,800 registrants who participated in the Opening Plenary; a great number given past experiences. Shows what can happen when you give something away to the sofa-loving, quarantined Jewish leadership;
• Bougie Herzog, the Chair of the Executive of the aJewish Agency, an omportant position in Jewish communal life, is a great and self-effacing partner. He was relegated to the role of a panelist with the leader of OneTable, a great program, somewhat of a false equivalence and to a conversation with one of Israel's top entertainers. I give Bougie great credit for his equanimity.
• The streaming worked quite well if one wanted to observe, Mark Wilf and Eric Fingerhut spoke well.
• And, yes, streaming is no substitute for being together.

Now, the unmentioned. There were many references to the "collective" -- its importance, and our system's commitment to it. The reality that collective financial support of our overseas "partners" has fallen once again to historic lows went unmentioned. In fact that support will have fallen at calendar year-end to levels that keadership should be calling "an embarrassment." The total amount that will be allocated (and remember that this is JFNA's projection; it may actually be even lower) -- $102.8 million in the aggregate to JAFI ($72 million), JDC ($29) and ORT ($1.9) -- yes, that aggregate total was exceeded at the time of the merger by an allocation to the Jewish Agency alone was greater by 200% than the total allocation to all three agencies. 

Shame on us and shame on the top leadership of the three "partners" for their pro forma public "thank yous" for allocations which are no longer worthy of "partners" but wholly appropriate for supplicants. 

At the close of its numbers presentation, JFNA announced: 

"JFNA/Federations will pursue al;l possible avenues to increase the available amount."

Sure.

Rwexler 

EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN...OR MAYBE NOT

Clearly, the very successful elimination of institutional memory at JFNA has accomplished one thing for certain -- to the professionals in charge today and over the prior decade, it is so easy to embrace as new ideas that are, in fact...not. This is especially true if these programs come with cash. As we discuss two of these "newbies" (which appear not to be), would some Foundation or mega-donor come up with some funding for...actual fundraising? Because FRD appears to have been relegated to the trash heap along with the United Jewish Appeal, United Israel Appeal and generations of lay and professional leaders.

Anyway...let us look at something called Amplifier and, if you will, another titled Enter. The former offered with funding from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation; the latter the brainchild of Charles Bronfman and Jeff Solomon.

Amplifier -- great name, BTW. We are told that Amplifier is "a philanthropy idea generator" that will now be located under the JFNA umbrella. I assume that JFNA, which has no apparent interest anymore in raising money (once presumed to be its primary purpose on behalf of the federations), has plenty of time in "reimagining and inspiring thoughtful collaborative giving inspired by Jewish values." So said JFNA's National Campaign Chair. (Maybe Amplifier could come up with a new title for this position inasmuch as it no longer has much if anything to do with "national" or "campaign." As examples of the value-added that Amplifier has already created, the article in eJewishphilanthropy describing the program cites: a giving circle for Women's philanthropy at UJC of Virginia Peninsula and "(S)everal years ago" something with an Asian Women's giving circle and some more giving circles -- one "of people of color" and some other stuff. If you wish, you can read the whole story at https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/the-jewish-federations-of-north-america-warmly-welcome-amplifier/

The great philanthropist, Charles Bronfman, and the brilliant innovator, Jeff Solomon, along with Alon Friedman the (former?) Director of Hillel-Israel as CEO, have created Enter -- not as great a name as Amplifier, BTW -- "...aiming to educate Israelis about the role and significance of diaspora Jewry -- and bring Israeli and and North American Jewry closer together." In this effort, Bronfman/Solomon have recruited a number of major private foundations to each pony up $250,000 per year for three years -- not an insignificant amount of money. Of course, this is not the first effort along the same lines but without the focus and investment that Enter and its Founders/Partners will bring to the effort. 

Of course, chevre, these are worthy efforts and, perhaps, with real commitment and application Amplifier and Enter will succeed. But, really, these are old wine in new bottles. After all...giving circles...really. In my community, and I would wager yours, what would morph into federation began with a group of men (yes, back then...men) of wealth coming together annually to decide the communal needs and, then, commit to meet them -- Giving circles writ large. And Enter echoes the efforts of the Council of Jewish Federations to educate Israelis about the Diaspora through missions and education.

These are efforts that should have begun with and within JFNA. Because of the void at our umbrella agency of and for the federations, great philanthropists have stepped in -- and that's both great and very sad. You can join with me in asking what the hell has JFNA-Israel, with its top-heavy and bloated staff (even after COVID created the need for down-sizing), accomplished . Or, to put the question in another way: would Charles Bronfman, the first JFNA Board Chair, and Jeff Solomon, my professional partner in the merger process that resulted in what is now JFNA, have created Enter within JFNA if there were any there there?

Think about it. 

Rwexler

ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH

While we (and our organizations) were (a) asleep; (b) distracted by shiny objects; or (c) distracted by COVID-19, "right wing and rigidly Orthodox political parties" in Israel were preparing a "coup" pursuant to which they would usurp the critical positions at the "...key international Zionist institutions." And...we would have only ourselves to blame. If it happens, it will happen...today.

As Judy Maltz reported for Haaretz, Right-wing, ultra-Orthodox Parties Accused of Plotting "Hostile Takeover" of Key Zionist Institutions. How? By Resolution of the World Zionist Congress at its once every five year meetings starting today on-line. The "deal" appears to have been engineered by the inestimable WZO leader, Avraham Duvdevani, who engineered the WZO's walk from everything but its powers and large amounts of cash when it "separated" from the Jewish Agency almost a decade ago thanks to the inept "negotiations" of Diaspora JAFI leadership. (WZO gave up a title or two, but retained its power to control 70% of the JAFI votes, and was paid millions for doing so. JAFI leaders' version of the "Art of the Deal.")

If this "hostile takeover" proceeds, the American religious movements would face cutting a deal for representation and positions at the Agency, for example, with ultra-Orthodox religious leaders who reject the Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist and Modern Orthodox Movements both out of hand and in the most insulting ways. Another "winner," if that's what it is, would be the Likud Party. Bougie Herzog might be out as JAFI's Israeli leader. And, these are but two examples. 

For an important analysis of just where this balagan is: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/hadassah-president-denounces-wzo-coalition-agreement-calls-for-changes-646297?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Israel%2C+UAE%2C+US+launch+joint+fund+in+Jerusalem+during+first+state+visit&utm_campaign=Oct+20+day 

JFNA, later this week, will reveal the Jewish Federations' allocations to the core budgets of JAFI, JDC and ORT -- allocations which will, no doubt, be at levels so low as to belie the term "partner" so often thrown out these days by the umbrella organization in lieu of cash. If the takeover of JAFI contemplated by this "deal" goes forward, one can foresee the ultimate abandonment of the Jewish Agency by its North American supporters in short order.

One must assume that Jewish Agency Jerusalem leaders were aware of these developments but chose to remain "behind the scenes." Given the consuming ignorance of critical matters such as these at JFNA-Israel, asleep at the switch, one can also assume that no one at 25 Broadway was aware of this coup -- and, if they were, then more shame on them. We have not heard leadership's voices on a matter of this importance to, if not to others, the religious movements to which most of us belong.

This is serious business taking place in the shadows.

Rwexler

PURPOSE

Commenting on the United Kingdom's recent response to Brexit, one Brit opined that there is "a conspicuous infirmity of purpose." Very British, yes, and equally applicable to far too many of our Continental and national institutions in North America. Institutions that wander aimlessly, without apparent purpose, are doomed at best to mediocrity and at worst to a well-earned collapse.

I find it impossible to believe that any Jewish orghanization believes that "business as usual" works when donors and donations have cratered in the face of the COVID plague. In just the last few days I've heard of multiple federations with 2020 operating deficits in excess of $10 million dollars. The Jewish Agency and the JDC will see federation allocations to their core activities at dollar levels that will not permit them to do the work that we ask of them. National and Local agencies around the Continent are operating on fumes. If you do not believe it...ask.

And yet, and yet...Much like the Trump Administration and COVID, months into this catastrophe, there is no plan. Do our organizational leaders somehow believe that God will provide? That the clouds will lift and all will be well? Look around...look around. In Community A, vital services to the elderly have been cut to the bone, programs for the most frail among us completely eliminated; the community being told "we can't afford it." In Community after Community, lay-offs are diminishing the ability of the "system" to serve. Jewish Community Centers are closing temporarily and with those closures, everything from pre-schools to social programs for Holocaust Survivors...on hiatus at best. In too many federations there will be less allocated overseas than Dues paid to JFNA; and, in many other communities, JFNA Dues will be unpaid or paid only in part. And, the list goes on and on.

Back in my youth -- in other words a long, long time ago -- our system confronted what we called back then "the new Jewish poor." Today is so much worse and, only now are our organizations taking baby steps toward confronting what will soon be a tsunami of poverty impacting the most vulnerable. And we are not prepared.

Of course I am well aware that JFNA is no longer in the fund raising/donor raising business. Even the offer of FRD consultation with communities, JFNA's last fund raising initiative has become just a shadow of its former self, if it exists at all. Here's what the national system (viz, UJA) used to do -- we focused our own initiatives and the communities' on focused fund raising, on getting into the trenches with our own and federation FRD leadership getting back to the basics in an intense and very personal way. And the federations were successful. But, "back to basics" -- to the blocking and tackling that built the incredible safety net for those of our People most in need is, apparently, so last Century. 

Instead of the basics, we read of the latest bright, shiny object -- in an "Announcement," ejewishphilanthropy highlighted The Jewish Federations of North America Warmly Welcome Amplifier. Sure they do. https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/the-jewish-federations-of-north-america-warmly-welcome-amplifier/?utm_source=Oct+14%2C+2020&utm_campaign=Wed+Oct+14&utm_medium=email

Amplifier we learned is a "philanthropic idea generator...incubated at the Natan Fund" and supported at JFNA with a grant from the wonderful Schusterman Foundation. The National Campaign Chair raved about it "reimagining and inspiring thoughtful collaborative giving inspired by Jewish values,." Uh huh. The examples cited in the ejp include "giving circles," a young leadership exercise in "Flash Philanthropy" and, more giving circles.

Don't get me wrong; I am all in favor of new models and experiments in building Jewish philanthropy. But...and this is a big but...if these new forms are not built upon the bedrock foundation of focused FRD, of in the trenches FRD, of incredibly hard work at the local and Continental levels, the financial collapse we are seeing all around us will accelerate and the very communities engaged in distractions from FRD fundamentals will wither and die.

Focus...Focus...Focus.

Rwexler

PRIORITIES

 A few nights ago I attended the Annual Meeting of a local care for the aging organization. It was not unlike countless annual meetings of local Jewish agencies around the Continent -- putting the best case forward that "all is well" when, in fact, nothing really is. In too many places at this worst of times we find our agencies running on fumes as never before -- that "best case" is too often nothing more than "putting lipstick on a pig."

Friends, to paraphrase a great American leader: 

"The moral test for our communities is how we treat those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the disabled, wherever they may live."

In one sentence, those are our priorities -- or they damn well should/must be. But, what if the resources, during this time of COVID-19, just aren't there? What is a community to do, individually and collectively? For those agencies and federations with endowments, this is the "rainy day" for which those assets have been built and held -- use them, apply them. 

It's great that the leaders of some mega-foundations working together allocated $91 million, plus or minus, to address the greatest of needs -- but, as we have explored on these pages, that is $91 million of $21.7 billion of communal assets under management -- .004%. Yes, it can be argued that I am comparing apples and oranges inasmuch as the communal assets are mainly in Donor Advised Funds and Supporting Foundations, and, almost always the communities have been singularly focused on amassing assets rather than in their distribution. Now...now...is it possible to "retrain" the fund raisers to become advocates for distributing them to meet the communities' highest priorities? Because, my friends, everywhere...everywhere...the rain is falling, and those of our People most in need, are suffering.

At that care of the aging agency annual meeting I observed, I listened to the federation CEO express passionately the communal dedication to the agency even as that same federation has cut its allocation to the agency because its annual campaign cannot meet the needs it sees everywhere. I was reminded of the conversation I had with the then CEO of our largest federation way back when we found ourselves in a deep, deep recession: "Richard," he told me, "we are having a horrible time keeping our Board members when all we can ask them for is to cut, cut, cut allocations while we ask them for greater contributions." 

And, here we are again. Only...worse. The social safety net we have created with such pride, is on the verge of collapse.

It's time, friends, for JFNA to show real leadership --as it did in raising and finding significant dollars for Holocaust Survivors. Convene a blue ribbon committee, and create a national loan program, as was done during the Exodus, whereby the mega-foundations and the largest federations would be asked to allocate tens of millions to fund priority prograns in those communities in greatest need, with established criteria for (a) those priority programs; and (b) repayment. 

That may not be the only alternative; I would welcome yours. 

What I know is that treating today with a "business as usual" approach will not work.

It is so hard to utter Mo'Adim L'Simcha this Sukkot this year unless we recommit ourselves to our priorities and ignore the shiny objects which are our distraction.

Rwexler

"...EITHER GET BEHIND THE CHAIRPERSON OR GET OFF THE BOARD"

In a recent article in The Forward -- Infighting, turnover buffet the Joint Distribution Committee...-- on the continuing, perhaps growing, balagan at the top levels of the Joint we wrote about in our Post Whither JDC?, a minority of Board members appear to be continuing a battle they already lost when Mark Sisisky was elected the organization's new President. I'll leave this imbroglio to others suggesting only that all Board members and the new President engage in the introspection demanded of us at Yom Kippur.

Instead, I want to reflect on the demand by one Joint Board Member as demanded, according to a transcript of a contentious Board meeting: "Mark is the president, you either get behind him, or you get off the board." I have heard the same demand made of me back when I served of the JFNA Executive, and my objections to a given action were made at a meeting in private. These are not a demand for achdut; these are nothing less than a demand that a non-profit Board member: never dissent. This is not prescriptive for democracy; it is the precursor to autocracy.

Organizations have choices of what they want to be -- but one of those choices should never be to demand total obeisance to those in power. What should be...always...is total obeisance to the organization, its values, its purposes. And that obeisance demands expression, even dissent, when the emperor has no clothes. 

Friends, achdut is not a matter that can be demanded; it can only be created through open debate. It can't be imposed. And, when and where attempts are made to impose unity; those fail. They failed at JFNA, they failed at the Conference of Presidents and they will fail at JDC. 

Any Board Chair/President who demands that the organization's Board act in lockstep with him/her on all matters, in doing so has planted the seeds of organizational collapse. If good faith "dissenters" are forced into some form of ostracism; soon Boards become dysfunctional and institutions die. Non-profit leadership demands a certain amount of flexibility; an understanding that "I am not always right" -- a willingness to seriously consider dissenting views. 

So, to that JDC Board member, whose demand frames the title of this Post, I'd suggest a possible corollary: If you cannot tolerate good faith dissent, you should resign.

Rwexler

WHERE DOES ONE PLACE THEIR TRUST?

When Eric Fingerhut began his service as JFNA's new CEO and President, he was joining an organization of strangers to him. Certainly, for better or worse, he received guidance from the lay leaders who played the most significant role in his hiring. And, no doubt, he brought some mid-level professionals with him from Hillel as JFNA's budget reflected a small FTE increase in the Office of the President. And, naturally, Fingerhut spent his first months getting the JFNA "lay of the land" from its most senior professionals. 

And, Eric not being a rookie in Jewish organizational life, a strong and respectedf professional of reputed good judgment, of whom one would have expected that after the "break in period," we would have seen significant changes at the very top of the JFNA organization chart.

But...no. In the face of the pandemic, JFNA announced that it had down-sized by 37 persons, most of them mid-level professionals -- you know, as in almost every non-profit, those who are doing the work in the trenches. And the long-serving SVP Marketing and Communications left as well (and, relatively promptly, replaced). Pre-pandemic, Fingerhut announced that, in addition to his role as CEO/President he would serve as the head of FRD, after that position was vacated -- and, inasmuch as JFNA no longer appears to engage in FRD, once its primary fundtion and the one most demanded by the communities, this should not unduly burden him.

And, what is JFNA left with -- at the least, its two most senior professionals: its Executive Vice-President and its SVP Global Operations and Director General JFNA Israel. Now, to be honest I don't know much about what either of these prfessional leaders do but I'm pretty sure that whatever they may do includes: protecting and supporting each other; identifying other JFNA professionals who have been or will be sacrificed to the economic fall-out of the pandemic but not them; and, of course, kissing up to the CEO (a pattern they established early on with Eric's predecessor for whom the delivery of a constant supply of Diet Cokes was a high point of service) and to every lay leader whom they associate with JFNA power. 

And, whatever their roles really are these two drink very, very well from the Jewish money spigot. Yes $409,000 to the EVP; $347,000 to the SVP Global Ops. If the CEO was trying to identify additional  savings, he need have looked no further. But he did not. WHY NOT? I have no doubt that over the years, these two senior professionals have looked to a small groiup of lay leaders to succor their support. And, if not otherwise successful, this twosome proved the benefits of that support. And those lay leaders, recirculated through the JFNA leadership ranks as if they had demonstrated success in their prior roles, became reliant on these pros for information, and for mutual support -- effectively rewarding the pros' loyalty to them confusing that personal loyalty with loyalty to the organization.

More's the pity, friends.

G'mar tov.

Rwexler

A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR

 To all of you and your loved ones, a shana tova u'metukah. 

Rwexler

WAS THIS A JOKE?

 Speaking of a lack of focus...

While the media were focused on whether PM Netanyahu had “condoned” a UAE deal for F-35s as the “price” for recognition of Israel and a “peace deal,” the Jewish Agency and its “partners” at Keren Ha’Yesod announced a major venture with the 1000 person Jewish community of the Emirates...yes, you read that correctly — 1,000 Emirati Jews will have the benefit of a “partnership” with JAFI/KH. https://www.jns.org/jewish-agency-and-keren-hayesod-to-begin-activities-education-in-uae/

And if you think that this is nothing more than a JA publicity stunt — shame on you. After all, the Jewish Agency is in the midst of a financial crisis so deep that its emergency funding of communities suffering the financial pain of the COVID-19 pandemic had to be supported with a jewelry store-sponsored telethon;  and its communal support from the federations and KH are in an historic collapse. (Yes, that’s the same KH which has retained its 20% ownership of JAFI without any obligation to financial support for the Agency’s core budget which has now “adopted” the Jews of the UAE.)

And, not to be outdone, and never wanting to miss another shiny object, it was announced that JFNA would be joining JA and KH in this effort, whatever it may be, with the Jewish leaders of that 1,000 person community of the Emirates. G-d knows that JFNA’s bloated staff in Jerusalem has the capacity to take this — whatever it may be — on.

I have a suggestion for the Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Council of the UAE, Yehuda Sarna: thank JA, KH and JFNA profusely and then seek out Yael Eckstein, the leader of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. The IFCJ’s support comes with financial commitments and expertise. Something new and different for the New Year.

Then, apparently President Trump stuck a deal for "peace" (yet to be defined) between Israel and Bahrain; the deal celebrated on the White House lawn with the Emirates "deal" (yet to be defined, as well). Bahrain's Jewish community has 30 members. 

In celebration of the deals, JFNA CEO Eric Fingerhut reported that he flew directly from the White House ceremony to the Emirates' capitol to celebrate Rosh Ha'Shana with the Jewish community there. (Not sure whether the 1,000 Jews of the UAE have just one synagogue but, as the joke tells us, probably more.) Hope that Eric doesn't have to quarantine for weeks there; he probably has work to do at 25 Broadway or nearby.

Rwexler

MORE STUFF

 1. The JFNA Version of FRD. You may recall that after the departure of the JFNA FRD SVP, Eric Fingerhut announced that he would serve, in additioin to his other CEO responsibilities, as some kind of interim. professional leader of JFNA's financial resource development effort. Then, presumably in consultation with the JFNA National Campaign Chair, JFNA down-sized its FRD Community Consultation effort and, lately, best I can tell (and someone correct me if I'm wrong), JFNA has gone out of the FRD business -- at the worst possible time. (I think the National Campaign Chair still travels to communities to speak and inspire, but FRD...no.) 

But it was still surprising to read the "excited" announcement that thanks to the generosity of "seven national foundations," which granted "an $18 millon match to the Federation system, which can be matched on a 1:2 basis, creating a $54 million increase for our frontline servoce agencies and programs serving primarily Jewish community members." (No, I don't know what that means either.) This will forever be known as the Human Services Relief Matching Fund.

So, the matching funds have already been commited by the foundations; there is no indication in Chair Wilf's and CEO Fingerhut's announcement that JFNA will be doing any more fundraising -- having done none to this point anyway. Therefor it did come as a surprise that the Matching Fund will be chaired by the National Campaign Chair. 

I still remember the halcyon days of yore when the National Campaign Chair as his/her first responsibility was to actually raise money -- I know that was "so Oughts." I bet Mark Wilf remembers those days as well. They are no longer.

2. Maybe There Should Be a Training Program. Many, probably all of us, have Chaired meetings over our leadership years. Hopefully, we all learned from the best of leaders and passed what we learned on to those who followed us -- always either informally or by example. In all of my leadership roles, I always treqasured the opportunity to share.

Recently, I was to participate in a Zoom meeting of an organization I once Chaired.

Then I received the Agenda. It read like this:

• Call to Order, Welcome -- Board Chair
• Approval/Minutes -- Board Chair
• Dvar Torah -- Someone other than the Board Chair
• Direction of the Organization -- Board Chair
• CEO's Message -- the CEO
• Opportunities for Organizational Leadership -- Board Chair
• Telling the Organization's Story -- Someone other than the Board Chair
• Training Sessions -- Board Chair
• Next Steps -- Board Chair

As Mel Brooks might have said: "It's good to be the Board Chair!!" 

This organization's Chair is a good person, from a great community, and I have probably been unfair. But...maybe not.

I think that along the way some organization should convene a training session for lay leaders that would include a component on Best Practices for Running a Meeting -- How to Share. Probably won't happen and, ifr it did, no one would attend because we all know how to run a great meeting...

Don't we?

Rwexler

OUT OF STEP??

 JFNA distributed an important albeit opaque notice to its members and constituencies over the signatures of Chair Mark Wilf and the JFNA Domestic Affairs Committee Chair:

"This morning The New York Times published an ad (attached) with a letter signed by 600 Jewish organizations -- including six Federations – in support of Black Lives Matter. The ad was timed to coincide with the March on Washington which will take place both virtually and in person over the next two days.  We wanted to provide you some background information in the event you are asked for comment by stakeholders or the media. 

The sign-on letter was circulated two months ago.  Though it was clearly an open letter, there was no announced intention at the time to purchase ads in major publications.  JCPA sent the letter out to JCRCs encouraging them to sign.  We believed – and still do – that our work on these issues is better focused around the substantive, targeted efforts on which we have embarked.  That approach was set forth in this op-ed “On Racial Justice, We can All Do Better”.   

  

This year’s March on Washington is a combination of a virtual event created by the NAACP in collaboration with National Action Network, Urban League, and others set to unveil a “a bold National Black agenda” and an in person march led by the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network. We are not participating in this march, but are honoring the legacy of Dr. King in other ways, including through our policy advocacy.

 

We know that each Federation has taken important steps to fight racial discrimination and support racial justice in your communities.  At JFNA, we have devoted more resources to helping all our Federations respond to the important issues raised in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, to guaranteeing that all communities benefit from the important public programs and funding sources we support, and to working diligently to ensure that our communal institutions reflect our own Jewish diversity, including Jews of Color.  

 

Today is the 57^th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington, where Rev. Martin L. King gave his “I Have a Dream speech” to a crowd of more than 250,000 people.  As we enter this Shabbat, in this powerful month of Elul, we prepare our souls and spirits for the High Holiday season.  Let us all pray that we may be a part of the healing process for those who still lack full access to the opportunities and protections that society has to offer."

This admonition, if that is what the letter was meant to be, requires a real ability top read between the lines -- something I and you frequently have to do when it comes to Jewish inter-agency matters. So, that's what I am engaged in here -- I assume someone(s) will corrrect me if I am wrong. And this Post is not about the substance of JCPA's decision to join in/on the Virtual March on Washington as others have already done so -- e.g., Tablet's Leil Leibovitz in his vitriolic column: The Mind-Bendingly Insane, Completely Craven, Uttely Unconscionable Redemptiomn of Al Sharpton. https:www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/al-sharpton-jonathan-greenblatt-adl)

Then, on 1 September, the ADL, one of the other organizational supporters of the March, as The Jewish Weereported:

"'We’re witnessing an increasing politicization of this violence,' Alex Friedfeld, an investigative researcher at the ADL's Center on Extremism, told JTA. 'Rather than standing together as protesters and saying we will not condone the use of violence, people are blaming the other side for what happened. Rather than condemning the cycle, they’re perpetuating it. When you view everything though the lens of almost-life-or-death struggles, committing an act of violence no longer seems as unreasonable.JCPA'S failure to coordinate with the federations' umbrella body on policy and support at this important moment isn't surprising; the public affairs body has, as has been pointed out on these pages before, operated on an agenda of its own apparently without regard to those of the communities which provide the bulk of its funding. That has to stop; or the funding should stop.'" 

Confused? I am. 

If JCPA's lay and professional leaders believe that they are an organization that can exist independent of its funders, then b'hatzlacha and good-by. 

It is past time for JFNA, as the federations' representative, if not their leader, to undertake an independent review of JFNA's work, focus and purposes. It appears clear that. such a review cannot be entrusted to JCPA itself. Both the federations and JCPA should want alignment on the broad social issues and policies that confront the Jewish community; and there must be a way to achieve the alignment so that our system speaks with one voice. 

That alignment will not be achieved unless JFNA, as the representative of the primary funders of the JCPA  (as locally, in almost all instances, federations are the primary funders of local CRCs) is willing to assert itself -- something the organization has failed to do over its two decades. A letter is a start; but only a start. Now...action is needed.

Action would be a fine way to start the New Year.

Rwexler