WHAT A DIFFERENCE A COUPLE OF YEARS MAKE

I would wager that few, maybe none, remember the name Arthur Jones, or, more formally, Arthur J. Jones. Do you?

In 2018 -- seems like  decades ago, doesn't it -- Arthur J. Jones got enough signatures on nominating petitions to run in the Republican primary for Congress in Illionois' 3rd Congressional District. Although Jones was a constant failed candidate in election after election, there was no contest on the GOP side in that primary. So, only later, when the press began to dig, was it "discovered" that Arthur J. Jones was a Neo-Nazi, a Holocaust denier (the Holocaust, he ranted, "...the biggest, blackest lie in history") and an endorser of Lewis Farrakhan. An all-around Nazi.

Then, Jones had publicly endorsed Donald Trump, but after the 2018 Primary, the Illinois GOP made its position clear:"We condemn this candidate and his hateful rhetoric in the strongest possible terms" and called him a "fake Republican." The party ran ads demanding "Say No to the Nazi" and called on him to resign from the race.

The 3rd Congressional District is almost 80% white, located in the suburban areas adjacent to Chicago's Southwest side. In the general election, Jones finished 3rd in a two-person race -- Republicans worked hard to assure his defeat. Jones still received 25% of the total vote.

That was then; and this is now.

In the 2020 Election, among others running as Republicans were two -- now already infamous -- Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert -- who claim to represent Districts in Georgia and Colorado respectively, but are really the Congresspersons from QAnon. These are a gruesome twosome whose rhetoric and actions are not just anti-democratic, they appear to be uniformly criminal. Their rhetoric "...is steeped in racist and anti-semitic tropes"(one of these whackjobs publicly accused Jews using laser guns funded by the Rothschild's to start the California wildfires) and, they appear to have been active seditionists around January 6.  In 2017 the Illinois Republican Party ran Arthur J. Jones and assured his political burial; in 2021 the Minority Leader promised he would "talk with" these two miscreants -- as if that would do any good at all.

And, the Republican Jewish Coalition??? "Fostering & Enhancing Ties Between the American Jewish Community & Republican Lawmakers" as  is their stated purpose -- seem to have neither interest nor influence to rid the party they support of these vipers...or even offer their criticism. They appear to exist today only to support the immediate past-President. Shame on them. Well, shame on me. JTA published an article quoting the RJC as having condemned the anti-semitism of these clowns as "indefensible." My apologies.

Arthur J. Jones ran in the Republican Party Primary once again in 2020. He finished third and last, actively opposed by Illinois Republicans.

Rwexler

ANOTHER EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES MOMENT

Periodically -- too often, in fact -- in the instance reflected here, at least annually -- we get to experience an Emperor's New Clothes Moment in almost real time. It's the annual exercise around the JFNA announcement of the Jewish Federations' annual allocations to the core budgets of the Jewish Agency, the Joint Distribution Committee and ORT. 

As background, as you read what follows remember that these allocations are the lowest in recorded history. I repeat, these are the lowest allocations from the federations in recorded history. All else is commentary.

First came JFNA's letter announcing the allocations results:

"It is therefore with enormous pride that I write to share that we didn’t just meet our goal – we exceeded it! Our Federation and Network communities raised and allocated $72.8M for the Jewish Agency and $29.9M for JDC’s core unrestricted needs in 2020. In addition, World ORT will receive an unrestricted allocation of $1.9M, which also exceeded the projected amount. I cannot adequately express my thanks to our donors, our lay leaders and our professionals in each and every community who made this result possible."

Yes, in November 2019, JFNA had projected the allocation to, e.g., the Jewish Agency would be $72 million. This was a forecast made well before the plague was to afflict us and our work. Perhaps this is proof that if you set your goals low enough, you might even exceed them...and, so JFNA did. 

And the Jewish Agency responded in kind -- in its annual fulsome (can something be "exceedingly fulsome?") response, JAFI's leaders literally gushed "... to see Federations step up so boldly is an awe-inspiring way to end this deeply challenging year."

This is a ritual that I have seen, heard, read year-after-year-after-year as these allocations have annually sunk from one new, historic low to another. My goodness, at the time that JFNA was created from the ashes of UJA and CJF and UIA, 22 years ago now, the allocation to the Jewish Agency alone was $185,000,000 (and, at that halcyon date of yore, that was an historic low). When I served as UJA's National Campaign Chair, I had the privilege of publicly sharing the allocations results -- then at over 40% of the aggregate annual campaigns (now 10% or less) -- and received the public thanks only to be raked over the coals in private for the reductions years-to-year. I don't know whether the public effusive thanks of today are accompanied with private reckoning any more. 

A few days before this exchange of congratulatory messages between JFNA and JAFI (and JFNA's a self-congratulatory one), Abe Wasserberger, once a JDC fund-raising director and a senior JAFI professional published an article, a plea, for increased support for the overseas legacy partners in ejewishphilanthropy: https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/making-overseas-agencies-relevant-back-to-the-future/utm_source=Jan+18,+2021+v.2&utm_campaign=Mon+Jan+18&utm_medium=email While Wasserberger has some of his history wrong (e.g., JFNA, having effectively absorbed UIA's functions into itself, it abandoned allocations and needs advocacy to JAFI itself. There is no present hope that the federations' umbrella will once again see overseas advocacy as its responsibility.), the article is an important undercoring of what once was and could...could...be again.

The fortuity of this ejp article -- on the cusp of the JFNA disclosure of the 2020 allocations -- brought a formal response to  Abe Wasserberger in the form of a retort from the Chair of JFNA's Israel and Overseas Committee, again in ejp -- Don't Believe Everything You Read. https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/dont-believe-everything-you-read/?utm_source=Jan20,+2020&utm_campaign=Wed+Jan+20&utm_medium=email If you read the Chair's opinion piece, join me in being concerned that JFNA is truly satisfied with the allocations results or whether the leaders on both sides are just painting lipstick on a pig.

Friends, no one should be satisfied with what has happened to the collective under JFNA's stewardship -- knowing Mark Wilf, he cannot be. 2020 was a horrible year; 2021 may be better. JFNA should be at work planning advocacy for the collective in ways that may restore it; that advocacy must again be a priority For it has forever been the case that our system's collective response which has distinguished it from all other Jewish philanthropy.

At the rate we are going as a Continental Jewish polity, soon there will be nothing that distinguishes us. More's the pity.

Rwexler

HUH?

 David Sarnat, Jeff Kaye, Maxyne Finkelstein, Misha Galperin, Joshua Fogelson, Gail Reiss.......

If you are wondering whom these people are: they were the professional leaders of the Jewish Agency North America/Jewish Agency International Development from braisheet to 2020. Each and all of them were/are incredible professionals; each/all of them were/are either great federation leaders and/or great fundraisers; each/all of them either raised significant millions for the Jewish Agency's critical work or were on the cusp of doing so when they left the Agency, often frustrated with a lack of support (and worse) from JAFI Jerusalem. 

So? You ask. Well, the Agency announced yesterday (in a transmittal portentously and gratuitously called ("head of NA letter") that "...after an extensive and incredibly professional search process," JAFI has hired a CEO for JAID who "...will enhance The Jewish Agency's presence in North America." Dan Elbaum, who has left the position of Chief Advocacy Officer (!) of the American Jewish Committee (!!) joins JAFI with rave reviews from those who have worked with him.

I hope he can succeed given that he is being asked, in addition to federation relations and fundraising, and "enhancing," manage the 100's of shlichim across North America, liaise with the Jewish Agency North America, run all "JAFI programming in North America," and something called "strengthening our Partnership platform." God help him.

And, of course, in all of this, the JAFI Search ignored Santayana's warning. You know it: those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it. How does that apply here? Let me count the ways:

1. You hire someone who has no experience with the federations which are his main challenge, to relate to the federations (think of, e.g., Jerry Silverman);
2. You hire someone who will be resident in Chicago, expected to commute to New York (think of, e.g., Brian Abrahams or Brian Lurie); 
3. You hire someone who knows nothing of the complexities of the Jewish Agency bureaucracy but is expected to conquer it (e.g., almost anyone and everyone); and
4. You hire a person who has not engaged in the kind of fund-raising the Jewish Agency needs so desperately to be its professional fundraising leader.

I really hope Dan Elbaum succeeds but I fear he is being set up for failure as was the case for so many of those who preceded him. I hope he asked the right questions and that he spoke with at least some of his predecessors, but I am willing to wager that he spoke with none of them.

As I wrote: "God help him."

Rwexler

IF YOU DON'T ...III

With a brief announcement, as reported by Allison Sommer Kaplan in Haaretz, the Jewish Agency announced "...it was breaking ties with Return Ministries (at Bikat Kinarot) because the group had made 'flagrantly false representations' regarding its involvement with immigrants." https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-jewish-agency-expels-christian-group-from-galilee-campus-over-proselytizing-scandal-1.9442076

After publishing the original of this Post, several FOBs sent me the letter sent by the JA CEO to the JAFI Board. I am not republishing it here because it was written poorly as to be an embarrassment. Trust me.

So, what began almost 5 years ago with a contract between JAFI and this messianic Christian ministry has apparently been terminated. A good result leaving a host of unanswered questions. To those questions framed on these pages in two prior Posts, I will merely add one more: When will the Jewish Agency issue a formal apology to Beyneynu for the Agency's threats and vituperation. 

Actually, a thank you would suffice.

Rwexler

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING -- II

 Following the original Post on the subject, we received so many Comments on-line and off. Here is one, in part:

"Why should anyone be surprised that these kinds of things happen when we willingly involve Evangelicals in the work of the Jewish Agency? The very definitiin of "Evangelical' includes 'as paramount the tenet that salvation is achieved by personal conversion to faith in the atonement of Christ' (source: Dictionary.com)." 

If you were aware of a greater number than 1 on-going example of messianic Evangelical collaborations with the Jewish Agency, please let me know the specifics.

And, another Comment:

"JAFI has been aware of the problems with Return Ministries since 2016. I personally know of meetings that took place in Jerusalem with Sharansky's staff 5 years ago, JAFI executive administrators in 2019 and again with Herzog in 2020. Return Ministries was at the top of the agenda at those meetings. JAFI staff and directors took the video footage and documentation seriously and asked for follow-up. Ironically the now director of Beyneynu presented at those meetings and was welcomed. In fact, she was given those mailing list contacts by BOG and Federation heads. So what is going on?"

"What is going on?" indeed.

In the meantime, one of the FOB, on reading the earlier Post, alerted me to the Jewish Agency professional who led the Bikat Kinarot Village effort -- Uri Lahav who just recently left the Agency. After some research, I found the Agency's own description of Bikat Kinarot -- in the Annual Report of JAFI's Companies. I ask you to simply read this:

"Bikat Kinarot 

The campus at Bikat Kinarot, located in the northern region of Emek HaYarden, serves as a social, educational, and professional facility that advances both the Zionist enterprise and pluralistic engagement. By bringing proud, patriotic, and passionate Israelis from a variety of backgrounds together with visitors from abroad engaged in exploring their connection to Israel and Judaism, both populations are enriched and emerge with a heightened sense of responsibility for the continuity of the Jewish People, the advancement of Emek HaYarden, and the future of the State of Israel. 

Since 2016, The Jewish Agency has run four residential programs on the Bikat Kinarot campus. The goal is to expand this. Current programs consist of a pre-military academy for Israeli Jews and Christians (45-60 participants), post-army and National Service programs (24 participants), a program for Garin Tzabar participants and Lone Soldiers (20-26 participants) and volunteers from abroad (40-60 participants). New programs which are in various stages of exploration and development include a residential program for young immigrants studying engineering at the local Kinneret College, a civilian program for the Druze community in the Golan Heights, a Technological Education Center for young adults, an educational curriculum that focuses on the specific ecological and environmental challenges of Emek HaYarden, a Young Adult Guidance Center for employment and educational and parenting resources and networks, an Outdoor Training Facility, accommodations for Khan Education programs (which works with local schools and youth movements), and a Joint Venture Center focusing on casualties in the IDF and in the US Army total of ten programs over the upcoming years." 

Isn't there something omitted? Like any reference at all to the Jewish Agency's contractual operational partnership with the messianic Evangelical Return Ministries? Why not?

In an insightful article in ejewishphilanthropy, Sam Sokol reported that Return Ministries was "...contracted to perform construction, mainitenance and landscaping work" and, apparently, nothing more at  Bikat Kinarot. https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/jewish-agency-accuses-evangelical-contractors-of-numerous-violations-but-denies-they-evangelized-new-immigrants/?utm_source=Jan+4,+2021&utm_campaign=Thurs+Dec+24&utm_medium=email  In other words, to paraphrase the Jewish Agency's Secretary General, Josh Schwarcz's admonition: "Look away, nothing to see here." 

Really? I found Schwarcz's letter to be patronizing to the Jewish Agency Board who received it just as I believe that too many of the JA Board just want issues like this to be minimized and to just go away. Unfortunately, the members of the Company Board include the Deputy Chair of the JA Board and its CEO. At one and the same time, I have no doubt that JA Board Chair, Michael Siegal, is totally commited to resolving this matter since he was made aware of it.

But, here's the JAFI Board and Management roster for the Bikat Kinarot Company

Rany Trainin (Chair), Amira Aharonovich, Eli Carmeli, Michael Fainberg, Rinat Galili, Eytan Mizrachi, 

Dror Morag, Sigal Moran, Yael Rakov, Rina Ramot, Nechemia Rappel, Yulia Shamalov Berkovich. All of the above were appointed by The Jewish Agency. (emphasis added)

CEO: Nir Lahav 

And just who are these leaders? Here are some:

• Rany Trainin -- Deputy Chair of the Jewish Agency Executive
• Amira Aharonovich -- Director General of the Jewish Agency
• Yael Rakov -- a fair housing activist in Ofakim
• Michael Fainberg -- Economist -- JAFI
• Dror Morag -- JAFI Board Member from the WZO
• Sigal Moran -- Israeli Politician, Regional Council Mayor
• Yulia Shamalov Berkovich -- Oleh, Politician

Were these leaders unaware of Return Ministries contract relationship with JAFI? Did they know but were they just too busy to actually care? Did they just leave matters related to the  Bikat Kiranot Company in the hands of the CEO, no questions asked? Was the Contract between the Jewish Agency and Return Ministries ever approved by this Board of Directors or JAFI'S?

In other words: was there any supervision of this JAFI Company by its own Board of Directors or by JAFI leadership? A devastating article in Vision Magazine -- https://visionmag.org/jewish-agency-gone-missionary/ -- makes clear that JAFI leaders themselves have been aware of the Return Ministries on-going missionary activities for years.

Any answers? Any at all?

Rwexler

 

STUFF...AGAIN

 Well, friends, we have collected some more stuff for your reading pleasure:

~~ JTA reported that newly elected Congressperson and past Chair of JFNA, Kathy Manning, will bring the same skillset that she deployed to "bring Jews together" to her new role.https://www.jta.org/2021/01/04/united-states/kathy-manning-brought-jews-together-can-she-do-the-same-in-congress Somehow, not my recollection. I do remember, however, the multi-million dollar waste of the Global Planning Table which the Congressperson chaired until it was put out of its misery. But, Kathy may have now found herself in a place -- Congress -- more dysfunctional than JFNA was under her leadership.

Today it was reported that cong. Manning had received an appointment to the House Foreign Affairs Committee (after not receiving the appointment on the first round). This proved the point that I made to a friend: "History has proved that what Manning wants, Manning gets...eventually. That tenacity should serve her well, as it always has.

~~ Saw an ad for the "auction of rare and important Judaica" which included, among other things:

• Elizabeth Taylor's Personal Menorahs
• Letters by Jewish Mobster Meyer Lansky
• Dershowitz's Collection of Dreyfus Affair Ephemera

There's no doubt more.

~~ The New York Jewish Week recently reported that Sammy's Roumanian Steakhouse "denied rumors that it is closing permanently." Of course, it described this classic dump as "...the endearingly sleazy Lower East Side restaurant" -- just as I (and you) remember it. If Sammy's never reopens, all of us will treasure it, as the Journal cited one review: "...loudly, raucously, endlessly, embracingly Jewish, a permanent underground bar mitzvah where Gentiles can act like Jews and Jews can act like themselves." I recall that after my last visit to Sammy's (maybe a decade ago) I had to burn my clothes -- there was no way to get the garlic smell and the shmaltz fee out of them. (And, to actually feel and smell Sammy's, read Pete Wells great review -- "the most wonderful, terrible restaurant in New York" -- in the NYT in 2014:

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/24/dining/restaurant-review-sammys-roumanian-steakhouse-on-the-lower-east-side.html)