HELLO DARKNESS MY OLD FRIEND

Just remain focused on this number -- $1,300,000. That's all -- $1,300,000. That's it -- $1,300,000. 

Here is a Memo from JFNA's leaders:

 

"I am attaching a memo from Israel and Overseas Chair, David Butler and myself regarding the current situation in Israel.

 

Over the last 48 hours we received many questions about whether JFNA would open a mailbox to respond to this new crisis in Israel.  After talking with our key partners, JFNA’s Israel & Overseas professional team and committee recommended a package of $1.3M in immediate, additional needs.  These are described in the attached materials, and of course we are happy to discuss them with you further.  

 

We have not recommended a “fair share” distribution of these new costs, but rather offer them to you as a chance to engage your Federation networks in this important moment.  We are happy to discuss the needs or levels of giving with any Federation.   

 

We will keep you posted as the donations are received.  Our hope would be to fully subscribe this donation request as soon as possible to both meet the immediate needs on the ground and send an important message of solidarity and support.  If donations exceed the amount, we will inform you and hold them in the mailbox as future needs arise. 

 

We of course do not think this is the last list of needs that will be received related to this crisis.  We will approach this with great caution, knowing that a larger effort may be needed later. 

 

Thank you for your continued support and amazing work."

"Amazing work"? Really? I don't know about David Butler, but Mark Wilf knows far better as a brilliant campaign leader, as National Campaign Chair and as a mega-donor. But, really, presenting $1,300,000 as the base point for a campaign that will, must, be so much more to make an impact on "...the immediate needs on the ground" -- this isn't a campaign kick-off, it's far more like a Purim spiel.

We may not be masters of substance but hyperbole;well, that's a whole different matter: these from JFNA's leaders:

"~ First, we do not wait for a crisis to provide support for our brothers and sisters in Israel and around the globe.

 ~ Second, when Jews are in trouble anywhere in the world, we in the Jewish Federation system do not wait to be asked for help. Instead, we reach out and ask what is needed, and then we deliver that help."

"Deliver" -- what, exactly? $1,300,000??? 

My mentors always taught me to reach for the stars, to set our goals high and recognize that there is no shame in falling short; the shame is in setting the bar low at the outset -- exactly what JFNA has done in its response to Operation Guardian of the Walls First Special Allocation. Trust me, friends, there is nothing "special" about this allocation other than as a reflection of an organization that has lost the ability to even respond to another terrorists' war. Worse, JFNA has become an organization without aspiration, without the courage of the convictions it once had...in a land far, far away, at a time long since past.

And, today, we do almost nothing...and then we brag about doing nothing.

$1,300,000              $1,300,000            $1,300,000

Rwexler 

 

 

JUST QUESTIONS

Watching what is happening at a number of federations, I am reminded of one piece of offered advice that in most places was ignored -- lay leadership must be rotated or bad (or stupid or both) things take place.

An example: one of our system's oldest (in so many ways) and largest communities) has had some of the best and brightest CEOs in its long history. Yet, it has, over the past decade, hired some excellent CEO's. And, now, the community has just hired another. Each of these women and men was quite different from the other; at least two were outstanding leaders...and each ultimately led to the door escorted by the same "leader" who had (1) originally endorsed him/her with the same (almost exact) enthusiasm with which (2) that self-same "leader" bad-mouthed them in the hallways and chat rooms before he/she was hired  (or, inoneinstance, bad-mouthed to assure that leader wouldn't be hired).

One might have thought that the communal leadership would have seen through this person's "act" by now; and, rather than giving this person any responsibility whatsoever in any Search process going forward, would have  given her/him a faux gold watch and certicate of "thanks" but "no thanks."

But...no. Just read the annual embrace of a new CEO in that town -- greatest thing since challah -- and there were the same almost exact words of praise from the same manchig. 

So...wait 'til next year. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Rwexler