Friends, JFNA'a leaders have sealed themselves off from reality to such an extent that they actually believe that their Press releases and public statements influence world events. But, as anyone who has read these pages knows full well, paraphrasing a superb columnist, these leaders have hermetically sealed themselves in the world of JFNA fantasy.
Let us look at a few examples:
~ In the midst of the Jewish Agency Board meetings in Jerusalem, JFNA organized a meeting with the Prime Minister. Aside from a bizarre statement by Ms. Manning to the effect: "don't worry Mr. PM. in the vent of a war with Iran, North American Jewry '...are ready and prepared to do whatever is necessary, including providing for urgent financial needs, leading advocacy efforts, dealing with domestic security concerns and more." I am certain that the Prime Minister was "comforted," but... of course, there was more. She expressed "her concern" that the Ethiopian aliyah was not moving fast enough. And, presto chango, exactly as JFNA wrote it: "[S]hortly after the meeting, the government agreed to significantly increase Ethiopian aliyah..." Ahhhh, the power, the hyperbole -- Manning demands and the Government of Israel genuflects and succumbs. Sure.
Of course the Prime Minister is so fearful of the power of Ms. Manning to influence world events to have asked "where exactly is the money you promised us to 'Complete the Journey?'" To which Ms. Manning would have replied: "Oh, that. Ask Jerry."
~ That was on February 27. It was only the very next day that JFNA was petitioning the Pope...yep, the Pope. "The Jewish Federations of North America is calling for support for an online petition urging Pope Benedict XVI to seek the release of Alan Gross during an upcoming papal visit to Cuba." This time the "urging" was made by Michael Gelman, Chair of the Executive Committee, and, presumably, of much less force and immediate impact than Chair Manning's demands of the PM.
~ And, earlier of course we have seen the Briefings on Beit Shemesh and the JFNA-led discourse on tolerance and civility in Israel where, dealing with even higher authority, all JFNA could do, so far, was to publicly whine.
I expect that in the coming days we will see JFNA Briefings demanding the release of Jonathan Pollard (probably responding to the urging of Pope Benedict to do so) and importuning Ahmadinejad to give up efforts by Iran to build a nuclear bomb, among other things,
Hyperbole and fantasy -- JFNA's stock in trade.
Rwexler
Friday, March 9, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
WHAT THE LCE MIGHT TALK ABOUT
The Large City Executives are meeting (or have met) this week in Southern Florida. I am certain they discussed matters of critical importance, after all their communities are responsible for 80% or more of the funds raised by the Federations across our Continent. New and innovative programs might have been on the agenda, maybe fund raising -- it's really none of our business, after all. This is a meeting of the LCE, whom we may employ but who often have their own agenda, created by them and for them.
But I have a few ideas that might have merited inclusion on their agenda:
1. How long are each of our federations going to spend over $1 million annually (and, often, two and three times that amount) in an organization that we are supposed to own -- JFNA -- but contributes almost nothing to us, individually or collectively?
2. From which of our federations will the next JFNA chief volunteer officers be chosen? Or will the largest of our communities continue to abdicate their leadership responsibilities to a self-perpetuating oligarchy of leaders, as has been the case for the last 6 years?
3. What are our responsibilities to other federations? How can we be mentors to new CEOs without regard to City-size, not just "better mentors" (because, really, we haven't been doing much, if any) but mentors?
4. How do we encourage the best and brightest of the lay leaders in our communities to engage in our national and overseas organizations to assure that those organizations reflect our agendas, our goals, our values?
I am sure that each of you could suggest an Agenda that end up having meaning to our communities.
Rwexler
But I have a few ideas that might have merited inclusion on their agenda:
1. How long are each of our federations going to spend over $1 million annually (and, often, two and three times that amount) in an organization that we are supposed to own -- JFNA -- but contributes almost nothing to us, individually or collectively?
2. From which of our federations will the next JFNA chief volunteer officers be chosen? Or will the largest of our communities continue to abdicate their leadership responsibilities to a self-perpetuating oligarchy of leaders, as has been the case for the last 6 years?
3. What are our responsibilities to other federations? How can we be mentors to new CEOs without regard to City-size, not just "better mentors" (because, really, we haven't been doing much, if any) but mentors?
4. How do we encourage the best and brightest of the lay leaders in our communities to engage in our national and overseas organizations to assure that those organizations reflect our agendas, our goals, our values?
I am sure that each of you could suggest an Agenda that end up having meaning to our communities.
Rwexler
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
"I'M FROM JFNA AND I'M HERE TO HELP YOU"
You know the drill; you've heard those exact words or something similar. You've learned that when you hear them it's either going to cost money ("Complete the Journey," "Support the IAN," "We need your Dues now," etc., etc.) What follows is a cautionary tale of just what JFNA means by "help."
When the beloved Marty Stein, z'l, and then UJA senior professional Russell Robinson first developed the concept of the Network and then implemented it, the United Jewish Appeal created not only a fund raising opportunity for 1000s of leaders in 400 non-federated communities across the country but also a strong voice in the governance of UJA. These were handed to JFNA with the expectation that Network FRD would increase and that the Network's "voice" would resonate even stronger than before. But this was JFNA after all.
Things started well. The Network leadership felt empowered and were supportive of their professional leader, Rhea Attias. Then, about five years ago, the Network first learned how much of its annual fund raising was being used to support JFNA's budget -- a much higher percentage than the JFNA dues of any federation. The Network leaders expressed their shock and outrage but were placated by promises that "things will change." They didn't. The Network Executive Committee had long engaged in creating a set of Procedures pursuant to which the Network would operate going forward. It was also a declaration of independence -- an Independence within and under the JFNA brand and umbrella. Manning was made aware of the Network process.
And, then, JFNA suddenly terminated the Network's long-time professional director without notice to or prior discussion with the Network lay leadership -- suddenly her position was "no longer needed" (the reasons for the termination are now being contested in litigation previously discussed). JFNA filled the Network professional leadership position with Jim Lodge, a long-time JFNA Senior professional with no prior involvement with the Network whatsoever...none. Jim, whose JFNA involvement was in the ONAD, Israel and Overseas area, performed as one might have expected, it was not long thereafter that Lodge himself was gone.
A new Network organizational proposal emerged for discussion in Winter 2011 -- a discussion from which Lodge was excluded. Now the JFNA Board Chair stepped in. No more assurance of greater Network leadership involvement in JFNA; no, without discussion, Manning issued her order: she created a "Committee" to study the relationship between the Network and JFNA. She appointed Lew Margolis as Chair. Margolis, no doubt a great guy, a Professor at the Gilling School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Ya' think Manning knew him? Nah.) Lew had had no involvement in the Network but he clearly was someone on whom Manning could rely. And the Network's steps toward independence within the JFNA came to a dead stop.
And the outcome of the Lew Margolis Committee's work? The Network Executive Committee was disbanded; in its place an "Advisory Committee" appointed by...Manning. The new Network Chair, a reliable lay leader from Miami...who had no prior experience with the Network. And no more troublemakers.
And what does the future hold? Bet on this: the Network's funds raised, heretofore supportive of projects of the Joint and JAFI will be deployed to fund the Global Planning Table, pure and simple. Manning will reward her latest acolytes with a meaningless seat or two at the "Table" and there you have it. The Network essentially out of the business it was in and into the sorry business that is JFNA.
But, that doesn't have to be the end. The Network can easily spin off into independence using its own resources to hire a strong CEO, one who sees the potential that Marty and Russ and UJA and the former (and many of the present) leaders saw and see. Then hire a small but strong staff. No need to support the bloat with no return that is the result of sending Network funds to JFNA now and in the future. The Network would elect its own Chair and its own Board without the intervention of Board Chair or Advisory Committee and it would identify the Israel and overseas projects of the Joint and JAFI that would inspire the Network's donors. Annually, leadership could convene a Network Assembly that would probably inspire attendance greater than the 800+ full pay Registrants that JFNA now attracts to the GA. All of this could be done with lower overhead and greater return than today. It would just take time and inspiration. All it would take would be for the Network's real leaders to take a look around and ask "what are we getting, really, from JFNA?"
Yes, this is a cautionary tale; but also exemplary. The Network had and has the capacity to raise $14 to $15 million -- all for needs of JDC and JAFI in Israel and overseas. But, never mind. To JFNA the Network's fund raising was far less important, even meaningless, to a leadership focused solely on absolute loyalty to it, total control and nothing more. Well, they got it; more great lay persons just thrown away because they wouldn't step forward in total fealty. And they...and all of us...lose.
Rwexler
When the beloved Marty Stein, z'l, and then UJA senior professional Russell Robinson first developed the concept of the Network and then implemented it, the United Jewish Appeal created not only a fund raising opportunity for 1000s of leaders in 400 non-federated communities across the country but also a strong voice in the governance of UJA. These were handed to JFNA with the expectation that Network FRD would increase and that the Network's "voice" would resonate even stronger than before. But this was JFNA after all.
Things started well. The Network leadership felt empowered and were supportive of their professional leader, Rhea Attias. Then, about five years ago, the Network first learned how much of its annual fund raising was being used to support JFNA's budget -- a much higher percentage than the JFNA dues of any federation. The Network leaders expressed their shock and outrage but were placated by promises that "things will change." They didn't. The Network Executive Committee had long engaged in creating a set of Procedures pursuant to which the Network would operate going forward. It was also a declaration of independence -- an Independence within and under the JFNA brand and umbrella. Manning was made aware of the Network process.
And, then, JFNA suddenly terminated the Network's long-time professional director without notice to or prior discussion with the Network lay leadership -- suddenly her position was "no longer needed" (the reasons for the termination are now being contested in litigation previously discussed). JFNA filled the Network professional leadership position with Jim Lodge, a long-time JFNA Senior professional with no prior involvement with the Network whatsoever...none. Jim, whose JFNA involvement was in the ONAD, Israel and Overseas area, performed as one might have expected, it was not long thereafter that Lodge himself was gone.
A new Network organizational proposal emerged for discussion in Winter 2011 -- a discussion from which Lodge was excluded. Now the JFNA Board Chair stepped in. No more assurance of greater Network leadership involvement in JFNA; no, without discussion, Manning issued her order: she created a "Committee" to study the relationship between the Network and JFNA. She appointed Lew Margolis as Chair. Margolis, no doubt a great guy, a Professor at the Gilling School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Ya' think Manning knew him? Nah.) Lew had had no involvement in the Network but he clearly was someone on whom Manning could rely. And the Network's steps toward independence within the JFNA came to a dead stop.
And the outcome of the Lew Margolis Committee's work? The Network Executive Committee was disbanded; in its place an "Advisory Committee" appointed by...Manning. The new Network Chair, a reliable lay leader from Miami...who had no prior experience with the Network. And no more troublemakers.
And what does the future hold? Bet on this: the Network's funds raised, heretofore supportive of projects of the Joint and JAFI will be deployed to fund the Global Planning Table, pure and simple. Manning will reward her latest acolytes with a meaningless seat or two at the "Table" and there you have it. The Network essentially out of the business it was in and into the sorry business that is JFNA.
But, that doesn't have to be the end. The Network can easily spin off into independence using its own resources to hire a strong CEO, one who sees the potential that Marty and Russ and UJA and the former (and many of the present) leaders saw and see. Then hire a small but strong staff. No need to support the bloat with no return that is the result of sending Network funds to JFNA now and in the future. The Network would elect its own Chair and its own Board without the intervention of Board Chair or Advisory Committee and it would identify the Israel and overseas projects of the Joint and JAFI that would inspire the Network's donors. Annually, leadership could convene a Network Assembly that would probably inspire attendance greater than the 800+ full pay Registrants that JFNA now attracts to the GA. All of this could be done with lower overhead and greater return than today. It would just take time and inspiration. All it would take would be for the Network's real leaders to take a look around and ask "what are we getting, really, from JFNA?"
Yes, this is a cautionary tale; but also exemplary. The Network had and has the capacity to raise $14 to $15 million -- all for needs of JDC and JAFI in Israel and overseas. But, never mind. To JFNA the Network's fund raising was far less important, even meaningless, to a leadership focused solely on absolute loyalty to it, total control and nothing more. Well, they got it; more great lay persons just thrown away because they wouldn't step forward in total fealty. And they...and all of us...lose.
Rwexler
Saturday, March 3, 2012
NICKLES AND DIMES
Friends, last month your Federation received the following letter -- only with a large number in it -- an invoice, a bill. As you will recall, this is JFNA's version of FRD.
"TO: __________________________________
FROM: Kathy E. Manning, Chair, Board of Trustees
Jerry Silverman, President & CEO
DATE: February 13, 2012
RE: Israel Action Network (IAN)
As you know, at the close of 2010 the JFNA Board of Trustees voted overwhelmingly to fund and launch the Israel Action Network (IAN), an initiative of the JFNA in partnership with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, to address the urgency of responding to a growing assault on Israel's legitimacy by foreign governments, NGOs and others in the BDS movement.
With your generous support, IAN has successfully ramped up its efforts, and implementation of the approved three year strategic plan is underway. Attached you will find the IAN 2011 Year End Report; 2012 Goals, Objectives and Deliverables that details the critical work that has been accomplished in the first year. Due to the time needed to recruit and hire staff and put an infrastructure in place, JFNA extended the first year budget (originally prorated for a 10 month start up year) to cover the first 18 months of operation that will conclude on March 31, 2011. IAN has carefully marshaled the funding to ensure achievement of our collective goals over this extended period.
As determined by the Board of Trustees vote, the first year of this initiative was funded exclusively by special federation allocations. In years two and three, 50% will be incorporated into the JFNA budget as a core function. Federation funding for this initiative was originally budgeted at $1.76 million for the first year, and then prorated to a 10-month year at $1.5 million as noted above. Federation funding is budgeted at $900,000 for each of years 2 and 3. We thank you for your support for the first year. We now respectfully request $ for year two of IAN’s operations.
We want to thank you for your ongoing support of this exciting new initiative, which we believe effectively represents our movement’s critically important response to an ongoing and insidious challenge to the legitimacy of the State of Israel.
When your federation does take action or you have any questions or concerns, please contact William Daroff at William.Daroff@JewishFederations.org; 202-736-5868. Also, please make checks payable to the Jewish Federations of North America and send to the attention of:
Sonia Santos
The Jewish Federations of North America
25 Broadway, Suite 1700
New York, NY 10004-1010
Thank you for joining our movement in this vital effort."
Yes, "thank you for joining our movement in this vital effort." And fighting with all we have the efforts at the delegitimization of Israel is vital. You may remember that when the IAN was created, this leadership sent out another letter, expecting federations to respond unanimously in support of the IAN. They didn't; we didn't. So, at the insistence of the federations, JFNA agreed to fund the IAN out of its budget -- out of the $30.3 million budget you/we provide. I could have sworn that JFNA was mandated to assume the total federation share of the IAN Budget but, perhaps, I misheard both the demand and the acceptance...maybe it was just half (obviously, JFNA needs the balance of those funds for Tables and TribeFest and stuff like that.
But, how are the funds being spent. Well, not to worry. The JCPA is monitoring the expenditures and, I suppose, reporting to JFNA on the revenues and expenses. The potential problem -- some insiders have told me that they believe that JCPA has used some of the IAN funds to support its own staff and budget. So, if true, we've got the classic fox guarding the hen house. We aren't talking about pennies here -- we're talking about "$900,000 (in) federation funding." Shouldn't we expect our JFNA to monitor the expenditure of our funds? Or should we rely on JCPA, a beneficiary, in whole or in part, of those funds? Rhetorical questions, of course.
It's a damn shame that JFNA continues to rely on letters for its internal fund raising efforts -- the same format was followed in its ask (wholly inappropriate in this writer's opinion) for additional funds for the ENP and for funding the effort to "Complete the Journey" of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. And, of course, the preposterous JFNA initiative, long forgotten, to bring Yemenite Jews to Monsey (and how's that "monitoring" going?). And, on and on. Never is there any priority-setting, just the "asks"...always the "asks."
"TO: __________________________________
FROM: Kathy E. Manning, Chair, Board of Trustees
Jerry Silverman, President & CEO
DATE: February 13, 2012
RE: Israel Action Network (IAN)
As you know, at the close of 2010 the JFNA Board of Trustees voted overwhelmingly to fund and launch the Israel Action Network (IAN), an initiative of the JFNA in partnership with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, to address the urgency of responding to a growing assault on Israel's legitimacy by foreign governments, NGOs and others in the BDS movement.
With your generous support, IAN has successfully ramped up its efforts, and implementation of the approved three year strategic plan is underway. Attached you will find the IAN 2011 Year End Report; 2012 Goals, Objectives and Deliverables that details the critical work that has been accomplished in the first year. Due to the time needed to recruit and hire staff and put an infrastructure in place, JFNA extended the first year budget (originally prorated for a 10 month start up year) to cover the first 18 months of operation that will conclude on March 31, 2011. IAN has carefully marshaled the funding to ensure achievement of our collective goals over this extended period.
As determined by the Board of Trustees vote, the first year of this initiative was funded exclusively by special federation allocations. In years two and three, 50% will be incorporated into the JFNA budget as a core function. Federation funding for this initiative was originally budgeted at $1.76 million for the first year, and then prorated to a 10-month year at $1.5 million as noted above. Federation funding is budgeted at $900,000 for each of years 2 and 3. We thank you for your support for the first year. We now respectfully request $ for year two of IAN’s operations.
We want to thank you for your ongoing support of this exciting new initiative, which we believe effectively represents our movement’s critically important response to an ongoing and insidious challenge to the legitimacy of the State of Israel.
When your federation does take action or you have any questions or concerns, please contact William Daroff at William.Daroff@JewishFederations.org; 202-736-5868. Also, please make checks payable to the Jewish Federations of North America and send to the attention of:
Sonia Santos
The Jewish Federations of North America
25 Broadway, Suite 1700
New York, NY 10004-1010
Thank you for joining our movement in this vital effort."
Yes, "thank you for joining our movement in this vital effort." And fighting with all we have the efforts at the delegitimization of Israel is vital. You may remember that when the IAN was created, this leadership sent out another letter, expecting federations to respond unanimously in support of the IAN. They didn't; we didn't. So, at the insistence of the federations, JFNA agreed to fund the IAN out of its budget -- out of the $30.3 million budget you/we provide. I could have sworn that JFNA was mandated to assume the total federation share of the IAN Budget but, perhaps, I misheard both the demand and the acceptance...maybe it was just half (obviously, JFNA needs the balance of those funds for Tables and TribeFest and stuff like that.
But, how are the funds being spent. Well, not to worry. The JCPA is monitoring the expenditures and, I suppose, reporting to JFNA on the revenues and expenses. The potential problem -- some insiders have told me that they believe that JCPA has used some of the IAN funds to support its own staff and budget. So, if true, we've got the classic fox guarding the hen house. We aren't talking about pennies here -- we're talking about "$900,000 (in) federation funding." Shouldn't we expect our JFNA to monitor the expenditure of our funds? Or should we rely on JCPA, a beneficiary, in whole or in part, of those funds? Rhetorical questions, of course.
It's a damn shame that JFNA continues to rely on letters for its internal fund raising efforts -- the same format was followed in its ask (wholly inappropriate in this writer's opinion) for additional funds for the ENP and for funding the effort to "Complete the Journey" of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. And, of course, the preposterous JFNA initiative, long forgotten, to bring Yemenite Jews to Monsey (and how's that "monitoring" going?). And, on and on. Never is there any priority-setting, just the "asks"...always the "asks."
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
GLOBAL PLANNING TABLE...NOT SO MUCH
A member of the Jewish Agency Board, writing anonymously in ejewishphinthropy, that treasured resource, has perfectly analyzed, side-by-side and fact-by-fact, the actions and substance of one organization, world-wide in scope, and the other, JFNA, engaged in "management guff that masquerades as real work...wasting everybody's time..."let alone our money."
Read it and weep.
"The Fictional Global Planning Table
As it stands now, the Jewish Federations of North America’s Global Planning Table is a work of fiction. Maybe it’s just that my relatively new Israeliness has made me more aware of the management guff that masquerades as real work in Jewish organized life, but it seems like the GPT so far, over half a year and hundreds of thousands of dollars after its long-heralded launch, hasn’t done much beyond sending around paper after paper about the process of how Jewish leaders are all going to talk about the issues.
Why not cut to the chase? For example, with a phone call led by someone who is respected, brave enough to dive into the questions of the day without a year-long discussion of the process, and influential enough not to be wasting everybody’s time?
This thought occurred to me this week as I listened to one of the most hard-hitting and informative discussions of one of the most intractable and painful Jewish issues of our day – haredim and the Orthodox monopoly in Israel. Quietly but effectively, one major Jewish organization has held real conversations between vastly different kinds of Jews on real issues that scare and worry us – and without pandering to the lowest common denominator or obsessing about process.
Last June, the Jewish Agency’s Board of Governors met in Jerusalem for a daylong discussion about the legitimate boundaries of discussion on Israel, the old “Who’s inside the tent?” question. Right-wing Jews sparred openly with left-wing, major federation presidents complained about being caught between conservative donors and progressive young program participants, and all sorts of Jews from all over the world took some wisdom back home with them.
The program was so successful that JFNA itself asked the Jewish Agency to hold the identical discussion at the GA in Denver in November.
A week after that GA, the agency took its 120-member board to Argentina – at the participants’ expense, it should be noted – into the field to see and participate in the real lives of Jews these leaders had never met. If you’re on the Jewish Agency board, Argentinian Jewry isn’t just an agenda item in a drab hotel conference room meeting. You’ve been to their schools, spoken to their mayor, heard about their fears of antisemitism and their gratitude to the Jewish world that rescued their schools and synagogues after the country’s financial collapse ten years ago.
And you thought about the actual real-life experience of meeting them when you promised a million dollars to keep the Greek community afloat this week.
Finally, this week back in Jerusalem, the Jewish Agency did something that to my knowledge is unprecedented for a major umbrella organization. It held an academic lecture, roundtable discussions and many hours of thoughtful contemplation of the problem of haredi integration into Israeli and world Jewish society. Among the presenters (some of whom spoke by video) were the haredi mayor of a haredi city (Beitar Illit), the Labor Party-appointed head of education and welfare for the Bet Shemesh municipality, an Israeli-born Reform rabbi, a haredi woman educator and college president, a former Shas MK (not Rabbi Amsalem for once) and at least two researchers who gave long talks about haredi society and demographics.
So much was learned at this daylong seminar that for once, the agency’s Committee for the Unity of the Jewish People didn’t just publish a call for pluralism. “I want to know what I can actually do with everything I learned,” more than one board member told me, including a major federation executive.
The committee decided it would research potential “candidates for actions” by the next board meeting in June, where instead of yet another banal call for pluralism and unity, the committee would choose and approve a course of action and a budget for diaspora Jews to step in and affect the situation.
I could go on about stopping the Rotem Bill, the clarity and stubbornness with which the agency has faced its many critics of late, and more. Bottom line: this is an organization led by courageous and straight-talking leaders who are really getting to the business of solving the Jewish people’s problems.
Over the past year, the place for content and brave discussions of the hottest topics on the Jewish agenda – I’m as surprised as you – has been the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Meanwhile, the GPT is searching desperately for an identity. It’s tried everything except actually having a straightforward discussion about the Jewish people’s challenges. Why is JFNA spending millions in reinventing the idea that Jews should be talking about the really important issues, when the Jewish Agency, simply by getting to the actual conversation, has tackled the most uncomfortable issues as if they were simply part of the Jewish people’s daily business?
Which, of course, they are."
Why not cut to the chase? For example, with a phone call led by someone who is respected, brave enough to dive into the questions of the day without a year-long discussion of the process, and influential enough not to be wasting everybody’s time?
This thought occurred to me this week as I listened to one of the most hard-hitting and informative discussions of one of the most intractable and painful Jewish issues of our day – haredim and the Orthodox monopoly in Israel. Quietly but effectively, one major Jewish organization has held real conversations between vastly different kinds of Jews on real issues that scare and worry us – and without pandering to the lowest common denominator or obsessing about process.
Last June, the Jewish Agency’s Board of Governors met in Jerusalem for a daylong discussion about the legitimate boundaries of discussion on Israel, the old “Who’s inside the tent?” question. Right-wing Jews sparred openly with left-wing, major federation presidents complained about being caught between conservative donors and progressive young program participants, and all sorts of Jews from all over the world took some wisdom back home with them.
The program was so successful that JFNA itself asked the Jewish Agency to hold the identical discussion at the GA in Denver in November.
A week after that GA, the agency took its 120-member board to Argentina – at the participants’ expense, it should be noted – into the field to see and participate in the real lives of Jews these leaders had never met. If you’re on the Jewish Agency board, Argentinian Jewry isn’t just an agenda item in a drab hotel conference room meeting. You’ve been to their schools, spoken to their mayor, heard about their fears of antisemitism and their gratitude to the Jewish world that rescued their schools and synagogues after the country’s financial collapse ten years ago.
And you thought about the actual real-life experience of meeting them when you promised a million dollars to keep the Greek community afloat this week.
Finally, this week back in Jerusalem, the Jewish Agency did something that to my knowledge is unprecedented for a major umbrella organization. It held an academic lecture, roundtable discussions and many hours of thoughtful contemplation of the problem of haredi integration into Israeli and world Jewish society. Among the presenters (some of whom spoke by video) were the haredi mayor of a haredi city (Beitar Illit), the Labor Party-appointed head of education and welfare for the Bet Shemesh municipality, an Israeli-born Reform rabbi, a haredi woman educator and college president, a former Shas MK (not Rabbi Amsalem for once) and at least two researchers who gave long talks about haredi society and demographics.
So much was learned at this daylong seminar that for once, the agency’s Committee for the Unity of the Jewish People didn’t just publish a call for pluralism. “I want to know what I can actually do with everything I learned,” more than one board member told me, including a major federation executive.
The committee decided it would research potential “candidates for actions” by the next board meeting in June, where instead of yet another banal call for pluralism and unity, the committee would choose and approve a course of action and a budget for diaspora Jews to step in and affect the situation.
I could go on about stopping the Rotem Bill, the clarity and stubbornness with which the agency has faced its many critics of late, and more. Bottom line: this is an organization led by courageous and straight-talking leaders who are really getting to the business of solving the Jewish people’s problems.
Over the past year, the place for content and brave discussions of the hottest topics on the Jewish agenda – I’m as surprised as you – has been the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Meanwhile, the GPT is searching desperately for an identity. It’s tried everything except actually having a straightforward discussion about the Jewish people’s challenges. Why is JFNA spending millions in reinventing the idea that Jews should be talking about the really important issues, when the Jewish Agency, simply by getting to the actual conversation, has tackled the most uncomfortable issues as if they were simply part of the Jewish people’s daily business?
Which, of course, they are."
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
CARING...FOR WHAT?
Here they go again.
I want no credit for prescience, but I want to remind you that from the February 2009 JFNA Retreat forward, I had predicted the emergence of what would be called the Global Planning Table and the intent of JFNA to arrogate to itself the Israel and Overseas allocation function of the federations. Call that faulty process Step 1. Now it's on to Step 2.
Step 2 requires no great leap of faith. At the January 2012 JFNA Board Retreat, an extraordinary amount of time was spent focusing on "Israel's Civil Society." It's an important topic, no doubt, but never doubt for a moment that JFNA lay and professional leaders believe that they can impact on the incivility in Israel and, I guess, on Haredi attitudes and reprehensible activities in some as yet inarticulate manner. So far that "engagement" has reflected itself in "strong statements" in the usual JFNA style -- full of sound and fury signifying nothing; a letter "hand delivered" to the Prime Minister expressing our "concern" and demanding "action," and CEO Jerry visiting the Knesset with his liege, Ms. Caspi, grabbing whoever they can ("excuse me, are you a Knesset member? Can we have a moment"), traveling to Beit Shemesh, etc,and getting a mention or even an interview in the Israeli media. (If federation leaders happen to be in Israel on a Mission, they might be invited towatch participate.)
Somehow, JFNA leaders have the belief that they can influence Haredi actions in Israel when they have no contact...none...with the Haredi community in North America. Let them start here, at home, not too far from JFNA HQ. Kathy and Jerry ought to take a trip across the East River and meet with the Haredi leadership; tell them of our concerns face-to-face; ask them to cease the violence,; to cease the uncivil activities right here at home; and to cease funding them in Israel. Then, through that success, influence actions directly in Israel. For the last, there's a toolkit somewhere at 25 Broadway...find it, use it...but, beware, it involves mobilizing the federations and, oy vey, lay persons.
But, our leaders won't do that...too hard; wouldn't involve JAFI (whose leaders might have advised Kathy/Jerry of the origins of today's incivility); and wouldn't attract funding from the GPT. But, none of this will stand in the way of JFNA's leaders -- those who have proved time and again that once they start down a path, they don't turn back -- TribeFest, a failure, let's do it again and, this time, we'll budget $818,000 plus overhead and staff travel; Community Heroes, no apparent purpose, but, look, Philadelphia copied us so let's do it again; the Global Planning Table, even though federations will continue to determine where they and their donors want their allocations to go, others have already committed to continue their core allocations to JAFI/JDC, hey, we'll just take dollars from the Israel and Overseas Endowment, its purposes be damned, and some federations will give us something to play with, won't they? And, we'll call it "collective responsibility" and...victory!!
Arrogance and hubris override reason. Onward, the critics be damned. It's the "JFNA way."
Rwexler
I want no credit for prescience, but I want to remind you that from the February 2009 JFNA Retreat forward, I had predicted the emergence of what would be called the Global Planning Table and the intent of JFNA to arrogate to itself the Israel and Overseas allocation function of the federations. Call that faulty process Step 1. Now it's on to Step 2.
Step 2 requires no great leap of faith. At the January 2012 JFNA Board Retreat, an extraordinary amount of time was spent focusing on "Israel's Civil Society." It's an important topic, no doubt, but never doubt for a moment that JFNA lay and professional leaders believe that they can impact on the incivility in Israel and, I guess, on Haredi attitudes and reprehensible activities in some as yet inarticulate manner. So far that "engagement" has reflected itself in "strong statements" in the usual JFNA style -- full of sound and fury signifying nothing; a letter "hand delivered" to the Prime Minister expressing our "concern" and demanding "action," and CEO Jerry visiting the Knesset with his liege, Ms. Caspi, grabbing whoever they can ("excuse me, are you a Knesset member? Can we have a moment"), traveling to Beit Shemesh, etc,and getting a mention or even an interview in the Israeli media. (If federation leaders happen to be in Israel on a Mission, they might be invited to
Somehow, JFNA leaders have the belief that they can influence Haredi actions in Israel when they have no contact...none...with the Haredi community in North America. Let them start here, at home, not too far from JFNA HQ. Kathy and Jerry ought to take a trip across the East River and meet with the Haredi leadership; tell them of our concerns face-to-face; ask them to cease the violence,; to cease the uncivil activities right here at home; and to cease funding them in Israel. Then, through that success, influence actions directly in Israel. For the last, there's a toolkit somewhere at 25 Broadway...find it, use it...but, beware, it involves mobilizing the federations and, oy vey, lay persons.
But, our leaders won't do that...too hard; wouldn't involve JAFI (whose leaders might have advised Kathy/Jerry of the origins of today's incivility); and wouldn't attract funding from the GPT. But, none of this will stand in the way of JFNA's leaders -- those who have proved time and again that once they start down a path, they don't turn back -- TribeFest, a failure, let's do it again and, this time, we'll budget $818,000 plus overhead and staff travel; Community Heroes, no apparent purpose, but, look, Philadelphia copied us so let's do it again; the Global Planning Table, even though federations will continue to determine where they and their donors want their allocations to go, others have already committed to continue their core allocations to JAFI/JDC, hey, we'll just take dollars from the Israel and Overseas Endowment, its purposes be damned, and some federations will give us something to play with, won't they? And, we'll call it "collective responsibility" and...victory!!
Arrogance and hubris override reason. Onward, the critics be damned. It's the "JFNA way."
Rwexler
Saturday, February 25, 2012
A LETTER TO SUSIE
Dear Susie,
When you were named National Campaign Chair, I was, with all of your friends and colleagues, past and present, so pleased. For the first time in a long time, I had a sense of some optimism about FRD at JFNA. Now, months after your appointment, and after your cheerful and totally misguided presentation on "Philanthropic Resources" at the GA, I find that optimism shattered as with all else at JFNA.
I would have thought, Susie, given your brilliant performance as UJA's Women's Philanthropy Chair, that that experience would have been informed your leadership in this storied position that represents a continuum from, in my own experience, Mort Kornreich to you. Even in the history of JFNA great Chairs like Carole Solomon, Bob Schrayer, z'l, Marc Wilf, Steve Selig, Joel Alperson and David Fisher, carried on the battle to maintain the status of both FRD and the role of the National Campaign Chair -- sometimes against heavy internal JFNA lay and professional opposition. They did so because they were aware of the sacred responsibilities of the role of Chair and the critical connection between national FRD and the communities -- sacred responsibilities in which the leadership of JFNA the past six years has been, at best, disinterested. Thus, my hope was that you would reignite the fire; instead you hold hands with those who are pouring water that will assure that the small spark that was once a roaring fire goes out.
The federations had made it known during the first five years of JFNA that they wanted far more in the way of FRD services than they were getting even at that time. There were a series of annual surveys of the federations conducted by the Rochester Research Group that, year-in and year-out, placed FRD at the top of their lists of "wants" from JFNA. Rather than provide those services to federations, JFNA just stopped the surveys. (It's as if the intermarriage crisis of the 90's wouldn't have happened if we just hadn't commissioned a National Population Study...and, now, we don't.) You could probably have someone on the Philanthropic Resources staff get those Survey findings from the dead files if you asked. So instead of more, the federations got less and, now, they get almost none.
Please understand, I know that there are some excellent things happening in national FRD. Among them:
~ The "Million Dollar Roundtable" (or however it's branded) bringing together million dollar donors and federation CEOs from time-to-time replicating the "Mega Group" (with a more limited membership) begun with such hope in the UJA era. While not a group originated within the "campaign," it's still a terrific initiative;
~ The "Tarrytown Group" (or whatever it's called) bringing together professional leaders of major foundations with federation CEOs from time-to-time, offering hopes for joint ventures and the cross-pollination of big ideas. While not a group within "campaign," it's still a terrific initiative;
~ The revival of at least a portion of what once was a highlight of the Winter season, then the "National Palm Beach Event," in the form of the Clinton Speech at a "King David Society" event. Of course, the constituency that was the core of 200 major donors who participated in the Palm Beach Event has been abandoned and destroyed by JFNA itself. But we had some great times there;
~ The rebranding of "federation benchmarking" as the "online data dashboard" brings an old and good CJF best practice into the 21st century and offers a terrific data base for measuring federations' successes (or failures);
~ Reintroducing an idea that originated at UJA in the 90's -- direct mail solicitation of low end prospects -- as if it were some kind of new idea; and
~ Flight -- a substantive, important program for a small group of high potential future leaders and philanthropists. While really conceived and led by Jane Sherman and almost completely funded by the Fisher Family Foundation, JFNA deserves some degree of credit. Now, of course, the critical question: who is left at Philanthropic Resources to staff it?
But, Susie, there are also those national Missions you spoke about with such passion (and, of course, you would because you experienced so many of them back in the day) as if they will be enhanced and increased this year. Yet, you and I know that JFNA is reducing the subsidy on its most important Mission, the Campaign Chairs and Directors, by at least 10% when it should be increasing it, selling it and understanding that the ROI from that Mission alone can't be fully measured in connection and inspiration. You will recall that when we as a system understood "value investing," the UJA reinvested in the CC/CD Mission 50/50 with the communities; now, JFNA's "investment" approximates 10% of the Mission cost.
Last year showed the lowest attendance since that great Mission was initiated back in the days of Mel Bloom. I would have expected you, of all leaders, to have used your influence with the Board Chair to demand that the investment (what JFNA calls "subsidy") be increased. But, no, JFNA makes a greater "investment" (as in "good money after bad") of absolute dollars and staff time and travel in TribeFest than in the best sales tool it has, the CC/CD Mission. BTW, you may remember that in the days when the national organization understood "return on investment" that 50/50 subsidy and an inspired lay and professional leadership with the federations produced annual results for the federations that were overwhelming -- so many of the men and women who read this Blog will remember how federation campaigns were jump-started; I remember how I was inspired, time and again.
When JFNA began twelve years ago, we had a clear picture of the role of the National Campaign Chair -- if not the "first among equals," then one of a troika of co-equals -- the Board Chair, the Chair of the Executive and the National Campaign Chair -- each with a critical leadership role. Today, the Chair of the Executive position is gone and the National Campaign Chair's role has been reduced to cheerleader, to a good reader of scripts. (When the last effective National Campaign Chair questioned "authority," he refused top accept a diminished role and resigned -- principle triumphed and JFNA...lost.) Susie, you have the strength that comes from the support of our largest federation and your gifts of passion and commitment. Use that support and those gifts to elevate FRD to its proper position within JFNA -- the choice is yours.
Warmest regards,
Richard
Rwexler
When you were named National Campaign Chair, I was, with all of your friends and colleagues, past and present, so pleased. For the first time in a long time, I had a sense of some optimism about FRD at JFNA. Now, months after your appointment, and after your cheerful and totally misguided presentation on "Philanthropic Resources" at the GA, I find that optimism shattered as with all else at JFNA.
I would have thought, Susie, given your brilliant performance as UJA's Women's Philanthropy Chair, that that experience would have been informed your leadership in this storied position that represents a continuum from, in my own experience, Mort Kornreich to you. Even in the history of JFNA great Chairs like Carole Solomon, Bob Schrayer, z'l, Marc Wilf, Steve Selig, Joel Alperson and David Fisher, carried on the battle to maintain the status of both FRD and the role of the National Campaign Chair -- sometimes against heavy internal JFNA lay and professional opposition. They did so because they were aware of the sacred responsibilities of the role of Chair and the critical connection between national FRD and the communities -- sacred responsibilities in which the leadership of JFNA the past six years has been, at best, disinterested. Thus, my hope was that you would reignite the fire; instead you hold hands with those who are pouring water that will assure that the small spark that was once a roaring fire goes out.
The federations had made it known during the first five years of JFNA that they wanted far more in the way of FRD services than they were getting even at that time. There were a series of annual surveys of the federations conducted by the Rochester Research Group that, year-in and year-out, placed FRD at the top of their lists of "wants" from JFNA. Rather than provide those services to federations, JFNA just stopped the surveys. (It's as if the intermarriage crisis of the 90's wouldn't have happened if we just hadn't commissioned a National Population Study...and, now, we don't.) You could probably have someone on the Philanthropic Resources staff get those Survey findings from the dead files if you asked. So instead of more, the federations got less and, now, they get almost none.
Please understand, I know that there are some excellent things happening in national FRD. Among them:
~ The "Million Dollar Roundtable" (or however it's branded) bringing together million dollar donors and federation CEOs from time-to-time replicating the "Mega Group" (with a more limited membership) begun with such hope in the UJA era. While not a group originated within the "campaign," it's still a terrific initiative;
~ The "Tarrytown Group" (or whatever it's called) bringing together professional leaders of major foundations with federation CEOs from time-to-time, offering hopes for joint ventures and the cross-pollination of big ideas. While not a group within "campaign," it's still a terrific initiative;
~ The revival of at least a portion of what once was a highlight of the Winter season, then the "National Palm Beach Event," in the form of the Clinton Speech at a "King David Society" event. Of course, the constituency that was the core of 200 major donors who participated in the Palm Beach Event has been abandoned and destroyed by JFNA itself. But we had some great times there;
~ The rebranding of "federation benchmarking" as the "online data dashboard" brings an old and good CJF best practice into the 21st century and offers a terrific data base for measuring federations' successes (or failures);
~ Reintroducing an idea that originated at UJA in the 90's -- direct mail solicitation of low end prospects -- as if it were some kind of new idea; and
~ Flight -- a substantive, important program for a small group of high potential future leaders and philanthropists. While really conceived and led by Jane Sherman and almost completely funded by the Fisher Family Foundation, JFNA deserves some degree of credit. Now, of course, the critical question: who is left at Philanthropic Resources to staff it?
But, Susie, there are also those national Missions you spoke about with such passion (and, of course, you would because you experienced so many of them back in the day) as if they will be enhanced and increased this year. Yet, you and I know that JFNA is reducing the subsidy on its most important Mission, the Campaign Chairs and Directors, by at least 10% when it should be increasing it, selling it and understanding that the ROI from that Mission alone can't be fully measured in connection and inspiration. You will recall that when we as a system understood "value investing," the UJA reinvested in the CC/CD Mission 50/50 with the communities; now, JFNA's "investment" approximates 10% of the Mission cost.
Last year showed the lowest attendance since that great Mission was initiated back in the days of Mel Bloom. I would have expected you, of all leaders, to have used your influence with the Board Chair to demand that the investment (what JFNA calls "subsidy") be increased. But, no, JFNA makes a greater "investment" (as in "good money after bad") of absolute dollars and staff time and travel in TribeFest than in the best sales tool it has, the CC/CD Mission. BTW, you may remember that in the days when the national organization understood "return on investment" that 50/50 subsidy and an inspired lay and professional leadership with the federations produced annual results for the federations that were overwhelming -- so many of the men and women who read this Blog will remember how federation campaigns were jump-started; I remember how I was inspired, time and again.
When JFNA began twelve years ago, we had a clear picture of the role of the National Campaign Chair -- if not the "first among equals," then one of a troika of co-equals -- the Board Chair, the Chair of the Executive and the National Campaign Chair -- each with a critical leadership role. Today, the Chair of the Executive position is gone and the National Campaign Chair's role has been reduced to cheerleader, to a good reader of scripts. (When the last effective National Campaign Chair questioned "authority," he refused top accept a diminished role and resigned -- principle triumphed and JFNA...lost.) Susie, you have the strength that comes from the support of our largest federation and your gifts of passion and commitment. Use that support and those gifts to elevate FRD to its proper position within JFNA -- the choice is yours.
Warmest regards,
Richard
Rwexler
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
THEY'RE BACK!!!
You remember, don't you, all the fuss started about six years ago about "silos" at JFNA. "Got to tear 'em down." "Destroy them." "Build one organization." Yada Yada yada. Of course this was all just a smoke screen to mask massive layoffs, often of the strongest of JFNA professionals. In the end, the actions just weakened the organization, weak as it was already.
As is always...always...the case at JFNA, we, amcha, were never told whether the "silos" were destroyed, what the "benefits" were, if any. But, never mind...they're back -- they may be different, after all, even camouflaged as "Philanthropic Resources," with a "National Campaign Chair," there is no perceivable "national campaign," except in the minds of those at 25 Broadway; yes, different but...back.
The "silos" of today:
~ Marketing and Communications...rather than a function supporting campaign and FRD, it stands alone in the JFNA corn field, much like a scarecrow to frighten away the critics. A separate fiefdom, there to serve the CEO, the Board Chair. Oh, it may produce a campaign film...but it does so independent of "Philanthropic Resources."
~ JFNA-Israel...do you know what the minions in Jerusalem do? I know that the Office, under two administrations, immediate past and present, no longer supports the work of the Agency (other than the superb work of UIA-Israel) or Joint. And just look at the recent Briefing on an UJA-Federation of New York Mission to Ethiopia where, in a YNet puff piece one would hardly know that the New York Federation was involved at all -- claiming credit is what one does when one has nothing else to do. Now, thank G-d, this Office may provide a support function for the embryonic Global Planning Table, but other than Mission support and, of course, choreographing Jerry Silverman's periodic forays on the ground in Israel...what else for all of this money?
At the onset of what has become JFNA, some 12 years ago, Bob Aronson, then Detroit's President, led a Task Force that recommended real change to the Israel Office and functions. None of those recommendations were followed, but they need to be revisited...and fast.
~ JFNA-Washington...the only "silo" functioning well, integrated wholly with the federations and demonstrably successful. Jerry Silverman's seminal professional achievement to date was taking whatever steps were necessary to retain William Daroff for JFNA.
~ Philanthropic Resources...the catalyst for the "silo" deconstruction has been successfully (if this is a measure of "success" at JFNA) diminished -- it is but a shadow, if that, of what "Financial Resource Development" (let alone UJA) once was. I keep expecting the great people who have served and serve as National Campaign Chairs to step up and assert themselves...but the last one who did so resigned in frustration, and his successors have proved to be silent partners in the defenestration.
What can we conclude? Well, at this iteration of JFNA little of value has any real permanence. In fact, today's leaders don't possess the toolkit (or, if they have it, don't know how to use it) to decide between what is of value and what isn't. And, where there are choices, they seem to always...always...choose badly. And, there's the rub.
Rwexler
As is always...always...the case at JFNA, we, amcha, were never told whether the "silos" were destroyed, what the "benefits" were, if any. But, never mind...they're back -- they may be different, after all, even camouflaged as "Philanthropic Resources," with a "National Campaign Chair," there is no perceivable "national campaign," except in the minds of those at 25 Broadway; yes, different but...back.
The "silos" of today:
~ Marketing and Communications...rather than a function supporting campaign and FRD, it stands alone in the JFNA corn field, much like a scarecrow to frighten away the critics. A separate fiefdom, there to serve the CEO, the Board Chair. Oh, it may produce a campaign film...but it does so independent of "Philanthropic Resources."
~ JFNA-Israel...do you know what the minions in Jerusalem do? I know that the Office, under two administrations, immediate past and present, no longer supports the work of the Agency (other than the superb work of UIA-Israel) or Joint. And just look at the recent Briefing on an UJA-Federation of New York Mission to Ethiopia where, in a YNet puff piece one would hardly know that the New York Federation was involved at all -- claiming credit is what one does when one has nothing else to do. Now, thank G-d, this Office may provide a support function for the embryonic Global Planning Table, but other than Mission support and, of course, choreographing Jerry Silverman's periodic forays on the ground in Israel...what else for all of this money?
At the onset of what has become JFNA, some 12 years ago, Bob Aronson, then Detroit's President, led a Task Force that recommended real change to the Israel Office and functions. None of those recommendations were followed, but they need to be revisited...and fast.
~ JFNA-Washington...the only "silo" functioning well, integrated wholly with the federations and demonstrably successful. Jerry Silverman's seminal professional achievement to date was taking whatever steps were necessary to retain William Daroff for JFNA.
~ Philanthropic Resources...the catalyst for the "silo" deconstruction has been successfully (if this is a measure of "success" at JFNA) diminished -- it is but a shadow, if that, of what "Financial Resource Development" (let alone UJA) once was. I keep expecting the great people who have served and serve as National Campaign Chairs to step up and assert themselves...but the last one who did so resigned in frustration, and his successors have proved to be silent partners in the defenestration.
What can we conclude? Well, at this iteration of JFNA little of value has any real permanence. In fact, today's leaders don't possess the toolkit (or, if they have it, don't know how to use it) to decide between what is of value and what isn't. And, where there are choices, they seem to always...always...choose badly. And, there's the rub.
Rwexler
Sunday, February 19, 2012
WHAT MIGHT $600 MILLION HAVE MEANT TO OUR PEOPLE MOST IN NEED? -- A POSTSCRIPT
Leave it to those wise scribes at JFNA to provide the postscript, a cadenza if you will, to our most recent Post. In a JFNA Leadership Briefing, of all places, the organization itself evidenced the annual waste more vividly than this Blog ever could.
Two weeks after the Orlando Retreat ended, JFNA published the results: Board of Trustees Examines Critical Issues at Winter Meeting. Ignoring for the moment Briefing's characterization of the November (sic) 2010 JFNA Agreement with JAFI and the JDC as both "multi-faceted" and "integrated" (whatever that means), let's turn, instead, to the recap of CEO and President Silverman's closing address to the sad remnant remaining in Orlando by the time of the presentation. Here's the way the Briefing put it: "The coming year will only bring even greater leadership and results, with a 'record' GA in Baltimore, a second TribeFest, the International Lion of Judah Conference in New York City, a series of inspiring and recharged missions, and much more, Silverman said."
In other words, $30.3 million more of going nowhere with your money.
Rwexler
Two weeks after the Orlando Retreat ended, JFNA published the results: Board of Trustees Examines Critical Issues at Winter Meeting. Ignoring for the moment Briefing's characterization of the November (sic) 2010 JFNA Agreement with JAFI and the JDC as both "multi-faceted" and "integrated" (whatever that means), let's turn, instead, to the recap of CEO and President Silverman's closing address to the sad remnant remaining in Orlando by the time of the presentation. Here's the way the Briefing put it: "The coming year will only bring even greater leadership and results, with a 'record' GA in Baltimore, a second TribeFest, the International Lion of Judah Conference in New York City, a series of inspiring and recharged missions, and much more, Silverman said."
In other words, $30.3 million more of going nowhere with your money.
Rwexler
Thursday, February 16, 2012
WHAT MIGHT $600 MILLION HAVE MEANT TO OUR PEOPLE MOST IN NEED?
With the JFNA Board's approval a while back of another (ho-hum) $30.3 million Budget, one that once again rarely associates any of its "planned" programs with any dollar amount, it occurred to me that perhaps we ought to consider just what our federations, our agencies and/or our partners might have spent the $600,000,000....that's $600 million, friends...for matters meaningful, even critical, rather than wasting so much of it on pet projects and personal agendas and vendettas.
Think about it: $600,000,000!! Not a small number; about what what we transmitted to the Jewish Agency from the great Operation Exodus Campaign, sufficient to leverage the aliyah for 1,000,000 Jews from what was the Soviet Union. What might we, as a continental community done with that truly outrageous amount? We could have provided Jewish pre-school and day school scholarships to tens of 1,000's of families. We could have responded to the Joint's continued unmet needs in the FSU? Or given federations the ability to meet the needs of a massive outbreak of new Jewish poor in our midst? We could have met the needs of Birthright or fully funded JAFI's MASA program. Instead, we have thrown and throw an equivalent amount at JFNA and in return...so little, so very little. Is it fair to criticize the lack of purpose and the waste? Or is it merely a waste of time to do so?
And, coupled to the wandering, we find JFNA in total disregard of the financial crises facing not just our historic partners but, apparently, those facing our own communities. Now there is the suspicion, engendered by the time devoted to the subject at the Orlando Retreat and a subsequent Leadership Briefing (that demonstrated, once again, that the core value of "collective responsibility" is unknown to JFNA), that JFNA believes it can find purpose in wrapping itself in the cause of Israel's civil society. Why? Because it is the sense of the current JFNA leadership that that involvement, like its attempts to arrogate to itself the determination of federations' Israel and Overseas agenda and allocations, will make JFNA (and thereby its leaders) important. Forget the reality that JFNA has no proven capacity to accomplish anything beyond the reductio ad absurdum destruction of the FRD function that once elevated our national organization to such glory and the elevation ad absurdum of a TribeFest at such great expense -- a financial failure in Year 1, now a failure of design and purpose to come.
And, I guess that my friends in leadership of the federations, seeing no alternative to JFNA, and, basically, disinterested in trying to right this institutional version of the Costa Concordia, throw our money at it, with the hope that it will then float, and vote for programs without inquiry or concern. How easily we have become coopted.
That was $600,000,000(+) and counting.
Rwexler
Think about it: $600,000,000!! Not a small number; about what what we transmitted to the Jewish Agency from the great Operation Exodus Campaign, sufficient to leverage the aliyah for 1,000,000 Jews from what was the Soviet Union. What might we, as a continental community done with that truly outrageous amount? We could have provided Jewish pre-school and day school scholarships to tens of 1,000's of families. We could have responded to the Joint's continued unmet needs in the FSU? Or given federations the ability to meet the needs of a massive outbreak of new Jewish poor in our midst? We could have met the needs of Birthright or fully funded JAFI's MASA program. Instead, we have thrown and throw an equivalent amount at JFNA and in return...so little, so very little. Is it fair to criticize the lack of purpose and the waste? Or is it merely a waste of time to do so?
And, coupled to the wandering, we find JFNA in total disregard of the financial crises facing not just our historic partners but, apparently, those facing our own communities. Now there is the suspicion, engendered by the time devoted to the subject at the Orlando Retreat and a subsequent Leadership Briefing (that demonstrated, once again, that the core value of "collective responsibility" is unknown to JFNA), that JFNA believes it can find purpose in wrapping itself in the cause of Israel's civil society. Why? Because it is the sense of the current JFNA leadership that that involvement, like its attempts to arrogate to itself the determination of federations' Israel and Overseas agenda and allocations, will make JFNA (and thereby its leaders) important. Forget the reality that JFNA has no proven capacity to accomplish anything beyond the reductio ad absurdum destruction of the FRD function that once elevated our national organization to such glory and the elevation ad absurdum of a TribeFest at such great expense -- a financial failure in Year 1, now a failure of design and purpose to come.
And, I guess that my friends in leadership of the federations, seeing no alternative to JFNA, and, basically, disinterested in trying to right this institutional version of the Costa Concordia, throw our money at it, with the hope that it will then float, and vote for programs without inquiry or concern. How easily we have become coopted.
That was $600,000,000(+) and counting.
Rwexler
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