PICK A NUMBER

I want to be fair to JFNA -- a place where I still have a few friends and, even more so, many hopes. So I am going to Post the various GA Registration numbers I have heard; you can choose the one you think most realistic:

• JFNA leaders have been receiving weekly Registration updates that lead them to believe that, with a sudden influx of Mission participants who had been unregistered, Registration is now at 3,000 and rising;
• Others at 25 Broadway have told me that Registration is "still on life support" and "underwater" at less than 1,000;
• One GA Co-Chair has said that current Registration is in excess of 4,000, increasing by 100 each day;
• Israeli colleagues have told me that they are receiving calls daily "pleading" for attendees; and
• Some have reminded me that at one recent GA under the current JFNA professional leadership, JFNA crowed about 3,000 registrants, yet when the Registrations were hand counted -- there were less than 950 lay people registered.

Frankly, we'll probably never know. I hope the number of paid lay registrants is 3,000 -- hell, I hope it's 5,000. You can pick your own number -- I think that that is exactly what JFNA is doing.

Rwexler

THE FEDERATIONS AND THE NEGEV...THERE'S NO THERE THERE

As those who read this Blog and the very few attending the GA know, JFNA canceled a Mission-like "Day in the Negev" -- a "day" to see, apparently, all that the federations (other than those invested in the Negev through P2gether) (what a brilliant brand) aren't doing in the Negev and the rest of the South of Israel. This was a wise choice by JFNA.

But it is also appropriate for us to understand that while JFNA organizes professional planning work groups and spins its wheels, producing "talking points" and "here's what we'll (probably) do if you send us more money" and other non-things, there is a great deal happening -- just not by JFNA (though, as you will read, there are connections).

Let's start with the Jewish National Fund and its work in Be'er Sheva. Most of us have visited Be'er Sheva, some have marveled at its potential as the Gateway to Israel's Negev, many would call it Israel's future. While most of us "marvel," JNF's leaders saw potential and acted. With the people of Be'er Sheva, JNF developed a Vision through Blueprint Negev that includes:

More than $30 million has already been invested in a city that dates

back to the time of Abraham. For years Be’er Sheva was an economically depressed and

forgotten city. Enough of a difference has been made to date that private developers have

taken notice and begun to invest their own money. New apartment buildings have risen, with

terraces facing the riverbed that in the past would have looked away. A slew of single family

homes have sprung up, and more are planned.

Attracted by the River Walk, the biggest mall in Israel and the first “green” one in the

country is

being built by The Lahav Group, a private enterprise, and will contribute to the city’s communal

life and all segments of the population. The old Turkish city is undergoing a renaissance, with

gaslights flanking the refurbished cobblestone streets and new restaurants, galleries and stores

opening. This year, the municipality of Be’er Sheva is investing millions of dollars to renovate the

Old City streets and support weekly cultural events and activities. And the Israeli government

just announced nearly $40 million to the River Park over the next seven years.

Serious headway has been made on the 1,700-acre Be’er Sheva River Park, a central park

and waterfront district that is already transforming the city. JNF funds have:

•

Built and opened 7 out of 15 kilometers of the beautiful promenade;

•

Reinforced the riverbanks to hold back the flood waters that rush through five days a year;

•

Removed tons of garbage from the riverbed which had been used as a dump;

•

Begun to renovate the historical site of Beit Eshel, an original Be’er Sheva outpost, which

will bring to life and educate tourists about the War of Independence;

•

Completed a recycled water system for park irrigation;

•

Built Bell Park, the first central park in the city, with JNF Canada;

•

Developed educational programs with three area schools through our partner Society for

the Protection of Nature in Israel;

•

Developed a $4 million plan for the renovation and promotion of Abraham’s Well funded

by the estate of May Mann;

•

Funded a feasibility study on bringing water to the river year-round;

•

Planned the Pipes Bridge, which will disguise the water pipes used to funnel water into the

city, create a scenic recreational spot, and connect the park to the Old City.

•

Planned the 20-acre lake and 10,000-seat amphitheatre;

There is nothing wrong with JFNA  twiddling its fingers while others do God's work. After all we only have 27 staffers in our Israel Office -- they hardly have enough time to accomplish anything. 

And, just to be clear, the person who told me of this incredible work is our friend Russell Robinson, JNF CEO and President, once a great fund raiser and creative source at the United Jewish Appeal...that's the UJA.

And, that's not all that is going on in Israel's South or in Be'er Sheva for that matter. There, one of Israel's great Universities is at work "transforming Be'er Sheva into Israel's next high tech center." At its recently dedicated Advanced Technologies Park, Ben Gurion University as BGU continues up the path toward becoming part of Israel's new Silicon Valley. 

There is nothing wrong with JFNA twiddling its fingers while others do God's work. After all they have 27 staffers in our Israel Office -- they hardly have time to accomplish anything.

And, just to be clear, the professional spearheading the fund raising in America for American Associates Ben Gurion University is our friend Doron Krakow, once SVP at JFNA, and now doing brilliant work as Executive Director of American Friends BGO of the Negev. Russell Robinson and Doron Krakow, once senior professionals of our national organizations, now leading the efforts of other organizations in nation- and institution-building in Israel.

And, JFNA? Well, we probably don't even know what JNF and BGU and others are doing in Israel's South. We're busy; don't you know anything?

Rwexler

•

HEIGHTS OF STUPIDITY

This Post takes another look at the GA -- or, pardon me, "The Global Jewish Shuk -- A Marketplace of Dialogue and Debate." Oh, if only it were so.  The GA was such a valuable and valued franchise that efforts to make it a biennial event were rejected by a number of the LCE (and, no doubt others) based on an argument that "if we don't do it every year, someone will surely steal it from us." Now, if attendance is the scoreboard, the franchise has been so devalued as to render that argument moot.

I don't know who is in charge of the "rules" for the GA in this Mickey Mouse era. I do recall that in the early years of JFNA, we had a lay/professional Committee where all issues -- from the programmatic to the practical -- were discussed and decided. So, here's what's happening now:

• As we have observed, federations and agencies which made inquiry have been told that there will be no day passes to the GA. This at a time that Registration is somewhere between a disaster and a bigger disaster;
• I gave some thought to attending at this the last minute. Tried to reserve rooms at one of the GA hotels -- it doesn't matter which, there are rooms after rooms available. It is clear on the GA website that once booked, you cannot get a refund no matter the circumstance. So, we called a few hotels at various price points in an attempt to book the same dates and, guess what: every one of these hotels permits cancellation up to 24 hours in advance -- at the same room rates or lower than JFNA has "negotiated."   
• I, like you, have read the GA Program. The good news: there are many new faces; the bad news: there are many old ones as well. I found it interesting that the JFNA CEO/President has found his way onto the program in at least two places -- one of which is to moderate an apparent "discussion" of Takdim, the first Israeli community following the federation "model" (whatever that is today). As in many other GA program instances, wouldn't this be an opportunity to highlight Federation lay and professional leaders who are actively and actually involved in Takdim. But...this is but a quibble: of greater import is, as one national leader wrote me, "this is nothing more than the same old same old, 'new faces' talking about the same old things."
• On the subject of the GA Program, the system's entity fighting BDS will present, but how about this: post his IDF service, Israeli Hen Mazzig was engaged as a shaliach by StandWithUs. His experience with American Jews in the NorthWest resulted in a cry: "An Israeli Soldier to American Jews: Wake Up." It was tough reading but wouldn't hearing directly from Mazzig wake up a dead GA? If there are those at JFNA who don't know how to contact StandWithUs, give me a call.
• The "selling of the GA" has been JFNA's major focus these past two months -- the catalyst? A registration so abysmal as to be an embarrassment. The Shuk proved not to mean much so JFNA added another meaningless tag line: The 2013 GA: Where All Points Meet. No, haven't a clue what that means. And "dialogue and debate" -- where on that desultory, soporific Program? Better minds than mine, certainly, conceived a wonderful program on Jewish Pluralism in Israel led by thought leaders from "across the religious spectrum" where those assembled could "[L]earn about the work being done on the ground in Israel to bring about change." Moderated by John Ruskay. It is just the kind of program that would have brought life to a GA sorely needing it. It was held on October 20 in New York City, convened by the JCC in Manhattan -- fully sponsored. 
• On October 25 -- what's that, 3 weeks before the GA itself -- there appeared a 1/2 page ad for the GA in the Forward. I'm going to assume that JFNA had to pay for the ad. I can only picture some federation lay leader in her office: reads the ad and says "Eureka. I have to go to this. I wasn't going to but, but...this ad. I'M GOING." Did JFNA put the GA in the hands of its Marketing Department...or does JFNA just have money to burn?
• All of this leads to the question: where the hell is the buzz? Where is the life? Where, seriously, are the "dialogue and debate" in a GA program that appears to be all about talking heads and no debate? Where is the meat? Shouldn't we at least be good at this? G-d knows we used to be.

Rwexler

P.S. I am told that one of the GA Co-Chairs is telling anyone who will listen that GA registration is now at 2,450 and increasing at the "rate of 100 per day." I would love to have a swig of that Kool-Aid.

TRUST US? SERIOUSLY?

Whenever those involved in the Global Planning Table do anything, you know that chaos will follow almost immediately. And, so it goes. 

The JFNA Board has now approved a Resolution, after truly robust debate (for which Michael Siegal should be congratulated), drafted and submitted to it by the Global Planning Table -- submitted without the ability on the part of the Board to offer any amendments, a bizarre and unfortunate dictate. The substance of that Resolution is described below. But, first, a little background: 

The Resolution emerged from a "process" allegedly arising out of a November 4, 2010, Tri-Party Agreement of JFNA, JA and JDC pursuant to which, among other things "JFNA, JAFI and JDC commit to reaching out to federations directly to advocate for increased overseas funding." (Please note that, over the virulent objections of Kathy Manning, I was engaged to represent both JA and JDC in the negotiation of this Agreement. I know [a] what was in the Agreement; and [b] what the parties intended). No matter hiw JFNA chooses to "brand" this thing, this Resolution is nothing more than an expression of "hope." 

As the current Resolution discloses: on August 15, 2012, JFNA unilaterally extended the term of the Agreement through December 31, 2013. Neither JAFI nor JDC agreed to such an extension.

I have described the structure of the GPT (an acronym that has become to symbolize the futility of JFNA as much as "ONAD" once did) as a "Rube Goldbergian" one -- this time the chaos emerges from something within the GPT "process" called the Partnership Committee, chaired by, trumpets please...Ms. Kathy Manning -- appointed to this position by, trumpets please...Ms. Kathy Manning. Yes, it is the "Partnership Committee" as only JFNA and the Global tail wagging the JFNA dog that could call a Committee "Partnership" when the ostensible "partners" don't even have a seat at the table -- why? It's our childhood game "Musical Chairs" but one that starts two seats short. (Picture the JA and JDC representatives are sent dancing around a set of chairs already filled and from which the JFNA/GPT appointees never rise. Jokes on you JA and Joint. [And that's for sure].) So. obviously, "Partnership" as used in the title of this Committee is, as always at JFNA, nothing but a joke -- what it means is "we'll decide and let you 'partners' know."

Oh, the Committee members? There are 7 of the 19 Large Cities -- the three with the largest allocations (Chicago, New York and Detroit); then 4 that rotate (currently Cleveland, Baltimore, Miami and D.C.); 2 Large Intermediate. 1 Intermediate, and then a whole bunch of lay and pro JFNA leaders (who may or may not have a vote, but probably do). If you are learning this for the first time, I'm sorry, it's the JFNA way -- they probably didn't want you to know at all. So, the Partnership Committee made its recommendation to the GPT Executive Steering Committee (chaired by....trumpets and drum roll please...Kathy Manning who [and I am not making this up] was appointed by...Kathy Manning) which approved the Partnership Committee recommendation (no doubt, unanimously). And, understand this, as well: the Resolution would empower this "Partnership" Committee to lead a global needs advocacy effort -- not JFNA, not the United Israel Appeal, not the Jewish Agency/JDC -- but the self-appointed Committee of the Global Planning Table. (See the membership above and the criteria for membership below.)

You will be pleased to also know that there is one criterion for federation membership: Partnership Committee Membership Requirement: Unrestricted plus other giving to Historic Partners -- 20% or greater of campaign. Sounds good, but, upon further review, not so much. So, a federation which allocates, say 5% (or even 0%) to the partners' core and makes a 15% (or, say a 20%) contribution to them (actually it could be to just one of them) through designated giving is eligible. I guess this just demonstrates how the core allocations have collapsed on the watches of the Partnership Committee Chair when she chaired JFNA, her predecessor and the CEOs who watched it happen while their lips were sealed with the glue of ineptitude and disinterest.

And, what has this GPT decision-making body recommended to the JFNA Board which has now approved it? First the contractual "split" between the Jewish Agency and Joint is over (although it really ended long ago); even as the conversion of "split" to a cash allocation recommendation appears to perpetuate it.  Rather than allowing the market to dictate distributions, JFNA, oops, make that the Global Planning Table, believes that it can establish for the federations the amount of the allocation to each partner. Yet, for those who objected to the "split" as the partners agreed with each other; now the GPT, not the federations...the GPT,  will do so -- yet, when questioned its leaders could not offer any explanation or rationale whatsoever for the anemic recommended cash allocations to core for 2014. 

Then, it is urged that the core allocations to our system's historic partners be increased. Fabulous idea; I applaud those who framed the concept. And, in the framing GPT document, federations are urged to add funding to special projects from new dollars, not out of core -- that is to be applauded as well. But...and this is a major "but"...the specific increase in 2014 core dollar allocations recommended by this GPT Committee to the federations would yield less to the historic partners than the reduction in core dollar distributions anticipated in 2013. This reminds me of those federations which project flat annual campaigns as a "goal" for the year to come -- relatively easy to achieve while the ball does not move forward. (Maybe one should compare this anemic "goal" with the JNF's recently announced $1 billion campaign goal. One organization which understands that there is no failure in reaching for highest goal; there is only failure in reaching for the lowest.)  If you understand the rationale for such timidity, please explain that to me. Maybe one of you does. And, enforcement -- don't be silly. This is a plea, nothing more -- it echoes the futility of the same pleas that were inserted (with the support of the same Large Cities) into the ONAD recommendations for four or five consecutive years. 

And, now, the GPT, or is it JFNA, (trust me, it's that confusing), wants to insert itself into the core allocations advocacy process...in fact, establish one that does not currently exist. This from a body and from current GPT and former JFNA leaders who dedicated themselves for the past 6 years to the deconstruction of those very core allocations -- allocations to the Jewish Agency, Joint and World ORT that are today at historic lows. Is it not fair to ask why the three historic partners should entrust advocacy management to an entity -- the GPT Partnership Committee and its Chair, Manning? And, further, why would JFNA itself allow the Partnership Committee lead an advocacy process when JFNA should have been devoted to just that process from its beginning but which has, but for one futile effort over thirteen futile years, ignored this historic obligation as it has so many others? Is it not fair to ask who at JFNA, oops, GPT is even capable of leading such a critical process? It sure isn't Ms. Manning. It's all more of the same.

As noted above, back in that ONAD "era," if it can be recalled as such, each year the ONAD Resolution was accompanied by a gratuitous plea -- that the federations increase the overseas allocation for, e.g., the Ethiopian National Project, without reducing the core allocation to the Jewish Agency or the Joint. The response -- eyes rolled, glazed over, the hortatory language meaningful only to those who made the plea -- was the now "traditional" use of the overseas core allocation as the communal ATM, raided year-in and year-out by those who chose to close their eyes to the meaning of collective responsibility or never understood the concept to begin with. Leading the way --  the very organization that was created in part to protect that core overseas allocation and advocate to increase it. The Board and Executive Chairs who preceded Michael Siegal and Dede Feinberg were too busy with the shiny objects of the GPT and vendettas to be bothered. With their JFNA CEOs in tow, they preferred to deprecate the work of the historic partners ("you would be doing better job if you [JA/JDC] knew how to market, had better programs, etc.") rather than to work positively to enhance and promote their value to our People. So it is worthy of applause that there are federation leaders imploring their fellows acharei on the allocations front. That is an achievement after 6+ years of silence and a shrug of the institutional shoulders as the core allocations reduced and reduced and reduced again and again.

Over the past decade, what happened to those who argued for advocacy? Pushed aside, told to "get with the team or get out," ignored or relegated to this Blog. Collective responsibility was "so 90s and so over." Instead it was special projects, Signature Projects, the Global Planning Table -- when, in reality, there was no planning, nothing more than a rationalization of the GPT by and for she who dictated its terms (and, almost, its outcomes). Now, JFNA implores JAFI and the Joint to "trust us." They say: "We'll (or, make that the GPT) lead an advocacy effort for an increase to your core allocations. No, we have no staff to lead this effort...but, we'll find some. No, we have no lay leaders to lead this effort, but, maybe, UIA , can provide us some for the Jewish Agency's advocacy -- we own UIA after all and, therefore, we can control them. And, the Joint, trust UIA or the long dormant Israel and Overseas Committee or the GPT to advocate for you as well. We know, we know, we convinced both JAFI and JDC to make the merger that created JFNA by telling them it would all be about increasing their resources; if we fooled 'em once, no reason we can't do it again, is there?"

Is there?

Rwexler

OR...NO HOPE??

Well, sometimes with JFNA there is hope and most of the time there is none. JFNA has been circulating an "on-line" Forward op-ed of which CEO Jerry and Chair Siegal seem to be extremely proud. It also appeared on-line in Huffington Post. It purports to be a JFNA response to the Pew Report. It is disgraceful if one is to be honest about it. And I have literally been flooded as rarely before in the five years of this Blog with copies of the op-ed from JFNA Board Members, federation chairs and federation professionals questioning how this could happen and the futility of trying to effect change at JFNA. One wag wrote: "this is governance by bad press release."

You may recall that we published the CEO's New Year's Message of just last month -- a statement that totally confused the work of others with those of JFNA and the federations. That was merely the prelude to this sad piece of claptrap. Maybe the CEO just doesn't comprehend that he is claiming as JFNA's the successes of others -- Birthright, PJ Library and, of all things, Camp. "Ideas" like free Jewish preschool for all can't be argued with -- but the CEO and Chair offer nothing on how to do it. Worse, they offer not a word about federations being on the front lines confronting the challenges offered by Pew (even as many are); and nothing about JFNA being on the front lines of anything in Jewish education (other than helping push JESNA off the ledge through the "work" of its Alliance). It is a real embarrassment that Jerry was able to convince Michael Siegal to add his name to this...this...ridiculous example of "let's throw it against the wall and see if it sticks."

And, then the twosome gave JTA an interview listing the "four ideas" -- all good, all without any specifics, all beyond any of JFNA's demonstrated capacity. The "interview" was merely the verbal regurgitation of the press release. Just words, just trying to catch a train that has left the station -- "this is what we see; this is what we think." OMG!! (In this interview, CEO Jerry demanded that Birthright's "gatekeepers" share their alumni lists with federations -- just a brilliant tactic in the midst of recent negotiations between JFNA and Birthright leaders on the subject). 

And, there is the idea of "Jewish Development Zones." It's a great idea -- sprung in this op-ed like something new on an unsuspecting populace...and that's what makes the whole op-ed even more shameful. In the early-2000's JFNA began intensive work with under-performing high potential communities. The idea sprung directly from a pioneering FRD Study. Working with the then JFNA FRD staff, I was proud to have been asked to serve as the lay chair of this effort. A number of communities asked to participate, two were chosen -- Las Vegas and Phoenix. The work had just begun, with Las Vegas, great progress was made...and, then...JFNA pulled the plug. It's professional heads of FRD had quit under duress; the CEO terminated this program. The lay chair of the effort was never consulted. 

So, for sure, pull a program that actually could have been fully functioning and fully funded out of the shredder, rebrand it as "Jewish Development Zones" and try to scotch tape the shredded strips of paper together -- it will probably read better than that op-ed. Then, again, it is likely, given his disinterest and the collapse of FRD on his watch (best evidenced by the inability to hire a professional leader to head the effort) that Silvermen was unaware of the earlier effort and no one on his staff was able to tell him about it. 

And, by what seichel, what pilpul does JFNA take an Israel GA and "turn it around" to focus on the Pew Report? To these guys, Jerusalem is just another New Orleans, another Vegas or Chicago. This is clearly an organization with neither purpose nor Mission nor priorities. Read Silverman's first reaction to Pew and compare it with these utterances. Look up "feckless" in the Dictionary and you will find it next to the JFNA logo.

Read that thing, my friends-- how many times (other than in the name Jewish Federations of North America) is the word "federation" used? I see "communal structure," I read "communities" and other such but "federations," our owners, not once. Better to call this a "death notice" as opposed to an "op-ed." 

We know that Siegal and Feinberg, our Co-Chairs, understand that for the 4 years that preceded their election and longer, JFNA's leaders engaged in an attempt to wipe clean historical institutional memory.  You read the op-ed and it as if no one at 25 Broadway has a clue as to what the federations have done and were doing before the Pew Report and will cpntinue to do. That the Pew Foundation has no clue could be expected; that the federations own organization doesn't is incomprehensible.

We're in worse shape than I had ever thought...hard to believe.

Rwexler

HOPE!!??

I am, by nature and experience, an optimist.  Perhaps, if you review the Posts on these pages over the past 4 years, you wouldn't think so...but, you would be wrong. And I am increasingly optimistic about the possibility that JFNA's Co-Chairs can right the Costa Concordia that JFNA has become and move it forward.

Let me explain...

I truly believe that in Michael Siegal JFNA has a Board Chair who truly cares about the federations he represents; and in Dede Feinberg, a Chair of the JFNA Executive who understands and truly loves the totality of our system. They are dedicated, as their predecessors were not, to JFNA serving the all of the federations and all of our system as opposed to JFNA existing to promote itself. Yet, they are almost at the halfway point of their three terms -- and, candidly, there is so little to show for the time they have invested in trying to save JFNA from itself. So, here, before I try to offer a prescription of what can be done coupled with what needs to be done, is a Comment received from a brilliant albeit Anonymous writer (I have edited a small portion of the Comment as inappropriate):

"Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "ARE YOU SURPRISED?":


Our JFNA Lamentations are different.

We spend more time and money on a Global Planning Process to spend money we do not have. (Yes, I have heard the lies, there is money just waiting in the wings for this to all happen.) 

We spend millions of dollars on this GPT waste of time and not even a fraction of that amount supporting campaign.

We make a mockery of leadership development in TribeFest that grows no leadership. We trot out the occasional young person who discovers Federation via a free trip to Las Vegas. Do we support and nurture the existing young donor - not.

We invite our competitors as Partners to TribeFest and other venues, while we ignore our real partners in the JCCs, JFSs and day schools.

We raid the Pushka, virtually stealing Tzedaka dollars to promote JFNA, and not our fund raising mechanism. Not to build capacity, but to build the kingdom of JFNA. It is a crime against the Jewish people.

We have built a virtual Fiefdom in Israel, whose goals,  expense, and actual activities would not be endorsed by any Federation in North America.

We hire senior staff, pay them 6 figure salaries and never let them do their jobs.

We have weakened the treasure of UIA, by diminishing its crucial role and effectivity at the altar of JFNA's megalomaniacal past leadership and the false idol of "Brand". UIA is the only JFNA activity in Israel actual serving the Federations.

We claim success in the face of repetitive failure. We self congratulate and repackage failure as success. If one cannot admit failure one can never really improve. 700 some people planning to come to the Jerusalem GA and no more than 40 Federation execs will be a failure of biblical proportions.

Our well meaning top leadership accepts the lies of our chief professional and are being lead like sheep to slaughter. Their naïveté in the face of the Flim Flam Man - our ... salesman in chief, is very sad. They diminish their own reputations of solid past leadership. It is not fair because they are not the cause of the devastation, but if they do not step up and stop it, history will only record their failure, while it gives a pass to those who came before them.

I too lament. I lament that Jerry Silverman is being allowed to destroy the JFNA that I love.

Pay off Jerry's contract, pay off our Senior VP in Israel's contract and fire the overpaid consultants before our Jerusalem on Broadway is destroyed in Biblical proportions. We do not need a new book of Lamentations.

Michael and Dede, the time to act is now."

Yes, the time has come for action. Yet, I suspect that one of the barriers to the action needed is a fierce opposition from, who else, Kathy Manning and the acolytes who believe that she walks on water; after all, one of the two or three "accomplishments" of her three years was installing Silverman, in "taking" the CEO position from the "clutches" of federation CEOs. The other "prize," the GPT, remains an ultra-expensive barrier to real change presented as if it were change. She just doesn't get it; and the current Chairs need to move forward and do the right thing.

I would suggest that the Chairs appoint an "Interim CEO" -- a person who would step in for no more than two years; evaluate the professional staff; make such changes as would help the Chairs and the person who will succeed him/her right the ship and position JFNA for moving forward at the end of that person's stewardship in the right direction as a vehicle of and for the federations. JFNA must become about its owners; no longer about itself.

A cartoon in a recent New Yorker illustrated the problem: two lumberjacks, axes in hand, are assessing their task -- cutting down a truly massive redwood. One turns to the other: "Should we have lunch first?" To Michael and Dede, no time for lunch anymore.

Rwexler

A WINNER!!

I had nothing to do with the engagement of Olga Yorish by the Jewish Federation of Orlando as its CEO -- other than to kvell as I did in a Post upon her hiring. I reprint below Olga's statement of both her joy and the challenges she and the community face. Compare this with the JFNA CEO's High Holiday "greeting" last month:

ttp://www.heritagefl.com/story/2013/09/06/opinions/join-us-as-we-shape-the-future/1351.html "Twenty four years ago a man, a woman, and a child stood in the arrival hall of the Boston Logan airport. Tired and disoriented after a long flight from overseas, their old life in the USSR left resolutely behind, they were hopeful for a better future. In Boston, they were met by a group of people representing an organization whose name the woman didn’t know. Nor did she know that this organization would soon become her life and her passion. Last April, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando Board of Directors hired that woman (yes, you guessed right, that woman was me) as an Executive Director and charged me with moving this Jewish Federation forward. 

During my first months, I had more than 200 individual and group meetings with volunteers, community members, agency colleagues, and Federation staff. In all these meetings, I have been impressed with a variety of opinions, strength of convictions, and passion for the community and its institutions. I have discovered that there is a lack of information and understanding of what the Federation is about; there are some hurt feelings and broken relationships; there is an opinion that the Federation is not relevant to the Jewish community; and at the same time, there is a somewhat contradictory notion that the Federation is able to and must take care of all the problems. What struck me most, however, was a recurrent theme of a lack of a unified Jewish community bound by common goals and aspirations.

What do we have to do to change it? There are a few critical components that define a strong and vibrant Jewish community. First of all, it is a commitment to our core values of Torah, Tzedakah, and Chesed – faith, justice, and acts of kindness. It is also a commitment to educate the future generations, to transmit our heritage to children and grandchildren. What also makes a community strong and vibrant are opportunities for all Jews to come together. And a key component is a central organization that keeps it all together and ensures stability and growth.

All these elements are present in the Orlando Jewish community. We have not one but two excellent campuses used by 1,500 people every day. We have thriving synagogues led by dedicated rabbis and lay leaders. We have strong agencies led by talented and dedicated volunteers and staff. We have day schools and multiple other Jewish educational opportunities. And we have the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando that is the glue that bonds the core components together.

From many of my conversations, I learned that there is a desire to rebuild and repair; there are many people who are remarkably supportive and encouraging; and there are thousands of people in this community who continue to invest their time, energy, and resources in the Jewish community locally and around the world. This is a community mandate and a vote of confidence that the Federation is relevant and needed. The Jewish Federation is the one place that belongs to every Jew, the place where philanthropy, volunteerism and shared commitment come together to make a difference in the world. Federation was established to improve the quality of Jewish life worldwide, nurture Jewish learning, care for those in need, rescue Jews in danger, and ensure the continuity and well-being of our people. We have been doing all this for many decades and we must and will continue to do it. We are the one organization that can, should, and will build a community with a capital C. A Community where agencies and leaders are fully supportive of each other; where the interests of the Community come first and individual agency and personal agendas are secondary.

I challenge our rabbinic leaders to join us in this work, to bring forth their talents and influence to achieve this goal. I challenge our agency lay and professional leadership to move beyond institutional interests and look at the big picture. Will it happen? It must. It has to, for the sake of the future of this Jewish community.

As we kick off the 2014 Shaping the Future Annual Campaign, we have established an ambitious goal to increase annual giving by 15 percent. I propose to use this increase to create a grants fund for collaborative and innovative community programs. It’s time for the Federation to get back to its business.

Every morning, as I arrive at work, I think of the privilege it is of being the executive director of the Jewish Federation. I think of how to use this day to make it stronger. I know how fortunate I am to do what I love and to love what I do."

This, my friends, is how a leader sounds, motivated by love, history, passion and experience. Can she succeed? It's going to be tough -- the community is long-divided, local agencies appear to be determined to pull it apart, it is a federation burdened by debt and history. There is no national organization with capacity to help (even if it had the will to do so). But if anyone can do this, this inspiring leader can. Wish her well.

Rwexler

WHO IS THIS PERSON? AND WHY?

"[t]here are mountains of data...on how he is not regarded as strong or tough or up to the job..." 

No, this was not written about CEO Jerry ...the problem is that it well could have been...over and over again. While failure is all around him, the President/CEO appears to believe that he is "protected" by his ability to dance (even the "Shuffle") away from every failure of leadership unscathed ... untouched. Well, he's wrong. Even as his bloviations, hyperbole and cliche have reached the level of credibility of that infamous Iraqi "Information Minister" -- you remember Baghdad Bob? -- during the Gulf War, credibility is crumbling, leaving...just a pile of rust -- four years' worth of failed Teflon.

JFNA gave Jerry Silverman a great chance -- following a terribly flawed predecessor, he was given 5 years to propel JFNA forward; I can think of no one who didn't want him to succeed. Four years later and where are we? Are we better off today than we were as a system four years ago? Clearly not... are our leaders prepared to acknowledge the mistake. 

Some have suggested that I blame former Board Chair, Kathy Manning, for the mistake that this hiring has turned out to be. But, that's not the case, not really. She is to be congratulated for her naked and absolute manipulation of otherwise smart leaders and for ending the blatant hegemony of the LCE (which, after the abject failure of Jerry's predecessor) that had literally imposed a Howard Rieger on the Continental level. On the other hand, of course, she chose Silverman without any consultation with...apparently anyone (other than, maybe, continuing consultant Deborah K. Smith, and, perhaps, husband Randall Kaplan) with any knowledge of the federation system. And she didn't do that because she didn't have to being, as all of us would come to know if we didn't already, that, as the mirror told her every day, she was the smartest person in the room.

And, though Jerry was her guy, she often treated him with a "patronizing over- fondness" -- thus, when doing a supposed evaluation of Silverman, her investigation as to your sense of the CEO would begin "isn't Jerry great!!" Your answer, obviously not required. 

Jerry, who had had great success in revitalizing a small national Jewish agency - the Foundation for Camp - learned that his experience there was not transferable to what was to become JFNA. Not only did he serve a very strong Chair, to whom he knew not what to do other than bow and scrape, but he had to serve a number of the LCE to whom bowing and scraping were probably not enough. 

One perceptive albeit anonymous Commentator, writing in response to the recent Let's Talk Tachlis Post, wrote:

"Better needs to start today. 

As the current CEO has not performed, regardless of the obstacles in his path, the time has come for a clean sweep in the office of the CEO (including all those overpaid and unoriginal consultants). He thought he was the messiah who would save the system and his actions have proven he's not.

Better includes federations stepping up to the plate and DEMANDING an organization that serves ALL 155 of them - not just the "big 3."

The Jewish federation system will not survive four more years like the last four. A new CEO, and 155 strong federations, caring federations, gives the system a fighting chance." 

Amen -- on all points. Enough is enough.

Rwexler 

JFNA -- THE MOVIE!!

Sent to me with best wishes by a Friend of the Blog:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzkWTcDZFH0#action=share

"Coming soon to a theatre near you!!" 

Rwexler

REDUCED TO THIS...

From the 'WHAT'S WITH THESE PEOPLE" DEPARTMENT...

1. They still call the GA "the most important gathering of American Jewish leaders." It's not any longer...but it could be once again. Has anyone shown the Chairs, Siegal and Feinberg, the Report prepared, delivered and almost implemented until Kanfer, Manning and Rieger shelved it. Maybe CEO Jerry can find it (if he can't, someone tell him to call me [he never reads this]) and, if so, send it to his Chairs.

2. Then, there's stuff like this:


 "JFNA Poll: We're seeing some pretty amazing specialty challot around the internet these days. Will you be doing anything unusually sweet for your Rosh Hashanah Challah? Salted caramel apple? Dates or figs? Truffled honey swirl?"

Yes, friends, this is exactly what some professionals (who knows how many) at JFNA are wasting their time and your money, conjuring. Even earlier, after another FOB looked at this latest inanity, he noted that "after 4 plus years they have 6,916 likes. Compare that to JNF 34,000, JAFI 30,000 English only, Project Heart 11,000." I don't know what a "like" is, but JFNA hasn't got almost any -- and, who knows, of a paltry 6,916, how many are directed by JFNA senior professionals to sign on. And, still, there are those at JFNA who believe that this waste has value -- probably written by the same professionals assigned to find and publioize those inane "65 reasons to attend the 2013 GA."

3. "We are independent and unaffiliated, just like you." This may not be a bad come-on if you are not a featured speaker at the JFNA Young Leadership Cabinet Retreat, as the Rabbinic leader, founder and Executive Director of a web-based organization called PunkTorah. Yeah, makes you wonder "what's with these people?" Where is the pride in exactly the opposite of the message of the JFNA-selected speaker to the Cabinet Retreat -- that's right, pride in affiliation? We are so lost in the maze that JFNA has created, finding our way out isn't even on the JFNA agenda. 

These are but three of many examples....too many. At JFNA the belief is that if "we cool" then we don't have to "be good." And, they aren't even "cool," are they? Let's face it, over the last few years, to paraphrase a great creative force in our culture, we have seen our system move from the "existential" to the sadly "ironic" -- from the era when we asked "should JFNA exist and how?" to today when the question has become "who cares?"

Rwexler