The bitter controversy in Chicago involving University of Chicago Hillel may be off the front page, but isn't going away. We're told the Jewish Federation simply does not care - they continue to have the support of local donors and apparently this is where their interest lies. But what the good folks over at the Federation are missing is the concern expressed by many a national organization that partners with Federation on local programs - if it happened with Hillel it could happen with them. And, this is not such a good reputation to have. Over at JDC, life is also interesting these days. Friday's unexpected announcement that Steven Schwager, the organization’s Executive Vice President and CEO, retirement has raised more questions than answers. Schwager, who led many to believe he would stick … Continue Reading
Limmud FSU Einstein: A First Look
Kicking off Limmud FSU's seventh year, Limmud FSU Princeton opened this past Friday afternoon just a short hop away from Princeton University. This, the first multi-day Limmud FSU event to take place in North America, brought 650 participants (including 50 kids) together for three days of Jewish learning and exploration. The program, geared to all ages and every perspective, was organized by volunteers from the U.S. Russian-speaking Jewish community and reflects the participants’ desire to maintain their Russian Jewish culture while living in the United States. Speaking erev Shabbat, Rabbi "Shmuley" Boteach - a veteran of many Limmud programs around the world - described the atmosphere as "the warmest of any Limmud program" he has witnessed. Previous Limmud FSU programs have centered on … Continue Reading
Limmud FSU Receives Jerusalem Post Award
Just two months ago, readers of The Jerusalem Post voted a story published in the paper by Gil Shefler on Limmud FSU's St. Petersburg Conference as the “Leading Story of the Jewish World in 2011.” The award was presented Sunday at the Jerusalem Post Annual Conference in New York to Matthew Bronfman - Limmud FSU Inetrnational Steering Committee Chair and Dr. Nona Kuchina and Moshe Shneerson (Israel) of Dr. Nona International - the Deputy Chairs of Limmud FSU's steering committee. In remarks, Steve Linde - the Post's eiditor-in-chief said, "Limmud FSU started just six years ago, founded by Chaim Chesler of Israel and Sandra Cahn of New York, whom we are delighted to see here with us today, together with Michael Chlenov, President of the Federation of Jewish Organizations and Communities of … Continue Reading
Looking Beneath the Surface in Chicago
Today's The Jewish Week carries an excellent editorial on the bitter, and now public, disagreement between the University of Chicago Hillel's recently fired director and advisory board and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Hillel's owner. As eJP understands the dispute, the paper's analysis is correct. Several issues have come together to make this much more than just a local Chicago issue. First is the ownership model where all Hillel's in Illinois are owned by the Federation, a situation we believe to be unique in the U.S. Whether or not this is the best possible model for UC Hillel is an important question that no one seems to be addressing. Also, as far as we have been able to ascertain, the firing of Hillel's advisory board by the Federation represents the first time not only … Continue Reading
Limmud FSU Princeton: Bridging the Disconnect
With the goal of helping to bridge their disconnect from the American Jewish community, over 500 Russian-Jewish-American young adults will gather at Princeton University, May 11th-13th, for the first-ever three-day Limmud FSU Conference in the United States. The entire conference, including its content, is organized by volunteers from the U.S. Russian-speaking Jewish community and reflects the participants’ desire to maintain their Russian Jewish culture while living in the United States. An estimated 750,000 to 1 million Russian-American Jews live in the country, with about half residing in New York and New Jersey. Among the presenters at the conference are leading academics, politicians, writers and artists hailing from the United States, Israel, Russia and elsewhere including, Yossi Bachar, … Continue Reading
JFN 2012: Philanthropy in Action
With the Mediterranean Sea as a backdrop, a full week of bright, sunny skies, and high energy, the Jewish Funders Network (JFN) gathered in Tel Aviv last week for their annual conference, the first in Israel since 2008. With 455 registered participants (including 234 from Israel) this was the largest conference ever for the organization. The attendees came from four continents and represented all parts of the philanthropic world - from the largest foundations, to the smaller - and important - individual donors. They included a President, a Dame, a Scholar-in-Residence, a bevy of academics and entrepreneurs and numerous foundation professionals - those responsible for executing thousands of programs around the world. The three-day official program was varied, from keynote presentations on … Continue Reading
Government Increases Rate of Ethiopian Aliyah
At a meeting this evening, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) gave the Jewish Agency approval to dramatically increase the rate of Ethiopian aliyah to 250 per month. Tonight's meeting was chaired by the PMO Director-General and included representatives of the Interior, Treasury and Absorption Ministries along with the Jewish Agency. A source close to the issue told eJP that objections were raised by both the Finance and Absorption Ministries, with the latter arguing vigorously against the increase. The final decision to increase the monthly rate was made by the Prime Minister. The Jewish Agency's Chair of the Executive, Natan Sharansky, responded, "The Jewish Agency is thrilled by this decision and will do everything in our power to bring this historic aliyah to its completion as quickly as … Continue Reading
Elephants in the Jewish Agency Room
The winter meetings of the Jewish Agency (JAFI) Board of Governors opened this morning in Jerusalem. The 3-day agenda is packed, with issues ranging from religious pluralism in Israel to rekindling the love between young Jews all over the world and Israel; from the broadest geopolitics to the internal strategy and management of the organization. The morning meeting was notable on several fronts, including the recognition by many of the speakers of the "elephant in the room" as related to recent media criticism of JAFI. In fact, in his opening remarks, Natan Sharansky - JAFI's chair of the executive - addressed the issue head on by stating "the Jewish Agency is about Aliyah." Turning around recent media stories, Sharansky added, "as to the articles in the press about our strategic plan, I'm glad … Continue Reading
Taglit Event Explores Russian Culture in Israel
The Tel-Aviv nightclub, Ha-Oman 17, recently played host to "Taglit Art 2012", a festival of modern Israeli art and culture, that brought together 800 Taglit-Birthright Israel participants from the countries of the Former Soviet Union. Four separate break-out areas were dedicated to avant-garde Israeli music; theater and multidisciplinary arts; Israeli fashion; and an exhibition of modern visual arts. Guests snacked on falafel and shakshuka while meeting Russian-speaking Israeli artists and designers. Interestingly, the most energy was not found on the dance floor, but in the artist presentations. The festival event was superbly designed, and implemented, by the Tel Aviv based Fishka House organization. Addressing the attendees, MK Limor Livnat, Israel's Minister of Culture and Sport, … Continue Reading
Defending the Jewish Agency: A Conundrum
In a little over a week, the Jewish Agency (JAFI) Board of Governors is set to meet. And, as has been the norm for the past few years, high on the agenda will be balancing the budget (which the Agency is required to do). These are not fun times for JAFI. They are continually coping with declining donations from the Diaspora; the Hebrew media - mostly at the behest of disgruntled employees (past and present) and the immigrant associations - are daily questioning the Agency's commitment to aliyah; and personal vendettas are, to JAFI's detriment, always playing out. Such is just some of the background for a biting article on compensation that appeared in today's Haaretz. The salaries listed in the article are correct. The assumptions made range from ill-informed to vindictive. Let's look … Continue Reading
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