Readers Forum

What Will Be at UJC

April 2, 2009 By Dan Brown

We all know the Federation world is hurting. Atlanta, Cleveland and New York, to name a few, have announced highly publicized down-sizing. Even with last summer's lay-offs, many Federations have been pressuring the UJC to further cut their budget beyond the planned 10%. Some Federations have called for a 50% reduction. Yesterday, shortly before the end of the business day, UJC's Howard Rieger had this to say in a memo to employees: "On April 6, the UJC Budget and Finance and Executive Committees will be meeting jointly at UJC to review the proposed 2009/10 operating budget. UJC Leadership is recommending a budget that reflects an 18% reduction, a significantly greater cut back than we communicated in February. … [Read more...]

Departure from Yemen: An Editorial

March 27, 2009 By eJP

from The Forward: The Politics of Rescue "It was Maimonides who said that there is no greater religious duty than pidyon shevuyim, the redemption of captives, an injunction with deep biblical roots and plenty of historical illustrations. This obligation fueled the movement to free Soviet Jews and undergirds the contemporary Israeli impulse to strike lopsided deals and embark on military campaigns to redeem its soldiers. It’s the reason that Gilad Shalit has become a household name in Israel and beyond ever since the Israel Defense Forces soldier was abducted two and a half years ago. So the plea to rescue Jews who are in distress in countries hostile to them resonates in an almost tribal way. Who among us wouldn’t want to save one’s sibling and, by extension, a member of the (very) … [Read more...]

Is Jewish Philanthropy in a Seismic Shift (#1)?

March 23, 2009 By EHL Consulting

Are Tax Changes A Concern? by Robert I. Evans & Avrum D. Lapin Seemingly, not just the U.S. government is undergoing significant change these days. The world of (Jewish) philanthropy could be looking at a major transformation as well. Proposals to change the federal tax deductibility on charitable donations for individuals in top tax brackets may be one major issue that could challenge the existing paradigm. But amidst all of the discussions, one strong reality is emerging: traditional considerations surrounding charitable giving by donors at all levels are changing. How best to get a grip on these debates and their effect on charitable giving? In a sea of uncertainty, grab a paddle and start rowing. Politicians of all stripes have chimed in on proposed federal reductions in tax … [Read more...]

Cost Sharing and Sustainability

March 19, 2009 By Bob Goldfarb

A key finding of the recent Jumpstart study of Jewish startups is that “startups say they would benefit most from mechanisms that lower administrative and operational costs.” One successful model for sharing costs is Bikkurim: An Incubator for New Jewish Ideas. Bikkurim gives its resident organizations office space and professional support, and they form a community of innovators. In some ways it resembles Jumpstart’s own JSpace concept, which it describes as “the hub for Jewish innovation in LA. The idea,” Jumpstart says, “is not just to realize economy of scale in a 21st century office environment, but to create a hip, dynamic and cooperative nexus for the current wave of Jewish innovation.” Aliza Mazor, Program Director at Bikkurim, feels the cost-sharing idea is sound, and points to the fact … [Read more...]

The Ethics of Downsizing

March 17, 2009 By Stephen G. Donshik

During the past several weeks we have read about major staff reductions taking place across the Jewish world. Tens of valued professional Jewish communal workers along with competent and loyal administrative and support staff have received pink slips - in some cases they were given just two days notice to clear out their offices - as their jobs were being retrenched. These costs saving measures are not unique to Jewish organizations and have been seen thorough-out the public, private and not-for-profit sectors the world over. However, these massive layoffs raise the issue of the ethics of downsizing and whether or not there is a Jewish approach to these practices, particularly when it concerns employees who work for the Jewish community. … [Read more...]

The Case for Arts and Culture

March 12, 2009 By eJP

by Bob Goldfarb It’s hardly news that philanthropists are reconsidering their priorities in the face of the economy’s woes. The move to provide for basic needs, for example, is a natural and laudable response to the jump in unemployment. It’s important, though, not to lose sight of the long-term welfare of the Jewish community, and that includes arts and culture. Jewish communal life stands on four pillars: education, religion, community, and culture. All of these provide context and meaning for a Jewish life. Taken together they make a powerful statement that, for a Jew, living is not only a matter of surviving and subsisting: it is also encompasses learning, morality, other people, and human expression. When a ship is sinking, all efforts go to saving the passengers, and everything else … [Read more...]

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