There has been a lot of 'noise' recently in the Web 2.0 world about changes underway within the UJC system. Let's cut to the tachlis. Here's how the UJC frames a few new initiatives (all quotes are taken from yesterday's emailed Leadership Briefing): 1. The UJC name is history. "As part of an overarching effort to create a stronger continental brand for the Federation system, and based on brand research results, UJC’s strategy calls for changing its name to Jewish Federations of North America to better align and reflect the names of member organizations...UJC plans to launch the new brand...around the 2009 General Assembly in November." For you brand pundits out there, take a look at the GA Website. No name branding; no organization logo; read the about section and you'll find no mention … Continue Reading
Trouble in Birthright Land
The rumors have been floating around Jerusalem for days; Taglit had canceled buses for spring break trips; summer 2009 might be suspended. A knowledgeable individual told me, "I don't think anything has been decided, but I know that suspending the programs was one option...They have the funds to proceed over the summer, but there's also logic to suspending and coming up with a new financial plan." To all who heard Taglit's CEO Gidi Mark speak during the recent GA, something was not adding up. I commented to a colleague late last night that I was surprised this has not made the Israeli papers. The economic impact alone would have justified the story. eJP had every intention of sitting on this until after next week's Taglit meetings. As it turns out, The Jerusalem Post was going to press as we … Continue Reading
The Challenge of Our Age
from Haviv Rettig in today's Jerusalem Post: Nothing I have written on Jewish identity as The Jerusalem Post's Jewish world correspondent has elicited the amount and vehemence of response as the November 21 front page report on the relative lack of Israeli media coverage of the US Jewish federations' General Assembly in Jerusalem ("GA largely ignored by Hebrew-speaking press"). The article noted the Hebrew-speaking media's apparent disdain for the conference, together with what American participants felt Israel had to gain from a closer conversation with American Jewry. Columnists, bloggers and Jewish activists and officials have since undertaken a loud, sometimes bitter discussion about the questions raised in the article, among them what is to be made of the American-Israeli divide, and … Continue Reading
The Rhetoric of Change
Change is in the air at JAFI. Change, the theme of political candidates worldwide, is mostly an attitude. But, as a verb it means a significant revision to a position, course or direction. And change is most certainly underway at the Jewish Agency. That much was clear from last week's Board of Governors meeting. They (JAFI) recognize the need to streamline, to reduce costs and operate more efficiently. The reduction in the core budget, inflationary pressures and the constantly changing dollar / shekel rates, while not the driver of change, makes the timing more urgent. JAFI, like so many other of our communal organizations, is grappling with four major challenges taking place in the marketplace they serve; all of which we heard a great deal about not only at JAFI events the past two weeks, … Continue Reading
Envelopes Stuffed With Cash
Politics and politicians are a staple of every major Jewish organizational event, regardless of venue. So with this year's GA here in Jerusalem, it was no surprise the heads of Israel's three largest parties were invited to speak at the plenaries. But unlike Nashville, one speaker in particular crossed the line. Last year, several senior UJC professionals complained that Howard Dean's address was filled with "blatant partisan comments". At the time, I indicated, "what did you expect when you invited the chairperson of the DNC?". I'm curious what these same individuals had to say about Bibi's remarks during Wednesday morning's plenary. Kadima's Tzpi Livni spoke to us on her perspective of Tikkun Olam. And yes, she did allude to Kadima. But more in the same vein as Secretary of State Rice did … Continue Reading
A Changing Environment
One of the multitude of excellent programs taking place in Israel to coincide with the UJC's General Assembly and various JAFI events was a conference at Hebrew University's Center for the Study of Philanthropy last Sunday titled, Jewish Philanthropy and The Israeli Third Sector in a Changing Environment. The keynote on Changing Patterns of American Jewish Philanthropy was delivered by Dr. Jeffrey Solomon, president of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies. Two really key points from the presentation, “The world has changed and our institutions have not changed with the world. Public charities are so busy chasing money they loose site of their mission”. … Continue Reading
The Hebrew Press and the UJC
Does the UJC really understand all the various reasons why this (the following article) was the case; where was their responsibility in countering this trend. And more important, how are they positioning themselves to help reverse it - because it is certainly endemic of a larger issue. from today's Jerusalem Post: GA largely ignored by Hebrew press All but ignored by the Hebrew-speaking press as they gathered in Jerusalem this week, American Jewish professionals and activists have lashed out at the Israeli media and society for failing to notice - and learn from - another Jewish community nearly as large as their own.. "They don't understand the community, the day-to-day work of charity and volunteering, people devoting their whole lives to these things," agreed Malcolm Hoenlein, … Continue Reading
From Where I Sit
The good, the bad and the ugly; some random observations on the GA. Everyone is smiling and having a good time. Jerusalem has that effect on people. But, in conversations, the story changes. Everyone is worried. They're worried about numbers; a shrinking donor pool, endowment losses, donors extending on paying pledges. Higher costs due to higher communal need. Budget deficits. The large Federations often have mega donors and endowment funds as a fall-back (UJA-NY has already authorized some dipping into reserves). The smaller Federations generally have more limited resources. JAFI's cutting another $45m – the Joint has not yet weighed in. Both organizations are worried about a backlash with donors feeling they need to use their resources locally. The Haredi world is already experiencing … Continue Reading
One People. One Destiny. Jerusalem 2008
This year's GA opened in Jerusalem on Sunday night. With a plenary that saw a mix of lay and professional leaders from North America, communal professionals and invited guests from both Israel and the WZO, hundreds of young people from various MASA programs, KolDor, Hillel and young Israeli adults currently serving in the IDF all gathered together. And, in the view of many the musical parts of the program were the highlight of the night. Over the past two days, long attending GA participants from North America expressed a very different take to me than Israeli's and NextGen participants attending for the very first time. There is no question that a visitor's perspective to this GA was colored by 'where you are from'. But, let's hold that thought and go back to the preceding 24 hours. The … Continue Reading
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