UJ Thee and Me

REFLECTIONS

2009-11-13T06:03:00.002-06:00

Many of your Comments, both to this Blog and in e-mails to me, on my mention of Lester Rosenberg's return home after six months of rehab where he continues his therapy, have reflected on his generosity of spirit, his friendship, his leadership, his menschekeit. These Comments, in turn, have caused me to examine, once again, the singular quality of leadership that Lester has embodied throughout his life and that must be found within every person aspiring to a leadership role. I have examined this quality before -- you must love people and that love must be evident in everything you do. Lester has it.

I was reflecting on this singular criterion at a Board meeting of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago last week. In the years since I Chaired that Board a succession of great men and women have led our community: Maynard Wishner, Art Brown, z'l, Eddie Fox, Joel Stone, Barbara Hochberg, z'l, Bob Schrayer, z'l, Manny Steinfeld, Fred Bondy, Lester Rosenberg, Midge Perlman Shafton, Harvey Barnett and David Sherman. Each of them a terrific leader, experienced in all aspects of federation life, each unique but each sharing that quality of love for People and Community that has propelled our federation forward in partnership through 30 years and counting with the pre-eminent Steve Nasatir and the great, great professional staff he has created and who are our friends and partners. You want "heroes," you want "best practices," you want role models, you want vital, robust, vibrant communities? You start with lay and professional leaders like these.

I have observed, to my sorrow, so many who aspire to leadership because they "deserve it" but because their aspirations are sadly lacking the love for people that must be part and parcel of leadership, they soon find that while they can relate to some because of their drive, their ambition, their preparation, the "magic" that will motivate others just isn't there. What have these leaders done? They formed a claque that applauded their actions, they closed the door to others. They not only bowled alone; they ate alone. Lester's love of people, his love for life, his ability to extend his arms to embrace all those with whom he came into contact, exemplified that love. I can assure you that that love continues.

Ambition for its own sake, in the end is self-defeating. Without love for people, that ambition may produce titles but will ultimately be without satisfaction. Our new leaders understand this.

Rwexler

JOE -- A BRIEF RETROSPECTIVE

2009-11-11T05:00:00.003-06:00

Joe Kanfer's three years as Chair of what was UJC have ended, not with a bang but a whimper -- actually with what I understand was a beautiful serenade from his successor. Over $100 million of our donors' dollars, of federation allocations spent on his watch...on just what, exactly? Someone other than I will have to recite the accomplishments of the past three years; they are not self-evident. Joe, to his credit, persisted to the end -- a final speech at the GA Opening Plenary. His dreams for the future of The Jewish Federations of North America, a mishmash of programs either already in place in so many ways in so many federations ("volunteerism") of which Joe remains singularly unaware, or plans rejected by the federations. Joe's message resonated with the mantra "I believe it is possible" and we agree. But Kanfer's vision of where The Jewish Federations of North America should go is far different than the sorry place he has taken it.

And, Kanfer cited a crucial challenge -- "...the challenges of affordability and access to Jewish life." Here he struck a chord and had he led us for the past three years in grappling with this critical, seminal issue, what a contribution UJC:The Jewish Federations of North America might have made under his leadership. To raise this now is like Ike reminding us as he left office after eight years of the dangers of the "military-industrial complex" having done nothing about the issue during his Presidency.

Joe's legacy cannot be that which he wished for but something far, far less. There is a "new culture" -- unfortunately, it is one of secrecy, lack of transparency and lack of accountability -- a new culture which Jerry Silverman and Kathy Manning will certainly correct. It has been three years without measurable accomplishments other than a "new brand" -- one which had been an alternative rejected ten years ago, revived when the "old brand," United Jewish Communities, proved to have no traction -- and a new mark, a new logo; a new Chief Executive who offers the promise of a new era but who will have to spend critical time righting a ship that has careened far off course.

As the lay and professional leadership ranks were culled, Joe assured that there would be no institutional memory. He wanted to hear nothing that would disrupt the narrative that he and Howard Rieger were building. (And, truth be told, as we have learned, Kanfer arrogated more and more of Rieger's management responsibilities with no evident pushback from anyone, making it harder and harder to determine Rieger's real role in the emerging mess.) Myths rather than facts passed for reality; their counterfactual history was offered as a substitute for reality. Our system was not served well by this retelling.

Rather than expanding the leadership ranks, Joe drew the a "circle of trust" ever more tightly, pushing away those who pushed back at policies imposed upon them with no discussion...and sometimes doing so in a manner suggesting a lack of sensitivity...UJC became a shop closed but to a chosen few. The doors and windows will now have to be pried open...let the sun shine in.

It has been all so sad.

In The New Yorker last year, the brilliant Hendrik Hertzberg wrote of a person who "...will be remembered as a tragedy in the Aristotelian sense, in which a hero is ruined through some terrible choice(s) of his own..." To paraphrase Hertzberg's conclusion: "One can only hope that the tragedy will be his alone and not..." that of the organization he was elected to lead. Unfortunately, as Joe confused his own goals for those of what was then UJC, the tragic circumstances in which The Jewish Federations of North America finds itself are those that were created by and literally demanded by Joe, supported by a small claque. And, now it is over.

Let the sun shine, let the sun shine in, let the sun shine in once again.

Rwexler

GA 2009

2009-11-10T13:15:00.006-06:00

I dropped in on the General Assembly on Monday -- and I was impressed.

Lay and professional leaders are in attendance in significant numbers again. As I understand it, the numkbers of full pay registrants far exceeds those at the prior United States venues by a huge percentage. I think that this reflects not the program and not the "brand" but the new sense of purpose and dedication of the agenda that Kathy Manning and Jerry Silverman have articulated. Fresh air appeared to be flowing through the hallways at the Marriott Wardman Park, at the Plenaries and Panels.

Given workload and a wonderful upcoming family simcha (a grandson's Bar Mitzvah back in D.C.), I have been enjoying the GA, in addition to my "stop and chat" Monday morning, virtually. It's a different experience and I miss, but for my brief attendance, the hallway give and take, the friendships renewed and made, the common agenda of Jewish Peoplehood expressed by attendance.

I listened to Jerry Silverman's first address. I heard and felt more energy and less ego; I was most impressed by the personal warmth and grace and, in his few weeks "on the job," Jerry has developed a five-pronged focus that, if we as a North American polity can help him stay the course, will see a stronger federation system emerge from the crises of today; of the need for the national organization to convene, to be the messenger for the collective and to be the federations' strategic partner. Jerry and Kathy "get it."

And, if Manning's "three goals when she took over" were articulated at the Closing Plenary as JTA's Jacob Bergman reported -- having a CEO of Silverman's quality and potential in place, Obama's attendance at the GA and the new "brand" --all of us must assume that she has a few more goals in her pocket that will emerge going forward.

And, of course, the Jewish Communal Hero -- read about him and his work elsewhere.

Then I read Haaretz reporter Sara Miller's "take" on the GA -- here is what she wrote:

The fundamental essence of the conference can be summed up quite simply: What on earth are we going to do now that the crash has taken a huge chunk of our money and Madoff has stolen most of the rest?

This is the "fundamental essence" of this General Assembly? Sorry, Sara, you've got it all wrong. I think Miller's conclusion is beyond myopic and demonstrates how little some Israelis know about us. Yet, this nonsensical conclusion helps me to understand why these Posts from time-to-time irritate large numbers of readers.

Rwexler

UJC-ISRAEL -- THE MOUSE THAT ROARED

2009-11-09T11:06:00.004-06:00

As one of the more bizarre mistakes of the The Jewish Federations of North America's 2007 Reorganization Strategy, the creation of what resulted in an UJC- Israel Office completely unrelated to, then, UJC's, or, more certainly, the federations' agenda. It is the best example yet of my pet philosopher's, Yogi Berra's, assertion that "if you get to a fork in the road, take it."

UJC-Israel's work at the time of the merger and until 2007 was led by two brilliant professionals -- Menachem Revivi, who brought his insight and intellect to the position under the banner of CJF and, then, the UJA-CJF Partnership, and Nachman Shai, who combined both of Revivi's superb talents with the critical add-on of important contacts within the Government of Israel, the media and the IDF. 2007 arrived with the desperate desire of "leaders" for "change for change's sake" -- and change everywhere. Instead of a leader with the contacts of a Revivi or a Shai, Rieger and Kanfer decided to reposition UJC-Israel as a major "player" in the Israeli NGO and social service structure, choosing a long-time professional within JDC-Israel, Rebecca Caspi, with no relationships with the Government of Israel or JAFI to reposition the Office in the image conceived by then UJC "leadership." This was characterized as a "professional management decision" thereby exempt from lay oversight through governance processes; it was, however, a substantive policy change. But, I sense that Becky Caspi soon understood that she was to do as she was told not as she knew things should be.

And, with conflicting direction from New York, and with the ubiquitous Toni Young as her lay partner, Kanfer/Young/Rieger began to build an empire -- ok, nothing as exalted as an empire -- maybe more of a duchy. Best I can tell, after three years of "effort," the duchy of UJC-Israel is nothing more than the "mouse that roared," consuming vast amounts of federation money with so very little to show for the investment. And, the results, such as they aren't, are not Becky Caspi's fault; whatever "fault" might be ascribed, it belongs to those unseen hands who pushed UJC-Israel to be something that it could not be and need not have ever been -- the cutting edge of a new social service delivery organization for the federation system in Israel.

It is one thing to experiment and fail, admit failure and move on. What we have seen at The Federations of North America is that we experiment, we fail and then we invest more in the failed experiment. This has to stop. UJC-Israel went forward with a three year investment in Sheatufim of $750,000. Caspi became its Treasurer; UJC's lay and professional leaders spoke at its annual Conference -- maybe at two of them. And? Where are an accounting and accountability? Staff at UJC-Israel grew (excluding UIA professionals) to a dozen and more...researchers, accountants, marketing, finance, programmmers. And? Where are an accounting and accountability?

Mission responsibilities were thoroughly down-sized as The Jewish Federations of North America abandoned missions to the federations which sought out their own vendors and guides. Relationships with the Joint and JAFI were rent asunder as UJC-Israel at the directions of a lay and professional leadership which sought to (a) distance itself from its partners ("so 1980's") in Israel and (b) establish a UJC Israel social service presence in Israel where none was needed. These relationships can be restarted and I sense that Michael Lebovitz, Kathy Manning and and Jerry Silverman can do it with what is now an eager professional component.

Hoping to create a project fund raising presence in Israel, Young, now ensconced as Chair of the still-born Center for Jewish Philanthropy, attempted to apparently perpetuate still-born programs demanded by Young and Kanfer. So, the Israel Office started something called "10 x 10" -- a fund raising project to connect ten Israeli philanthropists contributing $50,000 with ten North American philanthropists making equal contributions. Forget that neither lay nor professional Development leadership were attached to the "project;" ignore that both the Joint and JAFI were actively engaged with the Israeli philanthropic community, "ignore everything , this is something we must do." What can't be ignored is the reality that 10x10 failed -- failed so badly that UJC's leaders tried to tap the UJC (now The Jewish Federations of North America) endowment for about $250,000 as "seed money." "Seed money" for a "program" never approved anywhere within UJC governance. And, when their efforts were turned away by the Committee, they tried again, rebuffed again and one more time.

The worst has been the lack of transparency -- something for which only the "responsible" lay leadership can be blamed. Most of these failed projects, most of the staffing decisions were never even vetted with the Global Operations:Israel-Overseas Working Group, Task Force or whatever. Decisions were never discussed or debated, direction was determined by "management" -- with no accountability. We are talking of millions of dollars.

So, isn't it time for the Independent Duchy of UJC-Israel to "rejoin" The Jewish Federations of North America..."independent' no more? Past time? Get back to basics; give Rebecca Caspi and her staff a chance to succeed, something that they have not yet had.

Rwexler

REBUILD, RECREATE, REEXAMINE

2009-11-07T06:37:00.008-06:00

In the Coen brothers brilliant and brooding retelling of the Story of Job, A Serious Man, the inept, harried hero, a physics professor struggling for tenure, advises his class that he expects them to understand fully something called "Heisenberg's uncertainty principle." He tells them that even if they cannot figure it out, they are still responsible for it "on the midterm." Good advice for the leaders of The Jewish Federations of North America and for our federations themselves.

We need to reinvent ourselves; we must be, and in many places become, relevant. In so many places, re-engineering is so vital right now. We can't do that until the lay and professional leadership of The Jewish Federations of North America understand the questions that need to be asked. And, with that understanding, the courage to confront the debate that needs to follow. The Jewish Federations of North America's leaders should consider immediately creating a lay-professional Task Force at the highest levels to review and recommend on the organizational mission, reach, direction and roles. In the interim....

In a Comment to the Post Denouement, an "Anonymous" (vu den?) correspondent posed a challenge:

"Can you give specific behavioral substance to your four principles:

"a moral center, a grounding in the reality of the federation experience and a dedication to the timeless principles upon which our federation system has been constructed and a commitment to real transparency."

Intentions aside, because Kathy and Jerry are good and smart people, what two or three specific actions should they take on each of the four? At this point in our movement's history and in the conversation you have so earnestly undertaken a list of action items would be helpful."

In my conversations with Jerry Silverman and Kathy Manning before they assumed their positions as President and CEO and Board Chair of The Jewish Federations of North America, I respectfully suggested that they rebuild UJC starting with the successes the organization has had in its first decade. I don't know if they will choose to follow that path ... but, let me lay it out for you as I envision it.

Finding a greater success than UJC-Washington for UJC:The Jewish Federations of North America would be the equivalent of discovering a new avian species. Such a success just doesn't exist. Pushing the successes of UJC-Washington to the front of the queue would be a great first step. Not just part of a litany of supposed "successes" as the predecessor leadership had constantly conjured, but bragging on William Daroff's and his staff and lay leaders' successes as examples of what The Jewish Federations of North America can do for its owners.

Simultaneously, "confess error" -- the reversion of UJC-Israel from New York to Jerusalem is a failed experiment. It has yielded no positive results and has demonstrated what one arm of the system operating out of control and out of sync at great expense can cost The Jewish Federations of North America. Discontinue the millions in expense and with that termination end the "10x10" and Sheatufim experiments, reassuring JAFI and JDC of the system's trust in them and, thereby, restating the historic federation-JAFI/JDC partnerships.

Then, invest the money saved in downsizing and relocating UJC-Israel with a reinvigorated Overseas Missions Program -- subsidizing Young Leadership Cabinet, Prime Minister's and King David Society Missions within the Development Department under The Jewish Federations of North America umbrella. The multi-million dollar Marketing and Branding Initiative will no longer require the huge national financial investment; use those savings to revive the national role in the Annual Campaign and in designated and endowment giving initiatives, hiring up men and women with the background and reputation that will enhance the national organization's prestige and esteem within the local federations. In so doing, end the separation of Development, Planned Giving and Endowment and the "Center for Jewish Philanthropy" merging them under the leadership of the Office of "National Chairman for Campaign and Development."

Begin to take and articulate the federation position on matters of public policy here and in Israel. The Jewish Federations of North America can't remain silent on these issues as if they are the sole purview of the JCPA and the Conference of Presidents. As the Board Chair, Kathy Manning's must become the voice we hear on matters impacting up the federations and our donors.

And, thereby, The Jewish Federations of North America must become the moral voice of federation collective responsibility. JFNA should publicly acknowledge this role and appoint a Blue Ribbon Committee on Collective Responsibility to recommend the means and methods of implementation...and, more critically, to implement. It is not enough to convene JAFI and JDC periodically (although those meetings are superb hasbara and are a basic "good" in and of themselves) and merely report how cash and allocations are being drastically cut -- it is quite another thing to actually attempt to do something about it. Moral responsibility has to trump passivity in this area once and for all. If the federations' national organization, the organization that now bears their name and brand, fails to stand for collective responsibility, my friends, it stands for nothing.

Four years ago as an outgrowth of a major FRD Study, the national organization embarked on an Emerging Communities effort partnering with two high potential growth federations in the West. This was to be a starting point. After two years of engagement, UJC's "leaders" terminated the effort with no discussion within UJC governance bodies (and none even with the communities directly impacted). The Emerging Communities partnership should be reborn and expanded in a demonstration of the national organization's commitment to partnership with high growth high potential federations around the continent where The Jewish Federation's of North America's impact can be significant.

And, UJC must continue its critical and successful work through I-LEAD, the National Bond Program, Federation Peer Yardstick, CPE, Emerging Leaders, Presidents and Executive training and the circulation of best practices.

All of these need to be and can be done in an atmosphere of transparency and accountability. An atmosphere where the issues confronting our system are freely and openly debated and where those who serve -- be it on Work Groups, Task Forces, Executive Committee and Board -- feel and believe that they are part of the process, not excluded from it and no longer ignored. Transparency also mandates that leadership be open and honest not only with ownership and constituencies but with the media. It was troubling and confounding to read in a pre-GA story in the JTA that the organization's new leaders refused to be interviewed by the Jewish press.Maybe it was clear to them why they did so; it sure can't be clear to the rest of us who wish to learn of their hopes and plans.

The seminal question: is The Jewish Federations of North America merely going to perform functions or is it going to serve a purpose? To continue down the current path, to merely tweak rather than re-engineer, will be like changing the in-flight food on the Hindenburg -- it would be doomed to failure. To those who suggest that The Jewish Federations of North America continue its slide toward being nothing more than "a really great trade association," think of all the great work that must be done and wouldn't be.

Each of you may have your own construct for a rebuilt Jewish Federations of North America that will be far better than these. Offer them...soon.

Rwexler

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2009-11-05T08:30:00.002-06:00

Just so you know:

~ The outgoing Board Chair wanted a "tribute event" dedicated to praising Caesar at the GA. You were spared as the leadership explained that the GA is about the future, not the past. Appropriately, a "by invitation only" dinner was held on the eve of the GA.

~ Organizations attempting to schedule meetings with The Chair of Global Operations: Israel and Overseas will learn that the Chair, who was a no show at the JAFI BOG meetings last week, won't be attending the GA either.

~ Now that The JFNA and its affiliated organizations in the "rescue the Yemenite Jews" operation have gone from outright fiasco to the front page of The Wall Street Journal, I expect to see a few Yemenite Jews on the stage of some Plenary. (Call the journalist who by-lined the WSJ story to ask if she received hate mail telling her she had "blood on her hands" for telling the story.) We have seen this "relocation" go from "top secret" to a national news story written with minimal diligence, the numbers go from an expected 120 or so to 62 with "...an undetermined number...expected to follow." Strangely, we have witnessed JAFI and JDC ignored in the process morph into "UJC/Federations have worked with our historic partner in aliyah and klitah, the Jewish Agency, to encourage the remaining Yemenite Jews to make aliyah to Israel." So, all's well that ends well or all's well that ends...

~ Preview the five Finalists for your/their 2009 Jewish Community Hero Award on You Tube. Then change your flight plans home to attend the Closing Plenary for the announcement of the Hero. I think you know my view: even after 500,000 votes (or thereabouts) the 2009 Jewish Community Heroes are those federation professionals who have worked so hard to hold their communities together through 2009 so that there will be a Jewish communal future. But, hey, that's just me.

Rwexler

~

NOT INCOMPETENT, JUST NOT A LEADER

2009-11-03T07:00:00.003-06:00

In a New York Times Business Section "Op-Ed" (October 3, 2009), a story of Ken Lewis' resignation from his post as Chair and CEO of Bank of America described him as "not incompetent...just not a leader." We have been experiencing the lack of leadership at 25 Broadway and 111 Eighth Avenue and, some would argue, a lack of competence, for just too long. The results, as they say, speak for themselves. Change, thank G-d, really is in the air...we hope and pray.

As we approach another GA, even with the High Holy Days in our rear view mirror, it might be time for further introspection. I think.., however, by this time, there can be no one involved in American and Canadian Jewish life who is unaware of the reality that since the Los Angeles General Assembly we have seen our system literally waste over $100 million in Dues with a negative return on investment. Now let's look at the rubble and see what can be reconstructed.

It's already started. Jerry Silverman has blown through The Jewish Federations of North America like a breath of fresh autumn air. Speaking at federation major gift events (something that hadn't been done by UJC CEOs in its decade of existence), traveling to sit with federation leaders, reaching out, doors open, when possible he even answers his own phone...he even answers his own phone!!!! Jerry clearly loves people, loves a good debate and is open to new ideas. This will stand him in good stead wherever he goes around this continent.

For the last few years, the message "I'm from UJC and I am here to help you," has been as oxymoronic as "Senate Intelligence Committee" or "airplane food" or similar. Now, the times they are a'changing. And for the better. My friends at 25 Broadway tell me how happy they are with the new professionalism they feel wafting through the halls. Note to Michael Gelman: interrogate all UJC professional staff to determine who is speaking with Wexler.

Then there is Kathy Manning. I believe that she has promised herself, if not all others, that she will be the most hands-on Chair any of our organizations have ever experienced. Those hands are being felt everywhere. The test will come if Kathy's desire for control exceeds her otherwise strong leadership skills. The lay-professional partnership will be tested again in an environment that has never experienced the glory that a strong and balanced lay-professional partnership can create. Now, at the very beginning, would be the best time for Kathy to understand where the lay leaders' responsibilities end and those of the professionals begin. This is a skill set that comes from experience, from watching. Or, maybe it can be taught, if there are teachers and students out there. Just as Jerry will learn from mentoring, so might Kathy. Knowing what one doesn't know is just as critical as knowing what one does.

The Jewish Federations of North America need the best leaders. Now they will be tested as never before.

Rwexler

UPDATES

2009-11-02T07:14:00.007-06:00

Just to update you:

~ Our dear friend and great leader, Chicago's Lester Rosenberg (see Post, "Lester"), six months after a devastating auto accident, has returned home where he will continue his therapy as an out-patient. His wonderful friend and professional partner, Chicago's Campaign Director, Beth Cherner, wrote, Lester "...has come back 100% mentally (and was) and inspiration to the staff at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and his visitors." Lester's incredible will, the unbelievable support group that is his family -- especially Norma -- and a great group of doctors, surgeons and therapists, and your prayers, have brought this wonderful news. This week Lester will participate in the Jewish Federation's Board Meeting by phone.

~ In case you missed it, the Wall Street Journal this past Saturday plastered the front page with a monumental story on the relocation of 60 Yemeni Jews to Monsey, New York and environs. $750,000 of federation money allegedly was raised (and spent?) on this stupefying effort. Why "stupefying?" Read the article and think about it; or read the UJC:The Federations of North America Leadership Briefing" on the subject. And, remember, this effort began with no consultation with JAFI (or JDC) and without any governance process. Glad the 60 are here; hope the story didn't jeopardize the remnant Jewish community in Yemen. As one of the leaders I most respect wrote: "This is what we work for??!!"

~ The great thought leader, the brilliant and irascible Michael Steinhardt spoke at a Birthright Conference last week. He excoriated his audience in some impromptu remarks for their laissez-faire approach to Jewish organizational life and closed with the following admonition: "(Be) nice and polite and get nowhere." Yet, as Michael knows, that's exactly where Jewish organizational leaders want their flock to be -- "nice and polite."

Rwexler

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2009-10-30T07:11:00.001-05:00

Often times the General Assembly has been the focal point for dramatic systemic change, for rallying federation lay and professional leadership and for galvanizing the North American Jewish polity. That was then...this is now. Today, the GA has become so irrelevant that the Jewish media relegates it to a smaller story than the "death pangs of the Jewish deli." Perhaps, the President's and the Prime Minister's attendance, which one month ago could only be prayed for, will restore the General Assembly to its former prominence.

Some of you who have written me have reflected on the incredible experiences of times gone by -- a Yitz Greenberg-Label Fein debate followed by a rallying cry from Golda Meir; the "uprising" of the "Young Turks," the movement to create, in just three weeks, the Washington Rally for Soviet Jewry; the outpouring of emotion honoring the memory of Yitzchak Rabin, z'l, immediately after his assassination -- the list is a long one. What heady times those were. Today, not so much... not so very much. Perhaps, the President's and the Prime Minister's attendance, which one month ago could only be prayed for, will restore the General Assembly to its former prominence.

~ I honestly never believed that the day would come for our system where we would publicize the General Assembly by proudly announcing that an American Idol "contestant" (not even the winner) would headline our annual event or, with words like these, from a Leadership Briefing: "Cantor, who holds the second highest Republican leadership post in the House of Representatives will speak..." Yes, friends, the GOP Whip will be a featured GA speaker. Hip hip and all that. Would it not have been better to promote Eric Cantor as the sole remaining Jewish Republican Congressman...or, maybe, The Jewish Federations of North America could have sent a Briefing announcing "Obama Pay Czar Co-Chairs GA."

~ For all conspiracy buffs out there, the saga of the "Community Hero Award" continues. A correspondent who wished to remain anonymous (!) noted that the only "Judge" appointed by The Jewish Federations of North America with "federation leadership credentials" is a Large City Chair whose election in his community was hailed as something like "the first Chabad (or maybe it was Haredi) Large City Chair ever elected..." This thing is like Murphy's Law (only Murphy had no Haredi credentials).

~ Without notice to The Federations of North America GA staff or lay leadership, the "Jewish Community Hero Award" was inserted into the GA Program -- just one of a number of unilateral acts, the source(s) for which remain unknown. (The GA event at which the Award will be made has been called "the culminating event of this year's GA." OMG!!

~ Once again, a session dedicated to Israeli philanthropy fails to include leaders of JDC or the Jewish Agency even as those partners are the only organizations of "ours" doing the job; leveraging our dollars; partnering with Israeli philanthropists.

~ A sidebar -- Losing Track of Cost Savings. There was a day way back when when the national organization was focused on corporate sponsorships. From the late 90's forward through the Nashville GA, a single fundraising consultant, Sandra Divack Moss, drove us to achieve corporate sponsorships, soliciting many of those potential sponsors herself -- always in consultation with the host federation. When the GA was here in Chicago the corporate achievement reduced Registration fees as was the case going as far back as the $1 million in sponsorships for the Indianapolis GA. The results approximated a $250 per Registrant reduction in cost and GA's that were close to if not at break even. Without any evident rationale, Sandra's contract was canceled before last year's Israel GA. I am told today, that instead of Sandra's often grating prodding (as a past GA Chair, I knew it well), GA sponsorships became a staff responsibility -- ask someone how that's going.

~ A sidebar -- Continued. I have heard that at the upcoming D.C. GA, The Jewish Feds of NA (I can't seem to get this right) will distribute -- at your cost -- thousands of flash drives with the new name emblazoned on each one. Here's how I think that came about. One of our best organizations and partners developed a plan with The JFNA/UJC that would provide every Registrant with a flash drive that would contain the GA Program (with regular updates), etc. A terrific use of technology. The flash drive would be in each Registrant's "bag" upon Registration. A long negotiation to reach a written, signed contract took place to assure The Feds of NA (better?) that it would receive payment for the promotion and the sponsor organization's logo would appear on every flash drive.

Then, with no prior discussion, The Jewish Federations of North America (best?)determined -- somewhere -- "why promote a beneficiary organization, we'll put our new name on the flash drive...and that's it." Forget the negotiated signed contract; marketing now drives The Jewish Federations of yada yada yada. So, you will be paying about $20 for a flash drive to promote The Jewish Federations of North America's new name when those flash drives could have been free. Nice.

~ My cynicism aside, there are some excellent GA Forums/panels. Too few but a start. Yet, at a time that those who could inspire us should be on the Program, committed, there are yawning holes waiting to be filled -- the President's and the Prime Minister's attendance fills so many of those holes -- their attendance says, in shorthand, to The Federation of North America's leaders -- "we still matter." Build on it.

Friends, I still sense that the General Assembly has become an exercise in going through the motions. It should be the place -- this year of all years -- where we discuss how we reinvent ourselves as communities, as federations. At a time that we need true revolution; we can't even get evolution. More's the pity...

Rwexler

JUST CAN'T TAKE "YES" FOR AN ANSWER

2009-10-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

Both before and after Kathy Manning and Jerry Silverman convened a meeting with JAFI and JDC Leadership last month, I posted my hopes for A Good Start and thereafter A Good Start...A Follow-Up where I was even more expansive -- calling the meeting "a Great Start." You may recall that my compliments were considered by some to be so fulsome as to be considered by some "brown-nosing." So, surprise, surprise, some UJC leader has called around to inquire, in an ominous (for the future) manner, as to who "leaked" to me that this was a "good meeting" and/or who "leaked" that there was meeting at all. Pitiful but true.

Ya' see, the meeting was supposed to be "confidential." Telling me that it was a "good meeting" with no details to this inquiring chacham was a "breach of confidentiality." WOW. This was a meeting no one was to know even took place? This is an example of the new transparency? Or just more of the same? Now, in my naivete I don't think the accusations came from Kathy or Jerry both of whom thanked me when I called or wrote to congratulate them. Even as UJC cast the meeting as one restricted to a "discussion" of the "Urgency of Cash Collections" in a Leadership Briefing on October 6, it was far, far more than that...as it should have been. If the new lay leadership wants to mirror the old, where "inconvenient truth tellers" are ushered out because the new leadership wants to control "truth," then we are headed down the same path to nowhere.

So....I'm thinking: why is it that some "leader" of The Federations of North America just can't get beyond the vendettas and the recriminations? One of my friends reminded me of the exchange in Mike Nichols' Charlie Wilson's War: "Why does Congress say one thing and do another?" Congressman Wilson's response: "Tradition, mainly." At JFNA, this "tradition" of vendetta and ostracism, this "tradition" of intolerance of dissent and debate needs to stop now.

It's a real pity for all that this kind of stuff portends for the future.

Rwexler

CAN'T HELP HIMSELF

2009-10-26T18:21:00.007-05:00

There remains an Anonymous "Commentator" who is continuously frustrated as I reject his personal attacks on me...and, now, Jerry Silverman. Example, after I rejected his last attempt to attack Silverman, telling him that his screed would not be published on this Blog; that he ought to start a Blog and call it "I Hate Jerry," this guy wrote again. This time he said that his earlier hate message was meant to be "ironic" and "a joke." No, that won't be published either.

But for this one "master of irony" these Posts have been filled with intelligent and important Comments. I know this guy just can't help himself. It's truly too bad. We'll continue without him.

Rwexler

THE JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA AND PLAYBOY MAGAZINE

2009-10-25T07:13:00.001-05:00

A "friend of the Blog" sent me an "article" written by a "young Jewish professional" and a former professional at United Jewish Communities for whom my friend has the highest regard. It is an insightful reflection on the federations' "brand." I hope you find it as interesting as did I:

Playboy Enterprises & Jewish Federations of North America

"Playboy Enterprises and the Jewish Federation of North America are more alike than you care to believe…

This morning I read an article on MSN Money making the case for Playboy Enterprises to sell themselves and to put Hugh Hefner out to pasture. What I found intriguing was that analysts covering the company actually price the assets of the company higher than the price point of the stock. Why is this? The Playboy brand.

Playboy represents the unique combination of sex and “class”. No one else has that, and perhaps with new owners and a new face to the company, Playboy can become the industry leader again.
This got me to thinking about some similarities that Playboy shares with Federation. Both institutions have deep roots that go back to when our parents and grandparents were children. In fact, whether you care to admit it or not, some fathers had their personal collection buried in the back of their closets. It was “our fathers’ magazine”. With the easy access to pornography today, with images and video readily accessible, Playboy has had a hard time turning a profit, when everything is available free of charge and on the viewer’s terms.

Federation also has an incredible brand, and is perceived to be the paradigm of Jewish giving to my parent’s and grandparent’s generation. The question begs why I should be involved with a seemingly static institution when I can find philanthropic opportunities that are truly customized to my interests and available resources?

I know that the Federation is the backbone of so many social, educational and humanitarian services in Jewish communities across the U.S. but I hope Silverman, who is rebranding the national entity as the Jewish Federations of North America (formerly United Jewish Communities) is prepared to recommend drastic changes that will change the face of Jewish philanthropy in the United States.

Playboy and Jewish Federations have lost their subscribers. Both have an incredible brand and can make changes that will put them at the forefront of their industries. Should I buy stock in Playboy? Federation?"

__________

I know that we will cast our vote for "Federation." What will we do to make our vote matter? The mantle of lay leadership passes very soon; the system has already put in place a new professional leader who is proving to be the quick study necessary to turn this ship away from the shoals. We don't need old wine in old bottles or even new wine in old bottles (with a new brand, of course) but we do need an understanding and appreciation that there is value in the old vintages and we can grow some great new wine on the old vines. Go for it!! Carpe diem and all that.

Rwexler

COUP

2009-10-23T13:27:00.002-05:00

The announcement this a.m. that the President of the United States will attend the General Assembly is a real coup. (Not in the coup d'etat sense.) I have been attendong GAs since 1973 and neither I nor my friends can remember an occasion when the President has attended in person. (We do remember that President Clinton attended the Indianapolis GA by teleconference with Joel Tauber doing the honors.) We remember Vice Presidents such as George H. W. Bush in Chicago in the 80's and Al Gore in Denver in the 90's...but not a President. Hopefully, the Israeli Prime Minister will also be present.

To the extent that The Jewish Federatrions of NA leadership believes that this means that "we still matter," or whether the federaqtions themselves will at least seize the day remains to be seen.

But, no matter, this assures that this GA will be remembered.

More to follow.

Rwexler

A REFEREE, A RABBI AND A BASKETBALL COACH

2009-10-23T07:42:00.003-05:00

Only in America.

Here is how The New York Daily News reported a major basketball fiasco that took place last Sunday at Madison Square Garden:

"NBA or Europe, regular referees or replacements, the rules are the same: Two technical fouls is an automatic ejection, and anyone ejected must leave the floor.

Maccabi Tel Aviv wanted a pass on that rule Sunday at the Garden.

The Knicks' 106-91 victory over the Euroleague squad featured a bizarre delay in the third quarter when the visiting coach refused to leave after he was ejected.

The exhibition game was halted about eight minutes when Pini Gershon continued to linger near Maccabi's bench - a delay that included a rabbi trying to intervene by asking the NBA's replacement referees calling the game to allow Gershon to stay."I explained that this is not a regular game and the kids are watching and (it's) important that there will be peace and forgive him," Rabbi Yitchak Dovid Grossman said of his discussions with the officials. "If you forgive him, I can speak to the children and say, 'You also forgive. If you have a fight, you forgive.' But he says this is the law, that you must obey."

Gershon eventually left after a lengthy discussion with the referees, his assistant coaches and NBA security personnel. A security official said Gershon told them he didn't care if the game was stopped but eventually he agreed to leave.

"He likes the crowd, the crowd likes him very much," Maccabi's Yaniv Green said. "They're coming to the game to see him even more than they're coming to see us. He's quite a character, like you saw today."

Former Michigan State player Alan Anderson scored 20 points for Maccabi Tel Aviv. D'or Fischer added 19 points and 16 rebounds.Apparently frustrated by the officiating, Maccabi picked up four technical fouls, including two on Gershon in a 53-second span of the third quarter. Strangely, the second came after he screamed at official Ben Taylor in front of his bench following an offensive foul called on the Knicks' Al Harrington."

_______

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Coach, Pini Gershon, is a legendary figure in Israeli professional sports. But...only in America could one see a Coach tossed for unsportsmanlike conduct and a Rabbi intervenes. ESPN, the American, now worldwide sports network, described the scene as follows: "...it took a Rabbi, several security guards and a whole lot of time to get the situation resolved." Comments to the espn.com Post included anti-Semitic rants -- of course.

So, the next time someone says to you: "Have you heard the one about the referee, the Rabbi and the basketball coach?" Just say: "Heard it."

Yikes!!

rwexler

"THE FACT OF THE WEEK"

2009-10-22T06:22:00.002-05:00

The Jewish Federations of North America recently began to publish The Fact of the Week. Here is the first "Fact" that I read:

UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America supports ORT India, which recently opened a new Computer Center in Imphal, Manipur. The center offers advanced vocational training to members of the Bnei Menashe Jewish community to help prepare them for the modern job market.

OK. We would probably agree that this is not the most critical of "facts," but it is nice. One of my correspondents asked: "Is the 'fact' factual? What does 'support' mean?" So, we asked around. Best we can tell is that a new word has been added to the lexicon of what is now named (or will be by action of the UJC Board in November) The Jewish Federations of North America -- that word is "supports" (singular "support"). "Supports" doesn't mean, as you might otherwise conclude, "funds" (as a verb) in the context of this Fact. No, "supports" means "endorses" -- as in, no money for you.

That's my sad "fact of the week."

Rwexler

A MODEL?

2009-10-20T06:22:00.001-05:00

In a JTA article on September 10, the "restructuring" of United Synagogue was painted in broad brushstrokes. Read the article below and then we'll discuss it:

"United Synagogue reorganizing to build efficiency
September 10, 2009

NEW YORK (JTA) -- The umbrella organization for Conservative synagogues is restructuring, its new chief executive said.

Rabbi Steven Wernick, who has been on the job as the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism's executive vice president and CEO for barely two months, told JTA on Thursday that the organization is reducing the number of regions from 15 to six and eliminating five positions in the main office, with more layoffs likely to come.

The restructuring is pending final approval from the organization's board, which is slated to meet Sunday.

The aim is to make United Synagogue smaller and better, Wernick said.

Member synagogues have long complained they don't get enough value for their dues.
Wernick says he wants to reform an unwieldy organization that is "over-institutionalized," with a bloated board and insufficient accountability.

The proposed governance and structural changes are aimed at granting Wernick more authority while also making the organization, which has long been a poster child for the Conservative movement's ills, more directly accountable to the congregations who pay the dues.

"The fundamental goal of United Synagogue has to be strengthening synagogues," Wernick said.

With many young Conservative Jews falling off the map between college and having children, the reorganization intends to place programming for youth and young adults under one heading and provide "seamless programming" as individuals progress from one age group to the next."

_____

Hello?! "The fundamental goal of United Synagogue has to be strengthening synagogues." An epiphany (if Conservative Jews can have one)? So let's move a few words around and change the context: "The fundamental goal of the organization now known as The Jewish Federations of North America has to be strengthening federations." What an idea!! Let's focus on how best that can be accomplished -- let's reach that focus through the federation prism not through the prism of individual leaders who neither understand federations' goals nor care much about them. For the last five years, interrupted by two wars, UJC's leaders have been about their goals, their plans, even their dreams. They would conjure them from their own fertile minds and then work assiduously to implement, sometimes with governance approvals, sometimes not. Alignment with the goals of the federations of North America? Unimportant. And, thus, they failed us and themselves.

Let's see if the new UJC leadership will dedicate themselves to "strengthening federations." The best place to start is by listening to them.

Rwexler

DENOUEMENT

2009-10-18T09:17:00.000-05:00

"DENOUEMENT" -- what a perfect word, what a perfect descriptive term for the accumulation of issues over these past five years that have brought UJC to this day.

For the past years, as I see it, UJC has been missing four elements critical to any institutional success: a moral center, a grounding in the reality of the federation experience and a dedication to the timeless principles upon which our federation system has been constructed and a commitment to real transparency. The result of this void has been the separation of UJC from the federations, the Network, JAFI, JDC, ORT and our system's funded National Agencies in so many ways.

Some recent incidents strongly suggest that hope must be measured against the "UJC culture" that has been created over the past five years. Some examples: a GA Task Force on which serious federation leaders put in significant time issued its report a few weeks ago. The Report failed to cite the Task Force's key Recommendation as I understand it to be -- that the GA morph into an every two year event. I know the arguments for the GA to continue as our annual conclave; I support those. But, the way to achieve that goal is not to exorcise the Recommendations of a Task Force through a sheer power play.

Then there is the Executive Committee's action to approve an extremely expensive Donor Management System. Good Task Force Report, so expensive and out of the reach of federations struggling with severe economic issues, The Jewish Federations of North America are about to commit millions of dollars to develop a system that will be potentially used by a fraction of the federations -- many of which have already told the national organization they can't afford it. So why now? Did a number of federations which argued they "get nothing" from the "old UJC" strong arm the system for this? Did The Executive Committee, as was the case with the approval of what turned into the two-plus million Marketing and Branding Initiative, get overwhelmed by the technical presentation by the consultants who will benefit the most from this contract? Did anyone ask "how can we afford this at this moment of fragility and crisis?" Is it in either the national organization's or the federations' interest that The Jewish Federations of North America "own" a system rather than federations directly contracting with the service provider? Have there been system analyses in multiple federations before the "decision?" Just asking?

Yes, like you I pray that the new lay-professional leadership will be like sunlight through the fog of the past. Yet, I see glimmers of the dark past blocking that sunlight. Those who read this Blog regularly will recall that Rieger/Kanfer/Gelman in Spring 2008 devoted almost three months to threatening UIA's very existence solely...solely...because I served as its Chair. Those leaders developed a rationalizing mantra: "We need to 'complete the merger'" by substituting UJC's leaders for UIA's Board as to all things related to the Jewish Agency for Israel. Ignore the reality that the Jewish Federations of yadyadayada Board must approve and has approved the nominees to the JAFI Board from the United States, ignore the fact that The Jewish Federations of North America's leadership served on the UIA Nominating Committees for its Officers and Board, and, most important, ignore the fact that since the merger, under a succession of Chairs, UIA's Board has been comprised of federation leaders nominated only after consultation with their federations.

To Kanfer, Rieger and Gelman this was not enough -- why? Because they did not control the processes. Not that the processes weren't working, not that the UIA Board was not a productive one representing the federation system in monitoring the expenditure of federation allocations to JAFI and delivering the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Grant of literally hundreds of millions of dollars to JAFI-- only because the troika did not totally control me. It made no difference to them that the UIA Board and staff were doing the job assigned to it in the merger.

Ignoring the fact that the merger of UIA was completed in toto when The Jewish Federations of North America f/k/a UJC was formed thanks to the vote of the federations, thanks to the vote of JDC, thanks to the votes of UIA and UJA; and ignoring the fact that the terms of UIA's joinder in the merger were fully incorporated in the approved Merger Agreement, three people -- Kanfer, Rieger and Gelman -- wanted my scalp and would have worked to destroy UIA if they didn't get it. While that chapter closed in 2008, the internal Jewish Federations of North America grapevine has told me that now the incoming lay leadership has directed the staff (lay leaders directing staff going around the CEO to do so? Unacceptable.) to again analyze the reasons they don't sense that they completely control UIA.

I find it hard to believe that this new Lay leadership may allow itself to be distracted as were their predecessors; that they will concern themselves with control for control's sake at a time that their focus needs to be on how UJC can best engage with its federation owners in a new federationcentric mode; that transparency may be sacrificed to satisfy the most powerful, even as the organization might be torn apart rather than mended. Will someone ask "do we need these distractions at this time in this way...again?" Is the message of The Jewish Federations of North America, which embodies the very concept of Jewish unity, going to once again embroil itself in acts of disunity? Actually, consider the questions asked. (For those who seek a seat at The Federations of North America table, be reminded of the Washington maxim: "If you aren't at the table, you're probably on the menu." More on that in a few days.)

I hope that I have been misinformed for if what I have learned from inside UJC itself is correct, a "good start," even a great one, will quickly turn into opportunity lost and The Jewish Federations of North America will just as quickly face its denouement.

Rwexler

YEMENI JEWS -- AN UPDATE -- ANY QUESTIONS?

2009-10-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Have you heard from The Jewish Federations of North America with regard to the status of the small Yemenite Jewish population UJC (yes, chevra, there once was an orgnaization called UJC) was pushing toward relocation in Monsey, Rockland County, New York? If your federation has allocated funds for this $800,000 effort, have you been given an accounting, even in "secret," by UJC/The Jewish ... ? Probably not

You remember: first, the former CEO sent e-mails to those he thought would be supportive asking for $5,000,000 immediately with the "threat" that if this amount weren't forthcoming it would be the end of days for federations' claims to social welfare leadership, among other things. The Yemenite Jewish population would be here by Pesach, that CEO wrote. (That's last Pesach, not Pesach 2010.) Then UJC's lay and professional leaders sent an urgent message to the federations pleading for the reduced amount (a "special," I guess) of $800,000 to relocate the Yemenite group -- that was to happen two months ago. Seen any? As I understood it, two Yemeni families have relocated to the U.S. and a few more are coming while responsible leadership in the America Orthodox community have been urging this same population to make aliya -- and many are.

Then a friend sent me an article from the September 9 Yemen Times ("Yemen's Most Widely Read English-language Newspaper") -- Ancestral homeland loses more Yemeni Jews. Reporting that "...the umbrella body of the North American Jewish Federation(s) escalated efforts to evacuate almost half of Yemen's Jewish community to the U.S.," resulting in three families totalling 12 Yemenite Jews leaving on September 9 joining the 14 who left in August -- a total of 26...26. "Emigration will (now) slow down because many want to spend the holiday season in Yemen with other family members." UJC/The Jewish Feder... might have provided this information but, psssst, it's a secret.

While UJC (yes, chevra, there once was...) leadership should have been focusing on what it should have been doing, they allowed themselves to be distracted with something with which they should not have been involved at all -- other than to expressly encourage aliya to Israel. We are blessed with two partners dedicated to rescue -- neither of which is The Jewish Federations of North America -- and questions about whether the Yemenite Jewish population required "rescue" abound. Someday maybe all of us will understand why and how UJC became obsessed with this population -- obsessed to the extent that at one time at least 7 senior professionals (that's about 1 UJC professional for every 4 Yemenite Jews who have been projected to have arrived in America thus far) were engaged on the subject. Mismanagement? A lack of priorities? Chaos? All of the above?

Will the recent arrivals in America be paraded out at the GA as an example of a Jewish Federations of North America "triumph" of some kind? Or is the effort such an actualization of failed expectations that The Jewish Federations of North America will just let it fade away?

Where are the Yemenite Jews? And, where has the money gone?

Rwexler

JUST SOME IDLE THOUGHTS

2009-10-14T08:34:00.005-05:00

One correspondent got me to thinking:

Anonymous said...

"Richard:

Why don't you ask around and find out what ever happened to the Hay Group consultation a few years ago for UJC. Lots of $$, was supposed to streamline the title mishegas you describe.

Actually, I think your post aptly describes the current top-heavy structure of UJC/JFNA. The vast majority of those who got laid off the past few years were below the Director level.

Directors (and those above them) with relatively few people remaining to actually direct...."

So here's the sad story...you've got a lot of Directors (and those above them) with relatively few people remaining to actually direct...."

Lacking the means to discover the shelf at 25 Broadway on which the Hay Group consultation sits, I would recommend that the press take a look, if they have any interest. (Or if any of you have it, send it on to me.)

While on the subject, how about the Rochester Research Group Reports (multi-year)? And whatever were the results of the inspired "Great Place to Work" Consultancy? For that matter, other than the latest Branding and Marketing Initiative, the $2 million (+) effort that produced...tata...The Jewish Federations of North America name and mark, where have all of the consultant studies gone..or were they left behind at 111 Eighth Avenue.

**************

Congrats to the marketing geniuses who came up with the idea of The Jewish Community Hero Awards. 20 finalists -- and by my amateur count -- 2/3rds appear to have been put forward by the incredible effort of the Chabad. So, forgetting the fact that many of the "votes" were cast by the same people time-and-time-and-time again (the Chabad, I'm betting, learned their voting practices in my fair city -- "vote early and often"), it is fantastic that The Jewish Federations of North America (by another consultant, of course) culled 570,000 votes, hundreds of thousands of new names and e-mail addresses -- most of which will be found at Chabad Houses worldwide.

The Award Ceremony (the "Hero of the Year" will be selected from the 20 finalists) will be another highlight of the D.C. GA. If I haven't given you enough reasons to attend the GA already, now you have another. In my opinion, however, the men and women, young and old, lay and professional, whom you see in the halls in D.C. are the real heroes. But, that's just me.

Rwexler

FROM THE RIDICULOUS TO THE MORE RIDICULOUS

2009-10-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

~ Titles. I (and probably you) received an announcement from UJC:The Jewish Federations a few weeks ago. It was sent by an Executive Assistant on behalf of a Director and was over the signature of a Managing Director. This drove me to look at a staff directory. In addition to the above I learned that The Jewish Federations of North America have developed a whole lot of titles. Here is a partial list: you've got your Administrative Assistants, your Executive Assistants, your Associate Directors, your Directors, your Senior Directors, your Managers, your Project Managers, your Senior Managers, your Managing Directors, your Coordinators, your Associate Vice-Presidents, your Vice-Presidents, your Senior Vice-Presidents, your President and CEO. I am certain that I have left some out and some creative person is busy creating more. (If you search deeply, you will find the Project Manager, New Titles -- a full-time job no doubt.)

Ten years ago did we envision the creation of a bureaucracy this thick? How about five years ago? We should have.

~ Names. I guess this falls in the same genre as Titles. We're now The Jewish Federations of North America (no acronyms allowed) after extensive research, focus groups and expense. (Pssst, acknowledging the mistake of 10 years ago, we may see the campaign effort titled: UJA: The Annual Campaign of The Jewish Federations of North America. It's just a "maybe;" it's gonna take more research, focus groups, etc. My bet: it ain't gonna happen.) Did anyone on the Board ask "what will the cost be to change letterhead, signage, Memo pads, etc.? When the subject was last explored, about seven years ago, a name change back to UJA was rejected, in part, because the cost of changing all this was stated to be $500,000!! This time??

Also, I loved the explanation that in conjunction with the GA in its midst, the host federation, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington has agreed to...what exactly? It was announced that the JFGW (does D.C. allow acronyms?) "title already qualifies as it mets 90% of the requirements, criteria, something..."
Soon, if not already, you will be asked to modify all UJC (forgive me for I have sinned) e-mail addresses to first.name@thejewishfederationsofnorthamerica.org. You will be severely punished if you fail to follow orders.

Is this name change, this rebranding to be the seminal achievement of this era of "leadership?" At what cost?

By the way...good name.

Rwexler

A "NATIONAL JEWISH CONVERSATION"

2009-10-12T08:14:00.003-05:00

ejewishphilanthropy published Steven Windmueller's Call for a National Jewish Conversation earlier today. Steve,the Dean of the L.A.-based HUC-JIR, makes another important contribution to the on-going Dialogue (although that may not have been his intent) on the organized Jewish community. The Call follows and, then, some comments:

A Call for a National Jewish Conversation

Posted by eJP October 12, 2009 Category: The American Jewish Scene by Steven Windmueller

"A crisis of profound proportions is confronting the American Jewish community. Facing serious economic challenges, dealing with a rising concern over the viability and vitality of significant numbers of Jewish institutions, in part brought on by rapidly changing demographic and social patterns and a national crisis in leadership, and confronting worldwide concerns over anti-Semitism and anti-Israel policies and actions, there needs to be a national conversation on the American Jewish future.

Such convocations have been previously held by Jewish leaders and allowed for creative and necessary issues to be addressed by a broad, representative segment of national leaders, rabbinic authorities, and communal experts. Such a conversation held at this time would permit a serious analysis of the “state” of American Jewry and permit the opportunity for some serious exploration of how our religious and communal system must address the array of social, economic and political concerns confronting the community.

In the context of an emerging 21st model, Jewish life will be governed and framed around several core principles. First, old notions of institutional turf no longer apply, as no one owns “the” Jewish response to our communal future. As a result of the rapidly changing picture of who American Jews are and what they represent, there will need to emerge a different type of Jewish marketplace; such an environment must be seen as transparent and committed to experimentation and innovation. What will we “brand” as Jewish and how as a community do we compete in the marketplace of ideas and causes represent the types of challenges that will need to be addressed?

When Jewish communities in the past faced such overriding issues, national and even international conferences were convened. In 1943 American Jewish leadership met to form plans to rescue European Jewry and to seek formal recognition for a Jewish State in Palestine. On other occasions, such convocations addressed specific global and local priorities. In Medieval times, for example, “synods” were regularly convened by rabbinic leaders to consider Jewish legal practices as well as to respond to external degrees imposed by European rulers and Church authorities.

Such a national dialogue is long overdue, as it would come at a time when the Jewish enterprise seems unclear with regard to its mandate, especially in light of a community divided along political and ideological lines. Adding to these challenges, there is both a national crisis of Jewish leadership and a major generational and demographic transition underway that is fundamentally reconfiguring the very composition of our community. Joining these serious and significant domestic issues is an array of global concerns that include the growth of anti-Semitism, the spread of anti-Israel activism, and the emergence of a nuclear threat to Israel and the West from Iran.

In some measure one finds at this time communal and religious leadership bereft of ideas and strategies on how best to reach significant pockets of Jews who are unaffiliated or disconnected from the organized structures of Jewish life and in mobilizing initiatives to embrace younger Jews. A conversation among leaders is needed to re-imagine and help re-direct the institutional priorities for American Judaism. The financial and organizational infra-structure of Jewish life requires a thoughtful and candid reconsideration of institutional priorities and structures. At a time of diminishing fiscal resources and competing institutional threats and opportunities, communal and religious bodies must re-think the issues of governance, leadership, and financial sustainability.

While no institutional body has the authority to legislate social or structural change, a thoughtful and essential summit of Jewish leadership would seem to be both appropriate and necessary. Participation and engagement must be seen as a responsibility that transcends institutional boundaries, ideological and religious positions, and political passions. This represents an opportunity for also engaging the academic, rabbinic and educational leadership who are core to the Jewish future in order to help create a new national Jewish agenda.

Similar convocations should also be convened within our local communities, allowing leaders to re-imagine ways in which institutions might work in collaboration, while identifying unmet needs, shared concerns, and common action.

It is not uncommon to find religious communities and ethnic constituencies, stepping back from time to time, with the intent to critically and responsibly examine their core institutions, to assess their status and impact within the larger society, and to evaluate their shared priorities and common goals. This would seem to be the moment for American Jewry to undertake such a reassessment."

____________________

Those who read these pages know of my deep, core belief that a "National Conversation" is vital -- and that the Jewish Federations of North America remain the vital center of that Jewish communal universe capable of convening such a, as I have termed it, "National Retreat." In three separate Posts over the past four months, I have pled with the incoming leadership of The Jewish Federations of North America (type that a few hundred times and you determine whether an acronym might be nice) or federation leadership itself to act as the convener. The response -- none.

At one time the Conversation about "who we are, what our strength, what our purpose, what our might" was one that inspired our national Jewish polity at General Assembly after General Assembly. Since 2005, certainly, the GA has been, like The Seinfeld Show was, essentially "about nothing." More's the pity. As the fabric of our communal enterprise has been shredded by its leaders and the economic crisis that is upon us full force, federation leaders who used to rise up as one, have turned more and more inward.

Rachel Cowan "commenting" on the Windmueller piece in ejewishphilanthropy, echoed Windmueller's "Call" and built upon it, stating in part: "This meta-conversation should cover a wide range of topics -- those that engage the future, those that build hope and commitment and don't simply cultivate fear and anxiety. They should be based on appreciative inquiry, and new formats for engaging large numbers of people in generating creative ideas..." If The Jewish Federations of North America aren't capable of sounding the call, I fear that we will soon be saying Kaddish for all we have built together.

Thanks to ejewishphilanthropy and Steve Windmueller.

Rwexler

DEAR KATHY AND JERRY

2009-10-11T07:28:00.000-05:00

Dear Kathy and Jerry:

Last week a Dialogue erupted on the pages of this Blog. That dialogue (which consisted of Comments to three Posts on "RELEVANCE" and the potential impacts of turning our federations over to the "designated givers" culminated in a responsa to numerous observations of Paul Jeser, a leader experienced in so many aspects of our system. That responsa, from an Anonymous correspondent so beautifully and perfectly summarized my own sense of where some would take us that I wanted to reprint it here for you and The Jewish Federations of North America to consider. I wish that I could write so beautifully. And, at one and the same time, may those who believe that because their communities face obstacles that appear insurmountable at this time, who believe the federation construct is irreparably damaged, working together, as we have time and again, we will find solutions that preserve the best of in what we have built.

Here is what Anonymous wrote last Thursday night:

"(It has been suggested ) that Federations have to get on the band wagon of designated giving or go out of business.

I suggest that if designated giving is the panacea for Jewish Giving than there is no need for Federations at all. Let’s all designate and save the overhead. We do not need a central address – just an occasional symposium on “Giving Wisely.”

How will we defend ourselves with no central address? How will we work collectively in a time of crisis? How will we organize major movements of our people? How will we prevent 100 schools for 100 children? How will we succeed when we disorganize form the collective?

I have the ultimate tool of designated giving in the form of my checkbook. I can designate to my heart's content.

If I do that with all my Tzedaka - I will lose my community. The strength of the community is that we come together to act together. We act as central address and we plan for the best use of our collective funds. We can intelligently plan for the best uses of our Tzedaka and act with the power of the collective - like a family.

Embrace a Jewish form of Rugged Individualism and we will lose our very Jewish Community. Give up central planning and we relegate our giving to being nothing more than a Beauty Contest or sales contest. The sexiest and loudest organization gets the money. Put a Rabbi with a big smile in front of my desk and I can no longer hear the small voice of the needy Jew far away from my home? A totality of Free Market Tzedaka is worse than spoiled gribenes – all the grease and none of the crunch. Designated Giving is survival of the fittest.

There is no Tikkun Olam in the Jungle. This diminishes us to be nothing more than a recreation of the shtetl's shnorer with a pushka. The Pushka of the shtetl took care of all of our community’s needs because we did not have the freedom of geography nor the knowledge of effective global communication. If you do not know about the plague in Minsk you are fine with throwing big parties in Pinsk. We know better today.

If we wish to remain a covenantal people – than we have a responsibility to the Brit. Our Brit creates a responsibility for collective action of the Edah - our community. Individual action, no matter how enlightened or fulfilling, can never take the place of collective responsibility."
October 8, 2009 6:32 PM

*****

Amen. Selah.

Kathy and Jerry....the next steps are truly in your hands.

Rwexler

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- SERIOUSLY

2009-10-09T08:03:00.003-05:00

In less than a month's time, The Jewish Federations of North America will join together in a celebration of our unity and Peoplehood at the GA/DC 09. I have kidded about it, but I have always felt that the General Assembly should be the most important national event on our system's annual calendar. With the input that Dede and Ken Feinberg asked of us in re programming, with the National Women's Philanthropy, PG & E and New Presidents and Executives Seminars alone, this would be an event worth attending. There is always the possibility that the President/Vice-President may show, the annual "will the Prime Minister be there in person" question (or will it be, once again, the amazing President Shimon Peres). Fresh faces of emerging leaders will emerge out of federation leadership. The GA can (and often does) offer so much.

Sure, things could be a lot better -- promoting an American Idol personality's attendance doesn't do much for me; a "mini-Jewish Film Festival" is nice; $80 per person lunches and $47 per person breakfasts (of coffee, bagels, cream cheese and Danish) are incredibly offensive; a GA Hotel offering $267 per night room rates (the "special GA rate" for a standard room is particularly over-priced when practically across the street a major hotel offers a rate of $150/room and $170 for a Junior Suite) raises all kind of questions; the announcement of our Jewish Hero; four weeks before the event (October 9 to be exact) there should be meat on the bones of a Program that lacked almost all specifics; and a GA Registration fee of $650 (if you registered by early last month), off-putting. This year, close your eyes and imagine a GA that is all about and totally focused upon, the Federations...and that should be a good thing.

But, with all of the above, even without sizzle, the GA will be compelling, even if only for the hallway conversations, the energy, the possibilities of new, energized leadership, the friendships renewed. It is, as always, the place to be if you can be there.

Enjoy, network, learn, experience...

Chag sameach.

Rwexler

BRANDING -- ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IN THE WHOLE WORLD

2009-10-08T22:38:00.000-05:00

Many of you have written me privately about the "rebrand" approved by the Board of what is now The Jewish Federations of North America. And, while I like the new name, those responsible for its promulgation ought to be embarrassed by the amount of money spent on the "Initiative" from which it emerged. As someone said or wrote: "In a fast-paced world, today's brand could be tomorrow's trivia question." A dear friend wrote me the following family story:

"My Grandmother's name was Lottie Rudnovskiya and, of course, my great uncles on my grandfather's side were also Rudnovskiyas. My Grandmother and her family were living in St. Louis. My Mother was only a young child at the time. One day a great Uncle from Kansas City came to visit the St. Louis Rudnovskiyas. The great Uncle informed my Grandmother that he had changed his name to Rudd. My Grandmother was astounded and inquired as to why. He responded that he did it for business reasons the year before. My Grandmother's response was quixck and incisive: "So tell me, Moishe, now that you're a Rudd, is business any better?"

Wonderful story. As the head of a once great brand once said: "We view the experience of a Krispy Kreme store (where customers watch their doughnuts being baked) as the defining element of the brand." Uh, huh.

The Jewish Federations of North America -- the sum of its parts. As Warren Buffet has written: "Your...brand had better be delivering something special, or it's not going to get the business." Uh huh.

Rwexler

THE DIALOGUE CONTINUES...RELEVANCE

2009-10-08T11:24:00.003-05:00

After the Post yesterday on Relevance, correspondents continued with a dialogue that I find important to the present and the future. I hope you agree:

"Paul Jeser said...

Richard - you end with "if the federations' voices remain silent, the system will ultimately self-destruct."I won't argue the question of 'is it good or bad?', but the fact is that, in most communities, the Federation's strength has been diluted because it has not understood the world of designated giving. In most communities, the Federations are just one more charitable organization.And the concept of an 'annual campaign' that raises funds that will be allocated by others is a concept that no longer is effective.Times have changed - significantly - and the Federation world is way behind. If there are not significant conceptual and practical changes made very soon, there will be no more Federation community."
October 7, 2009 9:21 AM

Anonymous said...

and others might argue that Federation's were too timid in reminding the community of who they are and what they are about -- the primary link to global Jewry , no let's say it - ISRAEL, and the protection of safety net services for all Jews in need at home and throughout the world. That chevre is a "brand" that has proven itself over and over again for 70 years and more. Do we, god forbid, need another crisis to drive home the point?

Dovidele the Dinosaur "
October 7, 2009 12:05 PM

paul jeser said...

"Dear Dovidele,

There are many organizations that are also part of the link to global Jewry/Israel. That's the changed world (for good or for bad). The Universities, Hospitals, Social Service agencies, etc., that raise funds outside of the Federation umbrella have become as important, if not more so, to most major donors than the Federation.Federations were not too timid in stating their case; they were/are too timid in redeveloping their much needed role in/for the Jewish community. "
October 7, 2009 2:32 PM

Anonymous said...
Dear Paul,

You, I and many readers all know that if JAFI, JDC and their Federation supporters disappeared tomorrow we would have to recreate them. They do the heavy day to day lifting that boutique charities cannot do and are the shver arbiters of Jewish life. In local communities they are there for agencies when government dollars shrink and when foundations move on to the next "big thing". And before you say it, we also know that many of these sexy philanthropic products so touted today were nurtured with Federation help before the foundations caught on to them.It would be gratuitous of me to say Federations must change --change is natural and essential for all institutions. However the reasons for the creation of the UJA - Federation system have not disappeared.

Dovidele "
October 7, 2009 3:40 PM

paul jeser said...

Dovidele,

The 'proof' that your scenario is non-functional is that many of the institutions/organizations that do/did receive JDC/JAFI funds are now raising funds directly.The boutique organizations were founded mainly because they did not receive funds from the federation world.What I am saying is that the Federation needs to become not 'just one more fundraising organization' for it to be the force that is needed."
October 7, 2009 6:19 PM

*****

My friends, there is no "right or wrong" in this dialogue or its predecessor on these pages. What is "wrong," however, is that this argument should be taking place not on these pages but within the governance groupings of The Jewish Federations of North America, just the place for such a discussion, disputation between Shammai and Hillel, and just the place where it is not taking place....yet.

Rwexler