Visions:
Israel, UJC, and Philanthropic Pluralism
by Norman Rosenberg The reorganization of the Federation system detailed by Carl Sheingold offers
the American Jewish community an extraordinary opportunity to assess its relationship
with a changing Israel. Will this represent an evolution in the Israel-Diaspora
relationship and create a useful, meaningful, and effective role for us in relation
to the distinctive challenges that Israel faces today? This very question led to the creation of the New Israel Fund 21 years ago.
The organization's founders recognized that the challenges facing Israel had
shifted dramatically: from pitched battles to create a Jewish state, to the
more elusive--and divisive--challenges of implementing the prophetic values
of freedom, justice, and peace on which the state was founded. The UJC merger allows the Federation system to assess these challenges and
define its position on a changing Israel that raises as Sheingold points out
"divisive ideological issues." As it does so, it may also redefine its role
in the North American Jewish community. In the past, Federations sought to position
themselves as the central address of the philanthropic community, a community
in which there were no other equally authentic ways to be involved. As a consensus
driven organization, the UJC must recognize that it cannot address all issues.
It would do well to embrace the ethos of philanthropic pluralism that can pave
the way for developing strategic partnerships with others. As an example, while the Jewish Agency may remain an important recipient for
UJC/Federation allocations, we believe there may be other potential partners
with whom they can contribute to the building of Israeli society. We welcome
Sheingold's suggestion that the UJC merger "calls for the... creation of new
institutional connections." Polling data tells us that over 75 percent of our
donors also support their local Federation. It's time to move beyond "us and
them." We would welcome the opportunity to develop a creative partnership with
the new system, and work together on the issues we have focused on now for over
20 years.