Our mission returned last Friday from a whirlwind of the JFNA General Assembly and our own community trip. I had promised to update the blog but got very sick during the time we were in Israel. I will be posting some reflections on what I saw and learned over the last two weeks. Suffice it to say, there is a lot going on and even more to do. The GA is an inspirational and exasperation-al event–this year 3,500 Jews focused on Jewish education, community building and social services. Given it was in Israel, the formal meetings were of course political events, the opening plenary featuring an address by Prime Minister Netanyahu on the impending threat of a nuclear Iran, and his vow to protect the state of Israel. Beyond repeating the evils of a nuclear Iran and his determination to defend the Jewish people–which most of the crowd found inspiring–his remarks broke no new ground.
In addition to JFNA’s meetings, the Jewish Agency for Israel held its Board of Governors and Delegate Assembly. To give you a flavor of all that went on I have copied below the email that Richard Bernstein, Chairman of the United Israel Appeal sent out to participants.
Andrew
From Richard Berstein, Chair of the United Israel Appeal:
Chevre:
Having just returned home from Jerusalem, my mind is swirling with images, ideas, memories … and excitement.
My key thoughts:
1. First and foremost, by all measures the GA and Jewish Agency Assembly were spectacular successes. We owe a debt of gratitude to Michael and Susie Gelman, Jerry Silverman, Becky Caspi, Rene Rothstein and the JFNA professional team for a wonderful GA and to Julie Wise Oreck and the Jewish Agency team for a great Jewish Agency Assembly. In additional to the incredible program and flawless logistics, they even managed to have Hashem’s cooperation for perfect fall weather! It was lovely.
2. I was very proud of our UIA delegation of 103 people attending the Jewish Agency Board of Governors and committee meetings. I think people knew we were there and helping the Jewish Agency and JFNA move in positive directions. We worked hard, but played hard, too. Our Shabbat afternoon get-together at Danny Allen’s apartment, the traditional “Arbit Dutch Treat” dinner and our UIA working breakfast were well attended and very special. I predict they will become the “not to be missed” events in future BOG calendars.
3. After 15 years of providing professional leadership to our UIA Israel office, it was bitter sweet that this was Barbara Promislow’s last BOG meeting. We had the chance to express our appreciation to her and are grateful for her tireless years of service. We are also pleased that after her retirement as of December 31, she will transition to consulting with us on a part-time basis with respect to the US Government Grant. In the meantime, we are very confident Judah Douglen will provide excellent professional continuity to the office as our newly appointed Deputy Director.
4. But perhaps more than anything was my sense of something electric in the air.
The buzz at the GA and Jewish Agency meetings could well have been attributable to Iran; the Pew Report; Michael Siegal’s call for universal Jewish early-childhood education and Jewish development zones; the troubling situation of the French Jewish community or the Women at the Wall. All these issues and many more, were certainly engaging everyone.
But there was something else. We were witnessing a moment of creation
While it is unclear how the Government of Israel–World Jewry Initiative will unfold, this much is certain:
• The potential scope of partnership between the GOI and World Jewry is unprecedented. At the meeting of the Coordinating Committee of the Jewish Agency and the GOI, I was privileged to hear the Prime Minister’s clarion call when he said: “Our first priority is the future and security of the Jewish State. Our second priority is the future and security of the Jewish people.”
• The Jewish Agency is the key interlocutor of this new initiative with the Government.
· JFNA, along with UIA, the Jewish Agency and the American Joint Distribution Committee are forming a new platform to lead this initiative. We will be at the very center of this emerging partnership effort to bring Israel to World Jewry and World Jewry to Israel.
• The work accomplished at the two-day summit of Jewish communal professionals held just days before the GA, was breathtaking. I have seen a draft of the report that will be published very shortly describing their deliberations. The clarity of thinking and the evident spirit of goodwill, cooperation and willingness to have cross organizational collaboration is inspiring.
• And lastly, I continue to be struck by the sense of being present at an extraordinary moment of beginning.
Think about it: At different points in time there were people sitting in conference rooms and hotels, somewhere, discussing the possibilities of Project Renewal… of Operation Exodus…. of Birthright.
There most certainly were different points of view, more than a little skepticism and concern that it could never be done.
At those moments, no one could know, or predict, what ultimately transpired or how each of these projects would impact the lives of millions of people.
And it is our turn now.
I have a deep respect for Goethe’s couplet:
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.
Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”
We are sharing a special moment in time.
Let’s begin.
B’shalom,
Rich
