54 Friday, bee 38, 1918 THE DUll! DISH NEWS - American-Israeli Task Force Recommends Communal Changes NEW YORK — Thirty- three American and Israeli Jews, following months of study of the relationships between Israel and the American Jewish commun- ity, conclude that in view of the pluralistic nature both of American society and of the American Jewish com- munity, "dissent from majority views" must be permitted—but this should not overshadow the asser- tion of American Jewish consensus. The group adds: "Israel's security needs are of such crucial concern to American Jewry that it is incumbent on the organizations repre- senting the majority con- sensus to make the view of the majority of American Jews on Israel's security policies clear and thus to put dissenting views into a realistic perspective." The group was an inter- national task force spon- sored by the American Jewish Committee. The full report, which will be pub- lished in a few weeks, was outlined by its co-authors, Prof. David Sidorsky of Col- umbia University and Robert Goldmann of the AJCommittee board of gov- ernors, as well as Rabbi Joseph Glazer, executive vice president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. In addition to its con- r cern for the political phase of relations bet- ween Israel and the American Jewish com- munity, which was held to be the focus of most concern and was generating the most seri- ous debate, the task force stressed that it was "of major importance that Israel move toward a greater measure of economic indepen- dence." Eli Ginzberg, Columbia University economics pro- fessor and member of the task force, is quoted in the report as indicating that the ratio between American Jewish philanthropic sup- port of Israel and private American Jewish invest- ment runs about 10 to 1 or higher. While recognizing the need for continued_ levels of philanthropic aid, the task force urged a shift in this ratio between in- vestment and philanthropy. In stressing the need for American Jews to take the lead for opening up new op- portunities for increased investment in Israel, the task force urged that joint American-Israeli efforts be established to reduce Is- rael's foreign debt. It suggested that such efforts develop approaches for cre- ation of an effective capital market in Israel, work in conjunction with groups To: The Jewish News 17515 W. 9 Mile Rd. Suite 865 . Southfield, Mich. 48075 Wfif JUST from Paste in old label TO: NAME Please Allow Two Weeks like the Committee for Economic Growth of Israel (CEGI) for increased Israeli exports to the U.S. and im- provement in marketing techniques for these pro- ducts, and explore pos- sibilities for significant pri- vate foreign investment or participation in government-owned Israeli corporations. On the matter of political dissent, the task force pointed out that the Ameri- can Jewish community was "a plural community of vol- unteer associations," with coordinating bodies not rep- resentative in a formal or constitutional sense. Voting on issues is not subject to cloture; rather, each group feels free to continue the policies of its membership "with varying concern for the sentiments of other groups," it pointed out. The task force recom- mended that the struc- ture of coordinating bodies be re-examined to make sure they are fully representative of Ameri- can Jewish communal opinion. Specifically, it urged: • That such American Jewish communal bodies as • the Conference of Presi- dents of Major American Jewish Organizations and the Middle East Task Force of the NJCRAC (National Jewish Communications Relations Advisory Coun- cil) adopt measures "to en- hance their capacity to for- mulate responsible com- munal policy upon consul- tation with all segments of communal opinion." • That the Conference of Presidents and other coor- dinating bOdies that are mandated "not only to de- velop the policy positions of the community but also to represent it" be fully rep- resentative of Jewish com- munal opinion, and their present structures and methods of operation be evaluated "with a view to initiating procedures to this end." • That in view of "multi- ple initiatives" in support of Israel in the political arena — by such groups as the Presidents Conference, the Council of Jewish Federa- tions and Welfare Funds, and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee — a procedure for evaluat- ing duplication of efforts should be undertaken "with a view for improved consul- tation and coramunication." The task force recom- mended also that Dias- pora representatives be- come more deeply in- volved in the work of the Jewish Agency, which it called the major over- arching institution in which American Jews and Israelis serve to- gether to shape policies and make decisions af- fecting the condition of the Diaspora and the de- velopment of Israel. It recommended that in furthering this effort, par- ticular care be given to specific program objectives of the Jewish Agency, such as education, housing, so- cial services, etc., and that groups both in Israel and in the Diaspora be involved who have a direct interest and necessary expertise and skills. It recommended also that consideration be given to broadening the framework of the Jewish Agency representatives both from Israel and the Diaspora, along with cur- rent representation from the Zionist parties and from Diaspora fund-raising or- ganizations. The task force pointed to the long established and continually developing network of health and wel- fare institutions in Israel that have direct links with the American Jewish com- munity at a level of collab- oration and mutual ex- change far beyond that reached in any other aspect of the American Jewish- Israeli relationship. Yet it added that there was grea- ter need for American Jewish participation in ways other than the con- tribution of funds, and ac- cepted several recommen- dations from a subcommit- tee: • Encouraging senior Jewish personnel from U.S. agencies and Jewish com- munal services and faculty from professional schools to spend a sabbatical year in Israel; • Helping Jewish com- munal agencies to develop collaborative projects to help strengthen Israeli health and welfare services without increasing their dependence on the Ameri- can organizations. In the area of education and culture the task force found that the reality of Israel had become an im- portant element in de- veloping forms of Jewish self-identification for the American Jewish com- munity. It added that this phenomenon , carried with it the potential for important changes in the character and present exchange programs bet- ween Israel and Ameri- can Jewry. Pointing out that there has been little communal direction and planning for joint activities, the task force recommended the es- tablishment, under the leadership of the American Zionist Youth Fottnilation, of a policy study of the pre- sent use of Israel as an edu- cational resource. Such a study, it added, should be geared to long-term plan- ning for the development of the Israeli experience as an educational instrument. _ The task force suggested also that a comprehensive plan be developed for a new educational track based on Israeli-centered curricula, alongside the current tracks of Jewish education in the U.S. The task force found merit in the suggestion that the American Jewish com- munity provide more support for the absorption of American Jewish immig- rants in Israel, adding that it viewed the presence of American Jews living in Is- rael as providing the natural bonds that could most effectively build bridges between the two communities. The task force also found it not surprising, in light of historic reasons, that the Is- raeli government had post- poned efforts to reform Is- raeli law so as to legitimize Jewish religious pluralism or to achieve separation of religion and state. It did recommend con- tinued in-depth discus- sion of religious issues, recognizing the need for the Israeli community to appreciate the attitudes of Conservative and Re- form Jews who find themselves denied full participation in Israel despite their Zionist commitment, and con- versely, also the need for the American Jewish community to appreciate the historic and social circumstances that make it difficult for Israeli soc- iety to accommodate re- ligious pluralism in the American tradition. The full task force report, titled "Israel and American Jewish Interaction," will be published in the coming weeks. New Israel St amps Issued JERUSALEM — The philatelic services depart- ment of the Israel Ministry of Communications has is- sued a number of new com- memorative stamps. A tribute to the town of Rosh Pine is included in the sixth definitive series on the landscapes of Israel. The stamp is multi-colored and is in the IL 20 denomina- tion. The 100th anniversary of the founding of the Jerusalem branch of the Young Men's Christian As- sociation is saluted in an IL 5.40 cover. Adjacent to it is an IL 8.40 cover saluting the centenary of the writing of Hatikva by Naftali Herz Imber. Two of the most promi- nent figures in the found- ing of Israel are portrayed in a new series of historical personality - stamps. Dr. Chaim Weizmann was a leader of the Zionist move- ment which was founded by Theodor Herzl. Dr. Weiz- mann was the first presi- dent of Israel. The two historical per- sonalities stamps are issued in the IL 2 denomination in honor of the 30th anniver- sary of the founding of the state of Israel. Percy Requests Vance to Help in El Al Meetings WASHINGTON (JTA) — Sen. Charles Percy (R-Ill.) has urged Secretary of State Cyrus Vance to become "personally involved" in negotiations for the U.S. to approve new landing rights for El Al Israel Airlines in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Boston. In a letter to Vance dis- closed by Percy's office, the Senator said the Israeli government has already communicated to the U.S. government a new "open skies" aviation policy that should remove any objec- tions to the approval of the new air service. Since 1950, El Al has been limited to landing in New York. El Al also agreed to allow charter service to originate from any point in the U.S. Pre- sently, El Al charters fly only from the West Coast. The State Department, the Department of Trans- portation and the Civil Aeronautics Board will par- ticipate with El Al in the negotiations which began Wednesday. Carter's Counsel Meets Rabbis NEW YORK (JTA) — A spokesman for the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the Un- ited States and Canada said that a delegation met last week for more than 90 mi- nutes with Robert Lipshutz, the counsel to President Jimmy Carter, to make the existence of the Orthodox rabbinical organization known to the White House. Rabbi Simha Elberg, Agiulas Harabonim chair- man, said that while the or- ganization was not certain it would have accepted the White House invitation to 900 rabbis to participate in a 30th anniversary celebra- tion at the White House last month, its officials were concerned that the organi- zation was unknown to White House officials.