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ike a loving and caring parent, Judaism provides guidance and
support during times of need. We draw strength from our friends
and family.
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Bringing Together Family, Faith & Community
THE KAUFMAN
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Thurs., Dec. 25, 1997
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(248) 203-1470
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11/21
1997
174
Barbara and Irving Nusbaum,
Campaign Chairs
claims to represent, still has some way
to go in opening up the way it operates,
critics say. In particular, moves towards
systemic changes of any kind have yet
to see light.
But Abraham Foxman, the national
director of the Anti-Defamation League
of B'nai B'rith, who has been one of the
conference's most prominent critics,
said, "I think the new chairman is try-
ing to introduce some new processes for
dialogue and interaction. There certain-
ly is a changed atmosphere he's trying
to infuse."
By common agreement, the chair-
man of the Presidents Conference —
whose mandate is to articulate the con-
sensus views of American Jewry to the
administration, Israeli officials and
other foreign leaders — has one of the
toughest jobs around. Salberg, a former
ADL presiderit elected to
head the 53-member
umbrella group last June,
presides over an organi-
zation still deeply split
over Israel's 1993 peace
agreement with the
Palestinians.
But in his first trip to
Washington as head of a
Presidents Conference
delegation, Salberg
showed a striking readi-
ness to encourage administration
activism to get Israel and the
Palestinians back to the negotiating
table.
In a three-hour working dinner at
the White House with Clinton, Vice
President Albert Gore, Israeli President
Ezer Weizman and nine other Jewish
leaders invited by the White House,
Salberg told Clinton, "A very large
majority — perhaps 85 percent — sup-
port the peace process. We stand behind
you to create an environment that will
allow the parties to make peace."
Still, Salberg warned, the administra-
tion should avoid the "heavy hand" of
the Bush administration.
The next day, Salberg concluded a
meeting with Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright with what several
participants described as an unqualified
endorsement of administration Mideast
peacemaking efforts — just after one
member had questioned Albright criti-
cally about several public statements she
has made taking issue with Israeli poli-
cies such as West Bank settlement
expansion now
Asked about the response he received
after Friedman's column characterizing
these exchanges, Salberg said, "I've got-
ten support — and some criticism."
Given the huge range of groups
within the conference, there is hardly
any view Salberg could voice that would
not elicit something similar. But when
it comes to how the conference itself
operates, Salberg is hearing some who
are often at odds in rare agreement.
Rabbi Eric Yoffie, the leader of the
Reform Judaism's Union of American
Hebrew Congregations, and Dr.
Mandell Ganchrow, president of the
Union of Orthodox Jewish
Congregations, for example, both came
out recently in opposition to the large
but anonymous role played by wealthy
outside contributors to the conference
budget. Their donations comprise
about half the group's budget, raising
fears about their influence over the con-
ference.
During one of Salberg's recent meet-
ings with smaller groups
of conference members,
Foxman and Morton
Klein, president of the
Zionist Organization of
America, both joined
Ganchrow in assailing the
increasing role they said
was being played by for-
mer conference chairmen
who are no longer
accountable to anyone.
Foxman and Klein have
also often been at odds.
During several of these functions,
participants have been struck by the
considerably more muted role played by
Malcolm Hoenlein, the group's long-
time executive vice president, whose
profile has loomed large in recent years.
But Hoenlein said, "I don't see any
change in my role. But I adjust to the
chairman. Each chairman has stren gths
and brings 'qualities to the job that are
unique to him."
And Salberg said, "Is his style differ-
ent than mine? Well, my wife's style is
also different than mine. There's a
mutuality of respect. We have no prob-
lems."
In an interview, Salberg said that
despite the calls by some for donor dis-
closure, "We would want to follow the
dictates of the donor [when he or she
requests anonymity]."
"Having gone through the list,"
Salberg said, "I can testify that all of
them are reputable ... These are people
you wouldn't hesitate to invite for din-
ner."
As for concerns about what they are
getting for their money, he said,
"Except kavod [honor] and invitations
to certain meetings, there are no other
perks I'm aware of." ❑
Conference
yields
spirited
debate.