Pre-Nuptials
Leaders are optimistic about the upcoming merger of
two national Jewish organizations and its impact on Detroit.
JULIE WIENER
Staff Writer
T
he United Jewish
Appeal and the
Council of Jewish
Federations are sched-
uled to "marry" in January 1999.
Their leaders — among them
Detroiter and CJF President Dr.
Conrad Giles — are scrambling
to have the ketubah ready by late
September. Representatives from
both organizations met last week
in Chicago to start hammering
out details.
The wedding — long in the
planning stages --- will bring
Bob Aronson: A candidate.
together American Jewry's two
long-time titans of fundraising
into one large New York City-
communities. For those communities,
centrality of Israel to our [fundraising]
based entity. It may also cost the
this is an opportunity to lessen the
campaigns," said Giles. "I hope when
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
disconnect by having greater sense of
we're working together, as a collective
Detroit its executive vice president,
control over policy
policy, that if we
Bob Aronson, whose name is being
and budget."
identify needs that
discussed as a possible candidate for
According to
are overseas, each
executive director of the new entity.
Giles, Detroit sends
federation will
Other than the potential loss of
more people into
sense a similar
Aronson, local leaders anticipate the
national Jewish lead-
obligation to meet-
merger will affect Detroit less than other
ership positions —
ing those needs —
North American Jewish communities.
both in the federa-
not immediately,
That's because, while many federations
tion system and out-
but I hope over the
stand to gain from improved relation
side — than any
long term."
with a national agency in which they
other community of
Asked to
have a greater voice than ever before,
its size. It also sends
explain the reason
Federation already enjoys strong rela-
more money to Israel
for Israel's centrali-.
tions with national Jewish agencies.
and overseas, both
ty, particularly in
"The new entity will be much more
percentage-wise and
light of a national
responsiye to federation needs," said
in overall dollar
trend toward keep-
Giles, who is co-chairing the pre-
amount, than any
ing more dollars at
merger joint partnership between the
other Jewish commu-
home, Giles said,
CJF and UJA. "Detroit is unique
nity in the United
"It's best encapsu- •
because the people from here who've
States, said Giles. He
lated by Elie
been active nationally — like Max
is hoping that with
Wiesel's statement,
Dr. Conrad Giles: Co-chairing
Fisher, Bill Berman, Joel Tauber, Jane
the new entity in
that one can be a
the pre merger.
Sherman and me — are all very con-
place, other commu-
Jew and live out-
nected to our Federation ... But most
nities will start to
side of Israel but
leaders who are involved in the
contribute their share as well.
one cannot be a Jew without Israel.
national system, however, are not now
"Detroit doesn't have to be taught
Israel is still the soul of the Jewish
clearly identified with [their home]
what others have to be taught: the
people. As long as Israel has human
-
needs and remains the center of
our Jewish peoplehood, we must
support aliyah (immigration to
Israel) from all segments of the
world, and that's what our funds
do for the most part."
Aronson agreed. "Detroit
makes a major commitment to
our overseas partners and we're
concerned about the fact that
we're so far out in front of other
communities in terms of amount
of allocation and percentage of
allocation overseas. We feel we
need a strong national agency
that will help other communities
live up to their responsibilities."
Giles is hopeful that the merg-
er will also help federations to
raise funds more effectively. "I
believe a more efficient and effec-
tive organization will enable our cam-
paigns to do even better," he said.
"Detroit's [Allied Jewish] Campaign
would do well if there were a national
system or not, but the same can't be
said of other communities."
Federation President Bob Naftaly
also believes the impact at home will
be minimal. "From Detroit's perspec-
tive, merging is a good idea, but it
won't make a big change on how we
see or do things," he said. "I do think
it will make both organizations more
effective as we go forward."
A newly formed search committee
will select a director for the new entity
within 3-4 months.
According to Giles, Aronson is in
the running, along with UJA
Executive-Vice President Bernard
Moscovitz, CJF Executive Vice
President Martin Kraar, Brandeis
University President Yehuda Reinhartz
and others.
"I'm complimented to be thought
of as someone who could do the job,"
said Aronson. He declined to com-
ment as to whether he would accept
the job if offered.
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