Out Of The
Race?
Martin Kraar leaves CJF for
Weizmann. Does it put Aronson in
the driver's seat?
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JULIA GOLDMAN
Special to The Jewish News
artin Kraar, the top
professional at the
Council of Jewish
Federations and former
executive vice president of the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit,
is leaving the new CJF-United Jewish
Appeal partnership to take over as
executive vice president of the
American Committee for the
Weizmann Institute of Science.
Kraar's decision to leave CJF after
10 years as its chief executive and as
an influential force in the partner-
ship's creation was both personal and
professional.
"I really believe it's time for me to
make a change," he said, adding that
as the CJF, UJA and the United Israel
Appeal finalize their merger, one of
the most important decisions they
will make is to decide on a new exec-
utive.
Kraar's departure puts to rest
months of speculation about his
future, but leaves open the question
of who will lead the newly formed
entity. Possibilities include Robert
Aronson, executive vice president of
the Detroit Federation. Aronson
came to Detroit from Milwaukee in
1990; Kraar was the Detroit
Federation's executive vice president
from 1986 to 1989.
Together, CJF, UJA and UIA —
which recently set up shop together
in a lower-Manhattan building under
the banner "UJA Federations of
North America" — represent the
major fund-raising organization and
service provider to American Jews
and Jewish communities worldwide,
Julia Goldman writes for the Jewish
Telegraphic Agency. Jewish News staff
contributed to this report.
8/7
1998
36 Detroit Jewish News
raising an estimated $1.4 billion a
year.
Their merger will create the largest
Jewish governing body in North
America and for the first time will
consolidate power in one office. Its
leader will be responsible for every-
thing from fund-raising to communi-
ty relations to budgets, said Richard
Pearlstone of Aspen, Colo., a former
UJA national chairman and a co-
r n;
'
*7%.1(7,
Martin Kraar: Leaving CJE
chair of the 25-member committee
charged with finding a professional
leader to take the helm of the consol-
idated body.
Kraar sent a letter to the CJF last
month removing himself from the
selection process. CJF President Dr.
Conrad Giles of Bloomfield Hills said
he was saddened, but not surprised,
RACE on page 40
Kraar Developed In Detroit
"he came to us with a level of interna-
tional sophistication that was without
precedent for us," Giles said.
"Once here, Detroit rounded out
artin Kraar's three years
his background by exposing him to a
as executive vice presi-
great community in terms
dent of the
of local commitment and in
Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan
terms of an enormous lead-
ership commitment to
Detroit set the stage for his
Israel," Giles said.
success as executive vice
"I think that combina-
president of the Council of
tion prepared him incredi-
Jewish Federations.
bly well to take the helm of
That was the assessment
Monday of national CJF
CJF and to serve with great
distinction for 10 years. It's
President Dr. Conrad Giles
a difficult job, serving 189
of Bloomfield Hills.
Dr. Con rad Giles
masters as well as a national
"When Marty came to
constituency. And he has
Detroit in 1986, he had a
done it extremely well — and longer
background which, if you were build-
than anyone else."
ing a resume for national and interna-
Giles predicts Kraar will take the
tional Jewish communal life, really
American Committee for the
lacked one element — being chief
Weizmann Institute of Science, "as
professional officer for a major large-
great an institution as it is, to even
city federation," said Giles, president
greater heights." He said Weizmann
of the Detroit Federation during
regularly attracts some of the best in
Kraar's tenure in Detroit.
American Jewish leadership, including
Kraar headed the mid-sized St.
incoming chairman Robert Asher of
Louis federation when he was tapped
Chicago — "a past chairman of
to lead CJF's Israel office from 1984
AIPAC and a true giant in Jewish ser-
to 1986.
vice."
When he came to Detroit in 1986,
ROBERT A. SKLAR
Editor
.
❑