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"But if that doesn't work, then my
values lead me to ask Jewish people to
consider other ways to consider build-
ing a national and peoplehood-building
enterprise," Cohen said.
Shoshana Cardin, a longtime nation-
al Jewish leader in the United States
said, "It is wrong to focus on percent-
ages by geographical boundaries. It is
best to focus on the challenges and how
to address them together," citing educa-
tion and identity programs as two of
the challenges confronting world Jewry.
While there are other historical fac-
tors at work, underlying the estrange-
ment between philanthropists and pro-
fessional leaders of Jewish institutions,
Cohen said, is frustration larith the
Israeli government's stance on religious
pluralism.
"My research shows that American
Jews are more concerned about the per-
ceived slap in the face, the rejection of
their Jewish identity by Israel than they
are with Israel's position on the peace
process," Cohen said.
"Evidence of that goes back to the
late 1980s, when even during the
Intifada," the 1987 to 1993 Palestinian
uprising in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip, "people were more concerned
about issues of who is a Jew and recog-
nition of Conservative and Reform
Judaism, than they were with Israel's
relationship with Palestinians," he said.
One way to potentially change the
declining enthusiasm that American
Jewish philanthropists have regarding
giving to Israel, Cohen said, would be
to help them build relationships with
specific causes close to their hearts. A
few federations have begun to do such
targeted giving.
'American Jews need to have the
opportunity to support institutions, or
projects, that speak to their vision of
Israel, even if we talk about allowing
them to support competing visions of
Israel, be it Orthodox, Conservative or
Reform, the vision of feminists or of
civil rights activists," he said.
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"I still believe that we have a true
partnership with Israel," said Giles.
With 50,000 to 60,000 Jews making
aliyah to Israel every year, "the majori-
ty of the budget is for that enterprise,"
he said.
With the decreased funds being sent
abroad from other communities, Giles
said more funding is required by the
American Jewish Joint Distribution
Committee, which brings relief to
needy Jews in 60 countries, and the
Jewish Agency for Israel, which helps to
resettle Jews in Israel.
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11/27
1998
Detroit Jewish News
17