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Triple Header

UJC's appointment of a triad prompts speculation, anticipation.

JULIA GOLDMAN
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

while simultaneously working as exec-
also known as an aggressive, some-
utive vice president of UJA-Federation
times divisive personality. Her opposi-
of New York.
tion to the Israeli-Palestinian peace
New York
He oversaw the 1986 merger of the
process and her dissatisfaction with
he decision to appoint three
New York Federation of Jewish
the disbursal of funds for resettling
professionals to the top tier
Philanthropies with the United Jewish
Soviet emigres put her at odds with
of leadership at the United
Appeal of Greater New York.
many in the San Francisco area during
Jewish Communities is
Solender is not known as a vision-
the early 1990s, according to the
being presented as the perfect blend of ary. Instead, he is praised for his abili-
Jewish Bulletin of Northern California.
vital experience, management skills
ty to appoint and work with strong,
David Altshuler, Solender said,
and visionary inspiration.
capable personalities.
would help federations "obtain criti-
But the Oct. 5 appointments of
Solender had maintained publicly
cally important funds" from mega-
Stephen Solender as the UJC's presi-
that he was not a candidate for the
donors and corporations.
dent, Louise Frankel Stoll as chief
national position. At the news confer-
The foundation he will run is a
operating officer and David Altshuler
ence, he said he was approached about
new approach for reaching out to
as the president of a new, independent
the permanent post only two weeks
philanthropists to support programs
foundation, also represent the latest
before. Stoll and Altshuler were
that conform to the UJC's mission.
growing pains in the devel-
among the five final
Altshuler, 50, launched the Judaic
opment of the six-month-old
candidates.
studies program at George
organization being formed
Members of the
Washington University. In 1986, he
through the merger of the
search committee saw
became the founding director of New
United Jewish Appeal,
the creation of a profes-
York's Museum of Jewish Heritage —
Council of Jewish
•
0
sional troika a "fantasy"
A Living Memorial to the Holocaust.
Federations and United Israel _0 0
opportunity to triple
Despite the UJC decision to ulti-
Appeal.
their leadership potency
mately go with Solender, several insid-
The merger is meant to
Solender will lead
ers noted Bronfman's influence over
give Jewish community fed-
day-to-day manage-
the process. Solender's chief operating
erations in North America a
ment, oversee UJC's
officer was not of Solender's choosing,
majority voice in the way the
$37 million budget and
although Solender reportedly met
Charles Bronfman:
funds they raise in annual cam- Pulling strings?
supervise development
with Stoll and drafted her job descrip-
paigns — some $760 million
of its four content areas:
tion.
last year — are allocated for domestic
Jewish renaissance and renewal, Israel
Insiders say the foundation, yet to
and global Jewish needs.
and overseas, human services and
be named, was originally envisioned as
Charles Bronfman, UJC board
socialpolicy, and financial resource
a semi-autonomous division. But it
chairman, originally wanted to install
development.
was reconceived as an "independent
as the UJC's president someone from
Stoll, as executive vice president
entity" in order to attract Altshuler.
outside the federation system — a
and chief operating officer, will head
The UJC will not divulge salaries
visionary to inspire a cultural change
strategic planning and implement
for the three new professional leaders.
at the new national organization.
organizational changes and fiscal plan-
But Bronfman and Detroit's Joel
But federation executives pressed
ning required by the merger.
Tauber, chairman of the UJC's execu-
for the appointment of an insider — a
Stoll has been praised for her man-
tive committee, said the appointment
knowledgeable community leader who
agerial expertise. She served the
of the three was cost-efficient.
understood the system, knew the play-
Clinton administration as assistant
Prior to his appointment, Solender
ersando ouldquicldy take the helm of secretary for budget and programs
had said heplanned to retire in the
a system that serves 189 federations
and, from 1993-97, was chief finan-
next two or three years. Unconfirmed
and 400 independent communities.
cial officer for the U.S. Department of rumors that Solender's current con-
Bronfman said the shift from his
Transportation.
tract expires after two years suggest
original vision grew out of the "real
She spent the last two years in
that Bronfman pushed through his
needs of the organization versus the
Washington as a senior vice president
preference to bring in outsiders.
supposed needs." But some observers
for the Los Angeles-based Dames and
That time frame would give
saw the shift as Bronfman's temporary
Moore Group engineering and con-
Solender time to "right the ship" and
acquiescence to the will of executives
sulting firm.
help set its future course.
at the largest federations.
Stoll made her reputation in the
After Solender's retirement, either
Solender, 61, has served for six
Jewish community as a vocal advocate
Stoll or Altshuler conceivably would be
months as UJC's acting president
for Israel and Soviet Jews. But she was
primed to take over the top post. fl

T

0

Remember
When al •

From the pages of The Jewish News
for this week 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50
years ago.

Magen David Adorn ambulances
were stoned on Yom Kippur as they
raced through the streets of some
Israeli cities on medical emergencies.
Lillian Yashinsky, principal secre-
tary for public relations at the
Jewish Community Council,
announced her retirement.

Deputy Premier of Israel Yigal
Yadin suffered a mild heart attack
in Jerusalem and was hospitalized.
Rachel Millen and Menachem
Glaser were chosen to introduce the
Melton Bible Curriculum at the
United Hebrew Schools High School.
Jean Leguay, French collaborator
with the Nazis in the deportation
of Jews, was set to go on trial in
Paris for war crimes charges.
Members of the Israeli army
rounded up and removed hundreds of
Gush Emunim militants who broke
out of their settlement compounds.

X.

\ W AV

Sam H. Masell Jr. was elected the
first Jewish mayor of Atlanta, Ga.
The Morris Adler Chair in
Rabbinics at the Jewish Theological
Seminary of America was dedicated
at the New York campus.

N' *:RA4
Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-
Gurion celebrated his 73rd birth-
day in the village of Sde Boker in
the Negev.
A large-scale plastic model of the
new Congregation Shaarey Zedek
to be built on Northwestern Hwy.
was unveiled at the annual meeting.

*sk

"mmItem:wwfmsomplk
,LAWat ESIMMItake.
The discovery of a lost book of bib-
lical literature that reveals details of
the early life of Noah was made in
an ancient cave in the holy land.
Merchants of the Sherwood
Shopping Center, Seven Mile and
Livernois in Detroit, made plans to
donate 5 percent of their sales on
two days to the Torch Drive.

-,-

— Compiled by Sy Manello,
editorial assistant

10/22
1999