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Local delegates to General Assembly in
Atlanta discuss impact of newly formed
United Jewish Communities.

HARRY KIRSBAUM

Staff Writer

A

peace process, and Jewish education
and continuity, but this year, all eyes
are on the UJC. -
Detroit's Joel Tauber, UJC executive
committee chair, said, "This is the
time when UJC becomes legal, if you
will. In our discussions, we've been
doing everything ad hoc."
Tauber said that since the merger in
April, the organization has been getting
all the appointments to the various

s 61 Michigan delegates
head off to Atlanta for the
upcoming United Jewish
Communities' General
Assembly meeting, one overwhelming
topic of conversation will be what
impact, if any, the new national
umbrella communal organization will
have locally.
The consensus opinion is that
while the newly formed United
Jewish Communities — which
absorbed the United Jewish Appeal,
Council of Jewish Federations and
United Israel Appeal — won't have
much impact on the daily operations
of any federation, UJC will give a
bigger voice to smaller federations
around the country.
Gary Alter, executive director of
Gary Alter
Penny Blumenstein
the Flint Jewish Federation, said the
new structure would not affect his
day-to-day operation.
governing structures "up and running."
"As far as a more democratic type
The UJC is built on four pillars:
of organization, (UJC) will have a
financial resource development, Israel
larger effect and the smaller communi-
and overseas, renaissance and renewal,
ties will have a greater voice than we
and human resources and public poli-
have had previously," he said.
cy, he said. "Subcommittees have
Saying Detroit is in a unique posi-
worked to define the roles and ideas in
tion, Penny Blumenstein, president of
each pillar, but this is the first time a
the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
lot of these people will see these ideas,
Detroit, said the local impact of the
which are pretty radical."
new organization will be minimal.
As examples, he cited moving Israel
"Generally there are many small
and overseas offices to Jerusalem, and
communities that strongly depend
doing public policy out of
on a national organization to help
Washington. "But the first thing to
them over their hurdles," she said.
understand is that UJC is different,"
he said.
"We could perhaps stand alone,
because we have a wonderful organi-
Restructuring aside, the GA is
zation and we have a great concept
impressive, said Detroit's Dr. Conrad
of world Jewry. We have the ability
Giles, UJC chairman of the task force
to do things on our own if we chose.
on federation relations and services.
However, we believe in collective
"It features some of the best and
responsibility, not just in dollars, but
brightest minds in all of world Jewry
in making decisions for our whole
and will stimulate our thinking in the
Jewish world."
year ahead," he said. "There will be a
To be held Nov. 16-20, the GA will
minimum of formal plenaries and a
draw between 4,000 and 5,000 dele-
maximum of small meetings centering
around the very raison detre of our
gates from the United States, Canada,
existence."
South America, Europe and Israel.
The New York City-based UJC repre-
"I think the GA is starting to learn
sents 181 federations nationwide.
that we are a very broad community,
In the past, the GA focused on
and you can't make one statement that
represents every Jew. We have to get
issues of Israel-diaspora relations, the
under the same umbrella," said Detroit's
Harry Kirsbaum can be reached at
Rabbi E.B. "Bunny" Freedman, director
(248) 354-6060, ext. 244, or by e-mail
of Jewish Hospice Services for the
at likirsbaum@thejewishnews.com
Hospice of Michigan in Southfield. He

is a scheduled presenter at the GA.
"The way the UJC is listening to the
individual communities, I don't think
it's a New York-centered world any-
more," he said.
Rabbi Sherwin Wine of the
Birmingham Temple said that with a
very efficient and well-run Federation
in Detroit, the UJC will not have a
great effect here.
"The UJC may help to create an
environment where the priorities for
- the distribution of monies will
F * "-.:̀ ' change and certainly that will influ-
ence Detroit," he said.
Detroit Federation CEO Robert
s Aronson sees his role as a strong
-2 advocate for collective action.
"We need a UJC primarily
because we need collective action
as a federation system, nationally
and internationally," he said,
adding that many other federation
directors do not agree, but that he
will use his influence to push for
collectivism on issues of internation-
al importance.
Scott Eisenberg, from the Detroit
Federation's Young Leadership, said
the UJC will have little effect in
Detroit.
"Between Conrad Giles and Joel
Tauber, our local community is pretty
much tied into the whole national
scene," he said.
"It will be interesting how the
restructuring plays out in the first
General Assembly of the combined
groups," said Kari Alterman,
Federation's associate director of
community outreach and education.
"I'm sure it will be a very positive
experience, and I'm looking forward
to meeting the three new profession-
als who will be working at the
United Jewish Communities."
The GA will feature the installation
of Stephen Solender as UJC president,
Louise Franklin Stoll as executive vice
president and chief operating officer
and David Altshuler as president of
UJC's newly created, independent
foundation.
"Being that this is the first GA
since we have had the new entity —
with a stronger role envisioned by the
federations in the decision-making
process, we will be laying groundwork
for the future," said Penny
Blumenstein. It should be very inter-
esting for all of us." Fl

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