This Week
MONTH CD
Working Together
Federation leaders build
toward new system of trust.
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— in this climate of openness and
without coercion — they will be able
to come together and agree on enough
Washin on
to form a cohesive system.
hen leaders from 119
At this week's retreat, representa-
North American Jewish
tives from the various federations
federations met here this
spent time breaking into small groups
week, they did not make
for lengthy discussions and debating
any earth-shattering decisions or vote
among the entire body.
on anything binding.
Following the retreat, the UJC's
Instead, they did what many involved
board of trustees on Tuesday approved:
described as even more revolutionary:
• A two-year nonbinding plan for
They listened to each other, building
federations to maintain at least their
trust and beginning to explore what it
current contributions to the UJC and
will mean for them to be "own-
to overseas needs. The board
ers"- of their newly formed
also passed an amendment
umbrella organization, the
that would require UJC to
United Jewish Communities.
come up with a formula by
"I've begun to see a trusting
Dec. 31, 2001, that would
relationship start," Charles
determine the "fair share"
Bronfman, chairman of the
contributions of individual
UJC's board, said at the meet-
federations in the future.
ing's closing plenary on
• A decision to work with
Monday.
local
federations and the
Robert Aronson
Robert Aronson, executive
Jewish Agency for Israel to
vice president of the Jewish
become partners in
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit,
Birthright Israel, a program started by
observed as the meeting closed: "I don't
philanthropists Michael Steinhardt
think the decisions themselves were as
and Charles Bronfman to send unaffil-
important as the opportunity to sit and
iated Jews on a free trip to Israel.
talk together."
The board set $39 million as the
Spawned from the merger of the
target amount to contribute over three
United Jewish Appeal, United Israel
years — $15.6 million from the UJC
Appeal and the Council of Jewish
budget, $15 million from federations
Federations, the UJC says. it is
and the rest from the Jewish Agency.
attempting to transform a system that
So far, more than 70 federations —
had traditionally been top-down and
representing more than 83 percent of
somewhat mysterious in its decision-
the North American Jewish popula-
making to one that is more open.
tion — have indicated they are pre-
Indeed, at this two-day "owners'
pared to participate, according to
retreat" which ended Monday and was
Stephen Solender, UJC president and
followed by a series of meetings — the
chief executive officer.
most oft-repeated words were "trans-
In addition, leaders from within the
parency," "consensus" and "change."
UJC system agreed, as a result of their
What happens with the UJC is sig-
discussions, on their top three priori-
nificant because its 189 member feder-
ties for what they wanted the new
ations across North America raised
organization to accomplish: coordinate
almost $882 million last year for
overseas needs, help with training for
domestic and overseas Jewish needs —
lay and professional leaders and assist
with fundraising.
everything from day schools to rescu-
ing and resettling refugees.
During the retreat, UJC leaders
The federations have long been con-
updated their constituents on their
sidered the central address of Jewish
accomplishments — getting up and run-
philanthropy and social services, but in
ning, establishing pillars or focus areas,
recent years have been devoting larger
and forming tentative recommendations
portions of their funds to local causes
for a budget and overseas allocations.
rather than overseas needs.
They also outlined some goals for the
What remains to be seen is whether
future, including recruiting more women
JULIE WIENER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
3