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A Service to Private Owners, Banks & Estates , 1%2,,e4 60 Gem/Diamond Specialist tiN 4/14 2000 20 Fine Jewelers AWARDED CERTIFICATE BY GIA IN GRADING & EVALUATION Est. 1919 Lawrence M. Allan, President 30400 Telegraph Rd. • Suite 134 Bingham Farms 248-642-5575 Daily 'Til 5:30 Sat. — 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