G.A. Shifts Focus

Israeli violence concern overtakes assimilation
at upcoming meeting of federation, community leaders.

JULIE WIENER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Joint Focus

So far, everyone agrees that with the situation in
Israel changing daily, it is too early to know how the
New York
American Jewish community will respond over the
n the early 1990s, Israel, after decades as a
long term.
rallying point, lost its star-player status at
For now, most involved in the system say that the
the annual gathering of American Jewish
Jewish community must focus both on Israel and
communal leaders.
renaissance. But there is no doubt, they say, that
With the Jewish state seemingly well on the path
Israel solidarity rallies and missions are consuming
to peace and economic prosperity, and American
the immediate attention.
Jews overwhelmed by high rates of intermarriage
Barry Shrage, president of Boston's Combined
and assimilation, the General Assembly — reflect-
Jewish Philanthropies, said that at Israel solidarity
ing communal and federa-
rallies in his commu-
tion priorities in general —
nity, he told the
focused more on the domes-
crowds:
"I would much
tic agenda.
Now, with violence
rather be having this
engulfing the Jewish state,
rally for Jewish educa-
the peace process moribund
tion and raising
and Israel feeling isolated,
money" for adult edu-
Israel has been shifted back
cation courses and
to the center of the gather-
social justice pro-
ing, known as the G.A.
grams, but "Jewish
Sponsored by the United
history doesn't work
Jewish Communities, the
like that."
umbrella system of local
"Right now we've
—Jonathan Woocher
federations across North
got to focus attention
America, the G.A. is this
on increasing the
year expected to draw some
community's support
4,000 communal leaders to
for Israel," said
the five-day event in
Shrage, one of the first
Chicago, which begins
communal officials to
Sunday, Nov. 12.
replace the term
The packed program,
"Jewish continuity"
which had already included
with "Jewish renais-
an address by Israeli Prime
sance." But, he added,
Minister Ehud Barak, will
we ve got enough
now include a solidarity
resources and intelli-
rally. In addition, sessions
gence to do both
are being recast to brief
things."
leaders on Middle East his-
John Ruskay, execu-
tory and politics and strate-
tive
vice president of
— Louise Stoll
gize community action on
UJA-Federation of
behalf of Israel.
Greater New York,
But does the renewed
said that despite the
focus on Israel portend a
conflict in Israel, "the renaissance agenda is here to
larger, more lasting, shift in American Jews' atti-
stay."
tudes toward Israel? And will the "renaissance"
"If at this particular moment we need to have
agenda — with its day schools, summer camps and
more attention on the extraordinary crisis that we
synagogue renewal efforts all responding to the
face, so be it, but living as a Jew in the open society
assimilation of American Jews — move to the G.A.
is an abiding challenge and opportunity for 21st
back burner?
century Jews," he said.
And, ultimately, will this mean a rethinking of
allocations to Israel, which have decreased signifi-
Building Identity
candy in recent years as communities opted to
spend more resources on Jewish-identity building
Even the most ardent champions of day schools and
and social-service needs at home?
synagogue transformation efforts are troubled by

I

"The Jewish
renaissance
agenda is
building a
sense of Jewish
peoplehood."

"'There are
federations
to be run,
hungry people
to be fed."

; X

11/10
2000

22

CC

3

what is happening in Israel and say they cannot con-
duct business as usual while Israel is in crisis.
Many point to Birthright Israel — a free 10-day
trip to Israel aimed at strengthening young people's
Jewish identities and one of the most popular new
efforts — to show that building Jewish identity and
supporting Israel are not mutually exclusive.
"An important part of the Jewish renaissance agen-
da is building and maintaining a sense of Jewish
peoplehood," said Jonathan Woocher, head of the
UJC's Renaissance and Renewal Pillar. The pillar is
one of four agenda-setting committees created a year
ago.
Even programs that do not have a direct Israel
connection help to build "the kind of deep personal
Jewish identification that we know from every study
correlates with closer identification with Israel," said
Woocher, who also serves as executive director of the
Jewish Education Service of North America.
In fact, while other programs have been cut or
altered to make room for the Israel agenda at the
G.A., the Renaissance and Renewal Pillar's program-
ming remains largely intact, say UJC officials.
Cindy Chazan, a former federation executive who
will be attending the G.A., said the changes are nec-
essary. If the UJC had planned a G.A. "that was
business as usual, we would have felt a void. It
would have been confusing."
Chazan, now director of alumni and community
development for the Wexner Foundation, which
helps train young Jewish professionals, said she does-
n't see this as a shift in priorities, but as a straightfor-
ward approach that says, "Here's a crisis. We need to
come together."
Louise Stoll, the UJC's chief operating officer and
one of the key people planning the G.A., said that
despite the focus on Israel, other business remains.
"There are federations to be run, hungry people to
be fed, Jewish schools to be staffed and a whole host
of things that must continue," Stoll said.

Adversity And Identity

For now, instead of sending over additional dollars
to Israel, American Jewish leaders are organizing
solidarity rallies and missions and are training
activists to defend Israel in the media and to law-
makers.
But money could become an issue if Israel faces
an all-out war.
Some believe the renaissance goal of strengthen-
ing American Jewish identity may not suffer even if
more attention, and perhaps dollars, flow to Israel.
"When you mobilize a generation of Jewish stu-
dents on campuses today to defend Israel, that's
Jewish renaissance," Martin Raffel, associate execu-
tive vice chair of the Jewish Council for Public
Affairs, said. He noted that "a lot of middle-aged
people came to greater Jewish awareness" through
the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur
War.
"We don't want to have war and intifada and vio-
lence," he added. "But the reality is this is an
opportunity for young Jews to get involved on
issues related to Israel that can affect their self-defi-
nition and feelings of responsibility to Jews around
the world."

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