OTHER VIEWS
A Smart Investment
E
very day, Jewish Federation
lay and professional leaders
are faced with difficult
choices. Do we fund meals
on wheels for seniors or absorption
programs for new immigrants? Do we
help a community in crisis in
Argentina or do we subsidize Jewish
education for local children?
How do we set our priorities and
how do these decisions reflect our val-
ues of tzedakah (righteousness), tikkun
olam (repair of the world) and Am
Yisrael (nation of Israel)?
Robert Aronson is CEO of the
Bloomfield Township-based Jewish
Fedgration of Metropolitan Detroit.
Jewish federations have done a
remarkable job in funding critical
needs within North American com-
munities, contributing to Jews in need
abroad and providing support for
aliyah and absorption for the Jews of
Israel. The structure, efficiency and
broadness of our reach are the envy of
new immigrant communities who
struggle to provide for their own as we
have done so successfully.
Yet, I submit that there is one area
in which the Jewish community has
fallen short: young adults.
Ages zero to 18 are considered the
family's domain and once under the
chuppah, married adults are enticed to
a variety of new family lifecycle events,
nursery schools and young leadership
eonle, skate die tradition
invitations. However, between
adults, Jewish federations
18 and marriage (or financial
have made a wise investment
success, whichever comes
in the Birthright Israel pro-
first), the Jewish lifecycle is
gram.
surprisingly bereft of meaning-
By now you know that the
ful religious or cultural con-
Birthright Israel program
nections to Judaism.
offers first-time, 10-day edu-
Once set free of parental
cational trips to Israel for
influences, young adults are
ROBERT
young adults ages 18-26. This
free to create their Jewish iden- ARONSON investment, matched two for
tities based on their social, aca-
one by the other funding
Community
demic or professional influ-
partners,
has returned nearly
Perspective
ences. This leaves far too little
38,000 new Zionists, com-
room for a strong Jewish iden-
mitted Jews and ambassadors
tity for many of our young adults.
for Israel to North American commu-
Rather than just wring our hands
nities in just four years. It has also
over high intermarriage rates, meager
infused more than $90 million into
Israel advocacy on campus and lack of the struggling Israeli economy through
communal involvement by young
hotel nights, buses, guides and flights.
Yet, as this project reaches the fifth
year of its original five-year mandate,
we are faced once again with a deci-
sion about funding priorities. In the
face of decreased support by one of
the partners — the government of
Israel, which has its own challenges —
it is up to the federation system to
step up its support for Birthright
Israel.
There is no more meaningful Jewish
program for our young adults, and no
better way to ensure the future of our
North American Jewish communi-
ties.
.
❑
srael In
Women's Sedez
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Our 7th Annual Women's Seder
Led by Harlene Appelman
Musical inspiration provided by Lisa Soble Siegmann
Wednesday, Match
Once 454in
we will join with the women in our
Partnership 2000 region in the Central Galilee
of Israel to celebrate Passover.
24, 2004
Adat Shalom Synagogue
29901 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills
5:30-6:15
- Re5igtzation and
Setsgovez look and zegotace sale
Seder and festive meal promptly at 6:30 p.m.
Dietary laws observed
'espond dit Match
A Women's Passover Haggadah has been created
especially for this event
All women 12 years of age and older
are welcome to attend.
Karen Alpiner, Chair
IN
2/20
2004
30
10
Send check for $36 per person along with your name,
address, phone number and names of guests
with whom you wish to be seated and mail to:
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
Women's Campaign and Education Department
P.O. Box 2030, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303-2030
Trudy Weiss, Associate Chair
For more information call Toni Hayes Howard
at (248) 642-4260, ext 183.
To register online: www.thisisfederation.org
die tutdition et /1440t
please bring food or money to Yad Ezra.
Women's Campaign and Education Department
This is Federation
Visit us online: www.thisisfederation.org
811840