A couple weeks ago I joined some 3,000 others in D.C. for the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America, the annual confab of the federation system. As usual, I learned some things, met some old friends, got fed up and also re-energized.
Thing learned: The federation system “touches more Jewish lives than any other organization in the world,” according to the G.A.’s logo this year.
I guess that makes sense, considering we’re talking about 151 separate Jewish federations in North America, plus another 300 smaller agencies. They all raise money that goes to social service agencies at home and around the world, including in Israel, so even if you just count the 6 million Jews in the Jewish state, that’s a lot of touching.
Old friends: The American Jewish Press Association held its annual conference in conjunction with the G.A. for the second year in a row, so I got to hang out with journalists in my field whom I’ve known for years.
Seeing our numbers shrink as cash-strapped federations from Seattle to Philadelphia shutter or outsource their Jewish community publications is painful. Contemplating what that means for the future of Jewish communities that no longer have a local source of news and opinion to rally around — to help them reflect on who they are and where they’re going — is heartbreaking.
Once again, I think how lucky we are in the Bay Area. Our community is strong, creative and growing while so many others are not —not cause for celebration, but sober consideration.
Stuff that annoyed: The shabby treatment meted out to MK Yitzhak Herzog, chairman of Israel’s Labor Party and leader of the opposition, was beyond embarrassing.
Last on the roster at an afternoon plenary session, he wandered onstage virtually without introduction as the lights were coming up in the hall, prompting half the delegates to start walking out. You could hardly hear his opening remarks over their chatter. Seriously, this man could be the next prime minister, and that’s how we welcome him?
By the way, he couldn’t have been more gracious, telling the crowd that the American Jewish community “is the cornerstone” of Israel’s relationship with the United States, something for which he’ll always be grateful. Not only that, he said, but American Jewry’s “contribution to the Zionist endeavor, to the fight for social justice in Israel, is of huge importance.” Imagine what he’d have said if we’d treated him more nicely!
Lost opportunity: I chatted with 21-year-old Celia Ettinger of Oakland, part of a Hillel contingent from the University of Michigan. It was her first G.A., and she was having a terrific time. She spoke to me about staying involved in the Jewish community after she graduates, how she hopes to move to New York and plans to shul-hop until she finds her spiritual home. She called the opening plenary “cool,” and loved a workshop aimed at millennials, despite its not-cool name — “Talkin’ About my Generation” — which is appealing only to aging hippies. There was a real buzz in the room, she told me. They heard from folks like Jews on Bikes and JSwipe, and tweeted their questions — all good, she reported, real dialogue.
And then, a big JFNA honcho stood up and wrecked it by telling the 20-something crowd all about federation’s agenda, and how she couldn’t wait for them to get involved. In that agenda, not their own. And that’s where they might meet their future husbands and wives, the woman added.
“That is so not what we wanted to hear,” Celia said. “I don’t think the older people in the room understood what was happening in that room.”
Listening, JFNA folks? Time to stop treating millennials like wayward children.
And yet: I’ve been to my share of G.A.s, and you can get cynical after awhile. Again, let’s march forward. Again, never give up the dream. But there’s still something deeply moving about sitting in a room with thousands of other Jews who might not share your political or cultural leanings, but with whom you share the same unbreakable love of Israel and the Jewish people. It’s why I do what I do.
Sue Fishkoff is the editor of J., and can be reached at [email protected].