In fundraising, Israel is a hard sell
Political disagreements are increasingly influencing people’s choices on where to direct their money.
By Chemi ShalevIt is getting increasingly difficult to persuade donors, especially younger ones, to give money for Israel – this was the main conclusion one could draw from a series of “round tables” held this morning at the GA in Denver.
“If you’re over 50 you talk about the Six Day War, the creation of Israel and the saving of Ethiopian Jews, but if you’re under 50 – you have no idea what we’re talking about,” said a representative of a Midwest community federation.
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The JFNA Conference in Denver. |
| Photo by: Robert A. Cumins/Jewish Federations of North America |
The round tables were held during a discussion of the JFNA’s “Global Planning Table”, a new JFNA blueprint for consultation about the allocation of contributions to the Federations, but as I’m not convinced that the participants were aware that a journalist was listening in, I will refrain from naming them. But their description of the growing distance between the younger generation of Jewish donors – and we’re talking here of people that are connected to the Federation, not disaffected Jews who have no connection to the community – was almost unanimous.
There is a general unease about giving to Israel, because it’s hard to tell what its needs are these days, said one. The younger donors don’t understand why we need to be giving to Israel, which has its own rich people and which is described, after all, as having one of the healthiest economies in the world, said another. Political disagreements, said yet a third, are increasingly influencing people’s choices on where to direct their money.
Two more interesting points that were raised: one representative of a West Coast Federation said that many of the heavy donors in the community were more interested in participating in the political arena, and are therefore directing their contributions towards the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, than in safeguarding Jewish identity, and thus giving their money to the Federations.
Another Federation representative said that there is increased pressure to provide money for the needy in the local community, even if these are not Jewish, especially in these tough economic times.
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should one give any money to an apartheid occupying power that aims to ethnically cleanse the native population? No wonder Israel is a hard sell. Great news indeed
Helping underprivileged children and families has no connection to politics or the occupation. These people are just trying to survive. I volunteer in a place called Chelev Haaretz (chelevhaaretz.il. The children and families that come there have no idea about politics. They are just hungry. Please go look at the website and then tell me that these children should go without just to make a political statement. I am sorry, but that is wrong.
At this point in time, Israel no longer needs our money, it needs our political support, so of course I contribute to AIPAC and CAMERA. In fact, I resent appeals to fund Israel and heartily support the above named organizations. Even more important, I support their work with letters to congressmen and the editors. CAMERA will send a alert about a particular media's bias and I will take the time to respond. That is worth much more that a few dollars to support a developed economy.
Why should people give to THIS Israel- an Israel that is racist, oppressive to its own citizens, and dishonest (stealing land owned by individual Palestinians). THIS Israel allows settler criminals to run loose until they will kill fellow Jews.
this is the truth
So that the system can drain us for all our worth in exchange for low middle-class salaries, expensive housing, endless ethnic and political troubles and propping up the anachronistic lifestyles of the unemployed Ultra-orthodox? No thanks.
You may think that one voice doesn't make a difference, but it does. One voice is the first pebble that will bring on the ripples that eventually can become a tsunami for change.
Being a graduate of the Taglit Birthright Israel program myself, I can say it has gone a long way in promoting closer relations between world Jewry and Israel, especially among those in theis 20's to 40's.
Where was your occupation in 1967? And why is it legal for 2 million arabs to live in Israel but none live in Palestine or Jordan? And may I remind you that historical Palestine included Jordan, parts of Syria and Lebanon. Israel should remove the settlements when the 2 millions Arab Israelis decide to leave Israel. Seems fair to me.
Many people wonder why they should give to Israel when it seems to be doing fine.
I am an American Jew currently in Israel for the first time, visiting. I encourage people to come here and talk to Israeli citizens and visit her social service organizations for themselves. Then it will be clear why she continues to need our support. This is a tiny country- not 310 million people who can be taxed to death to support its defensive needs while funding all her social service requirements. Come here- leave the comfort of our American homes and see what is going on.
... according to Stanley Fischer, if we can't get the Ultra-Orthodox into the workforce (by forcing them to have core curriculum in their schools, making them do army or national service, and making sure that only the real, serious students at Yeshivot are the only ones subsidized), then our economy is in BIG danger. When people understand this, they'll have a very good reason to give to Israel.
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Giving to the local non-Jewish poor is a mitzvah, but why do it through the Federation? The Federation is for Jewish causes. There's no reason one can't write a check to both the Federation and United Way, and there's also no reason to expect the former to direct its charity like the latter.