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The senior rabbi of Brussels, Albert Guigui, talks at the main synagogue of Brussels, recently dedicated as the Great Synagogue of Europe.(AP) Last update - 13:43 20/07/2008 Lessons from the New World By Claude Kandiyoti Tags: Jewish world, American Jews  BRUSSELS - European Jews are tired of hearing about their imminent demise. When discussions turn to disaffiliation, ambivalence toward Israel or Jewish leaders without vision, observers of world Jewry often point to Europe as an example not to follow. Negativity takes over, and sometimes we even wonder to ourselves: Do we have a future? At such moments, Jews fall back on traditional responses. We can wait for the "messiah," who will bring about the hoped-for European Jewish renaissance. Or we can take our fate into our own hands and work to make our European Jewish communities thrive. But how do we do that? In search of answers, I traveled to New York City, to the New World, and what I found took my breath away. With 1.4 million people, a staggeringly diverse population, the city's Jewish community has thousands of entry gates to Jewish life. How did New York's Jews achieve this? How have they made Jewish life attractive in the world's most competitive market of beliefs, lifestyles and cultures? Advertisement Most striking is that everything in New York is exactly the opposite of what we European Jews know about communal life. I came away understanding that the enterprise of American Jewish life works because of incredible philanthropic commitment, dedication to professionalism and quality, and openness to creativity. In Europe, however, we have a centralized corporate structure, with leaders who are well-meaning, but haven't a clue about renewing Jewish life. Money is the fuel that makes it all run, and American Jewish philanthropy is a marvel unmatched anywhere else in the Jewish world. Recently, a major shift has taken place in this world: While money was once directed to major institutions like federations and the Jewish Agency, in the past decade, donors have begun to view giving as an investment opportunity with a very clear agenda. What was once a monopolistic industry has emerged as a free market, and this entrepreneurial atmosphere has given rise to new initiatives. As Alan Cohen, a senior planner at the UJA-Federation of New York, puts it: "Big funders want to play a role in shaping the projects they invest in, and so they use their professional skills to set up new benchmarks for success." These two trends - an open market and increased demand for impact - have left the major institutions with a simple choice: Open up to creative initiatives or stagnate. Heavyweight philanthropists have stirred up the community by matching creative ideas with resources. The big names in philanthropy - Charles Bronfman, Lynn Schusterman, Michael Steinhardt, among others - still pay their dues to the establishment organizations, but seem most alive when speaking about what they have created outside of the rubric of the Jewish institutions. It is well known that Birthright (founded by Bronfman and Steinhardt) has to date brought 170,000 young Jews to Israel, but it is too often forgotten that philanthropists had to battle a reluctant and turf-obsessed establishment to get the program off the ground. In New York, I encountered a number of "Jewish professionals" of an orientation that was simultaneously new and familiar. These people were actually professionals! In Europe we know tired and tiring emissaries from Israel, on the one hand, and amateur office minders, on the other. In New York, I met strategic thinkers, program planners, professional coaches - the same people I encounter in my commercial life. But here "the firm" is "the Jewish people." When these professionals generate or are given ideas, they can deliver. This is when the contrast between Old and New World became clearest to me. Without losing the sense of peoplehood, American Jews are reinventing themselves to remain competitive in values, identity and lifestyle. Synagogues are becoming "synaplexes." JCCs are becoming beehives of new culture. The lessons we Europeans can learn are clear: We need to invest in professionals and professionalism, using the same logic we apply in our working lives. We must forget about organizations that are obstacles, and not agents of change. We must look to the networks of interaction between Jews, and create programs that draw on their strength and communication patterns. Finally, we must encourage young philanthropic-minded Jews to invest in their own communities. Europeans Jews should not despair, for we have much to contribute: ideas, energy and money. An example of a home-grown European concept originating in the margins of organized Jewish life is Limmud, initiated in the United Kingdom by maverick educator Clive Lawton 25 years ago. Limmud was a surprising idea that succeeded because it reinvented Jewish learning, attracted outsiders as well as insiders, and ignored the familiar boundaries between Jews. Today Limmud is being replicated across the world, and is infusing organized communities with new members, new flexibility and a greater commitment to Jewish vitality. American Jews taught me that we cannot navigate around philanthropy. If we want to build a house, we invest. If we want to develop our businesses, we invest. If we want to revive and grow our communities we must invest. We shouldn't wait for the current structures in Europe to lead us, for they will deliver more of the same. It's time to leap in new directions by matching new ideas and energy with an investment in ourselves. Claude Kandiyoti is a Brussels-based entrepreneur and publisher of "Contact J," a monthly of the Belgian Jewish community. More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   'Icon of evil' Hitler icons take center stage at Jerusalem students' end-of-year art show. Caught on film Human rights group releases video of IDF soldier shooting Palestinian at short range.   1.   INVESTMENT brings developement but..... 19:29  |  The Archives 20/07/08   2.   Gathering the Exiles 21:32  |  Elisheva 20/07/08   3.   #2, the goal is not to perpetuate exile 12:33  |  dyinglikeflies 21/07/08   4.   NY is the exception not the rule in the US 15:07  |  DJ 21/07/08

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