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American fundraiser Morris Talansky, key witness in PM probe case (Daniel Bar On) Last update - 14:09 22/07/2008 OPINION / If Olmert isn't a criminal, he is at least an ingrate By Joseph Cedar Tags: Joseph Cedar, Morris Talansky  Morris Talansky was my uncle until he and my aunt divorced more than 10 years ago. Since then, I saw him only briefly at family gatherings once every few years. But before the divorce, Uncle Moish, as we called him, was a dominant and significant figure in my life. I even thought about making a movie based on his character, which I would call "Middleman." It would be a story about a professional fund-raiser forced to live between the wealthy Jews, the big philanthropists who cleanse their conscience by donating to organizations with lofty goals, and the altruistic visionaries who use the donations to further their noble life projects, which eventually earn them the Israel Prize. Between these extremes is the middleman, the schnorrer - the macher, as Nahum Barnea insists on calling him - but primarily the charismatic man who manages to bring people together and make everyone feel good. This is the man who doesn't get any glory, respect or appreciation, who is forced to do the grunt work that ultimately benefits everyone. When my former uncle's name was raised in connection to the scandal involving the prime minister, I assumed the media would home in on his colorful personality. I never thought that the prime minister, through his representatives, would try to prove his innocence by cruelly and offensively slandering a man who spent years helping him and donating to him, and became his close friend. Advertisement I'm no expert on the nature of the financial relationship between Talansky and the prime minister, and I don't pretend to understand the legal significance of their relationship, if any. But the various media reports about Talansky's cross-examination make it difficult to avoid concluding that even if our prime minister is not a criminal, he is at least an ingrate. To somewhat counter the national effort to destroy Talansky's name, I would like to put the fund-raising profession in a different, less shady light, along with the unique talent that made Talansky one of the leading fund-raisers in the Jewish world. There is almost no institution in Israel that does not subsist, to some degree or another, on donations. Schools, universities, research institutions, yeshivas, hospitals, museums, social projects, cultural centers, public buildings, memorial sites, ideological and political movements, and even the Israel Defense Forces, are at least partly funded by donors who ¬ setting aside generosity, and a desire to improve things for Israel and the Jewish people ¬ get honored for their contributions. They also (mum's the word!) get significant tax benefits. Behind the scenes of these donations is usually someone who made the match between the philanthropist and the cause. My understanding is that a successful fund-raiser is essentially a talented storyteller who can plumb the depths of the potential donor's soul and understand what will motivate him to open up his checkbook. In other words, a fund-raiser uses a well-told story and his own captivating personality to convince experienced businessmen to hand over their money, by getting them to feel a sense of shared fate with a goal that's bigger and more deserving than their routine business deals. This appears to be a basic need of people who have money, and apparently, it turns out, a financial compulsion of the society in which we live. Everyone ends up happy. Everyone benefits. And our reality in Israel is a direct result of this relationship. Morris Talansky dedicated his life to raising money, primarily, though not solely, for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. He spent nearly his entire life matching up ideas with the money to implement them, matching up the conscience-cleansing of those who give with the missionary zeal of those who receive. Along the way, he has become an expert on the complex relationship between American Jews and Zionism. And he is one of the most interesting, charismatic and generous people I have ever met. In the Frank Capra movie "It's a Wonderful Life," Jimmy Stewart plays George Bailey, a banker who gets into trouble and, right before he tries to commit suicide, gets a glimpse of how the world would have looked if he didn't exist. I would have liked to conduct an imaginary tour like this in Jerusalem to demonstrate Morris Talansky's importance in the daily lives of tens of thousands of Israeli citizens, without them being aware of it. The buildings aren't named after him and he's not the one handing out scholarships, but without him, Israel would have been a different place. I can only imagine that there are other aspects to my former uncle's dealings, and the prime minister's lawyers will apparently make sure we all get to know them in-depth. But before we tread all over Talansky on our way to the prime minister, it's worth stopping to think about the injustice we are causing to he middleman. Joseph Cedar is an Israeli film-maker. His film, Beaufort, won several awards and international acclaim. Related articles: VIDEO / Olmert's lawyer: Police pressure shaped Talansky testimony Police quiz businessman over unpaid loan he gave to Olmert Talansky: I can't recall details of cash transfers to Olmert Sources at State Prosecution: Talansky's testimony has not cracked More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   A hero or a pharaoh? An Iranian film praising Sadat's assassin has touched off a row between Egypt and Iran. Primary colors Barack Obama looks to reassure Jews of his commitment to Israeli security.   1.   Yes Olmert is a criminal, a ingrate, a theif Indict NOW 05:27  |  Dish it Out 21/07/08   2.   what does this all say about Olmert 07:40  |  michael cohen 21/07/08   3.   what does this all say about Olmert 07:40  |  michael cohen 21/07/08   4.   I`m sure you`re right - add INGRATE to the list 07:54  |  michelle 21/07/08   5.   Olmert ethics 08:34  |  Igal E Azuelos 21/07/08   6.   Joseph Cedar- the mensch 09:01  |  David 21/07/08   7.   If this weren`t so pitiful, I would cry 09:19  |  Zev Davis 21/07/08   8.   Olmert 10:20  |  Ralph 21/07/08   9.   Thank you, Joseph Cedar 10:49  |  Esther 21/07/08   10.   Olmert an ingrate? 11:16  |  Elliot 21/07/08   11.   `Leshem Shomayim` 11:36  |  Joe 21/07/08   12.   Trash Olmert Now! 11:38  |  Rafael 21/07/08   13.   Cedar`s comments 12:15  |  David Howard 21/07/08   14.   Uncle Moish 12:32  |  rs 21/07/08   15.   If Olmert Was An Attorney In Law , with Receipts ( envelopes) 13:26  |  Joseph.E 21/07/08   16.   Godfather Olmert .....for what else is he good for? 14:38  |  Dagma 21/07/08   17.   YOUR UNCLE TRIED TO DO 14:58  |  Robert 21/07/08   18.   Tell your uncle, and others like him... 15:04  |  JonathanInTelAviv 21/07/08   19.   Uncle Moishe 15:08  |  Reuven Brauner 21/07/08   20.   AN INGRATE WILL NOT EXPELL HIM FROM OFFICE;A TREASONIST WILL AND 16:09  |  glenna 21/07/08   21.   Olmert is like The Terminator or Yul Bryner in West Way 17:08  |  Harvey (Chaim) 21/07/08   22.   workers pay the price so the rich have their money 17:22  |  Tamar 21/07/08   23.   Frank Capra Movies 17:24  |  Albert Baumgarten 21/07/08   24.   Praise for Joseph Cedar 18:21  |  Shoshana 21/07/08   25.   Ingrate 18:22  |  Ellen M. 21/07/08   26.   and a criminally insane traitorous gangster 18:24  |  chaim 21/07/08   27.   If Olmert isn`t a criminal , he is a lawyer 19:04  |  Sal 21/07/08   28.   Before we move on - is it legal to pass undocumented cash money 19:08  |  Menahem 21/07/08   29.   Don`t get pulled down by the negative commentators Mr Cedar 20:02  |  Harvey (Chaim) 21/07/08   30.   Talansky needed to feel big and what better way 19:49  |  Ben-Menachem 24/07/08

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