Who dat? The Jewish Federations General Assembly hits New Orleans
More than 4,000 members of Jewish organizations, NGOs and charities have descended upon the Big Easy for the annual convention.
By Sara Miller Tags: Israel news Jewish World US Jews USNEW ORLEANS - The annual General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America got going Saturday night (after Shabbat, of course) in the heart of New Orleans, under the moniker “The Big Embrace in the Big Easy.”
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The 2010 Jewish Federation General Assembly in New Orleans. |
Some 4,000 people from more than 150 organizations, NGOs and charities have flocked to the city for the conference and the biannual Lion of Judah gathering which runs almost concurrently. The conferences coincide with a massive real estate convention also taking place in New Orleans over the weekend, and the streets are packed with out-of-towners carrying paraphernalia from their respective gatherings, but almost all wearing Mardi Gras beads in gold, purple and green.
“We are thrilled and proud to be gathering here in New Orleans for the 2010 General Assembly and International Lion of Judah Conference,” said Jerry Silverman, president and CEO of The Jewish Federations of North America.
“More than 4,100 Jewish Federations and communal leaders of all ages are coming together to meet the challenges we face, from advocating for Israel to engaging young people in meaningful opportunities like Jewish service, to raising funds for meeting global Jewish needs. New Orleans, where Jewish Federations helped rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, provides an especially fitting and powerful backdrop for our work together. We are honored to be here and look forward to memorable events.”
The GA traditionally tackles hot topics within the American Jewish communities - last year’s gathering dwelt on the challenges faced by the twin blows financial crisis and Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. This year, the themes include Israel’s image, with workshops bearing titles such as “Confronting Israel's Delegitimizers: The Jewish Community Responds” and “U.S.-Israel Relations in a Changing World.”
Speakers include the usual smattering of Jewish luminaries and Israeli officials. But the biggest names at GA 2010 are U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Sunday and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, whether either man will say anything game-changing is yet to be seen.
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Amid all the pats on the back and self-congratulations, this gathering of the self-appointed bureaucrats of America's organized Jewry should have focused on the needs of the elderly and the sick, as well as the over-stressed social support infrastructure - instead of "advocating for Israel" and worrying about Israel's image. With only about 30% of America's Jews affiliating themselves with Israel, the Jewish Federations have no legitimate mandate to carry out Israel's agenda at the expense of the Jewish poor, sick and elderly in the US.
isn't that pretty much the same group?
either Mr. Netanyahu or Mr. Biden will make any "game changing" statements?"--and I have to ask myself: Does anyone know what the game really is?
I agree with previous comment. We've given to the Jewish Federation for year (monthly deductions from husband's paycheck) and I no longer feel, as we get older and the Jewish communites here start to crumble that Jewish Federation helps US. We always get notices about how the Jewish Federation sponsors an Israeli to come to America, or how it sponsors teen and young adults to take vacations to Israel but when asked about programs for the 50+ there aren't but a few. Also, how much is J.F. money going to ultra orthodox or other religious organizations that undermine equility and pluralism in Israel? Here in the US midwest, I discovered yet another large shul will be merging with another shul. Blame the economy, but it isn't popular to be Jewish and just to be saying that rah, 'we have Israel' does feel as great as it once did. BTW, I am a REFORM convert.