Setting the Record Straight: UJA-Federation and the Federation System are Proud Zionists
Jerry W. Levin, President; Alisa R. Doctoroff, Chair of the Board; and
John S. Ruskay, Executive Vice President & CEO,
UJA-Federation of New York
July 31, 2012
John S. Ruskay, Executive Vice President & CEO,
UJA-Federation of New York
July 31, 2012
We write to set the record straight about an issue that has spread widely since surfacing last week on a personal Internet blog. While UJA-Federation of New York, other federations around the country, and the Jewish Federations of North America have a record second to none on Zionism, Israel, and supporting the Jewish people, given the Internet’s reach and the inquiries we are receiving, we wish to reiterate facts that ordinarily shouldn’t need clarification or repeating.
The root of the misinformation campaign is a misreporting of a wordsmithing discussion. Last week, a Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) Work Group focusing on Israel’s social issues met. The Work Group, like JFNA itself, is comprised of volunteer and professional leaders representing over 400 North American Jewish communities. The Work Group agreed on ways to strengthen the State of Israel and our communal connections to it. A discussion ensued involving a stylistic question: whether the subcommittee’s goal was to strengthen “the State of Israel” or “the Zionist enterprise.” One participant, who wanted the phrase “Zionist enterprise” selected, was seemingly convinced that the preference of others for “State of Israel” somehow revealed hostility to the concept of Zionism. He then proceeded to share that subcommittee’s discussion — and his interpretation of what it represents — with a blogger that has been long critical of JFNA.
In today’s hyper-wired world, that blog posting became the thesis of a vituperative online opinion piece in The Jewish Press. In a matter of hours, the essay went viral. Jews nationwide had their e-mail inboxes filled with these scurrilous charges about the Jewish Federation system.
The blog published that participant’s version, embracing and expanding upon its narrative; namely, that JFNA was turning away from its historic Zionist ideals. That premise is totally without merit. It lacks merit not only on the particulars of the Work Group’s discussion, but more significantly, the enduring Zionist-informed and pro-Zionist impacts of the Jewish Federation system. No one should entertain the idea, for even a moment, that UJA-Federation of New York leaders would countenance an affiliation with, or financial support of, any organization that was less than 100 percent supportive of Israel and Zionism.
Please share this memo with anyone you know who is aware of this issue, and please encourage them to contact UJA-Federation with any questions they may still have.
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