Comments on: The Federation Movement is Dead; Long Live the Federation Movement http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/the-federation-movement-is-dead-long-live-the-federation-movement/ Wondering where we are going as a Jewish community - one post at a time. Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:50:11 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Iris Feinberg http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/the-federation-movement-is-dead-long-live-the-federation-movement/#comment-97 Iris Feinberg Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:12:45 +0000 http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/?p=378#comment-97 Wouldn't it be so nice if none of us in the organized Jewish world - from the Federation system to the smallest grass roots organization - had to depend on others for funding. Ah, that nasty word. Money. In today's communal muck and mire, I take the joke about 2 Jews 3 opinions and reword it to be 2 Jews 3 ideas. Everyone's got an idea about what we should and how we should and that we should, or shouldn't. Everyone's got a thought about if we only made the idea better people would fund it. After spending a year as Campaign Chair for the JFGA, it became very clear to me that it isn't ideology that people want to fund, it's the work. The feeding, housing, community development, community engaging work that is at the very core of what Jewish giving is. It's a messy and noisy world out there - the funding community is tired of it. Perhaps the most valuable thing that we can do as community organizers is to simply clear a path and bring everyone back to the core of what we do - let the ideas continue to flow but put the local, national and international community's needs before our lofty ideas and talk. That would be a nice change. Less talk, more action. At least, that's my idea. Wouldn’t it be so nice if none of us in the organized Jewish world – from the Federation system to the smallest grass roots organization – had to depend on others for funding. Ah, that nasty word. Money.

In today’s communal muck and mire, I take the joke about 2 Jews 3 opinions and reword it to be 2 Jews 3 ideas. Everyone’s got an idea about what we should and how we should and that we should, or shouldn’t. Everyone’s got a thought about if we only made the idea better people would fund it.

After spending a year as Campaign Chair for the JFGA, it became very clear to me that it isn’t ideology that people want to fund, it’s the work. The feeding, housing, community development, community engaging work that is at the very core of what Jewish giving is.

It’s a messy and noisy world out there – the funding community is tired of it. Perhaps the most valuable thing that we can do as community organizers is to simply clear a path and bring everyone back to the core of what we do – let the ideas continue to flow but put the local, national and international community’s needs before our lofty ideas and talk.

That would be a nice change. Less talk, more action. At least, that’s my idea.

]]> By: Jonathan Woocher http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/the-federation-movement-is-dead-long-live-the-federation-movement/#comment-96 Jonathan Woocher Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:21:22 +0000 http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/?p=378#comment-96 I agree with you, Seth, that a fundamental paradigm shift is needed - not because the values that federations have represented are outdated, but because the context in which we seek to nurture and implement them have changed so radically. I'd like to propose four goals for the federation of the 21st century that I believe are in keeping with what made the federations of the 20th century so vital, but that respond to today's historic opportunities and challenges: 1. expanding the circles of Jewish engagement - community-building in a 21st century key 2. building and supporting platforms for world repair - manifold opportunities to do tzedek and hesed 3. connecting the Jewish multi-world - creating "peoplehood capital" through shared activity 4. empowering transformational leaders - encouraging grass-roots energy and talent I believe that this is an agenda that captures the best of what federations have been, but re-casts it for our time of diversity, fluidity, choice, and a quest for purpose and connectedness. I'm not sure whether this requires starting afresh (hard to do), or whether today's federations can renew themselves sufficiently to become something different (also hard to do) - it seems to me that a few, at least, are trying this. But, I do believe that we are at a moment when both imagination and courage are called for. I'd love to see the discussion you've begun continue. I agree with you, Seth, that a fundamental paradigm shift is needed – not because the values that federations have represented are outdated, but because the context in which we seek to nurture and implement them have changed so radically. I’d like to propose four goals for the federation of the 21st century that I believe are in keeping with what made the federations of the 20th century so vital, but that respond to today’s historic opportunities and challenges:
1. expanding the circles of Jewish engagement – community-building in a 21st century key
2. building and supporting platforms for world repair – manifold opportunities to do tzedek and hesed
3. connecting the Jewish multi-world – creating “peoplehood capital” through shared activity
4. empowering transformational leaders – encouraging grass-roots energy and talent

I believe that this is an agenda that captures the best of what federations have been, but re-casts it for our time of diversity, fluidity, choice, and a quest for purpose and connectedness.

I’m not sure whether this requires starting afresh (hard to do), or whether today’s federations can renew themselves sufficiently to become something different (also hard to do) – it seems to me that a few, at least, are trying this. But, I do believe that we are at a moment when both imagination and courage are called for. I’d love to see the discussion you’ve begun continue.

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