NEW YORK — The Jewish Federations of North America informed its board of trustees that it was letting go of three senior vice presidents — a very clear reminder that new CEO Jerry Silverman came to his post with an impressive corporate resume whose experience in the philanthropic world took place outside of the federation system.
Silverman was brought in as an outsider who could make changes, and in forging his leadership team he is dismissing three longtime executives.
NEW YORK — The board of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee went into its meetings last week with some difficult decisions to make about its budget. Now, those inside the $300 million international aid organization say, the tough work will happen over the next two months.
The JDC is facing significant cuts — an estimated $31 million — according to the proposed budget for 2010 that was placed in front of the board Oct. 25-26 at the Helmsley Hotel in midtown Manhattan.
For months the organization has tried to figure out how to cope with declining allocations from the North American federation system, which JDC estimates will drop from $37 million in 2009 to $34 million in 2010, and perhaps lower.
NEW YORK — The relative calm that annually settles in over the Jewish nonprofit world during the High Holidays season ended with a bang this week, as the Jewish communal world landed two big gets.
President Obama agreed to speak next month at the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America to be held in Washington — his first speech as president to a Jewish audience.
And one of the country’s richest men, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, made his first major charitable gift to a Jewish organization.
Both developments provide a boost to a Jewish philanthropic world facing tough times.
The night Rabbi Raphael Lapin flew into Doha, Qatar’s capital city looked like a “giant jewel box.”
Though it might seem odd at best, and dangerous at worst, for an Orthodox rabbi to spend time in an Arab Muslim nation such as Qatar, Lapin said his recent sojourn there changed him profoundly.
“Qatar is a phenomenal place,” Lapin said of the nation that borders the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia. “The trip changed my perspective in many ways. The government is unbelievably proactive.”
Lapin, who lives in San Jose, heads an international mediation and conflict resolution business. The Doha government contracted with him to train Qatari business leaders and ministry officials in modern negotiating techniques.
Last Updated ( Friday, 11 September 2009 03:31 )
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NEW YORK — Even as Israeli and Palestinian leaders argue about the conditions that must be in place for a return to the negotiating table, they are striking similar tones on the need for economic development.
PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad unveiled an economic plan last week intended to bring about a stable, independent Palestinian state within two years, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been talking for years about the need for an “economic peace.”
Some local Israeli and Palestinian officials aren’t waiting for the rhetoric to translate into action. They’re taking matters into their own hands.
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