06.07.07

This year United Jewish Communities of MetroWest New Jersey marks three historic milestones: the 10th anniversary of UJC's sister relationship with the community of Ofakim in Israel, the 40th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, and the 100th anniversary of Daughters of Israel, one of UJC's partner agencies.

Our own part in this multiple anniversary is just the tip of the iceberg. There has been so much history in the MetroWest federation since we began as the Conference of Jewish Charities in Newark in 1923.

What a record of achievements over those 84 years! In that time, we have become not only one of the largest federations in North America but also a leader in creating new and innovative programs both locally and overseas.

Over those many years, we have faced many challenges, dealt with many problems, and devised many solutions for the difficulties that have faced the MetroWest community. We have been instrumental in maintaining our community, and in helping it to flourish. The strong, vibrant, and very Jewish community we live in now is here in part because UJC has been here over the years.

Facing challenges and solving problems is a large part of what we do; it is a large part of the responsibility we have to the community. It is a large part of our continuing relevance to our community.

And our relevance is not something we should take for granted. UJC has had its long history because we have always actively sought to be relevant, to be solving the problems our community is facing. We remain a vital organization by constantly asking and grappling with the question: Are we relevant to and central within the Jewish community?

My answer is a resounding yes — we are more relevant than ever and more central to the Jewish community!

Let me put it in this way: Our mailing address is in Whippany, but our location is the center of conversation within the community.

What does this phrase mean? It means we have come a long way from Newark in 1923, when we were merely an umbrella organization that made it easier to raise funds through one source rather than through many charities. Today, we do that but much more.

The challenges within the institutional Jewish community are varied and frequently are complex. I believe the main challenges divide into three categories: Responding to Crisis, Building for the Future, and Engaging With Israel.

No Jewish organization in the world has the infrastructure and capacity to respond in times of crisis in the way the continental and local federation system can.

The Israel Emergency Campaign that has been assisting Israel since last summer's war in Lebanon shows how we respond when emergency needs arise — by raising more than $350 million nationally and almost $6 million in MetroWest.

More recently, we've been confronted with the JCC MetroWest fiscal crisis. Our leadership is currently addressing this situation, which could affect services offered in eastern Morris County.

UJC is making every effort to ensure the continuity of health and fitness services at the Whippany campus, but at this moment, it remains uncertain that we will be successful. As we have with other agencies, UJC will work with the JCC to find solutions and will provide financial assistance where necessary.

In many ways, it is the most crucial. The principal and most dangerous challenge we face is the decline of Jewish peoplehood — that is, a weakened identification among American Jews with their fellow Jews abroad, as well as a waning sense of communal responsibility at home.

The task of Jewish leadership at this juncture is to understand, nurture, and sustain new or enhanced forms of Jewish identity and communal and civic engagement. In MetroWest, I think we are building for the future with a number of exciting initiatives and programs.

The Iris Youth and Family Philanthropic Initiative, in memory of Herb Iris, has engaged a number of teens and their families in learning about philanthropy and the difficult choices of allocating limited funds to so many worthwhile causes. These include birthright israel, which has sent over 110,000 young adults to Israel for 10-day experiences, and has had great results in connecting young Jews to the beauty and people of Israel. More than 800 young adults from MetroWest have participated.

We have just introduced Camperships, a subsidy for overnight Jewish camps, which is being offered through the Partnership for Jewish Learning and Life along with grants from the Foundation for Jewish Camping.

In memory of Jerry Waldor, the Waldor Leadership Institute will be offering an extensive two-year leadership program conducted by the prestigious Wexner program.

One of our most extensive new efforts is our community's Jewish day school initiative. The collaboration between UJC, Jewish Community Foundation, our three day schools, and the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education has produced a groundbreaking program that will provide additional funds to assist the schools in two areas: affordability and academic excellence.

We can no longer afford to expect young American Jews to relate to Israel only through the tragic history of the Holocaust and Israel's subsequent, and many, wars. American Jews need to connect with Israel through the energy, heritage, and beauty of Israel and its people.

UJC is doing exactly that through the Makom program, which sends leaders and clergy from 11 synagogues to Israel to foster dialogue and to give them a greater understanding of our partnership efforts there. More and more, we are introducing Israel to MetroWest through the efforts of our executive and youth shlihim (emissaries) and the Israel Program Center.

UJC's three Rishonim — post-high-school Israelis who are working in our schools and synagogues — have done a wonderful job of engaging their American counterparts, and next year we will have four Rishonim in our community.

Even as we meet these threefold challenges, UJC MetroWest continues to operate as efficiently as possible, recognizing our responsibility to our donors.

And we're working in greater collaboration with the wide range of Jewish institutions in the community. There is increased outreach and cooperation with synagogues and Jewish day schools, and greater collaboration among Jewish agencies. We have more innovative leadership-development programs, and more varied and exciting "living bridge," or people to people, programs, with Jewish communities in Israel and Ukraine.

And so, is UJC of continuing relevance? You bet we are. Are we more central to the Jewish community in MetroWest? For sure. Our mailing address is Whippany, but our location is the center of conversation within the community, and I'm proud to say that is true in 2007.

The challenges are many.Crisis will occur from time to time, disappointments will happen, and sometimes personalities will clash, but we will always be able to work through them, because we have good and caring people in our community.