Not Your Father’s Mission

In the late 1990s, Gary Aidekman, President of the UJC of MetroWest N.J., realized there was a problem. His generation, the baby boomers, had put off their commitment to Jewish philanthropy for a host of reasons, chief among them: the feeling that their parents were “taking care of it,” and that generous giving to Jewish causes was somehow outdated and old-fashioned.

Enter Aidekman’s 2005 brainchild – the new Business Professionals mission – a trip designed for established professional men, aimed at maximizing their limited time and highlighting their philanthropic passions. Inspired by “legendary” Federation leaders in the 1970s who organized 48 or 72 hour missions to provide an immediate answer to critical needs on the ground, Aidekman constructed a mission that would allow participants to leave on a Wednesday afternoon and be back in the office on the following Tuesday. To the flexible schedule, he added an emphasis on face-to-face meetings with major figures in Israeli business and industry.

His concept caught on and this year, despite the economic downturn, a group of eight arrived in Israel for a March 24th to 30th Business Professionals trip, the fourth annual mission since its inception.

When asked why he thinks this new model works, Aidekman points to the way in which his generation’s philanthropic style differs from the World War II generation: “Boomers won’t stand for high pressure. We won’t solicit a pledge on the mission. We want you to come on the trip, learn what we do, and your only commitment is that you will sit down with us in a few weeks and have a conversation,” he explained, adding that this approach has been successful at providing funds for those in need while also generating a comfortable, close environment.

“First of all, the mission is a lot of fun. It’s a chance for a bunch of guys to elbow each other, but also have a meaningful experience. Whether it’s going to Yad Vashem or sitting with a family who has lost somebody in one of Israel’s wars, there’s that ‘I get it’ moment, when you just ‘get’ why Israel is important, why Diaspora’s important, and the connection and interrelationship,” Aidekman explained

Jeff Cohen, who co-chaired this year’s mission together with B.J. Reisberg, said that this dual focus on fun and meaning guided him as he planned the schedule. He and Resiberg found original ways to interweave three basic categories within the itinerary: site visits to programs funded by UJC of MetroWest, places related to Judaism and Zionism, and finally, activities that are just plain fun.

For example, said Cohen, the group spent time in the Negev’s Ramon Crater, rappelling, taking jeep tours, and having dinner and a drumming session in the desert. Yet, they were joined throughout the day by a group of lone soldiers (Israeli immigrants in the country without their families), who receive help through the Jewish Agency thanks to the generosity of MetroWest donors. The soldiers appreciated the much-needed break, while the mission participants had the opportunity for a fruitful dialogue with young people who have made an extraordinary commitment to Israel.

Similarly, the group visited the Galai Winery in Merchavim (part of MetroWest’s P2K partnered region of Ofakim-Merchavin)  and enjoyed tasting fine Israeli wines, while at the same time providing critical support to the desert region of the country, which UJC/Jewish Federation is working to reinvigorate.

But perhaps closest to the hearts of the participants was their visit to the Southern areas suffering in the wake of Operation Cast Lead. After landing, the group went straight to Kibbutz Erez, which along with the rest of the Sha’ar HaNegev, is partnered with MetroWest and has suffered from heavy Gaza fire. They had a chance to see what their local community has done to ease the pain and increase safety for the beleaguered residents—from bomb shelters that are decorated in a way that makes children feel comfortable to a recreation room for the soldiers in the Nachal Oz Army Base, made possible by donor dollars.

“You look out the window of the recreation room and see the gate into Gaza. It brings home the reality the soldiers are living in, and the different ways UJC supports them,” Cohen said.

Aidekman, Cohen and Reisberg will be working to bring some of that inspiration back to New Jersey through regular meetings with group members. “Missions are a viral experience -- in a good way," Cohen explains. Upon their return, participants share their experiences with friends, spreading the word about what is needed, what can be done, and what it means to spend some intensive time being Jewish with other like-minded men.

It is this kind of network of support that has ensured a measure of continuity for the mission, despite current challenges. “We felt very strongly, that even though this year would be a smaller group than in previous years because people can’t afford as much and others were concerned for safety reasons, we would bring a group to Israel and demonstrate how important it is,” Reisberg noted.

“There is no substitute for a group like this of high quality, impressive people coming together and experiencing the impact of UJC MetroWest in Israel,” he added.