2001 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
WASHINGTON, D.C.
November 11 – 13, 2001

1. ADDRESSING THE PERSONNEL CRISIS IN JEWISH EDUCATION
2. FAITH-BASED SERVICES AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR
3. FOSTERING A JEWISH RENAISSANCE
4. INVEST IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
5. ISRAEL NOW AND FOREVER CAMPAIGN
6. JEWS IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION
7. NATIONAL INITIATIVE ON ETHIOPIAN ABSORPTION
8. SOLIDARITY WITH THE STATE OF ISRAEL
9. TERRORISM
10. TRANSPORTATION FOR SENIORS
11. TRIBUTE TO HOST COMMUNITY

ADDRESSING THE PERSONNEL CRISIS IN JEWISH EDUCATION
(Prepared in consultation with the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education)

Background:

Jewish education for our children and ourselves is a sacred responsibility and one of the highest domestic priorities of the North American Jewish community. Today there is a significant nationwide shortage of personnel for Jewish day school, supplementary school and pre-school classrooms, family education programs, camps, youth groups, Jewish centers and the like. In our communities, large and small, talented veteran teachers are leaving Jewish education in alarming numbers while only a small number of new teachers are entering the field, as evidenced by low enrollments at teacher training institutions.

Over the years, Jewish educators have made important strides toward excellence and innovation and are held in high esteem for the central role that they play in providing a network of quality formal and informal educational opportunities for our children and ourselves.

At the 26th Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education held this summer in Ft. Collins Colorado, over 1000 signatures of Jewish educators were collected on a resolution calling for a partnership with Jewish leadership to address the issues of recruitment and retention of personnel. Jewish educators, representing every denomination, expressed their belief that cooperation between the profession, the consumers and advocates of Jewish education had the strongest likelihood of addressing and solving this critical problem.

The personnel crisis facing Jewish education today needs to be addressed by Federations, in conjunction with all Jewish denominational groups, all agencies and organizations involved in the delivery of Jewish educational services and in all Jewish educational settings. This collaboration will focus attention on these important issues and be the impetus for meaningful change.

Action Steps:

The United Jewish Communities recommends that:

1. Community-wide discussions on the current personnel crisis in recruiting Jewish educators be held with all its stakeholders including, parents, teachers, administrators, clergy and community agencies.
2. A supportive climate be created in the community in which the status of the Jewish educator is appreciated and valued.
3. Local Jewish communities must explore venues to attract qualified individuals to careers in service, including providing them with a negotiated contracts, offering competitive salaries and appropriate benefits for both full-time and part-time work.
4. A more steadfast retention program be established to retain talented people in the field. The program should provide these individuals with a work environment that sustains reasonable expectations for time and task, and with sufficient support systems in place.
5. Jewish career options should be brought to the attention of those individuals who are about to choose a profession or considering changing careers. Additionally, a central employment clearinghouse should be created in order to make possible for people wishing to enter the field or wish to change positions to find available jobs. Communities should be encouraged to utilize existing resources such as internet websites, including the Everett JewishJobFinder.com (http://jewishjobfinder.com/) and UJC's Career Center (http://www.ujc.org/career_home.html).
6. Veteran educators be encouraged to mentor new personnel entering the field and offer other techniques proven to aid in retaining, nurturing and treasuring valued personnel.

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FAITH-BASED SERVICES AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Summary:

Federations and allied agencies are faith-based organizations whose commitment to helping people in need is derived from our religious mandate and our traditions. In our long partnership with government to solve social problems, we have been mindful of the importance of adhering to the separation of church and state and manifesting our religious values without seeking to impose our beliefs on others, and we have created 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to fulfill our obligations. In this way, government can and should fund faith-based organizations if certain conditions are met: faith-based organizations must comply with normal safeguards and standards appropriate to the services being provided; and there should be no proselytizing or coercive activity that would suggest or require a client to participate in religious programming against his or her will. Americans should be able to feel comfortable going anywhere for government-funded social services and should not be impacted by any religious coercion. The scope of the relationship between government and the religious sector once again has been placed on center stage by the new Administration and some Members of Congress. Revisiting the relationship is likely to provide opportunities as well as concerns for the Federation system.

Background:

For more than a century, the Federation system has been in the business of addressing human need. This is our mission, mandate and religious obligation and is consistent with the Jewish traditions of tzedakah (righteous responsibility), gemilut hesed (acts of loving kindness) and tikun olam (repairing the world). These concepts are the fundamental underpinnings which lead us to do the work that we do. The Federations have helped meet these obligations by creating comprehensive networks of services that help people at all stages of life. These networks often represent successful partnerships of synagogues, faith-based and charitable organizations, businesses, private philanthropists and government.

For decades, many Jewish organizations have partnered with government to ensure that the needs of the Jewish and larger community do not go unmet, resulting in billions of dollars of social services funded by the public sector. Government funding for our programs has enabled our system to reach millions of people and help them care for themselves and their families. While the Federations have served as initiators of ideas, capital fundraisers, and providers of technical assistance, the government's role has centered on investment in operations, ongoing service, and the ability to massively expand service delivery.

Our networks were created in a manner that complies with the separation of church and state imbedded in the Bill of Rights' Establishment Clause. This precludes houses of worship from obtaining government funding for use in religious activities, but also protects synagogues, churches, mosques, and other houses of worship from undue interference by government. The Federated system strongly and actively supports the important work of religious providers and their right to include religious programming as part of the services offered, for example, in day schools, child care programs, and summer camps. To the extent that their activities are sectarian in nature, we have long held that these types of activities should be supported by privately raised funds.

Government has long been in the business of working with faith-based institutions by providing research and technical assistance, federal grants and program funding. Under current law the government can provide greater technical assistance and capacity building education to churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship on how to operate constitutionally compliant and accountable service programs without compromising any safeguards. The historic partnership between government and faith-based social service entities will only be strengthened by ensuring that publicly funded programs provide services that comply with all health, welfare, and safety standards, and do not include coercive religious programming or other violations of the separation of church and state.

President Bush's focus has renewed interest concerning the relationships between government and faith-based institutions. The President's "Faith-Based and Community Activities Initiative," in part, directed attention towards the importance of the charitable sector, community-based organizations and volunteerism in general, and articulated a commitment to combating poverty and despair among our most vulnerable populations.

President Bush's approach has three components. First, it seeks to expand tax incentives for charities such as the IRA Charitable Rollover Act, which would allow assets from Individual Retirement Accounts to be directly contributed to charities without requiring the donor to cash out the IRA and pay tax on the proceeds before making the contribution; and, the Nonitemizer Tax Deduction that would encourage charitable giving by providing deductions for charitable contributions even for those who do not currently itemize. Second, it would remove federal barriers to faith-based and charitable organizations engaging in human service delivery by undertaking an extensive review of all government relations with nonprofits and redistributing funds currently directed to non-profits. Third, the initiative would create a limited number of new federal programs in the areas of providing assistance to children of convicted offenders, inmate rehabilitation, maternity group homes, and after school activities.

United Jewish Communities and the Federated system have long favored new and innovative charitable tax incentives and support the IRA Rollover and the Nonitemizer Deduction. Since the purpose of the tax provisions is to spur greater charitable giving, budgetary offsets used to pay for these measures should not come from the very programs designed to serve the same mission of helping those at risk and in need -- programs that have been significantly cut in the last two decades. Investment by government in helping people in need remains the single most important function that our government can perform to enable people to help themselves and their families.

The important partnership between government and the faith-based and charitable sector is especially relevant following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in rebuilding the infrastructures of this country. With the increased assistance from such public programs as the Social Service Block Grant, employment and vocational training, mental health funds, and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, the charitable sector would be able to address some of the needs that have arisen due to these tragic events.

Charitable Choice, adopted in 1996 as part of Welfare Reform, enables houses of worship to compete for public funding on an equal basis with social service agencies without establishing a separate nonprofit entity. The funding of houses of worship, without requiring a separate organizational structure which functions in a non-sectarian 501(c)(3) basis, raises a range of concerns for our system that were addressed in a resolution adopted by United Jewish Communities in 1998 opposing charitable choice. Creating a separate 501(c)(3) organization assures that a separate entity is subject to health, safety and appropriate regulatory standards while preventing government from inappropriate involvement in the internal affairs of religious organizations. One of the major reasons that many houses of worship may not have been able to create their own separate organizations is because they do not have the capacity to do so. The solution is not to waive the existing standards, but instead to create public and private funds that are dedicated to non-profit capacity building and technical assistance.

To protect from undue government interference in the affairs of houses of worship, some states may not require these institutions to comply with the same standards and regulations that govern social service agencies. Such standards can include accreditation, teacher-student ratios, nutrition requirements, compliance with civil rights laws, and even health, safety and fire standards. This lack of compliance could result in lower quality care with the state not having the authority to regulate the religious service provider. Such service providers could then attract clients with lower fees, as they would not have the expenditures for regulatory compliance. In addition, having different standards for some providers may also expose the government to more fraud and abuse, given its inability to monitor such programs.

Some proposals to expand Charitable Choice would give the Executive Branch sweeping authority to direct the disbursement of billions of dollars of human service funds through vouchers awarded to individuals, replacing grants and contracts to not-for-profit agencies. The systemic use of vouchers contemplated by these proposals would fundamentally alter the way that most public human service funds, including the majority of funding for Jewish social service agencies, are disbursed. Social service agencies would find it very difficult to make responsible budgeting decisions, because they would have to make projections about the scope of services they might deliver without a commitment of funding. While there has been limited use of federally-funded vouchers in the areas of housing subsidies and child care, the voucher components of those government programs have not been proven to be particularly effective in serving their intended beneficiaries.

Religious organizations such as synagogues, churches, and mosques should be able to participate in service delivery but should be required to comply with standards that adequately protect clients who have no wish to partake in religiously related programming and who might feel coerced to participate. Where government funds are involved, there can be no coercion or other violations of the separation of church and state, and there must be proper monitoring to assure that there is no religious programming in the services paid for by public funds, as well as a clear delineation between services and religious programming. As a minority religion, we are concerned about adequate and effective oversight intended to ensure that overzealous houses of worship do not use prayer and religious instruction in counseling and other services in treating recipients who have come to the religious organizations for public services.

While UJC fully supports the provisions of the 1964 Civil Rights Act with respect to nondiscrimination in employment and service delivery, we also make a distinction between those who engage in the direct delivery of services and the Jewish community leaders who run the organizations. We similarly draw a distinction between residents of long-term care institutions and those who reside in private homes. Long-term care residential facilities, even ones receiving public funds, should be able to provide a Jewish atmosphere. These facilities are the only homes their clients have, and barring the facilities from providing religious services would, in effect, be denying residents their first amendment rights to religious worship. On the other hand, people living in their own private homes can seek services from any communal or non-sectarian agency.

Action Steps:

United Jewish Communities:

• encourages Congress and the Administration to support people in need by increasing spending that enhances effective service delivery;

• supports the Administration's efforts to elevate the role of volunteerism and philanthropy as a national priority;

• supports the advancement of meaningful and sound public policies to increase charitable donations, such as the IRA Charitable Rollover and the Nonitemizer Charitable Tax Deduction, assuming that the funds used to pay for these tax incentives do not result in a reduction of funds for those programs that support vulnerable populations;

• supports the provision of technical assistance, research tools, capacity assistance, and information dissemination by government agencies and Federations, where appropriate, to small non-profits and organizations that wish to establish 501(c)(3) entities;

• reaffirms our commitment to creating and supporting social services for the vulnerable and needy among us that comport with the Constitutional principles separating church and state and include a prohibition against proselytizing by service providers receiving public funds and a prohibition against incorporation of specific religious elements into public services;

• believes that all non-profits and other organizations applying for the same government funding for the delivery of social services must comply with the same applicable standards and government regulations;

• urges Congress to oppose proposals that would use vouchers as the funding mechanism to deliver social services;

• believes that programs accepting government funding should not discriminate on the basis of inherent characteristics protected by the civil rights laws, except for long-term care residential facilities designed to meet the special needs of their clients; and
  
• will continue to educate law makers and our community on our concerns related to Charitable Choice.

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FOSTERING A JEWISH RENAISSANCE

Background:

The United Jewish Communities has made fostering a Jewish Renaissance a cardinal element of its mission. In doing so, it has taken cognizance of some of the dramatic changes that have taken place in Jewish life in North America and around the globe over the past decade. Large numbers of Jews today are seeking and finding meaning for their lives in the richness of the Jewish tradition and in the joys and responsibilities of Jewish living. There is a flowering of Jewish learning, cultural and spiritual life, embracing both time-honored and new forms of Jewish expression and commitment. At the same time, in adopting Jewish Renaissance and Renewal as one of its Pillars, UJC has committed itself to join in the efforts to extend this nascent Jewish Renaissance to the millions of Jews who are not yet part of it or affected by it. We know that many Jews, here, in Israel, and in other parts of the world, remain distant from their heritage and only tenuously connected to the Jewish community and its institutions. To help these Jews find greater meaning in their Jewishness, we must provide them with experiences that excite, inspire, and teach, and with pathways of Jewish growth that they can traverse together with other Jews.

Supporting and extending the Jewish Renaissance that is underway today will require a sustained effort by many actors. To play its role in advancing these efforts, UJC has recognized that it must work together with local communities, with synagogues, religious movements, and rabbinic leadership, and with other national and global agencies and organizations that share its commitment to Torah, avodah, and gemiut hasadim.

Action Steps:

We call upon UJC and the Federations to reaffirm their commitment to fostering a renaissance of Jewish learning and living in North America and globally that will enrich Jewish lives, build more vibrant Jewish communities, and strengthen Jewish Peoplehood.

We further call upon UJC and the Federations to expand and intensify their activities and financial support in the following areas identified as priorities by UJC's Jewish Renaissance and Renewal Pillar:

Forging stronger partnerships with synagogues, rabbis, and the congregational movements. Synagogues are the primary points of engagement with Jewish tradition, observance, and community for millions of North American Jews. Congregations and their leaders, the religious movements with which they affiliate, and rabbis, who provide spiritual and intellectual leadership for the Jewish community, must be full and active partners in Federations' and UJC's efforts to foster Jewish Renaissance.

• We urge UJC and the Federations to support initiatives to strengthen synagogue life, including financially, and to reach out vigorously to engage synagogues, the religious movements, and rabbis as partners in every aspect of Federations' work.

Recruiting, developing, and retaining the professional leaders necessary to sustain a Jewish Renaissance. The success of our efforts to foster a Jewish Renaissance will depend on the ability of the Jewish community to attract, develop, and retain cadres of talented and dedicated Jewish professional leaders - rabbis, educators, and Jewishly literate communal professionals of all types. Ameliorating significantly today's universally acknowledged personnel crisis will require coordinated efforts along many fronts, addressing the specific challenges of recruitment, professional education and ongoing development, remuneration, recognition, and working conditions as these affect the rabbinate, Jewish education, and the many fields of Jewish communal service. Systemic change will not happen overnight, but resolute action must be taken if change is to take place at all.

• We call on Federations and UJC to take leadership in addressing the shortage of professionals, not only for the Federation system, but for all fields of Jewish communal life. Through partnerships with other national agencies, seminaries and institutions of higher learning, professional associations, philanthropists, and others, Federations and UJC should call attention to the seriousness of the personnel crisis; identify, pilot, and disseminate promising local, national, and global strategies for addressing the shortage of professionals; and forge coalitions to invest financially in recruiting, educating, and retaining high quality Jewish professionals.

Promoting universal Jewish literacy. Torah - Jewish learning - has always been at the core of Jewish life. For this reason, strengthening Jewish education in all of its forms and settings is central to the work of Jewish Renaissance. This includes not only enhancing education for children and youth through day schools, congregations, summer camps, trips to Israel, early childhood programs, and other activities, but also expanding the opportunities and incentives for Jewish adults, many of whom lack a deep familiarity with Jewish texts, history, and thought, to experience high quality Jewish learning and to achieve a basic level of Jewish literacy.

• We call upon Federations and UJC to join with the religious movements and others to embrace the goal of universal Jewish literacy and to support the programs needed to realize this vision.

4. Engaging the next generation in Jewish community and Jewish life. Jews who are today in their 20s and 30s represent a vital resource for the future vitality of our communities. Many Jews in this age group, however, have little to do with organized Jewish life, and are seeking ways of expressing their Jewishness that correspond to their special sensibilities and life circumstances. As a community, we have by and large invested little in this population. In the last few years, though, the extraordinary success of birthright israel has stimulated a new awareness of both the potential and the challenges of engaging Jewish young adults in meaningful Jewish communal activities.

• We urge Federations and UJC to intensify their support for initiatives aimed at engaging the next generation in Jewish life. These initiatives should encompass a broad range of opportunities for Jewish young adults to engage in volunteer service, and in social, cultural, religious, educational, and recreational activities, in North America, Israel, and in other parts of the world; to encounter the possibility of a career as a Jewish professional; to engage in Jewish communal life and to develop and pursue their own visions for connecting Judaism to their central life concerns.

• We further call on Federations and UJC to vigorously embrace the special opportunity represented by the birthright israel program by ensuring that alumni have meaningful opportunities to continue their Jewish journeys.

 

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Invest in WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT efforts that
contribute to self-SUFFICIENCY and economic PROSPERITY

Summary:

The great scholar Moses Maimonides, in his formulation of the 8 levels of tzedakah, teaches us that the highest level is to help someone become independent. The Jewish Federations have a proud history of supporting efforts that lead to self-sufficiency and family stability, and the Federation system has developed and supported an extensive network of employment and training programs to achieve these goals. In many urban Jewish communities, where Jewish poverty rates may affect one quarter or more of the population, these job training programs are critical and have been particularly well utilized by émigrés from the former Soviet Union, single parents, older and second career adults, and those with physical and mental disabilities, each of whom has unique skills-training and special service needs.

Federation employment and training programs costing millions of dollars have been created through partnerships with government, private industry and other non-profit groups. These partnerships were impacted by the legislation that created the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 and led to extensive changes in our country's welfare safety net and a decreased number of people enrolled on welfare. In addition, there has been insufficient attention and significantly less public funding devoted to enhancing the job skills of marginalized populations, particularly for long term job training programs.

Background:

One of the most publicized recent legislative initiatives that focused on job training was the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Welfare Reform) which transformed the American welfare system. While the Jewish community in recent decades has not had a high number of people enrolled in welfare, significant pockets of Jewish poverty remain, particularly in metropolitan areas. Jews in these areas have cycled on and off the welfare rolls because of unemployment or insufficient employment opportunities. United Jewish Communities and its predecessors have long held that public welfare benefits are an essential component of the government's safety net for families who have fallen on hard times and are unable to provide for themselves.

Within the Jewish community, some of our most vulnerable populations have multiple barriers to self-sufficiency. Jewish Family Service and Jewish Vocational Service agencies serve our highest risk populations who move in and out of the workforce depending on factors such as substance abuse, mental disorders, and domestic violence. Some young people, who were afforded job opportunities while the economy was flourishing, are once again vulnerable in the transition from school to work with increased competition for entry level positions. Older adults need specialized training to learn how to use new forms of technology. One small but growing population served by the Federations' job training programs are those with severe disabilities who are capable of working but may require intensive services to address their barriers to meaningful employment. Some of the refugees from the Former Soviet Union and other countries also are among those needing more intensive employment support services.

Skill training, subsidized day care, health insurance for the working poor, and transportation are all services that enable people to establish a work ethic and employment experience that will help position them for increased independence. However, these services still may be insufficient to meet the varied needs of high risk populations. In many cases, available funding for job training programs is either insufficient for focusing on populations with multiple barriers to employment or only focuses on short-term job skills. Higher skilled jobs, which are ordinarily better paid and necessary for self sufficiency, require more in-depth and specialized training that is not available through publicly funded programs.

The economic boom at the end of the late 1990's increased opportunities for employment and economic advancement. Now, as the economy softens, more layoffs and increased competition for available positions add to the number of people who have had difficulty in finding suitable jobs in the first place. In our community, the tighter job market has particularly affected the employment prospects of recent immigrants, older workers, and those with less education. This economic reality exacerbates the challenges for those who have yet to enter the workforce, those who just recently started working, and those having difficulty sustaining employment because of barriers in day care, health care, and transportation systems. Even with the economic downturn, another type of workforce development crisis exists in that most health care facilities, including many within the Jewish community, are suffering from severe shortages of nurses, nursing assistants, and other health care workers. This need must be addressed with targeted training and recruitment programs.

Welfare Reform changed welfare, then known as Aid to Families with Dependent Children, from an entitlement program to a "work first" program model, and many of the provisions were authorized for a six year period which expires in October, 2002. One of these provisions is the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program which promotes job preparation and parental responsibility. Jewish family service and Jewish vocational service agencies have leveraged millions of dollars of TANF money to help create job training and supportive service programs including training for non-custodial parents, a responsible fatherhood initiative, providing job skills for those living in domestic violence shelters, and subsidizing childcare. TANF contains new restrictive provisions on eligibility requirements for recipients. These include the imposition of a five-year time limit on the federal dollars that individuals receive, and the mandatory use of sanctions against families who do not comply with program requirements. While there are certain waivers available for the five-year cap, these are likely to be insufficient. States should have more flexibility with these limits, particularly for those with multiple barriers to employment and for those who have made a good faith effort to participate in job training programs but are unable to maintain jobs.

After Congress passed Welfare Reform, it enacted the Workforce Investment Act in 1998 which consolidated more than 60 job training programs within the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education into three funding streams for adults, dislocated workers, and youth. Collectively, these three funding streams were cut by my more than 50% in real dollars between 1980 and 1996. Since Welfare Reform passed, employment service funding has been flat-funded; funding for job placement services must be significantly increased now that five years of eligibility for TANF is lapsing and with the economic downturn.

The ability of an individual to support his or her family not only strengthens the individual and family, but also the community. Workforce investment can serve as a preventive strategy to minimize poverty, dependence, isolation, and family break-up, all of which produce a downward spiral permeating all aspects of our community. The Jewish community should continue its involvement in actively supporting efforts that strengthen our workforce, and thus, our families and communities.

Action Steps:

United Jewish Communities:

• Urges Congress and the Administration to reauthorize the Welfare Reform Act and to broaden eligibility requirements for workforce development programs and to include broader and more flexible time frames in TANF to achieve stabilized employment. States should have more flexibility with these limits, particularly in providing services to those with multiple barriers to employment and for those who have made a good faith effort to participate in job training programs but are unable to find permanent employment;

• Urges Congress to provide supportive services, including childcare and health insurance, to those enrolled in job training programs and during the subsequent transition period to permanent employment; and

• Encourages government at all levels to increase funding for job training programs.

 

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ISRAEL NOW AND FOREVER CAMPAIGN

Background:

For more than one year now, Israel and our people have been victimized by an upsurge in violence and indiscriminate acts of terrorism.

The escalation of violence and increasing isolation have exacted an enormous toll on the people of Israel, permeating every aspect of Israeli life ... everywhere. The acts of violence are routine, erratic and random ... on the borders, in the heart of Jerusalem, at army bases, on the beach, in pizza parlors, and most recently, at a five star hotel.

And despite Israel's previous economic stability, it requires our help in this time of spiritual, psychological and financial de-stabilization. For Israelis, the economic situation is coupled with an overwhelming sense of diminished personal safety – for themselves, for their children, for their communities.

Tragically, every American also now understands all too well the trauma of terrorism. As the United States tries to deal with the horrific events of September 11 and after, the American government and people are responding with an unprecedented determination to curb terrorism and a profound generosity of spirit and giving.

North American Jews are uniquely part of this effort -- not only because of our previous encounters with the horrors of terrorism affecting Jews worldwide but also thanks to our traditional commitment to the imperatives of philanthropy. We continue to accept special responsibility for our extended family in Israel who suffer from the unabated trauma of violence. Our commitment to Israel has never been an "either or" proposition. While there is no question that America needs our support and help, so does our family in Israel. The resilience and tenacity of the people of Israel are being tested - and so are we.

We all need Israel to remain strong - as Jews and as North Americans.

Our hearts go out to each victim and to each family. Their pain is our pain; their loss, our loss; their fears, our fears. Our responses are not political; they are human. We go to Israel. We keep Israel in our prayers. We advocate and we educate and we still need to do more.

The IsraelNOW special fundraising effort is based on that need to do more.

It is based on the reality that not every North American Jew will be able to visit Israel as well as on the recognition that every one of us can make a gift and every gift can make a difference.

Our financial support will make a difference community to community and person to person, for Israel's most vulnerable populations who require help NOW:

• Victims and their families
• The elderly and the young
• New olim and students and soldiers living in Israel without families
• People living in geographically vulnerable areas

Our ability to raise funds to support Israel at this time is critical. Our financial support has played an essential and vital role in Israel's history and it will play no less a role in its future. It will also show the people of Israel and the people of America how much Israel means to us.

Action Steps:

UJC resolves that:

1. UJC and the Federations of North America will mobilize North American Jewry in the demonstration of increased support for the people and State of Israel.
2. UJC will carry out the IsraelNOW Solidarity campaign, with Federations across North America conducting local efforts to raise additional funds, including endowments on behalf of Israel, as part of the IsraelNOW campaign.

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JEWS IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION
(Prepared in consultation with NCSJ: Advocates on behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia)

Background:

The revival of Jewish life in the former Soviet Union (FSU) and the Baltic states, together with historic levels of aliyah to Israel, is a miraculous testament to the resilience and unity of world Jewry and the Jewish spirit. This transformation leads both to new challenges in addressing human needs and new opportunities for building relationships.

The U.S. Congress has been responsive to the American Jewish community's concerns about anti-Semitism and burgeoning right-wing extremist movements in the FSU and proactive in maintaining a united front against intolerance and hate wherever they may appear. Under the new U.S. Administration, U.S. diplomacy continues to reflect America's immutable commitment to securing pluralism and democracy.

Russia, home to the world's third-largest Jewish community, gives the greatest cause for celebration at the rebirth of Jewish life and greatest concern for its future. Jewish communities are reemerging across Russia. Russia has sought improved relations with Israel, yet Moscow's courting of rogue Middle Eastern nations has been a cause for concern. Increased interference in Jewish communal affairs on the part of Russian authorities, and inconsistent responses to popular anti-Semitism, have overshadowed official gestures of support. At a time when civil society and broad political freedoms are also threatened, the future climate for Jewish life is not yet guaranteed.

Ukrainian Jewry – the world's fourth-largest community – has flourished in the ten years of post-Soviet independence, with the government embracing many community initiatives. Ukraine's bilateral ties with Israel, and its pursuit of integration with the West, are important evidence of Ukraine's progress as a nation-state. In addition to societal anti-Semitism, the restitution of communal property and preservation of Holocaust sites and cemeteries are still primary concerns.

In Moldova, the Jewish community has not been adversely impacted by the elections which brought the Communist Party to power in early 2001. Restitution of communal property remains an issue of concern. Moldovan-Israeli relations are positive.

In Belarus during the past year, official involvement in popular anti-Semitism increased and relations between the Belarus Jewish community and the government have deteriorated. The reversal of democratic reforms has complicated efforts to address these issues and has isolated Belarus within the international community.

In the Caucasus and Central Asia, where Jews have lived in relative harmony with their fellow citizens for centuries, communal life has proceeded despite uneven steps toward democracy. The U.S. Government has supported these nations' efforts to join the Western community of nations, and most have established cooperative relationships with Israel. This strategically important and energy-rich region offers an important alternative to Western reliance on Middle Eastern energy supplies.

Of the states formerly under Soviet domination, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are the closest to having Western-style civil society and pluralism. Each of these Baltic states has begun to seriously address Holocaust-related concerns, with Lithuania organizing the Vilnius International Forum on Holocaust-Era Looted Assets in 2000 and producing the first Nazi war-crimes conviction in the Former Soviet Union. Nevertheless, issues remain with respect to extradition cases, prosecutions, and review of the historical record.

Action Steps:

In this context, the United Jewish Communities:

• Urges governments of the successor states to become more democratic and foster respect for religious and ethnic minorities, including consistent tolerance campaigns and educational programs, and to refrain from harmful interference in internal Jewish community affairs.

• Reminds the successor states of their responsibility to effect the restitution of Jewish communal property in a timely manner, to promote the revival of Jewish life and move beyond the Soviet legacy.

• Promotes continued U.S. efforts to engage Soviet successor states on minority rights and other characteristics of pluralistic democracy, and deeper U.S. strategic engagement in the Independent States of the Caucasus and Central Asia.

• Seeks to sustain and expand the network of vital advocacy and social welfare programs, for those Jews remaining and for those making aliyah to the State of Israel, from cultural programs to food for 250,000 needy and elderly citizens. UJC continues its commitment to supporting the broad and indispensable efforts of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Jewish Agency for Israel, as well as community-to-community partnerships between Jewish communities in North America and the successor states.
  
  

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NATIONAL INITIATIVE ON ETHIOPIAN ABSORPTION

Background:

One of the principles embodied in the UJC is the concept of tzelem Elokim – the idea that every human being is created in the image of God and is therefore entitled to live a life of dignity and respect.

After millennia of separation, the State of Israel in conjunction with world Jewry has brought Ethiopian Jewry to Israel. Their inspirational aliyah is, however, only the beginning of a long-term effort to integrate this population fully into Israeli society. Israel's 80,000 Ethiopian Jews face a variety of formidable social and educational needs, which – if not met – will signal a lost opportunity for them and a significant challenge for Israeli society.

Through the extraordinary efforts of the overseas arms of North American Jewry, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Joint Distribution Committee, important models have been developed for meeting these needs.

In recognition of the enormity of the needs and of our ability to meet them, a partnership has been formed among the Government of Israel, Jewish Agency for Israel, the Joint Distribution Committee, leadership of Israel's Ethiopian community, Keren Hayesod and the United Jewish Communities. This partnership has developed a National Initiative to work toward the full integration of Ethiopian Jews into Israel by focusing primarily on education and employment strategies. Funding for this ambitious project will come from the Government of Israel, foundations, individuals, Keren Hayesod, and Federations. The ONAD Committee has incorporated the financial requirements for this Initiative into its request of Federations. Many Federations have already indicated their commitment to this cause.

Action Steps:

In this context, the United Jewish Communities:

• Commits itself to continuing and augmenting its leadership role in collaboration with its partners in developing the program and funding for the National Initiative and other efforts to integrate Ethiopian Jews into Israel.

• Urges Federations to do all they can programmatically and financially to facilitate the successful integration, improved educational attainment and increased employment of Ethiopian Jews, including support of the National Initiative.
  
  

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SOLIDARITY WITH THE STATE OF ISRAEL
(Submitted by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago)

 

Since Rosh Hashanah 5761, the Government and People of Israel have coped with sustained acts of violence and terror accompanied by a campaign of incitement and propaganda. This assault on the very legitimacy of the Jewish State in the Jewish homeland continues unabated.

The Jewish people everywhere are bound to one another and to their homeland Israel through bonds that began with Abraham and will endure forever. As we pray for the day when peace will at last come to that land, we stand in solidarity with the people of Israel as they once more defend themselves against assault.

Today, the United Jewish Community resolves that:

• UJC and the Federations of North America will continue to mobilize and lead North American Jewry in expressions of solidarity through national and local programming. Missions to Israel will be a key component of this initiative.

• UJC and North American Federations will use annual campaigns and other vehicles of resource development to meet new needs resulting from the crisis in Israel, to make up for cutbacks in Israel's social welfare budget, and as another key component of the overall solidarity initiative.

• UJC and North American Federations will partner with appropriate other organizations in mounting a comprehensive strategy – in the media and in public forums, including on college campuses – to enhance awareness of the challenges Israel faces and to empower all concerned individuals to become effective advocates for the democratic State of Israel.

• Committed to deepening our ties to the Land and People of Israel, particularly in the context of the current crises, UJC and North American Federations will continue to develop birthright Israel and other Israel experience programs, Partnership 2000, and other vehicles for enhancing the ties between individuals and communities in North America and the State of Israel.

• UJC and North American Federations will continue to call upon the governments of the United States and Canada, other governments, the United Nations, and other appropriate authorities to maintain their affirmation of Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and to support efforts to promote peace between Israel and its neighbors.

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TERRORISM

(Prepared by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago in Consultation with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs)

Background:

This extraordinary time, the General Assembly of the United Jewish Communities and the Federations of North America takes place in America's capital when the nation is under attack. We meet unintimidated by those who would like to terrorize us. We come together precisely two months after the horrific attacks of September 11 when, close to this very location, a civilian aircraft commandeered by vicious terrorists was deliberately crashed into the Pentagon, the headquarters for the nation's defense planning. That same morning, two other aircraft were flown into the World Trade Center in New York, center and symbol of commerce for the nation and the world, and a fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania, presumably because brave passengers prevented it too from wreaking further havoc.

The terrorist acts of September 11 brought death, suffering and destruction of an unimaginable magnitude. By now the shock may have lessened somewhat, but the pain remains acute, especially for the families of the victims. Meanwhile, adding to the anguish and uncertainty, the country -- and this city in particular – are coping with a bioterrorism attack carried out by perpetrators whose identities remain unknown but of whose malevolent intent there can be no doubt.

These are uncommon times indeed. While the threat of international terrorism was recognized by many, the timing, the scale, and exact nature of the initial attacks were unexpected. And so, since that horrible morning of Tuesday, September 11, much is changed. In this new reality, America confronts the evil of people who hate us for what we are -- for our democratic way of life which celebrates diversity, making room for all religions and no religion, and which promises liberty and justice for all.

The nation's Jewish community stands with all Americans in resolute opposition to this terrorism. For us, these recent events resonate in profound and familiar ways. They remind us of the terrorist violence suffered in recent years by Jewish communities in Argentina, Turkey and elsewhere. They remind us too of the condition which the State of Israel has endured since the nation's founding in 1948, and increasingly during the past 14 months. Singled out as the Jewish people are by the terrorists' ideology and by the invective of their apologists, we have a special concern as to the impact of their hate-filled rhetoric. And we have a special interest in the way in which this crisis might impact on the State of Israel and on relations between Israel and America.

While understanding the considerations which come into play when building as broad an international coalition as possible, we have confidence that America will maintain its historic friendship with Israel, a long-time ally and staunch democracy that well knows the suffering and disruption which brutal terrorism against civilians brings. In this regard, we are heartened that, despite a cynical and misguided campaign pointing to America's friendship for Israel as the cause of the terrorists' hatred for America, a series of public opinion polls have shown that the American people well recognize the basis and importance of America-Israel ties. Our hope is that the current situation will bring these two countries even closer together, in recognition of their shared principles and in expression of their shared opposition to the scourge of international terrorism.

Action Steps:

At this time of trial for America and the world, the United Jewish Communities and the Federations of North America hereby resolve to do the following:

• Realizing that the conflict both overseas and at home is likely to be long and difficult, we stand with President Bush as he leads the country in a sustained effort to combat the threat of international terrorism by employing military, diplomatic, and other means.

• We mourn those who were so cruelly murdered and we honor those who so courageously gave of themselves on September 11. We pray for the safe return of the military forces directly engaged in the defense of all Americans and of our democratic way of life.

• We echo President Bush's call for this to be a comprehensive war against international terrorism in all of its forms, without distinction. No cause can justify the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians.

• We call on the nations of the world to stand with the United States in the effort to eradicate international terrorism. As President Bush has said, "either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists," and those nations and regimes which continue to harbor or support terrorism should be judged accordingly.

• We support the strengthening of domestic anti-terrorism measures which enhance law enforcement capacities while respecting basic constitutional rights.

• We condemn bigoted stereotyping and scapegoating of Muslim-Americans and Arab-Americans and are encouraged by the many signs of tolerance which have been manifest since September 11. At the same time, appalled by the bigotry which has been expressed by some members of those very groups, who have echoed the inciteful, conspiracy-haunted anti-Semitism widely circulated abroad, we call upon leaders of these communities in America and all people of goodwill to denounce such inflammatory expressions of prejudice and vile perversions of the truth.

• While for Americans this is not a religious war, the bin Laden network, sharing the approach of other Islamist terrorist groups, has construed it that way. We thus look to Muslim clergy and laity at home and abroad to enunciate the principles of their faith so that it will be unequivocally clear that Islam rejects the teachings which drive the bin Laden network and kindred spirits around the world. In particular, we call for denunciation of the demonization of the Western way of life epitomized by America; of the proclamation of a holy war against so-called infidels; of the brutal attacks against innocent civilians in the name of jihad; and of regarding murderous suicidal attacks as a form of "martyrdom" – and of attempts to make distinctions between manifestations of this kind of behavior. We further expect spokesmen of other religious bodies to lead the way in making a similar call on Muslim and other Arab American spokespersons.

• As a people who fled tyranny and were welcomed to this sweet land of liberty, we affirm our belief that in the current conflict, the noble principles on which this nation is based will prevail.

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TRANSPORTATION FOR SENIORS

Summary:

The Federation system has a long history of creating substantial networks of health and social services to provide for the needs of our elderly population. Our family service agencies, long-term care facilities, and Jewish Community Centers and Jewish agencies for the elderly provide these services to seniors; however, generally they require seniors to travel to them. Increasingly, senior citizens are having difficulty accessing these networks as transportation services are becoming more expensive for the Federations and their agencies to provide. Yet, without access to reliable and affordable transportation to move people from their residences to the facilities that house the services, service delivery programs cannot be effective, regardless of innovation or creativity. While some Federations have constructed highly effective programs, many do not have the resources or capacity to deal with the complexity and expenses associated with creating an effective transportation system for the elderly. Senior transportation is being seen as a major barrier to and burden on their ability to provide necessary services.

Background:

Federations report that a major barrier in their capacity to deliver social services for some elderly people is the inability of their clients to access service sites. Many elderly people, particularly the frail elderly who are older than age 85, have physical limitations obstructing their ability to drive or walk for extended periods of time. For those with financial restrictions, owning and maintaining a vehicle is too expensive or beyond their ability, and reliance on cab services is also too costly for those on fixed incomes. Even for those who live within a reasonable distance from public transportation, limited and undependable schedules often cannot accommodate the needs of elderly people. The reach of most public transportation systems does not extend to the neighborhoods where many of the Jewish elderly reside. Running a single shuttle route can cost $40,000 per year, and the Federations are collectively spending tens of millions of dollars each year on this issue. While many Jewish agencies are sponsoring and operating bus and van routes and other transportation programs for the elderly and other community members, the needs are greater than our capacity to meet them. We recognize the disabled also face transportation needs, often similar to those of the elderly. The provisions of this resolution, which focuses on the needs of senior citizens, will in many instances be applicable to the needs of the disabled.

The federal government has programs, housed in a number of different departments and agencies, including the Departments of Health and Human Services and Transportation, that provide local communities with financial resources to transport the elderly. However, these funding streams are difficult to access and very restrictive. For instance, the Urban Mass Transit Authority within the Department of Transportation has allowed funds to be used for the purchase of buses to transport day school students to after school programs at Jewish Community Centers. However, the JCCs are prohibited from using the same buses to transport elderly adults to evening meal programs, even though the buses are underutilized. In another example, federal Social Service Block Grant funds distributed by the states can, in some cases, be used to purchase vans to transport the elderly but cannot be used to pay for the equally expensive upkeep, maintenance, and driver costs.

At this time, state and local funds to provide transportation services for the elderly do not meet increasing needs. Although many Federations have obtained some funding for these purposes, transportation services still are among the most expensive and complicated for them to arrange. In addition to the expense of purchasing the vehicles, Federations must also provide for liability issues, insurance costs, ongoing expenses related to upkeep and maintenance, and the fluctuating price of fuel.

As in the provision of other social services, where possible, many Federations and their agencies have sought to maximize available resources through creative mechanisms. In some communities, the Jewish Family Service or other Jewish agencies have shared a school bus with the local Jewish day school so that when school children are not being transported, the JFS can bring elderly people to a congregate feeding site. Jewish Community Centers and Homes for the Aged are often an integral player in these shared models.

Some Federations have designed complicated transportation systems, where one Jewish agency serves as the dispatcher and route coordinator for buses that are owned and operated by a whole series of agencies serving the aged. This centralized approach is cost effective and maximizes efficiency. Other Jewish agencies have helped to coordinate volunteers, who in their own cars, drive elderly community members to appointments. In addition, some Federations have partnered with their local municipalities to offer taxi vouchers or subsidized taxi services for specific purposes, such as going to medical appointments or congregate meal sites. With all these creative approaches and additional public investment in transportation services, the Federation system should be able to provide better access to services for our community's elderly population.

Action Steps:

United Jewish Communities:

• encourages Federations to recognize as a priority efforts to provide transportation services to the frail elderly in their communities;

• encourages Federations to partner with other not-for-profit organizations, where possible, to maximize local resources;
• will continue to work with the Federation system to share the communities' best practices regarding senior transportation issues, particularly by fostering idea exchanges among Federation communities regardless of size;

• encourages Congress and the Administration to continue exploring ways to combine federal transportation funds from different agencies, so that maximum cost savings and effective programs can be achieved at the local level;

• urges Congress and the Administration to appropriate necessary funding to those federal transportation programs that already exist to meet the demands of senior transportation needs; and

• encourages and will assist Federations to secure additional federal, state and local funding to provide those services.

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TRIBUTE TO HOST COMMUNITY

We who have participated in this General Assembly 2001 of the United Jewish Communities will long remember the unique spirit, gracious hospitality and the secure environment provided by our host community. The lay and professional leadership of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, and the community's many volunteers, have gone out of their way to help make our meeting warm and productive. We will long cherish the new friendships and relationships forged here.

We expected nothing less than a magnificent welcome in Washington, D.C. Our expectations have been more than fulfilled.

 

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