UJA Federation of New York - Articles - Zimbio

Industry Leaders Launch UJA-Federation of New York’s 2008 REX Premiere Event at the Puck Building’s Skylight Ballroom

Mon, 28 Oct 2008 03:45:53 GMT

posted by archithings
UJA-Federation of New York will bring together 250 leading young professionals from New York’s real estate, construction, and allied trade industries, including developers, owners, brokers, attorneys, and investment strategists, for one of the most exclusive nights in the industry at its annual Real Estate and Allied Trades Division’s REX Premiere Event on Thursday, November 6, [...]

New York UJA-Federation Withdraws from Other Israel Film Festival

Sun, 12 Nov 2007 06:31:40 GMT

posted by richards1052

November 11, 2007 at 11:31 pm · Filed under Jews & Judaism, Politics & Society, Mideast Peace

Thanks to Muzzlewatch for bringing this story to my attention. Over at Israel Palestine Forum one of the members mentioned the Other Israel Film Festival. After visiting the site I said: "How cool!" It is a festival devoted to the films of and about Israeli Arabs. Nothing like this has ever been done in the U.S. and it's a godsend. Precisely the problem both here and in Israel itself is that we have opinions about Arabs but we don't know them. We think we know their culture, values, and attitudes but we only don't. What better way to get to know the approximately 25% of Israel's Arab population than through their cinema?

I noted that the Festival's website featured a letter from the producer signed by Carol Zabar of the famous New York food dynasty. I knew the Zabar's family maintained a bungalow in Mohegan just outside Peekskill in an area frequented by New York Commies in the 1950s. But I had no idea that a Zabar would create something so radical, creative and fresh. More power to her. Memo to my NY readers–Go out and buy more Zabar's lox and bagels and don't forget Eli Zabar's establishments as well!

I also found it extraordinarily positive that the New York Jewish Federation endorsed the Festival. But wouldn't you know it–it appears that the Daniel Pipes and Mort Kleins of the New York Jewish world have been whispering (or screaming more likely) into the ears of the Fed's leadership about the evils of promoting Israeli Arab culture. The Fed dropped this one like a hot potato. And it's too bad. Can you imagine how powerful the statement would be to an Israeli Arab if you told him that New York Jews were hosting a Festival about their culture that was endorsed by the umbrella organization representing New York Jews. That would be a powerful positive statement to that Israeli Arab. It would say there are Jews who embrace him as a legitimate partner within Israeli society.

Alas, this was not to be. The nattering nabobs of Jewish negativism have triumphed once again. They've killed a golden opportunity for dialogue. A golden sign of Jewish tolerance and openness to "the other." Sure, the Festival will go on. The UJA Federation's withdrawal will not kill it. But think what message is being given to the Jews of New York by this withdrawal. The Festival is no longer kosher. Now, it will be possible for the Campus Watch/ZOA crowd to crow about their victory and point to the withdrawal as confirmation of the radical anti-Israel agenda of the Festival when nothing could be farther from the truth.

Here's how "radical" the Festival is:

Other Israel will illuminate the lives of the Arab Citizens of Israel who make up twenty percent of Israel’s population.

This unique vision of the largest minority in Israel, celebrates Israel ’s democracy and highlights the different ethnic, religious, cultural and social backgrounds in this diverse landscape.

Through the magic of film, Other Israel provides a cultural platform to further awareness and challenge conventions.

Of course, the Fed officials are muttering under their breath about how their cave has nothing to do with political pressure. It's purely due to an administrative mistake. Right.

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carol zabar other israel film festival uja federation of new york withdraws sponsorship of israeli arab cinema festival

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UJA-Federation’s Bogus Explanation for Withdrawing Other Israel Film Festival Sponsorship

Mon, 13 Nov 2007 08:51:36 GMT

posted by richards1052

November 13, 2007 at 1:51 am · Filed under Jews & Judaism, Politics & Society, Mideast Peace

Yesterday, I wrote a post noting that Haaretz reported that the New York UJA-Federation withdrew its sponsorship for the Other Israel Film Festival. It is devoted to highlighting the Israeli Arab experience through film. When I read the Federation's quoted reasons for withdrawing they ran hollow to me. Now I know they are bogus.

Here's what the Federation said:

A UJA-Federation spokesperson denied that the reason for the withdrawal of support was political or connected in any way with the festival's content, citing a failure to receive approval through appropriate channels within the organization.

"A request was made to have UJA-Federation lend its name to help generate interest in the event. The request was granted although it did not go through the proper approval process," a statement from the organization said.

This of course is gobbledy gook. How can the request have been granted while at the same time it didn't go through the proper approval process? Are they saying that the employee who approved the sponsorship didn't have the right to have done so? Or are they saying that whoever approved the sponsorship didn't realize how heavily the Fed's right-wing pro-Israel megadonors would come down on Federation for the decision?

The following speaks volumes on that score:

…Sources, however, cite outside pressures from right-wing elements in the Jewish community and from potential donors who objected to an Israeli festival that was about the country's Arab citizens only.

I guess we're going to have to do some digging to find out who those "right-wing elements" and "potential donors" were. It's also laughable to cite the fact that the Festival only dealt with Israeli Arabs as a reason to reject sponsorship. This smacks of racism. If UJA-Federation supports the State of Israel then it must perforce support all citizens of Israel including Israeli Arabs. If it does support Israel and all its citizens then there can be no problem with a film festival honoring Israeli Arabs. If, however, UJA Federation supports only the Jewish citizens of the State of Israel, then it should say so.

What follows are other bogus excuses mounted by Federation to obfuscate the reasons it withdrew:

Meretz USA, a civil rights and peace organization that is "fully independent of the Israeli political party Meretz-Yahad," according to its Web site, was also among the initial list of sponsors.

UJA-Federation officials said the organization's inclusion in the original promotional materials was the result of a simple mistake.

"Once the proper review process took place, we recognized that there were two issues that would prohibit us from lending our name in support of this event.

"First, we were listed as a sponsor yet no additive funds were provided directly in support of the festival.

Are they claiming that UJA-Federation never sponsors events unless it has donated funds to support the event? If so, I find that a highly unusual guideline and would wonder whether it's actually true. And I say this as someone who both worked at UJA-Federation (in Westchester) and spent many years as a non-profit fundraiser.

"Secondly, an Israeli political party was also listed as a sponsor in the initial brochure.

"In order to maintain UJA-Federation's capacity to mobilize the broadest expression of the New York Jewish community we make every effort to avoid association with Israeli or American political parties.

"Our role is to mobilize the Jewish community to stand with the people of Israel and we preserve this capacity by strictly avoiding being associated with any Israeli political parties."

This again is entirely bogus. Meretz USA, as noted at the Other Israel website is NOT an Israeli political party. It doesn't even directly or financially support the real Israeli political party Meretz-Yachad. In fact, the former is prohibited from doing so as a 501 c3 registered non-profit organization (login required). As such, it cannot engage in politics. It can only engage in educational programs.

The Fed spokesperson's weaselly explanation also begs the question: has the Federation ever sponsored events by similar organizations like American Friends of Peace Now, Likud USA, American Friends of Likud, etc.? I'd be willing to bet it has. If it has, then the explanation goes out the window and we're returned to what is undoubtedly the real explanation: the Fed's right-wing pro-Israel leadership put the kibosh on Festival sponsorship. Now, what I'd like to do is expose their real reasons.

There are 2 million Jews in New York. Only 70,000 of them give to UJA-Federation (around 3.5%). Of those 70,000, roughly 2% give 90% of the overall funds. That means that around 1,400 New York Jews hold the purse-strings for the entire local Jewish community. Those megadonors are overwhelmingly right-wing and pro-Israel. They don't support a Palestinian state, they don't support withdrawal from West Bank settlements, they do support war against Iran, they do support the Iraq war, they are heavily Republican and Likud.

In much of this they diverge from the majority of the Jewish population. Most New York Jews would have no problem with UJA-Federation endorsing the Other Israel Festival. In fact, the vast majority of the thousands who attend the Festival will be Jewish. The problem with our current Jewish communal structure and leadership is that they don't represent the rest of us. They represent their own narrow political views and economic self-interest. And that's a shande.

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Welcome to our blog about UJA Federation of New York

Mon, 8 Aug 2006 18:45:30 GMT

posted by The_Zimbio_Team
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