The top of the UJA-Federation of New York speaks with The Media Line’s Felice Friedson about antisemitism and the necessity to create alternatives for American Jews to interact with Israelis, each in Israel and America
Eric S. Goldstein, the chief government officer of the UJA-Federation of New York, the most important native philanthropy group on the earth, has been a formidable power in Jewish giving. His dedication to the Jewish neighborhood spans a number of years, marked by energetic involvement in quite a few senior volunteer positions previous to his appointment as UJA-Federation’s CEO in 2014. Earlier than becoming a member of UJA, he cast a profitable profession as a number one associate at one of many world’s most distinguished legislation companies, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, and served as vice chair of UJA’s board, a member of UJA’s Govt Committee, and chair of UJA’s Attorneys Division, amongst different roles. He additionally held positions on the boards of varied establishments corresponding to Manhattan Day Faculty, the New York Authorized Help Group, the Beth Din of America, the Ramaz Faculty, and DOROT. In 2013, his vital contributions have been acknowledged with the Torch of Studying Award from American Pals of the Hebrew College. All through his tenure, Goldstein has capitalized on his broad expertise to strengthen UJA-Federation’s strategic imaginative and prescient, increase its neighborhood attain, and uphold its deep dedication to Jewish values and humanitarian assist.
TML: What’s most in your coronary heart as Israel is coming into its 75th [anniversary]? 1000’s of individuals have proven up from not simply America, however [also] nations world wide to point out solidarity and to have fun.
Goldstein: Look, I’ve very combined feelings. I bear in mind once we have been planning Israel at 75. We have been planning this through the top of COVID, and there was this sense described that Israel at 75 can be a post-COVID interval.
Israel was doing terribly effectively. [There was the] Abraham Accords development. Israel’s financial system was very sturdy. I believe there was a way that Israel at 75 was going to be this unalloyed celebration of the miracle that’s the modern-day state of Israel at 75.
In lots of respects, it’s a miracle that it’s the trendy state of Israel at 75. In so some ways it’s extraordinary to marvel on the achievements. Then again, you can not overlook the second we’re in. The scenes we’re witnessing each Saturday evening. The rhetoric, the scenes in Knesset. So, it’s each a unprecedented achievement [and] Israel has some vital unresolved challenges forward. So, each a way of elation and a way of concern. Massive concern.
TML: You see the demonstrations taking place on the judicial reforms and also you even see a cut up amongst your personal folks on that individual concern. So how do you, as head of a Federation in New York, take care of these sorts of points?
Goldstein: Look, I believe that typically it’s the case [that] Federations are reluctant to get engaged round inside Israeli points. After which there are points which might be simply so vital the place you are feeling the necessity to say one thing, recognizing on the identical time [that] we don’t stay right here. That isn’t a science of what the dividing line is.
I wrote publicly about my deep considerations concerning the laws in late January as a result of I used to be very involved that if the laws handed because it was then proposed, it could result in a big erosion in connection between American Jews and Israel—at the very least massive segments of American Jews and Israel. American Jews will not be a monolithic group wherever, not in america [as a whole], not in New York [in particular]. However a big phase of American Jews would really feel a unbroken, rising sense of disconnection. Subsequently, I believed it was necessary to specific that concern, but in addition on the identical time to say to American Jews who’re involved, look, the correct reply right here is to not stroll away from Israel, however the truth is to double down on Israel.
Identical to we’d not stroll away if there was a selected [US] administration if we disagree, the identical is true right here. Israel is significant to the vibrancy and safety of the Jewish folks, and so we have to do every thing we will in order that Israel is the Jewish and democratic land that we wish it to be.
TML: Taking a look at Israel’s 75 into the subsequent decade, what are a very powerful points? And overlook judicial reforms for the second. [What are the things] that you simply really feel are actually important to not simply the American Jews however the Jews of the New York metropolitan space?
Goldstein: Look, I believe that Israel—and by the way in which, many of those points in fact are related in America. They simply manifest [differently]. It’s actually a really completely different nation with completely different demographics, however Israel proper now appears [to] have subgroups that with deep animosity are one towards the opposite, and also you lose the power to see throughout variations. I believe the important, most [important] single concern is to discover a approach to discuss throughout variations, and never demonize these variations.
TML: Are you able to give an instance? Be particular.
Goldstein: We are able to take the present scenario, that there are people who find themselves nonetheless very a lot supportive of this laws and there may be intense anger at those that oppose it. And clearly intense anger the opposite approach as effectively. Then once more, I’m not making an attempt to be Pollyannaish and saying that everyone must get alongside, however I believe that we’ve misplaced the power to point out political braveness, to essentially have interaction with the opposite, recognizing that the implications of this type of demonizing rhetoric and hostility—and actually, anger—could be very harmful for the nation.
President [Isaac] Herzog stated on the speech you have been at, “Our best existential risk is just not exterior, it’s inside. It’s one towards the opposite.” And I completely consider that he’s appropriate about that.
TML: What do you suppose will change it?
Goldstein: It’s potential that this second will change it. I imply, I believe that you’ve got seen a unprecedented depth of feeling. Persons are speaking about democracy. You might be seeing now an infinite expression in the neighborhood of people who find themselves involved about democracy, who’re involved concerning the creation of constitutional reforms.
You see teams protesting that aren’t all of 1 subgroup. You might be seeing broad, numerous teams who’re coming collectively, and it might be making a shifting political map. Time will inform, however I believe the secret is—for us in America—we see this nation as important to our future and have a really vital invested stake.
I personally have two youngsters residing right here [in Israel]. I’ve a grandchild residing right here, and I’m very a lot tied up in what occurs right here, and also you simply hope that what has come out on this four-month interval will finally lead folks to come back again from the abyss and discover a compromise and a path ahead.
TML: Taking a look at Israel, and looking out on the partnerships you have got with many cities in Israel, what are you most pleased with?
Goldstein: You see the influence of American funding—Federation funding—in Israel all over the place you go. I don’t imply that as a pat on the again, however the UJA Federation represents a merger of two entities, one in all which is the UJA, which was created for the categorical function of first investing in a pre-state Israel in 1939. And since that point, our New York Federation has actually invested billions and billions of {dollars} in having a thriving, vibrant state of Israel.
In all places you look, each when it comes to capital initiatives [and] buildings, to packages, to communities, you see the imprint of American philanthropy. Clearly, the character of American philanthropy at present in direction of Israel is completely different. For a really very long time, in Israel’s early years, American philanthropy was existential to Israel’s survival. It wanted American philanthropy to construct the state to defend itself.
The Kirsh Jerusalem Campus for the Arts, supported by the UJA-Federation of New York. (Courtesy UJA-Federation of New York)
TML: Has that modified over time?
Goldstein: Sure, it has modified! Blessedly!
Blessedly, American philanthropy is not existential to Israel’s survival, in ways in which ought to make us really feel extremely proud. I believe that we’re part of the rationale that it’s the case that Israel at present is an extremely affluent nation in so some ways. So, I believe American philanthropy continues to be essential, however it’s actually extra to help the wants of essentially the most weak folks in periphery communities, but in addition to see non-Orthodox gateways to Jewish life and provides them larger legitimacy right here. By the way in which, I’m Trendy Orthodox.
That is by no means to evaluate issues on Orthodoxy, however it’s to acknowledge that there’s a very developed host of funding—a lot of it from the federal government—to help Orthodox life in Israel. And we consider that there must be, as there are in America, a number of gateways to Jewish engagement and for the folks to determine what gateway in direction of Jewish engagement they’re most comfy with, after which to do all we will to legit all the expressions of Judaism right here, all streams of Judaism right here.
After all, the objective is for American Jewry to really feel as linked to Israel, and clearly an necessary a part of that’s the sense that they’re perceived as being completely, genuinely, authentically Jewish like everybody else. So, these are essential priorities past the social service wants.
We predict it’s an unbelievable lesson and an achievement that Israel is not so depending on world Jewish philanthropy to maintain itself.
TML: Two huge points do stay. One is the abundance of antisemitism. And the difficulty that Israel doesn’t maintain the identical place to youth for a lot of younger folks going to universities. They’d quite journey the world, and Israel is just not it. So, I want to have you ever increase upon these two [issues] and the way the [UJA] Federation performs a job in any of it.
Goldstein: Certain. So, on antisemitism, actually, the rising antisemitism in America is one thing that traditionally, you understand, even eight or ten years in the past, was hardly on our radar display. To the extent that we targeted on antisemitism it was way more, how can we help the Jews of Europe? And actually, we despatched funds for all kinds of packages to develop a extra resilient European Jewish neighborhood.
I began on this function in 2014, and I keep in mind that shortly thereafter there have been these riots in a suburb of Paris, Sarcelles, the place a bunch of Islamic younger folks surrounded a synagogue, and we went on a solidarity mission to help the beleaguered Jews of Paris.
I bear in mind on the time considering it’s horrible that it’s taking place in Europe however feeling way more sanguine concerning the state of affairs in America. Properly, I nonetheless do suppose that there are vital variations. I nonetheless do suppose that the topsoil is completely different in America, and there’s a lot of affection for the Jewish neighborhood.
There is no such thing as a query that antisemitism has a a lot stronger presence in America, by the way in which, making the significance of a Jewish homeland as a spot of safety, and, God forbid, as a spot of refuge, all of the extra necessary. So, the rising antisemitism that exists on the earth is only a additional purpose, regardless of whether or not you want a selected authorities or not, to be motivated to be engaged to help and strengthen Israel.
TML: Have been college students…?
Goldstein: Yeah, it’s no query generational. I grew up—I bear in mind the Six-Day Battle. I’ve vivid reminiscences of the Yom Kippur Battle, and so for me, Israel is just not a given. You might be proper, I believe that generationally, there may be not the identical connection that [older] generations had. It’s a completely different form of connection than I had, and I believe that in sure respects they not understand Israel because the David of the area, however because the Goliath, however that they’re surrounded on each border by potential enemies.
And so, it’s a rising problem, which is why we accomplish that many issues and attempt to join the youth—with Birthright experiences and excessive faculties—[and] herald Israelis and ship in shlichim [Israeli emissaries], the most effective and the brightest, to interact in our native communities, not solely with the youthful technology.
However there isn’t a query that there’s a actual problem. There’s something of a dissonance between a few of the youth’s views of what a liberal democracy must be like, and sure different insurance policies being superior, and so it match right here, and so it creates a rising problem, however one we’ve to proceed to work at as a result of it’s vital.
However all the challenges, I believe that there nonetheless are vital majorities of our youth who really feel very positively about Israel.
We actually must not be complacent and spend time specializing in the way you have interaction youthful folks in America with Israel.
TML: There are a whole lot of points concurrently as Israel turns 75. How do you prioritize?
Goldstein: Properly, to make certain, there are a whole lot of points. To start with, we consider within the important significance of connecting our neighborhood in Israel by means of experiences. We spend thousands and thousands of {dollars} a 12 months bringing the Jews of New York, each younger and outdated, to Israel. We’re more and more conscious that it’s a two-way road, and that Israelis must have a much wider understanding than most do about American Jewry.
Between [Israeli Jews and American Jews], we’re roughly 90+% of the world Jewish neighborhood, and it’s important that we preserve the connections. I’m amazed at how we herald [members of Knesset] into America, and what number of of them have by no means been to America [beforehand] and have by no means actually understood the [dynamics of the relationship between our communities]. They don’t have any sense of notion. They’re typically incorrect concerning the actuality of American Jewish life.
So, you ask what are the priorities? That could be a dramatic precedence to create alternatives for American Jews to interact with Israelis, each in Israel and America. I believe that in that regard Israeli and Jewish training is necessary.
By the way in which, in Israeli faculties, you must begin educating about world Jewry. You [currently] educate about useless Jews, Jews from the Holocaust. However there are a lot of thousands and thousands of residing Jews who they actually need to grasp from a younger age and get a larger understanding so that there’s a larger sense of kinship that’s created between these two communities, and so they actually really feel a larger sense of connection.
In America, it means, I believe, we have to do a greater job round Jewish training [as well as] Israel training. And that’s completely different than Israel advocacy. It’s Israel training, in order that once they go to excessive faculties, and definitely faculties, they don’t seem to be deer within the headlights when they’re confronted with questions that make them need to retreat from their Jewishness, or from their public expressions and help for Israel. So, that may be a vital precedence.
Clearly, we should be targeted—it’s a vital precedence—on combating antisemitism. We aren’t going to defeat antisemitism. Antisemitism has been with us from our very beginnings. It’s a query of making, kind of restoring, firewalls, in order that normative antisemitic tropes are not the norm.
After which, I believe there’s a rising focus now on communal safety. 5 years in the past, we didn’t have a single line merchandise in our price range for communal safety, and at present we’ve created, since 2019, a 12-person safety group to help the Jewish communal infrastructure and to assist help the practically 2,000 Jewish communal establishments with finest practices, [active] shooter coaching, help in making use of for non-profit safety grants, and lots of different issues. And serving as a liaison between many establishments and native legislation enforcement. So that’s sadly a rising actuality.
On the identical time, we can not lose our social service chesed [lovingkindness] agenda. We, in New York—I believe it could shock many individuals—I believe nearly 25% of the New York Jewish neighborhood lives at or close to poverty. That could be a surprising, heartbreaking, unacceptable statistic. And we can not lose the deal with the older social service agenda gadgets both.
I believe that in all of this, these all are dramatic priorities going ahead, and we give out round $180 million a 12 months in grants that primarily deal with the areas I simply talked about.
The Arab-Jewish Middle for Empowerment, Equality, and Cooperation, supported by the UJA-Federation of New York, distributed hygiene and recreation kits to Bedouin households at varied websites round Israel’s Negev Desert through the coronavirus disaster. (Courtesy UJA-Federation of New York)
TML: Eric, earlier than I allow you to go, in trying again at Israel as a state, what struck you as a very powerful a part of Israel’s historical past? What actually stands out to you personally? And who’s the hero that you simply look to in your life?
Goldstein: Let me offer you an instance of what I believe is a very powerful factor that stands out for me about Israel. It’s the truth that Israel exists in any respect.
We gave over $25 million in emergency help to Ukrainians. I used to be on the border in Poland, close to the Ukrainian border, on days seven and eight of the [Russo-Ukrainian] struggle, and got here again.
First, I noticed the refugees. I went with a few of them to an airport close to Warsaw, the place there have been a whole lot of rooms that have been rented by our associate, the Jewish Company, that have been kind of gateways that they have been going to remain in for a short while till they acquired on planes to Israel to make aliyah.
Are you able to think about if 80 years in the past there had been these resort rooms and the power for folks to come back to Israel? So, I believe it’s simply as basic as that. I believe that we will by no means [overstate] as a folks how necessary having a Jewish state is, and I don’t suppose that we will ever take it with no consideration.
I don’t suppose that there’s something inevitable about Israel at 100 or 125. I believe that we have to work to make sure that it stays a vibrant, safe, Jewish and democratic state that may be a homeland for all Jews, and that’s offering applicable rights and protections for all of its residents. There may be nothing inevitable about that, and that’s laborious work. However that for me is as core as you get, however it’s the dimension of Israel that’s at its essence.
When it comes to an individual? It’s attention-grabbing, I used to be studying [something]. I’m not positive that is essentially the most inspiring, however it’s what I most just lately learn. I most just lately learn the autobiography of Naphtali Lau-Lavie who was in lots of, many roles in Israel and spent a bunch of time as consul basic in New York as effectively. His brother is the chief rabbi [of Tel Aviv and former chief rabbi of Israel], Rabbi [Yisrael Meir] Lau.
They have been each taken from the liberation of Buchenwald and saved. They have been liberated from… I don’t need to do all the story, however they have been in a pile of our bodies, and Rabbi Herschel Schacter, who was the Jewish chaplain, helped liberate [them]. He was within the liberating group of their camp.
[He] noticed that on this pile of our bodies have been stay eyes. He pulled them out and took care of them, and that was Rabbi Lau and his brother. The truth that you’ll be able to go from that to this, it’s simply an inspiring story to me about [rising from] the ashes to supreme heights.
We are able to agree with a whole lot of these politicians. We are able to disagree with them. I’ve interviewed a whole lot of Israel’s most senior leaders. They’re heroic. They’ve been in essentially the most elite military models. And you’ll agree with them politically or not, however it’s important to admire the form of those that this nation creates.
So, it’s not a single individual. I simply discover the story concerning the Lau brothers as only a exceptional one, however I see it throughout me.
My son, who lives right here, is in a military unit. He’s a lawyer, however the those that he engages with that I meet—who have been born right here and served right here—are every yet one more spectacular than the subsequent. So, taking away from the second, and under no circumstances minimizing the challenges forward, they’re extremely formidable.
The shortage of a structure, and the power to create one—these are dramatic challenges forward, however to step again and take a look at the constructive dimensions of this nation, boy you’ll be able to go on and on about them for a very long time!
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