‘American philanthropy is not existential to Israel’s survival’

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 drive in Jewish giving. His dedication to the Jewish neighborhood spans a number of years, marked by lively 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 solid a profitable profession as a number one companion at one of many world’s most outstanding legislation companies, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, and served as vice chair of UJA’s board, a member of UJA’s Government Committee, and chair of UJA’s Attorneys Division, amongst different roles. He additionally held positions on the boards of varied establishments comparable to Manhattan Day Faculty, the New York Authorized Help Group, the Beth Din of America, the Ramaz Faculty, and DOROT. In 2013, his important 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, develop its neighborhood attain, and uphold its deep dedication to Jewish values and humanitarian support.

TML: What’s most in your coronary heart as Israel is coming into its seventy fifth [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 after we have been planning Israel at 75. We have been planning this throughout the top of COVID, and there was this sense described that Israel at 75 could be a post-COVID interval.

Israel was doing terribly properly. [There was the] Abraham Accords development. Israel’s economic 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. However, you can’t neglect the second we’re in. The scenes we’re witnessing each Saturday night time. The rhetoric, the scenes in Knesset. So, it’s each a unprecedented achievement [and] Israel has some important unresolved challenges forward. So, each a way of elation and a way of concern. Large concern.

TML: You see the demonstrations occurring on the judicial reforms and also you even see a cut up amongst your personal folks on that exact concern. So how do you, as head of a Federation in New York, cope with these sorts of points?

Goldstein: Look, I believe that typically it’s the case [that] Federations are reluctant to get engaged round inner Israeli points. After which there are points which might be simply so important the place you are feeling the necessity to say one thing, recognizing on the identical time [that] we don’t dwell right here. That’s not a science of what the dividing line is.

I wrote publicly about my deep issues in regards to 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 aren’t a monolithic group anyplace, not in the US [as a whole], not in New York [in particular]. However a big section of American Jews would really feel a unbroken, rising sense of disconnection. Due to this fact, I believed it was vital to precise that concern, but additionally on the identical time to say to American Jews who’re involved, look, the appropriate reply right here is to not stroll away from Israel, however in truth to double down on Israel.

Identical to we might 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 would like it to be.

TML: Taking a look at Israel’s 75 into the following decade, what are an important points? And neglect judicial reforms for the second. [What are the things] that you just really feel are actually crucial to not simply the American Jews however the Jews of the New York metropolitan space?

Goldstein: Look, I believe that Israel—and by the best way, many of those points after all are related in America. They only manifest [differently]. It’s definitely a really completely different nation with completely different demographics, however Israel proper now appears [to] have subgroups that with deep animosity are one in opposition to the opposite, and also you lose the power to see throughout variations. I believe the crucial, most [important] single concern is to discover a solution to discuss throughout variations, and never demonize these variations.

TML: Are you able to give an instance? Be particular.

Goldstein: We will take the present scenario, that there are people who find themselves nonetheless very a lot supportive of this laws and there’s intense anger at those that oppose it. And clearly intense anger the opposite means as properly. 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 got misplaced the power to point out political braveness, to actually have interaction with the opposite, recognizing that the results of this type of demonizing rhetoric and hostility—and actually, anger—may be very harmful for the nation.

President [Isaac] Herzog mentioned on the speech you have been at, “Our best existential risk shouldn’t be exterior, it’s inner. It’s one in opposition to the opposite.” And I completely imagine that he’s right about that.

TML: What do you suppose will change it?

Goldstein: It’s doable 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 in regards to 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 could be making a shifting political map. Time will inform, however I believe the secret is—for us in America—we see this nation as crucial to our future and have a really important invested stake.

I personally have two kids dwelling right here [in Israel]. I’ve a grandchild dwelling 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 in the end 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’ve 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, certainly one of which is the UJA, which was created for the specific objective 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.

All over the place you look, each by way of capital initiatives [and] buildings, to packages, to communities, you see the imprint of American philanthropy. Clearly, the character of American philanthropy as we speak 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.

TML: Has that modified through the years?

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 as we speak is an extremely affluent nation in so some ways. So, I believe American philanthropy remains to be essential, however it’s actually extra to help the wants of probably the most susceptible folks in periphery communities, but additionally to see non-Orthodox gateways to Jewish life and provides them higher legitimacy right here. By the best way, I’m Fashionable 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 imagine 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 reputable all the expressions of Judaism right here, all streams of Judaism right here.

After all, the purpose is for American Jewry to really feel as linked to Israel, and clearly an vital 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 expect it’s an unimaginable lesson and an achievement that Israel is not so depending on world Jewish philanthropy to maintain itself.

TML: Two large 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 might moderately journey the world, and Israel shouldn’t be it. So, I want to have you ever develop upon these two [issues] and the way the [UJA] Federation performs a task in any of it.

Goldstein: Certain. So, on antisemitism, definitely, the rising antisemitism in America is one thing that traditionally, , even eight or ten years in the past, was hardly on our radar display. To the extent that we centered on antisemitism it was rather more, how will we help the Jews of Europe? And actually, we despatched funds for all types of packages to develop a extra resilient European Jewish neighborhood.

I began on this position in 2014, and I do not forget 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 occurring in Europe however feeling rather more sanguine in regards to the state of affairs in America. Nicely, I nonetheless do suppose that there are important 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 isn’t any query that antisemitism has a a lot stronger presence in America, by the best way, making the significance of a Jewish homeland as a spot of safety, and, God forbid, as a spot of refuge, all of the extra vital. So, the rising antisemitism that exists on the earth is only a additional purpose, no matter 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 Struggle. I’ve vivid reminiscences of the Yom Kippur Struggle, and so for me, Israel shouldn’t be a given. You might be proper, I believe that generationally, there’s not the identical connection that [older] generations had. It’s a completely different type 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 achieve this many issues and attempt to join the youth—with Birthright experiences and excessive colleges—[and] usher in Israelis and ship in shlichim [Israeli emissaries], one of the best and the brightest, to have interaction in our native communities, not solely with the youthful era.

However there isn’t a query that there’s a actual problem. There’s something of a dissonance between a number of the youth’s views of what a liberal democracy needs to 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 got to proceed to work at as a result of it is important.

However all the challenges, I believe that there nonetheless are important majorities of our youth who really feel very positively about Israel.

We definitely have to not be complacent and spend time specializing in the way you have interaction youthful folks in America with Israel.

TML: There are numerous points concurrently as Israel turns 75. How do you prioritize?

Goldstein: Nicely, to make sure, there are numerous points. To start with, we imagine within the crucial significance of connecting our neighborhood in Israel by way of experiences. We spend tens of millions of {dollars} a yr 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 have to 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 crucial that we keep the connections. I’m amazed at how we usher in [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 haven’t any sense of notion. They’re usually incorrect in regards to the actuality of American Jewish life.

So, you ask what are the priorities? That may be a dramatic precedence to create alternatives for American Jews to have interaction with Israelis, each in Israel and America. I believe that in that regard Israeli and Jewish training is vital.

By the best way, in Israeli colleges, it’s essential begin educating about world Jewry. You [currently] educate about useless Jews, Jews from the Holocaust. However there are lots of tens of millions of dwelling Jews who they really want to know from a younger age and get a higher understanding so that there’s a higher sense of kinship that’s created between these two communities, and so they actually really feel a higher 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 colleges, and definitely faculties, they aren’t 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 important precedence.

Clearly, we have to be centered—it’s a important 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, type 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 finances for communal safety, and as we speak we’ve got created, since 2019, a 12-person safety group to help the Jewish communal infrastructure and to assist help the almost 2,000 Jewish communal establishments with finest practices, [active] shooter coaching, help in making use of for non-profit safety grants, and plenty 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 virtually 25% of the New York Jewish neighborhood lives at or close to poverty. That may be a stunning, heartbreaking, unacceptable statistic. And we can not lose the deal with the older social service agenda objects both.

I believe that in all of this, these all are dramatic priorities going ahead, and we give out round $180 million a yr in grants that primarily tackle the areas I simply talked about.

TML: Eric, earlier than I allow you to go, in wanting again at Israel as a state, what struck you as an important a part of Israel’s historical past? What actually stands out to you personally? And who’s the hero that you just look to in your life?

Goldstein: Let me provide you with an instance of what I believe is an important 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 companion, the Jewish Company, that have been type of gateways that they have been going to remain in for a short while till they received 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 elementary as that. I believe that we will by no means [overstate] as a folks how vital having a Jewish state is, and I don’t suppose that we will ever take it as a right.

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 acceptable rights and protections for all of its residents. There may be nothing inevitable about that, and that’s exhausting 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 certain that is probably the most inspiring, however it’s what I most lately learn. I most 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 common in New York as properly. 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 the whole 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 dwell eyes. He pulled them out and took care of them, and that was Rabbi Lau and his brother. The truth that you possibly can go from that to this, it’s simply an inspiring story to me about [rising from] the ashes to supreme heights.

We will agree with numerous these politicians. We will disagree with them. I’ve interviewed numerous Israel’s most senior leaders. They’re heroic. They’ve been in probably the most elite military models. And you may agree with them politically or not, however it’s important to admire the type of folks that this nation creates.

So, it isn’t a single individual. I simply discover the story in regards to the Lau brothers as only a outstanding one, however I see it throughout me.

My son, who lives right here, is in a military unit. He’s a lawyer, however the folks that he engages with that I meet—who have been born right here and served right here—are every yet another spectacular than the following. So, taking away from the second, and under no circumstances minimizing the challenges forward, they’re extremely formidable.

The dearth 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 possibly can go on and on about them for a very long time!