Haroon Siddiqui's idea of Canadian Balance

Here's an apologetic article in the Star (click here) suggesting that Canada be more "balanced" toward the homophobic, anti-semitic, women-oppressing Hamas and Hezbollah movements. And here is Yossi's letter to the editor in response.

Dear Editor,

In his latest missive, Mr. Siddiqui once again resorts to vilifying Israel and in reiterating his constant refrain that “Canada used to have a more balanced view” of the mid-East conflict, though balance to him means a lopsided Canadian voting pattern in the UN directed against Israel. While Mr. Siddiqui embraces several of the “secular, humanitarian and human rights” organizations that condemn Israel, he and these groups wilfully ignore the far more dreadful human rights records of Israel’s detractors, those who would systematically subjugate and enslave their women and persecute persons for their sexual preferences, their skin color and their religious beliefs. Calling for negotiations with the likes of Hamas and Hezbollah would only provide succour to those who openly ridicule Western democratic principles and liberal values, the very standards purportedly upheld by Mr. Siddiqui and these organizations. Israel can unfortunately do nothing to assuage the venomous hatred that many have for this Jewish state as this is not a beauty contest subject to some irrelevant BBC World Service Poll, but an existential war for western values and Israel’s survival.

Joseph Y. Adler

Follow-Up Questions concerning Jewish Education Services

This week's CJN covers the education issue. It can be found here.

Here are some questions that, as a community, we need to know:

1) What are the criteria that are used to judge the success of the UJA's role in Jewish education?
2) What are the performance trends vis-a-vis these criteria?
3) What was it about the undesirable performance of "Mercaz" that triggered this major restructuring?
4) Why were there no consultations with the stakeholders: chief among them, the parents? The article says that several months of ongoing discussions took place before this re-re-structuring was approved. Why were none of these discussions with the parents?
5) Why is it that Lou Greenbaum, Chair of the Mercaz, deems it inappropriate for him to discuss the changes with the parents? Is that not exactly what
the Chair should be doing?
6) The Mercaz structure came as a recommendation of the Federation's own task force on Jewish education just two years ago. What does this say about Federation's modus operandi generally?
7) What are the names of the "lead professional and lay people" at the federation and the Mercaz who made these recommendations? They are making decisions that affect thousands of others. Shouldn't we know their names and positions? Or are they not prepared to publicly defend their decisions?

Please remember that day school parents pay in tuition about twice what the UJA raises in their annual campaign and they get practically ZERO say in the affairs of Jewish Day Schools. Parents could never bring about the kind of change that the UJA has done twice in recent years simply because the Day Schools run very much like the UJA - no accountability, no transparency.

This is just so typical of the UJA.

If you're a parent - call the UJA/Mercaz (416 633 7770) - demand a public forum - demand transparency and accountability on Jewish Education issues and on everything the UJA does.

Wayne J. Levin & Yossi Adler
FederationWatch (Federationwatch.blogspot.com)

UJA Letter on Jewish Education

In our last entry we intended to include the UJA letter. It's copied here.

From: David Koschitzky
Subject: A new approach to Jewish Education Services

Dear Wayne,

We are writing to tell you about an important change in services provided by UJA Federation to our funded Jewish schools. It is an approach that will substantially reduce overhead and increase our financial support. It is also an initiative that is unrelated to currently poor economic conditions, for which discussions began before the current economic downturn.

Here are the key changes:

Enhancing Financial Support for Jewish Education — UJA Federation will be increasing tuition subsidies by $500,000 over the next year and a half in addition to an extra $2 million in direct assistance for Jewish schools already provided last year, through the Julia & Henry Koschitzky Fund and matching allocations. That will bring our total formal education commitment to nearly $15 million. We will also maintain or enhance existing funding for special needs and supplementary education and set aside a substantial sum of money in reserve for Jewish education, depending on campaign revenue.

Reducing Education Overhead Costs — The Mercaz, UJA Federation’s education department, will be restructured with a streamlined professional staff, supplemented by other UJA Federation professionals when required. All staff members who will no longer be part of the new Mercaz are being treated generously and sensitively. By reducing overhead costs, we can enhance financial support for Jewish education to which we are deeply committed.

Strengthening Our Day Schools — We will be strengthening the capacity of our affiliated day schools to provide direct education services, rather than receiving services supplied by the Mercaz. This philosophy, known as capacity building, meets the needs of contemporary, dynamic day school administrators and educators, who no longer require a central agency to supply services for them.

Encouraging Innovative Educational Programs — We are going to work with all our affiliated schools in a spirit of true partnership to develop a list of required educational services and programs for the community, including current programs, and then determine the best way to provide them. The process will be creative, collaborative, responsible and flexible, with the community's needs taking precedence.

These changes represent an exciting, innovative development. It will solidify Toronto's reputation as a world leader in Jewish education and expand our profound commitment to this critical cause, thanks to the support and generosity of our community. We welcome your questions and suggestions. Please e-mail info@jewishtoronto.com.

Developments in Jewish Education in Toronto

With the "end" of the war in Israel we now turn our attention back to matters at home. Again, Yossi and I feel strongly that a strong diaspora community is absolutely essential in ensuring a strong Israel and the cause of "yiddishkeit" wherever Jews may live.

Last week David Koschitzky, Chair of UJA/Federation of Greater Toronto sent a note to their list with the subject "A new approach to Jewish education services." A note with this subject will always attract our attention as it is the area we know best and is clearly one of our primary concerns.

In the note, the UJA informs us of substantial reductions in overhead and an increase in financial support for UJA affiliated schools. Here are the highlights - with some comments:
1) Enhancing financial support bringing total tuition subsidies to $15 million annually. Indeed, this represents a substantial amount but subsidization support was increased starting last fiscal year without any reduction in tuition costs. Yossi wrote Ted Sokolsky, UJA President, to ask him about this. Ted said that he was "studying" the situation and would get back to Yossi. Despite repeated requests over several months, no "study" or response ever emerged.

2) Reducing Education Overhead Costs at the Mercaz (formerly the Board of Jewish Education). This means that a number (we've heard 12) of people no longer have jobs. David tells us that these terminated employees are being "treated generously and sensitively." This is another UJA proclamation - kind of like when they say that no Jewish youth is excluded from Jewish education due to cost. We'll have more to say on this in an upcoming blog.

3) Strengthening our Day Schools - there are no specifics, no goals or standards, nothing to measure success.

4) Encourage Innovative Educational Programs - this is the same rhetoric they have been saying for years. Please write us and tell us of the substantial improvements in Jewish Education that you are aware of.

David assures us that "these changes represent an exciting, innovative development." Really? What about all the other "exciting, innovative developments" that have taken place over the years? For example, what about the transition from the Board of Jewish Education to the Mercaz? This took place a few years ago with lots of promise and no delivery.

The UJA tells us early on in this note that these changes have nothing to do with the downturn in the economy. The real question is, why is it that the UJA has spent so much money supporting a bureaucracy that did not improve the quality or accessibility of Jewish education for so long? Further, who did they consult with in making these changes? Were there any public forums where parents, who, collectively, raise more money then the UJA (about double) could determine how best to improve Jewish Education? The UJA could never tolerate that scenario as they might have to defend their record publicly.

In April 2005, in a meeting with several active Day School parents, I had the opportunity to ask: "Who among you are prepared to argue publicly that anything is improving in Jewish education?" Ted Sokolsky, UJA President, Seymour Epstein, BJE (now Mercaz) Director and UJA Sr. Vice President, among other well-paid, civil servants of the Jewish community simply looked down at the table in front of them and shook their heads indicating "not me." Today we're seeing captains of industry called-out to account for their record. For 15 years we've seen the same characters at the UJA run away from their responsibilities.

There are numerous initiatives that could realize all kinds of improvement in Jewish education and, as a result, strengthen our community and our standing. But the UJA has a history of disinterest and decline.

Below, the entire note from David Koschitsky.

As we'll repeat often - we hope that we can all agree on at least the need for Authentic Representation and Accountable and Transparent Leadership. We (meaning all community members) can, and should, have the opportunity argue the methods. We hope that you will participate in this discussion and encourage others you know to do likewise by forwarding the URL for this page to others. The Jewish Community is capable of much more.

Your comments are welcome.

Best wishes
Wayne J. Levin & Yossi Adler