DISCUSSING FEDERATION PAGE 3 ibm’S DARK HISTORY PAGE 28 WWW.JTNEWS.NET n SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 n 12 TISHREI 5773 n VOLUME 88, NO. 15 JT the voice of NEWS JEWISH WAshiNGTON R BIG G U IS AY O JEW H WEDDING CONTRACT An art installation — Page 10 KETUBAH OF WENDY HUENERS AND MARCIA VENTURA, DESIGNED BY CLAIRE CARTER. COURTESY DAVID JACOBSON. THE COUPLE, RACHEL AND LAURA: DANI WEISS PHOTOGRAPHY professionalwashington.com connecting our local Jewish community /jtnews @jew_ish • @jewishcal 2 JTNews . WWW.JTNEWS.NET . FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 Fall Family Calendar For complete details about these and other upcoming JFS events and workshops, please visit our website: www.jfsseattle.org FOR ADULTS AGE 60+ FOR SURVIVORS OF FOR THE COMMUNITY INTIMATE PARTNER ABUSE Endless Opportunities AA Meetings at JFS A community-wide program offered in Programs of Project DVORA (Domestic m Tuesdays: 7:00 p.m. Violence Outreach, Response & Advocacy) partnership with Temple B’nai Torah & Temple Contact (206) 461-3240 or [email protected] De Hirsch Sinai. EO events are open are free of charge. to the public. Support Group for Jewish Women Kosher Food Bank Event EO Volunteer Activity at with Controlling Partners Pre-registration required m the JFS Food Sort Location, Date and Time are strictly Wednesday: October 3 confidentialww 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. m Sunday: September 30 Pre-register with Jana Prothman, 10:00 a.m. – Noon Contact Project DVORA, (206) 461-3240 or [email protected] (206) 861-3174 or [email protected] RSVP to Jane Deer-Hileman, (206) 861-3155 or [email protected] Kids Club Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film A Faith Based Perspective: For Ages 9 –12, Begins in October Festival and JFS Present: Jewish Views on Marriage Equality Contact Project DVORA, (206) 461-3240 or Yossi (2012) [email protected] m Monday: October 15 m Thursday: October 18 7:15 p.m. 10:30 a.m. – Noon Yoga & Jewish Ritual Workshops RSVP to Leonid Orlov, (206) 861-8784 or Take a Bow: A Documentary [email protected] of the Ingrid Clarfield Story Before You Sign Up: m Thursday: October 25 10:30 a.m. – Noon Making Sense of Medicare & Social Security Human Rights in Russia: m Tuesday: October 23 Then & Now 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. m Tuesday: October 30 RSVP to Leonid Orlov, (206) 861-8784 or 10:30 a.m. – Noon [email protected] Outing to SAM Elles: Women Artists from the FOR PARENTS Centre Pompidou, Paris Bringing Baby Home m Friday: November 2 m Sundays: October 7, 14 & 21 Times vary dependent upon registration 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. RSVP to Ellen Hendin, (206) 861-3183 or Contact Marjorie Schnyder at (206) 861-3146 [email protected] Sukkot or [email protected] m Sunday: October 7 Positive Discipline Fall Series VOLUNTEER TO 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Come to one, some or all of the series. Havdalah m Tuesdays: Oct. 23, 30, Nov. 6 & 13 Food Drive Food Sort m Saturday: November 10 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Pre-registration required 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Contact Marjorie Schnyder at (206) 861-3146 m Sunday: September 30 Chanukah or [email protected] 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. m Sunday: December 2 Pre-register with Jane Deer-Hileman, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. (206) 861-3155 or [email protected] RSVP to Project DVORA, (206) 861-3186 or [email protected] 1601 16th Avenue, Seattle (206) 461-3240 • www.jfsseattle.org FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 . WWW.JTNEWS.NET . JTNews OPINION 3 Whither the Jewish What the Jewish Federation Federation? looks like today RABBI ANSON LAYTNER Special to JTNews “Whither the Jewish Federation” raises ance that their gifts will go to support their Although the Jewish Federation of bear the brunt of the blame? Although several critically complex questions and passions, including organizations that Greater Seattle’s new allocations model the buck does stop with the professional offers insightful inquiry. But it hasn’t been previously were not beneficiaries of the has broadened the breadth of beneficia- staff, perhaps some of the lay leadership of “business as usual” at the Federation — community campaign. ries, it also presented a dilemma: More the Federation ought to consider resign- quite the contrary. A closer look reveals an We are not going backwards to the mouths around the table to feed but less ing as well. institution where tectonic shifts are trans- “basics” of an old model. In the new food — money — to offer each maw. Con- Right now the Federation has another forming how we do business. It highlights democracy of ideas, what matters is sequently, while new groups were added interim director and a search committee the dilemma between continuing finan- the quality of ideas and how they foster into the mix of recipients, a number of of lay leaders has begun its work. Unfortu- cial support for established, legacy orga- dynamic expressions of Jewish life. Gone longtime beneficiary agencies such as nately, some of the same people who, the nizations while at the same time seeding are the days when funds flowed accord- Jewish Family Service, the Stroum Jewish best of intentions notwithstanding, have innovation and growth among our newest ing to legacy budgets or the influence of a Community Center and Hillel at the Uni- helped bring the Federation to its current community organizations. subset of the community. Through ongo- versity of Washington saw serious reduc- point of crisis also have been appointed as Indeed, we are at a crossroads. The Fed- ing and continuous self-examination, the tions in their allocations. Some, such as part of the team to recruit a new CEO. This eration is undergoing significant changes. Federation has streamlined its operations the Anti-Defamation League, got a token may ensure continuity, but it also means These changes are reflected in the prior- and mission, reduced overhead, and elim- amount, or in the case of the American it is highly likely that the new CEO will ities and requests for support from new inated programs not central to its mission. Jewish Committee, nothing at all. continue leading the organization down a organizations and increased participation There is already momentum for change. In Fiscal Year 2012, the Federation troubled path. Without a radical change of by a broad range of community mem- We are fortunate that interim CEO Nancy received 207 letters of intent. It passed 97 direction, history is bound to repeat itself. bers. Complementing this new energy is an Greer and executive vice president David applications on to the second round and, Perhaps something even more radical is active board, among whose members more Chivo provide exceptional managerial, after a review process, its Planning and called for to remedy this situation. than half are new within the past five years. strategic, and operational talent at the Allocations Committee allocated a total The Federation stands at a crossroads. The Jewish Federation of Greater helm. New thinking expands beyond the of $2,358,573 to 43 programs and proj- If its leadership chooses, it can behave like Seattle has transformed itself into a funding model itself as we explore addi- ects. This at a time when, according to any other non-profit organization and vibrant, forward-looking organization. tional approaches to stimulate innovations the JTNews (“Where the money’s going,” continue down the path of self-perpetua- We abandoned an antiquated funding and in Seattle’s Jewish communal life. June 8, 2012), the campaign closed at just tion without significant change in direc- fundraising model with isolated decision- With any new course there are risks above $4.8 million — slightly lower than tion. That is its prerogative, and there is no making that prevented broad community and fears. It is understandable that some last year’s campaign, which itself was reason why it cannot become yet one more involvement and creativity. This model in our community are concerned about lower than the 2011 Fiscal Year. (This Jewish non-profit like all the others. But worked in the 1980s but today we are revi- the future. Nevertheless, the Jewish Fed- also means that the Federation will spend the Federation has always claimed to be talized and committed to a new democ- eration of Greater Seattle is taking some approximately $2.4 million on its own the Jewish community’s central address, racy of ideas. Driving this transformation of the boldest and most innovative steps administration and programs.) which means that it sees itself as acting over the past three years were nearly 150 in the nation to respond to the new Jewish While Federation’s professional and on our behalf. If this is so, then the Fed- community stakeholders who participated philanthropic landscape. Although some lay leaders express confidence in the new eration owes it to its general constituents in goal setting, community-wide forums, results will quickly surface, it will take allocations model and hope for increased — the Jewish community — to engage us and town halls. Along with Federation time to observe the full impact. donations in the coming year, the appar- in a frank discussion about its vision and professional and lay leaders, it was these As Victor Frankl wrote, “When we are ently abrupt resignations of two key Fed- mission. community members who identified com- no longer able to change a situation — we eration leaders — CEO Richard Fruchter There was a time, between the end of munity goals, determined funding priori- are challenged to change ourselves.” and vice president for planning and com- World War II through the period of Soviet ties, and evaluated funding requests.