ופרצת U’faratzta Global Connections Israel, Greater MetroWest, and the World Introduction After much consideration, we would like to present a draft plan to restructure the Israel Center of Greater MetroWest. This plan was developed based on feedback from our community members, and a feeling that, in a changing world, we need to be proactive, creative, and innovative. There are four goals for this restructure: To streamline the Israel Center committees and subcommittees, and foster collaboration between related activities To create a mentoring mechanism that will allow us to develop new emerging activists, establishing a leadership development pipeline. To provide a smooth and rational transition into the new allocations system emerging from the Federation strategic plan To create a fresh, exciting, and clear way to tell our story based on Jewish sources 1 The Story of Our People and Our Community Jacob, our forefather, in his dream, sees angels ascending and descending the stairway, the bottom resting on the earth and the top reaching heaven. In the midst of the dream, God tells him that his descendants will be like the dust of the earth, spreading out over the north, south, east, and west. "ופרצת ימה וקדמה, צפונה ונגבה“ “U’faratza yama v’kedma, tsafona v’negba” (Genesis 28:14) There, in Biblical Bethel, where Jacob’s name is changed to Israel, and where our nation is formalized, we are blessed with the promise to multiply, break through, and scatter. The promise does not draw borders or impose geographic limits; it only directs the people to the four corners of the Earth. And indeed, through the years, the Jewish people created communities, spread out all over the world. But with this blessing also comes a challenge: the responsibility of our people to remain united in spirit despite the great distance separating them. This is our mutual responsibility (arevut hadadit) of every individual and every community to take care of and support one another. ”כל ישראל ערבים זה בזה" “Kol Israel arevim zeh b’zeh” Throughout our history, our traditions taught us to deliver this message to future generations. The global connections, solidarity, and responsibility of Jews to one another became part and parcel of our identity as a nation. We must now carry on with this obligation. The Jewish community of Greater MetroWest NJ has always been at the forefront of promoting this concept. We have developed a sophisticated network of connections and partnerships with communities in Israel and around the world. We create encounters, living bridges, and awaken the sense of peoplehood in the hearts of many of our community members. We mobilize our community time and again to support our fellow Jews in times of crisis, and we pay no heed to geographic boundaries in order to create a global community. The Israel Center of Greater MetroWest, which includes our local and Israel and overseas activities, has become the platform to demonstrate our paradigm. 2 The Next Chapter The Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ is experiencing meaningful changes. These changes are intended to inspire many more people to connect with Federation, to streamline our operations, to strengthen our community, and to showcase Federation in a more positive light. We believe that global connections with the larger Jewish world are crucial to achieving these goals and maintaining the continuity and vibrancy of our people and our community. One of the great Israeli leaders, the late Yigal Allon, wrote “A nation that does not know its past has a weak present and a vague future.” We suggest that the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, with our rich history and our strong present, can build an exciting future. The Proposed Structure Our department will be called Global Connections. The subtitle will be Israel, Greater MetroWest, and the World. ,חדשנות : Emphasis will be placed on the three unique GMW values that guide us in our work .(Zionism, Peoplehood, and Innovation)ציונות, עמיות Our operations will be implemented through three locations of our department: the Legow Family Israel Program Center in Whippany, the Kirshenbaum Family Israel Program Center at the Union Y, and the Israel Office in Jerusalem. They will work together as a unified team under shared supervision. Our professional staff and lay leadership will take on meaningful roles in overall Federation activities such as planning, missions, fundraising, leadership development, synagogue relations, etc. There will be four platforms representing the main aspects of our work. The role of these platforms will be to: Consolidate related realms of activity within our global agenda Identify needs and opportunities in Israel, GMW and the World Serve as a planning entity for Federation’s overall agenda Advocate and lobby for inclusion in the GMW’s overall agenda Oversee our existing programs and projects Propose new, innovative initiatives for the allocations process 3 ופרצת U’faratzta Global Connections Israel Greater MetroWest and the World Negba Tsafona Kedma Yama ימה קדמה צפונה נגבה Negev Israel Israeli Jewish Operations Engagement Shared Society Diaspora P2G Arad Religious Pluralism Overseas Living- Shlichim/ Rishonim Bridges Isra eli Arabs P2G Ofakim/ Yom Ha’atzmaut/ Merchavim Yom- Ha’zikaron Seminar Kehilati Youth Futures Erez Youth Activities Ethiopian Israelis Overseas Partners – Peoplehood Young Adult JDC, JAFI, ORT Activities Partnerships Keren Ness Network The Four Platforms The four platforms are based on the biblical notion of “u’faratzta” and the geographical/conceptual meaning of the words. The root of the word “yama” is from “yam,” meaning “sea” in Hebrew, which in - ימה YAMA biblical times represented the setting of the sun over the Mediterranean Sea. This platform focuses on our overseas connections and activities throughout the Jewish Diaspora: o Enriching our partnership in Ukraine with the Jewish community of Cherkassy o Furthering our relationship with Tikva and the ORT School in Odessa o Implementing possible new overseas endeavors o Strengthening our connection with the overseas activities of our national partners, JAFI, JDC, and ORT 4 o Responding to immediate needs anywhere in the world in times of crisis, within both Jewish and non-Jewish communities o Committing to monitor and respond to any incidences of anti-Semitism and hate crimes around the world o Bringing together young adults from GMW, Ukraine and Israel to develop leadership skills and personal connections through Seminar Kehilati The root of the word “kedma,” aside from its biblical translation as “east,” is a - קדמה KEDMA combination of the ancient and the modern (Kedem/Kadima). As the sun rises in the east and moves forward, this platform symbolizes our forward-thinking approach and involvement in Israel that respects both our shared history and our fresh, cutting edge innovations. Kedma will be comprised of all of our Israel-based initiatives, other than those that take place in the Negev. This platform with focus on: o Promoting Religious Pluralism and Jewish identity projects in Israel o Supporting Israeli Arab and shared society programs o Continuing Project Atzmaut as our vehicle to integrate the Ethiopian-Israeli population into mainstream Israeli society o Strengthening our five Youth Futures programs into a unified effort to support children at risk in Israel o Leveraging our partnership connections in Rishon LeZion, Horfeish, Ra’anana, and Gush Etzion o Advocating Civil Society endeavors throughout Israel While in the biblical and modern language, this word means “approaching - צפונה TSAFONA north,” the root of the word refers to a hidden object, because the north of Israel is hidden from the rising and setting of the sun. We use this word in our Global Connections structure to describe our Israel engagement efforts in our own North American GMW community through the Israel Program Center. We believe that bringing Israel to the community and connecting the next generation with Israel and overseas communities is one of our main goals. We achieve this goal through various programs and encounters run by the IPC: o Providing various educational opportunities for all ages to travel and experience Israel including Diller Teen Fellows, Onward Israel Negev Internship, Taglit-Birthright Israel, and Masa o Offering scholarships and need-based support for Israel experiences through the Passport to Israel program 5 o Housing the largest delegation of shlichim in North America including one community shaliach, three shlichim and six Rishonim o Bringing an authentic taste of Israel to the community through our delegation, working with more than 25 synagogues and institutions o Recognizing the importance of the need for local Israel engagement as an integral part of the Global Connections agenda o Creating a community-wide week of celebration and commemoration for Yom Ha’atzmaut and Yom Ha’zikaron .Negba” means “approaching the Negev,” which is the southern part of Israel“ - נגבה NEGBA Greater MetroWest is the leading Diaspora community in developing the Negev, with a myriad of operations, partnerships, and activities in the region. This platform will focus on the following: o Strengthening Partnership 2Gether (P2G) Ofakim/Merchavim o Renewing and revitalizing P2G in Arad o Fostering and advancing our unique relationship with our partners in Kibbutz Erez o Developing a strategic partnership with JAFI to create one management structure for our three partnerships and related activities o Creating