CJP of Boston, macrocosm in microcosm

I many towns in America the Federations play a dominant role in charting the course of Jewish life. In Boston Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) acutely aware of all forms of competition strives to project an image of a Jewish Wal-Mart catering for every Jewish constituency in the bean town. Therefore perhaps many can benefit from a cursory reading of the 2004-2005 budget (PDF file) published by CJP. What follows is not a research paper, just quick yellow marker highlights taking the presented documents at face value. Perhaps our assumptions are in error and perhaps we are unaware of other factors, we are just quickly reading what is presented as the organizational budget.

CJP budget for 2004-2005 is $24,185,485. The larges allocation of $6,954,410 or almost 30% of the total amount is slated to "Helping Jews in Israel and around the world". Nobody can argue with the need to help our brothers and sisters around the world, particularly in Israel, except the systemic depletion of the scares communal resources in Boston is staged embarrassingly at the backdrop of the anemic communal life in the hub. Indeed some might characterize the Jewish community of Boston as dying. It is hard to justify aggressive allocation of funds away from the urgent needs of the Jewish population center. Talmud teachers us when two people find themselves in the desert and one has a flask of water that is only enough for one person to survive he must drink the water himself.

The next largest allocation in the pie chart is $6,370,589 towards "Strengthening Jewish education." An unenlightened reading of the line items discovers large amounts totaling at least $1,967,273 (almost $2mil) dedicated again to Israel or purely administrative functions. Including $638,716 - Israel Experience Programs; $433,431 - Commission Staffing, Programming and Communications; $125,526 - Administration Costs for Commission and Israel Programs; $519,600 - Bureau of Jewish Education; and finally $250,000 - "Leadership development institute" (LDI). According the web site LDI is chartered with the an obscure function, it "combines individual organization consultation, Harvard Business School case study methodology and Jewish text study and ritual, enabling participants to explore approaches to leadership and change in Jewish communal settings". Compare LDI�s $250,000 allocation with $247,156 for the only conservative Solomon Schechter Day School.

On the subject of Jewish education, CJP adopted Dnepropetrovsk, in Ukraine as it�s sister city and actively supports the communal efforts of Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky. Dnepropetrovsk allocation under "Helping Jews in Israel and around the world" is $441,760 (including $84,160 specifically "dedicated" towards this charity by the donors and only administered by CJP). Compare $441,760 for Dnepropetrovsk with the total $39,897 allocation for the Russian Jewish programs in Boston including meager: $27,397- Shaloh House Jewish Day School , $4,500- Jewish Russian Center Land of Israel Committee, $4,000- Shaloh House Jewish Russian Center Calendar, $1,000- Mass. Club of Russian-Speaking Scientists Jewish Studies and $3,000 - Cong. Kadimah-Toras Moshe Children�s Program.

Disproportional allocation to Israel and Dnepropetrovsk ignores changing economic realities of the world. A distinguished journalist Walter Ruby in the article This year, the rabbi lost power writes about Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky: "Due in part to his political acumen and networking ability, and due also to the support he enjoys among a loyal set of new millionaires and "oligarchs" serving on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community of Dnepropetrovsk, Kaminetzky gained access to top Ukrainian government officials that was unmatched among the country�s leading Jews". According to the article Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky endeavors are supported by Victor Pinchuk whose net worth of $1.3 bil is perhaps underestimated by the Forbes list of billionaires.

It is perplexing why the large amounts of funds are being shipped overseas. Perhaps JCRC can organize a trip for the Sisterhood of Weston to Ashland, MA where thousands of Russian Jewish kids linger without an iota of Jewish education instead of Dnepropetrovsk?

To conclude just a collage of quick highlights and comparisons:
$275,000 - Subtotal Services to the Intermarried
$2,000 - Boston Academy of Talmudic Research (Kollel)- The only institution in New England where adults engage in a full time Torah learning.

$100,500 - JCRC Literacy and Partnerships: "Tutor young children in urban elementary schools, after-school programs and pediatric clinics and conduct book drives to collect multi-cultural literature"
$82,640 - Torah Academy - Yeshivas Limudei Torah. The only functional chareidy day Scholl in Boston.

$29,100 - Keshet Jewish community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT)
$19,258- Bais Yaakov of Boston High School for Girls.

Now amortize the above amounts during the 30 preceding years and you will get the picture.