Quick brainteaser: Gather 3,000 Jews together in one room. Include representatives of hundreds of federations, agencies, and grassroots organizations. Add an Israeli ambassador, two Jewish Supreme Court justices, the prime minister of Israel (by video), and the vice president of the United States. How many different points of view are represented?
More than 3,000 at least.
That might have been the case at this week’s General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America, the largest annual gathering of the Jewish philanthropic community, held this year in Maryland. However, the overarching theme was about seeing beyond our differences and celebrating the core values that connect us today — and always.
Memorably articulating this notion at the opening plenary, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks observed that disagreement has always been central to Jewish life. Abraham and Moses openly argued with God. Debate and disagreement are cornerstones of our rabbinic tradition. Yet our community of late has lost its ability to house internal dissent (particularly on the topic of Israel), and dissenting voices have become increasingly shrill. Rabbi Lord Sacks’s powerful response: “I don’t need you to agree with me. I need you to care about me.”
On a similar note, when Vice President Biden spoke, he — with a smile — asked Ron Dermer, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, to tell Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that “we’re still buddies.” The next day, in his live video address, the prime minister returned the sentiment. Notwithstanding any current tensions between the White House and Israel, it was a moment to remember that Israel is America’s closest ally in the Middle East and America is Israel’s most ardent supporter.
Fundamentally, the GA is about bringing together the people and institutions that are devoted to Jewish life, and focusing on the ways we can learn and grow from each other. For example, at a session called “Fedovation” (Federations + Innovation), our Engage program and PovertySLAM proved a fertile learning ground for others.
And I know that our 35 lay leaders present, the largest contingent to ever represent UJA-Federation of New York at a GA, led by Karen Kasner, were exposed to new ideas and points of view that will benefit us as well.
Do we always agree? No, and we never will. But we can agree that when a Jew in Ukraine needs us, we will be there. When Israel is in crisis, we will all step forward to support it. When anti-Semitism threatens Jews in Europe, we will not be silent. And when we disagree, we still care for each other. This GA — with its array of speakers and opportunities to learn — was about celebrating these connections. In fact, it might be argued that we are stronger, more creative, and more caring not in spite of our diversity, but because of it.
Three thousand points of view, maybe. One people, always.
Shabbat shalom