Some of the Ann Arbor delegation to the 2022 GA. L-R: Ariella Hoffman-Peterson, Ellen Abramson, Eileen Freed, Randy Milgrom, Paige Swanson, McKenzie Katz
Nine leaders from the Greater Ann Arbor Jewish Community joined more than 1200 other Jewish communal leaders from across the country at the Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) three-day General Assembly (GA), held in Chicago, Illinois, on October 30-November 1.
First held 90 years ago, the GA is considered by many to be the most consequential annual gathering of the North American Jewish leadership community. Its mission is to bring together Jewish leaders of diverse backgrounds in a space that fosters productive dialogue and debate—and this year, following a two-year layoff due to the pandemic, the spirit of community and belonging, and of a yearning for connection, was palpable.
The contingent representing the Greater Ann Arbor Jewish community included: Eileen Freed, Federation Executive Director; McKenzie Katz, Federation Community Relations Manager; Paige Swanson, Federation Development Associate; Ariella Hoffman-Peterson, Jewish Young Professionals Co-President; Decky Alexander, Federation President; Debra Chopp, Federation Co-Vice President; Joshua Sukenic, Federation Annual Community Campaign Chair; Ellen Abramson, Jewish Family Services President; and past Federation presidents Steve Aronson and Randy Milgrom.
The GA’s theme this year focused on fashioning responses to the many geopolitical challenges and global events currently impacting the Jewish community, and to help to set a shared Jewish communal agenda for the year ahead to meet those challenges, and to identify the opportunities they present for building flourishing Jewish communities. GA attendees heard from a diverse array of expert voices on these most critical issues facing the North American Jewish community, including the urgency of Jewish communal security; Jewish Federations’ and others’ responses to the Ukraine crisis and the uncertainties that lie ahead for Jews in Ukraine and Russia; and new initiatives and partnerships to combat the virulent rise in antisemitism.
Global figures, activists, public officials and other communal leaders also addressed the assembly, including such notables as: Israeli President Isaac Herzog; U.S. Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann; Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog; journalist and news anchor Andrea Mitchell; Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Ambassador Dr. Deborah Lipstadt; and philosopher and author and filmmaker Bernard Henry Levy, among many others.
“The array of experts at every plenary, and in every breakout session, was very impressive,” said Federation’s immediate past president, Randy Milgrom. “I learned so much about so many issues throughout the course of this assembly. But just as inspiring—and affirming—was how much could be gleaned from our counterparts in Jewish communities from all across the country. No matter how different we might be in terms of size and demographics, the similarities among us were that much more apparent—with the greatest commonality being the passion and dedication and sincerity on display among professional and lay leaders alike.”
During the opening plenary of The General Assembly, JFNA Board Chair Julie Platt announced that since the launch of LiveSecure last year, the number of Jewish communities in North America that have security programs has increased by 42%. LiveSecure is a $130 million investment in Jewish communal security that aims to protect every single Jewish community in the U.S. and Canada through a grant issued by Jewish Federations of North America, with matching funds raised by the local Federation. The Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor has been working with LiveSecure for several years now, and has already raised funds and hopes to continue to raise additional monies eligible to be matched by this JFNA grant this year to further strengthen our security efforts.
On a more celebratory note, a special reception was held to mark both the 60th anniversary of National Young Leadership Cabinet and the 50th anniversary of Lions of Judah, which represent models of leadership for the Jewish world.
There was also a great deal of discussion—both formally and informally—about how to better engage our younger generations to more fully participate in Jewish communal life. Unfortunately, youthful participants at the GA seemed to be outnumbered by those who are more seasoned—though the Ann Arbor delegation certainly did its part, not only including younger Federation staff members McKenzie Katz and Paige Swanson but also Jewish Young Professional lay leader Ariella Hoffman-Peterson.
“As the GA began, I was energized and joyful to be learning from notable speakers who do amazing work to build, sustain, and nourish Jewish communities,” Hoffman-Peterson said. “However, it challenged me, too. Heavy discussions about rising anti-Semitism started to drain me, the concern that the living generations of Jews hold very different perspectives on Israel, identity and politics felt irreparable, and many emotions ran high during a debate about whether we should derive our Jewish values primarily from text and tradition or from modern values that we self-define as part of our Jewish practices. But when a local Chicago pastor led us in singing a soulful Hatikvah…, I remembered why it is so important that we gather to both celebrate our joys and address our worries about our Jewish communities and the world today. Attending the GA renewed my sense of purpose as a young Jewish lay leader to be present and participate in the building, sustaining, and nourishment of the Jewish community.”
Federation Executive Director Eileen Freed echoed the power of gathering at the GA. “The GA is an opportunity for leaders from all different kinds of Jewish communities to come together to learn and share with one another,” Freed said. “It is a reminder of the strength of this international network, and the impact we can have when we work not just as individuals or even one local Jewish community, but as a global collective.”
At the closing ceremony, JFNA Chief Executive Officer Eric Fingerhut was pleased to announce that during the course of the GA, several members of the leadership of various major Jewish organizations had been meeting with representatives of the financial ratings powerhouse Morningstar—and that they were able to come to an agreement on a new set of commitments regarding anti-Israel bias in its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ratings. The agreement during the GA was the culmination of months of deliberations between the parties.
“We are living in complex times when antisemitic incidents are increasing at an alarming rate, anti-Israel rhetoric is rampant, millions of people are displaced by war, and our communities are overwhelmed by a mental health crisis,” said JFNA Board Chair Julie Platt. “These extreme challenges we face require bold solutions and broad collaborations, so that we can effectively strengthen our communities and ensure that they are safe, compassionate, inclusive and vibrant. The General Assembly is a unique opportunity that comes around once-per-year for our communal leaders to come together to tackle these complex challenges, discuss practical steps towards building flourishing Jewish communities, and return to our communities invigorated to implement these strategies.”