Bsd
This article also appeared as an Op Ed in the Jewish Voice.
OP-ED An Action Plan for a New Jewish Leadership
http://thejewishvoice.com/an-action-plan-for-a-new-jewish-leadership/
My comments:
Missing from this action plan is the political component.
Jewish Leadership in the US has a strong base in the State and City of New York a State controlled by Democrats.
Speaking as a New Yorker, the major Jewish Organizations whose leadership we find lacking, are too invested in the Democratic Party.
There have been excellent alternatives over the years to Democratic candidates but they never got the backing they needed. Chele Farley over Kirsten Gillibrand for example for New York Senator.
There have been excellent alternatives over the years to Democratic candidates but they never got the backing they needed. Chele Farley over Kirsten Gillibrand for example for New York Senator.
This dependency will undermine this Action Plan for new Jewish Leadership.
The Democratic Party is an unG-dly Party. Their Agenda and Platform Openly Defy 7 Noahide Laws...the Foundation of a Civilized Society.
This new plan could be implemented and work well under a Republican pro Israel New York Council and Assembly. Under the Democrats it will be undermined.
Unfortunately, both NYGOP and NY Jewish Community Leaders have basically given up on New York. Prove me wrong. The Republicans are not seriously challenging the Democrats and all have a defeatist attitude when it comes to electing public servants of the Republican persuation.
"NY is lost :( Democrats simply can't be defeated."
This attitude and political strategy to keep the status quo is not only dangerous for Jews but also for all New Yorkers and for the Republican Party Nationwide. We are starting to feel the pressure and consequences of a majority run NY Democratic State Assembly and City Council. There is no reason or due process. They vote party line convinced they are invincible afraid to cross the party line. This is not true democracy. It is intimidation. Our Orthodox Jewish leaders stand alone.
Being that New York has such a high concentration of Orthodox Jews, G-dliness should be broadcasting from NY. Instead, AntiSemitism and crime is.
How come?
Major Jewish Organizations have been bought with all kinds of needed and helpful entitlement programs causing a very unhealthy dependency on the Democratic Party. This in turn silences G-dliness since one can not be critical of the hand that feeds it.. one dares not risk voting away such needed subsidies.
The NYGOP finds its natural ally with faith based groups such as Orthodox Jews and Evangelicals. The time has come to take the leap and divorce ourselves from the Democratic Party and brainstorm how the community can not only survive but actually thrive and prosper with fresh and healthy quid pro quo alliances with the GOP and a strong NYGOP. There are so many brilliant Torah scholars and sharp business people who can brainstorm how the community can offer mutually beneficial services to better the lives of all New Yorkers. Security concerns must not be disconnected from the big picture. The Democratic Party legislation has brought on the security crisis we find ourselves in today. They are incapable of fixing it under their present leadership of Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and Jerry Nadler.
All our Chesed, charitable organizations are model organizations of community services be it security, the young, the old, the teens the disabled, those suffering with mental illness or medical illness or broken homes.
There needs to be oversight on government programs like health care to reduce fraud and bureaucrocy and to help find jobs and occupation for all Americans so that each person can live with dignity and self respect. The goal is for each individual to reach their potential to work, earn their keep, afford to pay rent and to give back to their community to the best of their ability and not to depend on government subsidy handouts.
It is about finding a proper balance between work, charity and study.
If there's a will there's a way!
If you will it, it is no dream!