Jewish Ways of Giving Are Not Mutually Exclusive

To the Editor:

The Chronicle’s May 21 article “Levi Strauss’s Descendants Help Lead Revolution in Jewish Philanthropy” correctly acknowledges the emergence of independent giving in the Jewish community but somewhat inaccurately asserts that designated giving is sup planting the traditional centralized model of Jewish philanthropy.

The United Jewish Appeal-Council of Jewish Federations Partnership discourages any notion that those two forms of giving are mutually exclusive. In an age of unprecedented Jewish diversity, the U.J.A.-C.J.F. Partnership recognizes that specialized philanthropies are appropriate venues for Jews to express their individual passions. At the same time, the partnership maintains that the Jewish people can survive and thrive only if independent action exists in concert with communal action.

As the article points out, the partnership has instituted ways, within the traditional communal framework, for the donor to express his or her heart through in dividual targeted giving. For example, U.J.A.’s Israel Education Fund enables donors to earmark portions of their gifts for ed ucational programs throughout Israel.

The structural changes in the U.J.A.-Federation annual campaign illustrate flexibility and understanding of the current era’s complexities, but they do not represent “complete reform.” The annual campaign still manifests the 3,000-year-old Jewish commitment to caring for all members of the community. By supporting the U.J.A.-Federation annual campaign, the donor can be certain that his or her gift will reach the greatest possible number of people in need, including those that will never be reached through targeted gifts.

Carole Solomon
National Chairman
United Jewish Appeal
New York