Q&A: Jerry Silverman

The president and CEO of Jewish Federations of North America to speak in Stamford.

By Cindy Mindell

Jerry Silverman

As head of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), representing 155 Federations and more than 300 smaller “Network” communities across the U.S. and Canada, Jerry Silverman manages the respective cultures, structures, challenges, and priorities of each Federation with one overriding concept: Jewish community.

Silverman, who joined JFNA in 2009, is the keynote speaker at the first annual Jewish Family Service Saul Cohen Lecture, entitled “Election 2012: Will It Bring the Jewish Community Together?” on Nov. 8 in Stamford.

He spoke with the Ledger about how JFNA works to strengthen the Jewish people.

Q: How is it that a Jewish Federation exec is giving the keynote at a Jewish Family Service event?

A: The honoree, Saul Cohen, is someone I’ve known for years, and I have always looked to him for sage advice. I was asked by Saul if I would speak and I felt compelled to do so because of my relationship with him and what I know he stands for. The fact that he’s being honored by JFS – one of JFNA’s core principles and missions is being committed to those in need in North America and the world and most, if not all, Jewish Federations support Jewish Family Service agencies.

Q: How are JFNA’s two relatively new initiatives progressing?

A: The Global Planning Table [GPT] was approved less than one year ago. We’re looking at what is required of the Jewish world: what does history require us to do now to really make a difference in the Jewish world? How do we demonstrate the unique role of JFNA? The GPT committee has been working at a great pace and members are active in various subgroups in four definitive areas, whose initial outcomes will be shared by the end of the year.

The Israel Action Network has been operational for a year and a half, and has been focusing on the boycott, divestment and sanctions [BDS] movement. The IAN was incredibly instrumental in turning the tide on the recent Presbyterian Church U.S.A. decision not to divest from companies that assist the Israeli military, and that was such a close vote. I give the IAN and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs a lot of credit for the work they did. IAN has been involved in most of the key BDS issues that have been challenging to Israel’s legitimacy and has moved into a proactive, educative, working intimately with communities and collaborating with other organizations to ensure that the positioning and language that come out of these things have minimal effect on Israel. A year ago, the committee was proactive when the Palestinians tried to declare unilateral statehood at the UN, and was active behind the scenes in helping our communities become educated in that issue. The IAN made a big different in a short time. A member of the IAN is working on a committee of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office that is focused on the delegitimization efforts worldwide.

Q: How has the Jewish Federation umbrella organization evolved to its current configuration?

A: Historically, there were three different, separate organizations – the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds [a national coordinating agency which assisted national and regional Jewish agencies in the U.S. and Canada in fund-raising, community organization, health and welfare planning, public relations, etc.], sort of a “trade organization;” United Israel Appeal, the arm responsible for governance, oversight, fundraising for capital projects, and some Israel-related activity; and UJA/Federation, dedicated to supporting and strengthening the State of Israel.

Page 1 of 3 | Next page