The S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation should be commended for making its board of directors more representative of the community it serves.
Federations throughout the country are too often seen as institutions operated by the most affluent members of the community. But the JCF has taken steps to eliminate that stigma.
At its annual meeting last month, the JCF board added two Orthodox Jews, an Israeli and two ex-Soviets. (The board previously had one Orthodox member, who continues to serve. One new member, Rabbi Shimon Margolin, represents both the emigre and Orthodox communities.)
When the nominating committee selected the new members, it didn’t look at their wallets. It looked at their commitment to the community and their Jewish involvement.
For the federation to increase its donor base among the Orthodox, ex-Soviets and Israelis, each group must feel represented in the decision-making process.
Of course, the new board members could press for greater allocations to help their individual constituencies. But that may help the JCF to better serve the larger community.
Said John Goldman, JCF president, “I’m hoping we will have a greater diversity of opinions, which will help us make better decisions.
“I’ve always felt a little uncomfortable that there has been criticism about divisions or lack of religious pluralism [on the federation’s governing body].”
As president, Goldman has worked hard to make JCF and the agencies it funds more user-friendly to Bay Area Jews. Many of his accomplishments have been behind the scenes, but the appointment of under-represented Jewish groups to the JCF board is certainly among his most important actions. It should set a precedent for those who follow him.
We hope the new board members will have a meaningful impact on the JCF’s operations. We wish them well.