Last night I wasn’t able to go to Summer Dance to enjoy Balkan Beat Box, because I was already committed to the WYLD about Comedy event for Young Leadership Division of JUF. Going to a JUF event isn’t very Fringey of me, but Adam asked me to talk about it.
I’m involved with JUF for a few reasons. First, they have that thing where they come to a shabbat service and introduce who they are and what they do. It made sense for me to donate and I did (at a very low level, check the Book of Life [the list of people who donated and the amount the donated {which makes me very uncomfortable, because you can’t help but look up people you know and work for}]).
Then I got an email last fall about a trip to Israel for Tel Aviv One. A chance to go to Israel for the first time on a highly subsidized trip. I could extend, which I did, and explore Israel on my own. But I would also have the chance to meet a lot of Jews and have that safe group experience. Rabbi Z said that I should jump at the opportunity, but warned me that it would be an intense fundraising experience.
I didn’t know what that meant, but now I’m learning. The JUF is always asking for more money and more money and more money. The trip to Israel walked me through the doors of places the JUF supports, but they also took us to places that might be better off with direct contributions. I visited an absorption center for Ethiopian Jews, Habima National Theater, and a SELA a performing arts studio in Hatikva neighborhood of Tel Aviv.
To go on the trip I had to donate at a much higher level than I did in 2005, but it was worth it. I now have a relationship with Israel and I have a core group of Jewish friends that I didn’t have before I went.
Am I always comfortable at YLD events? No, not so much. Maybe because there is such an emphasis on money and not on being Jews or doing Jewish. It is doing Jewish with money. On the other hand, I appreciate that the asking for money thing isn’t subtle. You know where you stand with JUF.
Why am I involved?
1. They took me to Israel.
2. I’ve seen first hand what JUF money does.
3. My friends are involved.
4. It is a big chunk of Chicago Jewish living.
Why am I involved with Jewish Fringe?
1. They let me write.
2. I want more to Chicago Jewish living than JUF & my congregation.
3. I’ve seen the value in Jewish Blogs and want to support Chicago’s own.
4. We are doing Jewish without a focus on spending Jewish.
I don’t think the two are incompatable. For the record I have no issues with YLD, JUF or the things it funds. It does really good things. Its important to remember, however, that it can’t be all things to all people.
There are a lot of people who want nothing to do with fundraising but want a connection nonetheless. And there are lots of important projects here at home that are overlooked or underfunded because the official agenda lies elsewhere.
But even if I’d donated $118 to YLD, I’d still have gone to Balkan Beat Box.
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