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Downtown and/or east? New committee formed to help reach consensus
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BY: DOUGLAS J. GUTH Senior Staff Reporter
An ad hoc committee of Cleveland Jews is engaging the community to shape ideas for a continued downtown presence of the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland.
The committee has scheduled two dialogue sessions on the matter for early August, notes David Goldberg, who is spearheading the group.
The ad hoc committee was formed amid the contentious debate over whether Federation should keep its downtown headquarters or relocate to an eastern suburb. According to the group’s website keep jcfincle.com, organizers are calling for a “complete study of the available alternatives.”
“Given the magnitude of this decision,” the website reads, “we ask (the Federation board of trustees) to create an open process that engages the community. In so doing, they will ensure that all elements of our community respect whatever decision ultimately is made.”
One dialogue session will target Jews who work and live downtown, notes Goldberg, co-chair of AmTrust Bank. The other session aims to engage the so-called “next generation,” Jews 40 and under whom the committee the committee believes will serve as Jewish leaders in the near future. The current generation of leaders “have to listen to the people we’ve been trying to reach out to,” he says.
The committee consists of about 50 local Jews who have held various leadership positions in the community. Members include David Fleshler, who left his position as Federation’s assistant vice president on June 30, and Anita Gray, national president of Ishmael & Isaac, an organization that brings together Cleveland Jews and Arabs.
Federation President Stephen H. Hoffman has offered the committee the services of staff members Annie Becker, Karen Baker and Debbie Yasinow.
“I think (Federation) is open to ideas” on the future site of its headquarters, notes Fleshler. The ultimate decision, he feels, “will be made with input” from the ad hoc group.
America Speaks, a consulting company known for creating public process, will assist the committee’s outreach efforts. In 2005, the organization engaged a coalition of local foundations and universities in deliberation about Northeast Ohio’s economy.
Involving young people and city dwellers who have a stake in Federation’s future is “an exciting concept,” says ad hoc committee member Gray. “We will come out of this stronger by listening” to everyone.
Group members are pushing Federation to keep the downtown headquarters at least for some uses, such as executive offices, Hillel functions, adult education, and a gathering space for young people. Downtown advocates believe moving east would diminish Jewish influence in the general community.
A new Federation facility, likely built in Beachwood at the corner of Richmond and South Woodland Roads, would house the majority of staff offices and meetings. Supporters of this plan say Federation’s headquarters must operate out of the heart of Cleveland’s eastern-centric Jewish community.
A compromise would help achieve consensus on an issue that threatens to further fracture the two sides, says U.S. District Judge Dan A. Polster, a committee member.
“Cleveland needs a meaningful Jewish presence downtown,” he continues. “How we get that done is up for discussion. We have to keep debating however long it takes.”
dguth@cjn.org
The committee has scheduled two dialogue sessions on the matter for early August, notes David Goldberg, who is spearheading the group.
The ad hoc committee was formed amid the contentious debate over whether Federation should keep its downtown headquarters or relocate to an eastern suburb. According to the group’s website keep jcfincle.com, organizers are calling for a “complete study of the available alternatives.”
“Given the magnitude of this decision,” the website reads, “we ask (the Federation board of trustees) to create an open process that engages the community. In so doing, they will ensure that all elements of our community respect whatever decision ultimately is made.”
One dialogue session will target Jews who work and live downtown, notes Goldberg, co-chair of AmTrust Bank. The other session aims to engage the so-called “next generation,” Jews 40 and under whom the committee the committee believes will serve as Jewish leaders in the near future. The current generation of leaders “have to listen to the people we’ve been trying to reach out to,” he says.
The committee consists of about 50 local Jews who have held various leadership positions in the community. Members include David Fleshler, who left his position as Federation’s assistant vice president on June 30, and Anita Gray, national president of Ishmael & Isaac, an organization that brings together Cleveland Jews and Arabs.
Federation President Stephen H. Hoffman has offered the committee the services of staff members Annie Becker, Karen Baker and Debbie Yasinow.
“I think (Federation) is open to ideas” on the future site of its headquarters, notes Fleshler. The ultimate decision, he feels, “will be made with input” from the ad hoc group.
America Speaks, a consulting company known for creating public process, will assist the committee’s outreach efforts. In 2005, the organization engaged a coalition of local foundations and universities in deliberation about Northeast Ohio’s economy.
Involving young people and city dwellers who have a stake in Federation’s future is “an exciting concept,” says ad hoc committee member Gray. “We will come out of this stronger by listening” to everyone.
Group members are pushing Federation to keep the downtown headquarters at least for some uses, such as executive offices, Hillel functions, adult education, and a gathering space for young people. Downtown advocates believe moving east would diminish Jewish influence in the general community.
A new Federation facility, likely built in Beachwood at the corner of Richmond and South Woodland Roads, would house the majority of staff offices and meetings. Supporters of this plan say Federation’s headquarters must operate out of the heart of Cleveland’s eastern-centric Jewish community.
A compromise would help achieve consensus on an issue that threatens to further fracture the two sides, says U.S. District Judge Dan A. Polster, a committee member.
“Cleveland needs a meaningful Jewish presence downtown,” he continues. “How we get that done is up for discussion. We have to keep debating however long it takes.”
dguth@cjn.org
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