Which Jewish cause deserves your million pounds?

Slate is asking writers, academics, artists "and other famous people" how they would spend $1 million, if they had it to give to charity, and getting some pretty interesting answers. So I ask the JC Blog readers: if you had 1 million pounds, which Jewish cause would you give it to?

To kick off, I would give my million to further Jewish education in the diaspora, as it has consistently been shown to be key in ensuring the next generation is Jewishly literate, Jewishly involved and Jewish full stop. Specifically, I would give my money to a programme which developed an innovative, professional and stimulating Jewish studies curriculum for our schools. As anyone who has ever tried to teach Jewish studies knows, lack of good learning materials is a major problem which makes it much more difficult to design effective lessons. Alternatively, I would help an initiative or fund which aimed to raise the salary of Jewish studies teachers in this country -- relatively low salaries are an important factor in the dearth of good Jewish studies teachers.

If I had another million, I'd spend it on an unusual form of Jewish education in Israel. I would find (or found?) a programme which exposes Israelis to diaspora Jews, preferably bringing them to diaspora communities to meet locals, experience community living and understand a bit better the character and needs of diaspora Jewry. One of the biggest tragedies today, in my opinion, is that while diaspora Jews learn at least a certain amount about Israel and Israelis, and visit and largely support them, your average Israeli knows very little about what life is like for Jews in the diaspora or about modern diaspora history. Nor do they particularly care. They are rarely taught about our modern Jewish communities in school and when they go abroad, rarely interact with diaspora Jews in their "native" setting. The result is a largely one-way relationship and a lot of crossed wires (for example, Israelis cannot understand why diaspora Jews are so disturbed by the status of the Reform and Conservative movements in Israel -- because they don't really understand the makeup or nature of diaspora Jewry).  We are still, however, one people, and I believe that it is essential both sides know each other equally. Perhaps it's time for a reverse birthright?

Anyone else?

This post was written by Miriam Shaviv

Comments

[The Town Crier]

The only reason I used it to jab the RJC is because they supposedly spending a million dollars on that ad campaign.

As for reverse birthright, I recall a purim joke last year that suggested a future birthright trip in 20 years for children of Nefesh BNefesh olim to come see their american roots.
But yes many Israelis have a very small understanding about us chutznikim.

[Gail]

Miriam - as a Sunday school teacher in a Reform synagogue, a long-time member of a Conservative synagogue, and a Jew who grew up in the US, I completely agree with the way you have divided up the funds. Nicely done. I wouldn't change a thing.

[Matthew Freedman]

If I had million pounds for a cause, I set and an unaffilited social organisation for 20-30s. Its really needed to stop assimilation. It would run a website with a directory of things to do and organisations doing events plus a culture section.