We have just published our annual Forward 50 list of the people who are making a difference in the American Jewish community. What do you think about our choices? We invite you to weigh in below.
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a) there is no explanation of what "influence" or "making a difference" could possibly mean. Influence on whom ? Making a difference to what ?
b) Somebody compiled this list, but who ? What basis did he or she have for these choices ?
There is no sense, no rhyme, no reason to any of this. Shame on you, Forward.
What? Where is Eric Hufschmid? He's doing a lot more than Al Franken. And I don't even know if either is Jewish.
What does it take to be number 1? 2 is not a winner and three nobody remembers.
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/9411/beetle2.jpg
Who cares? Most Jews have never heard of most of these people. For years, the Jewish community has had self-appointed,self-selected "leaders." What makes Emanuel and Axelrod so significant as Jews, other than that two of them happen to be Jewish and occupy positions of power, not in the jewish community, but in politics. Further, Emanuel and Ben-Ami are acting in a manner that may very well be antithetical to the interests of a large segment of the world's remaining Jewish population.
Many of these selections just illustrate that the Post-Jewish Community is in a state of decay and decline.
What a fascinating list of people! Some are very well known, such as Ruth Missinger. Some are infamous, like Bernie Madoff. But the descriptions of their activities and, for most, contributions to Jewish and to American society, are wonderful and edifying! I'm a Philadelphian, but I did not know that it was a Jewish woman attorney who uncovered the scandalous behavior of the Luzerne County judges, who pocketed millions by violating the Constitutional rights of hundreds of juveniles by sending them summarily to private juvenile detention centers. Thank you, FORWARD, for enlightening all of us!
Your list is so left wing biased that it is useless. What about all the Jewish business leaders that fill the ranks of Wall Street as well as the many infuential Jews in the sciences?
As usual for these lists, the choices are highly questionable, based on external values at best, and knowledge of the person at the least. I have never heard of many of them. Some are simply accomplished self-promoters.
In fact, did you look at definitions of the word "leadership"? The Coen brothers may be somewhat inexplicably successful, but success is not leadership. In fact, they do not engage in any kind of leadership, no community involvement whatsoever, and the Jewish content of their work is minimal. It seems you pay too much attention to the media. I hope that next year you will look solely at accomplishments that are real, substantive, and contributive. What I have done is small, but as an example, I created the Harp Festival of Philadelphia, and have kept it going and growing on a shoestring, creating a unique, positive event unlike any other. It's not a movie, it's not a political organization, it's just real.
where is the chabad leaders?
Boxer Yuri Foreman for next year.
It's amazing that you didn't include Rabbi Shalom Arush and Rabbi Lazer Brody. Their million-copy-plus bestselling book "The Garden of Emuna" has smashed all sales records of any Jewish book except the bible, and their CDs (also million-sellers) have made a spiritual revolution all over the world. Where are they, Forward?
You missed Senator Joe Lieberman. Hmm, I wonder why all the Liberals were on your list?
lacking depth and analysis. Typical bunk from leftists. Put down your water pipes and start thinking critically of the left too.
Rabbi Steven Exler of Riverdale, BX
Perhaps radio talk show hosts Mark Levin, Michael (Weiner) Savage and Steve Malzberg should have made the list, too. Also, news commentator Bernard Goldberg should have also been included, as he's frequently featured on the most viewed television cable program, "The Factor" with Bill O'Reilly on the Fox News Channel.
NOT A SINGLE JEWISH ARTIST OR ARCHITECT. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE THOUSANDS INCLUDING SOME OF THE BIGGEST ARTISTS AND ARCHITECTS OF OUR TIME. SHAMEFUL.
Can't believe you left out the effort of the Jewish Internet Defense FOrce (JIDF), truly changing the battle field in the online war against Israel and the Jewish people
Interesting critique of the list: What if they gave a massacre and ‘the Forward’ couldn’t even mention it? Excerpt -- "All these stirrings on the Jewish left. All these young idealistic Jews who share my point of view– and whenever I run into Ralph Seliger of Meretz or J.J. Goldberg of the Forward, they say in essence to me, Well you represent something in the Jewish community. But the Forward demonstrates that as far as it’s concerned these voices should be excommunicated. It elevates hardliners like Oren and Rosen on the right, but there is no real left represented. This is about identity construction; and the failure of the builders to see what is taking place among the disillusioned." http://mondoweiss.net/2009/11/what-if-they-gave-a-massacre-and-the-forward-couldnt-even-mention-it.html
False modesty aside, I should have been included on the list. Singlehandedly, I accomplished the historic maneuver of having the J street university division delete "pro israel" from the oxymoronic statement "pro isrel, pro Peace". I have made anti-zionism mainstream, and that is more than the majority of those in the top 50. I hope the FOrward will remedy this error soon
the following is published at www.jewminations.com:
I’ll read it—of course I’ll read it. Everyone reads it, which is why it’s worth reading. The Forward’s list of “top 50 rabbis,” tends to be the talk of the town, year after year, the week after it’s published. In rabbinical schools across the country, it’s received like an All-Star Team lineup among baseball fans: everyone wants to know who makes the cut. The all-star lineup is determined by certain key criteria, the core of which comes down to a single word: influence. Which players wield the most influence within their lineup, and across the league, not only statistically but also in terms of their own team’s win-loss record.
I happen to love baseball, but I can say for certain: this ain’t no All-Star game. There’s no game being played. There are no spectators and no tickets sold (well, at least when there are, that is, during the high holy days, most of us wish there didn’t need to be!). This isn’t a game at all, it’s the delicate and deeply sensitive business of religion and spirituality. The Forward Fifty assumes that influence nevertheless can be measured the same. It cannot.
What “sells” influence in the eyes of the Forward? They note what’s newsworthy, what hoards headlines, what strikes the masses as “new” and “different.” Of course, new and different can be influential, particularly when they respond to the ever-changing demands of the Jewish people. I’m reminded, for instance, of Andy Bachman’s appearance on the 2007 list. I consider Andy one of my mentors. He has been at the core of the reinvigoration of Jewish life in Park Slope. He’s spearheaded dramatic change within a congregation that stagnated for 3 decades. I feel blessed to have been a part of this change; under his influence, I learned the meaning of “rabbinic guts.” But Andy also supported me throughout the darkest time in my life. And his compassion in this time far exceeded any of his programmatic headlines. What matters most in the case of Andy Bachman is what’s not newsworthy: how he shows support and compassion for those when they need it most.
Larchmont Temple and Temple Israel of Boston are two communities I also served, of which the rabbis were not in the Forward Fifty. But ask anyone who knows them—anyone of their congregants or colleagues—and they wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see their names there. Jeffrey Sirkman, Ronne Friedman, Elaine Zecher, Jeremy Morrison, Stephanie Kolin: these are names of rabbis who influence their congregants as well as their peers. They exude Jewish compassion and love, which is far more noteworthy than newsworthy. How do you measure this kind of influence? How can you quantify or even know about the rabbis who create richly covenantal communities, not by focusing on “sexy programs” first—the Forward loves sexy programs!—but by focusing on in its people.
There are some things that cannot be measured: the influence of clergy is among them. The moment a source like the Forward claims to have such a scale, they expose their own shallowness. They are limited to the newsworthy. They focus on the highlight reel filled with homeruns and great catches—aspects of the game that are out of the ordinary but which capture amazement. Who doesn’t gawk at the highlight reel? I sure hope that after one sees on Sportscenter a grand slam homerun, or a behind the back catch by the pitcher, one remembers what the game is really like.
Eilu d’varim she’ayn lahem shi’ur. The Forward will keep on playing its game, and I’m sure I, like the rest of the Jewish community will stare at it like spectators. But let’s not confuse their ballgame with ours.
I find it puzzling that there's no category for science/math/engineering/technology. Given high rates of Jewish participation and success in these areas, and their importance in addressing and solving so many of today's world's most pressing issues, couldn't room be made? Also, is it really fair to the talented and benevolent persons to have to share a list with the scandalous ones? I'm guessing there will be no awards ceremony.
Making lists of leaders is always a difficult task. If one must do so, it is important to determine first the categories or careers of the individuals to be selected and the evaluation process for selecting one individual over another. I believe you have not done a good job on both yardsticks.
Jews are leaders in the academic world and in science/technology. Although accomplishments by these individuals may not reflect on the Jewish community directly, their contributions surely deserve inclusion before adding the rouges gallery at the end of your list.
In addition to the secular academic world, there are important individuals in the yeshiva academic world who deserve inclusion. Not doing so does a disservice to your endeavor.
The list is filled with people who will help destroy Israel and the Jewish Community. We are always our own worst enemy.
Interesting list... quite surprised considering events of this past year that no representative from the Lubavitch movement is included... perhaps its a political choice - which would explain things.
the idea of a list is interesting many important names are missing -few educators if any a number of names have made headlines but dont deserve the title
It is always interesting to find out what Jews are currently doing that is special.Keep it going.
you forgot david appletree, founder of the JIDF (Jewish Internet Defense Force)