Birthright Nezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Guest post by Andy Bachman, cross-posted from his blog.
It’s deja vu all over again!
Another article complaining about birthright follow-up, this time from Haviv Retteg Gur in the Jerusalem Post and a riposte from Rabbi Daniel Brenner explaining that there is follow-up. Daniel is quite right–there is follow-up. I think we all understand that it’s just not enough.
This tired boxing match can come to a happy end when the simple request that many of us have been making for nearly a decade is met: Share the lists of participants with organizations out there in the Jewish community that you trust to follow-up in a meaningful way with birthright participants.
Or, have the courage of your convictions to put in writing why you won’t share those lists with say, me and my synagogue. Now THAT would be fun reading!
But in the meantime, this recycled old tale is a snoozer.
Have a nice day!
Andy still doesn’t get it. He just doesn’t understand that in most organizations sharing/renting (call it whatever you like) of contact information is a no-no. Participants/members/donors don’t like it. A clear violation of trust unless the organization asks permission in advance – and the only meaningful way to do this is when the information is first collected.
It is about who you trust – but not as Andy says – “Share the lists of participants with organizations out there in the Jewish community that you trust to follow-up in a meaningful way with birthright participants.”
It’s about trusting whom you as an individual choose to have your contact information. And Andy’s past comments that they (Birthright) should engage all their alumni after the fact for permission, is ridiculous. I am not aware of ANY other national Jewish organization will such a policy.