Bob Seltzer If I told you that some of the committee work Federation does is truly holy, would you believe me?

In just a few weeks, one of the most challenging, most sensitive, most thankless – and yes, most holy committees will meet – our 2010 Allocations Committee. Each year, it is this committee that takes the limited amount of resources we have available for the coming year and determines how best to spend those funds to help those in need locally and around the world.

There are just fewer than 15 dedicated people on the committee this year.

It is not the intention that each agency be officially “represented” on the Allocations Committee. The committee is comprised of a full range of allegiances and orientations, yet each committee member signs a confidentiality agreement and a certification of impartiality. This assures a healthy and lively deliberative process, to say the least!

Local agencies come before the committee and make very impressive and often moving presentations. Upon completion of all the presentations, the review by the committee of a wide range of back-up materials and financials, and the examination of various other important criteria, deliberations take place.

It is within the financial wrestling that the holiness can be felt. “Education is the key to a Jewish future!” “We need to finance more trips to Israel for our youth!” “We must not forget our elderly!” “What about the jobless, or families in crisis?” “We need more funds locally!” “We need more funds to go to Israel!”

In some ways this is the Jewish equivalent of medical triage. Triage comes from a French word for “sort” or “sift.” The Allocations Committee sorts through the presentations and sifts through the materials, in an effort to determine communal needs. It is a daunting task.

When all is said and done, the Allocations Committee makes its recommendations to the Federation Board, and, upon ratification or adjustment, the numbers are publicized.

For the past 3 years, in stronger times and in weaker, Federation has fully honored the financial commitments resulting from the allocations process. This is a major accomplishment.

There is one thing you — the reader — can do in 2010 to make this process easier: Give more. Because with increased dollars, most issues dissipate.

To Susan Mayer, who is chairing the Allocations Committee for yet another year in 2010, to Diana Gurwicz who has brought technology to the process, and to the 12 others on the Allocations Committee….our thanks to you for your sacred efforts.