No taxation without representation

The Donors Revolt

“A tiger we are holding by the tail. Quite unpredictable, very ambitious, and also very efficient.”

This veiled compliment from a seasoned observer perfectly captured the mix of anxiety and admiration Mendel inspired in 1976.

Just a year earlier, Mendel had served as an organiser for Johannesburg’s top donors to the Israel United Appeal (IUA), the fundraising arm of the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF). Now, he was demanding changes that sent shockwaves through the organisation.

Mendel insisted that the IUA break free from the SAZF, which had, for decades, treated the IUA as a subordinate whilst excluding it from meaningful decision-making.

Mendel called for the appointment of an independent professional director, and the ceding of decision-making power to major contributors. Failure to comply, he warned, would see him and key donors walk away.

From Johannesburg to Jerusalem

For Mendel and his allies, the issue was simple: no taxation without representation. The major contributors—those footing the bill—believed they should control how their funds were used, not Zionist Federation bureaucrats who contributed minimally, if at all.

While these tensions had long simmered among donors, it was Mendel who took decisive action to turn the tables. It would take nearly a decade of contentious negotiations before full independence was achieved in 1985. But by the end of 1976, Mendel, as chair of the Johannesburg committee, had already assumed control over the campaign’s critical decisions, positioning himself as the IUA’s de facto leader.

This early battle prefigured what was to come later. In 1983, as chair of the World Board of Trustees of Keren Hayesod (KH), he celebrated a similar victory: the World Zionist Organization (WZO) had recognized KH as a full partner, rather than a subordinate department. Mendel urged the SAZF to follow suit, advocating for an amicable embrace of this partnership model with the IUA.

The SAZF eventually conceded, but the fiery debates and drawn-out negotiations leading up to acceptance made one thing clear: this was no amicable handover. Mendel’s campaign to restructure the IUA amounted to nothing short of a coup.