Limmud FSU – The Last Day

The learning adventure continues – Limmud FSU first timers have found their rhythm, made new friends, begun to express themselves with more confidence, and reflect inward, too. “One of the most wonderful byproducts of the Limmud experience is that everyone finds their own place in their own particular Jewish journey,” said Sandra Cahn, Limmud FSU’s co-founder. “There’s a comfort level where no matter how much Jewish background you’ve had, you feel you belong, no one is judging you and by the end of the process you feel part of a collective Jewish community and proud about being Jewish.” Continue Reading [Translate] Bookmark:  Read More →

YouTube Your Way to New Supporters

I recently spent some time on YouTube searching for examples of great video story telling. One aggregator site on the YouTube nonprofit channel makes it easy to post your nonprofit videos and easy for viewers to find them. I found “Story of a Sign,” a powerful, poignant story of a Mexican street beggar there. I like it and the video “Invisible Children” because both videos demonstrate the power of the medium to tell a story and motivate people to action. “Story of a Sign” is linked to Karmatube which helps you get involved with the cause behind the video. Other good examples of YouTube nonprofit video successes are Taglit Birthright Israel, Greenpeace, and The March of Dimes. According to their YouTube profiles, they have each captured thousands of viewers and many new advocates. For Birthright... Continue Reading

Jewish Social Action Month Begins Today

Jewish Social Action Month (JSAM) is your chance to contribute to good deeds in the world, while taking part in global Jewish initiative. See what people around the world are doing, share your ideas and sign up today. How can you fit JSAM into your busy schedule? Sign up for the JSAM facebook group to receive a daily idea for a good deed during Jewish Social Action Month.  From the simple to the creative to the profound, JSAM’s Good Deed a Day will give you a quick opportunity to make a difference to the world and introduce you to the pick of this year’s JSAM projects! about: Jewish Social Action Month (JSAM) is an initiative of KolDor, a global network of young Jewish leaders, the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel and socialaction.com to promote both social action and Jewish Peoplehood. [Translate] Bookmark:  Read More →

Is Bielski Leaving JAFI?

JAFI held a press conference yesterday to discuss the $45 million cut from the 2009 budget. You can read about it in this story from The Jerusalem Post. But the most interesting news was to be found in the story’s last paragraph. Having just returned from the U.K. and meeting with some rather prominent JAFI supporters, I suspect this tidbit was little known: “Bielski, a former long-time mayor of Ra’anana who worked long and hard to help Tzipi Livni win last month’s Kadima primary, has been rumored as a possible minister in her government if Kadima wins the national elections. He did not deny that he was pondering a return to politics, but said he had not made a final decision. He would do so within the next two weeks, he said, in coordination with his agency colleagues and the... Continue Reading

Limmud FSU – Day Two

Starting the day with a jog on the edge of the Black Sea, it was on to serious sessions, i.e., discussions about Modern Zionism, the Medical Aspects of Jewish Philosophy and Psychology, or Torah – many choices for Limmudniks. Young Jews across the FSU want to know about their Jewish identity, and attending this Conference in Yalta represents a way back to their Jewish roots. In the former Soviet Union, religious identity was considered an ethnic or cultural affiliation more than a religious one. This explains the inherent tendency in Limmud FSU’s programming to include the influence of Jewish themes in the arts, music and, of course, literature woven through today’s sessions.  Israeli dancing and hand-on art workshops sparkled with creativity and individual expression. Picking up... Continue Reading

“It’s Friendship, Friendship, Just a Perfect Blendship”*

Or is it? I’ve been hearing a lot of questions lately from people in leadership positions about the appropriateness of “friending” community members on social networks like Facebook. These questions are coming from clergy, youth leaders, teachers, etc. – basically, people in authority or mentoring roles, and often people who interact with minors. Many community organizations, youth groups, and classes use Facebook regularly to engage, connect, share, and plan events. In the absence of organizational guidelines, people are establishing their own social policy based on their comfort levels. I have heard a number of responses to this issue, including: “I won’t friend anyone I work with” “I will only respond to friendship requests but not initiate them” “I will friend someone but... Continue Reading

Facebook Friendonomics

Here’s a good segue to our post It’s Friendship Friendship Just a Perfect Blendship. from Wired Magazine 16.11: Scott Brown on Facebook Friendonomics Thanks to Facebook, I never lose touch with anyone. And that, my Friend, is a problem. Hey, want to be my friend? It’s more than possible; it’s probable. Hell, we may already be friends—I haven’t checked my email in a few minutes. And once we are, we will be, as they say, 4-eva. A perusal of my Facebook Friend roster reveals that I, a medium-social individual of only middling lifetime popularity, have never lost a friend… What I’ve lost is the right to lose touch. This says less about my innate lovability, I think, than about the current inflated state of Friendonomics. [Translate] Bookmark:  Read More →

Limmud Yalta: Day One

Arriving full of anticipation, over 1,000 Russian-speaking Jews from the 13 countries of the former Soviet Union, international Jewish leaders and guests, and presenters were ready to experience the 2nd mega-Limmud FSU Conference in Yalta, October 27-30, 2008.  From the kickoff this afternoon, the halls of the hotel were silent – everyone found their way to one of the many meeting rooms for stimulating presentations. The choices – 171 sessions and panels with roughly 150 presenters offered over the four days of intense programming. Limmudniks could select a presentation from a broad range of topics, including sessions on the plight of Holocaust survivors, Jewish politics, Diaspora Jewry, traditional Jewish handcrafts, Torah study, and much more. “Why Major Philanthropists Give?” a packed... Continue Reading

NewsBits: Around The Jewish Web

The following are items appearing on other Web sites you may find of interest. Ahava Zarembski writes on Amuta 2.0: Socially Responsible Investments: Creative Capitalism and the Jewish World In the Jewish world, we have traditionally looked to engage philanthropy and government to address our needs. With the decline in the traditional type of philanthropy, particularly amongst younger givers, and combined with the current and foreseeable financial climate, we must engage businesses as a third partner, use new models of philanthropy, and demonstrate that businesses’ financial interests can be addressed at the same time as internal needs. and this from South Africa: Top media consultant gets back behind the microphone One of South Africa’s top media consultants, Janine Lazarus, will be hosting... Continue Reading

A Nonprofit CEO Manifesto

This one isn’t for everyone, but you probably know someone who’d like to read it. Do me (and them) a favor and send it to them. And tell me what you think.  I think this one is important, and since the economy is blowing up and won’t improve any time soon, now is a good time for nonprofits to rethink how they think about raising money. In Defense of Raising Money: a Manifesto for NonProfit CEOs I’m sick of apologizing for being in charge of raising money. I work at a great nonprofit organization that is doing great things in the world, one that’s attacking daunting problems in a powerful new way. I believe in what we do, and think that we may be catalyzing a shift in how the world fights poverty. So why did one of my mentors – someone with a lot of experience in the non-profit and public... Continue Reading

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