The By-Laws of non-profit organizations identify the standing committees of the board of directors and provide for the formation of ad-hoc committees that are created for specific time limited purposes. The finance committee is one of the core committees of a board of directors, and generally it is this committee that prepares the annual budget and reviews the actual monthly expenses in comparison to the project budgeted for the current year. The purview of the committee’s work often includes longer term financial planning as well as dealing with the status of month to month cash flow. Although the director and the appropriate bookkeeping and accounting staff are responsible for all of the day to day work, the financial oversight is provided by the committee and its members. In selecting the … Continue Reading
Jewish Film Festival Bucks the Economic Trend
from Boston.com Jewish film fest thrives in slump This has not been a stellar year for Jewish nonprofits, thanks to the tanking economy and to Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme, which hit a number of local Jewish philanthropies. But one that seems to be flourishing is The Boston Jewish Film Festival, judging from a recent administrative change to prepare the festival for "dynamic growth," according to board chair Judy Ganz. "We intend to grow and enliven our programming." ...Against the ever-expanding landscape of Jewish film festivals - there are now more than 110 of them around the world - Boston's is considered to be in the top tier, respected not only for the range and quality of its programming but because it operates independently. "And that's an important distinction," said Peter L. … Continue Reading
NewsBits: The Front Page
from today's Jerusalem Post WZO calls on US Jews not to take Yemenites to Satmar community The World Zionist Organization executive called on the communal umbrella of American Jewry to stop the fundraising effort meant to move Yemenite Jews to a Satmar community in Monsey, New York. The Jerusalem-based WZO, whose leaders form part of the leadership of the Jewish Agency, disapproves of the United Jewish Communities' efforts on behalf of the move because the Yemenites will be joining an anti-Zionist community. "Bringing Yemenite Jews to the Satmar community is an anti-Zionist activity, because it's bringing Jews to a place that doesn't really recognize the State of Israel," said Paula Edelstein, who sits on the WZO executive and is co-chair of the Jewish Agency's Immigration and Absorption … Continue Reading
(Not) Waiting for Godot: Five Steps Toward Federation 2.0
“ESTRAGON: (giving up again). Nothing to be done. VLADIMIR: (advancing with short, stiff strides, legs wide apart). I’m beginning to come round to that opinion. All my life I’ve tried to put it from me, saying Vladimir, be reasonable, you haven’t yet tried everything. And I resumed the struggle.” Any fan of Samuel Beckett (or individuals with a passing knowledge of theater) will know those lines as the opening lines of “Waiting for Godot,” one of the most intriguing (and debated) plays of the modern era. Notwithstanding its acclaim and endurance, questions continue to be asked about the message Beckett was trying to convey. Who was Gadot? And in the event he arrived (which he never does), what would happen? Over the past few weeks the “Godot” question has plagued me, but for … Continue Reading
Networks of Collaboration
The Jerusalem offices of both PresenTense and ROI are in full swing finalizing preparations for their summer fellowship programs. Two weeks ago, we introduced the PresenTense Institute 2009 Fellows. Today, the (mostly complete) list of those who will be attending this summer's ROI Summit. Selected from almost 600 applicants, this cohort's participants - all first time ROI attendees - call 29 countries home (up one from last year). Sharing a passion for Jewish life, community and innovation they represent the best of our next generation of 'doers'. Here's philanthropist Lynn Schusterman, 'doer' extraordinaire, on ROI: "The aim of the summit is to promote innovation in the global Jewish community, while developing the participants' managerial and innovation skills. Our assumption is that their … Continue Reading
New Jewish Thought: Dispatch From the UK
One People Separated By a Common Language by Jonathan Boyd The British Jewish community rarely seems to feature on the worldwide Jewish map. It may have been significant a century ago, although probably only then because a handful of its leaders had access to the corridors of power of the British Empire. Today, however, it is seldom the focus of international Jewish attention; in the context of Israel-Diaspora discussions, ‘Diaspora’ tends to be a synonym for America, and the other countries that comprise the Jewish world outside of Israel barely seem to feature in the discourse. Britain is no exception. To be fair, there is reason for this. The British Jewish community numbered 450,000 at the end of the Second World War, but its population has declined to fewer than 300,000 today, the … Continue Reading
Ruth Messinger Addresses JTS Graduates
Messinger to Graduating Class: “We are children of the Exodus. This must be the framework for how we understand ourselves and how we act in the world.” American Jewish World Service (AJWS) President Ruth W. Messinger delivered a riveting commencement address at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) calling on the graduates - Rabbis, communal workers and Jewish educators - to embrace a 21st Century Judaism that emphasizes global citizenship and the pursuit of social justice for all people. In her keynote, Messinger implored the graduates not to allow the current recession to serve as an excuse for inaction. She also told them not to retreat from global challenges despite their magnitude and complexity. … Continue Reading
Israeli Entrepreneurial Spirit Exhibition Opens at Second Life Israel
In honor of Israel’s 61st birthday Second Life Israel will be opening an exhibit titled ‘The Israeli entrepreneurial Spirit’ showcasing some of Israel’s finest innovations in a variety of fields. The exhibit’s opening will feature technology expert and Metaverse Labs Founder Dr. Yesha Sivan as its guest of honor. The event will take place in SL Israel on Sunday May 31st at 10 AM SLT (1 PM NYC, 8 PM Jerusalem time). The Israeli Entrepreneurial Spirit highlights 16 leading Israeli companies in the social, environmental, medical and technological fields. Each of these companies represents the best in Israeli innovation, making a difference in ways that better their communities and the lives of people from around the world. This exhibit is a natural fit for Israel, long described as a … Continue Reading
Yemen Aliyah: Is the Next Chapter Unfolding?
We have heard many conflicting rumors and stories over the past few months about the desire of many in the Yemen Jewish community to leave their community. We have refrained from making mention due to the possible sensitivity of discussions. We figured when a plane touches down somewhere, be it Ben Gurion, Monsey or elsewhere, it would be time enough. However, when a respected Israeli journalist publishes a story on the subject, and it involves two major Jewish communal organizations with global reach - it's time for a link. Haviv Rettig Gur writing in this morning's Jerusalem Post JA slams move to evacuate Yemenites Officials in Israel and the Jewish Agency are angered at the coming move of more than 100 Yemenite Jews, almost half of the remaining community in that country, to the United … Continue Reading
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