by Smadar Bar-Akiva "You are going where?" was the question asked time and again when I said I was leading a WCJCC delegation from five countries to the JCC of Milwaukee. While not as exotic as some of our recent travel destinations, we found a JCC that exemplifies community building and Jewish education at its best. At the conclusion of three intensive days we learned a thing or two on how to do things right: A strong Jewish core: While Milwaukee's JCC is similar to many North American JCC with 40% of the members not Jewish, the Jewish vision and mission of the JCC is apparent in every department and in almost every program. Two full-time senior Jewish educators - Jody Hirsh and Rabbi Shari Shamah - infuse the J in the JCC in so many different ways. From the common Kabbalat Shabbat services … Continue Reading
What General Motors Teaches Us
by Robert L. Kern When organizations ask me to discuss marketing strategies, Facebook is always the first item - and often the only item - on their agenda. I always caution them that despite its many benefits, it is not a “silver bullet” solution. I was, therefore, not surprised by the news that General Motors announced it is discontinuing its Facebook advertising, worth about $10 million a year. Analysts believe this will cause other marketers to reevaluate their own Facebook advertising and it was also bad timing for the ubiquitous social media giant, whose lackluster $105 billion IPO was Friday, May 18. Rather than focus on GM cutting $10 million in advertising on Facebook, it is important to note that they will continue to spend nearly $30 million to manage and develop applications … Continue Reading
Making the Positive Case for Israel
by Alan M. Dershowitz The world well knows of Israel’s military prowess in protecting its citizens against threats of terrorism and the even greater threat of a nuclear armed Iran. If one were to put the word “Israel” on a Rorschach test, the association, for most people would be to “conflict,” “wars,” and for some the continuing dispute with the Palestinians and the entire Arab and Muslim world. These images and associations are, tragically, an important part of Israel’s history and reality. It is not, however, Israel’s chosen identity. Most Israelis crave peace, normalcy and the end of conflict. They want to turn their swords into plow shears and get on with the business of helping to repair the world. What is truly remarkable about Israel is that in the face of 64 years of … Continue Reading
Trending in the Jewish Day School Field: Tuition Grant Programs
by Ross Bloom 2012 has seen the release of a number of regional Jewish day school tuition grant programs. While these programs vary in terms of how they’re funded, who qualifies, and what percentage of tuition is being paid for, they all aim to transform the affordability issue from a liability into a way to welcome new families. They also give schools a chance to promote their value and connect with the community in meaningful ways. Schools and communities have used many tactics to address the affordability issue, but the regional approach is one that has been gaining traction in recent years. Here are a few examples of communities that are implementing tuition grant programs: Milwaukee. Milwaukee Jewish Day School recently announced an anonymous donation that is funding tuition … Continue Reading
London’s JHub Hosts European Leaders Working on Faith-based Social Action
"It was a great privilege to meet a group of such passionate and talented leaders from across Europe and to hear of their inspiring work, grounded in Jewish values, yet impacting positively on people of many faiths and backgrounds all over the world. They are a living example of the Jewish renaissance happening in Europe and represent what I call a Judaism unafraid to engage with the world. I wish the members of Siach continued success in all they do." U.K. Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks On Wednesday 9th and 10th May Pears Foundation’s JHub hosted a gathering of over 35 social justice and environmental professionals and activists from across the continent and beyond [UK, France, Hungary, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Chile, Australia and the USA]. The group included those working, … Continue Reading
World ORT Establishes Holocaust Education Resource Center in Bulgaria
With the establishment of an online Holocaust Education Resource Center in Bulgaria, World ORT has facilitated a grass roots move by the country's teachers to plug a gap in Bulgaria's education. The Resource Center will serve as a repository for lesson plans and other material which teachers can access to help raise awareness and understanding of the Shoah among teenagers. The project, co-funded by World ORT and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, has also held training seminars at which 180 teachers from across Bulgaria have shared experiences and best practice. "During the days of socialism it was not taught for ideological reasons, because those who helped the Jews - such as the church - were out of favor with the ruling regime. When communism collapsed there was huge … Continue Reading
Big Ideas. Bold Solutions. The 2012 JCSA Conference
“BIG IDEAS. BOLD SOLUTIONS - The Challenges and Choices of Today’s Jewish Community Professional” is the theme of the 2012 Annual Program of the Jewish Communal Service Association of North America, convening Tuesday, June 5th at Weinberg Park Heights Jewish Community Center in Baltimore. The Keynote Address will be delivered by Dr. Chip Edelsberg, Executive Director of the Jim Joseph Foundation of San Francisco. On a panel following the address are Shifra Bronznick, founding President of Advancing Women Professionals and the Jewish Community; Rabbi Nina Cardin, a trailblazer in the fields of Jewish feminism, healing, liturgy and the environment, and David Cygielman, co-founder and CEO of Moishe House, which provides meaningful Jewish experiences for young adults around the world. The … Continue Reading
Kick-start Shavuot with Sh’ma’s Second ‘Virtual Tisch’
Kick-starting the holiday of Shavuot, Sh’ma, a journal of Jewish ideas, is hosting its second “virtual tisch” - a unique online, interactive learning table that will foster Jewish connection and global conversation. Once again, Rabbi David Ingber of Romemu, a New York City-based spiritual community, will lead the learning session. will lead the learning session. “The May issue of Sh’ma, ‘Claiming Torah,’ coincides with Shavuot, when, tradition tells us, the Torah was revealed,” said Editor-in-Chief Susan Berrin. “Jews throughout the world have long marked the eve of the festival with a tikkun leilShavuot, an all night text study session that includes conversation, reenactments, and explorations of how Torah and learning shape our lives. Our tisch, we hope, will spur connection … Continue Reading
The Week That Was: May 13-19
In today's world, no nonprofit organization would think twice about collecting, and hopefully analyzing, information about their donors. So too, with website traffic. For how else can one effectively judge site visitors' demographics and interests? Based on site and RSS feed analytics, here - in alphabetical order - are the most popular posts on eJewish Philanthropy last week: America’s First Female Rabbi Reflects on Four Decades Since Ordination by Michele Alperin Rabbi Sally Priesand, America’s first seminary-ordained female rabbi, decided at age 16 to pursue her calling. “I always wanted to be a teacher of whatever was my favorite subject,” she tells JointMedia News Service. “In the end, I decided to become a teacher of Judaism.” June 3 will mark the 40th anniversary … Continue Reading
The Week That Was: May 6-12
In today's world, no nonprofit organization would think twice about collecting, and hopefully analyzing, information about their donors. So too, with website traffic. For how else can one effectively judge site visitors' demographics and interests? Based on site and RSS feed analytics, here - in alphabetical order - are the most popular posts on eJewish Philanthropy May 6th-12th: JDC’s Steve Schwager to Retire The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) announced that Steven Schwager, the organization’s Executive Vice President and CEO, will step down as CEO as of June 30, 2012 and will retire from JDC on January 31, 2013. Move Over TED, ELI Has Arrived After several years of discussions and attempts in the community to launch a Jewish TED, the Avi Chai Foundation has … Continue Reading
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