New York, NY, May 1, 2008. Zeek, an online journal that has helped shape modern Jewish-American culture, today announced that it is joining forces with Jewcy.com, one of the web’s most innovative and rapidly-growing online communities. Beginning today, Zeek's online content will be published at www.jewcy.com/zeek. Zeek joins Jewcy as the first content partner in Jewcy’s initiative to create a publishing network of editorial sites serving the YoCo psychographic – young, culturally omnivorous Americans looking for meaning and community. "We are joining strength with strength," said Jo Ellen Green Kaiser, chief editor of Zeek and formerly the managing editor of Tikkun magazine. "We're a leader in Jewish intellectual, cultural, artistic, and spiritual ...

Hag Purim Sameach

Our community is thriving. And who you may ask is this community? from our 'about' section: To some, they represent the MTV generation; to others Millenials or Generation Y. To the UJC, they are simply NextGen. They number around 76 million Americans and will form the most technology savvy bulk of the adult population over the next twenty years. They have been inspired by the aspirations, hopes and financial freedom of their Baby Boomer parents; they are optimistic, idealistic and feel empowered. This funky young crowd, sporting their own definition of Judaism, is the harbinger of a new golden age of Jewish communal innovation. Some are visionaries, creating programs on a shoe-string, or armed with just an idea, giving birth to exciting, fresh ...

The Pleasure of Your Company is Requested... To commemorate 13 years since the establishment of Mavoi Satum, and in honor of "Yom HaAguna," which takes place on the Fast of Esther, Mavoi Satum continues their annual tradition of co-sponsoring the "Women and Religion" film festival with the Jerusalem Cinematheque. This two-day festival will include film screenings, lectures, and discussions. The films that will be screened at the festival present different facets and aspects of the interaction between women and religion, including: women's place in the religious sphere; women's struggles with religion and the dilemmas women face in religious contexts; religion as a source of inspiration and creativity for women and more.

You are all warmly invited ...

Last month we brought you news of Birthright's newest innovation, The Israelity Tour, bringing the best of contemporary Israeli music to the West Coast. It ended with a bang Sunday night in Las Vegas. Here you can enjoy just a glimpse of the great performers... [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u5vu0o1WGU[/youtube]

While we have you in a 'California frame of mind', don't forget, in just a few short days, the Jewlicious fest in Long Beach, "It’s basically the Woodstock of Judaism". Ladies and gents, believers and gentiles: Once again, it’s time for the Jewlicious Fest in Long Beach, so mark Feb. 29 through March 2 on your calendars. If you haven’t heard of Jewlicious, it’s basically the Woodstock of Judaism, with three days of music, food and Kiddush Wine. A festival for the artist and the curious college student. for more information, click here. Parental rating: Slingshot approved.

Let's face it: Israel has a reputation for a less than stellar performance with Hasbara. This is not new; in fact it has existed for a couple of decades regardless of which political party controls the Israeli government. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the college campuses of North America; Montreal, New York, Philly and San Fransisco, in particular, have a well-deserved reputation for being particularly un-hospitable to pro-Israeli messages. Now come a few new endeavors hoping to change perceptions. In New York, we have Fuel for Truth, an organization whose mission is to disseminate accurate information about Israel and the Middle East. According to an article in the current issue of New ...

Taking a completely different approach, and utilizing the world of music and Israeli artists to promote Israel, we have Oleh!Records. With initial funding from The Pratt Foundation, The Bronfman Family Foundation and the Orion Fund, young Jeremy Hulsh launched the label thirteen months ago. A recent Oleh, Jeremy was inspired by what he perceived as shortcomings in the Israeli music scene. "I noticed that the entire music industry in Israel is based on white hype, and that there needs to be a credible institution that nurtures indie and alternative music if this scene is going to be taken seriously." And so was born Oleh!, a nonprofit with the goal of creating sustainable careers for all their artists. Now, in year two, ...

Habitus, A Diaspora Journal, issue #3: part of a new breed of Jewish magazines being created by young Jews defining Judaism and their involvement on their own terms. With funding from the Dorot Foundation and focusing on Diaspora literature and culture, the editors tell us "Habitus is not simply a magazine about Jews--it is a Jewish magazine about the world. Habitus takes its shape from the elusive concept known as the Diaspora – that untidy mix of longing and belonging, past and place." With the first two issues focusing on European cities, Budapest and Sarajevo, and now the third on Buenos Aries, the magazine speaks to contemporary readers "who wrestle with what ...

From the February issue of Oleh Chadashot, a publication of Nefesh B'Nefesh, we bring you this story by Olah and author, Laura Ben-David. When trying to explain to people the uniqueness of Israel and Israelis, I find that a story speaks volumes. This story, however, speaks a whole bookstore. One evening, on our way back from a trip, we stopped at an unfamiliar falafel store in Jerusalem. We were hungry and tired, and looking forward to some quick food, and then our return home. We glanced around the place, determined that only falafel was sold there, all the while the proprietor watched us expectantly. As I moved toward the counter he asked, "Do you want ...