New Israel Fund Fights Back

from The Forward: Embattled New Israel Fund Fights Back Under attack as a subversive, anti-Israel group, the New Israel Fund, the largest financial supporter of human rights groups in Israel, has opted to respond by rallying supporters of a progressive agenda in Israel. Adopting a notably combative tone under new leadership, the American-based charity is depicting an accusatory report by a new Israeli organization – trumpeted in a front-page story in Maariv, a major Israeli daily – as the last straw in a series of attacks against like-minded groups. But as members of Israel’s Knesset called for hearings to look into the report’s charges, NIF’s effort to rally a broad range of Jewish groups to its side met with only limited initial success. [Translate] Bookmark:  Read More →

IDF Haiti Delegation Returning to Israel

Jewish/Israeli world Haiti disaster relief updates: On Sunday the IDF Medical Corps hospital in Haiti began transferring dozens of patients (orphans and premature babies) to the Italian hospital in Haiti and to the US Navy Ship, the ‘Comfort’. The team will conclude operations in the next few days and its members will return to Israel by Thursday. Fifteen patients currently remain at the hospital; other than emergency cases, new patients are no longer being admitted. During their stay in Haiti, the the hospital treated more than 1102 patients, conducted 314 successful surgeries and delivered 16 births including three by Caesarian section. Part of the equipment brought by the delegation will remain in Haiti for use by the various medical personnel, including tents, medications and other medical equipment.... Continue Reading

NADAV Foundation Awards Grants to North American NGOs

The Israeli NADAV Foundation announced today the recipients of its “Jewish Peoplehood Innovation Grants” given to North American NGOs working to connect Jews from different places and perspectives in order to build collective Jewish identity and strengthen the global Jewish community. The six recipients, selected from 46 applicants, will each receive up to $10,000 to implement programs that build a connection with the larger Jewish collective. The six grant recipients are: Hillel at Baruch, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, The Jewish Outreach Institute, Jumpstart, Mechon Hadar and The Michael Ann Russell Jewish Community Center of Miami. ‘The Jewish Peoplehood Innovation Grants’ are being awarded by The NADAV Foundation to help foster Jewish identity worldwide through knowledge... Continue Reading

The Jewish World Contributes to Haiti

from The Jewish Federations of North America: Since the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti last week, the Jewish Federation movement has raised millions of dollars to aid the victims and is convening our partners to ensure relief is delivered effectively. Together, Jewish Federations have raised nearly $2.2 million for emergency aid, with funds continuing to arrive. The Jewish Federations of North America is working with the Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief to monitor allocations and ensure Jewish organizations operate strategically and effectively. The coalition is also allocating funding for two shipments of emergency food and medical supplies. The Jewish Federations of North America and many Federations are sending donations to our overseas partner, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee... Continue Reading

The JDC in Haiti

On-the-Ground Partners Carry Out Critical Emergency Medical, Nutritional and Material Relief One week after the catastrophic earthquake and aftershocks struck Haiti, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the world’s largest Jewish humanitarian assistance organization, and its partners on the ground are ensuring that critical medical, nutritional and material relief are reaching victims everyday. “We have been touched by the outpouring of support for the victims of the Haiti earthquake and will continue to provide the timeliest and appropriate assistance through our invaluable partners, especially in wake of the latest aftershock this morning,” said JDC CEO Steven Schwager. “As we did after the 2004 Tsunami in South Asia, JDC will reserve a large portion of funds for sustainable... Continue Reading

Haiti: The Jewish World Responds

Here is a list of some of the Jewish organizations raising money for disaster relief, Jewish Charities Aid Haiti Earthquake Victims. from The Fundermentalist: Relief agencies: Early outpouring of dollars for Haiti are critical The earthquake has elicited an incredible response from the Jewish community, as well. The American Jewish World Service has already raised $1.5 million that it will distribute to the grassroots economic development organizations that it already works with in Haiti. The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee has brought in nearly $700,000 online through a mailbox it opened for the relief effort and to which dozens of Jewish organizations are directing their constituents. The JUF-Jewish Federation of Chicago alone has raised some $195,995 from 1,482 contributors for the JDC’s... Continue Reading

The Graying of Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Jewish community, once the 4th largest in the U.S., is aging and the number of children shrinking. Despite apparent growth in the overall community, these are two of the findings to come out of the just released 2009 “Jewish Population Study of Greater Philadelphia,” commissioned by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. In some ways, Philadelphia’s fortunes follow national trends, and in others Philly continues to buck the norm. One example of the latter, a plurality of Jews reside within the city, as opposed to the suburban area. Though Montgomery County has almost closed the gap. As to philanthropic giving, including to Federation, this from the Executive Summary: “Jewish households in the Greater Philadelphia area appear to be as likely to have contributed... Continue Reading

Jewish Charities Aid Haiti Earthquake Victims

We understand some donation portals and organizations are currently processing some of their highest levels of donations through their online systems as a result of yesterday’s tragic earthquake in Haiti. Several global Jewish organizations are also taking donations to aid relief efforts. They include: American Jewish Committee in partnership with IsrAID American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) in partnership with The Jewish Federations of North America American Jewish World Service B’nai B’rith International Magen David Adom MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger ORT The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism World Jewish Relief ZAKA Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced a telephone number that Israeli citizens can call if they would like to donate... Continue Reading

Fishel Reflects on Challenging Tenure

from JewishJournal.com: Fishel Reflects on Challenging Tenure “I think we’ve reached a point where there is an opportunity for me and an opportunity for the community to have a fresh look,” Fishel said. “I’d like to believe that during my tenure we accomplished a lot, and I know there are many things that are unfinished. That is the nature of community work, especially in a dynamic community like this one. I came to a place which was in disarray, with tremendous financial problems, enormous turmoil within the staff, and a lot of turmoil in the lay leadership,” Fishel said. “There was a lack of clarity in terms of priorities. It was a place that clearly needed some strong professional guidance.” Consensus is that Federation is in better shape today, and Fishel has worked to clarify priorities... Continue Reading

Israel Studies on U.S. Campuses Grow

The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation announces the release of Searching for the Study of Israel: A Report on the Teaching of Israel on U.S. College Campuses 2008-09, prepared by the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University. An update of a 2006 report, Searching for the Study of Israel examines the scope of academic courses being taught about Israel on more than 300 leading American college and university campuses and finds that the state of education about Israel has improved since the original study. A comparison of the 246 institutions included in both studies shows a 69% growth in courses that focus specifically on Israel over the three-year period. “Our Foundation has been deeply invested in expanding opportunities to learn about Israel in academic environments... Continue Reading

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