Can Art Do More?
Sabbath 2008 documents the closing down of the ultra-orthodox neighborhoods in and around Jerusalem on the eve of the Sabbath.
Image by Nira Pereg; from the exhibit Art Focus 5.
about: Art Focus 5, 2008 will continue the tradition of providing a rare encounter between contemporary art in Israel and abroad and bringing acknowledgment to Israeli art in the international art scene and media, as well as further familiarizing the Israeli public with contemporary art. Thru October 23rd at the Banit Center, Haoman St. 14, Talpiot, Jerusalem.
Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem.
The ‘New Situation’ aka the Global Economic Crisis
from the Jerusalem Post:
Three weeks ago, a special gathering of rabbis issued an urgent call to the principals of haredi educational institutions, asking them to do their best in light of the “new situation,” and to avoid at all costs a cut in the monthly allowance for married yeshiva students.
The rabbis begged the principals to do their utmost to dispense the stipends on time and to avoid a situation in which the students might be forced to leave the yeshivot to secure other income for their families.
The call was later published in various haredi newspapers, adding to an already tense situation confronting the haredi sector.
from the Chronicle of Philanthropy (issue dated Oct.2):
How Bad Is It? Economy’s downturn prompts new challenges for charities
The cataclysm in the nation’s financial industry poses an uncharted set of challenges for nonprofit organizations. The downturn could potentially affect not just private giving, but money charities get from government sources — and it is hitting at a time of year when many charities get the bulk of their donations. What’s more, for groups that serve the needy or others harmed by the economy, demand for aid is on the rise.
from the Nonprofit Quarterly:
What the Financial Sector Meltdown Really means for Nonprofits and Philanthropy
In the wake of the federal government’s intervention in the financial markets this past week—unprecedented since the Depression era banking legislation put through by Franklin Delano Roosevelt—nonprofits should not look to philanthropy from commercial banks and investment firms to soften the blow of the ailing economy and the inevitable impact on the nonprofit sector.
Market Meltdown
an excellent and extensive report from the New York Jewish Week:
‘Genuine Emergency’ For Charities, Agencies
As one former Jewish official called for a national emergency summit of Jewish leaders to deal with the fallout from the market meltdown, Jewish charities were grappling this week for an appropriate response to a fast-moving crisis few fully understand.
The problem could be especially acute in New York City, where a tax base heavily dependent on Wall Street and the financial sector is already starting to feel the effects of the crisis. On Tuesday Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered spending cuts of $1.5 billion over two years. Those cuts could prove just the tip of the iceberg as the crisis deepens.
A key indicator of the impact on high-end philanthropy could come on Thursday, when the UJA-Federation kicks off its annual campaign with a cocktail reception hosted by former Bear Stearns CEO Alan “Ace” Greenberg. Last year, the event, which brings together an elite group of mega-givers, resulted in more than $40 million in pledges.
Mark Talisman, a longtime Jewish activist who helped guide Jewish charities through the Wall Street meltdown in 1987, has proposed an emergency national summit of Jewish leaders to respond to a crisis he said is fast becoming “many times worse.” The former Washington director for the Council of Jewish Federations (which merged with the United Jewish Appeal to create the United Jewish Communities) told The Jewish Week “our organizations face a potential emergency with donors, who are heavily concentrated in real estate, banking and finance.”
“Kosher food pantries around the country have been out of food since July,” he said. “That’s the first time in memory that’s happened. That’s just one indication this is a genuine emergency.”
Click here to read the complete story.
The Jewish World Speaks
all three from the Jerusalem Post:
Jewish charities fear Wall Street chaos
US Jewish social service agencies and nonprofits say they expect this week’s string of bankruptcies, buyouts and takeovers on Wall Street to severely cramp their end-of-year fund-raising as individuals curtail their donations and whole companies suspend their philanthropic programs.
Officials at the UJA-Federation of New York, which supports 102 social service agencies in the New York area, told The Jerusalem Post Wednesday they were particularly anxious about the fate of Neuberger Berman, a subsidiary of Lehman Brothers whose executives have historically contributed a significant proportion of the approximately $42 million raised annually from Wall Street.
Analysis: Some things can’t be privatized
When the Jewish Agency ceded aliya activities in North America to Nefesh B’Nefesh, it didn’t lose all that much in organizational terms…
It is worth noting that the agency’s primary functions, in terms of organizational size and focus, have long been coordinating partnerships between Israeli and Diaspora communities, managing large social welfare projects in Israel, and providing a Jewish world infrastructure for small communities worldwide…
While community partnerships and social projects would exist even without a Jewish Agency, it is the last function - the network of emissaries in small communities who are instrumental in rescuing Jews in times of crisis - that even the agency’s most energetic detractors acknowledge would be difficult to replicate elsewhere.
Gov’t, JA start forum to aid distressed communities
The Jewish Agency announced this week the establishment of a joint forum with the government that would coordinate assistance to Jewish communities around the world in times of crisis.
Philanthropy and Politics
a guest post by David Roth and Ardie Geldman
The Olmert-Talansky affair has placed the interplay between philanthropy and politics on page one. Several months ago, the prime minister was accused of accepting a number of envelopes filled with cash from Morris Talansky, a US fund-raiser, for personal gain and/or political purposes. This was soon followed by another criminal investigation of Olmert involving the billing of multiple nonprofit organizations for the same overseas fund-raising trips. While these scandals have received extraordinary attention because they implicate a sitting prime minister, there are other examples of interaction between philanthropists and Israeli politics.
The name that most often comes to mind in this context is Arkadi Gaydamak. The Russian-born tycoon has donated millions to numerous causes in Israel, yet it is no secret that he has political ambitions. Last summer a bill was proposed in the Knesset, commonly known as the Gaydamak law, which would count charitable donations of more than NIS 1 million a year for the four years preceding an election as campaign expenses, should a mega-philanthropist choose to enter politics. Read more
Hebrew University Marks 6th Anniversary of Terrorist Attack
Six years ago, during the height of the Intifada, I was a participant in a solidarity mission sponsored by the (now defunct) Alliance for Educational Programs in Israel. One of the core Alliance funded organizations was PARDES, where two students, Benjamin Blutstein and Marla Bennett, along with seven others lost their lives in a terrorist attack at the Sinatra Cafeteria shortly before we departed for Israel. To this day, I will not forget that memorial ceremony in the cafeteria courtyard.
Jerusalem, July 31, 2008 - The Hebrew University of Jerusalem today marked the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attack on the university with a memorial ceremony at the scene of the attack on the university’s Mount Scopus campus.
Nine students and university staff members were killed in the attack: Benjamin Blutstein, Marla Bennett, Revital Barashi, David Gritz, David Diego Ladowski, Janis Ruth Coulter, Dina Carter, Levina Shapira and Daphna Spruch. Close to a hundred were wounded.
At today’s memorial ceremony, Hebrew University President Prof. Menachem Magidor said that the shock of the attack was particularly great because it happened right here in our home. Rather than being a random attack on the Israeli public, Prof. Magidor said that the attack was intentionally targeted at the Hebrew University.
“Those who know the details of the event know that the murderers dedicated a great deal of effort to carry out the attack here,” he said. “Their intention was to attack what the Hebrew University stands for – one of the most remarkable symbols of revival of the Jewish people. They tried to uproot the wonderful achievements of study and research. They wanted to taint the atmosphere of this campus, to weaken our commitment to development, pluralism, tolerance and aspiration for peace.”
Eulogizing the students who were killed in the attack, Prof. Magidor said, “We lost Levina’s smile, Daphna’s wisdom, Revital’s pleasantness, David, Marla and Benny’s search for their roots, David Diego’s commitment to serve his country and society, and Janis and Dina’s devotion to the people of Israel.”
z”l: May Their Memory Be a Blessing
After two years and four days, the circle has closed.
The IDF has positively identified the bodies of reservists Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser Wednesday afternoon, setting the stage for continuing the exchange deal between Israel and Hizbullah.
eJP joins with the Goldwasser and Regev families and our entire global Jewish community in mourning the murder of these two fine young men.
There will be no further posts prior to the conclusion of their funeral tomorrow.
Eight Confirmed Dead in Jerusalem Terror Attack
(last update 8:10 am Friday, IST) Eight people were confirmed dead in a terror attack at Merkaz Harav Yeshiva, near the entrance to Jerusalem last night. According to Channel 2, the “Galilee Freedom Brigades”, which claimed responsibility for the attack, is a Hizbullah-affiliated organization.
Three of the wounded in the attack at the Mercaz Harav yeshiva in the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood were in serious condition, and taken to Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Karem. The other six were lightly hurt and taken to Sha’arei Tzedek Medical Center.
Jerusalem District police chief Aharon Franco said the terrorist entered the building, pulled out an automatic weapon and began firing in every direction. Witnesses said he managed to fire 500-600 bullets over the course of 4-10 minutes before he was killed.
click here for more from Haaretz (and Haartez TV); here for JPost; or here for the N.Y. Times
