by Eetta Prince-Gibson The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation (CLSFF), chaired by Lynn Schusterman from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a primary supporter of Bat Kol, the Israeli organization for religious lesbians. CLSFF is one of the largest Jewish-centric philanthropic foundations and donates, according to most estimates, some $70 million annually to a wide range of primarily, but not solely, Jewish projects. Bat Kol is part of ROI, one of CLSFF's flagship projects, which, according to its publications, "aims to support young leaders worldwide who are making Jewish life more exciting and accessible." In and extensive and telephone interview with The Jerusalem Report, Schusterman, 70, discusses her support for ROI, her engagement with the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) … Continue Reading
The Power of An Idea; The Power of Limmud New York
Limmud New York, the first child of Limmud International, recently concluded their 6th annual conference. Launched in 2005 by six volunteers, and assistance from UJA Federation of New York, The Picower Foundation and Bikkurim, last weekend's conference featured over 300 sessions for the 700 participants along with heat! With attendees from three weeks to 97 years old, there was programming for all. 100 kids and teenagers participated in a winter camp and a vibrant group of college students helped keep the tempo high. Here's a sampling of what's being said: Tamar Fox writing in MyJewishLearning.com: Limmud NY 2010: The Quintessential Limmud Experience The thing I always love about Limmud is the sheer number of times every day that my world is completely rocked by brilliance. In any … Continue Reading
The Phenomenon Called Limmud
55,000 meals served; 900 sessions; 320 presenters, a 380 page program book and 2500 participants from 40 countries. Those attending ranged from eight weeks to 90 years; 1000 were first-timers and 300 were between 5 and 18. Such were some of the stats from last month's LimmudUK. Known simply as "Conference" this annual independent event is, in the words of Sir Jonathan Sacks, "British Jewry's greatest export." Held in the week between Christmas and New Year's, this year's Conference was the biggest ever. Bringing together religious and secular, affiliated and not, traditional and alternative to celebrate, to create and to provide a catalyst for individuals to further their own Jewish learning in an inclusive atmosphere. Conference took place on the campus of the University of Warwick in the … Continue Reading
Limmud UK: The Mother of All Conferences
by Adam Rattner Some 2,000 people checked into the halls of residence at Warwick University, West Midlands, yesterday morning, joining the 500 participants who had already spent the Christmas weekend away from festivities and in a Shabbat atmosphere instead. Long unsure about what to do with themselves as the rest the country celebrates Christmas, Britain's Jews have found an unlikely answer - go to university for a week. The Limmud conference, the world's biggest Jewish educational get-together, offers the chance to sleep in university dorms and spend the day in lecture theaters listening to academics, rabbis and lay people presenting on just about every Jewish topic conceivable. Participants were still arriving on Sunday, weather conditions permitting, from all over the world. Since its … Continue Reading
Applications Open: Legacy Heritage Fellowship Class of 2010-2111
Do you know someone who would like to make a difference for Israel through a career in the public sector, government or the media? Legacy Heritage Fellowship is seeking candidates for the Class of 2010-2011 for this prestigious international, fully paid, year-long fellowship which is open to post-graduates, outstanding college graduates and young professionals. They are looking for gifted, highly motivated individuals who wish to work in the fields of international relations, politics, the media, NGOs, think tanks, etc. in Israel, Europe and North America. Fellows are matched up with positions in the countries in which they reside and are mentored by senior executives in their placements. In addition to their ongoing professional development (including monthly conference calls, newsletters and … Continue Reading
Why Should We Care?
Over the past year or so, we've often written about the projects and the people, connected to the PresenTense network. Most of the stories have centered around their flagship fellowship program that takes place here in Jerusalem each summer. However, before there was a summer institute, there was PresenTense Magazine. Like eJewish Philanthropy, the magazine is as an all volunteer effort; and one that "provides a nurturing environment where Jewish youth are able to explore and enrich their Jewish identity within a pioneering framework." Their most recent issue deals with Philanthropy; currently at the printers it will be available shortly. Some of the questions the issue addresses are: what is the point of volunteering for non-Jews? Is the Jewish Philanthropic establishment relevant anymore? What … Continue Reading
From WestHampton, New York to Russia’s Far East, Limmud FSU Makes Inroads
Seven time-zones from Moscow, about as far east as one can travel in Russia, lies the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, or Region. Established in 1934 “for the Jewish population of the Soviet Union to receive a territory in which to pursue Yiddish cultural heritage within a socialist framework” this out-of-the-way region is today largely forgotten by world Jewry. But here, last week over 300 [mostly] young Russian Jews gathered in the capital city of Birobidzhan for four days of seminars, workshops, entertainment and just plain fun at the first ever Limmud in Russia’s Far East. Planned to coincide with the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Oblast’s founding, the attendees were provided a window not only to their own heritage but an opportunity to connect to the global Jewish … Continue Reading
Investing in Jewish Youth
This article originally appeared in the FJC News. 1967. New York: American businessman Sanford Bernstein founded the Sanford C. Bernstein & Company, specializing in investment management. Within 15 years, Bernstein became one of the largest firms on Wall Street. Within the next 15 years the annual turnover from clients served by the Company reached 80 million dollars. 2009. Moscow: The Avi Chai Foundation allocates a sizeable grant to Or Avner, the educational umbrella organization which, among many other projects, oversees Jewish children's summer camps in Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union. Thanks to this funding, educational projects threatened with closure due to the financial crisis were literally saved. As in previous years, more than 2,000 children will benefit from … Continue Reading
Who Said Jewish Boys Can’t Rap?
Meet Matt Bar: Bible Raps Learn Torah, bit by bit, from alphabet, to sentences, to pages, with phrases from sages oh baby… Rapper and educator Matt Bar infects his students with Torah. He’ll take a lesson plan, spin it on its head, and bust out rap lyrics that get kids crazy about learning. These lyrics from his song “Rabbi Akiva and Raquel: Learn Torah” not only teaches the story of Akiva’s struggle to study, but also teaches students they can learn anything if they try, bit by bit. Incorporating passages of Torah, commentary and Midrashim, Bar may get the prize for developing a curriculum that get students running in Hebrew school doors to learn. Bar thought using his hip hop talent would just make his job a little easier, but instead he became the unofficial “Best Hebrew … Continue Reading
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