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
Breaking The Myths of Innovation
by Bill Robinson Well, it’s a beautiful summer day here in Reisterstown, MD as the fellows and faculty of Project InCiTE take the first steps toward tearing down the myths of innovation to which we have succumbed over the last decade. Fifteen years ago, I entered the world of Jewish education as a full-time researcher for arguably the first national philanthropic initiative - Mort Mandel’s Council for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE) - bringing innovations from general education into a moribund Jewish world. Today, I see our world filled with dozens of new philanthropic initiatives offering innovative solutions for engaging Jews. Great strides have been made and yet at times all seems to remain the same. Everyone is still searching for the next great innovation. We have … Continue Reading
Two Generations of Leaders
from the Jewish Chronicle: Our ‘future leaders’ set out their visions What are young Jewish “leaders” and “thinkers” interested in? If the 120 participants in the fourth annual Return On Investment (ROI) Summit last week in Israel are anything to go by, the answer seems to be: the same things as other starry-eyed idealists - student politics, human rights, multiculturalism and volunteering in the developed world. They also want to find other Jewish partners with whom to explore these interests. The summit - organised by the Centre for Leadership Initiatives, founded by philanthropist Lynn Schusterman - is billed as a gathering of “young Jewish innovators from around the world”. from The Forward: A Fresh Face Takes Over Embattled UJC “It could be an Obama … Continue Reading
Zeek, The Forward and 21st Century Jewish Media
I know it's only a coincidence that on the evening before the announcement of the Rockower Awards for Excellence in Jewish Journalism, a new partnership between The Forward and Zeek: A Journal of Jewish Thought and Culture was publicized. Coincidence because the deal was set a while back and it just so happened last Wednesday was release day. This new partnership will enable Zeek, an award-winning journal that has retained both its independence and its expansive definition of Jewish cultural and spiritual life, to attract a broader audience for its in-depth coverage of Jewish politics, spirituality and culture. Zeek's contributors range from well-known rabbis and professors to emerging artists, musicians and poets. But the real story is the transformation of The Jewish Daily Forward, the … Continue Reading
The Jewish Pulitzers for 2008
The Simon Rockower Awards for Excellence in Jewish Journalism, the most prestigious accolades in Jewish media, have been announced. Known to some as the ‘Jewish Pulitzers,’ the awards were initiated in 1980 to promote quality Jewish journalism and are given out at the AJPA’s annual conference every June. And, keeping up with the times, the AJPA recognizes Outstanding Websites as one of the fifteen categories. We salute the winners in the Web-only publications division: First Place InterfaithFamily.com, Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts AJPA comments: A fabulous resource site that answers the easy and tough questions surrounding an interfaith family life. The site is easy to use, accessibly written, and discrete when necessary. This site makes a valuable contribution to the … Continue Reading
Networks of Collaboration
The Jerusalem offices of both PresenTense and ROI are in full swing finalizing preparations for their summer fellowship programs. Two weeks ago, we introduced the PresenTense Institute 2009 Fellows. Today, the (mostly complete) list of those who will be attending this summer's ROI Summit. Selected from almost 600 applicants, this cohort's participants - all first time ROI attendees - call 29 countries home (up one from last year). Sharing a passion for Jewish life, community and innovation they represent the best of our next generation of 'doers'. Here's philanthropist Lynn Schusterman, 'doer' extraordinaire, on ROI: "The aim of the summit is to promote innovation in the global Jewish community, while developing the participants' managerial and innovation skills. Our assumption is that their … Continue Reading
NextGenJews.org: The New Address for Federations’ Young Leaders
UJC National Young Leadership has launched a vibrant new Web site, NextGenJews.org, designed to inform, inspire, and connect young, socially conscious Jewish adults. With bold graphics and lively text, NextGenJews.org welcomes visitors and offers multiple ways to explore content. The text and graphics underscore a key message: that the Federation system creates opportunities for young Jews interested in connecting with peers and making a difference in the world. “The ‘hands-on’ message is key, because today’s young Jews have shown they want to be deeply involved in social action, and they very much relate to our goal of tikkun olam, ‘healing the world,’” said Cindy Nimhauser, co-chair of National Young Leadership. “But more than in the past, what draws them to an organization … Continue Reading
PresenTense Launches School for Pioneering
Are you looking to sharpen your web skills and business astuteness? Feeling the need for an inspirational jolt? PresenTense's new School for Pioneering, is a community-driven university model in which individuals who have special talents and professional experiences teach classes for the general community and provide practical tools to social entrepreneurs. Registration is now open for the pilot semester. Don't delay - for more info and to register, check out this exciting new venture. … Continue Reading
JFN 2009: Mark Charendoff’s Vision
by Mark Charendoff “You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant Walk right in it's around the back Just a half a mile from the railroad track You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant” As a young boy, a very young boy mind you, growing up in the sixties, Alice’s Restaurant held a very special place in my heart. It was clever and ironic and captured the spirit of those days. You may remember the red VW micro bus, the shovels rakes and implements of destruction, and the twenty seven eight by ten color glossy pictures with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one was to be used as evidence against us. You may even remember the people on the bench marked Group W. So if you … Continue Reading
Collaboration: The Buzzword of the Day
Ahead of the curve, again. KolDor and PresenTense, with a mutual grant form the Natan Fund, have partnered together in order to strengthen and leverage both networks, while globalizing the PresenTense network beyond North America and Israel. The venture will be overseen by a steering committee made up of representatives from both organizations. The program is made up of two symbiotic aspects: Mentorship - KolDorians will serve as mentors for members of PresenTense in order to answer questions facing the Jewish People and to catalyze ventures that will impact the Jewish world and beyond. Building these relationships across networks will facilitate the sharing of knowledge, tools, and connections and will create a strong young leadership in the Jewish world. Joint events - KolDor and … Continue Reading
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