Welcome to ejewishphilanthropy.com, a resource dedicated to educating and advancing the use of the Internet in the world of Jewish Philanthropy. Today marks a conclusion, but also a beginning and a continuation. A conclusion of almost a year, connecting and learning from many friends and colleagues on how best to proceed. Valuable suggestions have come from so many to bring us to where we are today, a beginning. As we look to the future, ejewishphilanthropy.com has ambitious plans; this will be our continuation. We invite you to visit us frequently as we share helpful tips on using the Internet to advance the causes we are all dedicated to. We also plan to keep you updated on ...

This past summer, Jerusalem played host to a variety of international conferences with the common topic, the Jewish People and the Future. These gatherings addressed sometimes overlapping issues but were markedly different in both the age groups targeted and the tone set for the Jewish future. In reflecting on two of the larger and more public events, it is clear older, more established institutions in the Jewish world are unfortunately still often closed to emerging leaders; this in spite of the constant bemoaning the dearth of future leadership. At the same time there are hundreds of young, passionate and talented Jewish activists, eager to take on serious leadership roles. They are not waiting for an invitation, but are already taking ...

Most people treat Jewish community work like a casual non-profit. But perhaps there’s a more effective, more business-like way to encourage innovation within a responsible, results-oriented framework? PresenTense Editor and Publisher Ariel Beery and his frequent business partner Aharon Horwitz think so, and tell you all about it in their new article in Ha’aretz, “Investing in Value." To save our community from the boom-and-bust dynamic, we need to prioritize value over image, and encourage young entrepreneurs to seek out value-enhancing opportunities that will allow them to generate returns on investment. To do so, the model of today’s Internet start-ups might be instructive: Start-ups now begin with a prototype and seek small seed investment. When a prototype is deemed to work, ...

Habitus, A Diaspora Journal is part of a new breed of Jewish magazines being created by young Jews and 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, first Budapest and now Sarajevo, the magazine speaks to contemporary readers "who wrestle with what it means to be truly at home." If you are in Manhattan, check out ...

The Jewish Week got it. So did Gary Rosenblatt and Haviv Rettig. As Gary wrote, "Whether out of pragmatism, devotion or desperation — or a combination of all three — the leadership of UJC, the Jewish federation movement of North America, chose to feature the next generation at this GA, front and center." Judging from the multitude of comments heard over several days, this was the right decision. Because despite the anxiety of the baby boomer generation, this new generation wants and deserves an equal seat at the table. So, as we move away from the GA, some random and final comments picked up in various sessions and hallways in Nashville: "...great young talent here at the GA..." (Joe ...

The mantra of this Next Generation. A key plenary took front and center as we were presented with a group of dynamic young leaders who are finding new ways to build community and their version of Tikkun Olam. The common thread among these showcased young leaders and their projects is innovation and commitment. They are helping us enlarge the town square of Jewish life and we must encourage and support them. Both Esther Kustanowitz and Dan Sieradski were brilliant and on point concerning this demographic, their needs and what is necessary to attract and engage this group in the larger community. Esther spoke passionately about the new uses of technology and online communities being formed:...

A name coined by the UJC. Yet, as was mentioned to rounding applause at one of the sessions, perhaps a poor choice. For using the word 'next' we are not concentrating on who they are but rather on who they will become. If this GA showed us anything at all, it is they already are. It did not matter where you turned during these few days. From the Academy Award winning film, West Bank Story to Ethos Water; from talented and accomplished Israelis like Miri Ben Ari to Pnina Gaday, this demographic is already leaving their mark. BTW, while Miri turned in a stellar performance Monday night at the GrandOleOpry, virtually nothing was said about ...