Report illustrates family foundations are leading the way in giving back to society in a time of need, and calls for greater support to ensure more are created UK family foundations - which have contributed £6.4 billion to charitable causes in the past five years - play a crucial role in addressing social issues in the absence of adequate state funding and amongst increasing economic uncertainty, finds the fourth annual Family Foundation Giving Trends 2011 report. The report, produced by Pears Foundation and the ESRC Research Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy at Cass Business School, found giving from foundations grew by 27% in the past five years (outpacing corporate and public giving). The report calls for greater support to their establishment, to ensure family foundations can … Continue Reading
90% British Jewish Students Open About Identity
Jewish students are comfortable being openly Jewish at British universities, despite having concerns about attitudes to Israel on campus. Their commitment to Israel and the Jewish People is robust, but their appreciation of their personal social responsibility lacks muscle. These are some of the findings of the 2011 National Jewish Student Survey, conducted by JPR, the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, and published today. The survey was initiated by the Union of Jewish Students and commissioned by UJS in partnership with Pears Foundation. The survey provides the most comprehensive portrait of Jewish student identity ever painted. It examines a wide range of issues including what and where Jewish students are studying, the nature of their Jewish beliefs and behaviours at university and at … Continue Reading
JPropel and Renewing the Jewish Communities of Europe
Over the past two weeks, Schusterman's @Roicommunity, Paideia and the Pears Foundation's JHub have run a series of activities in the classic Swedish university town of Uppsala under the banner of the Summer of Change. @aharonhorwitz and I were privileged to represent PresenTense there as 'staff,' Aharon as part of the incubator, and both of us together at JPropel teaching a few workshops over the course of a few days, from our PTSchool series, and leading a text-based learning on business model development for social enterprise. It was a fun affair. For a little under a week, approximately 50 individuals, the majority from the various countries of Europe, hung out, ate, drank and took boat rides whose main outcome was the bonding of young activist Jews across the world, and an understanding that … Continue Reading
European Social Innovators Connect to Create New Expressions of Jewish Life
Jerusalem, August 3, 2011: As Europe faces an acute identity crisis, 48 social justice activists, artists, environmentalists, media and tech gurus, educators, Israel advocates and intercultural dialoguers will gather for four days at JPropel in Sweden to address the challenges confronting the European Jewish renaissance and to enhance the role of up- and-coming Jewish leaders in shaping a Europe that embraces respect for all religions and cultures. JPropel is a joint initiative of JHub, Paideia and ROI Community to propel forward a new generation of European Jewish leaders. “In the shadow of the horrific massacre in Norway, JPropel shines a light on European Jewish initiatives which combat racism by reviving the spirit and culture of its victims,” said ROI Community Executive Director Justin … Continue Reading
JDub is Dead: Long Live JDub
by Shoshana Boyd Gelfand “Funerals, while sad, are a celebration of a life and the impression that a single life has had on this earth. As such, there is such a thing as a good funeral.” I remember hearing this in my practical rabbinics class at the Jewish Theological Seminary as we were learning how to give a eulogy. These words have come back to me over the past few days as I have read various responses to the news that JDub Records is closing shop. While I appreciate the thoughtful and eloquent comments of my colleagues, my own instinctive reaction has been quite different. Certainly, I share their sadness that JDub is closing its doors, but I don’t share their assumption that JDub’s life should be judged by whether or not it was sustainable long-term. While we are all still … Continue Reading
Introducing the 2011 Summer of Change
The past decade has seen a remarkable growth and revitalization of Jewish life across Europe. New initiatives are emerging in countries all over the continent, and people are connecting and reconnecting to Jewish life - culturally and spiritually. Social entrepreneurs are creating new realities, focusing on education, arts & culture and community building, and introducing new ways of expressing Judaism, ways that are inclusive, open and accessible, reaching people who were previously unaffiliated to the established communities. Paideia, ROI Community and JHub have played an integral part in these important developments and work together towards a shared vision of a vital and vibrant Jewish culture in Europe. The time has now come to reflect, celebrate and to continue building: reflect on the … Continue Reading
Social Capital Keeps Jewish Startup Sector Forging Ahead
Despite the economic downturn and its effect on Jewish philanthropies and nonprofits, the number of new Jewish non-profit organizations continues to rise dramatically, today reaching more than 600 initiatives serving 630,000 people across North America. In addition to money - nearly $200 million per year flows to this startup sector each year - a robust portfolio of education, leadership and organizational development programs is powering the innovation sector and its leaders - and in turn, broadening the reach of their startup initiatives. These are the major findings of the 2010 Survey of New Jewish Initiatives in North America, a project of Jumpstart, The Natan Fund and The Samuel Bronfman Foundation. The survey is intended to help current and potential funders and nonprofit leaders make … Continue Reading
Start-Up Continent: European Jewish Innovation
Inspired by a unique survey conducted in 2010 of New Jewish Initiatives in Europe, Leadel created a montage of European Jewish start-ups in partnership with Jewish Jumpstart to bring the survey to life. Spanning across the continent of Europe from London to Kiev, come explore a continent that rich is Jewish culture, ideas, and entrepreneurship, through the eyes of the people and their projects. "Start-Up Continent" European Jewish Future People and projects included - in order of appearance: Amsterdam, Jewish Salons Lievanath Faber - Co Founder and Director Salon Amsterdam Sophia, Limmud Keshet Bulgaria Vienna, Muslim Jewish Conference Ilja Sichrovsky - Founder and Director London, Jewish Theatre Company Joel Stanley - Founder and Director Valencia, La Javura Alba Toscano - … Continue Reading
Rededication Across the Continent
by Joshua Avedon Rededication - the act of restoring something to holiness - is a defining element of Jewish life. More often than not, Jews lose the first round with an adversary, only to persevere and ultimately thrive. Not long ago, the Jewish narrative in Europe was one of vanishing communities, crumbling buildings and decreasing relevance. But in recent years, a new story has become visible, illuminated by hundreds of Jewish startups reaching hundreds of thousands of people. The tiny lights of Jewish rededication are burning brightly across the continent. The emerging organizations and communities in Europe are intimate and authentic expressions of Jewish values as lived in a modern European context. Most are focused on learning, the arts, or community - they embrace the most permeable … Continue Reading
UK Family Foundation Giving Up 40 percent
The UK’s top 100 family foundations have defied the economic downturn by giving £1.4 billion to charitable causes in 2008/2009, according to the third annual Family Foundation Giving Trends 2010 report produced by the ESRC Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy at Cass Business School, City University London with Pears Foundation. The report challenges the UK’s wealthiest individuals to follow the example of family foundations by providing a long term commitment to tackling some of the challenges faced by society in the current climate of austerity. It paints a vivid picture of the commitment, drive and diversity of approach to giving amongst family foundations in the UK, highlighting many thoughtful and imaginative initiatives. The key findings of the report are: The largest … Continue Reading
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