Johannesburg - February 6, 2012 - At a time when South Africa is emerging as a regional economic powerhouse that continues to gain global visibility as a center of new ideas and energy, the first South African Young Jewish Innovators Gathering will bring together 50 trailblazing social entrepreneurs, business pacesetters, activists and thought leaders to create a strategic network that will deepen their impact on their communities, the Jewish world and beyond. The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and South Africa’s Sasfin Bank Limited are partnering to shine a spotlight on these dynamic young innovators and help them connect with each other and, where possible, create partnerships that will engage large numbers of young Jews in Jewish life. The invitation-only event will open at … Continue Reading
End the Polemics and Restore Dialogue to the Jewish Community
by Avi Herring Over the past several decades, two of the pillars of American Jewish communal consensus - fighting anti-Semitism and supporting Israel unconditionally - have crumbled. But instead of exploring why our consensus has fallen apart and working together to find new areas of agreement, we often hurl offensive polemics against one another. What little structured Jewish communal conversation that exists is descending into dysfunction. There are many reasons why the communal consensus has broken down. First, most American Jews do not experience anti-Semitism or, if they do, it is an insignificant part of their lives. Second, Israel’s presence in the West Bank and the increasingly anti-liberal laws coming out of its parliament are alienating some American Jews, who have built their … Continue Reading
Leveraging Networks: From Commitment to Action
by Andres Spokoiny and Jay Ruderman On December 6th, nearly 175 leaders - funders, academic experts, and program leaders - came together in New York to explore ways that our community can do more to be fully inclusive of people with disabilities. With the collaborative leadership of the Ruderman Family Foundation and the Jewish Funders Network, the conference showcased two important lessons for active philanthropy. The Jewish Federations of North America, its Boston affiliate Combined Jewish Philanthropies, and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee all played important supporting roles. First, and most obviously, disabilities is a critical issue: no community, let alone one the size of the Jewish community, can afford to exclude people on the basis of what Tim Shriver, CEO of the … Continue Reading
Do You Run a Jewish Organization?
Within the next 3-5 years there is projected to be a huge and rather ominous transfer of professional leadership at the very top level in virtually all fields of Jewish Communal Service in North America. How are these “CEOs”, (title used generically for executive directors, presidents, EVPs, Heads of Schools, etc.) viewing and proactively planning for their “stepping down” period? How are their boards and organizations anticipating it, as well? That is the focus of a current, timely research project under the auspices of JCSA (Jewish Communal Service Association (JCSA) and funded principally by a partnership of five foundations (Andrea & Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, Avi Chai, Meyerhoff Family Foundation, Pearlstone Family Fund and Schusterman Family Foundation) along with eleven … Continue Reading
Getting Next Generations
by Wayne L. Firestone At first blush, it is flattering that there is a no-holds-barred race on campuses around the country to “get” (or connect with) the next generation of Jewish student leaders. An increasing percentage of the approximately one hundred thousand Jewish students who enroll annually in college participate in birthright, MASA, Yeshiva Gap Year, alternative service learning and camp counselor immersive experiences, domestically and around the world. They head back to campus with a revitalized appreciation of Jewish identity, Israel and the importance of Jewish values in an era of global citizenship, but also with probing questions that they want to explore further. At this year’s General Assembly in Denver, feedback from student leaders and young professionals in their … Continue Reading
Catalyzing Jewish Networks: How Can Jewish Schools and Camps Join In?
by Leah Meir “Jewish geography” is a favorite game among Jews who meet up anywhere - conferences, social gatherings, work meetings, street corners. You know the game questions: “So where are you from?” “No kidding, New Jersey! Do you know my brother (son, daughter, sister), who went to school (camp, college) there?” “Sure, I know your brother (son, daughter etc.) - We were really friendly at school (camp, college etc.)! I actually just connected with him (her) again through Facebook (Twitter, LinkedIn).” Jews have been master networkers since the Babylonian exile 3,000 years ago - our survival as a people has depended on the ability to stay connected with fellow Jews wherever they were scattered across the globe. Our networking helped us hold fast to our shared values, texts, … Continue Reading
Reflections on NetWORKS: Sparks of Connectivity
by Annie Lumerman Growing up in St. Louis, it seemed like every Jew was either a doctor, a lawyer or a social worker. Kiddush was always a room full of doctors consulting lawyers consulting social workers. Even though I didn’t want an MD, JD or MSW, I liked that these professionals were able to make connections and help each other. The synagogue served as an open space to bring separate communities to work together outside of work. Like many communities, that of doctors and lawyers and social workers are complex, but it was this spark of connectivity that got me interested in the power of networking. Participating in the NetWORKS Gathering felt like a continuous series of sparks. The conference was boundless. I expected the conversation to be controlled, but it was fluid and open-ended. A … Continue Reading
Sandy Cardin: “Viva La Revolución”
With representation from 16 countries, ROI’s Ibero-American Gathering opened last night in Buenos Aires. This, ROI's second Latin American gathering, was hopping from the opening minutes. The ruach of almost 50 Latinos electric throughout the hotel. Developed in co-ordination with local program partners including Hillel Argentina, ORT Mexico and Taglit-Birthright Argentina, this five day program of unique networking and skill-building sessions will move the needle by "harnessing and elevating our collective impact in creating a Jewish future that is vibrant, relevant and widely accessible." (Justin Korda, ROI Community's executive director). Speaking at the opening program, Sandy Cardin - president of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, discussed "the role each of you play … Continue Reading
We The People of Israel
by Yonatan Ariel Recent contributors have raised the nature of the challenge for Israel education at this time. For the last several years Makom, among others, has been raising the call for this kind of conversation. Sometimes it has felt as though we were blowing a shepherd’s flute in the midst of a rock concert. Yet slowly, slowly there are the outlines of an academic field (kudos to the Schusterman Foundation), and various kinds of educational inquiry and practice (with Makom, Center for Israel Education, the iCenter, the Melton Centre for Jewish Education and the Hartman Institute Engaging Israel project). James Hyman argues that as American Jewish identity is largely constructed as a religious identity, then to become attached to Israel requires the broadening of our conception to … Continue Reading
Jewish Organizational Equality Index Launched
Dr. King and the Jewish Organization Equality Index by Adam Simon On a chilly Sunday a few weeks ago, I took my children to see the new Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial off the National Mall. As we walked across the Potomac River, seeking distraction from the biting wind, we discussed why Dr. King deserved such an honor. At five and eight years old, their questions were poignant and telling: it was not the fact that someone had fought for equal rights and freedoms that bewildered them - it was that he had to fight for it as recently as when their grandparents were in college. To my young children, equality is a given and diversity a cause for celebration. The prospect that someone might be treated differently because of the color of his skin does not exist. And the idea that someone might … Continue Reading
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