Friday, September 3, 2010

Incrementalism and the Need for a New Jewish Philanthropic Narrative

People need a sacred narrative. They must have a sense of larger purpose, in one form or another, however intellectualized.
E.O. Wilson, American biologist

Although the Jewish people are often described as a people of the book,»

Shifting Paradigms at Federations

Among the various Jewish institutions buffeted by change, Federations may face the greatest challenges. Their value proposition is losing traction as cultural values shift, while their style of governance and management are ill-suited to reacting swiftly to change. As a»

From Refugee to Communal Professional

August 3, 2010 by eJP  
Filed under The American Jewish Scene, The Blog

by Valerie Khaytina

Early nineties. We are on the train from Kiev to Moscow for the biggest event of my life – an interview in the American embassy to go to the United States. We have to prove that we»

JTA and Jewish Newspapers

August 2, 2010 by Bob Goldfarb  
Filed under The American Jewish Scene, The Blog

Two weeks ago the news service JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency) announced that its publisher, Mark Joffe, was stepping down suddenly after 17 years in that position, and that his successor had already been named. The board chair acknowledged»

Zionism and Peoplehood: Toward a Historical Synthesis

July 27, 2010 by eJP  
Filed under Peoplehood: A Sense of Belonging, The Blog

by Gidi Grinstein

Pesach is an intellectual feast for those of us that are engaged with Jewish identity. As we read the Haggadah and go through the Seder, we leisurely engage the three anchors of our identity – religion, nationalism»

Jewish Groups Receive New Funds for Security

July 18, 2010 by eJP  
Filed under In the Media, The American Jewish Scene

According to the Jewish Federations of North America, new federal funds were made available to Jewish nonprofit groups for security purposes.

The Jewish Federations of North America hailed the release of $19 million to nonprofits through the Department of Homeland

»

The Jewish Futures Competition

July 15, 2010 by eJP  
Filed under Fellowship and RFP Opportunities

The BJENY-SAJES together with JESNA’s Lippman Kanfer Institute, are very excited to launch the Jewish Futures competition:

Rarely, does an opportunity present itself for unheard voices to take center stage before the movers and shakers of an entire community. This»

Reimagining What Might Be Possible: The Innovative Spirit of Today’s Jewish Life

During December, 2009, a consultation on Jewish innovation and social entrepreneurship was convened in Toronto. The goal, to begin a process to address the key issues that will affect the success of the Jewish innovation sector.

Dr. Caryn Aviv has»

The Great Reset: The Jewish Agency and the Pursuit of an ‘Exemplary Society’

June 30, 2010 by Seth Cohen  
Filed under In Case You Missed, The Blog

    “We once were a people without a home; will we become a home without a people?”

This was the question I asked last week when addressing the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency as part of the presentation»

Dispatches from Jerusalem: The Jewish Agency and the Myth of Collective Bargaining

In recent days, as I have shared with my communally-engaged friends that I would be in Jerusalem for this week’s Jewish Agency meetings, the response has been consistent and all too predictable. First the person expresses jealousy that»