By Jonathan Krasner When President Barack Obama declared at the first White House reception for Jewish American Heritage Month, in 2010, that America must “uphold the principle of tikkun olam - our obligation to repair the world,” he became the latest in a parade of prominent American politicians, celebrities and opinion-makers, including Bill Clinton, Cornell West and Madonna, to invoke the term. The Americanization of tikkun olam reflects … [Read more...] about The Americanization of Tikkun Olam
Archives for February 2015
Never Before, Never Again
For those of us deeply engaged in Jewish life, as lay leaders or professionals, it is no longer “business as usual.” By Sandy Cardin It has been almost 25 years since I became a Jewish professional, a stunningly long time from virtually every perspective. And while it is hard to remember much from the early 1990s, I recall feeling a sense of optimism as an American, as a Jew and as a Zionist. The world seemed poised for unprecedented … [Read more...] about Never Before, Never Again
Revised Law Lays Foundation for a More Inclusive Israeli Society
By Leiba Chaya David JNS.org Recent statistics indicate that approximately 1 million people in Israel have a disability, defined as a health problem that interferes with their daily activities. This definition covers a wide range of challenges, including physical limitations, mental illnesses, behavioral disorders, and more. Yet perhaps the most important part of the definition is “interferes with their daily activities.” Close to 1 million … [Read more...] about Revised Law Lays Foundation for a More Inclusive Israeli Society
Seattle Study: 59% Gave Most or All of their Donations to non-Jewish Organizations
The Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies and the Steinhardt Social Research Institute have released the "2014 Greater Seattle Jewish Community Study," the latest in a series of population studies that uses both meta-analysis data and new surveys to estimate the size and characteristics of the Jewish population. The resulting analysis found that Seattle Jewry has grown nearly 70% in the last 13 years, fueled both by highly educated newcomers … [Read more...] about Seattle Study: 59% Gave Most or All of their Donations to non-Jewish Organizations
US Charitable Giving Expected to Grow by 4.8% This Year
Charitable giving in the United States is expected to grow by 4.8 percent in 2015 and by an additional 4.9 percent in 2016, according to The Philanthropy Outlook, a new report researched and written by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. The outlook projects that the expected growth of total giving in each of those years will exceed the estimated annualized average rate of growth in total giving in the years following … [Read more...] about US Charitable Giving Expected to Grow by 4.8% This Year