Following are items on other Web sites that are of interest to our philanthropic world.
from The Australian Jewish News:
Financial instability may hit Yom Kippur fund-raising
WITH a fluctuating stock market and uncertainty about the future of investments and superannuation balances, shulgoers may be tempted to linger an extra minute over their pledge cards this Yom Kippur.
However, the presumption that people tighten their belts and their charity donations as soon as the economy begins to waver may differ from the reality.
Helen Imber, executive director of the Australian Jewish Funders, said the Jewish community would continue to open its wallets for worthy causes.
“My gut feeling is that people will still give, but they will give smaller,” said Imber, whose organisation assists Jewish philanthropists to give effectively.
from Haaretz:
Bronfman: U.S. support for Israel hinges on recognition of mixed marriages
Edgar Bronfman, 79, still best known in the financial world as the owner for many years of Seagram’s Whiskey and until a few years ago as president of the World Jewish Congress, recently published a book, “Hope, Not Fear.” Over its 222 pages, Bronfman preaches for comprehensive reform of the content of Jewish life, and calls for changes in the conduct of its religious streams – particularly in the relationships between them.
In an interview with Haaretz yesterday, Bronfman said: “Judaism must open up and fully accept families where one of the parents is not Jewish. If a revolutionary change is not made in the present rejectionist attitude toward mixed couples, the Jewish community in America will shrink and lose its influence, and American support for Israel will be in danger.”
from The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle:
Could the economic downturn kill Jewish innovation?
The past decade has seen a groundswell of innovative Jewish nonprofits — from the birth of a Jewish pop culture magazine, Heeb, to the creation of a slew of trailblazing Jewish social service organizations, to an array of projects that allow Jews to express their Judaism through ways other than the prayer book.
But as these initiatives reach adolescence and eye expansion, the spiraling economy and financial crisis threatens to stunt their growth and thwart the next generation of startups from even getting off the ground.
update: a correction.
Since we originally published this link, we have been informed of an error in the story. Particularly since it deals with innovation and new funding in our community, we thought it important to update the story.
From the article: “There may even be hope for those looking to start nonprofits, as the Joshua Venture — the incubator that helped launch this movement, but then went on hiatus in 2006 — has announced on its Web site that it is now seeking new applicants.”
We received an email from Yoni Gordis, of the Center for Leadership Initiatives (one of the foundations taking part in the re-launch effort), indicating that the Joshua Venture has not yet started to accept fellowship applications and there is no announcement on the website indicating they are.
eJewish Philanthropy will keep you up-to-date when the search process begins.
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