What is Jewish Philanthropy? Call for Submissions

What is Jewish Philanthropy?
a crowd-sourced conversation

“Jewish philanthropy supports a vast network of Jewish non-profits, large and small. The annual campaigns of local federations produce over $1 billion, supporting a variety of local organizations. The Jewish National Fund, The New Israel Fund, Israeli universities and a myriad of Jewish organizations around the world collect hundreds of millions of dollars as well. Synagogues received billions of dollars from hundreds of thousands of members who make annual  gifts in the form of dues and other contributions. Jewish donors, both large and small, are central to the health of the American Jewish community.

However, Jewish contributions to the general society are even more dramatic. Colleges and universities, hospitals, and arts/cultural institutions are among the vast array of causes to which Jews give enormous sums, beyond what they might give to Jewish organizations. Jews are well integrated into American society and their giving, especially their mega-giving, often reflects this reality by going to non-Jewish causes.” (Mega-Gifts in Jewish Philanthropy, Gary Tobin and Aryeh Weinberg, 2007).

But, what is Jewish philanthropy?
And, why is it so difficult to define Jewish philanthropy today?

To look at these questions, and more, eJewish Philanthropy invites contributors from across the philanthropic and academic worlds, to join an online roundtable where we will look at the ever-changing world of Jewish philanthropy in the 21st century.

We encourage submissions from the theoretical to ‘out-of-the-box’; on areas as diverse as communal responsibility, generational issues, women’s philanthropy, teen philanthropy, Maimonides’ Ladder in the 21st century, volunteering as an act of philanthropy and more.

Initially, we’re looking for submissions in two categories:

• unpublished thought pieces on what is Jewish philanthropy including how we interpret and can make relevant today (between 800-1000 words)
• what Jewish philanthropy means to me (between 300-400 words)

Please send submissions, along with a 1-2 sentence bio, in the body of an email to:
ejewishphilanthropy [at] gmail [dot] com by January 31, 2012.

“We know what it means to care about an issue or a cause.
But where does philanthropy come into the picture?
How can we use it to improve upon the things we care about?”
(What is philanthropy? Those in know explain, Deirdre Maloney)