Social Media Networks: Entering the Third Dimension of Connectivity with Web 2.0

The Golden Age of Social Media Networks

We are entering a golden age of social media networks enabled by Web 2.0.

In thinking extensively about it, I have come up with a paradigm to describe our current place in history: the Third Dimension of Connectivity.

Explaining the Three Dimensions

The first dimension is personal. The second dimension is public. The internet extends the second dimension by putting the public persona online, and the social media networks of Web 2.0 mark the third dimension.

I also posit that the fourth dimension will be a combined public/private domain in which users create identities for interaction in an artificial world. (This sounds more confusing then it is, keep reading.)

Allow me to explain.

The First Dimension: Personal

The first dimension is that of home. It is our personal, private lives, symbolized by what goes on “behind closed doors.” Think: family, friends, relationships, religion, gender, sexuality. This is where our personal identity is created.

The Second Dimension: Professional

The second dimension is that of profession. It is what we do in public, symbolized by the marketplace. Think: school, job, race, ethnicity, and everything we do outside the home that adds to our public persona. This is the image that we portray to the outside world.
Extending the Second Dimension: The Internet

Then there were two and a half dimensions: personal, public, and web.

The internet in its foundational stages became an extension of the second dimension. People and businesses in the know came to use webpages to establish themselves in the public eye. Homepages became a second office, another way of promoting a brand.

The internet made it possible for us to take our public identity and put it online to connect with a far greater network of people than had ever before been possible.

The Third Dimension: Social Media Networks Enabled by Web 2.0

The third dimension is Web 2.0. Its greatest achievement has been putting your home online, adding the potential of having a unified web identity with the personal and professional combined.

Social media networks create personal relationships among people, transforming the “closed doors” of your personal space and your “market” identity through online networks. The result is something completely new.

What Is To Come?

If the internet put our public lives online and Web 2.0 puts our private lives online, then what is left?

My answer: whole new identities associated with the creator, but whose characteristics the creator can pick and choose as the final arbiter of what image goes into the newly combined public/private domain.

In real life, like it or not, we judge and are judged on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality, along with a host of other traits. It affects all aspects of our daily interactions.

I believe that the fourth dimension will take this idea to a higher level where an entire new identity is created in an artificial world. (Think Second Life.)

Announcing November’s Carnival of Giving: “What Business Practices Should Nonprofits Adopt to Maximize Their Resources?”

I am proud to be hosting November’s Carnival of Giving. Our question this month is: “What business practices should nonprofits adopt to maximize their resources?”

We know from research and experience that the private sector is far more adept at handling resources than the public sector. What can we as nonprofit organizations learn from for-profits in how we conceptualize and manage our organizations?

Should we think about ways to offer our employees better incentives? Should we require our managers and directors to have degrees in the field? Should we partner more deeply? Display our image more prominently? Use social media tools more expansively?

I can’t wait to hear what you think.

How to Participate

Please send me your responses via e-mail to mnorton [at] TheNewJew.org and include:

• Your name
• The name of your blog
• The title of your article
• A link

If you don’t have a blog, you can leave me a comment below or e-mail me your article and tell me how to credit you.

Please submit your contribution by Monday, November 26th and I will post shortly thereafter. I know it’s tricky this month with Thanksgiving coming early in America, but I am really excited to hear your ideas on this question.

If you don’t get time to write a full post, send me a note and tell me your thoughts- consider it an electronic postcard.

Encouraging New Participants

Help spread the word by posting news of the Carnival in your blog and telling your friends, especially those who are new to blogging or might not know of us yet.

You can even tell your off-line colleagues and encourage them to write in. All entries will be published.

If you have participated in the Carnival of Giving previously, then I have your contact information and will be sending you a reminder by e-mail in the coming days.

Please spread the word to get as many quality entries as possible so that we can have a good conversation.

Bonus Points

Head over to Tactical Philanthropy’s One Post Challenge to promote conversations in philanthropy among bloggers and foundations.

On your mark, get set, write!

Guest Author Tsvi Bisk Asks “What if one billion dollars a year were used to buy Israeli alternative energy technology?”

I asked Tsvi Bisk to share his thoughts on Jewish philanthropic giving, particularly as it related to Israel and the American Jewish community.

Mr. Bisk is the director of the Center for Strategic Futurist Thinking and the author of a new book, The Optimistic Jew: A Positive Vision for the Jewish People in the 21st Century.

I am honored by his contribution and hope you find the concept of multi-dimensional giving to leverage economic and social benefits as fascinating as I do.

Jewish Giving in the Twenty-First Century by Tsvi Bisk

The real challenge for Jewry in the 21st century is to develop concepts of “multi-dimensional” and “multi-purpose” giving. To leverage philanthropic dollars to generate multiple effects- much as smart investors leverage investment dollars to generate multiple effects.

As others in this debate have indicated, we must replace the either/or decision making of how to divide the Jewish philanthropic dollar with “national/universal projects” that have both Jewish and universal impact inherent in them. Let’s replace the concept of the philanthropic Chinese menu- 20% of giving to column ‘A’ (Jewish causes) and 80% of giving to column ‘B’ (non-Jewish causes)- with projects which are by nature 100% Jewish and 100% universal.

The Energy Example

In my recent book The Optimistic Jew: a Positive Vision for the Jewish People in the 21st Century (Maxanna Press, 2007) I expand on this concept, devoting an entire chapter to “The Jewish Energy Project” in which I identify petrodollars as a “Jewish Problem” (financing anti-Semitism, terrorism and nuclear weapons). I suggest Jews formulate a coherent energy policy aimed at creating political alliances and economic instruments to help downgrade oil as the dominant international commodity.

Yad Vashem Honors Albanian Muslims Among Righteous Gentiles

On Thursday, Yad Vashem will inaugurate an exhibition of Albanian Muslims who were “Righteous Among Nations.” This designation, the Jewish people’s highest honor, is awarded to those who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.

Albania’s Righteous Actions

When the Axis Powers invaded Albania in 1939, the good people of Albania refused to release the names of their Jewish citizens. They provided false papers and helped their Jewish population hide amidst the general public.

They were so effective in their efforts that Albania became a safe haven for Jews fleeing other regimes.

Albania is one of the very few countries in Europe- and the only one under Nazi dominance- whose Jewish population rose during World War II.

Not a single Jewish life was lost to the Nazis in Albania.

What Made Albania Different?

What made the Albanians refuse to comply with the Nazis when almost everyone else did? Their strong Muslim beliefs.

Here is one man’s explanation:

“Why did my father save a stranger at the risk of his life and the entire village?” asked Enver Alia Sheqer, son of Righteous Among the Nations Ali Sheqer Pashkaj, who is featured in the exhibition. “My father was a devout Muslim. He believed that to save one life is to enter paradise.”

Israeli Volunteers Wanted: Helping the Elderly, Hospitals, Museum Guides

Volunteers Needed in Jerusalem

Volunteers are needed in Jerusalem. Description and contact information is below the cut.

There are many wonderful organizations serving people in need all over Israel. This list represents one that I received from organizations in Jerusalem expressing a desire for volunteers.

If these organizations don’t meet your availability or interests, I encourage you to keep looking and find ones that do. Volunteering has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my life.

Volunteering Resources in Israel

• Volunteering in Israel provides comprehensive resources on Israeli organizations, both for Israeli residents and visitors
• YNet News’ Activism site features human interest stories and allows you to find volunteer opportunities via a searchable database according to your geographic region and area of interest. More than 280 organizations are listed

If you work for an organization that needs volunteers, you can register for YNet’s database using this form.

Jerusalem-Based Organizations in Need of Volunteers

• Amcha: Support for Holocaust Survivors
• Ezer Mizion: The Israel Health Support Organization
• Melabev: For Seniors with Cognitive Impairment
• Yad Sarah: helping the sick, disabled, and elderly, and their families
• General: volunteering with the elderly, in hospitals, and at museums

Continue reading to learn more about the organizations and find out about their volunteer needs.

Your Volunteering Experience

Have you had a moving or inspirational volunteering experience? Do you have a favorite resource or organization? Why is it special to you?

British Academics Visit Israeli Universities in Wake of Boycott: Reactions from Israel

British Academics Visit Israel

British academics visited universities in Israel last week seeking collaboration between Israeli and British universities.

The visit comes in the wake of the British boycott of Israeli universities was called off on September 29th. Their visit signifies a desire to promote collaboration between the two nations, which already have intense collaboration in the areas of medicine, biotechnology, and social sciences.

Head of the British Mission to Israel Speaks

Prof. Rick Trainor, President of Universities UK

“Struck by the tremendous academic strength of Israeli universities…There is an absolute contradiction between academia and a boycott. We have come to talk about the importance of deepening academic ties between England and this part of the world.”

 

Reactions from Israel

Prof. Yuli Tamir, Education Minister

“This visit symbolizes the desire to strengthen academic cooperation between the UK and Israel, a desire that we mostly welcome and definitely share.”

 

 

Prof. Yosef Yeshurun, Chair, International Advisory Board for Academic Freedom

“The visit serves as a counterpoise to the defunct academic boycott. Instead of threatening academic freedom, it represents a practical effort to generate academic cooperation for the benefit of all.”

 

Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev, President of the University of Haifa

“I am pleased that the threat of a boycott has finally been removed; we now have to focus our efforts on research and scientific cooperation.”

 

Prof. Arie Moran, Deputy Vice President, Ben-Gurion University

“The willingness of the British academics to come to Israel and the Palestinian Authority and to see for themselves the cooperative work being done here is very reassuring.”

Middle Eastern Collaboration

Note that the University of Haifa and Ben-Gurion University have the deepest ties with universities in the Palestinian Authority. They have made the significant efforts toward promoting coexistence efforts and academic collaborations between Israel and Palestinian universities.

Jewish Groups Aid in California Wildfire Recovery Efforts: You Can Help Too

Jewish Groups Established Funds to Aid Fire Recovery

In light of California’s devastating wildfires over the past week, which evacuated up to a million people, Jewish organizations are establishing funds to help assist survivors repair their lives.

You can help.

Make a Donation: 4 Ways to Help

1. The United Jewish Federation of San Diego County has established the Jewish Community Disaster Fund to provide assistance for Jewish families and communal structures hurt or suffering from the fires. Click here to donate.

2. The United Jewish Communities have set up a Western Wildfire Relief Fund to help all survivors of the fire. The funds will aid first responders and help social service organizations deal with the immediate and longer term ramifications of the crisis. Click here to donate.

3. The Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, in coordination with the UJC, has added donation information on their website for the Southern California Fire Response 2007. The Federation will partner with Jewish Family and Children’s Services to coordinate their response to help all of the fire’s survivors. Click here to donate.

4. Hillel is updating their site regularly on the state on the fire’s effects to the Jewish and non-Jewish community. Hillel students are organizing volunteer efforts for displace families as well as locating local synagogues for families whose homes have been destroyed. Funds will go to support these efforts. Click here to donate.

One hundred percent of donations will go to those in need in San Diego and Los Angeles. No overhead will be deducted.

NOTE: I am updating this post with giving options as soon as I receive them. Expect more in the days to come.

Lives Affected

It is hard for me to think of any one group when the fire destroyed so many lives, but I will note the JTA’s Jewish numbers for your reference:

• San Diego, the hardest hit, has a Jewish population of 100,000
• 14 fires ravaged the San Diego area
• La Jolla’s Lawrence Family Jewish community center was evacuated
• 40 synagogues in San Diego were in fire zones, likely exposed to significant damage; 2 were fully evacuated
• The Los Angeles Jewish community, estimated at 550,000, as well as those in Orange County are thought to be safe from harm’s way. No damage has been reported from their 37 synagogues or three day schools

My Heart Goes Out
My heart goes out to everyone exposed to this inferno. It is hard for me to contemplate the reality of such heat or light and its impact on people’s lives. Likewise, I was in Israel when Katrina happened. I will continue reading the news and listening to my friends’ experiences.

Photographs To Help Us Understand

These 10 photographs helped me understand more than any what it is like in Southern California right now.

Wall of Flames- Photo by Wally Skalij, October 24th: East Grade Road, Palomar Mountain

Birds’ Eye View- Photo by “jwlchr:” near Foothill Ranch

Using StumbleUpon to Enhance Your Web Experience & Drive Traffic to Your Webpage

Discovering StumbleUpon

After reading rave reviews of StumbleUpon from my fellow bloggers, I decided to check it out. I am glad I did.

StumbleUpon is essentially a channel surfing mechanism for your computer (similar to Tivo in many regards). You sign up for your interests by checking relevant boxes in categories like health, entertainment, news, and others, and download a StumbleUpon toolbar for your internet browser.

StumbleUpon is also an important tool for nonprofit organizations because it helps drive traffic to your foundation’s homepage.

How To Use StumbleUpon

On the far lefthand side of your screen at the top of your browser is a “Stumble” button. Click it and it will take you to a website that it thinks you like based on your preferences inputted.

Next to the Stumble button are thumbs up and thumbs down symbols, which you click on to help StumbleUpon refine your preferences to improve its future recommendations.

You can click on the speech bubble to read reviews of the webpage by other StumbleUpon users and to write your own. If you are the first one to rate the site, you have “discovered” it and your profile will be attached to the review page every time someone views it.

The more times someone clicks the StumbleUpon icon or writes a review of your homepage, the more web traffic will be driven your way.

(Note that this screenshot is an older one. Your newly downloaded version will be more advanced with better one-touch option capabilities.)

Israel Biggest Polluter in Eastern Mediterranean

Halloween has come early to Israel this year. Have I got scary news for you– Israel is the biggest polluter in the eastern Mediterranean.

Israel Fails on Marine Report Card

Zalul, one of Israel’s leading environmental organizations, reports in State of the Sea 2007 that over 100 permits for discharging waste in coastal waters are granted annually, with special leniency given to major companies.

The study states: “The Permit Committee for discharges to the sea, operating in the framework of Government ministries, is one of the main causes of the pollution, by granting permits for the discharge of industrial and municipal wastewater to the sea,” calling for “urgent action to prevent an ecological disaster along Israel’s coastline” (p. 8).

As a dubious distinction, Tel Aviv has been cited by the United Nations as one of the 10 worst urban polluters in the Mediterranean.

Ministry of Environmental Protection: “Israel’s Coasts are Clean or Very Clean”

I have to say that I am confused by the Ministry of Environmental Protection’s claim that Israel’s coasts are “clean or very clean” (Oct. 2007). What are we supposed to do with this mis/information after Zalul’s findings? We can say with surety that one of these organizations is way off base.

The Ministry’s report states that: “No areas were classified as ‘dirty’ or ‘very dirty,’” making me think they need to clean their test tubes and start again. I don’t know what to think of this clearly fallacious report, so I’ve given you the link and will leave it at that.

Fast Fact: Workers Who Earn an Hourly Wage Volunteer Less

Fast Fact

A new study by the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management reports that workers who get paid by the hour are less likely to volunteer than their salaried colleagues.

According to the study, wage workers volunteer less because they are used to calculating their time by the clock.

I’d also like to suggest that they have less time and feel as if they have less control over how they manage their day.

The Tip Off

Thanks to Todd Cohen of Inside Philanthropy for the information. Todd says:

“Companies that care about being socially responsible need to find creative ways to move beyond treating wage-earners as replaceable parts and create a corporate culture that celebrates and encourages the value employees add to the company and the community by giving back.”

Hear, hear.

Jewish Communal Giving: Throughts from the Blogosphere

“Anticipate charity by preventing poverty” ~ The Rambam

Jewish Communal Giving: Thoughts from the Blogosphere

Since my original post “Jewish Foundations Give Only 20% to Jewish Causes,” there has been a lot of great discussion. I’d like to use this post to review the different schools of thought.

Reviewing the Issues

Gary Tobin and Aryeh Weinberg recently released “A Study of Jewish Foundations” through the Institute for Jewish and Community Research. That report stated that Jewish foundations (organizations founded by a Jew) were giving only 20% to the Jewish community.

In my post, “Jewish Foundations and Their Philanthropic Giving,” I provided a list of the top Jewish foundations and what percentage they were donating to Jewish causes, with the reminder that a lower percentage from a large foundation could still amount to millions in aid.

The Jewish philanthropic community is a proud supporter of people in need from every religion, ethnicity, and culture. This sense of social responsibility to all of society is a key aspect of Jewish values.

Including Israel in Jewish Communal Giving

While acknowledging the generosity of the Jewish community both in the United States and in Israel, I want to return to the idea of including Israel in Jewish communal giving.

While the American Jewish community is thriving, many Israelis are still struggling to survive at a basic level.

I urge American Jewish foundations to remember Israel in their giving and not to assume that all is well and stable quite yet. The stereotypical wealth of Jews in America is not yet a reality here.

News reports remind us that:

• Israel has the highest rate of child poverty in the Western world
• 33% of Israelis believe that fighting poverty is the most urgent issue in society
• 28% of Israeli citizens are living in poverty (1.6 million people)
• 618,000 Israeli children don’t get enough to eat on a daily basis

(Sources: Israel News Agency, Meals4Israel.com, YNetNews)

What People Are Saying

Ami from IsraelTomorrow commented:

“It is interesting that Israel is not seen as the primary donation destination. At least not as much as it was in the past. Maybe it is a good sign of new Israeli prosperity and less of a need for philanthropy. But I keep seeing signs on the roads here ‘A million people hungry in silence’ (translated from Hebrew) ~ maybe with less tourism from world Jews, less awareness of what is going in in Israel on a daily life, we can call it one contributor.

Philanthropy Across the Globe: Asian Philanthropists Give Most Generously

Introducing: Tidbits

I am starting a new section of this blog called Tidbits. In it, I will occasionally bring you bits and pieces of information you might find interesting. They will be anecdotal in nature, just enough to get you curious.

Tidbits may not be related directly to Jewish philanthropy, but to the giving world in general to bring you a wider perspective of the field.

Given the increasingly interconnected nature of the global economy, it is important to be aware of our brothers and sisters in different countries and their philanthropic and nonprofit practices. We all have something to learn from each other in this respect.

If you ever read a tidbit that you’d like me to write more on, just let me know and I will happily oblige.

Comparative Philanthropy

Today’s tidbit has to do with global giving.

Did you know that Asia is the most philanthropic continent? Well according to a new survey conducted by Merrill Lynch and Capgemini who surveyed those with over $1 million in assets (other than their primary residence), Asian millionaires are among the most generous in the world.

The findings showed:

• Asians who contributed to charities donated 12% of their wealth to philanthropic causes
• Comparatively, North Americans and Middle Easterners donated 8%; Europeans donated 5%; and Latin Americans gave only 3%

Virginia Tech Thanks Donors for Gifts, Asks “Now What?”

Foundations are sometimes the recipient of well meaning, but not well directed gifts. Virginia Tech is facing such a situation right now.

An Overflow of Generosity

Six months after the April 16th shooting on the Virginia Tech campus that killed 33 and injured many more, the University has reportedly received over 90,000 gifts from around the world. They include banners, t-shirts, flags, statues, plaques, quilts, stuffed animals, dolls, wreaths, cards, and candles.

Steven Estrada, who is in charge of gift archiving efforts, reports: “We have every category. You name the category and we have it. Just for T-shirts alone we could have a museum.”

Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth

While Virginia Tech’s situation is obviously different than a foundation’s, you may have found yourself in this scenario as well.

• Has your foundation every said yes to a donor who wanted to sponsor a pet project that didn’t quite fit your needs?
• Have you accepted donor funding even though you knew you couldn’t exactly meet the grant’s criteria?
• Have you pursued funding from an organization because you thought you would get it, even if it didn’t really meet your foundation’s priorities?

These are easy traps to fall into. Your organization is trying hard to support its mission through fundraising efforts, and you think if you tweak the criteria or adjust your priorities to meet the needs of the donor (over your own), you might just land a windfall.

Top Jewish Foundations and Their Philanthropic Giving

Jewish Foundations Giving 20% to Jewish Causes

Last week I wrote a post on Jewish Foundations Giving Only 20% to Jewish Causes.” A number of people were nice enough to comment and e-mail to let me know that when the report talked about Jewish organizations it referred to organizations founded by a Jew, and not necessarily those run as a Jewish community organizations.

Report on Jewish Foundational Giving

I’ve now read the report in the original, “A Study of Jewish Foundations” (of the Institute for Jewish and Community Research) and see that authors Gary Tobin and Aryeh Weinberg clearly define their terms. (My source did not.)

You can see the list of foundations below, sourced from pages 12 and 13 of the report.

Bringing You Primary Sources

As my blog develops, I am getting a better sense of my resources and will make every effort to share primary sources with you so that you can access them firsthand.

Presenting: The List

In no way is my presentation of this list intended to pass judgment on any of these foundations. Rather, consider this a user friendly guide to major foundations doing important work in the Jewish community and promoting Jewish values in the world.

Keep in mind that a small percentage of total funds given by a large foundation could still amount to a great deal of actual support. For example, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation donates 52% of their annual funds to Jewish causes, but with a budget of $2 billion, this equals $52 million.

Here are the top Jewish foundations organized by the percent their organization gives to Jewish causes.

75%- 100%

Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, aiding vulnerable Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe

Avi Chai Foundation, perpetuating Judaism and the Jewish people, supporting the State of Israel

Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, Inc., encouraging young people’s appreciation of their Jewish history, heritage, and culture, and improving the quality of life in Israel

Charles E. Smith Family Foundation (unknown), read more about the Charles E. Smith Life Communities for older people

Charles and Lynn Schusterman Foundation, spreading the joy of Jewish living and learning

Ted Arison Family Foundation USA, Inc. (unknown), read more about Ted Arison (z”l)

Mandel Supporting Foundation, providing outstanding leadership to the nonprofit world

Jewish Philanthropy with a Twist: Find This Man a Bride

Attention Jewish Mothers!

If Jewish philanthropy means doing good on behalf of the Jewish people, well have I got a proposition for you– or rather Josh does. Find Josh a bride and win $1,000. It’s as simple as that.

Find Josh a honey: get his money.

Ready to earn your money? Let’s assess what we know

• Josh’s real name is Shuki. His friends named him Josh because it is more American (he spends a lot of time in the US) and it “sounds much cooler”
• Josh is a 32 year old small business owner. He is a software engineer
• Josh is looking for a woman older than 25, a non-smoker, with the usual package of fun, cute, smart, good sense of humor, and ready to settle

As to what they’ll do on their first date? Why, a visit to Mom, of course.