Source: Flickr, Just.Luc

The air is popping, molecules are dancing, you can practically feel the crackle in the air– alive with energy in the world of Jewish philanthropy and innovation. The New Jew is here to bring you the news that can’t be missed.

Israel

• Israel President’s Conference– Today is the first day of the 2nd annual President’s Conference, founded by President Shimon Peres. This year’s theme is “Tomorrow’s Future.” To get live updates on Twitter, click on this link where I have collected all the relevant resources for you

(Flickr photo link via Just.Luc, Creative Commons)

In the Media

• Free Press Index– Israel’s Free Press Rank plummets on Reporters Without Borders’ index due to tightened government control over the media during Operation Cast Lead (Gaza 2008/2009) and during the elections. Israel dropped 43 places to #93. (The US is #20, up from #40 last year)
• Human Rights Watch: Anti-Israel– In this New York Times op-ed, Robert L. Bernstein, former chairman of HRW criticizes the group for repeatedly singling out Israel for human rights violations without holding other Middle Eastern countries to equivalent standards
• Shalom, Al Jazeera– An Egyptian newspaper broke the story that Israeli billionaire Haim Saban was set to acquire the Arab world’s news station. The story is yet unconfirmed
• Palestinian Jews? It’s not Pre-State Deja Vu– The Wall Street Journal’s James Woolsey asks if we have Israeli Arabs why can’t there by Palestinian Jews?
• Our Israel? – A raging debate between The Forward’s Jay Michaelson and the Shalem Center’s Daniel Gordis centers on the question of how we perceive Israel as a Jewish state and as our state. Michaelson complains: “My love of Israel has turned into a series of equivocations,” in reference to his stance toward Israeli politics, peace, and Palestinians. Gordis counters, “But you know what I love about this place, Jay?  I love that all the political baggage is mine.” (Don’t forget to read the comments as well)

Jewish Connectivity

• Assessing Birthright Israel– It’s been 10 years. Where does Taglit-Birthright Israel stand after a decade of hard work? Here are the statistics: Birthright has brought 200,000 young Jews to Israel so far– 10,000 will come this winter. Philanthropic  dollars: $80 million raised: 55% from individuals; 22% from Jewish communities and the Jewish Agency; 23% from the Israeli government

— Interested in Jewish Connectivity, Israeli Technology & the Environment, Israel’s Economy & the Jewish Community Landscape, Innovation & Education? Read on. —

• Jewish Community Heroes– Still waiting to hear who the first Jewish community hero will be? Well wait no longer. Get off your couch and onto your keyboard. The judges want your help in choosing what traits are most important in our hero, so get to it. The winner will be announced at the UJC’s General Assembly in November and will receive a $25,000 award
• Religion and State in Israel– Can we talk about religion and state for a moment? Rabbis in Israel are paid by the government, but before you get too excited about that prospect, understand that these are Orthodox (male) rabbis. If you live in the US and are a practicing, non-Orthodox Jew, you can’t imagine how heavy handed this system can feel. Enter Rabbi Mauricio Balter, by all accounts a great rabbi of the people and lovely person, but Israel will not recognize him and pay him as a rabbi because he is not Orthodox, despite the fact he is the acting rabbi of his community. Reading his profile will not only make you feel good as a person and about the future of Judaism (with leaders like these), but will give you greater insight into the confluence of religion and state in Israel
• Jay Ruderman: A Man of Vision– The Ruderman Family Foundation, lead by Jay Ruderman, is coming to be known in the world of Jewish philanthropy for their focus on strategic philanthropy. The Foundation has renewed its mandate and decided to focus on one area of change: helping improve the lives of those with physical, mental, and sensory disabilities. They will pursue action through a $6 million grant to the Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in partnership with the Israeli government. (Ruderman’s profile in the Jerusalem Post is recommended reading)

Israeli Technology & Environment

Source: ElectricPig.co.uk

• Vroom, Vroom– According to Project Better Place, spearheaded by Shai Agassi, 2011 will see the establishment of Israel’s electric car network.The International Electrotechnical Commission will convene in Tel Aviv this week to figure out how to standardize electric cars among nations
• Oil Free Zone– At the opening speech of the President’s Conference,  Prime Minister Netanyahu pledged that Israel would be “off oil within 10 years”
• TechAviv Angels– You know how you hear about Israeli hi-techs and start-ups being the future of global communication, be it via web, mobile, or other technological inventions? When you think about the entrepreneurs behind those projects, TechAviv, Israel’s global foundation for entrepreneurs, should come to mind. Enter the TechAviv Angels, whose mentorship and funding will make those ideas come to life
• The Coming Water Crisis– What to do in a desert country with little rain and high levels of liquid consumption? The Israel Water Authority is struggling with this challenge right now. Desalination plants and plans to import water are in the works, but one thing is certain: Israelis must curb their consumption. There’s a lot more to be done than praying for rain

Source: Flickr, Caveman_92223

• West Bank Eco-Power– The West Bank village of Susya has received a gift from their Israeli neighbors: solar panels and wind turbines to light their small community. The project was facilitated by Comet-ME, whose mission is to provide environmental and socially sustainable energy to the poorest Palestinian communities. (Psst, learning about this project should be mandatory)
• Ahmed Amrani, Bedouin Eco-Activist– If you are interested in the environment in Israel, you should take a look at the new efforts in Bedouin communities to become greener. The Green Prophet features an interview with this municipal leader who is the founder of the Green Rahat Assocation (Rahat is one of the largest Bedouin villages in the Negev)

(Flickr photo link via Caveman_9223, Creative Commons)

Israel’s Economy & the Jewish Community Landscape

• The Economy? Ouch– Are you still reading about the pain the economy is inducing in daily life and in the Jewish community? New research from Hebrew University’s Center for the Study of Philanthropy in Israel notes that “Israeli millionaires and billionaires have seen their wealth decrease by 19.5% in 2008, and the number of Israeli millionaires fell by some 2,300 last year” and that “roughly 80% of social services in Israel are contracted out by the government to nonprofit or private organizations”
• Billionaires, Come Home– A tax law intended to lure Israel’s mega rich back home seems to be working. At least one Israeli billionaire, movie mogul Arnon Milchan (“Kings of Comedy,” “Marley and Me”), is coming home

Innovation and Education

• Israel Innovation– So we’ve got a large concentration of the world’s geniuses residing in our tiny state. What do we do with them to advance Israeli innovation? This excellent article by George Gilder explores the history of Israeli creativity and innovation, as well as its struggles to actualize its genius’ minds. Fascinating read. (Hat tip to William Daroff)
• Slingshot Innovation– The Slingshot Fund has announced its top 50 organizational innovators, who it calls “the most creative and effective organizations and leaders across the country [US].” Mazal tov! Learn more about Slingshot here and here (via previous posts on The New Jew)
• Avi Chai Educational Technology Grants– Avi Chai has just announced its recipients for teachers doing important work in educational technology. Kol hakavod lachem, but just as importantly, how can we learn from their work? Check out the EdTech blog to learn from their successes
• Heeb 100– Heeb Magazine names 100 young Jews as top innovators in the fields of art, music, fashion, film/TV, media, books, activism, comedy, food, and entrepreneurship
• Facebook, Auschwitz– I’m not sure how I feel about the recent addition of the Auschwitz Memorial Museum to Facebook. And Tablet Magazine’s title, “Auschwitz Has Added You as a Friend” is making me feel vaguely ill. What’s your take?
• Israeli Arabs and Haredim, Oh My– By the numbers, Arab Israelis and religious Jewish children account for half of all  first graders– but by the time it comes to getting a job, they are underrepresented in the workforce. “If this trend continues,” Ha’aretz remarks, ” the Israelis who work, pay taxes and support society’s dependent groups will have to bear an increasingly heavier burden”
• Just For Fun– Jewcy assesses handwriting samples of three well known Jewish innovators to ascertain their personalities and inclinations. Problem is that they’re known entities, so that information was already public knowledge. Not much divination there

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Chaim Landau reflects on the history of Diaspora giving to Israel and where we stand now. This piece was originally published in PresenTense Magazine’s philanthropy issue.

Sending Money to Israel? What’s Your Return

Well before the founding of the State of Israel, Jews in the Diaspora have been sending money to support a variety of causes in the land of Israel. The simple model, however, of Diaspora Jews as donor and Israeli Jews as recipients, has become outdated.

The Old Paradigm of Giving

It is no longer axiomatic for many young Diaspora Jews that they need to send money to a successful country whose fate seems to have little impact on their own lives.

Money invested in Israel, whether by the individual or the Jewish community as a whole, must benefit both donor and recipient, and needs to be seen as part of a holistic two-way relationship. Such philanthropy, instead of being divorced from Jewish life in the Diaspora, needs to enhance and contribute to it.

Source: Tzedaka.org

The money that Diaspora Jews sent to Israel throughout the years was indispensible in absorbing millions of immigrants, building up the State’s infrastructure, and maintaining an army capable of defending Israel.

What these donors received in return was pride in Israel’s very existence: its military victories, developing infrastructure, and its vigorous and thriving society. They could feel themselves a part of the Jewish people, and active partners in building up the Jewish state even if they did not reside there themselves.

Jewish Poverty in the Diaspora

Yet Israel’s current condition is not the same as in its early years when it was undeveloped and unstable, and American Jewry has its own pressing needs. Jewish education in the Diaspora is still a luxury for many.

— Keep reading for best practice models in engaging donors —

In November 2007 Ha’aretz reported that the Jewish poverty rate was higher in the U.S. than in Israel. In the wake of the Madoff scandal and the economic crisis, philanthropic dollars are scarcer than ever before. In this context Diaspora Jews want to be sure that they are receiving a good return on money that is being sent to Israel, especially in light of increasing needs at home.

Jewish Youth: Perceptions of Israel

Furthermore, according to prominent sociologists Steven M. Cohen and Ari Y. Kelman in their study “Beyond Distancing: Young Adult American Jews and Their Alienation from Israel,” [link leads to download] the attachment of Diaspora Jews to Israel is decreasing with each generation.

If donors give money to causes which they are passionate about, then the future of Diaspora donations to Israel is in great peril. Young Diaspora Jews will not send money to an Israel they feel apathetic about, which has no connection to their identity, or worse yet, which embarrasses them.

* If you’re having trouble with the link above, try here.

Reassessing the Paradigm

A few forward-thinking Israeli figures have recognized this changed situation. In the 1990s, well before Taglit-Birthright Israel’s existence, then government minister Yossi Beilin spoke of the need for U.S. Jews to send their children, and not their money, to Israel.

More recently former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called for a paradigm shift in Diaspora Jews sending money to a strong and economically vibrant Israel while Diaspora Jews have increasing needs at home. The old way – Diaspora Jews writing a check and simply taking pride in Israel’s very existence – is no longer viable.

Models of Giving to Israel

Increasing needs and scarcer resources at home have not deterred Diaspora Jews from continuing to send money to Israel. For these donors, sending money to Israel still retains special significance. More thought, however, must be given to the return that the donors receive from their donations. Ideally this would be in the form of enhancing donors’ Jewish experiences, and especially when it involves making Jewish Diaspora life richer and more attractive.

Following are three examples of organizations that bring Diaspora Jewish money to Israel and offer something palpable to their donors in return.

Partnership 2000

Partnership 2000 twins Jewish Diaspora communities with Israeli communities, allowing Diaspora Jews to be active partners in giving. The Boston-Haifa partnership is a prime example of that two-way relationship, creating living bridges and strengthening the social fabric of both communities.

In addition to monetary donations, the partnerships yield such advantages as people-to-people networking, volunteering on city projects, Shabbat hospitality, and collaborative fieldwork.

The donating community receives in return a more intimate and personal connection with an Israeli community and its residents. Some young Israelis from these communities are deferring their army service for a year in order to spend time living and volunteering in their twin Diaspora community.

During that time they are able to enrich the Diaspora community they are visiting, for example by teaching about Tu B’shvat, an important ecological holiday in Israel that many Diaspora Jews are not even aware of. While Israeli communities may not be sending money to build community centers or support after school programs in the Diaspora, Partnership 2000 allows them to enrich and support Diaspora communities in other ways, making it into a two-way relationship.

Meir Panim

Meir Panim is Israel’s largest supplementary welfare services agency, providing food and social services to Israel’s impoverished residents. By allowing donors not only to contribute money but also their time and skills, Meir Panim enables them to become active partners in a meaningful way.

Whether volunteering on a weekly basis or for two hours during a trip to Israel, Meir Panim tries to involve donors on multiple levels. According to Aliza Solomon of Meir Panim’s resource development team, this strategy reflects a philanthropic culture whereby donors do not just cut a check and suffice with a receipt. Donors want to see the real impact of their donations, and in return to be given a chance to be involved in the giving process.

New Israel Fund

The New Israel Fund focuses on strengthening civil society and promoting democracy, tolerance, and social justice in Israel. For young liberal Jews who are concerned with human and civil rights, the NIF represents an outlet where one’s donations can benefit all of Israel’s citizens, Jew and Arab alike.

According to CEO Larry Garber, the NIF represents a “vehicle for Progressive Jews,” by introducing a discourse relating to social change and civil society in Israel instead of the usual focus on physical security.

The donors return is that they see an Israel where religious pluralist values and civil and human rights are fought for, the environment is sustained, and Jewish-Arab equality and co-existence is promoted.

Moving Forward

The examples are just some of the options in making philanthropy to Israel a two-way relationship where donors benefits as well. Some donors may seek a more direct connection with the beneficiary as Partnership 2000 offers, others may want the chance to play a more active role as Meir Panim allows for, and others may want the chance to donate to causes that have traditionally not been on the radar, as with the NIF.

The common element is that donors feel that they are receiving something meaningful in return.

All this, however, is still predicated upon Diaspora Jews caring about Israel, and in that sense the study of Cohen and Kelman is very disconcerting. Diaspora Jewish leadership, before sending money to Israel, must make provisions for their own community’s needs.

Diaspora Jews must worry about themselves and make sure that emerging generations have the benefit and opportunity of an attractive Jewish education, experience, and identity.

Israel should play an important role in making that happen, but support for Israel cannot be seen as a substitute for what must happen at home.

If anything, support for Israel can only be the consequence of a strong Jewish identity and a commitment to the Jewish people.

The added value of donating to Israel is that it enables Diaspora Jews to meaningfully connect in a variety of ways. The greatest return that Israel needs to give its Diaspora Jewish donors are the tools and inspiration for a successful and vibrant Jewish life around the world.

In this sense it will not be Diaspora Jews giving to Israel, rather the relationship will become more of a two-way street. This in turn will help ensure that Diaspora Jews, especially younger ones, share a passion for Israel and in using their resources (financial or otherwise) to make it a better place.

About the Author

Chaim Landau

Chaim Landau has a post-graduate degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics. He is an American-Israeli Middle East analyst living in Jerusalem and has previously worked as a Legacy Heritage Fellow.

Chaim has just completed the PresenTense Summer Institute 2009, developing “Perspectives Israel,” which aims to educate about the complexity of the challenges facing Israel from a wide variety of viewpoints within the Israeli-Jewish spectrum.

Recommended Reading

Like what you’re reading? Check out posts from other guest contributers:

• Interview with Mark Charendoff, President of the Jewish Funders Network, on “The Future of Jewish Philanthropy”
• Avichai Kremer, founder of Prize4Life and Dollar4Life, organizations that work to combat ALS disease, writes on “Why Orphan Diseases Should Be a Jewish Priority”
• Sarah Schlesinger, former development associate for the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston, anticipates visiting Israel for the first time with Taglit-Birthright Israel, “The Power of Israel: A Birthright Experience”

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How do we live as Jews, caring consciously and spiritually about the environment? I’ve done a lot of thinking about this matter, but the best speech that I ever heard on it was a presentation given at the 2009 ROI Summit.

The presenters have kindly agreed to share their speech with you on caring about the environment and living a Jewish life.

This post is an entry for Blog Action Day 2009.  (Check out the blog, and find them on Twitter at @blogactionday and with the hashtag #BAD09.)

The Speech

Presenters:  Karin Fleisch, Vivian Lehrer, and Anthony Rogers-Wright.

Karin Fleisch:

“Environmentalism just makes sense. We all live on this planet and need its resources to thrive and survive. As Jews, environmentalism is rooted in our history, our religion, and our values.

Climate change, over-consumption, mass species extinction — these are happening now. And it’s not just about the Earth anymore. It’s about preventing massive…human…suffering.

Vivian Lehrer:

But it’s going to be alright – probably – IF we adapt, as we are so good at doing. We already have all the solutions we need to make significant change.

We need to stop thinking of Jewish environmentalism as a separate category and focus on creating a healthier world for all – because, in the process, we’re going to strengthen Jewish communities and identity.

The Jewish imperative for environmentalism isn’t marginal – it’s our most core, mainstream and familiar values and traditions.

Shabbat- is an ecological treasure! A day to rest from shopping, manufacturing, driving!

Kashrut (keeping Kosher)- the idea that what we eat matters, that it’s upon us to minimize suffering of animals! We need to update this to take responsibility for the full impacts of what we eat, the stuff we buy, and what we put into landfills. We vote with our dollars and with our forks for the full story of our food and our stuff.

Brachot (the blessings over our food)- invite mindfulness of where our food comes from. To bless food we have to figure out whether it grew from the ground or a tree; from there it’s a short step to thinking of how it was raised, whether the people involved in getting it to us were paid a fair wage, whether its story helped or hurt our environment.

— Keep reading for a list of Jewish environmental organizations —

To the Jewish Education folks in the room: Jewish environmentalism WORKS! It gives us the opportunity to be relevant again to unaffiliated and young Jews, who see the environment as the single greatest challenge of today. As we come together to farm, do a fundraiser bike ride, pick up local vegetables at our shuls – we have FUN – and create a substantive, relevant Judaism along the way.

To the Building Bridges folks: we have here the chance to combat anti-Semitism by building interfaith partnerships around shared values.

To all of us: we have the chance here, at a time when efficiency is needed, to strengthen our organizations by putting a Green Team in place in each organization, to plan and implement efficiency measures and to shift norms towards more modest consumption. A zero-waste goal for your next public event would create an instant cutting-edge and community feel, while helping the organization.

Anthony Rogers-Wright:

Becoming more environmentally conscious and active is really just a conscious decision to open yourself to making vast lifestyle and cultural changes.

To this end, we invite you to be more conscious about your food consumption, where it comes from, how it was processed and delivered. We invite you to consider the consequences of your actions on your sisters and brothers, and the earth overall. And we invite you to create green groups in all of your religious and secular communities.

Although this Summit was divided into different tracks or groups, I believe that we are all united in that each of your tracks have a responsibility to include environmental consciousness with all of your decisions and conclusions.

To the Bridge Building track: if you will commit to building bridges that consider the environment while inviting interfaith discussions, intrafaith discussion, interracial discussions, and intergender discussion, STAND WITH US NOW.

To the Visions of Israel track: if you will commit to including an environmental imagination in your desired images for the future of this blessed nation of Israel, STAND WITH US NOW.

To the Jewish Service track: if you will commit to including environmental awareness in all of your service and tikkun olam initiatives, STAND WITH US NOW.

If we stand together, Israel shall stand together, and as the world watches and hears us, they too will be compelled to stand with us. Together then, we will remain standing as we eliminate all of the divisions that would attempt to make us fall now and in the time beyond.

Toda raba and shalom.”

The Team

Other members of the 2009 ROI Summit’s environmental team included: Artur Lokomet, Assaf Shmueli, Avner Warner, Einat Kramer, David Krantz, Hamutal Gillo, Jesse Ash, Maya Iluz-Bell, and Olga Skulovich.

(For a fuller explanation of the Summit’s 8 tracks, click here.)

Jewish Environmental Organizations

If you would like to learn more about Jews and the environment, start with these organizations:

• Arava Institute- center for regional environmental leadership, particularly between Israel and Jordan
• Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
• EcoPeace/ Friends of the Earth Middle East
• Green Prophet
• Green Zionist Alliance
• Hazon
• Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership
• Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center, including the Adamah: the Jewish Environmental Fellowship and the Greening Fellowship
• Jew and the Carrot
• Jewish Climate Change Initiative
• Jewish Farm School
• Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel
• Sviva Israel
• Zalul: the Israel Water Blog of the Israeli Zalul Environmental Association

My post for Blog Action Day 2007, “Middle East Environmentalism: Blogging for the Environment,” includes a  comprehensive review of additional environmental organizations in Israel and the Middle East.

Recommended Reading

If you liked this post, you may also enjoy:

• “Israeli Environment: New Mall Seeks to Green the Negev”
• “Shifting Speeds: Israeli Government Invests in Cycling Programs for Sake of  Environment”
• “Charles Bronfman Prize for Humanitarian Action: Seeking a Better World” (includes profile of Prof. Alon Tal’s work in desert ecology)
• “Guest Author Tsvi Bisk Asks: ‘What if One Billion Dollars a Year Were Used to Buy Israeli Energy Technology?’”
• “Israel: Biggest Polluter in Eastern Mediterranean”
• “Gaza Giving: Surfing for Peace with Dr. Dorian Paskowitz”

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The New Jew mourns the loss of the esteemed Dr. Gary Tobin (Z”L), may his memory be a blessing to all he touched.

Sourced from the Institute for Jewish and Community Research:

Founder and president of San Francisco-based Institute for Jewish & Community Research (IJCR), Dr. Gary Tobin passed away on July 6, 2009 at age 59.

Dr. Tobin was an innovative teacher, writer, researcher, and community builder who worked courageously and passionately to help the Jewish people grow and thrive.

In all his work, Dr. Tobin challenged the status quo of institutions for which he cared deeply yet always believed could be better.

Whether it was the Jewish federation system, American academia, or the State of Israel, Dr. Tobin was never afraid to challenge and provoke, always expecting better and more. He believed the greatest expressions of affection came not through blind praise but through thoughtful criticism and unlimited optimism for the things that meant the most to him.

At his last Passover Seder, Dr. Tobin reminded his family that the Jewish people entered the Promised Land without their leader Moses. Dr. Tobin worked tirelessly to coach his team of colleagues at IJCR. He wanted his work to live beyond him, not for the sake of his own legacy but for the sake of the greater good he always pursued. The Institute for Jewish & Community Research will continue to advance his visionary research.

For more information please visit GaryTobin.org.

“The Future of Israel lies in the Negev.”
~ David Ben-Gurion, first prime minister of Israel

If you aren’t intimately familiar with Israel, you may not realize that the country is divided into two cultural and geographical spheres: the Center and the Periphery.

The Center, composed of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and their environs, are densely populated hubs of activity. The Periphery: the Galilee, Golan Heights, and Negev Desert, are more agricultural areas outside of the Center’s reach. This segmentation is critical to understanding the Israeli mindset when it comes to how we perceive each other.

Today YNet News broke the story that Be’er Sheva is set to become home to Israel’s largest mall. With a projected budget of 700 million NIS (approx. $180.5 million) and a three-year timeframe, the mall aims to be not only a commercial center, but a nexus of social activity. Upon its completion, the mall will house clubs for youths, seniors, soldiers, and feature a children’s play area.

Additionally, the new center will be the first green mall in Israel with the following environmental considerations:

• Solar paneling on the roof for energy conversion
• Pools for collecting rain water and condensation from air conditioning to be reused for irrigation
• Green park to be built near mall with connecting bicycle paths around the mall’s periphery

—– Read more about the mall’s environmental impact and plans for Be’er Sheva’s development—–

Getting Real About the Environmental Impact

But let’s not kid ourselves. While I’m proud to read about any environmental initiative in Israel, particularly ones close to home that hold the dual promise of educating Israeli citizenry about the environment and utilizing Israel’s hi-tech prowess, there are some definite drawbacks to this plan when it comes to the environment.

Transportation– First of all, the 100,000 square meter mall will have 1,800 parking spaces. I hope that built into these plans are charge stations for electric cars, spaces for Zip Cars (a girl can dream), and a matrix of bus routes to locations around the city.

Rebranding the Desert City– Second, I am dubious about the designers’ efforts at “breaking the city’s desert-like appearance.” It is one thing to rebrand a city beyond a single perception for which it is known, but let’s get real: Be’er Sheva is a desert city and it always will be, no matter how green its facilities. This is not a bad thing nor should it be viewed as one.

Pollution Control– Third, it is critical that the traffic necessary to sustain a successful mega-enterprise, such as this one, does not create excess pollution. Exhaust from cars and buses, traffic jams on city streets, and noise pollution in residential areas are all potentianl consequences that require close monitoring.

As it is, YNet cites:

“Some 300,000 vehicles pass every day on the Toviyahu Boulevard route, where the mall will be built. 35% of the city’s population lives at a distance of 1.5 kilometers from the mall.”

Be’er Sheva’s Future

It is clear from reading about the mall that the designers have conceptualized their plans with a mind for a future Be’er Sheva, not the present one that exists today.

In the next five years, two key developments will be made in this Negev city:

• Completed construction of an Advanced Technology Park
• Development of the Ramat Hovav area, transferring Israel’s largest military base from Tel Aviv to the Negev region

That the mall’s construction is synchronized with these two factors implies an assumption that Be’er Sheva will:

• Draw commercial interest– Become a national population center that a major commercial enterprise requires
• Attract population– Create housing opportunities for scientists and IDF officers looking to house their families close to their places of employ
• Allow for more income flexibility– Create higher paying jobs for a residential population with an increased spending potential

Conclusion

If all goes as planned, 2012 will be a breakout year for Negev development. While this may leave us pink cheeked that our region is finally getting the recognition it deserves, we must keep critical environmental issues at the forefront.

While the Negev has long been thought of in purely geographical terms– it comprises 55% of Israel’s landmass– the new attention brought by the Advanced Technology Park, the military transfer of forces to Ramat Hovav, and the new green mall makes Be’er Sheva a force to be reckoned with.

Be’er Sheva must grasp the brain power already harnessed by the Negev’s top four employers: the IDF, Ben-Gurion University, Soroka Medical Center, and Teva Pharmeceuticals, and claim its rightful place among the nation’s leading scientists, thinkers, and innovators. A city center that is truly green in its construction and daily activities will serve as a reminder to all that Be’er Sheva and the Negev have much to offer to the citizens of this nation.

Links

If you liked this post, you may also enjoy reading:

• “Shifting Speeds: Israeli Government Invests in Cycling Programs for the Sake of the Environment”
• “Middle East Environmentalism: Blogging for the Environment” – learn more about Israeli environmental NGOs
• “Charles Bronfman Prize for Humanitarian Action: Seeking a Better World” – learn more about Prof. Alon Tal’s work in the Negev
  
• “Bronfman Big Ideas Series: Renewing the Jewish Pioneering Spirit by Volunteer Work in the Negev”
• “Jewish National Fund Hosts Alternative Spring Break” – learn more about the Negev, Center/Periphery dichotomies, as well as the JNF’s Blueprint Negev initiative
• “Israeli Philanthropy: Planned Galilee Medical School May Change the Way We Think About Giving to Israel” — of interest for the Center/Periphery perspective

Image Credit

With thanks to the following sources: mall plan (courtesy of Lahav Group), Zip Car, Israel map.

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I had the honor and privilege of attending this year’s ROI Summit in the New Media Track. It’s been hard for me to put into words the value and inspiration that I was gifted there, so instead of gushing about it, I’ll start by introducing you to four women I met who inspired me.

Manuela Zoninsein, a journalist in Beijing and current Presentense Fellow, seeks to connect Chinese farmers with Israeli agricultural technology. She is in the process of creating Sustain, a newsletter that will “track the evolution of agricultural technology and techniques worldwide”

Nicole Hyman’s goal is create a confluence between citizen media and mobile technology (namely cellphones). A South African strongly influenced by the Rwandan genocide, Nicole strives to provide Jewish bloggers with a way to use mobile media to promote and support Israel

.

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Susanne Goldstone Rosenhouse is the voice behind Jewish Tweets, Twitter’s most popular Jewish presence with over 3,800 followers. Susanne utilized her social media expertise to found ParnasaFest, a grassroots network helping Jews find meaningful employment within the Jewish community

Ziva Haller Rubenstein works for the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem. Her goal is to help make the Jewish Agency’s website more accessible and user friendly across languages, countries, and cultures. Ziva also blogs at the Designist’s Dream (de-Sign-ist, get it?) about sustainable art and design in Israel

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—– Read More About The New Jew’s New Directions —–

New Jew, New Directions

As for me, I joined ROI in order to find new directions for The New Jew. When I began my blog in August 2007, I was passionate about providing my readers with a broad view of Jewish philanthropy. I believed that Jewish giving was a lens for Jewish values and that by studying it, analyzing it, and promoting it, we would refine our thinking and engagement in the Jewish world.

Having taken a mandatory break from blogging because of pregnancy and new motherhood, I found that the need for a blog about Jewish philanthropy had been filled by one of my esteemed colleagues.

At the conclusion of The New Jew’s second year, I am seeking to rework its mandate to achieve the fullest utility, impact, and competitive advantage. Using the foundation of Jewish philanthropy, I plan to expand to cover social innovation in the Jewish world. I hope you will join me as travelers, friends, and innovators on my Jewish journey.

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In my few moments of spare time a day, I’ve been experimenting with the effect of Twitter’s microblogging. What have I learned? The primary thing that you need to know is that the world of Twitter is wide open to new participants, whether individuals or foundations. It’s a great way to catch the eyes and ears of people who matter and to drive traffic to your blog.

In the last few days I came across a number of stories that I had to share with you– they are that exciting.

1. “10 Twitter Tips for Nonprofits” by Heather Mansfield of Change.org (@changedotorg). The only point I disagree with is Mansfield’s advice that you should provide value to your followers instead of ‘chit-chatting.’ As with any social media platform, I believe it is key to imbue your tweets with a sense of  personality so that you readers feel a personal connection and investment with you as an individual. This is also why I advocate that foundation accounts are headed by a single person whose name is cited. People want to talk to people.
2. “Nonprofit Groups Outpace Businesses in Adopting Social Networking Tools” by Peter Panepento of The Chronicle of Philanthropy (@philanthropy). Among the findings of the UMass-Dartmouth study are that 89% of nonprofits are using some form of social media and that 57% have blogs. These numbers, which may strike some as surprisingly high, are a logical result of the low barriers to entry of social media in this cut to the bone economy.
3. 

   Jared Cohen

   “State Department Atwitter Over Young, Jewish Tech Tutor” by Allison Gaudet Yarrow of The Forward (@jdforward). The best part of this article is the Stephen Colbert interview with our subject, Jared Cohen, who points out that 60% of the Middle East’s population is under 30, and that they are the most accessible, impressionable, and those with whom we have the greatest opportunity to connect. Interestingly, Cohen’s own Twitter page is fairly average (@Jared_Cohen). I guess when you are the youngest member of the State Department’s Policy Planning Team, self promotion isn’t the first thing on your mind.

   — Keep Reading for Highlights on Young Jews Connecting Through Twitter and Israeli Billionaires, As Well as Quick Hits & Hot Links —
   

4. “Tweets– With Substance: Young Jews Look to Twitter Website to Rediscover Jewish Identity” by Adam Kredo of the Washington Jewish Week. The article examines Twitter’s role in connecting young Jews who feel disenfranchised from formal Jewish communities. The article quotes Lisa Kaneff, who says, “It’s not just a social avenue, it’s a religious and educational avenue, one that I’ve never been exposed to.” Using Twitter, Kaneff enhanced both her on- and offline connections with the Jewish community, providing her with a richer experience overall. As always with social media, Twitter should be used as a tool for building relationships with the ultimate goal of increasing people’s personal investment in each other.
5. “Morphed: Cheryl Saban’s Journey from Beach Bunny to Philanthropist”
   

   Cheryl & Haim Saban

   by Allison Hoffman of Tablet Magazine, formerly Nextbook.org (@tabletmag). Cheryl Saban (@csaban) hasn’t always been the wife of one of Israel’s most prominent billionaires. In previous days, she has been a model, single mother, secretary, children’s store owner, and the bestselling author of a thriller based on her own experience as a survivor of rape. Tablet features this personal look at Saban’s transformation, including her most recent efforts: the establishment of The Women’s Self-Worth Foundation, which will provide women with micro-finance grants in Israel and the US.

Quick Hits

Twitter accounts mentioned in this article:

• Mine: @mayanorton
• Change.org: @changedotorg
• Chronicle of Philanthropy: @philanthropy
• Jewish Daily Forward: @jdforward
• Jared Cohen: @jared_cohen
• Tablet Magazine: @tabletmag
• Cheryl Saban: @csaban

Links of Interest

• “JTA’s 100 Most Influential Jewish Twitterers.” I’m number 28!
• Jared Cohen made history this week with a  request from the US State Department to Twitter asking that they delay scheduled maintenance  in order to give enable the voices of Iran’s revolutionaries. The New York Times reports: “Washington Taps Into Potent New Force in Diplomacy”
• Profiles of Jared Cohen by The New Yorker: “Precocious: Condi’s Party Stealer” and Gen-Next.org (photo above is sourced from Gen-Next’s website)
• Cheryl Saban’s biography from her website entitled “What is Your Self-Worth: A Woman’s Guide to Validation.” Note that Saban has a doctorate in psychology and is the author of 8 books
• Profile of Haim and Cheryl Saban from Business Week’s article “The 50 Most Generous Philanthropists” (2007). (Photo above is sourced from Business Week’s website)
• Good reference: “Resources to Help Your Nonprofit Group Navigate Online Social Media” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy

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Remembering the Fallen

On Tuesday,  April 28th, the United Jewish Communities website will be darkened for 24 hours in honor of Israel’s Day of Remembrance (Yom HaZikaron).

The UJC writes:

“Just as every Israeli has been touched by war or terrorism, Yom HaZikaron joins every Israeli and our worldwide Jewish community in a powerful moment of unity and peoplehood.  We are one people, with one destiny.”

Here is a video showing what it is like to be in Israel while the sirens of remembrance sound. The UJC’s commemorative video for Yom HaZikaron can be viewed here.

—– Read More About Defending the Nation of Israel ——

Israel and the Jewish World

I am currently traveling in the US with my son, visiting family. Yesterday afternoon, my husband called over video and we stood as a family while the sirens sounded the call of remembrance in Israel.

Recent events have led me to think deeply about the role of Israel in the world. Despite much controversy about the difference between anti-semitism and anti-Zionism, I strongly urge all Jews to reaffirm their commitment to a strong Israel as the one and only home for Jews in the world.

While it is our duty to assess our actions as a nation in a way that is constructive and brings change, I find that in the world today, the lines between anti-semitism and anti-Zionism are conveniently blurred, allowing for many to cloak their thoughts about the Jews (whether conscious or subconscious) in harsh statements about Israel.

Do not be gentle or ashamed in your defense of the Nation. In striving for a strong and ethical Israel, we seek a better world.

Title photo sourced from here.
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Israel has a new program for Americans and native English speakers: the Israel Teachers Corps.

Modeled on Teach For America, the Israel Teachers Corps seeks to train Americans and new English speaking immigrants to teach in Israel’s disadvantaged schools for one year. Perks include Hebrew language instruction and housing assistance. The criteria are:

“A minimum of one semester of informal or formal educational experience, commitment to service, the Jewish community, and a desire to take on new challenges.”

I don’t like to criticize Israeli or Jewish initiatives intending to do good, but I can’t keep mum on this one. As you know from reading The New Jew, I was an 8th grade teacher for Teach For America in a severely disadvantaged school in Phoenix, Arizona. It was not a positive experience.

Although Teach For America (TFA) has seen significant success, it has many notable weaknesses as well. Based on this description of criteria, the Israel Teachers Corps seems vulnerable to these same problems.

Potential Problems

TFA’s strongest critics, many of whom are teachers themselves, say that putting people who have virtually no teaching background in front of a classroom is asking for trouble. When you add in factors that exist in TFA schools, such as students’ disadvantaged backgrounds and in the case of the Israel Teaching Corps, conflicts of language and culture, the challenges multiply.

The Israeli classroom is known as the Wild West of teaching. Like its street culture, Israel can seem a rough and foreign place to the uninitiated. Aside from being a new mother, I can’t think of any more difficult job than being a new teacher. It is incredibly stressful and emotionally taxing. The double effect of being a new teacher and a new immigrant to Israel seem an almost insurmountable task.

You learn by doing and no short training program, no matter how good, can get you ready for the harsh realities of the classroom. When you get down to it, the first year is about learning what to do and, perhaps more importantly, what not to. You then harness that knowledge and experience and use it to advance into smoother successive years.

When you commit to teaching only one year,  the meaningful relationships that can and must be formed with other teachers and students over time are jeopardized. They know that you are not fully invested in the school and the educational system and are therefore less likely to invest in you. In a situation where the most successful new teachers learn from strong mentoring networks, the importance of relationships should not be understated.

Positives

I do not want to imply that there are no positives to the program, but lacking a link or a program website, I can only comment on the information available, which as been presented herein.

I hope that along with using TFA’s model, the Israel Teaching Corps will learn from TFA’s  lessons as well.

Notes

• Background– Very little information is available online in English about Israeli public schools. I would have liked to bring you more facts and figures for background and context
• Links– There is no online link as of yet for the Israel Teachers Corps. The only online reference I could find online to the Israel Teachers Corps is here
• Recommendation– Pet peeve: I consider it a bad practice when an organization promotes its programming by linking to its website without having further information available once you click through. If you are promoting a program, get your PR established before you begin. 

* Title photo credited to F_a_r_e_w_e_l_l.

Learn More

If you liked this post, you may also enjoy:

• “Supporting Israeli Education: 100,000 Demonstrate for Teachers’ Rights”
• “Shekels for School: the Business of Education in Israel”
• “Get Thee to the Holy Land: A Guide to Volunteering in Israel”
• “Master Israel with the Jewish Agency’s University Tour”
• “Jewish Princess Desert Odyssey: Raising Money for Children in Need Across Israel”
• “Money for Manners: Prize Offered for Ideas on How to Civilize Israelis”

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Blessing the Sun over Tel Aviv (Sandy Teperson)

On the eve of Passover 5769, Jews around the world celebrated the Blessing of the Sun (Birkhat HaChama).

Here are some photographs from around the world of the festivities. I’ve chosen and arranged them intending to give you a feeling of the celebrations as they were happening. You will get the most value out of these images by viewing each set as a unit rather than scrolling through to see all the photos together. Enjoy!

Location: Brooklyn Bridge

Photographer: Sam Feinstein-Feit (Shir Yaakov)

Location: Woodmere, NY (Congregation Beth Emeth)

Photographer: Charlie Roemer

Location: Miami

Photographer: James Kirkpatrick (photos for sale here)

—– Click on the link to see a wealth of photos from Atlanta, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and B’nei Brak —–

Location: Atlanta, GA

Photographer: Dave Bender of Israel At Level Ground

Location: Gan Sacher, Jerusalem

Photographer: Jewlicious

Location: Roof of the Azrieli Towers, Tel Aviv

Photographer: Sandy Teperson

Location: B’Nei Brak

Photographer: Dan Bar Dov

A big thank you to all the photographers who allowed me to share their photographs with you.

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