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Jewish Journal

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Category

Philanthropy

Charity fulfills dreams of young Israeli cancer patients

Dikla Kadosh December 7, 2007

The small group inched forward through the dark walkway, clinging to one another. They giggled as they glanced nervously around at the bloody limbs strewn on the floor and thick cobwebs covering the walls. A ghastly creature lunged at them from a dark corner, and the terrified bunch shrieked. They finally made it out of the House of Horrors at Universal Studios, thanks to the guidance of a slightly annoyed teenage employee.

Agudath Israel emphasizes outreach to non-Orthodox

Ben Harris December 7, 2007

Is it permissible for an Orthodox family to play host to a Jewish couple if they don\’t observe laws mandating sexual abstinence in the period surrounding menstruation?

That was among the questions posed to two leading rabbinic authorities in late November at the 85th national convention of Agudath Israel of America, the main umbrella body for ultra-Orthodox, or haredi, Jewry.

The answer: It is, if the room has two beds.

UJC reaches out to young innovators

Jacob Berkman December 7, 2007

A self-described professional Jewish lesbian. A Web guru who calls himself the Orthodox Anarchist. A young, Oscar-winning producer.

The United Jewish Communities (UJC) looked to this group and their disenfranchised peers for help at its annual General Assembly (GA) in Nashville in November, giving them an entire plenary to talk about themselves, what they need from the North American federation system and why they have a hard time becoming a part of it.

Don’t chastise Jews’ grants to non-Jewish causes

Gary Tobin November 16, 2007

Jewish foundations are growing by leaps and bounds, giving away billions of dollars and supporting practically every cause and organization that you can imagine. This is good news, unless of course you are in the camp that believes Jews and the foundations they create are misguided if they give to non-Jewish, rather than Jewish, organizations.

Individual choice challenges communal commitments

Jacob Schacter November 16, 2007

The principal authority for contemporary American Jews, in the absence of compelling religious norms and communal loyalties, has become the sovereign self. Each person now performs the labor of fashioning his or her own self, pulling together elements from the various Jewish and non-Jewish repertoires available rather than stepping into an \”inescapable framework\” of identity — familial, communal, traditional — given at birth. Decisions about ritual observance and involvement in Jewish institutions are made and made again, considered and reconsidered, year by year, and even week by week. American Jews speak of their lives, and of their Jewish beliefs and commitments, as a journey of ongoing questioning and development. They avoid the language of arrival. There are no final answers, no irrevocable commitments.

Birthright program needs wider support

Charles R. Bronfman November 16, 2007

The results of a new study, \”Beyond Distancing: Young Adult American Jews and Their Alienation from Israel,\” on young American Jews\’ attitudes toward Israel, were released recently, and the news is disheartening. These Jews, who represent American Judaism\’s prospects in the next generation, are growing increasingly alienated from Israel, the study finds. They are less concerned with its welfare than previous generations and, unbelievably, less comfortable with the very idea of a Jewish state.

UJC realigns to remain central in challenging times

Joseph Kanfer November 16, 2007

For generations, the North American Jewish federation system has stood as the central address of Jewish philanthropy — demonstrating from generation to generation the power of our collective to build our community.The 155 federations of United Jewish Communities and 400 smaller networked communities boast an annual fundraising campaign nearing $900 million and endowment assets of more than $13 billion.UJC\’s lay and professional leadership recently set out to look at our philanthropic landscape. In June, the UJC launched a strategic plan that tackles the major challenges and opportunities facing Jewish federations and our entire community.

Jewish philanthropy in Israel will be marginalized if it doesn’t change

Gidi Grinstein November 16, 2007

Jewish philanthropy in Israel is at a crossroads. Powerful trends are marginalizing its impact on Israeli society. More than a billion dollars of philanthropic giving from Jews worldwide, spurred by endless goodwill, passion and care, are not impacting Israel or contributing to global Jewish peoplehood to the extent they should. The current system is in dire need of an overhaul.

Engaging young philanthropists — our approach

Sharna Goldseke November 16, 2007

I have been asked to reflect on the challenge of engaging younger Jewish philanthropists in communal life. As a member of the next generation, I have wrestled with this question for more than a decade.

Are Jewish groups missing the e-philanthropy boat?

Jacob Berkman November 16, 2007

While Chabad has tapped into perhaps the fastest-growing sector in the philanthropic world, many sectors of the Jewish world have been slow to catch on to the Internet era. \”Some Jewish organizations have been more successful than others,\” said Gary Tobin, president of the Institute for Jewish and Community Research, which studies Jewish philanthropy. \”But you don\’t see many who are very successful, other than the Jewish National Fund [JNF].\”

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