D'Var Torah 

Lee I. Sherman

President/CEO   

Although I love the food at our Thanksgiving dinner (and have that over-saturated feeling each year to prove it), my favorite part of the holiday is the opportunity to get together with our extended family and share some memories and stories. This year the discussion turned to how my mother, of blessed memory, had been a little concerned that when she turned 21, she was not yet married. In fact, she wrote a poem (quite humorous) addressed to her mother about the state of her unmarried condition. My aunt who was sharing stories with us, explained how upset her father had been when she, a couple of years younger than my mother, was the first of his daughters to be married - all of eight months before my parents. Everything seems to have worked out, at least to my benefit, but apparently there were some family tensions at the time.

In this week's parashah, Va-Yetzei, Jacob learns the hard way that some fathers are adamant about their daughters marrying in the proper order. Having fled from his home to escape the wrath of his brother Esau, Jacob journeys to his kinsman Laban's home. He falls in love with Rachel, works for Laban for seven years to earn the right to marry her, and then, with more than a little irony, is deceived by having Leah substituted for Rachel on his wedding night. As Laban tells Jacob: "It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the older." So, Jacob cuts a deal to marry Rachel as well and stick around another seven years to work for his father-in-law. Busy Jacob.

There is much to be discussed in the story of Jacob and his wives. Is he the victim of deceit because of his own act of deceit with his father? What do we learn about how we as Jews live in and adapt to others' cultures? Jacob, his wives, and their maidservants are the progenitors of the Children of Israel, what does that tell us about the foundations of our people? But, for me this year, because of the recent sharing of my own family narrative, reading about Jacob, Rachel, Leah, and Laban is simply a tale of a family. Perhaps, years later to be shared with laughter, but rooted in the ties that bind us one to another.

Enjoy some family stories this Shabbat.

From Giving to Impact Investing

From Giving to Impact Investing, November 30, 2011 by eJewish Philanthropy, by Shawn Landres

The philanthropic paradigm that funded the organized Jewish community for much of the 20th century is in terminal crisis. Federated giving and allocation platforms no longer are the dependable revenue streams they once were. Within the organized Jewish community, at least three factors are challenging assumptions that governed donor behavior for generations:

Increasing numbers of individual Jews question not only the significance of Jewish communal involvement in their own lives but also the relevance of inward-looking Jewish institutions to global concerns.

At a time when Jewish federations and human service agencies report growing demand for their core priorities - educational initiatives, anti-poverty programs, health services, assistance to the aging - they face a sharply declining donor pool.

Many of those who do give to federations, especially younger donors, expect to be able to direct their contributions to specific beneficiaries and programs, irrespective of the budgetary needs of the broader service platforms. Growing numbers of donors want to know the measurable impact of their gifts and grants.

While the traditional Jewish nonprofit economy is reacting to these seismic shifts, a new sector dedicated to public benefit is flourishing in North America and around the globe.

Read more about this "impact economy," here.

Does Your Hiring Process Need an Overhaul? 

Does Your Hiring Process Need an Overhaul?, Idealist.org, November 11, 2011, HR Connections  

In the last month, over 4,600 U.S.-based jobs were posted to Idealist. That's tens of thousands of applications, LOTS of interviews, and hopefully, many onboarding processes of new colleagues - talented people who fit well with their new roles and with your organization's culture.

But things don't always go as planned. The world of hiring is big and complicated, and maybe you're thinking about ways to improve your approach. Last month Idealist.org talked about the basics of a good hiring system . Below you'll find some specific questions and a checklist to help you:

• Take stock of your current processes
• Build the right hiring team for each interview
• Conduct interviews that work (it really is an art!)
• Evaluate and improve any new approaches you take

Ready? Here goes.

Option C:  501(c) Agencies Trust 

- 1982 Trust launches with 21 United Way Agencies

- Trust Mission is safety and security

- Board of Trustees is appointed from membership

- Current membership over 1,500 agencies

- Offers most comprehensive program benefits of any Trust     

Benefits of Joining 501c Agencies Trust

- 1982 Trust launches with 21 United Way Agencies

- Trust Mission is safety and security

- Board of Trustees is appointed from membership

- Current membership over 1,500 agencies

- Offers most comprehensive program benefits of any Trust    

Learn the about the subsequent steps to take with 501(c) Agencies Trust in next week's e-newsletter.  

HR Best Practices 

If you are a member of a human resources department or if your job includes personnel or HR related responsibilities, this seminar is for you. HR Best Practices seminar, offered by IdealistHr.org  will be jam-packed with great ideas, best practices and proven strategies to help you successfully navigate through the sometimes turbulent waters of human resources. It will help you effectively and efficiently support your organization and be a reliable and professional advocate for your organization and its employees.

Takeaways:

• Personnel Records - Are You Compliant With The Law?
• Employee Documentation - Best Practices
• Developments in Wage & Hour Laws
• Employing Independent Contractors
• HR Forms - Everything you need to know for Hiring
• Fringe Benefits - Are you Competitive?

HR Best Practices - FREE Webinar

Wednesday, December 14th, 1:00pm-2:00pm EST

REGISTER HERE