AJOP Update: Is There Really Such a Thing as Jewish Genius?

October 27, 2011 - 29 Tishrei 5772

AJOP Convention January 15-17, 2012 Save the Date!

AJOP Convention 2012: Full Day Fundraising Seminar by Rabbi Yitz Greenman

Dr. David Pelcovitz to Reveal Survey Results at 2012 AJOP Convention

Ahuvah Gray's North American Speaking Tour

Funding Opportunity from The Afikim Foundation for Mikarvim

OUTREACH

Israel Trip Alums to Get New Outreach

Sukkot Miracles, Sukkot Adventures

PHILANTHROPY/FUNDRAISING

Obama's Charity Tax Plan Sounds Good to Some

Making Room for Established Startups

Another Soros Steps Out

NORTH AMERICA

Social Workers Help L.A. Synagogues

ADL Responds to Criticism Over Joint Unity Pledge on Israel

Republicans Slam Dems For Not Condemning Occupy Wall Street Anti Semitism

A New Chapter for JPS

Washington's First Letter to Jews is Lost

ISRAEL

Are Young Rabbis Turning on Israel?

Chinese Jews Feel More at Home in Israel

INTERNATIONAL

India: The Most Pro-Israel Country in the World

Islamist Victory Casts Shadow Over Tunisian Jews

Berlin's Jewish Museum Exceeds Expectations

Fearing Bankruptcy, Greek Jews Ask Brethren for Help

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

1,000 Mitzvot Down, She's Still Doing Good

Is There Really Such a Thing as Jewish Genius?

Exhibit Tells Dramatic Stories of Jewish Red Army Soldiers During World War II

Slingshot Names Top 50 Jewish Innovators, Plus 10

Scott Shay Wants You to Recharge Mitzvah- Every 18 Years

New Study Characterizes Agunot

How the Jews Became People of the Talmud

To View Our Archives of Past Newsletters

AJOP Board

RABBINIC AUTHORITIES

HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky

HaRav Yaakov Perlow

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Rabbi Ilan Feldman

Atlanta, GA

Rabbi Yaacov Haber

Jerusalem, Israel

Mr. Richard Horowitz

Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Yehoshua Karsh

Northbrook, IL

Dr. David Lieberman

Lakewood, NJ

Rabbi Yitzchok Lowenbraun

National Director

Rabbi Shlomo Porter

Baltimore, MD

Mr. Jeff Schachter Esq.

Passaic, NJ

Mr. Frank Storch

Baltimore, MD

HaRav Michel Twerski

Milwaukee, WI

Mr. Jerry Wolasky

Baltimore, MD

ADVISORY BOARD

Mr. Mark Bane

Lawrence, NY

Mr. Jonathan Beren

Denver, CO

Dr. Robert Edelman

Baltimore, MD

Rabbi Avraham Edelstein

Jerusalem, Israel

Dr. Michael J Elman

Baltimore, MD
Rabbi David Felsenthal
New York, NY

Mr. Howard Tzvi Friedman

Baltimore, MD

Mr. Joseph Friedman

Olney, MD
Mr. Harvey Hecker

Toronto, ONT

Mr. Stephen Rosedale

Cincinnatti, OH

Rabbi Simcha Scholar

Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Dovid Refson

Jerusalem, Israel

Mr Gary Torgow

Detroit, MI

Rabbi Abraham Twerski, MD

Teaneck, NJ

Rabbi Yitz Greenman to Deliver Full Day Fundraising Seminar at AJOP Convention

This year's AJOP Convention will feature a full day fundraising seminar delivered by Rabbi Yitz Greenman, Founder and Executive Director of Aish NY. This workshop will include discussion on the Hashkafa of Fundraising and Bitachon, Goal Setting, Dealing with Difficulties, Cold Calling, Setting up Appointments and many other fundamental aspects of raising funds for your non-profit organization.

With over 2 decades of experience in this area and dozens of stories and anecdotes, this is an opportunity for mikarvim and others in the field of fundraising to gain invaluable insights from Rabbi Greenman.

Sunday January 15, 2012 at the Annual International AJOP Convention Stamford Plaza Hotel, Stamford CT.

No Charge for Convention Attendees

$150 for Non-Convention Attendees

First Study on Baalei Teshuva and Kids at Risk to be Released at AJOP Convention

Yeshiva University's Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education in partnership with the Association for Jewish Oitreach Programs (AJOP) has conducted a groundbreaking study comparing adolescents who grew up in families whose parents are newly observant to adolescents who were born into families whose parents have been observant from birth. Conducted under the direction of world renowned psychologist, Dr. David Pelcovitz, this study was the first to look at this segment of the Jewish community.

A well conducted scientific survey is one of the best tools to help us know what the problems are and how to respond. Some interesting conclusions point to parenting styles, the best age for outeach to these individuals, and community integration. Conclusions and recommendations will initiate serious discussion about the direction and needs for the future of the Kiruv movement.

Results of this study will be announced for the first time at the upcoming AJOP International Convention on Sunday January 15, 2012 in Stamford, CT by Dr. David Pelcovitz.

Ahuvah Gray's North American Fall Speaking Tour

Ahuvah Gray is returning to America and Canada, November 4th through 22nd, to promote her new book titled In Search of Hidden Treasures.

The theme of the book is hashgacha pratis, as demonstrated by the author in extraordinary stories interwoven around the chagim.

Visit Ahuvah's website to purchase an e-book and view a trailer for the forthcoming, inspirational documentary film of her life journey. For more detailed information, see: www.ahuvahgray.com

Funding Opportunity for Mikarvim from The Afikim Foundation

The Afikim Foundation's live, interactive online Hebrew School, ToTallyOnline.org, is launching a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program October 9th in addition to its Level One session. Rabbi Raphael Butler is offering kiruv centers the opportunity to recruit students and keep all of the tuition for themselves. In addition, he's offering personalized marketing (sample shown) including a customized print ad with a coupon code specific for your organization, an HTML email graphic, and an online widget to post on your Facebook page.

Click Here for More Information

Events Director Aish Connections New York, NY

Israel Trip Alums to Get New Outreach

An Article from The Jewish Week

Dina Silberstein, 28, never knew how to make a place for herself in the Jewish community, or even why she would want to. Continue Reading

Sukkot Miracles, Sukkot Adventures

An Article from The Jewish Week

A lawyer by training and soldier by family tradition, Jonathan Gross can recite a list of miracles that allowed him, a captain and legal expert stationed at Fort Campbell, an Army base on the Tennessee-Kentucky border, to spend the High Holy Days in Atlanta, with friends, six years ago.
Continue Reading

Outreacharticle4

Obama's Charity Tax Plan Sounds Good to Some
An Article from The Forward

President Obama is getting precious little credit for his policy heroism these days. But here is one conservative ready to applaud the president for an idea whose time has come. Continue Reading

Making Room for Established Startups
An Article from The Jewish Week

The Jewish grantmaker Slingshot has tinkered with the formula for its annual guide to "innovative" Jewish organizations, in part to address the problem of startups that fail for lack of ongoing funding. Continue Reading

Another Soros Steps Out
An Article from The Jewish Week

Alexander Soros - what a catch! And not just for the obvious reason. Sure, papa George is worth $22 billion, and as your bubbe says, it's as easy to fall in love with a rich man as a poor one. Continue Reading

Social Workers Help LA Synagogues
An Article from The Forward

"A couple comes to meet with me," Rabbi Morley Feinstein recounted, haltingly describing a difficult moment.

ADL Responds to Criticism Over Joint Unity Pledge on Israel
An Article from JTA

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights is investigating a complaint accusing Columbia of discriminating against a Jewish student, a DOE spokesperson confirmed Tuesday.

Republicans Slams Dems for Not Condemning Occupy Wall Street Anti Semitism
An Article from Politico

The Republican National Committee attacked Democrats on Wednesday for staying silent about "extreme anti-Semitic, anti-Israel comments" reported at the Occupy Wall Street protests. Continue Reading

A New Chapter for JPS
An Article from The Jewish Week

The Jewish Publication Society has distributed thousands of volumes since its 19th century beginnings, but these days JPS is writing a new chapter in its history - and hoping it's not the final one. Continue Reading

Washington's First Letter to Jews is Lost
An Article from The Forward

Just a little more than a year after George Washington became America's first president, Levi Sheftall, a Jew from Savannah, wrote him a letter.

Are Young Rabbis Turning on Israel?
An Article from Jewish Ideas Daily

For all the theological, ritualistic, and institutional differences separating the Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform movements, for all their divergent approaches to revelation, halakhah, and communal decision-making, what distinguishes the groups in the minds of many ordinary American Jews comes down to branding.

Chinese Jews Feel More At Home in Israel
An Article from The LA Times

As a child growing up in Kaifeng in central China, Jin Jin was constantly reminded of her unusual heritage. Continue Reading

India: The Most Pro-Israel Country in the World
An Article from The Guardian

Anti-racism groups have called on European football's governing body UEFA to punish Polish club Legia Warsaw after fans brandished a "Jihad" banner during a Europa League match against Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv.

I slamist Victory Casts Shadow Over Tunisian Jews
An Article from Ynet News

Over 90% of Tunisia's voting public did their civic duty on Sunday and voted in the north-African country's first free elections in decades.
Continue Reading

Berlin's Jewish Museum Exceeds Expectations
An Article from Deutsche Welle

Usually museums are built to display existing collections of art or artifacts. That wasn't the case with the Jewish Museum in Berlin.
Continue Reading

Fearing Bankruptcy, Greek Jews Ask Brethren for Help
An Article from The Jerusalem Post

The Jewish community of Greece might be unable to pay its bills by 2013, unless it receives aid from Jewish organizations abroad, local leaders have told The Jerusalem Post, in recent weeks. Continue Reading


Click Here to View Sample Pages

1,000 Mitzvot Down She's Still Doing Good
An Article from The Forward

About a month after her father passed away in 2006, Linda Cohen awoke in the middle of the night with an idea. Continue Reading

Is There Really Such a Thing as Jewish Genius?
An Article from Haaretz

Many Jews in Israel and around the world will be patting themselves on the back this week, indulging in another round of self-congratulation and communal pride. Continue Reading

Exhibit Tells Dramatic Stories of Jewish Red Army Soldiers During World War II
An Article from The Jewish Week

Semeon Grigorevich Shpiegel, a Kiev native and longtime resident of Brighton Beach, earned enough medals during his years of service in the Red Army during World War II to cover his entire chest. Continue Reading

Slingshot Names Top 50 Jewish Innovators, Plus 10
An Article from JTA

Slingshot added a Top 10 list to its newly released annual guide to innovative Jewish programming in North America. Continue Reading

Scott Shay Wants You to Recharge Your Mitzvah- Every 18 Years
An Article from JTA

Remember that 2009 episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," when as part of a plot to coax Michael "Kramer" Richards to go along with a "Seinfeld" reunion, Larry David's African-American housemate, Leon Black, pretends to be the Jewish accountant Danny Duberstein? Continue Reading

New Study Characterizes Agunot
An Article from JTA

Most agunot are younger woman with children who are trying to leave a first marriage, according to a new study. Continue Reading

How Jews Became the People of the Talmud
An Article from The Forward

Basic to Jewish religious teaching is the distinction between "written" Torah - Scripture, the Jewish Bible - and so-called "oral" Torah, a diffuse tradition of legal and homiletic rabbinic commentary that over the centuries has interpreted and elaborated the written corpus and applied it to shifting social, economic and political realities. Continue Reading

Please note: The views expressed in the articles featured in this newsletter reflect the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the thinking of the Association for Jewish Outreach Professionals. AJOP serves to disseminate pertinent news to its subscribers.

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