December 26, 2013 - 23 Teves 5774

Blazing New Trails in Jewish Philanthropy
I Am Your Servant: The Life of Rabbi Yosef Tendler

OUTREACH

Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi: Truth and Reason, Spiced with Charisma

Why Birthright Israel, at $1,000,000,000 is Hafuch

American Jewish Establishment Must Do More to Embrace Russian Jews

PHILANTHROPY/FUNDRAISING

An Introduction to Jewish Philanthropy

Rich People's Idea of Charity: Giving to Elite Schools and Operas

The State of Volunteering in North American Jewish Not-for-Profit Organizations

UK Charity Commission Expresses "Concern" About Mayfair Charities

Maximize Your End of Year Fundraising in 30 Minutes or Less

Seeking the Why of Giving

NORTH AMERICA

Poll: Americans' Belief in G-d Is Strong--But Declining

Elie Wiesel: 'Iran Must Not Be Allowed to Remain Nuclear'

Hillel on the Spot Over Swarthmore Rebellion

Biden Proposes US Aid For Holocaust Survivors

End of Congress' Year Brings Odd Reversal on Jewish Priorities

Rozen: 'Jewish Senators' Hold Sway on Iran Debate

Four Minors Arrested for 'Knockout' Attacks in NY

ISRAEL

The Academic Boycott of Israel Is a Travesty
Israeli Mother Going to Supreme Court Over Son's Circumcision Ruling
El Al Rabbi Alienates Passengers with Loudspeakers Traveler's Prayer
The Singing Haredi Brothers Whose Star Keeps Rising

INTERNATIONAL

Swedish County Eyeing Ban on Circumcision

Greek Parliament Votes to Stop State Funding for Golden Dawn Party

Britain's Chief Rabbi Calls for Ban on Partnership Minyans

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

The Disposable Student: When a Student Doesn't "Fit In"

Oldest Working Kosher Butcher Tells All

A Champion Of Jewish Freedom and Identity

Are Jewish Neighborhoods a Good Thing?

Reform Judaism Tries for a 'Reboot' in Face of Daunting Challenges

Open Orthodoxy: A Response to Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz

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

Cincinnati, OH

Rabbi Simcha Scholar

Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Dovid Refson

Jerusalem, Israel

Mr Gary Torgow

Detroit, MI

Rabbi Abraham Twerski, MD

Teaneck, NJ

*Deceased

Blazing New Trails in Jewish Philanthropy

Cycle for Unity is a non-profit organization that allows riders of all ages to raise funds for the

charity of their choice

through challenging and inspiring cycling adventures.

Join Cycle for Unity's deluxe Kosher ride in Tuscany or the "Ride Of My Life" summer program for teens. CFU's unique formula will churn out dynamic "doers" who are primed to improve themselves - mind, body and soul - and are genuinely passionate about Jewish Unity and repairing the world. Equal parts athletic challenge, adventure and leadership, CFU's charitable champions are supporting charitable projects across the globe through inspiring cycling adventures. For information, www.cycleforunity.org

I Am Your Servant: The Life of Rabbi Yosef Tendler

I AM YOUR SERVANT is a newly released book by Artscroll Publications about the life of Rabbi Yosef Tendler. Rabbi Tendler was one of the first American-born talmidim of Rav Aharon Kotler zt'l, at a time when "Lakewood" had only dozens of students, and there were fewer than 1,000 senior yeshiva bachurim in the entire world. Appointed "temporary" menahel of Ner Israel's mechinah, he remained in that post for 47 years, a brilliant teacher and charismatic role model, utterly devoted to his talmidim, creating literally thousands of Bnei Torah.

I AM YOUR SERVANT is full of wonderful, warm, and poignant stories that give us a unique vision of a multi-faceted personality, while also painting a thrilling picture of the extraordinary growth and development of yeshivah and Torah life during the last three generations.

Click Here for More Information or to Order


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Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi: Truth and Reason, Spiced with Charisma

An Article from Hamodia

The Chows were a typical Chinese family living in the Republic of Singapore, father, mother and one baby girl. Continue Reading

Why Birthright Israel, at $1,000,000,000 is Hafuch
An Article from eJewish Philanthropy

So named for the little bit of coffee added to a greater quantity of milk, turning the norm on its head, or perhaps for the order in which the ingredients are combined, Cafe Hafuch, upside-down coffee, is the Israeli answer to cappuccino. Continue Reading

Outreacharticle4 American Jewish Establishment Must Do More To Embrace Russian Jews

An Article from The Algemeiner

I spent the weekend at a Russian-Jewish Shabbaton on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and was reminded of just how different Russian-American Jews are from many other segments of American Jewry.

An Introduction to Jewish Philanthropy

An Article from eJewish Philanthropy

Jewish philanthropy has a long, rich history that goes back to Biblical times. In light of new studies by leading scholars including Debra Kaplan of Yeshiva University and Adam Teller of Brown University, the Center for Jewish History published "An Introduction to Jewish Philanthropy. Continue Reading

Rich People's Idea of Charity: Giving to Elite Schools and Operas
An Article from Salon

It's charity time, and not just because the holiday season reminds us to be charitable. Continue Reading

UK Charity Commission Expresses "Concern" About Mayfair Charities
An Article from eJewish Philanthropy

The Charity Commission has told a charity that supports Jewish organizations that it must appoint at least one "fully independent and un-conflicted" trustee. Continue Reading

Maximize Your End of Year Fundraising in 30 Minutes or Less
An Article from Ner L'eElef

If your budget is less than $1M, then it's likely that your fundraising department is you, and you alone. Continue Reading

Seeking the Why of Giving
An Article from The New York Times

Beyond the tax deduction, what motivates people to give money to charity? Continue Reading

Poll: Americans' Belief in G-d Is Strong--But Declining
An Article from CNS News

A new Harris Poll finds that a strong majority (74 percent) of U.S. adults say they believe in God, but that's down from the 82 percent who expressed such a belief in earlier years. Continue Reading

Elie Wiesel: 'Iran Must Not Be Allowed to Remain Nuclear'
An Article from The Algemeiner

Professor Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Laureate and The Algemeiner Advisory Board Chairman, on Wednesday said,"Iran must not be allowed to remain nuclear," in a full page ad taken out in the New York Times.
Continue Reading

Hillel on the Spot Over Swarthmore Rebellion
An Article from The Jewish Week

Facing a growing debate over the boundaries of student discourse on Israel, the president and CEO of Hillel: The Foundation for Campus Jewish Life said he is not concerned about rebellion in the ranks after the small chapter at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania openly scorned the organization's guidelines. Continue Reading

Biden Proposes US Aid for Holocaust Survivors
An Article from The Jewish Week

The Obama administration is for the first time proposing to spend as much as $15 million to help needy Holocaust survivors in the United States, 25 percent of whom live below the federal poverty level. Continue Reading

End of Congress' Year Brings Odd Reversal on Jewish Priorities
An Article from JTA

For Jewish and pro-Israel groups, the congressional year is ending with an odd reversal: the prospect, however fragile, of bipartisan comity on budget issues coupled with a rare partisan disagreement on Middle Eastern policy. Continue Reading

Rozen: 'Jewish Senators' Hold Sway on Iran Debate
An Article from The Free Beacon

Foreign policy experts criticized reporter Laura Rozen for tweeting, and then deleting, controversial remarks about Jewish influence in American politics, the second time in recent weeks she has made such remarks. Continue Reading

Four Minors Arrested for 'Knockout' Attacks in NY
An Article from JTA

Four minors were arrested in connection with what are believed to be "knockout game" attacks in Brooklyn, DNAinfo New York reported.

The Academic Boycott of Israel Is a Travesty
An Article from New Republic

One has to start somewhere, explained Curtis Marez, an associate professor of ethnic studies at the University of California, San Diego, and a member of the National Council of the American Studies Association (ASA), which had just announced an academic boycott of Israel.

Israeli Mother Going to Supreme Court Over Son's Circumcision Ruling
An Article from JTA

A mother in Israel has appealed to the country's Supreme Court a rabbinical court ruling requiring her to circumcise her son.

El Al Rabbi Alienates Passengers with Loudspeaker Traveler's Prayer
An Article from The Jewish Press

Passengers boarding El Al flights in recent days have been surprised to hear the traditional Traveler's Prayer over their plane's public address system. Continue Reading

Israel4

The Singing Haredi Brothers Whose Star Keeps Rising
An Article from JTA

The haredi Orthodox Gat Brothers, Aryeh and Gil, have become the first act named to the semi-finals of the popular new Israeli talent show "Rising Star."

Swedish County Eyeing Ban on Circumcision
An Article from JTA

A county in Sweden is moving ahead with plans to ban the nonmedical circumcision of boys, its leading elected official said.

Greek Parliament Votes to Stop State Funding for Golden Dawn Party
An Article from JTA

The parliament in Greece voted to cut off state funding for the ultra-nationalist Golden Dawn party.

Britain's Chief Rabbi Calls for Ban on Partnership Minyans
An Article from JTA

British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis called on Orthodox synagogues to ban partnership minyan services, where women can lead services and read from the Torah. Continue Reading

The Disposable Student: When a Student Doesn't "Fit In"
An Article from Orthodox Union

We Jews wandered the four corners of the earth for so many centuries, never having a home where we could feel completely safe.

Oldest Working Kosher Butcher Tells All
An Article from The Jewish Week

When Ernie Fleischman was growing up in Germany in the 1930s, the plan was for him to attend the Realschule, the secondary education favored by pragmatic middle-class Jews because it prepared students for jobs in the sciences and skilled trades.

A Champion of Jewish Freedom and Identity

An Article from The Jewish Week

Edgar Bronfman, the billionaire former beverage magnate and leading Jewish philanthropist, died Saturday at the age of 84. Continue Reading

Are Jewish Neighborhoods a Good Thing?
An Article from The Jewish Journal

I would like to offer a view on Jewish neighborhoods that is so contrary to accepted wisdom that I can only ask that people read this column with as open a mind as possible. Continue Reading

Open Orthodoxy: A Response to Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz

An Article from The YU Commentator

In Proud to be Open Orthodox! (The Commentator, Nov. 26, 2013), Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz presents an upbeat, passionate vision of Orthodoxy, branded as "Open Orthodoxy", with which few would argue.

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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