March 13, 2014 - 11 Adar II 5774

Purim & Serendipity
Boo the Villain and Cheer the Hero
Purim is Forever: A Purim Insight From HaRav Yitzchak Hutner zt"l
AJOP Rabbis Conference Scottsdale, AZ

Rabbi Yehoshua Karsh: My Personal Account From the Rabbis Conference

New Rules for Taglit-Birthright: Sign Up Now!

OUTREACH

New Shoes for Jews: Changing the Language of Outreach

Ultra-Sophisticated Outreach

PHILANTHROPY/FUNDRAISING

$1.3m Maimonides Grant From Hillel International for Campus Learning

Obama 2015 Budget Would Cap Charitable Deduction at 28% for Wealthy

Rohr Foundation to Assist in Ukraine Relief Effort

NORTH AMERICA

By Water Street of Babylon

Bachmann Says US Jews are Selling Out Israel

The Bell Tolls for AIPAC, the Late, Great Pro-Israel Lobbying Group

A Jewish Voice for Philadelphia's Muslims

Americans in Israel Targeted by IRS for Tax Audits

'Shul on the Beach' Makes Orthodox Waves in Los Angeles

ISRAEL

"Billions For Education?" Should the State of Israel Be a Funder of Education in the Diaspora?
Sephardic Jews Charmed by Spanish Citizenship Offer
Who's Teaching (Defending) Zionism Anymore?
Do Funders like George Soros Pose a Threat to Evangelical Christian Support for Israel?
Irrational Ire Invoked at Israel
Todah, Israel. You Surprised Me.

INTERNATIONAL

Ukrainian Jews Seek to Emigrate Amid Uncertainty

Iranian General: Obama's Threats are 'The Joke of the Year'

With Venezuela in a Tailspin, Growing Number of Jews Opting for Plan B

In Crimea, Some Jews Feel Safer After Russian Intervention

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

Changing Conservative Judaism

So You Want To Do a Jewish Community Study? Five Things To Consider First

Yeshiva U. Agrees to Ordain Student It Rebuked Over 'Partnership Minyan'

Partnership Minyans Grow Among the Orthodox Grassroots, Despite Leaders' Condemnations

The Jewish Case Against Unplugging

How I Discovered I Am a Chareidi

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

Purim and Serendipity

An Article from Aish.com

It's a question I've often been asked. Many times people turn to me as a Rabbi and in all sincerity ask "How can I find God?" Continue Reading

Boo the Villain and Cheer the Hero
An Article from Ohr Somayach

"Yeshno am echad - there is one nation" is how Haman begins his pitch. This, explains Rava, was a response to the king's initial reluctance to embrace Haman's proposal for a final solution to his Jewish problem
Continue Reading

Purim is Forever: A Purim Insight From HaRav Yitzchak Hutner zt'l
An Article from OU.org

Our Sages teach that when the Messiah arrives the festivals will cease to be observed, but Purim will continue to be observed.
Continue Reading

AJOP Rabbis Conference Scottsdale, AZ

On Wednesday and Thursday, February 19-20, AJOP, in conjunction with Ahavas Torah: The Scottsdale Torah Center hosted a 2 day conference for Shul Rabbanim of kiruv oriented shuls.

Attracting over 30 Rabbanim from diverse locations throughout the US and Canada, the conference aimed to give these individuals some much needed chizuk, as well as sessions pertinent to their unique roles. Presenters included HaRav Yaakov Hopfer, noted posek and Mara D'asrah of Shearith Israel Cong. in Baltimore, MD, Rabbi Ilan Feldman of Cong. Beth Jacob in Atlanta, GA and Rabbi Yaakov Meyer of Aish Denver.

Click Here for the full article and for photos of the conference

Rabbi Yehoshua Karsh: My Personal Account From the Rabbis Conference


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New Shoes For Jews: Changing the Language of Outreach

An Article from The Times of Israel

Yes, there's a connection. Please stay with me. Over a million words of commentary have been written in the wake of the Pew Survey. A mountain of words to obsess over a report that stated - well - the obvious: Continue Reading

Ultra-Sophisticated Outreach
An Article from Hamodia

Big Bad Brendan was my 'rebbe', says Yaakov Lehman. He was a non-Jewish kid from a wealthy family who started to get into trouble when he was only 11. Continue Reading

Outreacharticle4

$1.3m Maimonides Grant From Hillel International for Campus Learning

An Article from eJewish Philanthropy

Hillel International has announced the awarding of a grant of up to $1.3 Million by the Maimonides Fund.
Continue Reading

Obama 2015 Budget Would Cap Charitable Deduction at 28% for Wealthy
An Article from The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Nonprofits criticized a plan offered by President Obama on Tuesday that would limit the value of all tax deductions, including the charitable deduction, for wealthy taxpayers. Continue Reading

Rohr Foundation to Assist in Ukraine Relief Effort
An Article from eJewish Philanthropy

The Rohr Foundation has announced a matching grant to help respond to the dire financial difficulties that Jewish communities throughout Ukraine are facing. Continue Reading

By Water Street of Babylon
An Article from Hamodia

I didn't have to ask the way from the subway. I followed the stream of heimishe hats as it wound its way through the lanes, under the shadows of the towering Chase and Citi Banks of Babylon. Continue Reading

Bachmann Says US Jews are Selling Out Israel
An Article from Arutz 7

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann Bachmann has accused American Jews of having "sold out Israel" by voting for President Obama in 2008 and 2012. Continue Reading

The Bell Tolls for AIPAC, the Late, Great Pro-Israel Lobbying Group
An Article from Tablet

Both Democrats and Republicans crossed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on Iran sanctions legislation earlier this month-an issue that has been at the top of the pro-Israel lobbying group's agenda for the past 10 years. Continue Reading

A Jewish Voice for Philadelphia's Muslims
An Article from The Jewish Week

Four months after Jacob Bender, a Jewish filmmaker from Manhattan, was appointed to a symbolically landmark position with an American Muslim organization, he says he is serving as an example of interfaith tolerance. Continue Reading

Americans in Israel Targeted by IRS for Tax Audits
An Article from The Forward

This upcoming tax season entails some unpleasant surprises for United States citizens who either live in Israel or who hold bank accounts there. Continue Reading

'Shul on the Beach' Makes Orthodox Waves in Los Angeles
An Article from The Forward

Did you hear the one about the Orthodox synagogue located steps away from medical marijuana clinics and tattoo parlors, with a dead-on view of a beach where sun worshippers frolic? Continue Reading

"Billions for Education?" Should the State of Israel be a Funder of Education in the Diaspora?
An Article from eJewish Philanthropy

"Don't worry America, Israel is behind you." The popular t-shirt bearing this slogan usually features a print of an F-16 jet and is ubiquitous at souvenir shops along Jerusalem's Ben Yehuda Street.

Sephardic Jews Charmed by Spanish Citizenship Offer
An Article from The Times of Israel

Spain's offer of citizenship to the descendants of Jews who were expelled from the country over 500 years ago during the Inquisition has sparked a flurry of global interest. Continue Reading

Israel4

Who's Teaching (Defending) Zionism Anymore?
An Article from The Jewish Week

Israel is under attack. Not across the ocean but right here in New York.
Continue Reading

Do Funders Like George Soros Pose a Threat to Evangelical Christian Support for Israel?
An Article from JNS

For well over a century, Christian Zionists have been steadfast in their support for a Jewish homeland. Continue Reading

Irrational Ire Invoked at Israel
An Article from Ynet News

With the "peace process" as an ever present backdrop, I pose the following questions: Why are so many people telling Israel what it should and shouldn't do? Continue Reading

Todah, Israel. You Surprised Me.
An Article from The Baltimore Jewish Times

Everyone asks me about the Heart to Heart mission to Israel. Was it incredible? Did you visit the Wall? How about Tel Aviv? Did you climb Masada? Wasn't the food the best you've ever tasted? Continue Reading

Ukraine Jews Seek to Emigrate Amid Uncertainty
An Article from The Forward

The Jewish Agency for Israel has seen a spike in Ukrainians looking to immigrate to Israel as turmoil roils their country. Continue Reading

Iranian General: Obama's Threats are 'The Joke of the Year'
An Article from The Times of Israel

President Barack Obama is a "low-IQ US president," whose threat to launch a military offensive should nuclear talks fail is an oft-cited punchline in the Islamic Republic, particularly among children, an Iranian general said on Tuesday.

With Venezuela in a Tailspin, Growing Number of Jews Opting for Plan B
An Article from JTA

They left after Venezuelan secret police raided a Jewish club in 2007, and after the local synagogue was ransacked by unidentified thugs two years later.

In Crimea, Some Jews Feel Safer After Russian Intervention
An Article from JTA

Shortly after Russian soldiers occupied the Crimean city of Sevastopol last week, Leah Cyrlikova took her two children out for an afternoon stroll in a city park. Continue Reading

Changing Conservative Judaism
An Article from The Jewish Week

We can complain about the shrinking of the Conservative movement. And we can take pride in Conservative successes of the past.

So You Want To Do a Jewish Community Study? Five Things to Consider First
An Article from eJewish Philanthropy

You've read the Pew Study on Jewish Life in America and now wondering how your local community sizes up.

Yeshiva U. Agrees to Ordain Student It Rebuked Over 'Partnership Minyan'
An Article from The Jewish Week

Yeshiva University said it will grant rabbinic ordination to a student after previously threatening to withhold it stemming from his having once hosted a so-called "partnership minyan."

Partnership Minyans Grow Among the Orthodox Grassroots, Despite Leaders' Condemnations
An Article from JTA

If it wasn't clear before, it should be abundantly clear now: The Orthodox establishment will not sanction so-called partnership minyans, and it's willing to go to the mat to fight them.

The Jewish Case Against Unplugging

An Article from The Forward

Jews can be pretty proprietary about guilt. We're almost proud of it.

How I Discovered I Am a Chareidi

An Article from Hamodia

I have a solution for the Shaked Committee - that posse deputized by the Knesset to round up rebel chareidim (Rebs, for short) and bring them to injustice. 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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