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WHEN FAMILY CALLS: “The Sarah Silverman Project” regular Laura Silverman is trekking to Israel to see her sister, Rabbi Susan Silverman, and family this week — and says the increasing turmoil in the Middle East didn’t make her think twice about going. “They live in the country on a kibbutz, and I feel very safe. It’s kind of a nice idyllic life for a kid. There’s a lot of freedom, they can run around outside, they have a whole community of people looking after them. Yes, there’s the occasional bombing, but there’s little to no street crime or anything like that. You don’t see homelessness. You don’t see begging. It’s exactly like a really very well run country.” She adds, “The kibbutz where my sister lives has taken in several Sudanese families, which really moves me because Sudan is the sworn enemy of Israel but nonetheless the Israeli people are taking them into their homes and they’re being integrated into society. They want them there, and they’re doing everything they can to allow these people to make Israel their home.”

For her part, traveling all the way around the world to see her nieces and nephews “is worth it. My sister has five children — 14, 12, 8, 5 and 4, and I feel like they don’t know me that well though I was there last Christmas. I just miss them so much. I can’t wait to just go and chill and play with the kids.”

 With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Fortune Feimster.

Culture is a leading currency of Peoplehood and is naturally inclusive; here’s a next generation effort that brings together Jewish teens with culture in a mainstream, creative way.  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:  617-581-6865 Adam Marks, Senior Marketing Associate amarks@jflmedia.com

Jewish Teens to Determine Winners in the 2008 JVibe Music Awards

Voting for the third annual JVibe Music Awards is now LIVE at JVibe.com, companion web site to the national Jewish teen magazine, JVibe. Voting ends on January 21^st, 2008 at 5:00 p.m.  JVibe editors have nominated the hottest talent on the Jewish music scene, and the Awards are up for grabs. Music lovers are invited to weigh in for Best Jewish Album, New Artist Most Likely to Stick Around, Best Israeli Artist/Group, and other prestigious categories. Winning performers will be announced on JVibe.com in March 2008 and profiled in the March/April issue of the magazine.  Voters will automatically be entered to win a $50, $40, $30, $20 or $10 gift certificate to iTunes and winners will be notified via e-mail.  JVibe will keep a running tally of the competition, so participants can see the progress when they vote. We also have a snazzy and fun theme song for the awards entitled “Jew Do You Love”, written and performed by Craig Wedren (www.myspace.com/CraigWedren), a noted New York-based songwriter, composer and musician, which you can view at JVibe.com.  

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Insight: The Schusterman Fellowship for Jewish Community - Applications Online Now!The Center for Leadership Initiatives is extremely excited to announce the launch of INSIGHT: The Schusterman Fellowship for Jewish Community. After months of developing a multifaceted fellowship for college graduates to explore the world of non-profit work in the Jewish community, we are pleased to be ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR OUR FIRST COHORT.

Through a rigorous application and selection process, we will be seeking recent graduates and those who have been out of school for a few years who are motivated, curious and inspired to explore the Jewish non-profit world.

Do you know a prospective INSIGHT fellow? If so, we’d be delighted for you to pass along the INSIGHT link so they can have the opportunity to experience what we know will be an incredible and enlightening adventure. Please distribute this announcement widely to your networks.

http://leadingup.org/web/guest/programs/fellowships/insight

One of the best things in Jewish life, often below the radar screen, is Bikkurim.  The Kaminer family have been the angels of innovation and Bikkurim is seeking new applicants.

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by the Yossis from the NY Jewish Week
Educate By Teaching Jewish Values
Yossi Prager and Yossi Abramowitz

In Jewish communities around the world, there is a yearning to find new ways to successfully boost Jewish identity.

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Personal:  We’re in NH, a day after the funeral for John O’hara, Susan’s step-dad. Everyone came in and the mix of saddness and celebration of a noble life filled the house and the ceremony, which Susan led.  Today, unfortunately, Susan’s mom is in the hospital, although feeling better, and we had to take Zamir in to see specialists and then quickly to Children’s Hospital, since he has lost his hearing again and the hearing aid isn’t helping.  Even so, the decision for all of us to fly in seems very right and it has been great to see so many family and friends, hopefully next time under better circumstances.  Needless to say, Aliza and I missed the Nobel Peace Prize Concert tonight in Oslo today.

Peoplehood:  The film, Refusenik, should get an Oscar.  I wholeheartedly endorse the film for telling so movingly perhaps one of the most important tales in Jewish history.  Every Jewish community, every synagogue, every JCC, every school, every class in every school, should show this movie worldwide, perhaps on the same day, right before Passover.

Communicating:  With all the running around we’ve done, I seem to have misplaced my Israeli cell phone and therefore am not receiving messages there. My U.S. cell is 617 899 3282 and best email for personal matters is YosefA@aol.com and for solar matters is Yosef@Aravapower.com.   tnx.

For Immediate Release                          December 10, 2007

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

AT HANUKKAH RECEPTION

Grand Foyer, State Floor, 5:27 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Good evening.  Laura and I welcome you to the White House.  Mr. Attorney General, thank you for being here.  Secretary Chertoff, and family.  Hanukkah is a time of joy and festivity in the Jewish religion.  We’re honored to gather with members of the Jewish community to celebrate this holiday.

During Hanukkah, we remember an ancient struggle for freedom.  More than two thousand years ago, a cruel tyrant ruled Judea — and forbade the Israelites from practicing their religion.  A band of brothers came together to fight this oppression.  And against incredible odds, they liberated the capital city of Jerusalem. 

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Due to the death of John Ohara, Susan’s step-dad, I will be out of commission for a week and will be in New Hampshire. U.S. cell phone for urgent matters is 617 899 3282.  If anyone can use our hot tickets to the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo on Tuesday, I’m happy to figure out how to get them to you. Row 12.

For Immediate Release December 7, 2007
Contact: Nickolai Butkevich (202) 641-7420 

PRESS RELEASE
UCSJ DECRIES RESULTS OF RUSSIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 

UCSJ: Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union issued a statement
today decrying the results of the Russian parliamentary elections held last
Sunday.  After the extensive and often brutal measures the Kremlin took in
recent months to carefully manage the results of the elections, President Putin
and his administration abjectly failed to translate his often eloquent
statements that condemn antisemitic and xenophobic hate crimes into an improved
and reformed Duma.  

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