Posts Tagged Trends

What Are Your Favorite JPS Books?

Posted by Rachel Broder in JPS Books on August 3, 2011

I’m always intrigued by top 100 lists. You know the sort- top novels, films, soundtracks, etc. Sure, I read them for the lists themselves, but I enjoy reading the comments even more. Everyone wants to share an anecdote, provide their own version of the list, or (my favorite) contest and scream about one thing or another that is wrong with the list. Readers or viewers of top 100 lists are really a special sort because rarely do they remain readers and viewers- they always want to interact with the list.

tanyahall.com

I’ve been reading the blog http://onehundredonebooks.wordpress.com/ for a few months now. The blog follows one man’s (Robert’s) journey to read “all 100 of Time Magazine’s greatest English-speaking novels since 1923 (plus Ulysses).” What’s neat about the blog is that Robert is not only reading the novels, but also writing reviews and ranking them. Is this not the ultimate form of interaction with a top 100 list? As I explained, I love the play between reader and list, so this blog is fun for me to read. I also, of course, judge it and mentally declare my own love or distaste for a novel.

Likewise, I recently watched AFI’s first top 100 movies list. This list was compiled in 1997 and consists of movies made between 1896 and 1996. The 2007 list is an updated 10th year anniversary version of the 1997 list. The guy who lent the recording of the 1997 list to me already told me he wants to discuss his top 10 versus AFI’s, and then my top 10.

In the spirit of interactive lists, I want to ask you to share your favorite JPS books. What are your favorite Bible-related books? What about family or law? Do your kids have a list of favorite JPS children’s books?

Let the listing of favorite JPS books begin!

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Who’s Ready to Tweet #Torah Next Year?

Posted by Rachel Broder in Jewish Innovation on June 17, 2011

First and foremost: if you tweeted #Torah with us for Shavuot, thank you infinite times!  Over here at JPS, I thoroughly enjoyed tweeting the Book of Ruth.  Similarly, I enjoyed watching others tweet and re-tweet various parshas or lines.  It felt quite wonderful to know that a group of us were focused on Torah for an entire day of tweeting- not pop culture or political turmoil, but Torah.  While the rest of the Twitter world focused on Anothony Weiner, we celebrated the receiving of the Torah by sharing it in 140-character-slices.  So now what?

Admittedly, we did not manage to get #Torah trending in the top ten.  I could blame Anthony Weiner, but instead I’ll venture to guess that many more people expressed interest in tweeting than actually tweeted along with us.  So how is it that we can spread the word more successfully next year?  I think that it could prove significant to engage students and congregants who would not usually use Twitter.  I myself am not an avid user of Twitter, honestly only tweeting for JPS and not a personal account, but I really got a kick out of tweeting something of significance.

For Bloomsday (the literary holiday that celebrates the day on which James Joyce’s Ulysses takes place, chosen because it was the day Joyce first stepped out with his life companion, Norah Barnacle), some Twitter users tweeted all of Ulysses (whoa, way intense).  As a student and lover of literature, this tweeting of Ulysses is totally rad to me and almost makes me want a personal Twitter account to join the fun.  So how do I move from an onlooker to a participant?

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I would like to figure out how to get students and lovers of Torah from the “that’s-so-groovy” stage, to the “I-am-creating-a-Twitter-account-so-I-can-join-this” stage.  So I ask myself: what would it take for me to create a Twitter account to tweet Ulysses?  Probably a group of my equally nerdy friends creating accounts for the same reason.  Based on the above Ulysses analogy, I charge those of you who tweeted Torah this year to talk it up and encourage your fellow lovers of Torah to join you next year!   I would also greatly appreciate any suggestions you may have as to how we can attract more participants in next year’s tweeting of #Torah!

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Help us Tweet #Torah to the Top!

Posted by Rachel Broder in Jewish Innovation on May 31, 2011

In exactly one week (June 7th), we at JPS (along with CCAR Press and Davka.org) will aim to tweet #Torah to the top ten of Twitter for Shavuot.  In order to do so, we need as many people to join us as possible.  JPS has created a #Torah Twitter tool that breaks text into Twitter-sized portions (140 character pieces), so it is really simple for others (YOU!) to join us on our journey to tweet #Torah to the top!  Here’s how it will work: You select your favorite public domain Torah text (sign up for your free copy of the 1917 JPS Tanakh!), paste the text you wish to share into our tool, and then tweet away!  You can use your preferred Twitter tool to schedule automatic tweets throughout the day or overnight.  The hashtag #Torah will automatically be added to each of your tweets, making it even easier to join the movement.

So why should you join us in tweeting #Torah to the top?  MyJewishLearning.com puts out a daily e-newsletter called “Jewniverse,” and in yesterday’s edition they wrote: “The project’s immediate goal is to make “Torah” one of Twitter’s most-talked-about topics. But the larger goal is to remind us how inspirational the Torah can be–even if you’re reading it 140 characters at a time.”  Even if you’re not a regular user of Twitter, the opportunity to fuse Torah and technology is extremely exciting.  Tweeting the Torah not only displays the Torah’s relevancy in modern society, but also gives followers an opportunity to take in the text in smaller chunks.

Shavuot, a holiday marking the joyous occasion of the receiving of the Torah, is celebrated with Torah study and dairy consumption.  Why not make Shavuot a little sweeter this year by sharing Torah text with your Twitter friends?  Whether you tweet Ruth or a portion you find particularly meaningful, please join us as we tweet #Torah to the top on June 7th!

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Modernizing Yiddish

Posted by Rachel Broder in Jewish Innovation on May 12, 2011

modiya.nyu.edu

I have grown up with a Bubie who boasts impressive Yiddish skills.  She always reminds me of which songs she can still sing in Yiddish, teaching me phrases along the way.  What amazes me is the way in which Yiddish is more of a way of life for her than just a language.  Speaking in Yiddish is a link to her upbringing, and teaching it to my mother, and then bits to me, was a way of infusing a past way of life into our modern living.  I have my favorite Yiddish words – mishegoss and schvitz –, and though many have snuck into modern English, I still feel a bond with my Bubie when I use them.

This feeling that I am describing is probably most aptly termed “communal,” for it ties me to Jews all over the world.  Orthodox Jew and non-observant Jew alike use “oy vey,” and in a sense we are connected across oceans and through primary language barriers because of Yiddish.  This being said, the newly introduced Yiddish cell phones in Israel offer a more modern way for Yiddish speakers to connect.  Manufactured by Alcatel-Lucent, the phones are the product of many months of hard work to help bring traditional Jews into contact with modernity.  Yiddish phones have a Yiddish interface and – most shockingly for me as a Western cell phone abuser – are without internet access or texting capability.  The phones also screen calls from sex lines, for the community fears explicit calls or texts.  Essentially, Yiddish cell phones are a way for those using them to say in touch, but without outside temptations or distractions.

The modern Yid phenomenon is really well represented in the anonymous blogger, “Katle Kanye,” highlighted by The Forward.  Katle combines Yiddish street lingo with rabbinic literature vernacular, while writing about Hassidic life.  (Side note: Katle has my vote, for the article lists P.G. Wodehouse among Katle’s influences, and I harbor extreme affection for Bertie Wooster and Jeeves.) The article describes Katle as not only “amusing,” but also quite clever.  Is Yiddish finally emerging from the past, floating from the tongues of our grandparents to modern bloggers?  The future for Yiddish seems rather bright, and somewhat hip- not a description those of my Bubie’s generation would expect.

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A Penny for Your 140-Character Thoughts

Posted by Rachel Broder in Jewish Innovation on March 24, 2011

bradfitzpatrick.com

March 21st, 2011 marked the fifth year anniversary of Twitter.  If you’re like me, a Twitter neophyte, you’re just learning that the art of writing only 140 characters is no game of jacks.  Rather, writing 140 characters of pithy but still interesting material is really rather intimidating.  For those who have mastered Twitter, 140 characters is all one really needs for breaking news alerts, serialized posts, and even poetry.

The Week in Review section of this past weekend’s New York Times celebrated five years of Twitter with “twaikus” written by readers.  The celebratory article was titled “How Do I Love Thee?  Count 140 Characters,” and highlighted other examples of brief but entertaining tweets, ranging from 140 character summaries of great literature to a serialized twitter story from author John Wray.  In reading the article, I couldn’t help thinking: is this what the current age is about- brevity?  If so, why am I about to begin my senior seminar paper that requires at least twenty sources?

For the Jewish world, being brief seems rather impossible.  I don’t want to generalize, but we tend to be a people with a knack for gabbing.  There are a few arenas in Judaism for which I cannot picture 140 characters would provide enough wiggle room.  Though I can’t say how many Jews tweet their experiences in synagogue, I suspect most would have much to say in reaction to a sermon or joyous occasion.  Examples of Jewish moments that need more than 140 characters to tweet about include my rabbi’s sermons, a Bar or Bat Mitzvah speech, and an adult education lesson.  Examples of Jewish moments that I sometimes wish would only be 140 characters include my family’s Passover Seder so that I can eat, the lecture I get every year at five minutes to sundown on Yom Kippur when I am dying for a bagel, and endless kvetching.

On the other hand, could Twitter be a way to get kids more engaged in Jewish learning?  Instead of a response paragraph, could an educator ask for a tweet response and possibly see greater participation?  If blog posts are the current form of discussion that educators are including in their curriculum, tweets could be next.  140 character summaries or responses are not only trying, but also require true knowledge of a text.  Next time you finish a book or an article, see if you can boil it down to 140 characters!

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iJew

Posted by Rachel Broder in Jewish Innovation on March 1, 2011

 Two Sundays ago the New York Times Sunday Styles section had a small piece about customizing your iPhone signature.  The thought of customizing my iPhone in general has occurred to me before, but I have never really acted upon it- unless you count my very own Septa app.  This creative signature really has me thinking.  I rather like the idea of changing my signature to “Sent from my Brain” or something about excusing any mistakes in my email because the iPhone autocorrect often changes my type (my only real complaint about the phone).  I am thinking that this small change could be a great way to give my iPhone some personality.  Some people bedazzle their phone, others name it, but I am been seeking other ways to make my iPhone unique.  In seeking, I have realized that one way to customize an iPhone is to tailor it to its user’s cultural identity.  This realization has led me to design the perfect Jewish iPhone.  By loading it with the best Jewish apps and creating the perfect customized signature, I am going to pimp (even my mom loved the MTV show Pimp My Ride) my little iBubbelah. 

The Jewish Week put together a great list of the 2010 best Jewish apps.  My favorites are the Grogger Factory, the iManorah, the Hebrew Calendar, and the ParveOmeter.  The Jewish iPhone Magazine highlights a few apps that are a bit more obscure.  There’s an app called What to say that provides material for bar/bat mitzvah speeches, eulogies, and possibly sermons.  This particular app makes me uncomfortable; however, SparkNotes and CliffsNotes are a cherry bomb of a success.  The extremely tantalizing iHummus allows users to wipe hummus across the screen.  I plan on positioning this app between my mail and New York Times app so that I can snack between work and the news.  Sites such as Gigaom.com have lists of some really great kosher apps.  There are apps for cooking kosher, finding kosher restaurants, and also determining if a food is kosher.  Finally, there are a bunch of really great Jewish texts and studies apps.  The iTalmud is a bit out my price range, but the JPS Tanakh is a perfect addition to my Jewish phone.  The iPhone community has really thought of everything.  For those who watch Curb Your Enthusiasm: the only app I am still waiting for is George Costanza’s “iToilet”.

Sent from an iJew.

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Summer Nostalgia

Posted by Rachel Feltman in Link Roundup on July 30, 2010

Image: Jessica Giles

There’s something very nostalgic about this time of summer. Maybe it’s because of what those late July, early August days mean to most kids. Everyone runs around trying to enjoy themselves while increasingly frequent glances at the calendar remind them that school is looming in the near future. Of course, for me school is looming in the near future, but you get what I mean.

Here are some articles about summer fun, past and present.

  • So many people are writing about Jewish summer camp! It makes me wish I’d gone…I was too busy spending my summers at nerd camp studying Latin. (Can we pretend that I’m kidding?) Like all things, the concept of Jewish summer camp has changed a lot from one generation to the next (though Israeli dancing has remained a favorite activity among campers). Now there’s even an eco-friendly camp, called Eden Village Camp, that focuses on teaching campers to be environmentally friendly! Crazy kids.
  • There’s a new fad taking over Jewish summer camps everywhere: Jewish-themed Silly Bandz! The popular rubber bracelets are now available in the shape of various Jewish symbols, ritual objects, Hebrew letters, etc.
  • A lot of boomers, Jewish and not, have fond memories of summer days at Coney Island. Astroland closed a couple of years ago, and its heyday had arguably passed a long time before. Now Luna Park, its replacement, is making new memories for Coney Island veterans and their kids (and grandkids)!
  • Alright, so there isn’t really anything nostalgic about this article: It’s just about a hip ice cream place in the city. I argue, however, that the very idea of ice cream itself should make you nostalgic…or at least very hungry.

School is starting up in just a little more than a month! Let’s make the rest of the summer count.

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Tzedakah: Charity or Responsibility? Perhaps a Little Bit of Both

Posted by Elie in Jewish Knowledge on July 19, 2010

One of the most recognized words in the Jewish lexicon is tzedakah. Though usually translated as charity, the Hebrew-inclined will frequently remind us that the root of the word is tzedek, or justice. The message: that in Jewish tradition the act of supporting those in need is not something done gratuitously but rather compulsorily—one is required to perform tzedakah just as much as one is obligated to respect parents. While this alternate understanding of tzedakah conveys a sense of personal responsibility, I think that viewing acts of tzedakah as an enactment of justice, as well as a form of charity might help us more fully understand the meaning of this integral concept in Jewish tradition.

Maimonides, the famed 12th-century Jewish scholar, wrote an entire treatise on the laws of tzedakah, illustrating that it not only serves the recipient, but also benefits the donor, accentuating virtues of compassion and generosity and leading to personal growth. In other words, tzedakah provides an opportunity to cultivate self-awareness, to foster on an individual level values that are at the core of communal ethics. If only viewed as a mandated responsibility, tzedakah loses this appeal and can easily be overlooked as an element of human development. But if we choose to also highlight its charitable nature, we allow ourselves to tap into the compassion and sympathy that drive us to perform deeds of tzedakah.

Yet the idea of tzedek—think justice and personal responsibility—should still be part of the discussion (Hebrew grammar aside). Jewish tradition has always emphasized the individual mandate to support communal affairs. In biblical times, the Bible targeted the agrarian daily lifestyle, pressing all farmers to leave a corner of their fields untouched for the benefit of the poor. With the formation of Diaspora Jewish communities, every household reserved money for paupers as well as scholars who relied on community support.

Nowadays, the social action craze has taken hold of young and old alike. American teenagers are volunteering in Africa and neighborhood parks are being refurbished. This heightened awareness should also be a motivator for Jews to support organizations and institutions that encourage both continuity and innovation in the Jewish community—which brings me to JPS.

For a whopping 122 years, JPS has continually produced classic Jewish literary works of importance for a contemporary audience. With the ongoing support from the public, JPS has also published innovative works that add to the heritage of scholarly study. Take a look at our website to see what’s new at JPS and perhaps, with a new sense of the dual significance of tzedakah, you will find ways to support our important cause!

For more articles and information about tzedakah, check out these sites:

American Jewish World Service

Tzedakah, Inc.

My Jewish Learning: Tzedakah

Chesed and Tzedek: An interview with Ruth Messinger (American Jewish World Service), Yossi Prager (The AVI CHAI Foundation), Simon Greer (Jewish Fund for Justice) featured in Sh’ma.

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Teaching the Holocaust

Posted by admin in Jewish Books, Jewish Knowledge, JPS History on April 9, 2010

Prior to working for JPS, I taught Hebrew School throughout my 4 years in college. I switched grades a few times but stayed within the K-2nd age range. For me, one of the hardest topics to teach students that young was the Holocaust.

When I was younger, facts about the Holocaust were gradually exposed. I probably knew a little more than other kids because my parents told me when I was little that my grandmother was a survivor. She sailed to the US in 1940 from Wuppertal, Germany with her brothers and arrived just a couple weeks before her 6th birthday. I knew she had been adopted because her parents had to stay behind and never made it out. I can’t remember exactly what I learned at what age, but I remember certain books I read before I turned 10 such as A Picture Book of Anne Frank and Terrible Things (coincidently published by JPS), which both used age appropriate descriptions. While one book tells one recount of the Holocaust, the other teaches a lesson about standing up to discrimination. I took both approaches when teaching the Holocaust to my students. I revealed only as much as I thought was appropriate and turned the lesson into how we can deal with discrimination. I was always impressed by the advanced level of their responses. Some of my students knew a lot of specifics and would want to discuss them with the class, but I would have to cut them off and let them share their thoughts with me privately if I felt that the information was more than some of the other students to handle.

While we want to protect the innocence of our children, it’s not as easy as it used to be. Today, kids are exposed to a lot more information than I was as a kid now that the internet is so easily accessible.

In addition, more parents now want their children to be aware of their communities and global issues at a younger age. The situation begs the question: how do we teach our young students about the Holocaust and how much is too much? While this question has been asked so many times and schools have their own Holocaust curriculums, maybe the solution isn’t as rigid as it used to be. How can we as teachers and Jewish educators adapt to the changing trends?

-Jill Finkelstein

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There are many Holocaust Education Centers, museums, and teaching aids for educators, including this one: http://holocausteducationctr.org/ and the clearinghouse for all Holocaust organizations, the AHO: http://www.ahoinfo.org/
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Passover 2.0

Posted by admin in Link Roundup on March 22, 2010

Sarah, our New Linkages intern, guest blogs today with a Passover Roundup.

Behrman House

In this day and age, technology and education are advancing so rapidly it’s hard to keep up.  Just in case you feel threatened that all these advancements might happen to “pass over” you, in honor of Passover, we are bringing you a tech-savvy, literary round-up! These new innovations can help make your Passover Seder a more fun-filled family experience.

  1. Feeling a little lost about what to do for your Seder this year?  Haggadot.com, a new take on the Open Source Haggadah, allows you to create your own Haggadah. Users can upload their own content and borrow from others to create a Haggadah that makes your Seder a more personal and spiritual experience.
  2. Even iTunes wants to help make your Seder interactive and educational.  iMahNishtnah, an iPhone application, is a new way to practice reading over the Four Questions.  It’s colorful, fun and easy to use for children!
  3. Itunes also offers a complete Haggadah application for iPhone. In case you forgot your text or you’re in a rush, this brief but thorough guide will definitely come in handy.
  4. A group of 140 Rabbis have decided to add a bit of excitement to the Passover story by reenacting the tale online through tweets, giving the ancient story a contemporary setting. This project will continue through the holiday.  Stay updated with TweetTheExodus!
  5. Want to make Passover a bit more kid-friendly? Babaganewz’s Pesach Central has a multitude of movies, games and recipes all about making Passover more fun for your family.
  6. In addition to all their great Passover resources, MyJewishLearning is holding a Best Seder Ever. You can submit your own story or video describing your best Passover. Hurry since the contest ends today at 5pm!

If you happen to know of any other online Passover educational tools, games, recipes or anything at all, let us know in the comment section.

We hope you have a happy and healthy Pesach!

-Sarah

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