Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., November 17, 2008 Cheshvan 19, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:31 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

Blogger: Federations must connect with young Jews By Raphael Ahren Tags: North America, Israel News  As the founder of Jewlicious.com, a blog and Web site that caters to young Jewish people, David Abitbol was an obvious choice for the panel of Monday's General Assembly session, "Social Entrepreneurship: Reinvigorating the Jewish People for the 21st Century." However, Abitbol believes the organized North American Jewish community is actually not in tune with what's going on in the lives of young Jewish people. "For the bulk of North-American Jews, the bar mitzvah experience is a horrific chore that's so awful that it is the last formal Jewish education they'll have and any of them want," says Abitbol, whose blog gets nearly 10,000 hits a day. "That's unfortunate. Judaism doesn't have to be a chore, it doesn't have to be boring. I was raised with a Jewish education and an appreciation for Jewish life and traditions, and the Jewlicious blog and the festival are part of my desire to share that gift that I was given by my family and my community. And yet, unfortunately, the organized Jewish community that ought to have the same values and the same interests often acts as a hindrance." The 44-year-old Abitbol, who was born in Israel but lived in Canada and the U.S. before returning to Israel four years ago, says he feels enslaved to his blog - whose unstated purpose is to supply readers with a "daily dose of Judaism" - because nobody else listens to those who are disillusioned with the conventional Jewish community. From reading comments posted on his blog, he believes that the many Jews who read Jewlicious every day have few other connections to Judaism - but he doesn't feel qualified to shoulder this responsibility. What he would like to see is better cooperation between the young generation with their innovative grassroots projects, and the community and its extensive resources. Initiatives such as the New York Sephardic Music Festival or Oleh! Records, which promotes Israeli artists in the U.S., were organized and exist largely outside the framework of established community groups, he says. Advertisement "When some people, who want to do cool and interesting things, approach the organized Jewish communities and federations, more often than not they get resistance - in terms of money, in terms of support, in terms of anything," Abitbol said last week during an interview in Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market. "That is, if they even know to go there. Take your average kid who goes on [a] birthright [trip] and talk to him about the federations, he'll have no idea what you're talking about. We're in a state of such horrific Jewish illiteracy - and I am not talking about the Ten Commandments and Moses, I am talking about everything: Kids are not participating, nor are they invested, in the communal Jewish structure." This trend, says Abitbol, lies at the root of the Jewish community's most pressing issues. "We're losing so many people, not only to intermarriage, but also to apathy and ignorance," he said. "We really have to do something drastic and radical, and we have to do it quick. Judaism is getting less and less interesting." If, for example, young Jewish professionals want to get involved in environmental activism, they would have to go about it themselves. "They could benefit from an experienced voice in community organizing, but they're not getting it," he laments. "So our generation of social entrepreneurs has to make it up, from the very beginning, and that's just ludicrous, when we do have the resources." Abitbol's criticism is falling on deaf ears at the United Jewish Communities, the umbrella organization of North America's Jewish Federations. "The UJC is involved in all kinds of projects, but this is done through and with our partners, the Jewish Agency and the Joint Distribution Committee," UJC senior vice president Nachman Shai told Haaretz. "We support hundreds of projects and hundreds of thousands of people, and we appreciate every other initiative, but we are doing what we can. That's all." UJC officials also pointed out that this year's GA is preceded by a one-day conference for young community activists. The 800 participants of the Next Generation Day will "return to their communities inspired and with new tools to help them reach out and engage their peers," UJC spokeswoman Nomi Kessler-Feinstein told Haaretz. Abitbol is aware of the effort, but he doesn't think it goes to the root of the problem. "At the Next Generation, they are preaching to the choir. When most millenials don't know what their local federations do, how are they going to know about one little program, unless they are already involved? And if they are already involved, then they don't need the help." But in spite of his criticism, Abitbol is not out to slam the federations. "I don't think the Jewish communities are run by a bunch of conservative, evil people who want to suppress the voice of innovation, but the top-down model of our institutions has been clearly shown not to work as effectively as it can. I'd like to see a little more grassroots, a little more openness and a little more transparency so that people can feel welcome, so that people can let those who have the resources to make things happen know what it is that they want. We need to engage people and not scare them away," he said. Abitbol also pointed out that the relationship between independent social entrepreneurs and the federations is by no means a one-way-street. "In as much as the organized Jewish community represents an untapped resource for social entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs and the grassroots are an untapped resource for the Jewish community," he said. "It's a partnership that should be encouraged in any way, shape or form." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Taped launch IDF releases video of Gaza gunners firing rockets at Israel. GA, Jerusalem UJC General Assembly opens, organizers expect 'success.'   1.   ONE PLUS ONE EQUALS 2.0. 14:57  |  Steve 16/11/08   2.   We are one?- nonsense! 15:34  |  Amos 16/11/08

Read & React U.S. study urges Obama to press Israel over nukes Responses: 173 Israeli lightly hurt as Qassam hits yard of Sderot home Responses: 120 Yossi Melman: Syria may soon face nuclear sanctions like Iran Responses: 62 Livni to Miliband: U.K. plan to label W. Bank goods is 'exaggerated' Responses: 58 ANALYSIS / Hamas is calling the shots as Israel's leaders bicker Responses: 67 More Headlines 23:06 GA special report / Olmert: World must confront Iran's malevolence 23:28 Livni to Miliband: U.K. plan to label West Bank goods is 'exaggerated' 23:44 Poll: Only 19% of Americans say Israeli-Palestinian peace should top Obama's priorities 00:27 Israeli lightly hurt as Qassam hits yard of Sderot home 23:11 GA special report / Olmert: Strong Israel is best deterrent protecting world Jewry 21:05 IDF releases video of Gaza gunners firing rockets at Israel 18:02 PA negotiator Erekat: Netanyahu is closing the door to peace 19:24 IDF officials: Settlers unlikely to quit Hebron home unless forced 15:48 ANALYSIS / Hamas is calling the shots as Israel's leaders bicker 20:36 GA special report / Ex-basketball star Tal Brody expected to run for Likud Knesset list 00:26 B-G Airport strike ends as Histadrut chief calls for renewed talks in labor dispute 15:16 Ahmadinejad aide under fire over Koran 'dance' 09:12 U.S. study urges Obama to press Israel over nuclear program 00:26 Ami Ayalon quits Labor, claiming party has lost its will to live 09:17 Feted author Amos Oz says new leftist party will replace Labor Previous Editions Select Day 16 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 10 nov 09 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 03 nov

Special Offers Advertisement Living in Israel Studying in English Click & Meet our students from all around the world Dan Boutique Jerusalem New Dan Hotel in Jerusalem Young, Fun & Distinctively Dan Book Now Online! Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Car rental in Israel Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates. Dial 013 for your long-distance calls and get all your money back US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved