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November 6th, 2012
The Election 2012 Playbook: Lessons for the Jewish Community

Like most politically-attuned Americans (including my colleague Adam Simon, who also mentioned the 2012 election last week in an excellent piece in eJewishPhilanthropy that can be found here), I have been consumed by the endgame of the 2012 U.S. presidential election, finding myself absorbing every tidbit of news, polls and prognostications with increasing focus (and anxiety) as the clock ticks down to Election Day.

In the world of 24/7 news media, blogs and tweets, my daily “must read” is the Politico Playbook, written by the indefatigable Mike Allen. As he has counted down to the election, Allen’s email provides essential insight into the state of play of the Obama/Romney campaigns. More than that, however, he also frames insights that are directly applicable to the state of play of contemporary Jewish community engagement. Read More »

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July 31st, 2012
A Responsible Moment: Poland, Europe and the Jewish Future
Seth, second from right, with members of the ROI
Community in Poland.

Seth Cohen is the Director of Network Initiatives for the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. This article also appeared in eJewishPhilanthropy. 

Imagine a Jewish community rich in learning, vibrant in culture and diverse in perspectives on spirituality and belief. Imagine a Jewish community that serves as a center of innovation being led by scholars, spiritual leaders and educators, as well as young adventurers pushing the boundaries of enlightenment and activism. Imagine a Jewish community renowned for its contributions to culture (both high and low) that includes giants of arts and language admired throughout the world.

That community actually exists, perhaps in the most surprising of places: Poland, both past and present. And as we all imagine more interconnected, inclusive and innovative Jewish communities throughout the world, I would suggest we look to Poland as a community teeming with potential. Read More »

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June 6th, 2012
From Birth-right to Birth-responsibility

Emily Comisar is Manager of National Projects for NEXT: A Division of Birthright Israel Foundation. This piece originally appeared on Alef, an online resource created by NEXT: A Division of Birthright Israel Foundation for those that work to engage Jewish young adults.

Of all of the questions that I hear about Taglit-Birthright Israel, one that comes up over and over again is that of how we get trip participants to view their experience as a gift to be paid forward instead of simply a right to which they are entitled.

Paying it forward isn’t restricted to donating that $250 deposit back to the organization; it also means feeling a sense of responsibility to the community, to engage in it in whichever way is most meaningful and make it a more welcoming place for a rising generation of young Jewish adults.

Two weeks ago, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies, and NEXT: A Division of Birthright Israel Foundation convened a group of 25 young professionals to talk about Taglit-Birthright Israel. Read More »

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February 24th, 2012
Symposium on International Giving

As part of Philanthropy Magazine’s Winter 2012 issue on global giving, 13 of America’s leading international donors and development experts responded to a series questions:

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July 13th, 2011
The Giver

This article appeared in the July 2011 issue of Oklahoma Magazine.

As Told To Jami Mattox

Lynn Schusterman and her husband, the late Charles Schusterman, established a family foundation in 1987 dedicated to spreading the joy of Jewish living, giving and learning around the world and to enhancing the quality of life in Tulsa. You can see buildings around Tulsa, from educational institutions to public libraries, burnishing the Schusterman name. Lynn recently signed Warren Buffett’s Giving Pledge. She also authors articles and opinion pieces for publications across the nation on various topics, including women in philanthropy.

The Schusterman Family Foundation bases our giving on helping people move out of circumstances they were born into. I think that the most important aspect of philanthropic giving is empowering people to realize their full potential. When Charlie and I began the foundation, we operated under the thought that if you give a person a fish, you feed him, but if you teach a person to fish, he can feed his family.

One of the causes I’m thrilled about (funding) is Teach For America; it’s helping kids in underprivileged, under-taught areas get an education. That’s one of the things I enjoy and how we base what we do. I can already see the impact Teach For America is having.

I became involved in Birthright Israel at its inception 13 years ago. Part of why I became involved in Birthright is because I am a product of birthright. When Charlie and I were married and had our young family, we decided that before we went any place in the world, as a family, we would go on a trip to Israel. Before then, I took my Judaism and ancestry for granted, and Israel wasn’t on my radar screen. I fell in love with the country and the people. I began reading about the Holocaust because I thought, “How can I ask others to get involved if I don’t know anything?”

The impact (of Birthright Israel) has been far beyond what any of us dreamed. It has changed the face of Israeli relations, and for young people it has become a rite of passage and has secured a place on the Jewish communal landscape.

We also do a Birthright trip for Teach For America teachers. I think it’s important for people to learn about their roots and their ancestors. Young people today have capabilities beyond anything I will ever be able to do.

They’re still looking for identity. “Who am I? Where am I going? Where did I come from?” The trip impacts Teach For America teachers in how they teach and how they view themselves. These trips have been so successful that we’re looking at doing similar trips for Teach For America teachers of other nationalities, ethnic groups and religions.

There were a few things that compelled me to sign The Giving Pledge. One was to encourage people of all ages and capabilities to join to repair the world, to make it a better place, and to really understand the joy of making it a better world. It’s important to learn that it’s the little things that you do that make a difference. To make someone else’s life a little bit better, a little bit easier, it’s an incredible feeling. I get euphoria from helping people through some projects. Who ever thought a woman from Tulsa, Oklahoma, would become involved in something this large?

Read this article in Oklahoma Magazine

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December 1st, 2010
Creating Light in a Time of Darkness

Chanukah, known as the Jewish festival of lights, is an apt time to think about the significance of light—both its physical presence during the dark winter solstice and its symbolic representation of knowledge and wisdom.

Today, with anti-Israel activity escalating across the country, Israel facing a litany of challenges both at home and abroad, and the growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement,  the need for us to bring light, learning, wisdom and understanding to counter the  darkness of lies, distortions and obfuscation has taken on even greater urgency. Read More »

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November 17th, 2010
Hillel, Israel on Campus Coalition Announce New Strategic Approach to Israel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jeff Rubin
Associate Vice President for Communications, Hillel
202-449-6534 • jerubin@hillel.org

Steve Kuperberg
Executive Director, Israel on Campus Coalition
202-449-6536 • skuperberg@israelcc.org

HILLEL, ISRAEL ON CAMPUS COALITION ANNOUNCE NEW STRATEGIC APPROACH TO ISRAEL

Hillel to Create a Center for Israel Engagement; Restructured and Independent ICC to Serve as Hillel’s Primary Advocacy Partner

(Washington, D.C.) – Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life and the Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC) announced today a new approach and enhanced resources for Israel education, engagement and advocacy on campus. While continuing their eight-year partnership, Hillel will be creating a new Center for Israel Engagement, and the ICC will become an independent advocacy organization.

“We are pleased that this new partnership between Hillel and ICC will bolster our communal efforts in Israel engagement, education and advocacy,” states Wayne Firestone, President of Hillel. “Our coordinated approach will allow Hillel and our campus partners to ensure that every Jewish student on campus will have the opportunity to explore and build an enduring relationship with Israel, either in Israel or in a safe, supportive college environment,” he adds.

With enhanced resources from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation (CLSFF), Hillel and ICC will continue to work closely together to support Israel on campus, with ICC serving as Hillel’s primary advocacy partner, bringing expertise, training, resources and a national network to support campus professionals and students around the country.  In addition to working with ICC to support campus advocacy efforts, Hillel will renew its focus on engagement and education to meaningfully engage more students with Israel and enhance their understanding and connection to the Jewish state. This new strategy will enable ICC and Hillel to collaborate more effectively to address the increasing challenges to Israel’s legitimacy on campus, the growing opportunity presented by thousands of returning Taglit-Birthright alumni and the need to stem the distancing of young Jews from Israel.

Hillel, which serves over 500 campuses and communities worldwide, will create the Center for Israel Engagement to bring together and augment its existing Israel educational and engagement programs and resources. The Center’s core functions will be to:

  • Build Israel Centers of Excellence to proactively lead an educational Israel agenda for diverse college students;
  • Offer Accelerate: Israel, a certificate program for Hillel professionals to develop a cadre of influential, pro-active and knowledgeable staff;
  • Increase student travel to Israel through programs such as Taglit-Birthright Israel, Alternative Break Israel trips, study abroad and more; and
  • Centralize the role of Taglit-Birthright Israel in local Hillels’ efforts to help students advance on their Jewish journeys.

Leveraging its unique position as the central convener, coordinator and clearinghouse for a broad and diverse array of campus Israel supporters, the ICC will be focused specifically and solely on coordinating and promoting advocacy for Israel in the campus environment. Its core functions will be to:

  • Spearhead efforts to combat delegitimization of Israel on campus and serve as a resource for campuses experiencing anti-Israel activity;
  • Provide a public voice and advocate for the network of Israel campus supporters, as well as offer leadership and coordination for this network;
  • Foster strategic communication about Israel on campus and among the ICC network;
  • Weave and catalyze the network of Israel campus advocates and organizations; and
  • Provide information and resources, including online seminars and increased training opportunities, to the campus pro-Israel community and direct initiatives among that network.

“By combining the ICC’s unique network and advocacy expertise with Hillel’s robust campus presence, we are creating an across-the-board approach to Israel work,” says ICC Executive Director Stephen Kuperberg. “This is a new chapter in the story of Israel on campus and will enable us to address pressing needs in a more strategic and coordinated manner.”

Since its inception in 2002, ICC—which has been a partnership between Hillel and the CLSFF—has supported and coordinated campus Israel advocacy through the Grinspoon-MZ Foundation Israel Advocacy Intern program; its Israel Advocacy Grants program; high-profile speaker tours featuring prominent Israel experts such as David Makovsky; national initiatives like “Let Our Students Go!” and the Student Coalition Against a Nuclear Iran; trainings for campus professionals, including the Israel Intensive at Hillel’s Engagement Institute; and national symposia and consultations around the most pressing issues affecting Israel on campus.

Hillel provides a central address and infrastructure for pro-Israel education on college campuses, including trips to Israel, celebrations and fighting anti-Israel efforts. Working closely with the ICC, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Birthright Israel NEXT, MASA Israel Journey, AIPAC and other pro-Israel groups, Hillel helps students understand Israel and to defend her whenever necessary.

“The times demand a new approach,” says Lisa Eisen, CLSFF’s national director. “Our Foundation is pleased to support ICC and Hillel in this exciting new partnership, which will enable us to enhance students’ connection to and understanding of Israel while more effectively countering growing efforts to delegitimize Israel on campus,” she remarks.

For more information, please contact Jeff Rubin at Hillel or Steve Kuperberg at ICC.

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About Hillel

Located on more than 500 campuses and in communities around the globe, Hillel enriches the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students so that they may enrich the Jewish community and the world. www.hillel.org

About Israel on Campus Coalition

ICC’s mission is to empower and catalyze the network of campus Israel supporters so that it is enabled to engage campus leaders around issues affecting Israel and to create a pro-Israel campus climate. www.israelcc.org

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September 22nd, 2010
A Story in the Tapestry: Part II

Rachel Cohen is the Director of Young Adult Initiatives at the Schusterman Family Foundation. This is the second part of a two-part series. You can find the first part here.

In the first post in this two-part series, Rachel describes her journey from singer in the church choir to participant in the first-ever Birthright Israel trip. The trip sparked an exploration of a Jewish identity that until then had been nonexistent. As she boarded the plane home from Israel, Rachel vowed to make Birthright a gift that kept on giving, both in her life and in the lives of others. In this post, she describes how she continues to fulfill that decade-old promise.

Going on Birthright began a long list of firsts for me: the first time I lit Shabbat candles. The first time I recited a Jewish prayer. The first time I fasted on Yom Kippur. The first time I dated a Jewish boy. The first time I felt part of the Jewish community. Read More »

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September 20th, 2010
A Story in the Tapestry: Part I

Rachel Cohen is the Director of Young Adult Initiatives at the Schusterman Family Foundation. This is the first part of a two-part series. You can find the second part here.

There are thousands of Rachel Cohens in the world today—one went to my summer camp, there is almost always one enrolled at my alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, 376 of us use gmail and there are 960 of us on Facebook!

Despite the numbers, however, I’m likely the only Rachel Cohen who grew up singing in the church choir, a child of an interfaith marriage and the proud descendent of seven generations of United Church of Christ ministers and missionaries.

If you had asked me 10 years ago if I were Jewish, my answer would have been “Well, my father is.” Read More »

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September 16th, 2010
Time Gets It Wrong Again

My heart sank. There, front and center on the magazine rack, was the recent issue of Time. The Star of David, a symbol of so much that I cherish, filled the cover. But the headline is what really caught my attention: “Why Israel Doesn’t Care About Peace.”

Even before reading the article, I experienced a range of emotions. Anger. Despair. Resolve. Read More »

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