While I was in B'nai Brith Youth Organization in high school I was elected Regional President and as one of my responsibilities, I attended an International Convention. At this convention in 2004 with all the youth leaders from each Jewish community in America, the International Director introduced to us b-Linked.com. He mentioned it would be a new portal for us(current BBYO-ers) to connect with ourselves around the country as well as with new and potential members. At the time, I thought it was a cool idea and glad to see BBYO had a new website, but didn't think much would come of it.
Let's move forward 4.5 years to taking a class on "Jewish Identity Today" and reading about b-linked in the Spring 2006 issue of the Journal of the Jewish Life Network. Upon reading this article by Matt Grossman(the director at the time), the words and message about b-linked, I had heard before. "With that in mind, BBYO fine-tuned its target audience, identifying a market of 100,000 Jewish teens who it considers to be “on the fence” Jewishly, and set out to create b-linked. It’s an unconventional entry point to Jewish involvement" (5). While at first 4 years ago I didn't think much of it, thinking now more analytically about the internet and it's uses within Judasim, I think BBYO took a great leap forward. It is clear that the current teen generation is extremely tech savvy and spends a substantial amount of time on the internet. As we have seen in class, there are tons of websites out there revolving around Judaism and connecting Jews together(providing information on various organizations); but b-linked allows for teens who are in BBYO or even Jewish to connect with each other. I think it's great that BBYO was able to be agile in understanding whats on the mind of a current teenager in America, and appeal to that.
As we discussed in class, the vast internet can be many things, good and bad. Some are afraid of its content, freedom, and insecurity, while others appreciate its how easy it is to learn, connect with others, and get information. As soon as Jewish communities and organizations understand the importance of the internet, such as how BBYO has, the more modern these groups can become for the 21st century.
In terms of the websites to look at, I enjoyed seeing www.2lifemagazine.com. It is a magazine based on an entire virtual world!! Ha! Second life is a computer network where people can create an Avatar(person) in a virtual 3-D computer world. I find it amusing that people created a Jewish magazine about a virtual world.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Listening to Moshav
After a highly debated and trade of our Jewish music CD(we traded "Camp Songs" and got Moshav's "Misplaced") I can honestly say I was surprised and enjoyed the music. Upon hearing the other albums given out in class, I wasn't expecting much to say the least. I do enjoy Rick Recht's music and am a huge fan and listen often to the tunes of Matisyahu, but didn't imagine what we got in class to be similar...I was wrong.
But getting back to Moshav, it kind of reminded me of The Fray, or a mix between Ben Kweller, John Mayer, Jack Johnson and others of that rock/pop/alternative variety. Here is what I thought about the music as in relates to class:
How does the music relate to Judaism?
While not coming off as very "religious" music, these artists definitely have a strong connection to their Judaism as well as G-d. The first song in the album is titled "The one and only", and after listening it clearly refers to G-d. The track with the album name "misplaced" is about Hashem as a guide in life. Side note: one song not directly related to Judaism, is about the wars in Israel.
What companies are putting these albums out?
Jewish Music Groups LLC
How does the artist identify with Judaism?
The group compiled of three artists was raised in Israel. Their parents came to Israel from America and settled on a Moshav lifestyle, which is similar to a kibbutz but with more independence. The group grew up listening to Rabbi Shlomo and eventually started playing with him. Teens coming from America visiting Israel began hearing Moshav’s music and they slowly became popular and raised money to come to the United States. the primary relate to Judaism through their music as explained above.
How does the artist fit in terms of genre/Judaism/media exposure?
It has typical rock and alternative sounds, it is a new type of genre, not necessarily classified as either Rock or Pop or Alternative.
I would imagine my colleagues may have had very different music than Becca and i did, and I am interested to hear their reactions in class.
But getting back to Moshav, it kind of reminded me of The Fray, or a mix between Ben Kweller, John Mayer, Jack Johnson and others of that rock/pop/alternative variety. Here is what I thought about the music as in relates to class:
How does the music relate to Judaism?
While not coming off as very "religious" music, these artists definitely have a strong connection to their Judaism as well as G-d. The first song in the album is titled "The one and only", and after listening it clearly refers to G-d. The track with the album name "misplaced" is about Hashem as a guide in life. Side note: one song not directly related to Judaism, is about the wars in Israel.
What companies are putting these albums out?
Jewish Music Groups LLC
How does the artist identify with Judaism?
The group compiled of three artists was raised in Israel. Their parents came to Israel from America and settled on a Moshav lifestyle, which is similar to a kibbutz but with more independence. The group grew up listening to Rabbi Shlomo and eventually started playing with him. Teens coming from America visiting Israel began hearing Moshav’s music and they slowly became popular and raised money to come to the United States. the primary relate to Judaism through their music as explained above.
How does the artist fit in terms of genre/Judaism/media exposure?
It has typical rock and alternative sounds, it is a new type of genre, not necessarily classified as either Rock or Pop or Alternative.
I would imagine my colleagues may have had very different music than Becca and i did, and I am interested to hear their reactions in class.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Heeb
For our assignment to read a Jewish magazine, I decided to read Heeb. In high school, I had read it once or twice before and at the time enjoyed seeing a popular national publication similar to any other pop-culture orientated magazine, but centered around things Jewish. Since then, I had almost long forgotten about the magazine until our assignment.
I enjoyed browsing the current edition. Just like in the past, I enjoyed the satirical humorous articles, such as the one about Bacon Wellington(clearly a food that violates the Kosher laws). It seems that the magazine is targeted at Jews who are fairly assimilated into American culture(probably not very religious) between the ages of 16-30. In this context, the Bacon Wellington article shows that even though one doesn't follow the laws of Kahrut, they aren't less Jewish. In a way the magazine presents Jewish culture for the modern day. I got this intention also from the article about Heeb reaching out to the three Jews live "where a bustling community of three Jews live among the throngs of Gore-tex –clad ski bunnies"(www.heeb.com).
Unlike most of my colleagues in class, I do not see much wrong with what Heeb does. Do not get me wrong, I in no way support mocking the Holocaust IN ANY WAY, but I do believe there is a reason and purpose for the competition. Just as we discussed in class, and has gotten national attention on Oprah; there are some Holocaust survivor stories that are stretching the truth. I think that the publicity this competition gets will actually bring to light the fact that some of these stories have been wrongly dramatized and made up. I am not insensitive to the subject at all, and again do not support mocking the Holocaust survivors in any way; but I do recognize this magazine is intended for humorous purposes.
I enjoyed browsing the current edition. Just like in the past, I enjoyed the satirical humorous articles, such as the one about Bacon Wellington(clearly a food that violates the Kosher laws). It seems that the magazine is targeted at Jews who are fairly assimilated into American culture(probably not very religious) between the ages of 16-30. In this context, the Bacon Wellington article shows that even though one doesn't follow the laws of Kahrut, they aren't less Jewish. In a way the magazine presents Jewish culture for the modern day. I got this intention also from the article about Heeb reaching out to the three Jews live "where a bustling community of three Jews live among the throngs of Gore-tex –clad ski bunnies"(www.heeb.com).
Unlike most of my colleagues in class, I do not see much wrong with what Heeb does. Do not get me wrong, I in no way support mocking the Holocaust IN ANY WAY, but I do believe there is a reason and purpose for the competition. Just as we discussed in class, and has gotten national attention on Oprah; there are some Holocaust survivor stories that are stretching the truth. I think that the publicity this competition gets will actually bring to light the fact that some of these stories have been wrongly dramatized and made up. I am not insensitive to the subject at all, and again do not support mocking the Holocaust survivors in any way; but I do recognize this magazine is intended for humorous purposes.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Chabad
When I noticed on the syllabus we would be speaking about Chabad during the class, I was excited. In the past few years, I have heard much about the growth in the Chabad movement, and it's nitch within the Jewish world. I grew up in a conservative Jewish community, yet I would say I am more aware of beliefs according to the Lubavitch than Conservative Judaism.
Therefore, I wasn't surprised to hear the current state of Chabad in Sue Fishkoff's "From Brooklyn to your Living Room", "The Jews who attend their prayer services, who show up for Channukah parties and Torah classes, and who end up giving them money, are not Lubavitchers. Most are not even Orthodox. For the most part, they are non-observant or even unaffiliated Jews[...]who are responding to something in the Chabad message" (11). I have personally seen this change in Chabad. In the past two years, my mother(a non-observing Jew for 48 years) has become extremely involved in our local Chabad house in Pittsburgh, PA. Three years ago, she went through difficult brain surgery to remove a benign tumor. The recovery was rather difficult on a physical, but also on a mental level. As the removal of a tumor is a rather serious life obstacle, she began to look into spirituality. She spoke with our Rabbi at our Conservative Synagogue, and while he is a great leader in the community, she did not feel a strong connection. At this point she discovered Chabad. She completely re-connected with Judaism as she saw it with a new light. Through the help of a Chabad Rabbi, she discovered the beauty in Judaism, and how much of an impact it can have on us. She began taking weekly JLI(Jewish Learning Institute) classes, and has since taken on a leadership role within Chabad to increase the JLI program and learning within the community.
Upon looking at www.chabad.org, i realized that the site's purpose is for someone more 'on the outside' of Chabad, having no prior knowledge. The site isn't intended for Chabad Rabbis or those living in Crown Heights in Brooklyn. Rather it is for someone like me know if trying to learn more about Chabad, or someone with no prior knowledge. In this sense I find it extremely informative, unlike other Jewish websites, as it actually provides information to what the Chabad movement believes in. The first five tabs on the left include all subjects that Chabad has opinions on, from daily life, divorce, holidays, Kashrut and Israel.
Therefore, I wasn't surprised to hear the current state of Chabad in Sue Fishkoff's "From Brooklyn to your Living Room", "The Jews who attend their prayer services, who show up for Channukah parties and Torah classes, and who end up giving them money, are not Lubavitchers. Most are not even Orthodox. For the most part, they are non-observant or even unaffiliated Jews[...]who are responding to something in the Chabad message" (11). I have personally seen this change in Chabad. In the past two years, my mother(a non-observing Jew for 48 years) has become extremely involved in our local Chabad house in Pittsburgh, PA. Three years ago, she went through difficult brain surgery to remove a benign tumor. The recovery was rather difficult on a physical, but also on a mental level. As the removal of a tumor is a rather serious life obstacle, she began to look into spirituality. She spoke with our Rabbi at our Conservative Synagogue, and while he is a great leader in the community, she did not feel a strong connection. At this point she discovered Chabad. She completely re-connected with Judaism as she saw it with a new light. Through the help of a Chabad Rabbi, she discovered the beauty in Judaism, and how much of an impact it can have on us. She began taking weekly JLI(Jewish Learning Institute) classes, and has since taken on a leadership role within Chabad to increase the JLI program and learning within the community.
Upon looking at www.chabad.org, i realized that the site's purpose is for someone more 'on the outside' of Chabad, having no prior knowledge. The site isn't intended for Chabad Rabbis or those living in Crown Heights in Brooklyn. Rather it is for someone like me know if trying to learn more about Chabad, or someone with no prior knowledge. In this sense I find it extremely informative, unlike other Jewish websites, as it actually provides information to what the Chabad movement believes in. The first five tabs on the left include all subjects that Chabad has opinions on, from daily life, divorce, holidays, Kashrut and Israel.
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