An article from eJewish Philanthropy
April 27, 2012 
by Helen Chernikoff

G-dcast.com is a poster child of the Jewish startup sector, the grass-roots movement that aims to reach the disinterested and unaffiliated by offering new ways – such as record labels, bike rides and online Shabbat services – to connect with Judaism. Over 3,000 educators around the world use G-dcast’s funky parsha-of-the-week videos, which have been viewed over a million times on the web, the group says.

Why, then, is G-dcast about to find itself out on the street?

Article from eJewish Philanthropy
March 26, 2012 

Kevah, a Bay Area-based organization that engages Jewish identity and builds Jewish community through study of classical Jewish texts, has received a $250,000 grant from the Jim Joseph Foundation for the Kevah Teaching Fellowship. The Fellowship will provide participating educators with a fully funded professional development opportunity in facilitating Jewish small group learning for young adults.

The Fellowship includes three in-person workshops over the course of the year, a supervising mentor, personalized guidance in curriculum development, participation in ongoing Jewish learning with other Kevah Fellows, and access to carefully selected curricular resources. Ideal candidates for the program will have at least a BA, basic to advanced Hebrew literacy, experience learning Jewish texts, and a strong desire to become a great educator.

Love Birds ketubah
by artist Lisa Perrin An article from eJewish Philanthropy

UpStart, which cultivates the most promising ideas of Jewish social entrepreneurs, recently accepted two new UpStarters to its cohort of Jewish innovators- Ketuv, which provides couples with a fine art option in ketubahs, and creates an opportunity for artists, with dynamic careers outside of the commercial and Judaica spheres, to create fresh, quality ketubah art, and Edah, an after-school program with spring and summer-camp options that offers experiential, cutting-edge Jewish learning opportunities for children. They join current UpStarters Amir, A Wider Bridge, Fair Trade Judaica, G-dCast, Kevah, Moishe House, The Kitchen, Urban Adamah, and Wilderness Torah. UpStart helps these new organizations develop and implement their vision, business focus, content, and capacity to innovate so that they can make a lasting and profound impact on Jewish life.

Click here to read the entire article on eJewish Philanthropy.

3/20/12
Doing Well & Doing Good: Hybrid Models for Social Impact
Co-Sponsored by UpStart Bay Area, The Foundation Center, The Hub Bay Area, Social Enterprise Alliance San Francisco Bay Area Chapter and Stanford Social Innovation Review

 
Doing Well & Doing Good: Hybrid Models for Social Impact from UpStart Bay Area and Foundation Center - San Francisco on FORA.tv

Is it possible to create organizations that have stable structures as well as the flexibility to grow to meet the changing needs and demands of its target audience? Is it possible for organizations to maintain their values and stay true to their missions, while also adapting to radically shifting times? What is the best way to ensure that established institutions gain the flexibility and skills to creatively address the issues they face, with the support and partnership of creative entrepreneurs, without dismissing the structures and ideals that have defined and sustained them?

The Book of Esther, traditionally read twice on the holiday of Purim, reminds us that we have grappled with these questions before, and sheds some light on how to navigate them. The scroll has all of the elements of a great story a king, a couple of queens, drunken parties, a great villain, brave heroes, cameo roles (imagine Billy Crystal as Harvona) and lots of horses. It also appears to have an elemental story structure a clear beginning, in which the scene is set up and the characters and story line are introduced; a suspenseful middle what will become of the Jews? Will Esther reveal her true identity? and a satisfying end, in which, all in a scene, Esther bravely pleads for her life and the life of her people, and Haman is hung.

On the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 7, the holiday of Tu B'Shevat begins. It's the time of year when my [...]

Just a few years ago, being innovative was key to a new organizations success. But, as time has gone on, debate has hatched over what can truly be defined as innovative and unfortunately, it has become clear that even with initial funding, it is difficult to keep an innovative program afloat. There have been a huge variety of conversations and articles dedicated to the conversation of innovation, both sharing its importance and questioning its long-term impact. However, recently much of the innovation buzz and discussion has dissipated, but fear not, it is has been replaced by our new friend, organizational sustainability!

Since its inception, UpStart has committed itself not only to strengthening the professionalism and efficacy of new Jewish initiatives, but also to strengthening the Jewish knowledge of the leaders and the quality of Jewish content offered by these initiatives. It remains unique in the network of Jewish incubators aimed at bolstering the Jewish innovation ecosystem, and begs the question: why is it important to engage the leaders of new Jewish initiatives in substantive Jewish learning? And, furthermore, why does UpStart believe that it is not only important, but ultimately intricately interwoven with the potential success of these leaders and their projects?

UpStarter Urban Adamah has announced the launch of its Spring, 2012 Young Adult Fellowship. Jewish young adults can apply for the fellowship online at http://urbanadamah.org/apply/. Twelve fellows will be selected to participate in the new organic farm and Jewish environmental education program in West Berkeley, beginning March 4. This blog is an account of Urban Adamah fellow Aliza Slavin Gazek's experiences on the farm in the summer of 2011.

"What's wrong with your elbow?" an eight-year old asked during Camp Urban Adamah, a Berkeley day camp that explores Judaism and the environment. Struggling for a good view of this hard-to-see part of my body, I yielded to another camper, who responded, "She's a farmer!" It was then that I learned the necessity of scrubbing my elbows; their dark appearance came from dirt or soil rather. I've also learned that soil and dirt are actually the same thing, given two different names based solely on their location (dirt is on the ground, soil is in a planter).

I've acquired dirty elbows and expanded my understanding of food systems this summer as a fellow in the inaugural season of Urban Adamah, an urban edition of the existing Jewish farming venture in Connecticut. As one of twelve fellows, all in our twenties, I'm enjoying three months living in a house with my "fellow fellows," working our one-acre plot of urban land, learning about permaculture, Judaism, and food justice, and exploring beautiful Northern California, especially with those of us unfamiliar with coastal drives and towering redwoods.