Tuesday, December 30, 2008

15 Seconds in Sderot

Monday, December 29, 2008

Operation Cast Lead - Gaza Information

My colleague Rabbi Paul Kipnes has posted a great list of media sources for Israel.

These are all "mainstream" type media. Here are some of the on-the-ground blogger/non-mainstream media types who are also posting, including live-blogging. It's very interesting to hear and see what is going on from this perspective.

IsraellyCool - liveblogging
Muqata - also liveblogging
The Sderot Media Center
Jack is rounding up posts here and here. Check him regularly for updates.

And read this interesting post from Dan Illouz.

If you twitter, check out #gaza, and also consider following QassamCount, NewsIsrael and I'm sure there are others that I can't quite think of right now.

There's a lot out there beyond cnn.com and what the newsmedia is saying. Don't forget that during the Lebanon War there was a lot of misinformation and media-handling by Hizbullah. Hamas is certainly no different in trying to beat Israel out in the court of world opinion. But I don't believe that is going to stop Israel from defending herself, nor should it.

We'll all stay tuned.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Super Jews Color War Update

So I'm participating in the Super Jews Color War (Go Green Team!) and I am enjoying the little daily tasks. Each day of Chanukah we're asked to complete a mission which so far has involved "big box" Jewish organizations. For me, it's not so new. These are all organizations I'm quite familiar with -- JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency), Federation, and today Foundation for Jewish Culture.

It's all in fun, of course, but the main mission appears to be connecting young (and usually un-connected) Jews with these major players in Jewish life. It all seems well-executed and entertaining (although no one seems to really understand how they're tracking the clicks....but the Green Team is winning, so what do I care!?) and perhaps will have some level of success. I'd love to be a fly on the wall when the debrief is being done next week.

So....go Green Team! I bet it's not too late to join.

Happy Chanukah!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Accept the Mission....Green Team

The Color War has begun!
The Green Team's first mission is here.

Check it out!!!!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Team Super Jews!!!

Every day I'm giving something away on my other blog as we count down to Chanukah.

But over here, I'm going to celebrate Team SuperJews!



Go here for more information:
http://superjews.org/

or become a fan on Facebook!
(I'm on the Green Team...)

Stay tuned for more SuperJewyness around here at my blog!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Monday, December 08, 2008

Prayer for the Economy?

Can you pray for a bailout?

In today's New York Times article about Detroit churches praying for a bailout:
The S.U.V.’s on the stage, a Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Escape and Chrysler Aspen on loan from local dealerships, were all gas-electric hybrids, and Bishop Ellis urged worshipers to combat the region’s woes by mixing hope with faith in God.

Is this really how prayer works?

Certainly we can pray for the strength to make it through tough times. We can pray for the ability to help ourselves and others. We can even pray for wisdom - for ourselves and our lawmakers.

Prayer, I believe, is within us. God is not a magic candy dispenser, giving us a gumball for a quarter, a bailout for a prayer. Faith must, I believe, be coupled with the inner work of the self and the outer work of culitvating our connection to humankind.

My prayer for today:
May difficult times bring us the power to help each other. May we all be blessed with the prosperity of spirit that will bring us together and uplift us even in dark days. May we find inner peace and outer community.
May we all be blessed.

Some Related and Possibly Useful Posts:
Human Rights
Change the World, One Sandwich at a Time
Growing My Own
Gifts of Tzedakah
The Obama Family Thanksgiving

and please consider donating to this DonorsChoose project which is about to expire.

Friday, December 05, 2008

G-dCast


More Torah cartoons at www.g-dcast.com

(Normally I'm not a fan of the g-d spelling but it's their site!)

Shabbat Shalom!