ROI is a diverse community of young Jewish innovators and leaders from around the world. United by their participation in the annual ROI Summit in Jerusalem, members of the ROI Community are representative of the new DIY, can-do spirit sweeping the Jewish world. Find out more about us or keep up with the latest ROI Community news below.
Thanks to all of you who have applied for this year's ROI Summit. We have received a bumper crop of excellent applicants, and our staff is diligently going through the applications. We'll make our assessments as carefully and quickly as possible. Stay tuned for more news!
May 8, 2008 at 11:40 am by jk · Filed under Israel
Today, the State of Israel is celebrating its 60th year of independence. Check out this animation of the Israeli Flag - 60 flags for 60 years - from graphic artist, Uir Niv. Click on the flag in the center of the page to view the animation. Happy Atzmaut!
May 7, 2008 at 6:14 pm by Esther · Filed under Kol Hakavod
If you’re in New York and always wanted to know what the process of laser eye surgery is like, you have a unique 21st Century opportunity to see it in action, as 2006 Charlie/ROI member Michael Findling gets his eyes zapped at Eye Surgery at Park Avenue Laser Vision on May 7th, 2008.
Findling, Chief Marketing Officer for SalemGlobal Internet, announced it on his highly-subscribed-to events and networking list, with a link to the announcement, which included the news that there’d be a “seminar from 5-6:30 (complete with refreshments), and then at 6:30 you can actually watch Michael’s surgery performed from a large bay view window on East 25th Street.”
You can also enter a raffle to win $500 discount off your laser surgery or a $100 discount off a Botox injection (if that’s your thing). “Get a free refreshment and a goodie bag.”
See Michael see better. And see Michael tell NY, “see ya”–he’s moving to San Francisco shortly. Of course, in a city known for its five clear days a year in contrast to fog year-round, one wonders if clear vision is really necessary. As long as it helps with the driving–those streets are steep.
As you know, the 60bloggers project involves the participation of several ROI members. The latest post is by Inbal Freund in honor of Israeli Memorial Day and in memory of loved ones lost, and it’s incredibly moving. If you’ve ever wondered about the juxtaposition of Memorial Day with Independence Day, and about the shift that happens between those two occasions of opposing emotions, this is the piece to read.
[…] The generations which came before us are embedded within us. They escort us as we celebrate our holidays – on Yom Kippur or University graduation, their eyes are watching, examining our actions, giving advice and meaning to mundane life. We are expected to relate to them. The glory of their memories commands us to better the world. To improve what they have given us. To carry their greatness to our inheritance. To create the next part of the chain, day by day.
I study what my forefathers studied. I study what my foremothers did not always have access to. I have the freedom to wonder around beloved texts, I have the freedom to walk in ancient pathways. I live in a world which reinvents itself with every passing day, where technology dictates an ever growing pace of life. I live in the liminal space between old and new as I try to make my own way forward.
[…] The sad, heavy, choking, patched blanket of ceremonies is lifted. We can never really take some pieces back as we return to our homes to prepare for our Independence Day. The shift is so dramatic. Like a transformation from a long fast to the festive joy of Purim. Like a great light that blinds eyes which dwelled in much darkness. By the evening, the sky is lit with fireworks. My head is still pounding from the sun. From the distance the fireworks sound like shots, and I have to look up to remember that this is an expression of joy which is not taken for granted. It’s an expression of freedom.
May 4, 2008 at 1:55 am by David Abitbol · Filed under Israel
Taglit Birthright Israel’s latest YouTube video is a fun-filled romp across the country in celebration of Israel’s 60th anniversary on May 8th. Starring Tasha and Dishka, two Israelis from Ramle and early YouTube sensations with their Hey! clip (22 million views!), these two lip synch to the Carsitters “All Eyes on Me” as they make their way across Israel. The lead singer of the Carsitters is none other than ROI2007 alum Noa Margalit and this video was produced by Leah Stern, another ROI2007 alum and, well, me, DavidAbitbol. The point of the video was to show an image of a fun and vibrant Israel - said image being more reflective of our daily reality than what one tends to see in the media. Anyhow… here it is! Enjoy, rate, comment and share with your friends and family.
In three countries, ROI and CLI are readying for a season of excitement. After a rigorous selection process, 35 projects are receiving ROI Grants (details–including a list of awardees and links to their projects–to come).
As for the Summit, letters of acceptance (and, unfortunately, also letters of “not-acceptance”) have begun to go out. The applicants pool for both the summit and the Grants program was amazingly rich and qualified; rejection by either doesn’t mean the project isn’t worthwhile or that the person wasn’t good enough–we are blessed with a wealth of options, and I understand from speaking with the selection committee that the choices were incredibly hard. One acceptance committee member reported that it was making him physically ill trying to make these impossible decisions. (Maybe that was off the record. But you should know that none of this is easy.)
So if you’re on the list of the accepted, we’re looking forward to seeing you in Jerusalem. And if you’re among those we had to turn down, we know that great things are coming from you and look forward to your future participation in the network of ideas and innovation.
Stay tuned to ROI120.com to learn about some of our grantees and innovators who will be profiled in the weeks to come…
In the above clip, ROIer and PresenTense Magazine Editor & Publisher Ariel Beery speaks of what Israel means to him. Part of the My Hatikva program from Israel60.org, a project from the Conference of Presidents and the Israel Ministry of Tourism. See here for more videos.
April 29, 2008 at 3:33 am by David Abitbol · Filed under Israel
Hear the interview and listen to this 2007 ROI Summit alum rap in Aramaic and Arabaic! Crazy! Is it safe to say Y-Love’s going places? He was interviewed on the US BBC World Service Web site in their “Global Hit” section today:
For today’s Global Hit, we meet an American hip hop artist who learned to rap in Jerusalem. His name is Yitzhak Jordan. But he goes by the name, Y-Love. Y-Love stands out in the crowd. He’s a Black Orthodox Jewish MC. And as The World’s Andrea Smardon reports, he likes to mix holy languages into his rhymes.
April 25, 2008 at 4:50 pm by Esther · Filed under Israel
As some of you may know, one of the many jobs I have is as senior editor for PresenTense Magazine (founded by ROIer Ariel Beery, and contributed to by many ROIers past, present and likely future). Our new issue, which is SO new that it’s still at the printer, contains a feature called “Zionism: A to Z”–in which we tried to have a writer define 26 terms that helped to define contemporary Zionism. (You can see the preview of the issue here.)
But you probably have a different list of must-include terms. Some of the things we selected you might find completely extraneous… How would our lists differ? Would a cohesive Zionist mission statement emerge? Are some of these terms more important to Israel’s past than to its future? Which terms are timeless, and which are archaic? Which have we left out entirely?
Our staff members vocally disagreed over which terms were included. And we expect that ROIers have many varying opinions too. So read the list, learn a thing or two, and then continue the discussion.
While our community still alternately reels and is in denial about the tragic loss of our friend Dave Burnett, the many people whose lives he touched have begun to post some thoughts about Dave and create ways to remember him. (One of the in-person gatherings in Dave’s memory is happening next week in NYC, information is at the end of this post.) I thought that by sharing these reactions, we might even further understand how wide an influence a single person can have.
When a good mate dies, especially so unexpectedly, there are no words to describe the number of thoughts and memories and feelings that come out of deep, hidden recesses. Similarly, there are no words to describe Dave or the way that people in his life saw him. “Legend” doesn’t cut it; nor does “top bloke”. Dave may have approved of “champ” but that’s definitely lacking.
He brought light, laughter and love to those who knew him and will be sorely missed. The world is already a sadder place without him. Dave leaves a legacy as an example to us all of how one can live in this world. To be active and effective, fun and friendly, innovative and honest. […] The greatest way we can honour him is to live as he did and strive to build the world that Dave would have wanted to see.
Aharon Horwitz at BlogsofZion called Dave a “lost light,” an image which we certainly all agree on, noting that he was “one of the kindest, sweetest, and most engaging people we’ve ever ever been fortunate enough to meet”:
Just a few weeks ago, in a talk with an AUJS group, his name came up countless times with smiles, just because he’s the type of guy who made you smile even from thousands of miles away. It is just so hard to believe he is really gone….
Solid Gold Dancing in the Holy Land expressed her shock at learning of Dave’s death–the two had worked together for close to two years in Sydney:
When I found out what had happened (just hours after he died it turned out) I felt the breath literally leave my body. Shock turned to utter grief and even now, two weeks on, I find it hard to believe that he is no longer with us. Dave was an inspiration to all those around him. He infected you with his larrikin sense of humour and his passion for Israel and the Jewish people was deeply touching and admirable.
In New York, on April 30, ROIers and other friends of Dave are gathering to remember him and to collect funds for a donation to the fund created in his memory. If you’d like to attend or donate, all the information is available here at the event’s Facebook page. If you’re not on Facebook, and want to attend or donate, email Lindsay at Linzer351@aol.com and she’ll send you the information.
If I’ve left you out, please write and let us know of your online and offline tributes to Dave, and we’ll happily post them here.
The ROI Team wishes all of our readers, members, and all the amazing 2008 ROI Summit applicants a very happy and meaningful Passover holiday – Chag Sameach.
Announcements regarding the 2008 Summit will begin to be sent out during the intermediate days of Passover. Thank you for your patience.
Check out the video below to get yourself into the Passover spirit…Kudos to ROIers Michelle and Will.
One of the great things about the ROI Summit and network is that it allows as a cross-pollination ground for projects and ideas that lead to new collaborations with similarly passionate people. For instance, ROIer Joe Weilgus (2006) came to the first conference representing Project Sunshine, which he founded in his dorm room at Yeshiva University, and which provides free social, educational and recreational programs and services to children and their families who are affected by medical challenges.
Today, Project Sunshine has reached 100,000 families in over 150 hospitals throughout the U.S., Canada, Kenya, China and Israel, brightening the lives of more and more children each day. Heading the Israel chapter of that mission is 2006 ROIer Yuval Passov, who–over the last few months–has been recruiting volunteers and creating a comprehensive volunteering program. His core team includes recent olim from France, Belgium, England or the U.S, and the rest are sabras; team members come from various professional backgrounds, such as finance, engineering, education etc.
Yuval sees the project’s goal as giving hospitalized children the chance “to play and be children, and forget if only for a few hours, about their daily hospital routine.” And the results, he reports, are immensely satisfying. Read the rest of this entry »
April 9, 2008 at 5:40 pm by David Abitbol · Filed under Israel
60Bloggers.com is just one of those things that just happened. A few like minded individuals got together, threw some ideas around and poof - a Web site was created, bloggers contacted and voila! Over the course of the next 60 days, 60 bloggers will write 60 posts commemorating the founding of the modern State of Israel. Every effort was made to put together a diverse crew and we have no intention of editing the content: anything goes! Of course, many ROIers stepped to the plate and amongst the 60 bloggers you will find Bruno Bitter of Judapest (ROI 2006), Harry Rubenstein (ROI 2006) of The View from Here and Jerusalemite, Tomer Altman (ROI 2007) of OyBay, Ariel Beery and Aharon Horwitz (ROI 2006-2007) of Blogs of Zion and PresenTense, Aaron Small (ROI 2006) of uh… Jewlicious (<-- click on that. Trust me.), DJ Handler (ROI 2007) of Shemspeed, Jeremy Kossen (ROI 2007) of JewTube, Inbal Freund (ROI 2007) of Mavoi Satum, Tanya Gutsol (ROI 2007) of Jewlicious.ru, Leah Jones (ROI 2007) of Accidentally Jewish, Y-Love (ROI 2007) of This is Babylon, Eli Winkelman (ROI 2007) of Challah For Hunger and Jewlicious and Leah Stern (ROI 2007) also from Jewlicious. But wait. There’s more! There’s also international mistress of all media Esther Kustanowitz of My Urban Kvetch, Yoni Gordis of the Center For Leadership Initiatives, and, well… me.
April 8, 2008 at 8:08 pm by Esther · Filed under Israel
China is notoriously prohibitive of foreigners filming without permission, so when it came to filming “Foreign Devils” — a new film about two mismatched friends spending one final day in China — the filmmakers had to be careful. In other words, film illegally, using local actors cast via YouTube. The film was written by Seth Garz (ROI 2006), directed by Avery Pack, and produced by Pack and wife Sara Liss (both ROI Summit participants from 2006 and staff members for 2007).
Check out the trailer below, and click more for the expanded post with more information about the film, the process, and exciting upcoming premieres for this film.
Is this collabo-ROI-ation a happy coincidence?
“ROI is where we got to know Seth,” Avery told me this morning. “We all had a common interest in China and encouraged him to write a screenplay about his experiences living there. We promised him we’d make if he wrote it, and though we finished it on the plane over to Beijing — here we are.” Read the rest of this entry »
I thought I’d take the time to introduce myself : )
So…
My name is Jen and I am currently the new Israel intern for the ROI staff. As a member of the Otzma program, I will be offering my wisdom and skills for the upcoming summit in June. I am truly looking forward to welcoming all of the upcoming participants to Israel and assisting the ROI staff with whatever they might need.
Oh.. and special shout out to Dave for his awesome blog tutorial session today. Not only is he a good teacher, but he brings Marzipan rugelach and other mouth “treats” for his students. Tasty indeed!
April 7, 2008 at 12:30 am by Esther · Filed under Israel, Kol Hakavod
Anyone who’s met Inbal Freund can’t help but be blown away by her passion, strength of character and commitment. Most of us get to experience that in our encountering her as the executive director of Mavoi Satum, as a steering committee member at the PresenTense Institute, or from her involvement in Kol Dor. (Or any of the hundred other things she’s involved with. Don’t even ask.) But somehow, some way, she found the time to date and get engaged!
A couple of weeks ago, Inbal proudly told me of her engagement to lawyer Yoel Novick, and shared a few details via instant messaging that she’s allowed me to share with you:
He made aliyah 12 years ago - and after he passed both BAR exams of Israel and New York…went to the army–a Zionist. We met 12 years ago when he made aliyah and I came to ra’anana with my family. We saw each other again a few months ago at a party and Yoel said “you look familiar” which was true. Both of us remembered that conversation 12 years ago.”
I pointed out that 12 years ago, engagement would have been inappropriate. “It was worth waiting,” Inbal wrote, ending her sentence with one of these:
:-).
Kol hakavod to Inbal on her impressive work this year with Mavoi Satum, and mazal tov to the happy couple!
April 2, 2008 at 1:59 pm by David Abitbol · Filed under Israel
Ever since we extended the deadline last week, the number one question we’ve received was “So nu? When is the actual deadline?” Well, today I got word from Beto and Justin: The deadline is Sunday April 6th, which I guess you’ve already figured out based on the title of this post. Once I heard the news, I rushed down to the ROI offices and took a picture of the staff. Why? Well… this may be my last opportunity to capture them in a moment of relative calm. The applications have been coming in fast and furious and the candidates are both incredibly talented and diverse. The job ahead won’t be easy, that’s for sure.
Anyhow, pictured above are Nurit Glyn, CLI Israel Office Manager, Justin Korda, CLI Director of Israel Programs, Jen Keys, CLI Israel Intern and Beto Maya, ROI Program Manager. Good look all y’all.
March 31, 2008 at 7:16 am by David Abitbol · Filed under Israel
Due to an unforeseen, albeit very minor, technical glitch, we have decided to briefly extend the application deadline for the 2008 ROI Summit. We have received a great number of awesome applications from individuals from around the world and the registration process has not been affected at all. In the interests of fairness however, we have decided to briefly extend the deadline. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact one of the ROI Staffers at info@roi120.com.
In the meantime, if you have been hesitant to apply, take this as a sign from the divine. Or something. Apply today and hopefully we’ll see you in Jerusalem this summer in what has proven to be one of the most audacious and successful experiments in grass roots leadership development and Jewish innovation that I have ever seen!
Integrated marketing? What’s that? What does it have to do with Doritos, or with ROI? Read on…
Doritos, the Bisli of America, is known for its addictive crunch, and the brand itself is pretty famous. Aside from promoting during the Superbowl, this year’s Doritos is moving ahead when it comes to marketing strategies. According to AdAge Magazine:
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — In the past few weeks, Frito-Lay’s Doritos has quietly achieved online product-launch metrics most marketers would kill for. A microsite for its new Spicy Sweet Chili chips has garnered more than 13 million page views and nearly 200,000 unique visitors in its first few weeks, with an average of 34 minutes spent on the site. If those numbers seem to you to come out of nowhere, perhaps it’s because you’re not an MTV viewer. The network is the sole media outlet Doritos is using to promote its new flavor, which had a soft retail launch in late February. Although a national media campaign will roll out this summer, MTV viewers will be the first to get a taste of the product’s offerings next month during the premiere of “When Spicy Meets Sweet,” a short-form original series co-produced by MTV and Frito-Lay. [more info on this campaign is in the official press release, here.]
The article points out this unique distribution model, which is “one of the first to marry user-generated web content with the reach of national TV.”
Now, the ROI connection: ROIer Jacob Shwirtz works in project management and strategic planning for MTV Networks, and he notes that everyone from every industry should “think creatively about their resources.”
What do they have that others need and what do others have that they need? However, the answer to what you need should not just be money. Entrepreneurs (social or otherwise) must always focus on their true resources and be able to pinpoint (and be honest about) what they lack. Are they the grand visionary but in need of a “do-er?” Are they the mathematician but in need of a graphic designer? Do you they help with marketing, legal, accounting, etc. No one should ever think they can do everything… in fact you have to focus on the 1-3 things you do best, that’s it, and find others (strategic partnerships or otherwise) that compliment and expand those things.
This is advice well-implemented at ROI Summits, Shwirtz adds.
That’s why ROI is so powerful… don’t come to the conference just hoping to raise money or even awareness… come with an open mind to be inspired by people who maybe see things in different ways and connect with those who believe in what you’re doing and want to help make it succeed.
So, never underestimate the importance of online marketing–the world of advertising and information distribution has fundamentally changed and the organizations that we work and create for must be similarly flexible. We also should assess our own strengths and weaknesses, and create a plan for using and bolstering them, respectively.
How can you prevail upon your organizations to embrace change? How can you mobilize the power and opportunity of the internet to support you in your goals?
Dave had 1244 friends. I–and any of the ROIers or Sydneyers or AUJSers or anyone who knew him at all–would say, “at least.” But I would venture to say that he was one of those people who actually knew all the people on his friends list. And my evidence of this is that the Facebook tribute group has even more people in it: 1675 and rising…
According to a note posted by Leslie Burnett to this Facebook group, on Sunday March 2nd, some 500 people attended a Memorial Tribute to Dave:
The Ceremony was opened by the Chancellor of Sydney University, Prof Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW. Tributes to Dave were given by the University, the University Union, Young Labor, AUJS, and Killara High. At the end of the tribute, Dave’s family were presented with a book, in which Dave’s many students and friends had each placed a photo or written a paragraph about their friendship. It was an extraordinarily moving celebration of Dave’s life, acknowledging his many contributions to others around the world.
At the tribute’s end, it was announced that the Dave Burnett Fund was being established “to continue Dave’s work in the areas of youth leadership training, participation in the democratic political system, and formation of a mentoring and internship program”:
* To identify, train and educate our future community leaders.
* To develop and provide training programs for student and youth leaders, equipping them with knowledge and skills for community service, advocacy, understanding of, engagement with and participation in the broader political system.
* To establish a national and international network of community mentors, already successful in their chosen areas of business, politics and professions, to advise and support promising youth leaders through a range of lectures, work experience programs and internships.
This is the first of what will undoubtedly be many ways to remember Dave and ensure that his spirit and commitment are carried on. We’ll keep you updated.
An open event to celebrate Oleh! Records‘ roster of artists…
Oleh! Records will be holding a marathon roster performance (showcase event) on Thursday, April 3rd, 2008. The engagement (being held at Comfort 13- a music venue in the heart of the independent music community of Florentine, Tel Aviv-clicking on MySpace profile will result in pulsing club music) will feature almost the entire Oleh! Records list of artists, and a long list of VIP’s including the music industry at large, Representatives from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, and various Embassies, Foundations, Diaspora Agencies, and Cultural Representatives; but most importantly the musician community and true fans of alternative and independent Israeli music.
Artists scheduled to perform: Coolooloosh, Mad Bliss, Tamar Eisenman, and more (see graphic for details). Tickets (only 20 NIS!) will be for sale at the event only, Doors will open at 7:30pm sharp. Entry will be limited to venue size. Live performances, prizes, giveaways…and the event will be filmed for future promotional use of the artists, and to further advance Israeli music scene to global audiences.
“This evening is about the independent/alternative and mainstream music scene coming together, with out boundaries, to celebrate progress, to learn a little more about what Oleh! Records does, and to rock out to some great bands that are making serious progress abroad,” said Oleh! Records executive director (and 2006 ROIer) Jeremy Hulsh.
Want more on Oleh! Records?: Oleh! Records is a fully independent apolitical/non religious, registered & recognized non-for-profit record label based in Israel. The core mandate of Oleh! is to nurture Israeli independent musicians, giving them access and tools of knowledge to succeed in the music industry globally; Oleh! acts as a conduit to connect Diaspora youth to Israel using music as a vehicle to make Israel more relevant to young people, and of course we are a brand, exposing mainstream audience worldwide to Israel through a culture of art & music.
I saw a few articles recently that examined the nature of what it means to be affiliated, and wanted to share them for discussion here.
Affiliation is something that Jewish organizations in the Diaspora crave; they go to great lengths to get people to become members, pay dues, and participate in community structures. But in a world where denominational affiliation (Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Reform, secular) becomes less important as a way to define how a person connects to Jewish life and identity, the question that faces us becomes increasingly complicated.
But many unaffiliated Jews are actually quite affiliated. Instead of merely associating with their Jewish community, they’ve joined cultural organizations, political organizations, professional organizations — not to mention other religious groups and, dare we admit it, the mainstream of American society. They’ve become Leonard Bernsteins and Lisa Loebs, Michael Bloombergs and Barbara Boxers. They are cosmopolitan Jews, outward facing, caring less about the tribe than about the wider world.
One of the reasons I found Jay’s article so interesting is because it arrived around the same time as PresenTense’s new issue, which contains the premiere of a new regular feature called “Rules of Engagement,” in which we’re trying to illustrate that there are many ways to identify with Jewish identity. The first installment is titled “Rethinking Affiliation.”
Now it’s time for discussion, hopefully on an international level:
Can a person be affiliated without being a member of a community organization that allows “institutional Judaism” to track him/consider her “engaged”?
Does engagement take other, less formal, forms? Or does engaged only mean “committed to a synagogue”?
How does “engagement” or “affiliation” express itself in countries outside of the somewhat atypical and hyper-fragmented US and Canada? Is there a difference in Latin America or Europe?
What about Israelis (born, or naturalized)? Are they “affiliating” as Israelis?
While you’re contemplating whether to apply to the 2008 ROI Summit, or which track you want to join, enjoy this video shot at last year’s ROI Summit. Those of you new to ROI can get a great idea of what it’s all about, while those of you who were there last year can relive the 4 days of networking and innovation in Jerusalem. The video was shot by ROI video wizards Sarah and Avery with a soundtrack featuring music from The Carsitters (whose lead singer Noa Margalit was an ROI 2007 alum) and missFlag (whose drummer, Assaf Kraus is also an ROI2007 alum). And the video? It’s streamed to you courtesy of JewTube, brainchild of ROI 2007 alum Jeremy Kossen!
USA: Two of our most creative ROIers became newsmakers again for their collaboration on last year’s “Rosh Hashanah Girl” video, as Michelle “lil grrl with a big sound” Citrin (2006) and William “Shabot” Levin (2006) were highlighted on The Jewish Standard’s list of newsmakers for 2007. The Jewish Standard serves Northern New Jersey, where Michelle is from. The pair has since collaborated on a new Taglit-Birthright Israel video, “Let My Parents Go,” which you can see here.
Michelle’s heading back into the studio to record a new album, and in other William Levin news, you may want to check out his “lowercasel” blog (described in this article) and this “interview with a tech expert” post that profiles him.
Eli Winkelman, a guide for Oranim, the largest birthright israel tour provider, recognizes that the experience has an enormous effect on the Jews she takes around Israel. “They also have an effect on Israelis who realize what Israel means to other Jews,” she says, but adds that mainstream birthright israel could do more to show modern Israeli life. “They don’t see any more of Jerusalem than the Old City and obviously there’s much more to it than that.”
Mark Hanis (2006) of the Genocide Intervention Network, was quoted in this BusinessWeek article about using Facebook to mobilize around genocide prevention and activism:
“We go beyond signing up on an online petition,” says Mark Hanis, executive director of the Genocide Intervention Network. “The Web is very much the gateway into taking substantive action.”
While we’re in the Bay Area, let’s drop in at OyBay, where Tomer Altman (2007) is waxing rhapsodic about the recent Jewlicious Festival in Long Beach, CA. The event also saw a reunion of sorts, with attendance by ROIers–including the enthusiastic Melissa Frank, the environmentally aware Brett Robbins and Jewtube’s Jeremy Kossen (all 2007), who drove from San Diego and Santa Barbara, respectively–to join the party. As a result, there are some cool videos of the musical performances at Jewtube.com.
Speaking of Jewlicious Festival, after his performance there at the end of February, Y-Love continued his full scale infiltration of the media with a performance at South By Southwest (SXSW), the famous music, film and digital media conference, and being quoted in this Jewish Journal article about whether the “bro mitzvah” is likely to catch on in the African-American community.
South Africa: ROIer Caylee Talpert (2007) initiated a “Cook For Peace” program at the University of Johannesburg, in which Muslims and Jews came together to prepare a kosher/halal meal together and to create bridges of understanding between members of the two religions. News24 quoted Caylee as saying that it had been difficult at times to find the right ingredients for the meal. “We couldn’t find parmesan cheese that was both halaal and kosher, so we got cheddar cheese. But, I think that is what it is all about: compromise.”
Israel:
Yoav Sivan (2007) writes in Gay City News about what Hillary’s losses mean about her campaign and her candidacy: “We learn as much about a leader by the way she loses as by the way she wins. Hillary had planned a campaign in which her experience, skills, and the Clinton name, beloved in the Democratic Party, would take her to the nomination on automatic pilot. That didn’t happen. She recalibrated. If what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, then what just barely didn’t kill Hillary’s candidacy - her husband’s 2008 blunders - now gives her an independence that will make her presidency stronger.”
Yoli Shwarts (2006), who recently returned to Israel after participating (with Itay Mor and Erez Na’aman, both also 2006 ROIers) in Taglit-Birthright Israel’s Israelity Tour (which you can read more about here), assumed her new professional position as a spokeswoman for the Israeli Antiquities Authority, just as a new dig on the Temple Mount by Muslims began, potentially destroying on-site artifacts.
UK: The Clore-Duffield Foundation announced it was opening its funding to projects outside of London; ROIer Rachel Ingram (2007), the Foundation’s assistant director, was quoted in this article in SomethingJewish.com.
More ROIers in the news to come…either wait for me to discover your achievements via GoogleReader, or be proactive and send them to me!
Hear the interview and listen to this 
An open event to celebrate 
USA: Two of our most creative ROIers became newsmakers again for their collaboration on last year’s “Rosh Hashanah Girl” video, as Michelle “lil grrl with a big sound” Citrin (2006) and 
