Why are all my camp friends already on Google+?

By David A.M. Wilensky July 18, 2011

Here’s something interesting: Among my different groups of friends (or should I call them “circles” of friends now?), it’s my Jewish friends that have taken to Google+ most readily. And it’s not just my Jewish friends, but it’s my camp friends, the most far-flung, geographically disparate circle of friends I know. This made me think…

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Summer Reading: More on the demise of JDub… and Israel has an ice hockey team?

By David A.M. Wilensky July 18, 2011

The Reading List is back! Albeit with less regularity. And it’s the summer. So it’s Summer Reading. Israel has a hockey team? Ice hockey? And they win things? [Tablet] Once again, republicans are predicting Jews are going to leave the Democratic party in droves–for real this time! And once again, they’re dead wrong. [Philadelphia Inquirer] Once…

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At Release Party, JDub Fans Celebrate Success, Mourn Loss

By Alisha Kinman July 18, 2011

With pretzels and cold beers waiting on a fold-up table, guests were greeted upon arrival at DeLeon’s rooftop release party with a warm welcome and the and a copy of the band’s new CD. But behind the excitement and rush of energy were the frowns and blank stares that gave away that last night’s event wasn’t just a concert–it was the beginning of a sad goodbye.
JDub Records announced last week that the Jewish record label will “wind down,” eventually closing its doors for financial reasons. For one year short of a decade, JDub’s mission was to “discover, curate, and promote unique, proud Jewish voices and role models in the mainstream,” according to the July 13 press release that first revealed the bad news.

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Q&A: J Street Founder Writes Book, Steals Our Name

By Ben Sales July 18, 2011

Jeremy Ben-Ami, founder and president of J Street–the self-proclaimed “Pro-Israel, Pro-Peace” lobby–has faced a lot of flak since his organization arrived on the scene three years ago. Facing controversies from the left and right, on and off of Capitol Hill, J Street–and Ben-Ami–have at times struggled to get their message across.
“A New Voice for Israel,” Ben-Ami’s first book hits the shelves tomorrow. The book describes Ben-Ami’s personal and professional journey to the helm of J Street, the issues Israel faces and why he thinks the American Jewish conversation on Israel needs to change. Ben Sales spoke with Ben-Ami about the book. Here are some of the lobbyist’s thoughts on students’ place in J Street, Jewish organizational dynamics and that other Israel lobby–AIPAC.

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