OurJewishCommunity.org named Innovative Organization by Slingshot

December 5, 2011 · Filed Under Baum's Blog · Comment 

This time of the year is one where attention seems to be drawn more toward gratitude – thankfully (pun intended).  OurJewishCommunity.org, now entering its fourth year of existence, has a lot to be thankful for: all of our participants, financial supporters, donors of in-kind services, the help we get from all of you who spread the word about our online congregation – and much more.

We did have quite the reason to celebrate and be thankful last month when OurJewishCommunity.org was chosen by the Slingshot Guide as one of the 50 most innovative Jewish organizations in North America.  You may order or download the complete Slingshot ’11-12 Guide here.

OurJewishCommunity.org was selected for this list because of its groundbreaking use of technology to create an online Jewish community with a contemporary Jewish voice and philosophy.

Slingshot is used by philanthropists, volunteers, not-for-profit executives, and program participants to identify path-finding and trailblazing organizations grappling with concerns in Jewish life such as identity, community, and tradition.   OurJewishCommunity.org was chosen for the first time by a panel of 36 foundation professionals from across North America.

We are so incredibly thrilled to be part of a list of such impressive organizations.  It provides validation that Jewish leaders recognize and appreciate the groundbreaking work we’ve done by building our online community with all of you.

So, at this season of gratitude, thank you to all of you who have participated in various ways in our online community.  As we’ve said from day 1, we’re building this together!

Tags: , , , ,

Zach Wahls’ Religious Identity and Principles

December 4, 2011 · Filed Under Baum's Blog · 1 Comment 

My guess is that if you spend anytime on Facebook, you’ve already seen this amazing video of Zach Wahls.  Zach was raised by two moms and he spoke passionately and eloquently at the Iowa House chambers in his testimony in support of gay marriage.

Zach’s testimony is powerful and inspiring – so  much so that I watched it a few times.   A few days after I saw the testimony, I saw this article that Zach wrote about how his testimony was influenced by his religious background.  Zach is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist.  And here’s some of what he shared in his article:

“My church in Iowa City is a forward-thinking congregation by any standard and has officially been a Welcoming Congregation since the mid ’90s. In our religious education program, I learned the importance of thinking outside the box, considering all possibilities and putting others before yourself…”

“…From the get-go, it was clear that we were to approach everything with an open mind and to consider as best we could the benefits and drawbacks of all the religions we studied. It was in my RE program, and through the Seven Principles, that I was endowed with some of my most guiding and persistent values: To bring an open mind to the world, to let my light shine and not attempt to extinguish the light of others, to fight for what I believe to be true while remembering that I am fully capable of being (and often am) wrong, to live freely and love openly.”

This is the power of how education in a church or synagogue can be so significant in the life of a developing child.  At Congregation Beth Adam and OurJewishCommunity.org we hope to engage in conversations with our students that help them think about who they are as humans and as Jews.  We don’t provide black-and-white answers to many questions – but we do encourage them to think about their personal values and to have open minds to explore the best of what is around them in their decision making process.

Zach’s religious identity does not appear to be about dogma.  Instead it is about 7 principles of Unitarian Universalists.

The 7 principles are a refreshing approach to what it means to be human.  How lucky Zach is to have been exposed to such a strong community and to have been strengthened by his religious education as well.

Here, at OurJewishCommunity.org we have our own set of values, values which I think provide a great framework for being human and for being Jewish:

•    We value learning opportunities that support participants’ connection with their Jewish heritage
•    We value open-mindedness and respect for differing views
•    We value discerning intellectual inquiry that thoughtfully questions and explores Jewish texts and other sources of wisdom
•    We value acknowledgment of each person’s religious and spiritual journey supported through our unique liturgy
•    We value principles of responsibility and origin of authority that rests with each individual
•    We value evolving to meet the needs of our growing online congregation and a changing Jewish community
•    We value nurturing connection and building community with each other as Jews and with all humanity
•    We value community engagement and social justice that is responsive to the ever-changing world

Tags: , , ,