Dr Yoram Lahav, Adaptation and Innovation: Theory, Design and Role-Taking in Group Relations Conferences and their Applications, November 2006
This paper describes a learning process based on an examination of issues relating to Jewish identity, using a group relations model in the international conference “Jewish Identity, Belonging and Leadership: Israel and the Diaspora,” and discusses the relevance of this type of examination for exploring issues of identity, belonging and leadership in social, national, ethnic and religious societies in general. This paper describes focal issues and conflicts including conscious and unconscious processes that occurred in the conference, reflecting the experiences of participants and staff members with reference to the four leading themes around which the study was centered. The analysis describes the innovative use of the group relations model and reveals the potential of this model in examining questions of identity, belonging and leadership. The paper further discusses the potential extension of derivative applications stemming from the group relations model focusing on an investigation of authority, leadership and role, to a model which also investigates issues of identity and belonging in group and social contexts.
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Leah Jones, Presentense Magazine, Issue 2, Spring 2007
There are countless Israeli and international social networks on the web, MySpace being the most prominent one. Koolanoo.com, launched in September, is claiming to be the first Jewish network in the world (Check out their video adds!). However, other sites such as Shmooze.com, Chosennet.com and FrumHere.com compete with that title. Leah Jones takes a look at the variety of Jewish networking sites which create connectedness between Jews all over the net.
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Tali Heruti-Sover, Haaretz, May 2007
Ronen Hoffman established an American–style Jewish summer camp in Israel. Hoffman says: "instead of sending Israeli counselors to the Diaspora, the Diaspora should be brought here. Instead of meeting three Israelis at an American camp, [American kids] could meet hundreds of them here. Why send Jewish youth to a camp in New Jersey when they could be brought to the Galilee …?". As demand has outstripped supply this proves to be a great business model with Camp Kimama expecting 1,000 participants this summer, half of them arriving from 20 countries around the world, including China and Thailand.
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