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The Peoplehood Index project is pleased to present this study conducted for the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. This study can be seen in two contexts. more>

The Peoplehood Index project is pleased to present this study conducted for the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. This study can be seen in two contexts. First and foremost, the results of this study provide a planning tool for the research department of the Washington, DC federation, with related interest for Jewish community federations and organizations around the country. Secondly, this study should be read in the context of a larger effort to develop the Peoplehood Index (PI), an 18-months old effort to create a general measure of cohesiveness of the Jewish people, and to provide a quantitative reference point documenting the state of intra-Jewish relations the world over. read>

The authors argue that dramatic historical change is underway, which is reflected in the manner that the best Jewish organizations are changing their approach to Jewish community building and education. more>

The authors argue that dramatic historical change is underway, which is reflected in the manner that the best Jewish organizations are changing their approach to Jewish community building and education. Over the past thirty years transformative changes have occurred within veteran Jewish organizations and new forms of organized Jewish life are appearing. The research report is based on interviews which were conducted from September through December 2009 with 36 contacts at 22 organizations working in six countries. read>

Peoplehood—everyone’s talking about it. But what does it actually mean and why is it important to the future of Judaism? “Why is this conversation important? Why does it merit your attention? If you care about Jewish identity and community, then you know that we have no trouble identifying the problems that fragmentize us as a people but have far less success identifying that which unites us. more>

Peoplehood—everyone’s talking about it. But what does it actually mean and why is it important to the future of Judaism? “Why is this conversation important? Why does it merit your attention? If you care about Jewish identity and community, then you know that we have no trouble identifying the problems that fragmentize us as a people but have far less success identifying that which unites us. Without a unifying, collective notion of Jewish identity that is meaningful and robust, it is virtually impossible to make a strong case for Jewish continuity.” —from the Introduction This call to Jewish community explores the purpose, possibilities, and limitations of peoplehood as a unifying concept of community for a people struggling profoundly with Jewish identity. It defines what peoplehood is—and is not—and explores both collective and personal Jewish identity and the nature of identity construction. Drawing on history, sacred texts and contemporary scholarship, The Case for Jewish Peoplehood identifies some of the obstacles that challenge a shared notion of peoplehood: personal choices, construct of membership and boundaries, growth of Jewish illiteracy, identity fragmentation between Israeli and Diaspora Jewry, and the generational divide affecting traditionalists, baby boomers, and generations X and Y. To help you join the conversation, the authors support a vision for the future and provide practical guidance and recommendations for getting there. read>

Jewish Peoplehood is a relatively new concept denoting an indelible connection between all Jews that spans both time and distance. In order to explore this multi-dimensional concept and better understand its usage by global Jewish organizations and foundations, the Nadav Foundation commissioned the Platforma Consulting Group to prepare a document: A Framework for Strategic Thinking About Jewish Peoplehood. more>

Jewish Peoplehood is a relatively new concept denoting an indelible connection between all Jews that spans both time and distance. In order to explore this multi-dimensional concept and better understand its usage by global Jewish organizations and foundations, the Nadav Foundation commissioned the Platforma Consulting Group to prepare a document: A Framework for Strategic Thinking About Jewish Peoplehood. The paper gives an historical overview of the concept, presents different intellectual approaches to its understanding and discusses the connection between theory and practice in the field of Jewish Peoplehood. read>

How do we nurture a common base of peoplehood that can unite Jews and be transmitted to the next generation? In the following paper, Dr. more>

How do we nurture a common base of peoplehood that can unite Jews and be transmitted to the next generation? In the following paper, Dr. David Harman argues that peoplehood cannot be taught formally, as in a curriculum. Rather, informal settings need to be created for experiencing the idea of common Jewish peoplehood. Moreover, Harman argues that the concept of peoplehood may be transmitted only if we create environments that truly value the idea and make it relevant to the real lives of Jews today. In particular, he urges Jewish educational institutions to harness the barely tapped potential of modern technologies to create "virtual communities" of Jews across international borders. It is our hope that this paper will catalyze educational thinking both about restoring the concept of peoplehood in a meaningful way to Jewish education and identifying vehicles that transmit that content effectively. read>

At a time when Jewish communities have become increasingly anxious about weakening Jewish identity, one response strategy is to engage with the concept of Jewish Peoplehood as a social phenomenon, in its varied contexts and processes. more>

At a time when Jewish communities have become increasingly anxious about weakening Jewish identity, one response strategy is to engage with the concept of Jewish Peoplehood as a social phenomenon, in its varied contexts and processes. This volume represents the first in-depth effort to address the concept of Jewish peoplehood since the initial attempts of early 20th century Jewish intellectuals, Mordechai Kaplan and Salo Baron. Indeed, its substance goes far beyond the range of a contemporary academic anthology - constituting, rather, a dynamic think tank on the concept of Jewish peoplehood through bringing together intellectuals from France, Israel, the UK, and the United States. The collection offers both intellectual and practical frameworks for grappling with the policy outcomes of different understandings of the peoplehood concept, and contributors to this volume include noted figures from diverse walks of life: academic disciplines in the social sciences and humanities, a rabbi, a literary figure, and communal leaders.

Ezra Kopelowitz is a sociologist specializing in Israel-Diaspora relations and issues of Jewish identity, education and religion in Israel and the United States. From 2000-2003, Dr. Kopelowitz served as Director of the Research Activities of the Department of Jewish Education of the Jewish Agency for Israel and as a Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies at the Hebrew University, in 2004. Mr. Menachem Revivi received his BA in psychology and sociology from Bar Ilan University in Israel and his master s degree in educational psychology from New York University. For the past twenty-five years, Mr. Revivi has been a leader in Israeli and Jewish Communal affairs and is recognized for his expertise in the areas of Jewish education and Israel-Diaspora relations. read>

The Jewish World Explorium – some thoughts in response to the September 2007 Nadav Foundation paper on Jewish Peoplehood. more>

The Jewish World Explorium – some thoughts in response to the September 2007 Nadav Foundation paper on Jewish Peoplehood. read>

Editors: Dr. Shlomi Ravid, Shelley Kedar. Research: Ari Engelberg, Elana Sztokman, Varda Rafaeli. The International School for Jewish Peoplehood Studies at Beit HaTfutsot and the NADAV Foundation created a model of a virtual global Jewish Town Hall meeting, to which more than sixty Jewish opinion-makers contributed. more>

Editors: Dr. Shlomi Ravid, Shelley Kedar. Research: Ari Engelberg, Elana Sztokman, Varda Rafaeli. The International School for Jewish Peoplehood Studies at Beit HaTfutsot and the NADAV Foundation created a model of a virtual global Jewish Town Hall meeting, to which more than sixty Jewish opinion-makers contributed. The attempt to further clarify the issue of Peoplehood led to addressing the next three questions which are the core chapters of this publication: What is Peoplehood? Why is it important today? How do we build Peoplehood? read>

This issue of CONTACT explores the idea of Jewish Peoplehood from a wide variety of perspectives. Included are contemplations on the meaning and purpose of Peoplehood, on language as unifier of the Jewish People, and even on the possibility that Peoplehood is a destructive concept in Judaism. more>

This issue of CONTACT explores the idea of Jewish Peoplehood from a wide variety of perspectives. Included are contemplations on the meaning and purpose of Peoplehood, on language as unifier of the Jewish People, and even on the possibility that Peoplehood is a destructive concept in Judaism. In the end, the many voices presented here offer evidence that if there is indeed such a thing as Peoplehood, it is defined by a multiplicity of viewpoints - a reflection of the compelling diversity of contemporary Jewish life. read>

A selection of essays on Jewish Peoplehood including pragmatic suggestions on how organizations within and beyond the federation world can create new understanding and action plans around the issue. more>

A selection of essays on Jewish Peoplehood including pragmatic suggestions on how organizations within and beyond the federation world can create new understanding and action plans around the issue. The Peoplehood Papers was created as a platform for enriching the Jewish Peoplehood conversation. It is a collaboration of JFNA (UJC), the International School for Jewish Peoplehood Studies at Beit Hatfutsot, Jewish Agency for Israel, KolDor and the Jewish Peoplehood HUB. The International School for Jewish Peoplehood Studies at Beit Hatfutsot was initiated and funded by the NADAV Foundation. The Jewish Peoplehood HUB was founded by the UJA – Federation of New York, the NADAV Foundation and Jewish Agency for Israel. read>