Project Inspire – Know What to Answer
Project Inspire is sponsoring a three-part program at the Young Israel of Queens Valley to instruct members of the frum community to effectively engage in kiruv discussions and activities. The second session is scheduled for Tuesday, November 25, from 8:00 to 10:00 pm. The cost for the entire series is $36 at the door. For more information, contact Project Inspire (646-291-6191, seminars@projectinspire.com or on the web at www.kiruv.com).
Additionally, there will be free shiurim by Project Inspire on Thursday, November 27, from 10am to 12 Noon, at Congregation Ahavas Yisroel. There will be a shiur by Rabbi Yerachmiel Milstein entitled “Answering Tough Questions” and a shiur Rabbi Chaim Sampsonentitled “Getting Practical.”
The 2008 – Aish Partner’s Conference – December 4th – 7th, 2008 – Hilton Stamford, CT
Join over 600 people including families, students, Aish Rabbis, educators and partners for a content filled weekend you will not forget! Learn from experts. Experience an inspirational, spirit-filled Shabbat. Learn. Relax. Re-charge at a wonderful hotel with delicious food and great company.
At this year’s Partners Conference we’ll be focusing on the big issues facing the Jewish people today. Included on the agenda are:
* What are the major challenges facing the Jewish people?
* How do we to translate our concerns and hopes into action?
* Presentations from both activists and ordinary people who have already made a difference;
* Practical actions to become meaningfully involved in helping the Jewish people.
Partners Conference participants will also experience over 40 of the best classes and workshops presented by Aish’s most experienced teachers. Session streams include:
* Classes for beginners
* Family & singles classes
* Women’s only classes
* Advanced classes
* Practical Kiruv classes
* And many others…
Register early to avoid disappointment – in past years the conference has sold out!
Fabulously Feminine – A Jewish Girl’s Guide Through New York City
Do you ponder the role of the modern Jewish woman? In a day and age when we have everything, how do we find the balance between happiness, success and beauty in our lives?
This winter Aish Connections will explore these ideas in every girl’s favorite play ground, New York City. From New Year’s Eve in Times Square to meeting top female executives, media personalities, fashion designers, and homemakers. Participants will delve into what it means to be a woman, Jewish and fabulous.
Specific details:
Jewish women ages 18-25
December 24 – January 4, 2009
12 Day Trip to NYC
Accomodations and all meals included
Jewish Learning Experience
ONLY $199
This time AISH faltered from their ususally excellent marketing. The questions are intrusive, given that they’re promoting this as a networking for Jewish women type event, with the intent of it being outreach. This is one time that the UJA/Federation actually could trump Aish – they really have their “Young Leadership” programs down to a science.
…and in my opinion, anything advertising femninity this hard in a kiruv setting is offering less-than first class judaism, too.
Anything Pink and Fabulous seems clunky to me. Anything advertising Fabulous Femininity is trying too darn hard. A woman is a woman, and doesn’t have to DO anything to prove that to herself or anyone else. We live in an age with no sense of self confidence; I should think that gender would be one thing that would be clear in this life.
It feels clunky to me, to try to the whole pink Fabulous Jewish Girl in New York thing — clearly trying to attract Reform / secular Jews — and then ask right off the bat about parents’ Jewish experiences and history. Yes, I know, it needs to be addressed at one point (esp for the Reform Jews who may not have a Jewish mother, or a Jewish mother converted under Reform). It also is very clunky to ask parents’ occupation. Does it matter, at this point? Does it ever matter? It reinforces the stereotype of Jews that your target is explicitly trying to move away from.