JewishBoston.com

Sometime today the JewishBoston.com DNS will change to the real site

2010-02-08T15:06:17-05:00

Closer and closer! We're working through some final search quirks before we switch the DNS from the development blog to the live site.

Besides "soft launch", I'm starting to think of this next phase of Kvetch and Kvell. Kvetch because there will be things that don't work and Kvell because there's lots of stuff that does!

We'll be posting an ongoing list of feedback, likes, and bugs on the site itself.

After JewishBoston goes live, this blog will available as a link from the site, probably in the About Us section.

Cheers!

The soft launch of JewishBoston.com

2010-02-02T08:53:41-05:00

Sorry for the lack of blog posts in the past week or so, we've been busy TESTING the new site!

Last Monday January 25, just as promised, Cantina delivered the JewishBoston.com website to us for user acceptance. As of last night, there have been 377 bugs and items identified. Almost all of the very bad stuff has been fixed.

We are on track for our February 10 soft launch and our March 1 launch.

What's a soft launch you may ask? Soft launch is a dress rehearsal. That's when you get to see the site. The organizations will be learning how to use the site, and we'll be getting all the information in. During that time, we've scheduled a large number of organizational trainings to make it as convenient as possible.

Our thanks to the 67 people who have signed up so far! If you represent a Jewish organization on a professional or volunteer basis, please click here to sign up for training.

Our soft launch just happens to coincide with the Synagogue Council's February 10th program on Facebook, Twitter, Websites and Online Video, which we're honored to be co-sponsoring. Lisa Colton of Darim Online will keynote. You may have heard of the Technology Bookcamps she runs. There's also 3 practical breakout sessions, also a small exposition, and dinner.

Click here to reserve your space at the Feb 10th Symposium. I hope you can come. Making the space to mull over how the Jewish community can leverage technology is an good use of time for everyone, and not just for us geeks. It's at Temple Aliyah in Needham. Registration begins at 5 and dinner at 5:30. Come early to browse the exhibition and schmooze a bit.

On February 10th, we're also doing our first JewishBoston organizational training prior to the symposium. That training is full but many others are available, both before and after school break. We happy to schedule more if needed. Here's the link to training again.

Curious what's in training? Here is the start of the organizational manual that will accompany launch. Please let us know what else you'd like to see covered or any other questions you have.

Organizational Training Schedule - Sign up now!

2010-01-26T12:12:19-05:00

We’re delighted to announce the organizational training schedule for JewishBoston.com. We officially go "live" on March 1. Even before that date, we want to make sure that as much information as possible is loaded into JewishBoston.com and that all of the organizations and synagogues are also up and running.

During this free training, we’ll show you how to take advantage of JewishBoston.com’s easy to use features:

Promoting your events
Using the e-commerce and event registration system
Blogging and how to share your news
Updating your organizational listing
Best practices to keep your information fresh and compelling
Facebook and Twitter integration

Training is a hands on experience. We will have a limited number of laptops available. However, if you can bring your own, we’d be grateful. We want all attendees to be able to kick the tires and touch the merchandise.

Please let others in your organization who may want to come to training. We recommend that
two participants from each organization attend.

Click here to register for one of the following sessions:

Wed, February 10th, 3:00 - 5:00 pm (a pre-session to Synagogue Council’s excellent program on Facebook, Twitter, Websites and Online Video. Synagogues only, please.)
Temple Aliyah of Needham, 1664 Central Avenue, Needham, MA

Thurs, February 11, 3:00 - 5:00 pm
CJP, 126 High Street, Boston, MA

Wed, February 17th , 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Temple Ohabei Shalom, 1187 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA

Thurs, February 18th , 9:00 – 11:00 am
Young Israel of Brookline, 62 Green Street, Brookline, MA

Thurs, February 18th , 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Young Israel of Brookline, 62 Green Street, Brookline, MA

Thurs, February 18th , 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Young Israel of Brookline, 62 Green Street, Brookline, MA

Mon, February 22, 9:00 – 11:00 am
Temple Sinai, 25 Canton Street, Sharon, MA

Tues, February 23, 9:00 – 11:00 am
Jewish Family and Children’s Service, 1430 Main Street, Waltham, MA

Tues, February 23, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Jewish Family and Children’s Service, 1430 Main Street, Waltham, MA

Tues, February 23, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Jewish Family and Children’s Service, 1430 Main Street, Waltham, MA

Wed, February 24, 9:00 – 11:00 am
Jewish Family Service of Metrowest, 475 Franklin Street, Suite 101, Framingham, MA

Wed, February 24, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Temple Ohabei Shalom, 1187 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA

And... we may be adding a session in Malden.

Amazon eCommerce and JewishBoston.com

2010-01-12T14:53:25-05:00

We’ve gotten a few questions recently about how ecommerce will work on JewishBoston.com. Here’s a quick overview, with more to come in our FAQ and help system after launch.

First, we’re using Amazon as our e-wallet system. We’re really happy about this choice. We also looked at Google Checkout, Paypal, Authorize.net.

Beyond the rock solid security, Amazon offers competitive rates and was easy for Cantina to work with. If you want the technical details, Cantina is using the flexible payment system tools and has created a JewishBoston.com marketplace.

Using Amazon FPS, organizations will be able to accept donations and event registrations, co-brand their payment pages, and easily manage their own payment receipts, refunds, and reporting. For obvious reasons, we wanted to stay out of the reconciliation and funds distribution end of things. Amazon payments are easy to set up and we’ll be helping our partners learn how to manage their accounts during training.

For individuals, they will fill out event registration information on JewishBoston.com. When they click to pay, they will be redirected to Amazon, where they will pay in the same simple way they already pay for things on Amazon.

We’re thrilled at the flexibility, the ease of set up, and the e-commerce security offered by Amazon. We're looking forward to being able to provide event registration services for so many organizations who don't currently have this functionality.

Honoring Martin Luther King - two upcoming events

2010-01-11T10:33:20-05:00

Growing up in the Midwest in the wake of the Holocaust, I always associated Jewish identity with playing defense. You know, the "you might as well be Jewish because they're going to kill you anyway." And for some reason, I also assumed that Abraham Heschel was someone long dead and gone. (You can imagine what MY hebrew school experience was like.)

This is why learning about the role of Jews in the civil rights movement was so important in reconceiving my own adult Jewish identity. And why Heschel made such a difference in thinking about spirituality. Here's a terrific clip that about the connection between Heschel and King, from a documentary that is currently being made.

Here are two special events to honor Dr. King. I hope to see you at one of them.

Temple Israel of Boston’s Annual Shabbat Service in celebration of the life and values of Rev., Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. with Jackie Jenkins-Scott, President of Wheelock College on January 15, 2010 at 5:45 p.m.

A special invitation by Rev. Ray A. Hammond II and Bethel AME Church to Sunday Services in honor of Dr. King on January 17th, 9:30-11:30 am. There will be a special performance of "God Full of Love, God Full of Grace, composed by Jeremiah Klarman, a Gann Academy student, and performed by Mr. Klarman and the Bethel AME Praise and Worship Team. The Church is located at 86 Wachusett St. in Jamaica Plain. Co-sponsered by the Jewish Community Relations Council.

First impressions

2010-01-08T13:31:42-05:00

As the Community Manager for JewishBoston.com, I have been reaching out and researching the organizations in the greater Boston area for the site.We sent out a survey in December to populate our resource section with information about the organizations, and we are still receiving those submissions from the community.

To date, we have received almost 100 submissions from various organizations and synagogues in the greater Boston area! Thank you!

The best part for me? Every single person I have spoken with or corresponded over email with? They are ALL excited for JewishBoston.com

That being said, I should tell you how impressed I am by these organizations.

Staff, clergy or lay leader, no matter who I speak to. They all have a passion. They have a passion for being welcoming, caring and for the good work that they do. They are dedicated to their causes and their people. They clearly love what they are doing and they have really shown me what a vibrant and diverse Jewish community we have here in the Boston area.

I am not from the Boston area. There, I said it. I am one of countless people who moves here for career, school or many other numerous reasons and decide that this is the place where I'd like to plant my roots. It was hard to get connected to the Jewish community five years ago. I couldn't find the information about the organizations or figure out where I fit.

Now, of course, I've become an insider, I belong to a wonderful temple that I adore (Congregation Shirat Hayam of the North Shore) and I'm helping to bring JewishBoston.com to life. I want people to be able to find the resources they need easily, instead of struggling like I did when I was looking (which makes me passionate about my own work).

p.s. If you are a Jewish Organization in the greater Boston area, please fill out our survey so we can include you in our resource section!

Facebook, Twitter, Websites and Online Video: Join us on Feb 10

2010-01-07T12:45:20-05:00

CJP is thrilled to be partnering with the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts on their 2010 Management Symposium, taking place on February 10th starting at 5:00 pm at Temple Aliyah in Needham.

If you're a Jewish communal professional or a volunteer working to manage your organization's communication and social media strategy, this is the event you've been waiting for. Join us for a practical, strategic, and useful evening of conversation. All organizations are welcome!

Opening Keynote with Lisa Colton

Social media is catalyzing a communications and marketing revolution. Join Lisa Colton, founder of the Virginia-based Darim Online, for a journey from the conceptual through the strategic and all the way to the practical nuts and bolts of planning and executing a social media strategy for your Jewish organization

Breakout I - "Staffing Your Social Media Strategy"

Join Lisa Colton to examine case studies from a few Jewish organizations using social media well. Learn how to choose the right tool, and how to staff your social media strategy - from skills and culture to policies and balancing the personal and professional activities online.

Breakout II - "The 2010 Web Site: How to Make the Most of Your Site, and Take It To the Next Level"

While social media is redefining the online landscape, your web site is still your home base, and critically important for your success. Join Mike Kanarick, President of Jvillage Network, to learn how your Web Site fits into a comprehensive online strategy, how to make the most of what you've got, and how to add important features to your site.

Breakout III - "Maximizing JewishBoston.com for your organization"

Patty Jacobson, CJP's CIO and Director of JewishBoston.com will explain how CJP's new community website, JewishBoston.com, can help your organization reach more people. Launching March 1, JewishBoston will offer all organizations free event registration tools, e-commerce, blogs, and organizational directory services.

Schedule, Location, and Registration

5:00-5:30 - Registration, Technology Booths

5:30-9:15 pm - Dinner, Keynote & Breakout Groups

Host - Temple Aliyah, 1664 Central Avenue, Needham, MA

Cost - $75 per person
Sign up - Online, by check, or by calling 617-244-6506, ext. 19.

Note: I will also be leading the FIRST training session on how to use JewishBoston.com for your organization from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Sorry, this one's just for Syngagogues, but we'll be announcing more dates soon. To reserve your spot, send Liz an email at Lizw@cjp.org. Don't forget to register for the main symposium as well.

Yiddish - Alive and well in Boston

2010-01-06T08:39:03-05:00

A few years ago, I read the lively and unlikely story of Aaron Lansky's quest to rescue Yiddish books from obscurity and oblivion. One of these days, I hope to get to the National Yiddish Book Center that he established in Amherst.

But in the meantime, there's plenty of Yiddishkeit alive and well in our own backyard. For example...

Every Wednesday night, the Yiddish Voice airs on WUNR 1600 AM radio at 7:30 to 8:30 pm.

Workman's Circle offers Yiddish classes; in fact, new classes are begining on Tuesday, February 9. Don't you love the title of the classes... Beyond "Oy Vey"!

And their Yiddish choir A Besere Velt (a better world) is the best. Last year, I had the great pleasure of attending their concert with the Klezmatics at the Somerville Theatre where they sang "I ain't afraid" among other fabulous Yiddish songs. They do an open Yiddish sing once a month; January 28th is the next one.

You can also find Yiddish lessons at The Boston Language Institute. Or a Yiddish club at Brandeis.

Finally, if you're a fan of Klezmer music, check out Ari Davidow's labor of love, the Klezmer Shack. It's full of fabulous resources, from radio shows to blog postings to music calendars.

Please let me know what I left out - we want to make sure all of these resources get listed on JewishBoston.com. It's fascinating just how many nooks and crannies of Jewish culture exist all around us.

Habanot Nechama - Boston Jewish Music Pre-Festival Concert on Jan 10

2010-01-05T07:57:20-05:00

Get a taste of one of the most exciting cultural offerings to hit the Jewish Boston scene - the upcoming Boston Jewish Music Festival coming to a location near you from March 6 to 14th - at 7:30 pm this Sunday at Temple Aliyah in Needham. Tix are $18 at templealiyah.tix.com.

Want to hear more? Fire up myspace to hear more tracks - or even better, come hear them live this coming Sunday!

Job Posting for the Editor of JewishBoston.com

2009-12-23T09:14:14-05:00

Yes, we're hiring!

You…

Talented writer and editor. In love with words, blogs, and writings. Outgoing and active. Connected to the Jewish community. Deeply embedded in and enthralled by social media.

Us…

Launching in March 2010, JewishBoston.com will make it easy for more and more people to participate in Jewish life in Boston. Key features: Events and online registration, organizational and program directory, and community blogging. Interfaces with Facebook, Twitter, and the social web. Useful to everyone in the community, the site is especially targeted to young adults and families with young children.

The job…

On a daily basis, you’ll take the lead on featuring events, blog posts and organizations. You’ll help foster a civil community by moderating the site and encouraging contributions. You’ll write and edit JewishBoston posts. You’ll help recruit a community of bloggers and ensure an ongoing flow of user and organizational generated content. You'll work with our community manager to teach Jewish organizations throughout Boston how to effectively communicate through the site. On a weekly basis, you’ll run the editorial meeting. Together we’ll review metrics, set goals, track progress, and plan the ongoing improvement of the site. Over time, you'll help shape the growth and direction of the site.

And more about you...

8 to 10 years of work experience, including 2+ years experience editing an online website and working with web content management systems. You've lived and breathed what it takes to produce a successful site (think Huffingtonpost, Gawker or Jewcy). Along the way, you've built a significant portfolio of web writing and become an expert on engaging people through the use of social media. You're already connected to the Jewish community and feel a special affinity to our target audience of young adults and families with young children.

Here's the full job description and info on how to apply.

Thanks in advance for your interest - and for forwarding this on to your network.