Shalom. I hope you've been having a good summer, and I wish you all the best. Here are a few items of importance for members of the University Network of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals.
1. Please make sure that we have your correct mailing list on file. You may go to our website, jewishideas.org, and check your My Account page. We plan to mail out the new issue of Conversations (Orthodoxy and Ethics) in early September, and it's important that we have your correct mailing address.
2. We have a number of members in various countries e.g. Israel, Turkey, Italy, France, Brazil, Australia etc. It is very expensive to mail Conversations to these members, but we are glad to do so. However, sometimes these copies have been returned to us due to incorrect mailing addresses that were given to us. Whenever copies are returned, we will not re-send them; so please be extra sure that we have your correct address on file.
3. During the past year, we established an online discussion group for University Network members. There were periods of active discussion, and periods of relative silence. If you are already signed up for this group, please feel free to use it and to communicate your ideas with others. If you have not yet signed up, you may do so by sending an email request to: [email protected]
4. I invite members of the University Network to submit a short article (2 to 3 pages, double spaced) on the theme: Orthodoxy and the State of Israel. What does Israel mean to you? How do you envision the relationship between religion and State? What is/should be the relationship between the State of Israel and the Jewish Diaspora? Essays are due whenever they are ready, but not later than February 15. We hope to choose a number of them to include in the May 2011 issue of Conversations, that will be on the theme of Orthodoxy and the State of Israel. We will also provide prizes for winning entries.
5. The University Network is a service of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals, fostering an intellectually vibrant, compassionate and inclusive Orthodox Judaism. It is open to those who are students in college, graduate school, or a recognized yeshiva program for men or women. If you are no longer a student, please let me know. Although you will no longer qualify for membership in the University Network, you may continue to receive Institute emails by being registered on our website.
6. Please let your classmates, friends and relatives know of the University Network, so that they too may join us. We now have about 250 members, and we continue to grow steadily. Please help us spread the word.
7. A number of members of the University Network have emailed me with questions, comments, issues that are bothering them etc. I am always happy to be of assistance and guidance.
All good wishes. Shabbat Shalom.