Translating Judaism for the Post-Digital Age

Presentation on the Jewish FutureBrandeis, 2008

Ariel BeeryCo-Founder, PresenTense

Imitation vs Assimilation

“When once the community is started on this path … self-love will make it believe in its own strength...”

– Ahad Haam, “Imitation and Assimilation” (1893)

Our opportunity: To learn from the best practices of human civilization, and to develop a unique strategy for Jewish success in the dawning era.

The Idea: Creative Society

•The PresenTense Big Idea: Translate Judaism’s value into an Information-Age structure and language

•Realize the collective potential of the global Jewish People through increased connectivity

•In three words:

Network for Creativity

Strategic ContextStrengths Challenges

Threats Opportunities

•Creative Economy

•Prosumership

•Social Networking

•Global Communication

•New Jewish Self-Image

•Erosion of Local Identity

•Homeland-Diaspora•Worldwide capacity

•Network Infrastructure

•New energy rising

•Breakdown of Communication•Rich Tradition and Culture

•Attention Economy

•Industrial/Information Clash

•Multiculturalist Universalism

How to think Post-Digital

Keys to Post-Digital Win

•Focus on Value and enable Creativity in a Jewish Context: to act in the Image of the Creator is to be Creators ourselves

•Invest in opportunities to bridge the old and new

•Clarify a set of value protocols that upgrade the Jewish Operating System’s abilities

•Value results from an interaction between person and product, but must be bounded by protocols

Tikkun Olam through Yetzirat Ha’Adam

Platform

Platform according to pmarca: “a system that can be programmed and therefore customized by outside developers -- users -- and in that way, adapted to countless needs and niches that the platform's original developers could not have possibly contemplated, much less had time to accommodate.”

=

Not an organization an organizing framework.

We need a Platform

New York

London

Singapore

Buenos Aires

Paris

Bombay

Jerusalem

Moscow

Our vision: A network of creative spaces sharing value, so the whole is more than the sum of its parts

Macro: Organizing Framework

This network enriches current institutions and connects them worldwide

Community Space

Creative Space

Resident Space

Micro: Node Structure Gathering creative sparks =

lighting the Eternal Fire

Each node radiates new energy to its host community

Use-Case ScenarioMeet Samantha.

•Internet entrepreneur

•Seeking creative connections

•Wants a community

•Essentially rootless – goes where the action is.

CreativeJam

San Francisco via Boston

London via

Jerusalem

Meet Jacob.

18 Fellows from around the world, 12 Projects

4 Projects come to proof-of-concept in 5 months

Proto-Node in Jerusalem for 6 Week Period

Summer 2007 Institute

Proof of Concept

Space + Network + Enabling = Creativity

Came with: Talented rap skills and an idea for Bible raps

Developed this: A Bible Rap curriculum that can affect youth on a national scale

Matt Bar

Came with: Successful local model for engagement, Challah4HungerGained this: Paradigm for decentralized activism, and acquisition by more established organization

Eli Winkelman

Came with: An idea for a trip to Israel and a passion for the Jewish StateDeveloped this: An impressive proof-of-concept leading to acquisition offers and investment opportunities

Avi Bass

Some Projects Launched

•Grassroots events in cities across the world

•Forwards a positive narrative about Peoplehood

•Global network of volunteers developing shared vision

PresenTense Magazine

Proof of Concept, cont. “… I think we all know that there is not a shortage

of new publications geared toward young Jews, but there is no one else who is doing it with the moral seriousness and commitment to the Jewish people that I think you all have mustered to date. For that reason I am very excited to be on board, and to do my part to make PT as good a magazine as it can possibly be.”

- Matt Ackerman, incoming Ideas and Innovation Editor

Translating Judaism’s Value

“On a personal level…I feel so empowered as a part of the PresenTense network, sitting here in Chicago but being part of a global community working towards a vision of Jewish creativity. It's something I'm committed to, and I'm so excited to be working with you on making it happen!”

--Deborah Fishman, PTMagazine Managing Editor

The Network will provide a living example that being part of the Jewish People adds value to human life, bridging personal vision with collective mission.

To bring the next age

Connect the sparks and give people the reason to

be Jewish: it is the best way to live in this new world