PresenTense Fellow David Kramer (Global ‘10) and NU Campaign recently created a YouTube video and t-shirt to benefit the Carmel region featuring rapper SHI360 and some of PresenTense’s other community members.

The video was filmed in the conference room of the PT Jerusalem hub with green screens, lights and cameras. PT staff members Yaron Edel and Elinor Kaufman, and Fellow Yonatan Neril (Global '10) even make appearances in the video!

The video was recently featured on the Jerusalem Post website along with an article that discusses what lead up to the creation of the video and what is next for the campaign, including a pitch to Birthright/Taglit groups.

To read the entire JPost article click here.

PresenTense community member Farrah Green stopped by the Jerusalem Hub recently to talk about how she got involved, why PresenTense speaks to her and what the latest is with PT13: Social Action.

Although she can’t pin point exactly where or when, Farrah remembers first seeing PresenTense via the magazine at a Hillel. Which Hillel, exactly, is the question. After graduating from the University of Arizona with a degree in Judaic Studies, Business and Politcal Science, Farrah began working at different universities around the US. First, as a Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellow at Kansas University Hillel and then through AIPAC’s leadership development program as National Field Director.

After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis with a Masters in Social Work this past May, Farrah is now in Jerusalem at Pardes focusing on Jewish Studies and thought it was time to get involved hands on with PT.

“I did research into different organizations,” Farrah said. “But with my background in mentoring student groups and community, PresenTense was the perfect fit.”

Admitting that she doesn’t particularly enjoy writing and originally wanted to be a Coach for the Jerusalem CEP (but doesn’t speak Hebrew), Farrah is now on the PT13- Social Action Steering Committee. She is looking forward to, “meeting other people who are excited about Jewish social entrepreneurship and helping to produce a magazine that will share this with others.”

“I am also excited for the opportunity to help shape the social action issue,” Farrah said. "It's something I care a lot about.”

Right now the Steering Committee is working on reading through some 41 story proposals and selecting those that will be in the magazine.

Tired of working from home or from coffee shops? Looking for a collegial work environment? The PresenTense Jerusalem Hub offers a co-working environment for freelancers, entrepreneurs, students, and travelers, where you can work comfortably without worrying about how long you can stretch your next cup of coffee. Come check us out, and meet one of our coworkers:

Karoline Henriques

Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.
I made aliyah from Copenhagen (Denmark) this past October. But the real accomplishment is finishing my MA-degree in Sociology of Religion in the spring 2010. I have worked with rituals in a variety of cultural contexts and my MA-thesis, which was written partly in the J'lem Hub, is on civil religious rituals in Israel. I have mapped out and analysed how political ceremonies in Israel use religious rhetoric and symbolism to sacralise the narratives of the state, its history and citizens.

Besides being a dedicated academic I am a passionate Jew and a proud member of the ROI-community. In Copenhagen I worked with and for the Jewish Community (in various educational programmes) and The Zionist Federation (mainly Hasbara).

Having thus started a totally new chapter in my life - as an Olah and as a graduate student who has actually graduated - I am looking for new adventures, i.e. work, which will allow me to combine my love for cultural analyses and meaningful engagement with the real world.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Raeli Savitt. I am a new intern at the PresenTense Hub in Jerusalem.

Wednesday was the busiest day I have experienced in my short time at PresenTense by far. We not only had 1 but 2 coalitions from major American cities come to learn more about what a PresenTense fellowship program could do for their local Jewish community. In addition, we had an Open Hub Day where we opened the space to any entrepreneur in the area who was interested in trying the ZionHub out. Needless to say, it got a bit crowded.

The PT Shabbat Dinner is Back!

Join Us Friday, January 29th at 6:30pm at 64 Emek Refaim, Jerusalem

We will be hosting a community Tu B'Shvat Shabbat dinner at our Jerusalem hub. Catch up with like-minded leaders and innovators, get to know the PT community, and celebrate the birthday of the trees. Dinner will be potluck and dairy. RSVP NOW!

The PresenTense Hub in Jerusalem at 64 Emek Refaim will be hosting Professor Gil Troy and PresenTense co-founder Aharon Horwitz for an open discussion on Zionism in the 21st Century and beyond. 

Reclaiming the Z-Word, at 8:00 pm on Monday December 28th, promises to be an interesting and enlightening discussion.  The issues that will be raised are central to an understanding of what it means to be Jewish and what it means to be a Jewish educator in the world today. We envision that the conversation will be challenging and inspiring as it will force many to ask questions of themselves that often remain unanswered and unasked.

Gil Troy is also the author of Why I am a Zionist.  I read it, it's pretty awesome - this guy's smart.

  Be at there: 64 Emek Refaim at 8:00 pm.  15 NIS cover, priceless conversation.

With much mazel for Terry on his acceptance of a prestigious award in London we must inform those who were attending and interested in attending that tomorrow evening's event on "What is the content of Jewish Peoplehood?" has been cancelled.

The event will be rescheduled and we look forward to seeing you in the near future.

Kol Hakavod Terry!