Daniel Lubetzky

One of the reasons that Teach for America is so successful is that the organization harnesses young passion.  Venture for America (a program that we learned about from a great previous intern, Liz) hinges on a similar concept, only VFA places fresh college grads in start up environments in struggling parts of the country.   The idea is that the start-ups get inexpensive talent and passion, while the grads get hands on experience that will benefit their careers for the years to come. Venture for America seems like a great idea and it will be interesting to see its impact.

By Adeena Schlussel

Below is Tzippy Livni’s code of democratic values, based off of recent events in the Middle East, and decades of history:

Current events in the Middle East highlight the urgency of adopting at the global level what true democracies apply at the national level – a universal code for participation in democratic elections. This would include requiring every party running for office to embrace, in word and deed, a set of core democratic principles: the renunciation of violence and the acceptance of state monopoly over the use of force, the pursuit of aims by peaceful means, commitment to the rule of law and to equality before the law, and adherence to international agreements to which their country is bound.

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This stunning picture was taken by a National Geographic photographer; it is hard to believe that this is unadulterated nature and not a painting!

This video is very well done, regardless if one thinks that Israel should return to her 1967 borders. As the video describes, some Israelis are very concerned about returning to their previous borders from a defense perspective, and it is important to understand their viewpoint.

Others feel that Israel would be able to adequately defend herself (as seen in the 1967 war), and that the West Bank is not crucial to doing so.  As Mr. van Creveld, an Israeli military historian said in an article in the New York Times: “Strategically speaking . . . the risk of giving up the West Bank “is negligible.” He continued: “What is not negligible is the demographic, social, cultural and political challenge that ruling over 2.5 million — nobody knows exactly how many — occupied Palestinians in the West Bank poses. Should Israeli rule over them continue, then the country will definitely turn into what it is already fast becoming: namely, an apartheid state that can only maintain its control by means of repressive secret police actions.”

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

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Although this article by Tom Friedman over simplifies the tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, it promotes a laudable lesson: Israeli and Palestinian leaders need to come together over a share goal, instead of working separately to advance their own agendas. The lessons learned from Mubarak’s ousting from Egypt teach that non-violence and leveraging  political and economic advantages will save the day.

by Adeena Schlussel

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An interesting set of studies suggest that as we grow older, we forget things because our brains don’t have the ability to remember prior incidents as well and they associate similar but non-identical experiences as having been identical (as seen here). But another possibility was ignored – that part of the problem is connected to the challenge we all face as human beings that as we get older we become less critical in our thinking and we accept connections and assumptions without questioning them. So instead of this being necessarily a reflection of our dying brain cells and neurotransmitters, it could be a result of socialization of our inputs into prejudicial assumptions that no longer question matters.

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When Tamar at OneVoice read my Trinity commencement speech, she pointed me to these beautiful and far richer words from Rainer Maria Rilke:

“Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.”

                                                     – From Letters to a Young Poet, Letter Four (16 July 1903), (as translated by Stephen Mitchell)

Also notable:

“No one can advise or help you — no one. There is only one thing you should do. Go into yourself. Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write.”

“I could give you no advice but this: to go into yourself and to explore the depths where your life wells forth.”

Below is an interview between two OneVoice Youth Leaders, Danny Shaket and Ahmad Omeir, that was featured on NPR.  The two Youth Leaders, along with host Michel Martin, discussed their perspectives about the President’s meeting with Netanyahu. This clip shows the insights and potential change that can come from youth leading grassroots movements on the ground.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

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A recent article in the Economist teaches the management secrets of the Barca (the Barcelona soccer team) and illustrates how they can be applied to achieve success in overall business management.  Keys to success include feeding team members morals and values, growing talent as opposed to buying it, and listening to your consumers.  Barca’s success in these areas has made the team a powerful, beloved, and profitable brand.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

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This weekend, President Obama addressed the AIPAC community at their annual Policy Conference.  The President reaffirmed America and Israel’s valuable friendship and discussed the pressing need for striking peace in the region.  Read the full remarks below.

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