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Hannah Isaacs

Welcome our 2021 Tribe 12 Fellows!

December 22, 2020 by Hannah Isaacs

We are so excited to welcome these 16 amazing people! Over the course of the next few months, we cannot wait to watch them grow!

 

 

 

Aimee Goldstein 
Curlyfish Productions
Fun Fact: Has a 20-year-old pet frog

 

 

 

Michal Naisteter
Sex Positive Mama
Favorite Jewish Food: Latkahs

 

 

 

Matt Bussy
Diversifying Philadelphia’s Jewish
Film Festival
Fun Fact: I’m half-British!

 

 

 

Danielle Silberman 
Peace Lily Counseling Services
Favorite Jewish Memory: My wedding!

 

 

Alexa Stango
Aleysunflower Secondhand
Clothing Store
Favorite Jewish Memory: Shabbat dinners with roommates

 

 

Erica Kushner
Habonim Dror North America and Movement Democracy
Fun Fact: Erica makes challah every week

 

Eli Robbins
civio.io
Fun fact: Eli is Juban
(Jewish Cuban)

 

 

 

Elijah Tomaszewski
Those Near and Far: Writing
Transgender and Jewish Characters
Favorite Jewish Holiday: Simchas Torah

 

 

Jamie Price
LIB Consulting Group
Favorite Jewish Memory: overnight summer camp

 

Sonia Gordon-Walinsky
Pasuk Art
Favorite Jewish Ritual: Rosh Hashanah mini – seder w/special foods for the new year

 

 

 

Amanda Thum
The Confidence Class, Inc.
Favorite Jewish Ritual: Shabbat

 

 

Gabrielle Schwartz
Cannabis and Cosmetics
Favorite Jewish Memory: Birthright Trip in 2015!

 

 

 

Jessica Grill
Nature Play NJ
Fun Fact: has competed and placed in traditional archery competitions

 

 

 

Hana Bernett
Safe Socially Distant Social Skills
Fun Fact: Loves her Margate summers

 

 

 

Benni Litman
LIB Consulting Group
Fun Fact: Used to study chimps
in the wild

 

 

 

Becca D’Onofrio
Parenting Positively
Fun Fact: Lived in Amsterdam for 5 years

Filed Under: Adulting, Cool Stuff, Fellows, Professional

12 Questions with Madam President

September 23, 2020 by Hannah Isaacs

We sat down with our newly elected President of our Board of Directors and asked her the important questions! Learn more about our fearless leader, Rachel Dukeman, and all about her favorite Jewish foods & celebrities. 

12 Questions with Madam President

1. Who are you?
Who are you? Who? Who? Whoo whoo? That’s what I assume everyone hears in their head when they read this question. Who am I? I’m just cool enough to know that those lyrics were written by The Who and definitely nerdy enough to associate the song with The Masked Singer and CSI.

I’m a native digital user who loves to unplug by going for hikes and birdwatching. I love plants and gardening. I’m an avid amateur chef and homesteader. I live in South Philadelphia with my partner of 12 years. I run my own business (a consulting practice).

I love learning about and tasting new wines. I find it a great way to relax while appreciating new places and cultures – throughout history wherever there has been grapes and people, there’s winemaking. And that now includes my basement!

2. What would your 6-word memoir be?
Almost perfect but not quite.

3. How long have you been involved with Tribe 12?
When the light first shined in the darkness, I was there. So… since the beginning. I was involved with Tribe 12’s predecessor, The Collaborative, and when Ross (our CEO) was talking to people about launching Tribe 12, I joined the Founding Executive Committee of the Tribe 12 Fellowship. A few years later, I joined the Board of Directors (one of the youngest members at the time!). I’ve been a board member for 7 years now. Then I joined the Board’s Executive Committee, and now I guess I’m stuck for life.

4. What’s your favorite homesteading project right now?
Oh, so many! Like many of us in the pandemic, I binged all of Bon Appetit’s “It’s Alive! With Brad Leone ” and started fermenting garlic in raw honey, which takes a while, so I’m excited that it’s now 4 months in and it’s so yummy with a splash of soy or Brag’s and homegrown green onions as a chicken or tofu marinade. You’ll never need take-out with this easy, flavor-packed meal. If this is not already happening at your fermentation station, I’m challenging you (Davinica)!

I also am very proud of my lacto-fermented lemons, which are a Morrocan-style preserved lemon. Takes about a month for the magic to happen. Then chop one up with some garlic, parsley, and add to full-fat Greek yogurt – oh my heavens! Delish. I eat that with everything from crudité to Adana Kebabs.

And lastly, homemade kombucha is the new sparkling water in my house — which is to say the most popular not-from-the-faucet beverage to drink morning, noon, and night.
Fav flavors include strawberry and ginger. I’d like to experiment with a pineapple mint.

5. Favorite Jewish celebrity?
Jon Stewart. No, Paul Rudd. Did you see his fun PSA about wearing masks? Well- watch it here! It’s a tie. They’re both smart and funny (and, did I mention, good looking?).

6. What is your bagel order?
I go classic with this. None of that rainbow unicorn nonsense. Give me an everything bagel with lox and the works. Do not skimp on those capers! (Mom, if you’re reading this, it’s a whole-wheat-everything bagel.)

7. What’s your favorite memory with Tribe 12?
Eleven years ago, I called Ross (our CEO) to ask to pick his brain about Jewish engagement of young professionals. I needed some first-hand insights to inform a strategic plan I was working on. Now either because it was a very Jewish discussion or a very nonprofit one, I entered the conversation asking for a favor and left having agreed to join a committee! (And now, as they say, the rest is history.)

AND a second favorite memory for you: A few years back, when Tribe 12 discovered it has a surplus of people named Rachel, it organized a Rachels-Only Happy Hour!

8. Who is the most interesting/most surprising person you met through a Tribe 12 connection?
Every connection is interesting! Ha! But most surprising to me was when I was at a dinner party and the host invited a childhood friend from Ohio who had recently moved to Philly. As a way of introduction, she motions to me and says vaguely that we’re both involved with Jewish nonprofits. So I make an invitation to Tribe 12’s Launch Night (the culminating event of the Fellowship program). As it turns out, her guest had already agreed to be on our Board of Directors! Jewish geography at its finest. Just goes to show how far-reaching our networks are.

9. What do you think Jewish life will be like in 10 years?
Since a Jewish woman will be President of the United States, the country will be running much smoother.

Yes, and… Since more people better understand the intersectionality of our multi-culturalism, we’ll find antisemitism, racism, and xenophobia are much rarer than present-day.

The trending decline of brick-and-mortar synagogue membership continues, however, in our post-pandemic world more people have discovered the joys of forming intentional communities of like-minded people who share common goals or interests. ::clears throat:: Y’know, tribes. These intentional communities or tribes act as safe spaces for people to express their authentic selves, explore interests, and work collectively – to overall live happier, healthier lives.

As the intentional communities branch out and intersect (yes, you can be in, say, a Jewish theatre tribe and an anti-racism activist one), we develop great leaders who respect and advocate for Jewish values.

10. As the nonprofit world questions the equity/access of the traditional board structure, what are you bringing to the table to create change from within?
I see myself as a catalyst to bridge our nonprofit into its next phase. With nearly 20 years of experience working with nonprofits, I’ve had the opportunity to see what it takes to run one from the volunteer level to running programs to managing staff to being executive leadership to sitting on a Board of Directors. This 360-degree-view has provided me with insights that, combined with my graduate studies and 12+ years as a strategic planning consultant, will enable me to promote and adopt new policies and help bring more voices to the table.

I say “help bring” because it is not on me or any one person alone to make our organization more equitable or accessible – it is on all of us. What is on me more specifically as the Board President is to create a platform in which all voices are heard within the organization. It is the role of the Board President to facilitate discussion, to listen to, and reflect on constructive criticism and to set a precedent that all perspectives are valuable. The next generation of nonprofit leadership is not top-down; it is grassroots, it is homegrown, it is collaborative, and it is reflective of the constituency it serves.

I am hopeful that with the years of experience I have within the organization, I am in a good position to build trust and understanding with as many stakeholders (staff and board, foremost) as possible. The fact that people know me pretty well should make it easier for me to challenge the status quo and push people to think differently – to stretch outside their comfort zone while knowing they are in safe hands.

11. If you had a magic wand what are your biggest aspirations for Tribe 12?
Well, if it were a truly magic wand, I’d just abracadabra us a large endowment. I mean, who doesn’t want a well-endowed organization?! 😉

All jokes aside, that does bring me to the heart of what I’d like to see Tribe 12 achieve over the next few years, which is to say: more money! With a larger operating budget, we would be able to better compensate our staff who are the life blood of our organization.

I am a firm believer that the term “non-profit” is misleading because, for most people, it implies “no” profit – and that is not the reality of the situation. In a nutshell, a non-profit is required to re-invest all of its profits back into the organization and its mission. That doesn’t mean a nonprofit cannot compensate its employees well (or fairly). It also does not preclude a nonprofit from making money.

I aim to have Tribe 12 increase its budget by diversifying funding streams, enhancing earned income options, and improving our ability to fundraise with individual donors. Of course, this is the worst economic time since the Great Depression to take on such an endeavor –but anything worth doing may come with challenges.

12. Pats or Genos?
Bleh, neither. Those two over-publicized monstrosities have lost sight of what makes Philadelphia an amazing city to live in. They have to see the irony of putting up signs that say things like “English Only” when your own relatives came to this country not knowing the language. Or how shaming people for not knowing the [highly contrived] lingo of ‘wit’ or ‘witout’ is a silly strategy for a business that benefits from this City’s tourism. And, let’s not even get started on the health or climate implications of a menu that revolves around beef (and processed cheese).

Now that I sound like a complete (and annoying) social justice warrior, I’ll play your game – I’ll add Tony Luke’s to the mix so that I appear accessible and seem like I’m one of the people, but I’m venturing slightly off the beaten path like the trailblazer I am. LOL. In all honesty, I do like how their menu has more offerings and that pickle bar is a Jewish foodie’s best friend.


Don’t miss anything Tribe 12 related! Follow us on Facebook & Instagram! 

Filed Under: Adulting, Cool Stuff, Jewish Wisdom, Philly, Professional, Tribes

High Holiday Guide 5781/2020

September 9, 2020 by Hannah Isaacs

High Holiday Guide 5781/2020

It’s here: Your 5781/2020 High Holiday Guide from Tribe 12! From recipes to services, reflections and more this list has it.

Dates:

Erev Rosh Hashanah Sundown September 18th
Rosh Hashanah Day 1 September 19th
Rosh Hashanah Day 2 September 20th
Erev Yom Kippur Sundown September 27th
Yom Kippur September 28th

Recipes:

High Holiday Cocktails for a Sweet New Year: Jewish Boston: Get Mixing!
Braised Brisket with Dried Fruit: Eating Well: oooo Brisket
Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur Menu Ideas: Bon Appetit: Read more

Japanese-Style Apple & Honey Roll Cake: 18 Doors: Make this
Ethiopian Chicken Schnitzel with Hot Honey: 18 Doors: Try this
Apple and Honey Ginger Crumble: 18 Doors: Enjoy this
Apple and Honey Hand Pie Pockets: 18 Doors: Try this

Experiences:

Sept 16th: Rosh Hashanah in a Bag by Tribe 12: Sign up!
Starts Sept 18th: 10Q: 10 Days, 10 Questions: Learn more
Sept 19th: 7pm Online: Rosh Hashanah Seder A New Way to Start the New Year: 18 Doors
High Holiday Service offerings from a wide spectrum of Synagogues in the Greater Philly area: Click here to learn more 
Sept 27th: High Holidays in Nature- A Virtual Mini- Retreat: 18 Doors: Learn more
Sept 28th: Tribe 12 LGBTQIA+ & The Grad Network Breakfast: Be in the Zoom where it happens
Free Tickets for High Holiday Services: Synagogue Connect
Here for: events Powered by OneTable: Learn more
Custom & Crafts: DIY Jewish Holidays and Rituals: Create now
At the Well: High Holiday Guide: Click here
Oct 2-9, Jewish Ancestral Healing Sukkot Summit: Receive daily audio interviews with spiritual leaders, artists, activists & visionaries on their journeys of ancestral healing: Learn More

Readings:

  • The Joys of a Mizrahi Rosh Hashanah Seder: Hey Alma
  • A Dreamy, Woodland-Inspired Rosh Hashanah Table for 2020: Rebekah Lowin
  • 9 things you didn’t know about Rosh Hashanah: My Jewish Learning
  • How to Celebrate High Holidays at home: My Jewish Learning
  • How to Get the Most out of High Holiday Zoom Services: My Jewish Learning
  • Rosh Hashanah Reading List: JewBelong
  • Updated High Holiday Guide & Resources: Union of Reform Judaism
  • 18 Comforting Rosh Hashanah Poems: Rebekah Lowin

Other Guides: 

  1. Gather DC: Washington, D.C. Area: Read more
  2. ChiTribe: Chicago Area: Read more
  3. Hey Alma: High Holiday Guide: Read more
  4. High Holiday Guide: Chabad of Cherry Hill: Read more

We will continue to update this list as we become aware of more things happening in the Philadelphia Area! For more information on Tribe 12 Follow us on Instagram @Tribe12philly or on Facebook at Tribe 12! 

 

Filed Under: Adulting, Cool Stuff, Jewish Wisdom, Philly

Challah Fairy’s Secret Recipe

September 2, 2020 by Hannah Isaacs

Have you seen the Philly Challah Fairy’s challot? 

Have you wondered: how can I get one?

How does the Fairy get them so pretty? 

Well, here is a peek behind the curtain at the Challah Fairy’s recipe! 

Ingredients

  • 4 – 4 ½ Cups of All-Purpose Flour 
  • ¼ Cup of Granulated Sugar
  • 2 Teaspoons Salt 
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1 Large Egg Yolk (Reserve the white for the egg wash) 
  • 1/4 cup neutral-flavored vegetable oil, such as canola
  • 1 Cup Lukewarm water
  • 2 teaspoons active dry or instant yeast

Equipment

  • 2 large mixing bowl
  • 1 – 2 Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Pastry Brush

Instructions

1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl mix 4 cups of flour, sugar, and salt, whisk to combine 

2. Add Eggs, Yolk, and Oil: Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, I usually use the button of the one cup measuring up. Add the two eggs, egg yolk, and oil. Whisk to form a slurry, pulling in a little flour from the sides of the bow

3. Once you have formed a slurry: Add 1 cup lukewarm water 2 teaspoons of yeast to the slurry. 

4. Mix to form a shaggy dough. Mix the yeast, eggs, and flour with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until a shaggy dough that is difficult to mix forms. 

5. Knead the dough: dump out the dough onto a floured work surface and knead by hand for about 8 -10 minutes it is important to time yourself.

6. Let the dough rise until doubled: Take the second large bowl and add 2 tablespoons of oil. Place the dough in the oiled bowl making sure to coat both sides in oil. Cover with plastic wrap, and place somewhere warm, I like to put my dough in the oven.  Let the dough rise until doubled in bulk for 2 hours. 

7. Divide the dough and roll into ropes: After the 2 hours divide the dough into 2 or 3 equal parts depending on how many loaves you would like. Then divide each loaf into 3 equal parts. Roll each piece of dough into a long rope about 10-12 inches long. 

8. Braid the dough. Gather the ropes and squeeze them together at the very top. If making a 3-stranded challah, braid the ropes together like braiding hair or yarn and squeeze the other ends together when complete.

9. Let the challah rest again:  Line 1 or 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the braided loaves on top and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Let rise in a warm place away from drafts until puffed and pillowy, about 45 minutes. 

10. Preparing to bake: With the pastry brush and the egg whites, you will want to egg wash each loaf generously with egg white. This is the time to add any toppings, maybe sesame seeds or poppy seeds. 

11. Bake the challah for 30 minutes. Bake the challah at 350 Degrees, until the challah is deeply browned and registers 190°F in the very middle with an instant-read thermometer, 30 to 35 minutes total.

12. Cool the challah. Let the challah cool on a cooling rack until just barely warm. Slice and eat.

To follow the Challah Fairy’s adventures follow @Tribe12philly  and @Hannahschallah on Instagram

Filed Under: Adulting, Cool Stuff, Trends

How We Will Start The Work of Racial Justice

June 8, 2020 by Hannah Isaacs

On Thursday, we shared the following message with our community in reaction to the killing of George Floyd and subsequent protests around the country.

We hear you. We know we need to do more. We have not shown up for racial justice as we know the Tribe 12 community expects and deserves. Starting now, Tribe 12 is deeply exploring our own deficiencies as an organization in regards to combating racism. Our inaction has been harmful to the Black community and Jews of Color. It is our turn to do teshuva (the Jewish tradition for repentance by returning to a higher state), to transform our complacency into righteous and redemptive action. We have a lot to do. We will not always get it right, but we will not give up. Our ancestors said, “It is not our job to complete the work, but neither are we free to desist from it”. Today we commit to doing the work.

Over the past few days, our team has taken direction from Black voices, both locally and nationally, to shape our short term response and plan for a long term response. Here are some of the things we’re committing to today.

    • Amplify anti-racism resources: We begin by sharing this document of Anti-Racism & Jewish Resources crowdsourced by racial justice leaders across the country including Jared Jackson, founder of Jews in ALL Hues and a 2011 Tribe 12 Fellow. We will continue to share resources like this in our communications.
    • Amplify Black voices: We are committed to using our social media to amplify Black voices at the direction of @jessicawilson.msrd and @blackandembodied who started the #AmplifyMelanatedVoices campaign. We have been, and will continue to, share content from Black writers typically without our own commentary.
    • Patronize Black-led businesses: Through our established programming, we see opportunities to redirect some of our funds to black-owned businesses and racial justice nonprofits. Examples include donating to a racial justice charity of the winner’s choice at one of our virtual trivia nights; purchasing our next book club selection from local Black-owned bookstore Harriet’s Bookshop; or committing to order food for future in-person events from Black and Mobile, a black-owned food delivery service.
    • Convene our community to contribute to Black-led organizations: A Giving Circle is a group of people who come together to pool their money and make a group decision about what charity they want to support. Our staff has been trained by the national organization Amplifier and has run dozens of these circles. In the next two weeks, we will convene a circle of 20s and 30s who will select a Black-led non-profit organization or community fund. Each participant will be asked to contribute $10 or more to the pool of funds. To learn more, email Davinica. 
    • Encourage involvement in and contributions to Black-led organizations: While we learn and do our own work, we have heard from our community that people are looking for racial justice organizations, actions and causes to support but are overwhelmed by the choices of how to help and who to help. In the month of June, we are offering free 90 minute virtual conversations with our staff of trained community guides who will take you through a structured exploration of your personal values, your views on impact and giving, and what you uniquely bring to the table. By the end of this conversation, we hope that you have clarity about what tangible action you can immediately take. To learn more or select a time for a conversation, email Danielle.
    • Create a long term plan: By June 30th, 2020, we will present a plan to our board of directions for a complete reevaluation of our organization’s role in racial justice. If our goal is to create an equitable, accessible, and inclusive community, that work starts with us, as an organization and as individuals. The plan may include an audit of ourselves and our organization, setting equity goals, and significant education and training at all levels of our organization (thank you to Avodah for your guidance on these elements so far). All pieces of this reevaluation will be implemented by racial justice educators and consultants who are from the Black community. 

We want to hear from you now.

What do you think of our plan? What are you encouraged by? Where did we miss the mark? While we would love to hear from everyone, we will prioritize the feedback of Jews of Color and the broader Black community first and foremost. Email yo@tribe12.org to share your thoughts with our full team. 

Filed Under: Philly, Professional

Umm So What is Shavuot?

May 28, 2020 by Hannah Isaacs

1.  Shavuot is one of the three harvest festivals that Jews celebrate

2. Shavuot is exactly 7 weeks and 1 day which correlates to the 50 days in between our exodus from Egypt to receiving the 10 commandments

3. This is the holiday where the Israelites became the Jewish people and received the 10 commandments

4. When we received the ten commandments we were told that the land of Israel (where we were headed) is “a land flowing with milk and honey” that is why Jews talk nonstop about cheese, cheesecake, and all things dairy this time of year 

5. It is tradition to eat circular foods on Shavuot, for example, cheesecake, pizza, sushi, or even a galette! 

6. There are no formal ritual or ritual items for Shavuot which is why a lot of people might not have learned about it in religious school or as a child!

7. Some Jews have adopted the ritual of staying up all night studying Torah to honor Shavuot, just like the Israelites stayed up all night waiting for the 10 commandment

8. Moroccan Jews have a custom to eat a few pieces of matzah on Shavuot to close the cycle from Passover to Shavuot

9. In the Reform tradition often time 10th graders are confirming their adult commitment during Shavuot 

10. Shavuot is a holiday of celebration and joy!

 

Boom! You just learned about Shavuot 10 commandment style!

 

Filed Under: Jewish Wisdom, Philly, Social, Trends

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