Starting to Count Jews

Shabbat Zozozbra Labor Day Alert: Yes, Abq Jew announced way back in February (see Jews Don't Count and Pew, Feh, Ich, Yich) that

the Jewish Federation of New Mexico has commissioned the first ever scientific study to determine the community’s demographic composition, assess current needs of Jewish residents, and plan for the future.  

Beginning this month, the 2014 New Mexico Jewish demographic study research team will begin a two-phased process to learn more about Jewish New Mexico’s attitudes and behaviors, and to identify subsets requiring specific communal services.

The study (let's not call it a census; that sounds too much like counting) will be conducted by Kupersmit Research, a small, Denver-based strategic research firm. Marina Arbetman-Rabinowitz, PhD, will be the New Mexico project consultant.

Scarlett Johansson has nothing to do with the 2014 JFNM Population Study.
But there are reports that SodaStream is moving its Ma’ale Adumim factory to the Negev.

Great news! That's mostly all still true!

Except that

The 2014 JFNM Population Study will begin in September.

Which means you didn't miss it after all!

In fact, the latest press release (from noted Abq PR firm James Korenchen) further informs us that

The first phase of the survey will be conducted online, through a sample of emails provided by the Jewish Federation of New Mexico through a web-based survey. In addition, mailed questionnaires and telephone calls to a sample of New Mexico residents with Jewish surnames and other sources will be conducted to maximize reach.  

“It is important for everyone to complete the first phase of the survey to help us assess the needs of New Mexico’s Jewish residents,” said Marina Arbetman-Rabinowitz, Ph.D., New Mexico project consultant for the survey.  

Once the results of the survey are received, the second phase of the study will be introduced.  Phase two will consist of focus group research and interviews. It will allow for a more detailed depiction of the Jewish communities’ patterns and behaviors, and how they differ between age, gender, affiliated and unaffiliated individuals.    

“We expect the results of the landmark survey to be truly transform-ational and provide a picture of the affiliated and unaffiliated Jewish households in New Mexico. The data will help us better recognize the challenges and barriers New Mexico Jews have faced, as well as their motivations and aspirations,” said Arbetman-Rabinowitz.

Sam Sokolove, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of New Mexico, said

The Jews of New Mexico have had an extraordinary impact on the history of the state and the cultural, political, business and social lives of people living in the Land of Enchantment. 

The results of the survey will help us plan for the future of our community as it expands throughout the state. 

In other Jewish news:

The 90th Burning of Zozobra
(see For the Cleansing of Sins: Redux)

takes place at Ft Marcy Park in Santa Fe

on Erev Shabbat Labor Day, August 29 2014

presenting a small problem for Santa Fe's Shomer Shabbos Yidden who wish to celebrate the annual cremation of Old Man Gloom. But the observant can observe by walking over to Ft Marcy, and tickets can be pre-purchased. Plus there are reports that the event will be streamed live on the Internet. Set your Shabbos timers!

And don't forget -

Shabbat Shalom, Albuquerque!

Good Shabbos, New Mexico!

Happy Labor Day, Everyone!

Our eScapegoat is Here!

Atonement* Sponsored by B'nai Israel: It's (finally) Rosh Hodesh Elul! And, as Abq Jew pre-announced just last week (see Welcoming Our eScapegoat), this year

Congregation B'nai Israel

 is proudly providing its very own eScapegoat
for the entire Abq Jewish community.

And we get to display our own list of sins!

In Bible times, Israelites atoned with sacrifices. 

Once a year, on what we now call Yom Kippur, the High Priest placed all the Israelites' sins on a goat and set it loose in the wilderness.

The High Priest took two goats. He sacrificed one - and then he laid his hands on the other, transferring the community's sins onto it. Then, he sent the scapegoat off into the wilderness.

From the goat's perspective, neither path ended well.

But that was then. Today, we reflect and try to clean our slates during Elul, the Hebrew month before Yom Kippur.

Yes, Elul is all about atonement, and as a fun way to engage, this year Congregation B'nai Israel is proudly providing its very own eScapegoat for the entire Albuquerque Jewish community.

B'nai Israel's eScapegoat is now roaming the Internet (cbinm.escgoat.com) collecting sins before Yom Kippur. Here are a few choice sins our eScapegoat has collected so far:

• Instead of learning Talmud I watch Breaking Bad all day long.
• Thanks to my road rage, my 3 year old daughter has learned an impressive assortment of curse words.
• I am going to Las Vegas on Yom Kippur... That cannot be good...

Check it out and add your own! Our eScapegoat is waiting for you to repent!

Atone today! Atone next week!
Atone anytime before Yom Kippur!
With the B'nai Israel eScapegoat!

Cloudy With A Chance of Rockets

Red Alert: There's An App For That! The Israel-Hamas War continues today. An Israeli strike overnight has killed three senior Hamas commanders, while the fate of a fourth remains unclear.

And back in Europe and much of what we still call The Free World, the demonization of Jews and their state continues and increases. And Deborah Lipstadt says in her opinion piece in The New York Tines, Why Jews Are Worried:

An old Jewish joke goes like this: “ 

What’s the definition of a Jewish telegram? 

‘Start worrying. Details to follow.’

I am often asked by fellow Jews about contemporary manifestations of anti-Semitism, particularly in Europe. “Is this just like 1939? Are we on the cusp of another Holocaust?” Until now, my answer has been an unequivocal “no.” 

But then she continues:

The differences between then and now are legion. When there is an outbreak of anti-Semitism today, officials condemn it. This is light-years away from the 1930s and 1940s, when governments were not only silent but complicit. Memory also distinguishes the present from previous events. Now, in contrast to the 1930s, we know matters can escalate. Jews today are resolute in their determination: “Never again.” 

And despite all this I wonder if I am too sanguine. 

Ms Lipstadt's opinion piece included the animated GIF above, which was just too cute for Abq Jew not to include here. And all this is a long way from Cynthia Ozick's 1974 essay "All the World Wants the Jews Dead."

But still.

Iron Dome     כיפת ברזל

Back to the rockets, which, after a short ceasefire break, are again falling on Israel.

Want to know where they're falling? One way to stay in touch is the

Red App Page - אפליקציית התרעות צבע אדום
http://www.redapp.me/en/

You can download the Android App from Google Play here:

Or you can download the iPhone App from iTunes here:

If you're stuck at home (or at the office), you can point your browser to the

Israel Real-Time Red Alert Map

http://redcolormapweb.azurewebsites.net/english

To those of us Outside The Land, this can seem too much like a video game. But if you set up the Red Alert website to Play sound when a new alert is added, you'll feel like you're more a part of it. Although you and Abq Jew are not.

The Israel Real-Time Red Alert Map even tells you how much longer you need to stay in your shelter. How user-friendly!

Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten
Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen alerts have sounded
since Abq Jew began to write this blog post.

And for Twitter fans - which @AbqJew is - you can follow @underattackbot, which automatically tweets when sirens go off in Israel. You can automatically retweet too! Just sign up here at Retweet4Israel.

The first thing you'll need to know is which Defensive Zone you're in. Here is a video that explains.

Defensive Zones Map

If you already know how to take shelter if you're indoors when a Red Alert is sounded - and you should -  the next thing you'll need to know is how is how to take cover if you're outside. Here is a video that shows what you should do.

Take Cover Outside

May God bless and protect the Land of Israel
and all who wish to live there in peace.

OK ... to end this blog post on a happier note, The Times of Israel reports that 

Police hit bomb shelter casino
All bets are now off at rocket-protection room used for gambling, drugs 

Israeli police on Thursday discovered that a shelter meant to protect civilians from Palestinian rocket fire had instead been transformed into a makeshift casino, complete with a mini cannabis plantation. <Read more>

What a country! 

Welcoming Our eScapegoat

Atonement* Sponsored by B'nai Israel: Last year, Abq Jew was happy (see For the Cleansing of Sins: Redux) to announce a total of four five ways to cleanse oneself from a year's worth of sin.

The most popular way turned out to be  

2. Send A Goat To Azazel

In Bible times, Israelites atoned with sacrifices. 

Once a year, on what we now call Yom Kippur, the High Priest placed all the Israelites' sins on a goat and set it loose in the wilderness.

The High Priest took two goats. He sacrificed one - and then he laid his hands on the other, transferring the community's sins onto it. Then, he sent the scapegoat off into the wilderness.

From the goat's perspective, neither path ended well.

But that was then.

Today, we reflect and try to clean our slates during Elul, the Hebrew month before Yom Kippur. Elul is all about atonement.

Last year the folks at G-dcast.com provided the whole world with one very busy eScapegoat.

People everywhere submitted their sins to the interactive eScapegoat, and G-dcast staff sent some of the most interesting and entertaining to a Twitter feed: @sinfulgoat. As well as to an eScapegoat website, right here.

This year, the eScapegoat program has gotten much larger, and, paradoxically, much more personal. How much more personal? Personal to the point where

Congregation B'nai Israel

 is proudly providing its very own eScapegoat
for the entire Abq Jewish community.

And we get to display our own list of sins!

*No actual Halachic atonement implied

Beginning on Rosh Hodesh Elul (Tuesday August 26 and Wednesday August 27), B'nai Israel's eScapegoat will roaming the Internet collecting sins before Yom Kippur.

To which Abq Jew can only add

Don't atone today! Atone next week!
With the B'nai Israel eScapegoat!