Open E: ModernTribe's Best & Worst of 2008

In the spirit of the Open Source software movement, I'm sharing my learning as an e-commerce entrepreneur. 2008 was an incredible year for ModernTribe.com and No Limit Texas Dreidel. Our first full year in operation was filled with triumphs, mistakes and exponential learning. Here are some of the best & worst, biggest flubs and greatest wins of 2008:

Best Marketing ROI (return on investment):

Direct mailing of postcards to media resulting in editorial in the Los Angeles Times, B'nai B'rith Magazine, and more. Approximate Cost: $500. Estimated ROI 5-10x!

Most Exciting Unexpected Editorial:

Inclusion in Newsweek's holiday gift guide which we found out about through a customer. We didn't believe him and then he scanned in the page and emailed it to us.

Biggest Advertising Disappointments:

With the sad closing of Jewish Living Magazine we lost our banner ad, some great editorial links, and an editorial feature of our Stainless Steel Scroll Menorah. Also, the Google Jump Start program conducted during Passover was a blood bath: our $116 average purchase cost us $93 (that means each $46 gross profit, cost us $163 to generate -- ouch!)

Best Buying Decision:

Listening to a product rep and stocking the best sellers from the line including the Jumbo Glitter Crystal Balls.

Biggest Supplier Nightmare:

Selling 80 Peace Sign Menorahs over the weekend and then finding out our order from the manufacturer wasn't coming.

Biggest Buying Mistake:

Not paying attention to an invoice and missing that an artist increased his wholesale price 40%. (The dollar's weakness against the shekel was part of the reason why). I'd set and advertised the retail price, based on the original wholesale price.

Biggest Manufacturing Triumph:

When the No Limit Texas Dreidel games were late, insisting that a small amount be air shipped to fulfill a large customer's order.

Second Biggest Manufacturing Triumph:

Games arrived in pretty good condition, pretty much as specified, and late but early enough not to miss the season. (In manufacturing, this mediocre result is a triumph).

Biggest Manufacturing Mistake:

Failing to get a detailed, complete price quote in writing resulting in us paying $1400 for production molds we had understood were part of the per piece price.

Biggest Heart Attack Moment:

Getting a call from "The View" and then finding out they were looking for one of our suppliers, not us.

Biggest Heart Attack Moment II:

Getting a call from NPR and finding out they were looking for us!

Biggest Serendipity:

Erica with her complimentary skills and geographic desirability became a business partner after getting a gift from ModernTribe.com from her mother.

Best Unofficial (and Unpaid) Business Partners To Whom ModernTribe Owes Big Thanks:

My husband Webb contributes his smarts and talents to nearly every aspect of the business. Todd, Erica's husband, manages our intellectual property. Jill, Jeremy's wife, edits and contributes to the blog (and just started her own editing/writing business). Mike Weiser and Beth Shapiro of Donner, Weiser and Associates provide excellent accounting services and advice. Brian gives his opinions freely about our ads, influenced our design direction considerably and gave us the lead for the Time Out New York editorial that lead to one of our biggest sellers of the season: Mix Tape USB Stick. Meredith Jacobs included No Limit Texas Dreidel in her TV show on The Jewish Channel, named for her book and her website: Modern Jewish Mom, and talked about us on DC radio. Lauren is always looking out for PR opportunities for us and introduced me to HARO, my favorite PR tool. Christy hooked us up with two Pittsburgh retailers who sold No Limit Texas Dreidel. My mom, our loyal customers, and many others have helped make 2008 a success for ModernTribe. To all of you, my most sincere thank you!

No Limit Texas Dreidel on The Jewish Channel's Modern Jewish Mom

The Jewish Channel has a new lifestyle show with Modern Jewish Mom Meredith Jacobs. Their Chanukah special is available On Demand for all of you who have cable television that carries The Jewish Channel. A segment of the show is on No Limit Texas Dreidel! Meredith interviewed me at Kosherfest this November and then the team at The Jewish Channel made these great clips demonstrating play of the game. We don't get The Jewish Channel in the ATL, unfortunately, but Time Warner & Optimum carry it in the North East and Verizon FiOS TV offers it in many states -- check if your state has it.

You wanna know how to play No Limit Texas Dreidel? Watch this:



By the way, the correct term is "hole cards" and "hole spins" -- not "hold" -- although it should be "hold," yes? Thank you The Jewish Channel and Modern Jewish Mom Meredith Jacobs.

No Limit Texas Dreidel is HOT!

From Jeremy:

I am so excited that No Limit Texas Dreidel has caught fire in the press, in site visitors, and in sales. We knew all kinds of people would get excited about this party game that combines the traditional Hanukkah dreidel game with no limit Texas hold'em poker! Now it's reached Jewish and mainstream audiences worldwide. We appreciate all the love and encourage you to spread the word too on your blog, facebook page, or twitter!

• Fark.com -- on the geek page of this hugely popular link-sharing site
  
• BoingBoing -- on the homepage of this mega-site
• Gifts.com
  
• National Review Online
• Many twitter users
• Ima on (and off) the bima blog -- check out her incredibly popular NLTD contest!
• Global Voices
• My Right Word
• The Angel Forever
  
• Purple Pawn
• Many, many other blogs
• In Newsweek's holiday gift guide
  
• For sale at Bloomingdale's, PopJudaica, Amazon, eBay, and many other retailers

Now get out there and Go All Spin!^TM

Texas Dreidel on The Radio this Weekend!

Listen up No Limit Texas Dreidel fans! This is the weekend for No Limit Texas Dreidel on the radio.

National Public Radio (NPR) -- Everywhere -- Saturday, December 13th -- Times Vary

I have been interviewed to be on "Only A Game" the nationally syndicated NPR sports show which airs Saturdays. The producer chose No Limit Texas Dreidel for their holiday gift guide saying No Limit Texas Dreidel is, "Absolutely irresistible to us." I've been interviewed about the game by veteran NPR commentator and show host Bill Littlefield. The portion on the game and me will probably be only a snippet so listen carefully.

The nerdy, sports-challenged Jews that you may be (and I count myself in this category), you may not know the show but apparently it's pretty well known. http://www.onlyagame.org/about/

Listen on your local NPR station this Saturday or look up stations and times here: http://www.wbur.org/syndication/?program=Only-A-Game

UPDATE: Listen to the Only A Game Gift Guide. Listen to my snippet on NLTD.

1160 AM -- Newstalk 1160 Atlanta -- Women on the Move with Jennifer Green -- Saturday & Sunday, December 13th & 14th 1-2 PM

I'm really excited about this interview! Jennifer Matilsky (AKA Jennifer Green) and I "chatted" yesterday for about an hour about the origins of No Limit Texas Dreidel and ModernTribe.com. I share several triumphs and setbacks during the start up of our businesses. It will only be broadcast in Atlanta but I hope to post the show -- or excerpts -- online for everyone soon.

Making Hanukkah Fun and Meaningful For Adults

Image is from BonAppetit.com

My husband and I invented No Limit Texas Dreidel so that adults (and older children) can enjoy dreidel too. Here are some other ideas to make your Hanukkah party fun and meaningful for your adult friends whether they are Jewish or not.

Have guests bring a symbol of a freedom they are guarding or fighting for. Yes, there is the (silly) story about oil lasting for eight days. But, really, Hanukkah is a celebration of religious freedom. In 167 B.C.E. the Maccabees fought Antiochus who brought Greek idols into the Temple and banned the practice of Judaism. The menorah is the Jewish symbol of this fight for freedom. Ask guests, "What freedom are you guarding or fighting for?" Invite guests to bring an object that represents this freedom. Guests can choose to share the meaning with the group or simply set the item with the others.

Upgrade your holiday menu for an adult palate. Chocolate gelt (coins) has developed a bad reputation as something you don't necessarily want to eat. Serve gourmet chocolate coins, which the most discerning chocolate lovers will appreciate, such as those (personally taste-tested and approved by me!) from Madelaine, Godiva, or See's. Serve sweet potato latkes or Zucchini Latkes with Garlic by Faye Levy, the cooking columnist for the Jerusalem Post, or try serving traditional latkes (like those from Modern Jewish Mom Meredith Jacobs) with gourmet Rosemary and Brown Butter Applesauce from Bon Appetit. The Bon Appetit website has many gourmet latke recipes.

Tzedakah is always appropriate for any Jewish holiday. Tzedakah is translated as "charity," but its root, tzedek, means justice: We give not only to help those in need but to help set things right, as part of the process of creating a just world. Have guests bring a grocery bag of food for your local feed-the-hungry program or a toy for the Toys for Tots program. Or have each guest "buy in" to receive their chocolate gelt for the No Limit Texas Dreidel game and make a group donation to a local charity. The buy-in idea came from a ModernTribe customer, who is doing this for her own Hanukkah party this year.

Hanukkah FAQ

Have a happy Hanukkah! Here's an FAQ from Jill about Hanukkah traditions.

When is Hanukkah?

Jews begin celebrating on the first night of Hanukkah: after sunset on December 21, 2008. The first day of Hanukkah is December 22. The eight-day Festival of Lights ends on December 29, 2008.

Why does the first night of Hanukkah change each year?
Chanukah always begins on the twenty-fifth of the month of Kislev, as Jon Stewart tells Stephen Colbert below. The Jewish calendar is lunar, and its dates vary each year relative to other calendars, such as the Gregorian calendar used in the U.S. In fact, the first day of Chanukah can fall anywhere between November 28 and December 26.

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

A Colbert Christmas: Jon Stewart

Colbert at Christmas
Colbert Christmas DVD

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

Why do Jews celebrate Hanukkah?

Hanukkah celebrates religious freedom and the rededication of the Temple (Hanukkah means rededication). Around 165 BCE, two groups of Jews -- one led by Judah Maccabee -- successfully revolted against the oppressive King Antiochus IV, who had prohibited the practice of Judaism, desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem, and ordered the killing of Jews.

Once free, the Jews were able to rededicate the Temple. They needed oil for the Temple's menorah, which was supposed to burn every night, but according to the Talmud, the Jews had only enough oil to burn for one night. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, giving them enough time to obtain more oil. To celebrate this miracle the next year, the Jews began to observe an eight-day festival.

What is a menorah?
On each of the eight nights of Chanukah, Jews light a candelabra called a menorah after sunset. The menorah holds nine Hanukkah candles (or wicks in oil). On the first night, Jews light the shamash (attendant or "helper" candle), then light another candle with the shamash. On the second night, we light two candles plus the shamash. This continues until the eighth night, when we light eight candles plus the shamash. The custom of lighting Hanukkah candles has given the holiday its nickname, the Festival of Lights.

In what direction do I light menorah candles?
Candles are added from right to left, but they are lit from left to right. On the first night of Hanukkah, place one candle in the far right holder of the menorah, and light it with the shamash. (The lit shamash is often placed in the center of the menorah.) On the second night, put two candles in the two far-right candle holders, then light the left-most candle first.

Is there a special blessing I can recite while I light the Hanukkah candles?
Yes, while holding the shamash you may recite the Blessing over Candles and the Blessing for Hanukkah. On the first night, it's customary to recite the Shehecheyanu as well; this prayer celebrates special occasions and milestones.

Where can I get a menorah? ModernTribe has unique artisan-made menorahs from girly to manly, glass to chrome, plus a kid's play menorah. Menorahs are also available at synagogue Judaica shops and Jewish bookstores.

What are some other Hanukkah traditions?
A Jewish holiday wouldn't be complete without special foods! On Hanukkah we often eat foods fried in oil, such as latkes (pancakes made of shredded potato) and doughnuts (sufganiyot), to commemorate the Hanukkah miracle. Dairy foods also are commonly eaten.

Families often exchange Hanukkah gifts or just give gifts to children. It's traditional to give children gifts of money, or gelt. Another Jewish custom is to give more money to charity each day of Hanukkah.

Another Hanukkah tradition is to play dreidel games—including No Limit Texas Dreidel. Singing Hanukkah songs is also a fun family activity.

Jews often send each other Hanukkah cards.

I've seen "Hanukkah" spelled many different ways. What's the correct spelling?
Because it's transliterated from Hebrew, there are several possible spellings: Hanukkah, Chanukah, Hanukah, Chanukkah, Hanuka, and Chanuka. Less typical spellings include Hanaka, Channuka, Channukah, Hannuka, Hannukah, Kanukkah, Khannuka, Khannukah, Khanuka, Khanukah, and Khanukkah!

To read more about the Festival of Lights, visit Chabad's Chanukah guide or Judaism 101's Chanukkah page.

No Limit Texas Dreidel Honory Mention In Startup Nation Contest

No Limit Texas Dreidel gets an Honorary Mention in Startup Nation's Home Based 100 Business Contest in the category "Wackiest."

Thousands of businesses entered the contest. Businesses were judged and chosen as winners or honorable mentions by a panel of entrepreneurs and business gurus.

Next year we will go for the category: Best Financial Performers :)
Buy the game on ModernTribe.com or at our other retailers selling Texas Dreidel across the United States including Bloomingdale's where you can find the Deluxe Edition.

Jennie (me) will be profiled for her business acumen for both her businesses: No Limit Texas Dreidel and ModernTribe.com in an upcoming edition of the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Stay tuned.

Hanukkah Dreidel Game FAQ

With Hanukkah coming soon (the first night begins Sunday, December 21, 2008 at sundown!), here are the dreidel game rules.

How do you play the dreidel game?

Here are basic instructions for the dreidel game, a traditional Jewish Hanukkah party game. Each player starts with the same number of pieces of gelt (chocolate coins); we suggest 10. In a pinch, pennies also work, but then you can't eat your winnings!

The game begins with each player anteing one piece of gelt into the pot. Going around the circle clockwise, each player takes turns spinning the dreidel. If it lands on:

Gimel
...the player takes all the gelt in the pot.




Hey
...the player takes half the gelt in the pot (round up for odd numbers -- if there are 5 pieces of gelt in the pot, take 3).



Nun
...the player receives nothing; next player spins the dreidel.




Shin
...the player puts one piece of gelt into the pot.




Each time the pot is emptied out, each player puts in a piece of gelt, and the dreidel game continues.

If a player has no gelt as a result of spinning a Shin or anteing, he or she is eliminated from the dreidel game. The game continues until only one player remains; or at a set time, the players total up their counters, and whoever has the most gelt wins. Enjoy eating your gelt! You can even conveniently remind your friends of the dreidel game rules in card form.

What is a dreidel?
A dreidel, or in Hebrew svivon, is a traditional Jewish four-sided top. When you spin it, the dreidel falls over, and whichever side is up is your dreidel spin.

What do the dreidel symbols mean?
The Hebrew letters Nun, Gimel, Hay, and Shin stand for Nes Gadol Haya Sham, "A great miracle happened there." In Israel, where the miracle of Hanukkah happened to the Jewish people, the dreidel letters stand for Nes Gadol Haya Po, "A great miracle happened here." You can read more about the Hanukkah story.

How can I make the dreidel game even more fun?
Try No Limit Texas Dreidel, the game that combines dreidel with No Limit Texas Hold'em poker! It uses the same Hebrew letters as the dreidel game, then adds betting, bluffing, and folding.

Jews Sport Partisan Buttons, Kippot, and Tzedakah Boxes

Are you as engrossed in the Presidential election as we are? A survey from the American Jewish Committee shows the Jewish people split 60/40 in favor of Barack Obama.

Jews are a tiny minority -- less than 3% of the population of the United States. Still, we've been courted by candidates consistently throughout the years.

New York Times has an article today on People of the Button. With a slide show exhibiting campaign buttons going back to 1940 Wendell Wilkie's run.

A couple weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal had a piece on partisan yarmulkes.

At ModernTribe.com you can choose a donkey or an elephant and see which one can gather more coins before election day.

Shana Tova : Happy Jewish New Year 5769!

From Shlomi & Tam, the designers of Plushood, a new illustration featuring James Richardson, the 3rd posing as a good luck kitty.

SHANA TOVA !!!! שנה טובה

High Holidays FAQ: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur 2008

The High Holidays are coming up soon! Here's a quick FAQ from Jeremy on what the Days of Awe are all about:

When are the High Holidays in 2008 (5769)?

Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Monday, September 29, 2008. The Jewish New Year is celebrated on September 30 and, for Conservative and Orthodox Jews, also on October 1.

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins at sundown on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 and is observed for one day by all Jewish denominations.

The Jewish holidays are based on a lunar calendar, so their dates vary each year on the Gregorian calendar.

What is Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah (literally, head of the year) is the Jewish New Year. It is one of the Days of Awe, during which Jews go to synagogue to reflect on the past year and think about how they would like to improve themselves the next year. Part of this process is apologizing to the people you have wronged last year--this is the origin of Stephen Colbert's OOPS-JEW hotline!



During the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah, Jews often perform the ceremony of Tashlikh (Hebrew for "casting off"): they throw bits of bread into a flowing body of water to symbolize casting off last year's sins.

Jews often send Rosh Hashanah cards with the Hebrew greeting L'Shanah Tovah (literally, "for a good year") to wish family and friends a good year.

Because the Days of Awe span 10 days, there is always at least one Shabbat (from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday) between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This is called Shabbat Shuvah, or the Sabbath of Return, meaning that Jews should return to G-d and the principles of the Torah (the Hebrew Bible).

What is the shofar?

The shofar is a ram's horn that is played as a musical instrument to awaken people to the new year. In fact, the Hebrew Bible calls the holiday not Rosh Hashanah, but Yom Teruah, the day for sounding the shofar.

What do Jews eat on Rosh Hashanah?

Apples, challah bread, and honey are traditional Rosh Hashanah foods. Jews often dip apple or challah slices in honey to symbolize a wish for a sweet new year. Special round challah is often made for the new year, symbolizing the circle or cycle of the year.

What is Yom Kippur?

Yom Kippur is the Jewish Day of Atonement, one of the High Holy Days. It is traditional to pray in a synagogue to atone for last year's sins. Typically services start in the morning and last until the early afternoon. Jews may then take a nap or participate in discussions about Jewish teachings, then evening services conclude the day. Jews often fast as a sacrifice symbolizing their atonement and attempts at self-improvement, but because Judaism values health above all else, fasting is not encouraged if medically inadvisable. Some Jewish people also refrain from wearing leather shoes on Yom Kippur, so as not to tread on the cow from which the leather came.

When does Yom Kippur end?

Yom Kippur ends at sundown on Thursday, October 9, 2008. At this time, hungry Jews have a break-the-fast gathering with their family and friends! You'll be glad to finally be able to use your Modern Twist Star of David Placemats & Coasters or other Jewish tabletop decor.

Rosh Hashanah Cards You Won't Be Embarrassed To Send!

ModernTribe.com is now offering Rosh Hashanah cards featuring modern Judaica art from designers including Snow & Graham, and Pancake & Franks, and Peculiar Pair Press.

A Sign of Peace Cards - Boxed or Single $15.00		Winter Fruit Cards - Boxed $15.00		Dove Peace & Goodwill Tiny Cards $6.00
Not Blue Rosh Hashanah Cards (Set of 6) $15.00		Blue Rosh Hashanah Cards (Set of 6) $15.00

As we move toward the beginning of the Jewish new year and thoughts of apples and honey and sweet challah begin to swirl, ModernTribe.com wants to remind you that sending Rosh Hashanah cards is a great way to connect with friends and family. This year, a variety of carefully chosen cards are available that stand out with fresh, beautiful Judaica art. Express your creativity and individuality while sharing your warm thoughts for the season.

How to Green Your Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah: 5 Tips

Finally, going green is no longer a fringe mission but something most of us are trying to integrate into many aspects of our lives. Kate Harrison of Green Mitzvot shares with us how we can make even bar and bat mitzvah greener.

By Kate Harrison, Green Bar Mitzvahs

Protecting the earth has always been a Jewish value:

God placed the human in the garden of Eden to serve and keep it.
Genesis 2:15

Here are five ways to make your Bar or Bat Mitzvah eco-friendly:

1. Invitations: Come to My Green Bar Mitzvah!
Instead of buying glossy-coated Bat Mitzvah invitations that can't be easily recycled, pick invitations made from post-consumer waste (PCW) or recycled cotton. Electronic Bar and Bat Mitzvah invitations are another green option because they eliminate waste entirely. A number of Web sites now offer Jewish-themed animated cards as well as online RSVP tracking.

2. Decorations and Favors: Style Your Bar Mitzvah Party
Whenever possible, skip one-time-use disposable items like balloons, streamers, and plastic tablecloths for your Bat Mitzvah party. Instead opt for items that can be reused or that are made from sustainable materials. If you want to use candles, pick candles made from soy or palm oil instead of non-renewable petroleum to lessen their environmental impact. Avoid giving plastic toys and trinkets as favors--give guests favors they can use. Popular green favors include tree seedlings, organic or fair trade chocolates, and donations to charity.

3. Flowers: A Bat Mitzvah That Respects the Earth
Many Bar Mitzvah families decorate the bimah and reception tables with cut flowers, but most of the flowers available in the United States are grown overseas using harsh chemical pesticides. A great way to decrease the carbon footprint of your event while protecting workers and the environment is to buy locally grown organic flowers. Search localharvest.org for a list of growers in your area and consult your florist about local, seasonal options. Ask your florist if he or she can recycle the flowers by donating them to a hospital or charity after your Bar Mitzvah. Potted plants are another great choice because they are reusable and make nice gifts for friends and family to take home at the end of the night. Plus, they fight global warming by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

4. Food: My Organic Bar Mitzvah
Whether you are cooking yourself or having your Bat Mitzvah catered, try to include seasonal organic ingredients as much as possible. Many companies now offer kosher organic meat and poultry; you can find organic fruits, vegetables and baking supplies at most supermarkets. Choosing organic food grown in a sustainable manner not only reduces your impact on the earth, but also ensures the freshest, most delicious flavors. Don't forget to ask your caterer about composting and recycling options, and see if leftovers can be donated to a charity like Mazon, a Jewish organization that provides food for the hungry.

5. Gifts: Green Bat Mitzvah Gifts
Before your Bar Mitzvah, let your friends and family know what you want by registering for gifts so you don't end up with things you will never use. Try to pick eco-friendly items made from sustainable, recycled, organic, or natural materials. When looking for Judaica, select Bat Mitzvah gifts from Israeli artists or those made from renewable resources.

Vote for NLTD on Startup Nation

We are entered for Most Innovative and Wackiest Home Based Businesses in this year's Startup Nation's contest. Vote for Texas Dreidel & help us spread the word about the dreidel revolution!

Modern Jewish Mom has Unique Rosh Hashanah Recipes

Meredith Jacobs, the author of The Modern Jewish Mom's Guide to Shabbat, runs the website ModernJewishMom.com

The site is developing quite a community of readers.

Meredith just posted several Rosh Hashanah recipes that are unique and sound delicious.

Check out:

Warm Barley and Apple Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette from Leah Koenig

and

Carrot and Parsnip Soup from: hip kosher author Ronnie Fein

Jewish Moms for Barack Obama are Obama Mamalahs

I've been up late watching the Democratic national convention plus news commentary each night. To occupy myself during commercials, I created this Obama Mamalah design and uploaded it to Cafe Press. Buy Obama Mamalah t-shirts, bags, and stuff at the Cafe Press Obama Mamalah shop.

Jewish mothers can show their support for Barack Obama. The design uses the official Obama logo plus Mamalah. Mamalah is an affectionate Yiddish word for mother.

The design uses the official "Obama" logo and is the official campaign colors. There is no markup over the Cafe Press cost (that is, I'm making no money off the sales).

These are the ones I ordered for myself:

Is The Jewish Channel for us?

An article in the New York Times on The Jewish Channel, reports that the cable station is gaining in distribution and subscribers. The article sites 20k subscribers mostly in the New York area. Curious, I went to The Jewish Channel website to view their programming line-up. I'm wondering if The Jewish Channel is for me -- and you -- the younger American Jew who is also interested in Jewish life outside the synagogue, Jewish people without beards, Jewish history beyond the Holocaust, Jews living without guilt and angst, and Israel outside of politics.

Below is my evaluation of the current programming according to my criteria. Let's call this a measure of New Jew Skew. How New Jew versus Old Jew is The Jewish Channel?

First, beyond the criticism, I totally want to watch this channel and would subscribe if I had pay TV and it was available in Atlanta. And, let me say also, that I like Old Jew too but do think it is important for any Jewish media to go beyond to connect with the younger generation.

Original Series: Three of the four current episodes deal with Old Jew
- Jewish vote in American election (+1 current American, -1 Israel politics)
- the Kosher industry controversy (-1 beard, -1 guilt & angst)
but also include:
- A segment on Jewish summer camps (+1 outside of synagogue, +1 joyful)

Feature Films: Oy!
- Two of five movies relate to the Holocaust (-2 Holocaust)
- One movie about a young boy whose mother dies and is, "sent off... to a kibbutz, where more loneliness and cruelty await him." (-1 guilt & angst)
- Shofar, a movie about Orthodox Jews raising an autistic son. (-1 guilt & angst)
- And Tollbooth about an "angsty and cynical" young woman trying to make it in NYC (+1 for current American, -1 guilt & angst)

Israel and American programming looks more promising.

Israel programming includes a documentary on an Ethiopian boy who immigrated to Israel, Say Amen about an orthodox Jew coming out as a gay man, and a nature piece about the Dead Sea (+3 Israel beyond politics).

American programming includes a documentary on “Jew-Bu” trend of Jewish-Buddhists (+1 beyond beard!), Christopher Yisrael Campbell comedian and Jewish convert in the documentary Circumcise Me (+2 an x-Catholic comedian), Awake Zion about the intersection of Rasta and Judaism (+1 dreadlocks) and two pieces about Jews outside of synagogue: Jews and the California Gold Rush and a biography of Louis Mayer (+2).

Circumcise Me Trailer. Do you think this is funny?

History and Remembrance (-5). Five pieces about the Holocaust.

World Jewry: 4 of 6 programs are on Jews and communism.
This section includes a piece on Jews in Havana, Eppy the Communist who fought along side Mao Zedong, and two pieces on fascinating Jewish women leading people in unique, albeit socialist, ways: Emma Goldman and Janet Rosenberg Jagan (+4 Jewish history beyond the Holocaust).

Overall, we get a New Jew Skew of zero: as much New Jew as Old Jew. Not bad!

ModernTribe's Talkinator

My husband told me about this very cool web ap that allows you to create your own chat room, in two seconds, called Talkinator. You simply name your room and the code is automatically generated for you. Paste the html anywhere and then chat. Chatting requires no login, a username is automatically generated for you. Best thing: anyone who posts the same code -- that is, uses the same room name will be part of your chat network. Below is ModernTribe's Talkinator. Say hello!

Quirky Dishes For Your Sabbath Table

Friday mornings I like to tie things up from the week in preparation for Shabbat. However, I tripped across some unusual dinnerware that is interesting enough for me to pause and tell you about it. All designers below are part of the Areaware design collective.

New York Delft Plate Set by Lovegrove & Repucci
$ 100.00 a set.

The classic tradition of Dutch Delft hits the streets of New York City.

Seconds Dinner Plates (set of 4)
$ 132.00

Jason Miller's “Seconds” series challenges the rules that surround modern day consumer items. Do decorations always need to be centered? Is a whole bird better than a half? Here, Jason’s elegant “mistakes” are artfully and carefully applied to porcelain dinner plates. Each set contains 4 unique patterns.

Alma Fortune Cup - Gold Short Simple
$ 75.00

Materials:
Porcelain, 22k gold

In this collaboration, redstr/collective and Tobias Wong have taken the Alma Fortune cup and created a new level of esoteric luxury. Inspired by the age old tradition of Tasseography (Turkish coffee fortune telling), this cup with saucer has a one-of-a-kind, 22k gold fortune.

What do you think? Would you set you Sabbath table (or any night) with these dishes?

Open E: Registering Trademarks

This is the third post in a series called "Open E at MT." In the spirit of the Open Source software movement, I'll be openly sharing my learning experiences at an e-commerce entrepreneur.

Last week we received two envelopes in the mail. Each contained heavy manila colored folders with big gold seals: our official certificates of registration for our trademarks No Limit Texas Dreidel and Go All Spin. I was tickled to see that we actually get paper certificates in this electronic age. Don't know what we do with them other than file them away. But they are a nice tangible thing to hold onto after over a year of pursuing the marks.

Filing is on the web and simple and relatively cheap ($275 or $325 per mark) once you know what you are doing. Figuring out what to do is an Intellectual Property Attorney's forte and I paid $750 for an attorney to create an IP plan for me. I did the initial trademark search to make sure someone hadn't registered a similar mark already. Then I filed online using the TEAS, Trademark Electronic Application System. After that, you wait for the government to notify you of your mark's progress and answer any "Office Actions" -- it is all done electronically. Once my wonderful partner joined ModernTribe with her IP attorney husband, he took over for us and ushered the marks through to their final registered status (Thank you Todd!).

I'll share with you what I think was the trickiest part of the whole shebang: figuring out whether or not a mark is register-able at all. You can go ahead and apply but if you get rejected, you'll lose your 300 or so bucks. So it is worth consulting with an attorney upfront.

Among other things, registerableness requires that your mark (or something similar) isn't already registered and that it is not descriptive.

Not Already Taken. You've got to make sure there isn't a similar mark already registered for the same class of Goods and Services. Classes are the type of Goods and Services in which the mark is used; No Limit Texas Dreidel is registered for use in class 28, Games and Playthings. You can do the search online using TESS, the Trademark Electronic Search System and it's fun and educational to snoop around and see how other people are using marks.

Not Descriptive. The mark can't simply be describing something in general terms. This is a tricky concept. An example of a clearly non-descriptive mark is found if you search for Dreidel. You will find the single word "Dreidel" is registered by a company for the class of stuffed animals. Dreidel does not describe stuffed animals, therefore it is register-able. One could NOT register the word "Dreidel" for spinning tops because, of course, it is simply a descriptive term.

Similarly, if Georgia Law Group is located in Georgia, it cannot register the name as a service mark because it's simply a descriptive name. However, if Georgia Law Group is located in Texas... well, then, it's not descriptive. Can you see how this worked for us and No Limit Texas Dreidel? The reviewing attorney asked if the game was created in Texas, relates to Texas as a state in any way. Because it does not, the mark is registerable. Tricky? Yes!

Plushood - Israeli Version of the Ugly Doll

Plushood update! --

Check out this adorable cake made by a Plushood fan for her daughter's birthday party:



After their animation short, Plushood: Meet Your New Neighbors, took second place in the Bitfilm Festival in Germany, Shlomi and Tamar are exhibiting at Urbanix on Shenkin Street, Tel Aviv. The exhibit is called Me, You and All The Others.

From Urbanix.co.il

The difficulty of coping with a demanding and competitive urban life, the subjugation to consumerism, money and social status, beside social manifestations like violence and indifference, can be found either openly or concealed in the works presented.

Sounds a little heady but my guess it's going to be some interesting, fun illustration in a space that exhibits vinyl dolls (like Tam's Qee) and other artists inspired by graffiti, comics, manga, hip hop, pop culture, and street fashion.

A Jewish Valentine's Day?! - the 15th of Av

Tu' B'Av, or the 15th of Av, is "A Day of Love" celebrated similarly to Valentine's Day. Who knew? Not I. In ancient times Tu' B'Av was celebrated by young single women dressing in white and shaking their groove things in vineyards. Young men from all 12 tribes would seek-a-peek, hoping to find their future wives. Read more about this holiday at My Jewish Learning.

The reason I became aware of this holiday is because JConnect LA and Jewlicious are putting on LOVE FEST 2008, Thursday August 14th at Fu's Palace LA. Beyond love, the event celebrates Lisa Klug's book, Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe.

Details:

When: Thursday, August 14 @ 8:30pm

Where: Fu's Palace, 8751 W. Pico Blvd.

Los Angeles 90035

What: Love Fest of Heebster Fun

* World Music performance by Moshav
* Spoken word performance by Smooth-E
* Book signing with author Lisa Alcalay Klug
* Drum circle
* Heebster marketplace
* DJ spinning the Jewke Box
* Mouth watering eats

Cost: $20 in advance or $25 at the door (price includes 1 free drink)
Pre-pay at www.JconnectLA.com
Info: Call Michal @ 310-405-2336 or Michal@JconnectLA.com

Plus, ModernTribe.com is giving away gift bags with fun stuff and gift certificates from ModernTribe.com.

Open E: Starting An E-Commerce Website

This is the second post in a series called "Open E at MT." In the spirit of the Open Source software movement, I'll be openly sharing my learning experiences at an e-commerce entrepreneur.

Choosing Your Business Name URL.
Judaica Modern was second runner for the name of the website now called ModernTribe -- and strongly lobbied for by my dear friend Reid. After learning so much about Search Engine Optimization (SEO), it may have been a better choice. That's because it has "Judaica" in the URL which weighs heavy for Google -- try searching for Judaica. You'll see that most top ranking sites have Judaica in the url but not much else going for them. For example, the third ranked site has a note on the home page about being closed for Passover! which was in April! But ModernTribe, I thought, would make a much better t-shirt. Oh if I only knew then...

Fun Fact: ModernTribe.com was owned by one of those internet bottom-dweller conglomerates who squat on thousands of domain names. The asking price was $1800 and I negotiated them down to $500.

You'll Need Two Kinds of Help to Build Your Site
You almost always need someone who will make your site look pretty: a graphic designer. These days it's not enough to know some html to create a good looking site. Sometimes you will also need a systems programmer. Some people say they are good at both design and programming. Be skeptical. Which type of help you need depends on the solution you choose for your website platform.

Choosing Your Website Platform is One of the Biggest Decisions You'll Make
Platforms are time-consuming and expensive to change so you've got to weigh the options carefully. Below are the four main choices you've got. Once you decide among one of these four approaches, you'll still need to narrow down to the particular what. But making the decision among one of these below is a good start.

Lease a site. Yahoo Shopping sites are an example. You pay a monthly fee to use their system which is hosted for you. The disadvantages are (1) the monthly fee and usually a percentage of gross sales and (2) although you can customize the look -- meaning -- you can pay a graphic designer to customize the look for you, the functionality of the system is whatever they offer. The advantages are (1) it's cheap and easy to get started and (2) the system is maintained and upgraded (I assume). Nexternal is another brand of site leasing.

Buy a solution to configure and host yourself. X-Cart is an example. You pay upfront for the software (X-Cart Gold is $229), upload the software and configure your site yourself. X-Cart says you don't need any knowledge of php (the programming language) to get it up and running. Yah. But you'd have to pay a programmer and/or graphic designer to customize it if you want unique look or function. Advantages are that there are no monthly fees or transaction fees, you can get the customization you want if you are willing to pay for it, and there is company support and a community of users around the solution.

Get an Open Source solution such as OSCommerce. Similar to buying a solution but you don't pay for any software. However, you wouldn't attempt to install and configure this puppy yourself unless you are a programmer -- ever -- just try following the forum posts, and there is no company support because there is no company. Instead there is large community support for your programmer. You would hire a programmer to create your site using the open source solution and you'd hire a graphic designer to work with the programmer.

Build it yourself. For completely customized function and look you can hire a programmer and graphic designer and go for it! This requires a lot of planning and specification writing and a general masochistic outlook. This is how we built ModernTribe. Advantages are big: you get what you want (or at least you try) and you own the site. Disadvantages are big too: you pay up front and age quickly -- both you and your website. You have to always be maintaining and upgrading. You become as dependent on your programmer as an infant to his mother. And on that note, I'll say goodnight, as I need to go email my programmer.

Teruah - Comprehensive Coverage of Jewish Music Scene

I just found a blog called Teruah (named after the nine notes in the series of sounds made by the shofar for Rosh Hashanah). Author Jack Zaientz is creating a truly impressive introduction and commentary on the Jewish music scene. His passion for Jewish music ranges from Chasidic to punk rock and he explores all that is happening now in Jewish music. I especially enjoy reading his posts on new Jewish artists infusing diverse music styles with Jewish ruach (spirit), for example, his post on Moshav Band leading Havdalah.

His site is heavily sprinkled with audio and video clips which is oh so wonderful for experiencing the music he is writing about. He has a Radio Widget too, so you can listen to a myriad of internet streamed Jewish music. If you want to keep up with what is happening in Jewish music, in a wide range of styles, check out Teruah.

Gaya Games: The Art of Thinking

Back to our trip to Israel...

While in Jerusalem, you'll likely find yourself on Ben Yehuda street, the major night-life and shopping district. Off Ben Yehuda on Moshe Solomon Street we found Gaya, a store full of games and puzzles, many of them invented and handcrafted in a Moshav (a cooperative similar to a kibbutz) called Hagor. We stepped inside to find the store full of young adults browsing the hundreds of different interlocking, string, and stacking puzzles and the friendly staff demonstrating some of the original strategy games. My husband played a game called, "The End of the Track," played on a chess board, with blocks that move like Knights but they have ball "heads" that move like Queens.

I bought the interlocking gun puzzle which can be reformed into a dog. Haven't attempted it yet.

Then, of course, I had to purchase the dreidel roulette set...