How Do You Solve A Problem Like... ModernTribe?

Lately, I've been finding myself singing the Sound of Music song, replacing Maria with ModernTribe.

For the nuns, Maria elicits the same mix of compellingness and utter frustration as ModernTribe does for me. My mind subconsciously melds the two and there I find myself: singing.

As the nuns sing, "She's is a darling. She's demon. She's a lamb." 

"She's a headache. She's an angel. She's a girl."

ModernTribe is my growing, small, exciting, gratifying, flailing, frustrating, thankless business.

After 5 years of struggling in a record-breaking bad economy, yet growing every year, ModernTribe is debt-free, self-sustaining, employing two part-time employees, and even paying me a little. There is no emergency here and there are myriad options for its future.

ModernTribe reaches:

• Jewish American Women ages 25-45
• 40% do not belong to a synagogue
• 200K unique visitors per year making 6500 unique purchases

However, ModernTribe does need to do something. ModernTribe is not yet in the right place, and it has not yet reached its potential.

I'm looking for partners to help us grow big or pivot.

If you get that product can strengthen identity and brands can catalyze community, join me to learn about ModernTribe and explore the options. 

Come learn about the details of our business and discuss options for growth or pivot.

New York City: Sunday, January 27th
New York City: Monday, February 4th
Atlanta: Sunday, February 10th

Please RSVP for time and place.

MODERNTRIBE'S CURRENT MISSION:

Through retail websites and new product development, ModernTribe is making Judaica compelling to the new generation, delighting and exciting those who are creating Jewish homes. ModernTribe is a for-profit company with social missions of (1) providing Jewish products that help people express and share their Jewish identity and (2) providing appealing, effective marketplaces for independent American & Israeli artists and designers.

An Open Letter to Joshua Venture: Doing Jewish Ritual is Being Jewish

I submitted ModernTribe to Joshua Venture this year. We made it through the first stage but got cut before the interviews.

There are likely many reasons why we are not a good fit for Joshua Venture. Looking at the recipients versus ModernTribe is like an easy game of "which one of these is not like the other?"

Joshua Venture gave me feedback on my application today and what direction ModernTribe should go in to make a social impact. I'm sharing this feedback and my response because I believe the it reflects a misunderstanding about Judaism, human behavior, psychology, Jewish identity, and what we do here -- big picture "do" -- at ModernTribe.

Here is the substantive part of the feedback from Joshua Venture. The emphasis is mine.

Innovative Jewish products have the potential to resonate with consumers in a new and exciting way, but their long-term effects can be difficult to measure. The educational component alluded to in your application was intriguing; however, readers were looking for more substantive demonstration of what this may look like or how it could contribute to Jewish identity-building. If the ultimate goal of selling contemporary Judaica is to achieve social impact, then we encourage you to further develop and optimize the educational piece of your venture.

And my reply (names removed)

Thank you!

I appreciate your feedback.

Just one counter point I'd like you to consider about the long term effects of making Judaica exciting, desirable, and fitting for a broader reach of people, that the effects of such are "difficult to measure," and that the educational piece is necessary to achieve social impact. I disagree.

An important component of Judaism is doing. So if a Jewish family lights shabbat candles, hangs a mezuzah, hosts a seder, does havdalah, lights the menorah -- they are being Jewish -- they are practicing Judaism. They are behaving Jewishly. Providing ritual items that people want, enjoy, display, and use is an end in itself. Just like providing a meal to satisfy hunger is an end in itself.

Are there other, farther reaching long-term effects one could measure (such as a stronger Jewish identity)? Of course! I'm a psychologist: if there is one thing we know is that behavior both affects and reflects beliefs. But, I argue, especially in Judaism where action is more important than beliefs, more people using Judaica = more people being Jewish = end in itself, period.

Just like one wouldn't say to a food bank-- yes, you gave out 4500 meals this year -- but what is the long-term effect of those meals? Are people really less hungry, more nutritionally healthy? Of course they are.

If more people are buying, enjoying, displaying, and using more Judaica, are they really more Jewish? Of course they are.

ModernTribe's ultimate goal of selling contemporary Judaica is to achieve social impact: and we are already achieving it.

Thank you again for the feedback. Even though I don't agree, it shows that I didn't do a good job of explaining the link between practicing Jewish rituals and being more Jewish.

I got an immediate reply with an explanation that food banks are amazing and necessary but it's a band-aid fix -- maybe what ModernTribe is doing, by inspiring more Judaica and Jewish themed "stuff" is an immediate fix but not systemic? Here is my reply:

If the systemic change desired is stronger Jewish identity then more people buying, enjoying, displaying, and using more Judaica, achieves this systemic change too.

What psychologist would debate otherwise? In fact, I bet "lighting shabbat candles" is a measure of Jewish Identity on many surveys. What a great operational definition of Jewish Identity!

Unlike food that is "consumable," and in a few hours later, one is hungry, the deliverable of ModernTribe is durable (yes, the object is durable, but I don't mean that): behavior affects beliefs in durable ways. Lighting shabbat candles "stays with you" -- in a psychologically understood way.

Maybe the real issue is that the Jewish Identity ModernTribe supports is in home (vs. community) and centered around ritual practice (vs. ethical)?

Community and ethics are important (and sexy!). But, I'd argue in home ritual practice is a necessary (but insufficient) part of Jewish Identity. I also argue it is more necessary (for Jewish Identity -- not in an absolute sense) than feeding the hungry, organic farming, meditating and art. I know that may make you wince. But please consider that it may be more necessary for Jewish identity: to continue being Jews, not just good people. Plus, this necessary part of Jewish identity will not be championed outside the Jewish community, ever: there will never be secular organizations exciting American Jews about Judaica. It is only something that Jews will do for Jews.

What do you think? Am I full of sh*t, on target, or meh?

Let My People Go Toilet Seat Cover on Jay Leno!

ModernTribe.com was mentioned on Jay Leno Show tonight and our site is clobbered.

Our site normally works. We are so sorry.

Anyhow, Jay misspoke, the Let My People Go Toilet Seat Cover is actually sold on our Funny Jewish Gifts sister site:

Pop Judaica

Go there now to buy the toilet seat cover.

Peace,

Jennie

PunkTorah Fridays at ModernTribe

This week's videos are an amazingly funny cartoon of Parshat Tetzaveh written and narrated by Patrick Aleph for G-dCast.com, a D'var Torah on Parshat Vayishlach (this week's Torah portion) and a video on PunkTorah's newest project Indie.Yeshiva.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Shabbat Shalom!

Parshat Tetzaveh For G-dCast.com (Hebrew Fashion Week!)

Parshat Vayishlach (Jacob Wrestles and Becomes Israel)


Indie.Yeshiva (Open Source, Free Jewish Education)

PunkTorah Fridays at ModernTribe

This week's video collection has to do with the rituals of kippah, reading the Siddur, and the Modeh Ani (prayer upon waking). Next week, we will have the D'var for both Parshat Toldot and Parshat Vayeitzei.

Modeh Ani


Kippah


Siddur

ModernTribe Best of the Jewish Web

ModernTribe Buys PopJudaica (My Urban Kvetch)

Antisemetic Stickers In Brooklyn (Jewcy)

Curried Sweet Potato Latkes (Chabad)

Israeli Postcard Exhibit on Homophobia (GLBTJews)

Who Is A Jew? British Court Rethinks Identity (NYTimes)

ModernTribe: Best of the Jewish Web

Every Wednesday, ModernTribe brings you the best of the Jewish Web.

Alicia Jo Rabins Writes Indie Rock Ballads About Biblical Bad Girls (Tablet)

Joshua Group Relaunches To Help Jewish Social Entrepreneurs (EJewishPhilanthropy)

New York Is My Israel: I've Made Aliyah To the Capital of the Diaspora (Jewcy)

Pumpkin Challah: The Perfect Fall Shabbat Recipe (MyJewishLearning)

PunkTorah Friday

This week features Parshat Lech Lecha, Patrick and Jennie at the ModernTribe office, and a home movie of Patrick in Monsey, NY eating at a kosher dairy restaurant (featuring blogger Eliyahu Enriquez and Can!!Can drummer and producer Joshua Lamar).

Shabbat Shalom and have a wonderful weekend!

Parshat Lech Lecha (In My Kitchen)

PunkTorah and Jennie at the Office

PunkTorah Takes On Monsey, NY

Three Funny, Adorable Videos on Matisyahu

As you've probably already heard, ModernTribe is hosting the Matisyahu/ModernTribe Sweepstakes this month, through November 30.

Because of our involvement with the sweepstakes, I've been kinda really getting into the Chassid, Reggae, Hip Hop, Beat Box, mega star. Here are three very entertaining videos. Enjoy.

Matisayhu Interviewing Matisyahu



Matisyahu on Isreal's Sesame Street (Thank you Shemspeed Records for the find)




An Interview with Matisyahu's Brother from Heeb magazine (also a partner in our sweepstakes btw)

Cool Jew New You Giveaway - For Rosh Hashanah

The Winner Is: Michele P., Philadelphia

"The mainstream New Year is often about resolutions and I no longer 'just resolve' to do anything. It sounds passive and gives me a feeling of a last ditch attempt, like I've let something go horridly wrong in the past. The shofar, and the Jewish New Year, is empowering, it is about opening one's eyes.

So, my wake up call is to be more aware every day. Be aware of my temple needs, as membership chair, be aware of the Jewish community and, the mainstream, to help all not just a group. To be aware of my role as a mother and wife. To be aware of my own needs and desires, to be the best person I can be. To network more to help raise others up to their aspirations. So, the shofar call is my awareness call, and it isn't even sounding yet, and I can see more clearly and hear it echo through me - I am honestly blessed."

Congratulations Michele!

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Rosh Hashanah begins the eve of Friday, September 18th, this year. The Jewish New Year is a time for contemplation: reflecting on the past year and planning for the new. The shofar (ram's horn) is blown, calling people to wake up from their moral sleep, think about their behavior, and become better people.

In what ways are you "casting off" and starting new this year?

This is our question for the Cool Jew New You Giveaway, happening in conjunction with the Cool Jew Artist Showcase on Sunday, September 13th at the JCC of Manhattan. Many of the contributors to the giveaway will be performing at the event. Learn more about the JCC event.

click pic to enlarge

click pic to enlarge

One lucky winner will receive the following gifts:

• Ladino chanteuse Sarah Aroeste's Puertas CD ($15)
• Stand-up comedian Yisrael Campbell's Circumcise Me DVD ($20)
• Eprhyme’s debut CD WAYWORDWONDERWILL ($15) and 7-inch vinyl single, Punklezmerap, on K Records as part of its International Pop Underground Series ($5)
• Jewcy.com’s “Table Topics: Spirit Box” discussion cards ($25)
• Author Lisa Alcalay Klug's book Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe ($13)
• Living Tree Community Foods’ organic Snugglespoon honey, raw almond butter and raw tahini ($47 total)
  
• Rachel and Matti’s CD sampler Your Kindness ($5)
• Jennie Rivlin Roberts' "No Limit Texas Dreidel" game from ModernTribe.com ($20)
• Jean Roth’s Rotem Gear What Would Maimonides Do? t-shirt ($24)
• Author Matthue Roth’s books, Never Mind the Goldbergs ($8) and Yom Kippur A Go-Go ($15)
• Musician/composer Elie Massias’ Brooklyn Days CD ($10)
• Singer/Songwriter Rav Shmuel's "Protocols" and "B'yameinu" music CDs ($18 each) and two t-shirts ($15 each)
  

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Comment to Enter:
"In what ways are you "casting off" and starting new this year?"

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Important Information:

• Please make sure your email is available to us, either through your Blogger profile, post or otherwise. If we can't reach you, you can't win.
• Check back here or sign up for our Newsletter (sign up box is on top right) to be notified of the winner on September 17.
• How we pick the winners -- We use a random number generator and if it matches (a) a real attempt at an answer (which all of them usually are) and (b) we can contact the person (we will go searching for your contact on your blog, Twitter, website), then that person is the winner. If either (a) or (b) isn't true, we generate another random number and start over.
• No purchase is required to enter. This contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada 18 years old and older. Void where prohibited. Your comments will be displayed without further approval or compensation.
  

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Meet the Innovators of the Cool Jew New You Giveaway

Name the "Jennie & Patrick Show"

Hey there. ModernTribe's new associate, Patrick Aleph of Can!!Can band and PunkTorah, and I are doing these quirky shopping-channelesque videos where we discuss items we sell on ModernTribe.com. We'd like some help coming up with a name for this "show" which we hope to do regularly.

If you haven't seen our "shows" the videos are below. Please comment to suggest names. Don't be mean, and, yes, the comments are moderated, so inappropriate comments may not make it live (unless they are really funny).

Thanks so much!







You can buy these items on ModernTribe.com

• Mix Tape USB Stick
• Doodlebook Frame
• Fonti Frame (Shnukey)
• Envirosax Bags
• Jewcy Totes

Cool Jew Papa's Day Giveaway

June, 21, 2009 Happy Father's Day!

Congratulations to Randie K. and her husband Larry of Portland, OR for winning the Cool Jew Papa's Day Giveaway!

Once again, we are really touched by the thoughtful answers to our question about what makes your special man a cool Jew. Each entrant get's a $10 gift code for ModernTribe.com. I have tried to contact each of you individually. If you haven't heard from me, please email me for your code: Jennie@ModernTribe.com.

randiedoula said...

The reason my husband is the coolest Jew is that he wasn't a Jew when we met. In fact, I am not sure that my favorite Oregonian knew any Jews before we met! But I can tell you, after 7 years of marriage and two beautiful Jewish daughters, never was there a finer husband and father. He goes to services because he wants to, not because I tell him to. He's sad it's the summer because Mishpicha Minyan is over until the fall. He reminds me to light candles. He spent hours with me, pouring over name books to pick out the perfect Hebrew names for our children. He may not be Jewish by birth but his spirit sure is.

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Seven Mensches and two Mamalahs have contributed over $240 worth of gifts to giveaway to one lucky guy. Comment on this post and answer this question:

"What makes your dad, brother, cousin, friend or husband a cool Jew?"

A winner will be chosen from the answers and announced on Father's Day, Sunday, June 21.

Cool Jew Papa's Day Giveaway
(click on image for a larger view)

The Cool Jew Papa's Day Gift Box contains:

* Author Sam Apple's book American Parent: My Strange and Surprising Adventures in Modern Babyland

* Author Ron Arons' Jews of Sing Sing book and t-shirt

* Stand-up comedian Yisrael Campbell's "Circumcise Me" DVD

* Comedy writer Seth Front's set of four Jewish Zodiac placemats

* Author Lisa Alcalay Klug's book Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe

* Author Matthue Roth’s novels, Never Mind the Goldbergsand Losers

* Entrepreneur Jennie Rivlin Roberts' ModernTribe.com products "Can!!Can" CD and Punk Torah t-shirt and "No Limit Texas Dreidel" Game

* Artist Ben Schachter's "Treif" stickers

* Singer/Songwriter Rav Shmuel's "Protocols" and "B'yameinu" music CDs and two t-shirts

Comment below to enter!

(Please make sure your email is available through your Blogger profile. If you are commenting anonymously, you must email us with your comment so that we know how to contact you if you win! contact@moderntribe.com)

Check back here or sign up for our Newsletter to be notified of the winner on June 21! (No purchase is required to enter. This contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.)

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!

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!

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.

New Texas Dreidel Shirts are Here!

This weekend I had the pleasure of a visit from Steve Adler from Threaded Heritage. Steve is the talented graphic artist behind the Los Angeles based Threaded Heritage shirts. We had asked Steve to take our logo to the next level and create our new No Limit Texas Dreidel t-shirts. The shirts turned out great! They are available on MT now and will hopefully be available in stores near you soon.

While Steve was visiting we got goofy with our cameras and snapped some pictures with our new shirts. He brought along his beautiful friend Maria who modeled some shirts for us too. Below Maria is wearing the Threaded Heritage Ahava t-shirt. Where are they? They are standing in our very own ModernTribe warehouse!


Thanks for visiting!

Have We Arrived?

Organic Google Search Finds Moderntribe.com. Sort of.

Getting ones new website to show up under a general word search is very difficult. So I was thrilled today when I googled for Hanukkah.

Search for "Hanukkah" or "Menorah" on google today and find a picture of me and my daughter -- above "the fold" no less. The irony of it is that although I'm quoted in the accompanying article...

Jennie Rivlin Roberts noticed many young Jews acquiring multiple menorahs on their own, to suit their more modern tastes, and started an online company, ModernTribe.com, selling "hip Judaica" to serve them.

She says the nadir of menorah design was in the 1980s, when brassy models were popular.

"I have a really ugly brass menorah from my family," she said. "I take it out every year and light it, but it's not at all my aesthetic taste."

..the picture is of me and my daughter with my "ugly menorah"!