Uncategorized
Jewish Influencer Awards
0I’m honored to have been named one of the Top Ten Jewish Influencers by the National Jewish Outreach Program.
Finalists were selected by an expert panel of judges and evaluated based on creative and strategic use of social media to positively impact the Jewish community. The achievement was also covered in the Huffington Post.
I’m honored to share company with the other members of the top ten, all of whom are prominent in the Jewish social media world, and to be recognized for the value I try to bring into the world through social media.
Thanks to everyone at NJOP and Jewish Tweets who had a hand in this decision – here’s to us all – top ten and beyond – using our online and offline influence to bring value, comfort, intellectual stimulation, laughter, joy and unity to people everywhere. May it always be our privilege.
“Esther’s in Vegas” – No Last Name Required
0I just now returned from the TribeFest conference, a gathering of youngish Jews in Vegas. There are lots of ideas running round the old noggin, but while they race, I wanted to share this article in the NY Jewish Week’s Jewish Techs blog, which focuses on my social media updates as a method in staying updated on conferences, even if you can’t be there yourself in person.
Truly, it was an honor to be the center of this piece, and to have my efforts to share with people outside the room acknowledged – and to be among those amazing people in entertainment whose names are simply a single name. Basically, this is something that some of us are achieving by sticking to a brand on Twitter, and becoming known by a handle, which is often just a first name. In my case, it’s EstherK. But I guess in the Jewish world, most people know me as Esther.
The hashtag from this conference, which earned me this apparent Twitter equivalent to being named prom queen, is #tribefest. Check out the tweets from the past few days there and via the @tribefest account, handled by JFNA (@jfederations).
“Finding Your Voice Online” – from Darim Online’s NNJ BootCamp
0Social Media Manifesto Takes Off on Twitter
0At this point, social media isn’t new. Some people have asked why I would even write something like this, which is so intuitive to people who live their lives in the www’s of the internet. And that itself is the answer: although the use of social media tools is growing in the world at large, not everyone lives their lives via Facebook, blogs or Twitter. And it’s not that everyone should always be on social media. But I do believe that social media can help, especially at traditionally underfunded Jewish organizations – a few hours of training, and the social media can be managed in house, for free.
Jewish nonprofits are beginning to acknowledge the need, but still seem skittish. And that’s why I took to my keyboard – as someone with extensive experience in the Jewish non-profit world, I take pride in and give honor to the fact that I wouldn’t be where I am today without social media.
“Manifesto: Social Media and Jewish Organizations” has been retweeted several times by Jewish organizations and educators, shared with fellowship members and technology staffs. I’ve got meetings set up in New York to talk with potential clients about social media outreach. And I’ve been asked to lead a few groups at the upcoming Darim Online Northern New Jersey Social Media Boot Camp. Plus, the post is beginning to be cross-linked in other locations and cited as inspiration for kicking social media conversation into high gear (see the Boulder Jewish News).
It’s really gratifying to see a conversation accelerate, perhaps because it’s about time, and perhaps because of something you wrote. Thanks to all who shared it, retweeted it, emailed it, circulated it, or otherwise supported its sentiments. Go Team Social Media!
April and May: Catching Up with Woody, Kelly and Nellie
0What’s kept me so busy in April and May that there’s been no time to update this site? In addition to churning out the pieces for Idol Chatter and elsewhere, I’ve been working with the team to launch the ROI Summit this summer in Tel Aviv, and am leaving California for New York, New Jersey and Israel imminently to prepare. (You can follow all the Jewish innovator action at ROICommunity.org and on Twitter at @ROICommunity.) I’ve also been increasing my experience as a social media consultant, working with a few clients in arts and Jewish leadership to improve their online presence, including activity on Twitter.
As for the articles:
May
American Apparel Settles With Woody Allen Over Billboard
She’s Baaack: Sarah Palin Gets a Book Deal
Winslet Sues, Clarkson Takes a Body Image Beating
April
‘Weeds’ Creator, ‘Tara’ Producer, and the Hebrew Mamita Take on Images of Jewish Women in Media
10 Ways Passover is Like ‘Lost’
Celebs Use Reverse Psychology as Fundraising Technique
You also may have missed this article about a new ridesharing site that’s trying to save the earth and help out people who need a ride: “Going My Way?” (MNN.com)
Idol Chattering for February: Tarantino, Little House on the Prairie and Jedi Fitness!
0One of the reasons I love writing at Idol Chatter is because I get to write about lots of pop culturey goodness: from Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming Nazi splatterfest, “Inglourious Basterds,” to the “Little House on the Prairie” musical starring (yes!) Melissa Gilbert as Ma Ingalls, and even to the Star Wars workout that will turn Jabba the Hutt into a lean Jedi.
West Coast Esther
0West Coast Esther is now back on the West Coast for the foreseeable future, becoming more involved in her California life and staying on top of her work for clients such as ROI and Beliefnet, and branching out to become involved in some initiatives on the local level. Hopefully, I’ll have more to share about that stuff later. But for now, here’s some recent writing you may have missed over at Beliefnet:
George Clooney Opens a Whinery for Christmas
New Year’s Resolutions for Celebrities
Calendar Boys: Mormon Hunks and Nice Jewish Guys Strut Their Stuff
Lights and Songs in the Key of Hanukkah
You can always check MyUrbanKvetch.com for additional writing on popular culture, and lots of other things, including encounters with Emmy-Award-winning writers and commentary on contemporary Jewish life. And for an inside look at some of the people who make ROI Community such an innovative group, check out ROI120.com.
Bicoastal Esther: LA in November, NYC in December…book now!
0I’ve moved to LA for a new adventure, but will be visiting NYC regularly. Next scheduled visit is for participation in a panel on December 11th. So while I’m making the trip, if you’re interested in booking me for a December gig, be in touch! (jdatersanonymous at gmail)
Previously, on Idol Chatter
0Everyone’s favorite temp, Ryan, talks with indie writer-director Quentin Tarantino about becoming a Jewish partisan for “Inglorious Bastards”…meanwhile, the federal investigators looking into the circumstances of Heath Ledger’s death were talking with an immunity-seeking Mary-Kate Olsen about her potentially testifying, and then decided to close the books on the case….Christina Applegate is fighting cancer, and next weekend, Madge and Guy are justifying their love.
Just another week in Idol Chatter. Click on the links and enjoy the marginally-spiritually-related dysfunction of our celebrities. (And send good thoughts to Christina, if you’re so inclined.)
Esther’s Tech Sessions at CAJE
1Just back from Israel, and right before I go back (don’t ask, it’s a lot of flying, and explanation will come soon enough!), I’ll be at the CAJE conference in Burlington, VT, teaching basic tech skills to educators…I’m in the same room all three sessions, so I should be easy to find.
If I’m not there, I’ll be wandering around the conference, attending other sessions, and presiding over the Bloggers Cafe (Monday and Wednesday from 4:15-5:30, in Votey 206), where novice and seasoned bloggers will have the chance to put what they’ve learned into practice. Come on by!
8/11/2008 Monday 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM
People of the Blog I: The Basics of Jewish Blogging
Votey 205
8/11/2008 Monday 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM
What a Shayne Facebook: Social Media and Next Generation Jews
Votey 205
8/12/2008 Tuesday 10:15 am – 11:30 am
People of the Blog II: Jewish Blogging Strategy
Votey 2005