For Immediate Release

Contact: Jason Edelstein, 510-239-1102

New “DIY Jewish Network” Helps People Anywhere in the World Find and Create Jewish Experiences

Led by Haggadot.com in partnership with OneTable, the platform brings to a national scale new innovations and technology with support from JCRIF Reset Grant

December 15, 2021  – An ambitious new platform will curate the vast array of online Jewish engagement opportunities and provide user-friendly, customizable toolkits so that Jewish experiences are findable and accessible to anyone, anywhere. Led by Haggadot.com in strategic partnership with OneTable, the DIY Jewish Network will leverage the expertise and technological know-how of both organizations on a national scale to reach audiences and communities. The platform is supported with a Reset Grant from the Jewish Community Response and Impact Fund (JCRIF). 

“The innovations in the last 20 months affirmed the power of connections and just how deeply people want personally meaningful Jewish experiences,” says Aliza Kline, President and CEO of OneTable, the national nonprofit whose tech platform helps people create and share powerful Shabbat gatherings. “Collaborating with Haggadot.com on the DIY Jewish Network unlocks vast possibilities to help more people both find what they want and customize toolkits and rituals that are right for them and their communities.”

The DIY Jewish Network will support people in three key ways:

• A central database will be a wayfinder, curator, and promoter of the most exciting, engaging partner content throughout the Network. This will include customizable DIY toolkits for Jewish rituals and other activities.

• A series of topic sites managed by organizational partners with expertise in that area of Jewish life will offer curated and developed content that best meets the needs of their audiences. 

• A series of local sites will provide this technology  for websites of small communities such as synagogues, camps, JCCs, and Hillels, so clergy and educators can curate content for their local members in a more intimate setting.

In addition to the database and customizable toolkits, the topic sites and local sites will also feature OneTable’s community building platform for users to create gatherings.

“People want Jewish experiences that they envision, that speak to their needs and interests—and we can deliver that to more people through the DIY Jewish Network,” adds Eileen Levinson, Founder and Executive Director of Haggadot.com. “This is an exciting partnership with OneTable that will build a unique constellation of interconnected websites reflecting the very best offerings of Jewish life.”

Research shows that when Jewish offerings are accessible, relational, and varied, people are more open to trying new ways of engaging. Both OneTable and Haggadot.com experienced significant increases in users during the pandemic, with people eager for holiday rituals, meditation, cooking experiences, and so much more.

“Jewish life needs to be nimble to thrive in a range of settings, from Zoom calls to living rooms, to public parks, to congregations, community centers, and elsewhere,” adds Kline. “Wherever people are, and however they want to experience it, we can empower them to create Jewish experiences for themselves.”

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ABOUT HAGGADOT.COM

About Haggadot.com

Haggadot.com is a project of Custom & Craft, a nonprofit design lab using technology, art and new media to imagine new formats for engaging with ancient traditions. Founded in 2011, our signature platforms Haggadot.com, HighHolidays@Home.com and Customandcraft.org make home-based Jewish ritual accessible, meaningful, and diverse – giving individuals of all faith backgrounds the tools to create for themselves and to discover the other creators in their community. 

About OneTable: OneTable empowers people who don’t yet have a consistent Shabbat dinner practice to build one that feels authentic, sustainable, and valuable. OneTable is a national nonprofit funded to support people (21-39ish) looking to find and share this powerful experience. We envision a whole generation of slowing down, joining together, unplugging from the week, creating intention in their lives, and building meaningful communities. onetable.org