Bring Cool Jewie-ness From the West to Budapest

Dear Friends,

At this point, you've probably heard about our campaign to bring Cool Jew to Limmud Hungary. It's the first time a survey of Jewish pop culture in the west will hit Budapest -- and any former communist country!

We've raised $387 in just a few days toward our $1,000 goal. Now, we only have four days left to earn a 5% bonus from IndieGoGo if we "fill the mug" all the way up! Donations will cover one coach ticket to Budapest to bring Cool Jew's poignant, fun and inspiring message of Jewish affiliation to Limmud Hungary.

Limmud is strictly volunteer. I'm very happy to donate my presentation. With slides, music, personal anecdotes, and stories of my father's survival of Buchenwald and his impact on my Jewish identity, there's nothing else quite like it! I'll also lead other sessions, including a panel discussion on how to use public programs like these to make a difference. After presenting all across the U.S., Europe and Canada, I have been told again and again that this work leaves audiences with a lasting impression of strength and pride in being Jewish -- and that has the power to open the door to so much more along the path of learning and living and loving to be a part of our Tribe.

It's a modest ask: if just 125 people would give just $5, or of course, a larger donation or a slew of mileage points, we'd meet the goal in a jiffy. So if you can "spare a latte" and know of anyone else who might be interested in supporting the cause, please click below and share the love by help to spread the word even further.

http://www.tinyurl.com/lattecampaign

This just in: we are now featured on the IndieGoGo home page under "Final Countdown"

Please take a minute to help make a difference.

Thank you so so much for your assistance in making this a reality.

Wishing you a Shana Tova U'metukah -- a good, sweet and blessed New Year!

Lisa and the FOLs

The Latte Campaign!

click to vote!

Save A Latte & Give Hungarian Jews A Laugh!

FOL! "Friends of Lisa" have launched this fabulous campaign!

Have you heard of Indie GoGo or the concept of collective fundraising? With a few clicks, folks can contribute a very small amount of money, say the cost of a latte, to accomplish a much larger goal, say sending a Cool Jew to Hungary. Wanna take part? We've got 10 days to make it happen!

Here's the story... Limmud Hungary has invited me to present at their annual conference in October. It’s an exciting opportunity: my presentations will mark the first survey of Jewish pop culture from the West not only in Budapest, but in a former communist country! Typically, at Limmud's non-profit festivals all around the world, invited presenters volunteer their time but are provided with travel expenses. In this case, the budget isn’t quite there. Enter... The Latte Campaign!

FOL! "Friends of Lisa" have joined together to support my presenting not only in Hungary, where my message can really make a difference in the way Jews experience and express their identity, but also in Israel, where I've been invited again to share the love. I'm applying for grants for my new non-profit, TolerantNation.org, to continue with all kinds of awesome programming and we’re still hopeful. But for now, even a small contribution of a few dollars will help send Cool Jew to Budapest!

This important work around Jewish identity matters. It matters in Hungary. It matters in Israel. It matters in a world where so many people don’t yet know the beauty, joy and fun of being informed, proud and celebratory about Jew you are. In other words, it matters everywhere that bright light called Cool Jew shines.

So come check out the perks! Depending on the amount of your donation, your contribution might land your name in my new book, currently under contract and slated for 2012, or score a personalized autographed copy of Cool Jew shipped to anyone on your gift list, or a thank you on my website, or a Facebook friendship…well, heck, that’s free, but a perk’s a perk!

Yes, times are tough but please spread this message far and wide and give whatever you can: a few dollars -- the price of a latte -- or as much as you like. Of course, those Jewish favorites, multiples of $18, "chai/life," are joyfully accepted and abundantly appreciated. Visit the site by clicking here and you'll see we're already well on our way!

If you have any questions, have a plethora of frequent flier miles to toss toward the cause, know another magic trick or just want to cheer us on, please emailcampaignklug@gmail.com.

Please visit THE LATTE CAMPAIGN to donate now!

With smiles, many thanks and, as always, a l'chaim in your punim!

Lisa & the Fabulous FOLS

Anja Waleson, Jewish Salons Amsterdam
Rachel Bookstein, JConnect LA & Jewlicious Festivals
Marcus Freed, Bibliyoga.com
Naomi Less, Jewish Chicks Rock
Jennie Rivlin Roberts, PopJudaica.com & ModernTribe.com
Susan Silverman, G.A.R.D.E.N., Inc.
Doni Zasloff Thomas, The Mama Doni Band

Start your own your IndieGoGo campaign by clicking here!

Cafe Komen

The Cool World Tour Returns

If you've been following my posts on Twitter & Facebook, then you know Cool Jew has been showing up lately all around the world. It's been one amazing race!

This long list of fantastic events, aka the The Cool Jew World Tour, began with the Annual Carlebach Retreat over Thanksgiving weekend. From there, it was off to Chanukah in the Holy Land and books talks at the Technion in Haifa and the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem. In late December, it was off to Limmud UK, with a whopping eight sessions on Cool Jew, Tikkun Olam, the Heebster Jewke Box and more. January took me to beautiful Paris, then back to the states for Schmooze: The IJPA Jewish Culture Conference and Limmud New York. February ushered in Limmud LA and Jewlicious Festival 6.0 and March served up Toledo for a few private talks, New York City and Limmud Atlanta.

And now, the Cool Jew World Tour 2.0 is back in full force, with stops in Budapest * Jerusalem * Tel Aviv * Berlin * Amsterdam, as well as an artist's residency in Jerusalem while I work on my next book. Stay tuned for updates!

I'm writing this note from Israel, and I'll be here through May 11, when I depart for Limmud Berlin and Limmud Netherlands. I'm grateful for every opportunity and really enjoying bringing my message about celebrating Jewish culture with love, pride and a reverent irreverence to enthusiastic communities around the world. Be sure to say hello if you're in these parts and check out Twitter & Facebook for the latest posts as I continue this adventure around the world... The only thing missing is a hot air balloon!

With Passover approaching, I want to wish you a wonderful holiday, filled with joyous liberation

as Mama Doni, PopJudaica, Modern Tribe and I join together to announce

Do you have unique traditions for your seder?

Are you doing something different this year?

Share your thoughts to enter to win!

One lucky winner will receive the following gifts:

Mama Doni's t-shirt and music CD for kids and parents: I Love Herring (www.MamaDoni.com)

Matzah Madness gifts from PopJudaica.com: Matzah Sweeper & Giant Inflatable Matzah Ball

ModernTribe's "No Limit Texas Dreidel" game -- Dreidel isn't just for Hanukkah anymore!

Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe (www.cooljewbook.com)

TWITTER BONUS ROUND:

Receive an extra entry for every Tweet! Use http://tinyurl.com/fourcups + @ModernTribe_Jew. Your entry also earns you a 10% discount at PopJudaica and ModernTribe.

Winner will be notified Thursday, April 1st!

Remember, Cool Jew makes a great Afikomen and Passover host gift. Chag kasher v'sameach!

Now booking!

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/66uljk
Twitter.com/lisaklug
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/6hltzb
QTV: http://tinyurl.com/6zu73r
Red Room: http://tinyurl.com/6cj3wu
JewTube: http://tinyurl.com/6xny9v

The Ten Days of Awesomeness

If you've been following us on Twitter or Facebook, then you know Cool Jew has been showing up lately all around the world. From the Technion in Haifa to the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem, to a whopping eight sessions at Limmud UK, and then back to the states for Schmooze: The IJPA Jewish Culture Conference, Limmud New York and more...

What more you ask? You may have heard of the Ten Days of Awe -- the days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. Well, l'havdil, with a profound departure from that time of spiritual introspection, we're now in the Ten Days of Awesomeness. You know those sunny, yummy, playful days between one awesome festival and another: Limmud LA, which we rocked last weekend, and Jewlicious 6.0, which we'll rock starting tomorrow in Long Beach. If you're nearby, come join the fun! Read all about it and grab last-minute tickets to the fest or the Saturday night concert, jam-packed with awesomeness, at www.jewliciousfestival.com.

Naturally, the miracles and wonders don't stop there! The Ten Days of Awesomeness fall in Adar, the Hebrew month of merrymaking, making this the perfect time to announce the Mamalah's Purim Giveaway. We know this little shindig may come as a surprise, so we're spelling it all out here!

The Mamalah's Purim Giveaway

In the Purim Megillah, Esther hides her Jewishness from the King. Even the name Esther means hidden. G-d is hidden in the Purim story. Sometimes your truest self is hidden, too.

But on Purim, “hiding” in costume gives you the freedom to let-it-all-hang-out and celebrate sometimes hidden aspects of who you are! What part of you do you want to party-up on Purim?

Visit PopJudaica.com and tell us your Jewish doppleganger to enter to win the Mamalah’s Purim Giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive the following gifts:

• Author Lisa Alcalay Klug’s book Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe
• ModernTribe’s “No Limit Texas Dreidel” game.
• Mama Doni’s music CD for kids and parents: I Love Purim. (www.MamaDoni.com

Who is your Jewish doppelganger? Which Jewish celebrity, historic figure, or bible character is your inspiration, your alter ego, your evil twin? Share your thoughts to enter to win! Click here to enter the Mamalah’s Purim Giveaway

TWITTER BONUS ROUND: Receive an extra entry for every Tweet! Use hashtag #mamalah

The lucky winner will be notified Friday, February 26th.

The fun never stops... Next up: Cool Jew Spring Travels. We'll be in Toledo, Ohio March 4, New York City March 5 - 13, Limmud Atlanta + SE March 14 and Limmud Berlin May 13 - 16.

Now booking!

Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe, a National Jewish Book Award Finalist
CoolJewBook.com
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/66uljk
Twitter.com/lisaklug
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/6hltzb
QTV: http://tinyurl.com/6zu73r
Red Room: http://tinyurl.com/6cj3wu
JewTube: http://tinyurl.com/6xny9v