Cooperation with the Leadel network
The Asper Institute for New Media Diplomacy at the Sammy Ofer School of Communications at IDC Herzliya created a unique cooperation with Leadel in 2010. Leadel's Jewish media hub already attracts over 1200 visitors online a day and continues to produce top-quality digital media for thirsty intellectuals' minds. Needless to say online media content is not Leadel's only strong suit. It produces a myriad of programming rooted in Jewish heritage and Jewish Identity.
Leadel was launched on September 2008 and was envisioned as a media hub, showcasing the rich variety of contemporary Jewish voices and expressions. It focuses on the state of Jewish identity and activity in the 21st century using digital media to both reflect upon and inspire innovation and creativity. Leadel.NET was initiated by the European Jewish Congress and is funded by the European Jewish Fund.
While Leadel uses new and different approaches in efforts to engage viewers in stimulating media, it already workins with various traditional news providers such as Ynetnews, Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post in Israel as well as Shalom Toronto, Shalomlife.com, The Jewish Week, and The Jewish Chronicle abroad.
For the past year, Leadel worked very closely with the highly talented staff and students of the Sammy Ofer School of Communications at IDC Herzliya. Our two main projects with Leadel are our popular webisode- the Leadel 7 virtual studio show and Radio Podcast- Mensch.
Specifically, the virtual studio show captivated the audience of thousands throughout its reign on the air and highlighted the most stimulating and popular Jewish content on the web to date. From Hollywood movie trailers to live studio interviews with leading Jewish role models, this show had it all. In addition, a fact from behind the scenes, the cast and crew of the virtual studio show was comprised primarily of students whose native lands' spanned across 11 countries worldwide.
Each episode of the virtual studio show is comprised of 7 items in 7 different topics:
7 ITEMS
1. A live in-studio interview
2. An originally shot and produced IDC item
3. A Leadel item
4-7. Four web items
7 TOPICS
1. Business & Technology
2. Environment & Science
3. Society & Politics
4. Sports & Travel
5. Philosophy & Religion
6. Lifestyle & Culture
7. Arts & Entertainment
The range of topics covered by the different items produced by the team is staggering. Here are most of the interesting, thought-provoking and far going items:
Episode 1
1. Culture: Yuri Forman - NABF Super Welterweight Champ
2. News: Genocide Report
3. Interview: Mike Darnell
4. Politics: S. African War Crimes
5. Technology: Robo-Schtupp
6. Leadel Package: Kutiman!
7. Entertainment: Andy Sandberg --> "I'm on a Boat"
Episode 2
1. Entertainment: Twitterleh - Twitter for Jewish Mothers!
2. Culture: Andrew Shapiro, and his classical twist to McDonalds
3. Politics: Controvertial Fashion Shoot @ HEEB Magazine
4. Technology: A Hovercraft? Behold, X-Hawk's Hover Car!
5. Guest Interview: Jeremy Hulsh of Oleh Records
6. IDC Package: Media Innovation Lab with Oren Zuckerman
7. Leadel: Swedish Comedians - Jewish Stand-up Comedy
Episode 3
1. Culture: SDAI is AIDS backwards - Song gone viral
2. Entertainment: Holiday Gift Ideas!?
3. Technology: Segways on TED
4. Politics: Smearing Jews on British TV
5. IDC Package: Dr. Anat Berko - Terrorism Expert
6. LIVE interview: Maya Orr
7. Leadel: Have you seen Jewdyssee???
Episode 4
1. Entertainment: Vampires in Jewish Folklore?
2. Culture: Old Jews telling jokes Dot Com
3. Politics: International Anger at Swiss Mosque Minaret Ban
4. Technology: The Gift of Walking
5. IDC Package: Bruno Stevens - Photojournalist
6. LIVE interview: Haviv Rettig Gur - Expert on Jewish Identity
7. Leadel Piece: Dana Ruttenberg - Feature on Israeli Choreographer
Episode 5
1. Politics: Ben Bernanke - TIME Magazine's Person of the Year
2. Technology: Twittering Synagogues
3. Entertainment: TMZ: Eli Roth on Howard Stern - "Jew or Not a Jew?"
4. Live Interview: Elaine Slavin - Sex Therapist
5. IDC Package: Micha Bar Am - Israeli Photojournalist
6. Leadel.NET: Rocket Scientist - Avi Schnurr talks missiles and politics
7. Culture: @ BBC - Fish n' Chips have Jewish Origin
Closing: Matisyahu performs "One Day" on David Letterman
Episode 6
1. Sports: With Mentions - RedSox First Baseman - Kevin Youkilis
2. Entertainment: Clips "Tzayir" - Annual Video Contest in Memory of Ori Sunin
3. Politics: President Carter's Al Het ; Carter's Apology on Fox
4. Live Guest(s): via Skype - Jewish Dating, what!?
5. Leadel.NET: Attends WUJS Congress 2009
6. IDC Package: Marko Carmel - Movie Director
7. Technology: For all you Pet Lovers - check out the Pet Care Robot!!
Episode 7
1. Culture: Article on Alice Shiller - A Kosher Striptease?
2. Technology: Viagra stand aside! Shock Therapy Comeback?
3. Politics: "The Making Of A Martyr"
4. Live Interview: Dr. Tal Pavel - The Metaverse in the Islamic World
5. The Tribe: Barbie's Creator - Jewish
6. Leadel.NET: Manuela Zoninsein - Leading Journalist on China
7. IDC Package: Roei Jinji Sadan - World Cyclist
Closing: Music Video: Amiram Inc "I Guess I Must Be Wrong"
Episode 8
1. Sports: Or is it Magic? Hezi Dayan - Israeli breaks World Record
2. Culture: Jewish Art in Three Parts - DA VINCI ; CHAGALL ; PICASSO
3. Live Interview: From our Virtual Studio - Irit Stark - Flamenco Dancer - Hott!
4. Politics: Bosnia Jew Discrimination Suit
5. Leadel Piece: Amir Wald - Winner of Start-up Website Competition '09
6. IDC Package: Miriam Garmaise - Shomera for a Better Environment
7. Entertainment: Family Guy Presents - The "Family Goy"
Episode 9
1. Technology: Greatest Technological Inventions of 2009
2. IDC Package: Alana Newhouse, Editor in Chief of Tablet Magazine 3. Live Interview: Yoni Cohen, IDOV
4. Culture: Superficial Dating Sites
5. Leadel Piece: Gillian Laub - Photograph
6. Politics: Muslims rally on Facebook against anti-Semitism and YouTube Message to Palis
7. Politics/Entertainment: Beyonce performs for terrorist on New Years Eve
Closing: More BEYONCE, Because we love her even though she performs for well-known terrorist, Hannibal Gadaffi
Episode 10
1. Politics: Issue of Iranian Transsexuals
2. Technology: Google Knows All?
3. Package: Galia Albin - Entrepreuner, Pres Tel Aviv Women's Basketball Team
4. Leadel.NET: Gary Lucas - eading guitarist!
5. Sports: Yoga, Spirituality and Idol Worship
6. TED: Environment / Culture - TED Talks Foods & Health
7. Live Interview: Bambi Sheleg - Editor of Eretz Acheret
Episode 11
1. Politics: Palestinians Do 'Avatar'
2. TED: What Makes Us Happy? Psychologist Dan Gilbert tries to figure out the secrets
3. Entertainment: Andrea goes down the slopes
4. "Circumcise Me": Yisrael Campbell's comedy
5. Science: Israeli researchers pursue a possible genetic link between the tribe and the Taliban - watch out, Bin Laden!
6. Society: Author of "Marry Him" Lori Gottlieb thinks you should settle down
7. Live Interview: David Saranga, Diplomat and social media expert
Episode 12
1. Politics: Ethan Bronner is in the hot seat
2. Culture: Will the UK allow gay marriage?
3. Entertainment: "The Office" comes to Israel
4. leadel item: Interview w/ Jean-Pierre Barda
5. More culture: Controversy over a saucy Apple app
6. More politics: Are Spanish schoolchildren closet anti-Semites?
7. Live Interview: Matan Harel-Fisch - Accomplished filmmaker is with us at the studio
Episode 13
1. Live guest: Maya Elhala! Maya is here to talk about the latest at TED
2. Politics: Israel Apartheid Week
3. Feature: Ruby Star - Shirley Itzik is not your typical jeweler
4. Society: Jewish pornographers?
5. Culture: Israel's new hasbara campaign
6. Entertainment: Chimp on a Segway!
7. More entertainment: "Yes We Can" has become viral
Episode 14
1. Entertainment: "Guitar Hero"
2.Live Guest: Tamir Einy
3. Culture: Kurt Schneider
4. Science: Akhenaten undergoes involuntary DNA test
5. Religion: Are we out of Egypt yet?
6. The debate continued
7. "Jews That Do": The Winners Announced
Best of
1. Twilight: New Moon - Full Trailer
2. Interview: David Abitbol, Founder of http://www.jewlicious.com
3. Secret Unveiled - SDIA Music Video
4. Pop-Band Jewdyssee
5. X-Hawk, Hover Car (that looks like a Toilet seat?)
6. Documentary: The Making of a Martyr
7. Closing: The Shuk Band, live studio performance -- "Shalom Aleichem"
About the project leaders:
Leah B. Stern is a CNN world reporter, IBA - TV - Channel 1 (Israeli English News) correspondent and producer at Falafel TV which is a full service production company based in the Middle East. The company specializes in production of world class documentary and news features for HD broadcast or web delivery. As well as providing Israel, West Bank, and Gaza Fixer Services for Journalists and Documentary Filmmakers.
Jonathan Gal is an experienced Israeli TV and Radio presenter, as well as a music and culture journalist.