The Delicious Connection Between Judaism and Technology
Becca Stern | 07/07/2010
Hello! My name is Becca Stern and I’m the newest addition to the JPS Interactive team. As the JPSI Summer Intern, I’ll be writing and contributing to the JPS Interactive blog and the Tagged Tanakh all summer, and I could not be more excited!
A little about myself: I’m a rising junior at the University of Pittsburgh where I’m studying English Literature and Children’s Literature. I’m a native of Philadelphia (go Phils!) and I love to eat and travel—especially at the same time.
One of my first assignments at JPS was to sort through JPS Interactive’s bookmarks. Using a web tool called Delicious, JPS staff have tagged and gathered interesting tidbits of information found online that relate to Judaism and technology. After hours of exploring three years’ worth of links (which I guess are kind of like digital bread crumbs), I started to conceptualize the path JPS Interactive and the Tagged Tanakh are forging.
If you would like to explore the links that JPSI has gathered you can jump to them quickly on the right hand side of this blog thanks to the Delicious widget we’re using. The links range from silly to serious, but they all share one common idea: Judaism and technology are not an oxymoron.
Personally, my favorite link not only connects Judaism to technology, but it adds humor to the mix. I like it because it shows how elements of Judaism can be appropriated and applied to modern society. Try not to laugh too hard…
Another interesting link lets you literally jump into the Bible—without moving away from your iPhone and Gchat. This virtual map tracks all of your favorite characters and their journeys, as told by the Tanakh. This could be a great way to enhance your understanding of the weekly Torah portion.
To sum it up, all of these Jewish-related websites are important because they make Judaism an accessible and relevant part of society.
Stay tuned throughout the summer as I continue to connect Judaism and technology!
