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What I’ve Been Up To Lately
- Remember kids, Twitter Torah experiment at 2:30PM EST: Collaborative discussion on Parshat Balak. Get in on it at #balak. 20 hrs ago
- RT @spagnoloacht Video of my Creative Commons Salon presentation on the Jewish Digital Narratives platform http://blip.tv/file/2305108/ 23 hrs ago
- Yes Men pull out of Jerusalem Film Fest http://su.pr/1uJUsU 1 day ago
- More updates...
Brand new day
I hold these truths to be self-evident:
- Blogging is a confrontational medium that brings out the absolute worst in people.
- Sometimes I should just know better than to open up a mouth.
- That’s because there are actually people out there eager to destroy my personal and professional relationships and who are counting on me to provide them with the ammunition to do so.
- Boy, do I ever give them the ammunition.
- My efforts are not best expended scrapping in the schoolyard.
- I have had enough of arch-nemeses and emotional insecurity.
- It’s time for me to move on.
After roughly five years (three of which were spent in Israel) and 2,740 blog entries, next week will be my last as publisher of Jewschool.com.
I have passed on the reins to the site’s editorial board, and am currently in the process of withdrawing fully from Jewschool’s daily operations. I will no longer be involved with the project in any capacity other than as an irregular guest contributor.
I have also absolved myself of Radical Torah and Corner Prophets, turning both projects over to their respective participants.
I will soon cease blogging everywhere except for here on Orthodox Anarchist. And even then, I will probably be blogging less frequently, and on subjects that are less likely to get me into trouble.
I will also no longer be freelancing as a web designer servicing the progressive Jewish community. Following the completion of the projects at which I’m already at work, I will not be taking on any new clients.
My work on Jew It Yourself (including the online beit midrash, the Jew It Yourself Guide, and ShulShopper), as well as on “Jews & Drugs,” will continue. I will be enabled in this pursuit by raising funds the good ol’ fashioned way: By earning them.
Next Monday, I assume the role of Director of New Media for JTA, the global Jewish newswire. Mostly, I will be responsible for JTA’s website, video, podcasts, etc.. I will not be writing for them. Not yet, anyway. And unless I’m showing off something I made, I also will not be writing about JTA here or anywhere else. I do not want to blow this gig. So, this is “the last time I am phoning you and the first time. Bye.”
It’s true. I’m going back to the chain gang. It’s the only way I can cobble together the resources to do things more productive than having public shoving matches. And I don’t want to do anything that will jeopardize that opportunity. There are better revolutions to be had.
Some people would say that’s a sign of maturity.
But when Tahl Raz blurted it out at the Y on Sunday, Krucoff shouted “Sell out!” from the back row.
F-ck that noise, I say. I stole fire from the gods, and I got burned. At this point, giving up Jewschool doesn’t even feel like a sacrifice. It feels like a weight is being lifted.
It’s time for a new chapter. There’s more I have to offer than this. And there’s only one way it’s going to happen.
Thanks and many blessings to the current Jewschool crew for stepping up to the challenge of taking over the site. And my deepest gratitude to all the contributors, friends, fans, and readers over the years: You are my light in the dark and the only reason I was able to stick it out as long as I did.
Keep an eye on Jewschool for more commentary in advance of my departure.
[audio:http://danielsieradski.com/blog/downloads/jethro_tull_-_a_new_day_yesterday.mp3]
Siman Tov oo Mazel Tov!
In an era yearning for truth, access, freedom, and thinking – You created Jewschool and grew it into a worldwide success.
Truly remarkable are the feats of one Daniel Sieradski.
I am glad to hear you are getting back to the book. Just make sure you don’t wait so long that it turns out to be the one and only. I’m looking forward to reading your second book.
Mobius leaving Jewschool? Man. Well bro I hope whatever you do, it brings you and the rest of the world closer to Hashem. You got mad potential man. Don’t get changed by the establishment, change the establishment man! I know you can do it somehow.
[...] And tomorrow is a brand new day. [...]
[...] and allies in the blogosphere as he steps aside today as publisher of Jewschool to take on a new role as Director of New Media for [...]
Seems auspicious to be turning over this new leaf at this particular moment, as we enter the month of Elul.
Wishing you many blessings in this new endeavor.
congrats my man. proud of you for making a big move. onward and upward…
Mazel Tov Mobius… these decisions are hard oness, but kol hakavod on getting the job and taking the tachless steps necessary to make Jewityourself a reality
[...] Now, confident about Jewschool’s place in the Jewish universe, Mobius has decided to move on to a new position as Director of New Media at JTA. Mazal tov! Today will be Mobius’ final day as editor in chief and [...]
Daniel,
Congrats and what a great hire by JTA! I had a nice run in that job (until I ran for the door), so I’m thrilled that JTA got someone who can fly even farther and faster with their digital stuff. I can’t wait to see how you change things. Don’t let them sand down your rough edges too much…
best of luck, kiddo. you’ve done good. it’s been good. thanks for everything. and i’m excited to keep following along on all the exciting things you touch that turn to fire.
[...] blogger. Today he announced that he’s leaving Jewschool and he’ll rarely be blogging on his personal blog because he’s been hired at the Director of New Media by the [...]
Man, you are a total sellout. I don’t know why you would ever give up the frustration, anger, arguments, chain-smoking, hypertension, persecution complex and and negative press just to make some solid, respectable money. You so highclass now you can’t even meet a brother for a treyf brunch in Brooklyn no more.
Why the Fountainhead image? That’s just creepy.
Blogging is not confrontational. I mean, it’s not like you’re out yelling in someone’s face – streaking – now that’s confrontational. I actually think that flame blogging and esp fighting via blogs is for whimps. And bitchy comments are the high school peanut gallery snickers. It’s a bolder move to have daily interaction with real people face to face. Where you can’t hide behind a computer screen and whine – or throw stones and not see the hurt feelings express on their faces. Who needs all that drama?
D, I am pretty sure that the whole world is not out to get you. There are people out here, myself included, who just like you for you. (I personally think you’re cute too, btw. But that’s for another time
) I am not sure if the “me against the world” perspective is working for you. There are only so many windmills.
Best of luck, buddy.
Good luck to you. Sounds like a good decision to me. See ya soon,
Sarah
I thought you were over the whole “me against the world thing.”
john, dan — point #3 wasn’t about one man against the world. it was about the fact that days before i even started my new job, a rival tried to get me fired.
i hope you’ll have time to read http://www.keshertalk.com
[...] Yes, it’s true. I imagine some of you have already seen Mobius’s post on Jewschool that he is leaving Jewschool, and ending his work in hosting and designing sites for the progressive Jewish community. I received the email a few weeks ago letting me know he was ending his work, but I didn’t know he was going on to work at the JTA as the Director of New Media. You can read more Dan about why this life change on his blog, Orthodox Anarchist. [...]
Blogging is confrontational, and while it’s a valuable tool, it also results in a lot of meanspiritedness and downright nastiness. It’s healthy to take a step back and remember what it’s like outside the schoolyard. Good luck, take care, and know that there are a LOT of people out here who will miss your regular commentary on the absurdities of the world!
Congratulations. It’s a big transition for you. I’m very proud to know you. I expect many great things from you in the future.
As an aside, I understand your referencing her, and this is waaaay off topic, but I cant stand Ayn Rand. To me, she’s just a luddite, and as an artist, I pretty much disagree with everything she’s about.
What constitutes art? How only people from her era and before that can truly be considered artists?
I probably should’ve started with the Fountainhead, but I went with the Romantic Manifesto instead. It was a big mistake. Reading her was the first time I ever put a book down in the middle, not because she bored me or for lack of understanding, but because I didn’t want her bullshit infecting my mind.
Be well, brother.
I’m only coming across this post now; coincidentally, I was coming to the same conclusions as you during that time frame.
I know you’re not a big fan of the unmentionable Bizayon, but if you do perchance stop by and peruse the archives, you’ll notice that the quality and scope of my blogging has changed significantly since… around last August.
I look forward to finally meeting you in person next month.
[...] Message From Benny FriedmanHost a Haveil Havalim! After 6 years as the editor of Jewschool (and so many other great projects) he is calling it quits. [...]
[...] am happy for him. He will be working for the JTA’s online web presence. He writes that all together he will be blogging a lot less. I sometimes wonder if I could do that also. Don’t get me wrong, I love blogging and I love [...]