Custom & Craft, the nonprofit design lab behind beloved platforms Haggadot.com and HighHolidays@Home, is delighted to announce an exciting new initiative with the generous support of a $3.8 million multi-year grant from the Jewish Community Response and Impact Fund (JCRIF). 

 

Since the pandemic began, there has been a radical shift in how people engage with Jewish life.   Many of us have adapted to create sacred moments of connection at home, with the support of online resources such as those offered at Haggadot.com. By collaborating with OneTable and with organizations across the Jewish world to create a constellation of interconnected websites, the DIY Jewish Network will empower millions of people to connect with the power of self-guided ritual experiences. 

 

We are grateful to the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies; the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation; and the Jim Joseph Foundation, for their investment in launching the DIY Jewish Network. Custom & Craft proudly joins with seven other organizations who received the JCRIF Reset Grants through a competitive, months-long process. Nearly 350 organizations submitted letters of inquiry from across the spectrum of Jewish life. 

 

The grant recognizes projects that could “seize this unique moment to reimagine, renew, and reset Jewish communities for the future” and offer “new thinking that can move beyond current organizational boundaries, structures, missions, and program delivery mechanisms.”

 

Each site in the DIY Jewish Network will focus on a different aspect of Jewish life and will be connected to common database, with options for smaller communities to curate from and contribute to a shared library based on the needs of their participants. Anyone can use the Network to create and share a Passover haggadah from Haggadot.com, or Rosh Hashanah Seder from HighHolidays@Home, and also imagine rituals for emerging moments of connection like changing careers or becoming a grandparent.. This massive Jewish database makes it easy for organizations to connect seamlessly to each other and to lift up each other’s voices.

 

In addition to our customizable ritual toolkits, the DIY Jewish Network will also feature OneTable’s community building platform, so that users will be able to create purposeful gatherings, virtually and in-person. For example, on a “Camp At Home” site, campers, alumni and their families can seamlessly download and print a ready-made, curated Shabbat booklet, or blend a template with blessings or readings from other partners, like Foundation for Jewish Camp, Svivah or Lab/Shul. They can also build a unique, personalized interactive presentation with videos and music.

 

By giving everyone access to simple, easy-to-customize rituals; access to a curated library; the option to add original content; and the ability to download a printable booklet, the DIY Jewish Network revolutionizes self-guided ritual, regardless of users’ Jewish knowledge or observance. 

 

We are deeply grateful for this unprecedented investment, and for the ongoing support from all our donors, especially during these past 18 months. Custom & Craft remains committed to unlocking the creativity and passion of our diverse community of users. We look forward to sharing updates on the development of the DIY Jewish Network in the coming months.