J-Blogosphere is the name that some Jewish blogging community use to refer to themselves. Blogs with a Jewish focus are called J-Blogs. The name "J-Blogosphere" was coined by Steven I. Weiss of Canonist.com, when he was the leader of "Protocols", a now-defunct group J-blog, and the first notable Jewish blog. Variations on the term were employed there as early as August, 2003, and the first use of "J-blogosphere" appears to have been completed in February, 2004.

Overview

A blog is typically accepted as a "J-blog", or part of the "J-blogosphere", if the blogger is Jewish and discusses Jewish political, religious, or personal themes in his or her blog. There is no way of knowing how many J-blogs there are, although several have come together to create a Jewish category on BlogAds.

Conservative, Modern Orthodox, post-denominational, Reform, secular, and Haredi Jews are involved in writing J-blogs. Some J-bloggers, although religious in practice, use their blogs to discuss theological views which are skeptical or nonconformist. J-blogs fall into radical, liberal and conservative camps with respect to all Jewish communities across the world.

The JIBs

The "Jewish and Israel Blog Awards" are the J-blogosphere's informal annual award contest. The aim of the contest is to direct new readers towards Jewish, Israeli, and pro-Israel blogs. The JIBs begin with nominations in January and then a semifinal and final round. Good-natured rivalry and campaigning are associated with this event.

The contest was the idea of Dave of the IsraellyCool blog, and was first run in 2004. In 2005 the Jerusalem Post took over hosting duties (2005 contest results). Israellycool, who first conceived of the awards, remained an organizer and sponsor.

In 2006, Israel Forum was invited to host the JIB awards. There was much dissent by many Jewish bloggers, the original founder of the JIB's was asked to intervene. It was mutually decided that Israel Forum should establish a new blogging award named The People's Choice Awards. This resulted in the JIB's not being run and The People's Choice Awards running in its place.

In 2007, a group of Jewish Bloggers formed a working committee to run the awards and founded JibAwards.Com as the awards site.(2007 contest results)

Haveil Havalim

The carnival of Jewish blogs is "Haveil Havalim", a weekly collection of Jewish & Israeli blog highlights, tidbits and points of interest collected from blogs all around the world. There have been more than 150 editions of Haveil Havelim, and more than 30 different bloggers have hosted. Haveil Havalim was created by blogger, SoccerDad on December 19, 2004 .

In late January of 2008 Jacktook over administrative responsibilities from Soccer Dad.

Kosher Cooking Carnival

The J-blogosphere has a Kosher Cooking Carnival "KCC", a monthly carnival of kosher food, kosher cooking, including stories, traditions, menus, etc. The only requirement is that the recipes are kosher. There have been more than 18 editions of Kosher Cooking Carnival, and so far 8 different bloggers have hosted. Kosher Cooking Carnival was created by blogger, Me-Ander on January 27, 2006 .

Blogs A Rabbi Must Follow

Blogs a Rabbi Must Follow, compiled by blogger Rabbi Gil Student, is a presentation given in May 2006 to the annual gathering of the Rabbinical Council of America, an Orthodox group. The presentation explains the importance of J-blogs, the impact of the J-blogosphere upon Jewish communities, lists popular subjects and topics within the J-blogosphere and directs the reader to noteworthy blogs.