Joshua Venture Group

JDub Records was founded in December of 2002 by two NYU students, Ben Hesse and Aaron Bisman, as a non-profit dedicated to innovative Jewish content, community, and cross-cultural dialogue. Its mission is twofold: to create community among young Jews, their friends, and significant others by promoting proud, authentic Jewish voices in popular culture; and to offer young adults opportunities to connect with their Judaism in the secular world in which they live.

JDub has grown into an internationally recognized brand, having spurred a national conversation about Judaism in mainstream culture – most prominently by Hasidic reggae singer Matisyahu, whom JDub discovered, promoted, and managed through March 2006. Currently, JDub has offices in New York and Los Angeles, 12 artists on the label, and a full calendar of concerts and events planned across the country. In October 2009, JDub aquired Jewcy.com, the premiere online media outlet devoted to presenting a spectrum of conversations on Jewish identity and community for and by young Jews.

JDub empowers young Jews to expand the definition of “Jewish community” and make space for a proactive, celebratory and diverse sense of Jewish identity. Today, in an age where celebrity is king, the opportunity for Jewish role models to emerge in public spheres is a chance to relate our values and history to the next generation, in their language and on their terms.

Bio
Aaron Bisman is the co-founder, President, and CEO of JDub. A DJ and graduate of NYU’s Music Business program, Aaron was a recipient of the Joshua Venture Fellowship in 2003, and is a co-creator of the Six Points Fellowship for Emerging Jewish Artists. In the little free time he has, Aaron co-founded Altshul, a traditional egalitarian community in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Aaron is married to Amanda Pogany, a Jewish educator, curriculum writer, and coach in New York City. They have a one year old son, Asher, who has a blog. Keep up with Aaron at www.twitter.com/bizmonides.