"A woman who sits in circles with other women."

It's my 3rd month in the house. Technically, Rachel, the other newer housemate and I are to be "initiated"...but that'll come later at our retreat.

I must say, I'm quite excited. I think Moishe House has really helped me grow as a community organizer, and I really admire and look up to all the people I am meeting and crossing paths with.

This sense of belonging and inspiration also coincides with the sense that I've straddled the bull and can at least stay on it what with all my other work pursuits and endeavors. My teaching and youth work is going really well. I'm energized by my work, I learn a lot, and it's a great exchange for everyone. The people I serve and I seem to get a lot out of it.

I'm happy to say that I'm in Portland, nearly a year after graduation from undergrad, and things are going well.

Being involved with Jewish community in Portland is really really rewarding.

My interests in women's issues are also filtering through. I've been studying with some of the rebbetzin, working with coworkers, etc, etc. There's this poem I've been trying to find...but I remember one line of it. It's about how a woman should know and love herself. And that this kind of woman is also:

"A woman who sits in circles with other women."

Something about that line seems so universal to me...and connotates the level of peace that women find in connecting with one another. Sometimes it doesn't matter how... but making connections with the other people around me, particularly women, is really powerful for me. There are some really driven, awesome, beautiful women around here...and I just really like that image....of a woman who is proud, strong, defiant, questioning, etc, etc, and yet can "sit in a circle" or be among, so many just like her.