Holding it down over the holidays

Let me be clear: I am the least religious of my housemates. I am not in rabbinical school (Margie and Sarah), nor have I served a year as a Hillel JCSC fellow (Joe Gindi). So at the house, I tend to play a behind-the-scenes role during religious celebrations, just so I don't piss anyone off by eating a bacon cheeseburger by mistake.

But over Yom Kippur, Joe was down in New York and Margie was serving as an emergency rabbi in Leominster, MA (pronounced LEMON-ster, for all you out-of-towners). And Sarah wasn't attending the same temple as the bulk of our house's community...so responsibility fell to me to make our home an open and welcoming place for folks in and around Yom Kippur.

Pre-YK potluck? I pulled it off without a sweat. Ten folks, some of whom had never been to our house, came together for a relaxed dinner that got us all ready for some serious atoning. Then, in the midst of fasting, I came home to slice the bagels, lay out the lox, and prepare a serious break-fast for more than 35 friends. I might have smelled a bit like fish during n'eelah, but when everyone came over there were definitely no frowny faces.

Now I'll grant you, there was pretty much no ritual associated with either of the two meals, but I'd like to think I didn't screw up Yom Kippur for any serious Jews, and our community was able to celebrate together in comfort and style. And for a religious neophyte like me, that felt like a real accomplishment!

Zvi Bellin Silver Spring -- Happy October

I love October! The holiday time is winding down and there is a peaceful silence. Also it is my birthday month and I remember when I was little we would celebrate my birthday by going to my aunts on Halloween and trick-or-treating in her NYC 30 something floor building. We would have silly costums jsut to get cany like a tennis player, or a guy with slick back wet hair. So what does a Jewish community house give out on Halloween? Perhaps candy, or perhaps candy with a Rebbe Nachman story, or a little short fortune cookie phrase like, "Celebrate religious diversity!" There is still time to think, should be great.

Send me a birthday card, 639 mississippi ave, silver spring, md 20910
or just an email blessing, zvilove@gmail.com,
or email me and i will send you an email blessing.

Most high month to Moishe'leh's round the globe and beyond!

SILVER SPRING ALAN is holidoomed

September in Silver Spring was Spectacular. We bent the Holidays TO OUR WILLZ!!

We watched one of my favorite movies, 25th Hour, in honor of Rosh Hashana.

We had a great turn-out for a break-fast after Yom Kippur, and an even bigger turn-out for the barbecue + sukkah build the next day -- despite the complete lack of RSVP's (It just goes to show, always be prepared)

After rushing home from synagogue we ate bagels and lox (mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm lox) and cream cheezes with egg salad and tuna. And whitefish. Also, lots of juices. You might have thought everyone would be stuffing their faces too violently to be social, but it was actually one of best nights I've had in MHSS: superchill, like we do it best, and with a good mix of newbies and old friends.

The sukkah went up without a hitch. Possibly because we had a Texan girl and a rocket scientist to help with construction. We built it from complete scratch, using nothing but tarps, 2x4's, nails, and weeds from the backyard. Have a look at the pictures on the Moishe House photo site. And there were plenty of charred meats and grilled veggies to keep the folks happy. Our sukkah has been open this week to anyone who wants to use it - in fact, on Sunday evening a family of complete strangers stopped by because they'd heard we'd made it available!

I always wanted to be a construction worker.... Y M C A!

Back in the House!

After subletting this summer it's my first month back in the house. We did quite a lot this month including most of the logistics for getting a 3rd season of softball going and my 3rd annual Apples N Honey party - we've found a winning formula!

On a personal note I am about to celebrate a 3 year anniversary with my partner and have just begun a career as a professional musician. I've gotten into rock climbing a little and am building my thigh muscles up surely but slowly by choosing to commute by bike rather than by car 5 times out of 6.

And... I'm still Jewish : )

Happy New Year to all of you - have a great 5768!

- Isaac

Faklempt

This month, we held our first community board meeting. We brought together 18 of our strongest leaders to think about the big picture - where we are going, how we can grow sustainably, etc. It went so well that by the end of it I almost started weeping. Really. Here's why.

Thanks to Ben's amazing meeting facilitation skills, the meeting felt more like camp than like a meeting. We made art projects about our skills and interests, held breakout group brainstorming sessions about key questions, and just appreciated each other and people's ideas a lot.

At the end, Ben had folks go around and say what they were taking away from the meeting, or one thing they learned or appreciated. First our friend Evan said that he was just really excited to be part of such a special community at a point of so much growth. Then Mike said that he would be happier to donate $36 to Moishe House Boston to become a member (one of the ideas in the brainstorm) than any other expense he could think of. Then Jordan said that she realized during the meeting that never in her life had she been part of something that so wholly fit who she was. And it went on like that - one person after another talking about how excited and honored they were to be working to build and enhance our community.

Ben called on me last, by which point I was completely faklempt (translation: emotionally overwhelmed, at the point of tears). I just kept thinking about how two years ago I moved to Boston and into the house with few friends or partners in my work of building community. And now I am blessed with so many beautiful friends, a rich community, amazing housemates, and 18 of my favorite people as partners in crime to build this community. So it was tough to speak and hold back tears at the same time, but I managed to explain that I was just feeling moved and incredibly grateful that we have such special people working with us and enriching our lives. It kind of turned into a teary Moishe-love-fest after that.

Anyway, now that my emotions are under control, my sense of gratitude remains, and I continue to be excited by the possibility of involving more people in our leadership, growing our community, and working together to make a difference on critical social justice issues.

A New Year, a new city, a new house and old friends...

The Forrest Foundation and the Moishe House have let a dream become a reality. I am so happy to be able to share this experience with you. I look forward to a fresh start in a new city, with exciting challenges, and untold opportunities. After moving from place to place these last few years, I feel blessed to be able to settle in a new home, creating a community with people whom I love and respect. Elana, Karen, Ilana and Joe are more than friends- they are my extended family. Each of our individual styles and tastes enrich our home with stories of travels, and experiences that bring us together. An old family dining room table, pots, pans, table cloths, and chairs were donated from parents and grandparents, even great grandparents… each piece reveals an old story that we are just now learning. We learn more about ourselves and each other every day. We have big dreams as to what we want to do together with the support of the Forrest Foundation and the extended Moishe House community. We are proud to represent the Midwest, bridging the coasts. There appear to be endless opportunities and future partnerships and I am excited for this year together. I wish you all a sweet, peaceful and fulfilling new year. Chag Sameach.

Caren, MH Chicago

And another first...

So, like so many other's on this blog, this is also my first post. When I stop to think about what the past month has been like, the flood of the move, my new job, our new house, becoming a moishe house, our first events, and the craziness of the holidays just comes pouring through my mind....basically, a lot happened this month. The best thing though that I felt come out of this month was the massive list that was the product of our second event. The party was fun, and the Frisbee was invigorating, but the second event, where everyone helped us to create a massive list of things we want to do in our community was the thing that got me the most excited. This list holds such promise for the wonderful things that we are going to do, and the best thing is that as a moishe house - we won't just talk about the stuff we want to do - we get to have the privilege of having the support to make it all happen. I love action. Talking is good and necessary, but action is what I crave. It started off a bit crazy - and I can't wait for it to get more insane.
- Karen MH Chicago