After the first event...

I find myself, tired, lethargic... spent, and feeling sweet that 34+ folks showed up to honor the resting time of the week...

Shabbat....

a sweet closing to a long week.  Lots of joy in meeting new people and sharing food, conversation and new company... and our home.

awesome.

MHSeattle, Masha Shtern, 12-01-07

We've had a crazy amount of events this week, every day Wednesday through Sunday. I'd be feeling a little crazy with the preparations before people came, but every time they did, it worked out really well. They turned out to be such cool groups of people and it all just made sense after the effort. I think part of the reason is that we're starting to build up a base of people who come over (vs. wondering if anyone was going to show up last month), and it's starting to feel comfortable. The guests are more comfortable with each other and our house, so I don't feel like I need to keep an eye on the new people. That, and it helps a lot when people just hang out in the kitchen, because things are rarely ready when guests come. And speaking of the kitchen, I'm very happy with the amount of experimentation I can now do. I've got a couple of new recipes that worked out really well, and I'm always looking for new ones to try. And next week is sushi-making, whee-ha!

The Stanford Tree

I'd like to make a few comments about the Stanford Tree. For those of you that don't know, the Stanford Tree is the mascot for Stanford University. The tree has nothing to do with the school's mascot, the Cardinal, yet all the students and fans seem to love it. I have no idea why, particularly cause I think the Stanford mascot is pretty stupid.

Just as I'm confused with what the Stansford Tree has to do with anything, some people come to Moishe House wondering what our activities have to do with Judaism. Last night we had a Shabbat dinner with about 35 guests, many of whom have never attended a Moishe House event before. A couple guests asked me if we were going to do anything more "Jewish" besides the 5 minutes of traditional Shabbat prayers. The thought to do more Jewish "stuff" didn't occur to me because I thought the idea of 35 people hanging out and sharing a Shabbat dinner was about as Jewish as it gets. There were many people meeting others for the first time, sharing some amazing food, and plenty of wine. But hearing questions about whether we were going to do anything more "Jewish" made me wonder if what Moishe House's goals were set in the right direction. After 3 weeks of living in Moishe House SF, and after this first major event, I have absolutely decided that Moishe House's goals are perfect and in line with my view of the most efficient use of the Forest Foundation's resources. Jewish people represent one of America's smallest minorities, and Jewish culture often falls into the America's social melting pot. Moishe House allows for Jewish culture to sustain itself in every community where a Moishe House community exists, and I'm happy to be a part of it.

Insanity of the Mustache - Moishe Chicago, Karen

As the weather outside slowly started to edge through the fall, we at the moishe house chicago found ourselves in a flurry of events through the month november. In addition to our numerous events, I personally had a hectic month, as I found myself in the thick of some sedulous studying for my GREs. I enjoyed no part of studying or taking the test, but I mention it because it really set the stage for what i feel was one of my favorite moishe house moments I have had thus far. As it happened, my test date coincided with Summer's visit to our house, and when I returned home after four hours of taking a test(that I wholeheartedly do not believe in), I was feeling pretty wiped out and drained. It was 9:30 at night when I finally got home and found our apartment filled with food, a very pink cake, and a table surrounded by slightly drunk people - each wearing a painted mustache on their upper lip. As the night went on, the stress of the test slowly dissolved into, what some may call the insanity of the mustaches - they just took over. I am sure the wine helped - but what ensued was pure enjoyment - To be fair - i should mention that I didn't get a mustache - i got a butterfly - which was just as well - as i am already fairly insane as is.

MH Chicago, Caren M.

November seems to have flown by and I'm in denial that it's now winter in Chicago. Today is a beautiful day in the low temps and our first real snow fall. The first snow fall of the season is always exciting and the most beautiful of the year. November was another full month as a Moishe House. It was a month that has felt more spiritual for me, I was given the opportunity to accompany my father to Israel and I spent a little over a week in Israel with my Dad. It was a very special trip and it was a nice escape away. We came home in time for a big Thanksgiving celebration with extended family. In the beginning of the month we spent a Shabbat morning at Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken an Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation. The shul is located on the south side of Chicago, in a neighborhood of Chicago that I have yet to explore. B'nai Zaken is an incredibly vibrant and warm community, it was a very moving experience. The songs, the colors and the spirit of the shul was like none other that I have ever experienced. I'm looking forward to our next visit. It is programs like this that I am grateful to experience and share with others. November was a good month. Till next time...

MHSF, David Persyko, 12/1/07

MHSF Shabbat: The Next Generation

Last night we welcomed into our home almost three dozen Moishe House community members for a "November to Remeber" Shabbat. Although we have held numerous Shabbat events here in San Francisco over the past couple of years, many of which I have enjoyed thoroughly, this is the first time that we have done a community wide event since we invited Ari Baruth and Joie Mazor to join the Moishe House fold a month ago.

Besides having Joie and Ari take part in hosting the activities, many of their close friends, past and present, came out to enjoy pleasant conversation, laughter, and the wonderful food brought by our very generous guests. Despite the fact that we have a community of hundreds, it was so nice to welcome in an infusion of new personalities. In addition to the new perspectives and energy that Ari and Joie have carried into Moishe House, it was such a pleasure to step outside of the comfort of the community we have built and incorporate the newbie guests. Learning names, histories, developing relationships, blending seemingly polarized gorups, expanding our universe. It's what makes transitional periods like this one so much fun.

Watching Ari and Joie go from the new Moishe House residents, planning, assisting and learning, to leading with confidence at one of our signature events was an amazing experience. Being able to assist our new roommates in making our Moishe House feel like their HOME was not only an incredible pleasure but a distinct honor.

Rebecca MHPhilly!

Wow, I cannot believe it's December. Maybe it's because of the unseasonably warm fall we've had, my new job that I've now been in for 3 months, or, quite possibly, all of the amazing events we've done at MHP that have made the time just fly by. Regardless, it's finally cold out, the leaves are falling and I'm kind of happy about it. We had another great month here, with new people, some regular faces that we haven't seen in a while and kickass events. I was quite pleased to win our "Win(o) Swap" early in November, but everyone had a fab time in general. One highlight was definitely Brady's visit and our Lebowski Shabbat (we were still eating cabbage salad up until last week) in the middle of the month. Hi Brady! It was great to put a face with the person on the end of our conference calls and emails and especially wonderful to receive the Moishe House of the Month for September trophy (shameless self promotion, I know). Thank you Moishe house for the fantastic opportunity! Can't wait to get together with y'all in January!!!! Have a great December!