I don't know about you, but I've been hearing a helluva bunch of Christmas music recently and not too much int he way of festive Channukah cheer. I recently took a trip to Bed Bath and Beyond for a tie rack and saw the small section devoted to Channukiot and Dreidle paraphernalia. But, I digress, if this past November has taught me anything it is to look forward to what lies ahead - Crazy MHP Holiday madness!
November was pretty awesome, especially focusing on our election night party. What will be awesome-er is our lineup for December. My personal favorite is our upcoming Fondue evening. In keeping with our cheery yet social justice-y theme for this month, we are going to be festively dipping food in warmed chocolate and writing letters to those who won't hear from many over the holidays. I'm super excited for this yummy event.
Moreover, we are doing a canned food drive during the entire month so anyone coming to our events can bring nonperishables that we will donate before Christmas (let's face it - a majority of the country is Christian and will want it then). So, without further adoooooo - > HERE'S DECEMBER!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
MHSeattle, Neal Schindler, 12/2/2008
December promises to be a month of exciting events at Moishe House Seattle. There'll be an ice-skating afternoon, a Russian evening, a night at "Spicebox" (a regular local belly-dancing event), and a Chanukah outing to a burlesque show, plus a Shabbat in high MH Seattle style. In my life, Jewish doings abound; I'm working on a freelance piece for Jew-ish.com on the afterlife, I saw "Milk" (one of the year's best films, in my opinion) last night with a bunch of friends, and I'll be turning my attention soon to choosing December's selection for Israeli movie night. (I think it's between "The Band's Visit" and "Bonjour, Monsieur Shlomi" -- I want something heartwarming after last month's "Late Marriage," which is a bit of a downer).
Though I haven't managed to nail down a day job yet, I've had some encouraging advances in the process, like applying for a writing position at PCC that I'd actually want to do, and gearing up for an informational interview on Friday at the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. Where the various job sites left me in a state of mild despair before, now I'm thinking that persistent effort, and a decent bit of networking, could actually pay off eventually -- and a job would bring a sense of balance to my life that I could really use.
Though I haven't managed to nail down a day job yet, I've had some encouraging advances in the process, like applying for a writing position at PCC that I'd actually want to do, and gearing up for an informational interview on Friday at the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. Where the various job sites left me in a state of mild despair before, now I'm thinking that persistent effort, and a decent bit of networking, could actually pay off eventually -- and a job would bring a sense of balance to my life that I could really use.
Moishe/Kavod Website
Moishe House Boston has had our own website up for a couple of months, and I thought I'd take this opportunity to share it with the rest of the Moishe House community. Check it out at http://moishehouseboston.org/. Working with a member of our community who does web design, and accessing our savings budget, we were able to get this bad boy up and running, and we're pretty proud of it.
As you can see on the site, we've also instituted a local membership program, and we're going to have our first membership meeting in early 2009, where contributing community members will have the opportunity to elect a local board and help determine the campaigns we'll work on and the programming we'll take on over the course of the year.
If any other Moishe Houses are interested either in emulating our website or in learning about our membership model, please don't hesitate to reach out!
As you can see on the site, we've also instituted a local membership program, and we're going to have our first membership meeting in early 2009, where contributing community members will have the opportunity to elect a local board and help determine the campaigns we'll work on and the programming we'll take on over the course of the year.
If any other Moishe Houses are interested either in emulating our website or in learning about our membership model, please don't hesitate to reach out!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Giving Thanks
Shalom and welcome to the Internet. In the real world we have had some nice events in Hobo-town and had some giving thanks as well. In fact this last Saturday night people came over to smoke hookah in the land named by the Lenape Indians “Hopoghan Hackingh”, land of the tobacco pipe, which became bastardized as Hoboken as the theory goes). We have also started reaching out to two local rabbi's and I'm thinking of getting my street smicha recognized by the Rabbanite of Hudson county. You see like Malcolm X my Yeshiva was the street.
All joking aside this time of year makes me reflect on my life and where we have come as a nation. Its been a while since I really believed we were welcomed by the Native Americans but the fact that we took the land does not affect the current meaning of the secular chag. Soon it will be Hanukkah and we will celebrated the miracle of lights but honestly I do not see the point of it. My problem isn't with candles or with oil but rather with the message of revanchism. The Maccabees seem to me to be extremists who killed their fellows Jews in their fight against Hellenistic assimilation. While they were rightfully protesting the corruption of the temple and desired a return to what they believed were more moral, pure, and Jewish times they themselves were corrupt. The very first thing they when taking power was taking the kingship and the office of the high priest, the chief political and religion authorities, which is specifically prohibited in the Torah. More over with in two generations of Maccabeen rule was just as corrupt and Hellenised as those they had overthrown. So what is the message of Hanukkah - fight modernity? Do not support change? Keep things the same at all cost? Even if it means violating those same values?
I celebrate it but I just don't get it.
All joking aside this time of year makes me reflect on my life and where we have come as a nation. Its been a while since I really believed we were welcomed by the Native Americans but the fact that we took the land does not affect the current meaning of the secular chag. Soon it will be Hanukkah and we will celebrated the miracle of lights but honestly I do not see the point of it. My problem isn't with candles or with oil but rather with the message of revanchism. The Maccabees seem to me to be extremists who killed their fellows Jews in their fight against Hellenistic assimilation. While they were rightfully protesting the corruption of the temple and desired a return to what they believed were more moral, pure, and Jewish times they themselves were corrupt. The very first thing they when taking power was taking the kingship and the office of the high priest, the chief political and religion authorities, which is specifically prohibited in the Torah. More over with in two generations of Maccabeen rule was just as corrupt and Hellenised as those they had overthrown. So what is the message of Hanukkah - fight modernity? Do not support change? Keep things the same at all cost? Even if it means violating those same values?
I celebrate it but I just don't get it.
happy thanksgiving
I hope everyone had a good thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday purely because thanksgiving food is my favorite, especially the stuffing. The only downside to Thanksgiving is that it means the semester is coming to an end which means I have tons of papers and lesson plans to write and final exams to study for.
November has been a busy month here at moishe house hoboken with our shabbat dinners, lunches, hookah night, and jewish movie night. We've recently been in contact with the local Rabbi's here and we're going to do some events with them which I'm excited about. We also have a ski trip coming up during Hanukah which I'm super excited about, it's going to be my first time skiing!
MH London - Joel - December
When we started this house a little over a year ago we wanted to be a place not only for our closest friends and the community we ourselves could envision, but also for the community (Jewish and otherwise) around us. We wanted to link groups up, bringing together people who might otherwise never meet. We wanted to support and improve the community in London; not just add to the competition.
One event we've started up recently, which is an example of the way this has materialised for us, is the 'Hang Out at the House' series we've been doing with the JCC. The JCC is itself a relatively new thing in London and they still don't have a full-time venue, preferring for the moment to hold events in different places around the city. Well the JCC approached us and asked if we'd like to host a monthly space for Darfuri refugees and asylum seekers, alongside our more frequent Moishe Houseniks.
We jumped at the chance. I won't go into great detail about the situation in Darfur. Many of you will have read stuff already, and if you haven't, I couldn't do it justice... best to see somewhere like http://www.savedarfur.org/pages/background/ instead.
Suffice to say these young people, who end up in the UK having fled their genocide-ravaged home, also face a very hard time in London, which can be challenging even for someone who's lived here their whole life and is comparitively priveleged. The idea of the event is to spread a little of the kind of atmosphere and community we create at this house, to put it to good use beyond the borders of the Jewish community.
So far we've had three great evenings. We've done a different thing each time - first time just relaxing and getting to know each other, and sharing stories and experiences; second time cooking (and of course eating) traditional Darfuri food; and just last week combining the event with one of our gorgeous, tried and trusted open mic nights.
There have generally been more Jews than Darfuris at these events - the Darfuris live in all corners of London, placed there by immigration, so it's sometimes difficult to travel - but we're very pleased with how they're going. To be honest, the events feel in some ways like many of others: warm, welcoming, creative and happy.
So we plan to continue shape-shifting London community, Jewish and beyond.
One event we've started up recently, which is an example of the way this has materialised for us, is the 'Hang Out at the House' series we've been doing with the JCC. The JCC is itself a relatively new thing in London and they still don't have a full-time venue, preferring for the moment to hold events in different places around the city. Well the JCC approached us and asked if we'd like to host a monthly space for Darfuri refugees and asylum seekers, alongside our more frequent Moishe Houseniks.
We jumped at the chance. I won't go into great detail about the situation in Darfur. Many of you will have read stuff already, and if you haven't, I couldn't do it justice... best to see somewhere like http://www.savedarfur.org/pages/background/ instead.
Suffice to say these young people, who end up in the UK having fled their genocide-ravaged home, also face a very hard time in London, which can be challenging even for someone who's lived here their whole life and is comparitively priveleged. The idea of the event is to spread a little of the kind of atmosphere and community we create at this house, to put it to good use beyond the borders of the Jewish community.
So far we've had three great evenings. We've done a different thing each time - first time just relaxing and getting to know each other, and sharing stories and experiences; second time cooking (and of course eating) traditional Darfuri food; and just last week combining the event with one of our gorgeous, tried and trusted open mic nights.
There have generally been more Jews than Darfuris at these events - the Darfuris live in all corners of London, placed there by immigration, so it's sometimes difficult to travel - but we're very pleased with how they're going. To be honest, the events feel in some ways like many of others: warm, welcoming, creative and happy.
So we plan to continue shape-shifting London community, Jewish and beyond.
To Be Thankful
Moishe House collective,
Just wanted to shout out everyone in every house that makes things happen.
While the federated world is doing backflips trying to figure out how to engage us, we are out here doing the engaging, building the network, connecting with good people.
I'm very grateful for the opportunity that MH has provided me to build, from the ground up, a young Jewish community.
It isn't every day that you can help yourself out financially by doing the things you really want to be doing. For that, I'm thankful.
It also isn't every day that you are able to build solid connections, relationships, and learn a thing or two. PLP is helping to push me in that directions, so props to them.
I hope that everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving, and I'm looking forward to a bit of Latke palooze here in STL.
Just wanted to shout out everyone in every house that makes things happen.
While the federated world is doing backflips trying to figure out how to engage us, we are out here doing the engaging, building the network, connecting with good people.
I'm very grateful for the opportunity that MH has provided me to build, from the ground up, a young Jewish community.
It isn't every day that you can help yourself out financially by doing the things you really want to be doing. For that, I'm thankful.
It also isn't every day that you are able to build solid connections, relationships, and learn a thing or two. PLP is helping to push me in that directions, so props to them.
I hope that everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving, and I'm looking forward to a bit of Latke palooze here in STL.
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