MHP Personal Blog - Rebecca Karp - Doing More with More

This summer, I had the opportunity to attend two amazing conferences. Along with 119 other Jewish innovators from around the globe, I was selected to participate in ROI, held in Tel Aviv, at the beginning of July. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Israeli government invited me to attend the North American alumni seminar of the Conference on Emerging Jewish Leaders, held in Chicago, just this past weekend. I was honored to have been chosen and invited – but would not have been able to attend either without the generosity of the Moishe House scholarship grants for professional development.

ROI stands for Return on Investment, a business term that has been re-appropriated by Lynn Schusterman for the Jewish world. The idea is that there are great young minds in Jewish innovation and there are many instances in which they could be nurtured in a more productive manner. This 4-day conference combines concrete skill-building sessions with networking and pitch workshops with socializing and the amazing atmosphere of Tel Aviv, culminating in a buzz about the future of the global Jewish community that cannot be found anywhere else. Representing Moishe House at ROI, I was able to interact with many diverse communities around the world and build friendships that will further the work we are doing here in Philadelphia and hopefully in all of the houses. We now have connections to artists, musicians, web designers, journalists and others around the globe who would love to collaborate with us. I also learned concrete skills relating to grant writing and pitching stories for various social media outlets that are directly applicable to my work both within Moishe House and in my professional role at AJC.

The alumni seminar this past weekend was an amazing opportunity to hear from experts from Israel, the Chicago area and nationally recognized organizations on the importance of Israel advocacy, concrete strategies for carrying out that advocacy and innovative ways in which to do so. We had presentations on Israel as a strategic asset to the United States, what the Ministry is doing to re-brand Israel through various forms of social media and what the Conference of Presidents sees as the future of the Jewish community (hint: it’s us and the kind of work every Moishe-r is doing!). Further, I was able to reconnect with some of the participants from the 10-day seminar I participated in last year and build new relationships with others from around the country. I was proud to talk up Moishe House and get people excited about it in whatever city they were from. While this trip had much more to do with my professional career as Assistant Director at AJC, the speakers I heard and takeaways I gleaned will also serve me well in Moishe House.

On a micro-level, the Moishe House grant that allowed me to travel to Israel and Chicago is in direct correlation to what ROI is all about – Moishe House literally invested in me so that I would be given the space to invest back into the Moishe House community and the larger Jewish community in which we live.

competing agendas

Yesterday, I was asked to speak at a press conference announcing a new petition denouncing bigotry against Muslims. I hesitated, because the press conference was going to be held during working hours, which would mean I would have to leave my office for an hour. The complicating factor was that the place I work, the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA), was one of the groups organizing the petition, but I was being asked to speak about the petition in the context of my connection to the Workmen's Circle, a Jewish progressive group in Boston where I am a member. Leaders at the Workmen's Circle, I suspect, knew that my presence at the conference would be seen as showing the support of young Jews, and that I would publicly be associated with Moishe Kavod House, but they were hoping I would highlight my membership and connection to Workmen's Circle. Since I work at JALSA as an administrative assistant, not as an advocate or political assistant or organizer, I don't think it occurred to anyone to associate me with JALSA's political work. But since the press conference was being held during work hours, I felt uncomfortable asking for the time from my JALSA work unless it was going to be in JALSA's self interest, and I was doing the work on behalf of JALSA. But of course, peope arleady knew JALSA supported the petition, the petition organizers wanted me there representing Workmen's Circle, or at least, the young folks at Moishe Kavod House.

All this brings me to an issue I constantly struggle with at Moishe Kavod House, how to juggle multiple agendas. Many institutions are excited to partner with Moishe Kavod becuase they see it as a chance to get young folks involved with their institution. We see our role as connecting young Jews to the larger Jewish community, so we are also excited about these partnerships, but they are often complicated. If Moishe Kavod co-sponsors an event with a local synagogue, young folks come, but they get more excited about returning to Moishe Kavod than they do to returning to the local synagogue. JALSA shares the values of Moishe Kavod and looks for opportunities for me to connect the two organizations, but since my role at Moishe Kavod is much more public than my role at JALSA, when I work on event or talk about an issue, whatever role I am playing is more likely to be associated with Moishe Kavod than JALSA. Furthermore, if I organize an event that is being co-sponsored by JALSA and Moishe Kavod, I have to meet the expectations both of what my boss at JALSA wants and what the community at Moishe Kavod wants. That puts me in a very hard position, especially since Sheila pays my salary, but the folks at Mose Kavod are my friends, plus, they pay my rent.

Moishe Kavod has been very successful in getting young adults Jews excited about Judaism, but sometimes it feels like other organizations want to reap the rewards of finally having young adult jews excited, and hope to partner with us and absorb young adult Jews into their institutions. We are excited to connect young adult Jews into other institutions, but we have to recognize that there is a reason young adult Jews are finding a home in our community not the previously established ones. We do things differently, we are peer led, we are open to all forms of Jewish identity, we are social, and we are justice oriented. How to support other Jewish institutions that have less success recruiting young Jews and want to benefit off our model without incorporating some of the elements of our model into their own is confusing to me. Its something I am always wrestling with.

A Year? Wow!

I started Moishe about a year ago, and I feel like I have learned so much, it’s almost impossible to process it all. I have made a ton of new friends, discovered so much more of Chicago, and reconnected with and explored my Judaism. It has been an awesome, difficult, and breathtaking last year. And I am really excited to continue it all again!

I graduated from college a year ago, and I knew I was coming back to Chicago. Even though it’s my hometown, I was definitely nervous. Trying to bridge the gap between old and new friends felt a little overwhelming – old friends who hadn’t been in my life for years and new friends who I had yet to meet. Moishe House turned out to be the perfect solution to what I was facing. I was able to make Moishe House my home base and build (or rebuild) my relationships from there. I felt so safe in the space my roommates and I created, and I met tons of great community members, so my friendships just fell in place. I was able to bring my old friends from high school and my new friends from work into the community as well. One of my favorite things to see is all the people I care about most getting along and spending time together.

Being from Chicago, I have certainly seen my fair share of the city. But in a huge place like this, with a million things to do, you never feel like you’ve seen enough. Or you feel like you’ve seen everything and forget how much is out there. With Moishe House, I am constantly exploring new places and introducing newcomers to my favorite spots. Other people told me that they have returned home after college and felt like they didn’t belong. I, on the other hand, am rediscovering how much there is going on in this amazing city of mine.

I also wanted Moishe House as a chance to open myself up to reevaluating my identity as a Jew. I was never raised particularly religiously, and I didn’t get involved with Jewish activities on campus. However, when I graduated, I wanted to start exploring again. This year, I have gone to services, studied texts, learned about new holidays and met so many different kinds of Jews. Everyday I learn a new Hebrew word, and every month I learn a new tradition. A whole world has been opened up to me, and I can’t wait to see what else I learn this year.

I am thrilled that I get the chance to live here another year, so I can keep making friends, seeing new parts of the city, and finding out more about who I am as a Jew.

my one year reflection of MHOC

Three months before my one year anniversary of living in a Moishe House, I sit in front of my computer and ask myself…what has the last year of my life been to me? What have I accomplished, what have I done for my community and do I enjoy what I’m doing with limited time on this planet? I seem to ask myself these very questions on a constant basis. I find this thought process to be a time of self realization where I can make the necessary changes in my life to achieve my goals.

To start with I recently obtained my series 7 general securities license which puts me one step closer to starting a career where I will hopefully obtain a sense of financial freedom and the ability to one day provide for a family. I have also been part of Moishe House OC in Laguna Beach where we host between 7-10 events a month that cater to our local Jewish community. From my conversations with our guests I would claim that they primarily come for four different reasons including: 1) meeting new friends 2) networking for business contacts 3) entertainment 4) finding that special someone.

I have had the fortune of all 4 of these reasons happening to me over the past year. I have meet hundreds of great individuals and been reacquainted with some old friends from temple that I haven’t seen in roughly 15 years. I have become close with my housemates who have helped build our community and host some amazing events if I may be so obliged to say. And I have met an amazing girl that makes me extremely happy and that I can only hope I bring her the same happiness.

I guess I have come to the realization of looking at Moishe House in a new way... After my first few months of living in the house I would say to myself, look at all the good you have done for MH and the community but now I realize it is Moishe House which has done so much for me.

New Year, New Roommates

Lee'at and Ben have moved in and Moishe is growing already! Our events have been more diverse and we've added a recurring Discussion Group to our repertoire where we discuss relevent topics related to us--young Jews!

With my new roommates settled and helping me steer this endeavor, I have a newfound passion for Moishe House. The STL branch is more organized, energetic, and it's looking to grow with leaps and bounds! Lee'at, Ben, and I have such different personalities, ideas, and perspectives that we're able to combine all 3 to create unique and interesting programs and keep visitors wanting more, and bringing more visitors with them.

One initiative we'd like to instill is to partner with other organizations more, both locally and nationally, to branch out and make Moishe House STL a household name. I'm excited for the upcoming year with my new roomies and to unveil all that MHSTL has to offer!

Jordan

MOHOLO MONTHLY EMAIL - STEP RIGHT UP IT'S FESTIVAL TIME!

HELLO MOISHE CREW, New and old!

Hope you have been enjoying the crazy summer season. We have been taking full advantage of the weather having many days of reggae garden sessions, late night jams and general summer warmth.

We have an exciting month of bringing a fresh slant to the festival season. We are supplying an alternative way to experience and connect to the high holidays and beyond. Come and reflect in a way that you never have before, come and enjoy services that are inclusive, fresh, colourful and dare I say, exciting! Then come and party in our Succah, which will be bigger and better than it has ever been....Now there's a challenge!

So, we would firstly like to welcome Alli Zionts our new house mate who has come all the way from Pittsburgh, USA. It has only been a few days and we have already found out she bakes incredible Challah. She has come in as we have said goodbye to Tali, who is now parading the deserts of Nevada, and after saving lives in South America.

We also have Jess Lenza with us for a month while Rachel is spinning yarns in Edinburgh and Jess has already been getting down on the guitar and livening up the last few events with her tunes and singing.

So, onwards with the events....

Ellul Bootcamp  MOISHE HOUSE LONDON       Sunday, September 5 from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm "EllulFest" AKA "Ellul Boot Camp" for Grassroots Jews, is a day of learning, creativity, singing, meditating and reflecting in preparation for the High Holy Days. It will be between 1-7pm at MoHoLo. The themes include, but are not restricted to, new beginnings, repentence, resolutions, reflection and renewal. There will be art spaces, workshops, taster sessions, a silent meditation area, and the day will culminate with song-teaching, singing and the blowing of the Shofar. With the combined energy of the Ellul Art Warriors (not unlike the Planeteers combining to summon Captain Planet), We think this will be an unmissable day.

Pizza and Politics with NIF New Gen Moishe House London, Willesden Green Join us on Sunday 5 September at 7pm at Moishe House, for an evening in (we hope) the garden. We'll be discussing Israel – how we feel about what it's doing, how we in the Diaspora are affected by its actions, and how we, as a result, choose to defend or critique it. It's going to be very much a safe space where we can openly discuss an often emotive and divisive subject. Bring along articles you've read, thoughts that will prov...oke debate, insights you've picked up that have affected your current views on Israel… and come with an open mind. RSVP to NIFNewGen@gmail.com by Friday 27 August, and let us know of any dietary requirements for the pizza-ordering! We'll then let you know the address of Moishe House. A £7 door charge will go to covering the cost of the event.

Grassroots Jews Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur : Moishe House London Wednesday, September 8 at 7:30 pm until Saturday, September 18 at 8:00 pm BOOK QUICK THROUGH THE LINKS BELOW, PLACES ARE GOING FAST.... So if you want to be part of an avowedly inclusive community. If you ever sat in Shul and thought "there must be more to it than this". If you want to be part of a huge, and potentially risky social experiment. If you know in your heart of hearts and the very depths of your soul that one of the best times you had in a minyan in London was with WJ, Carlebach Minyan or MoHoLo. Even just the once. Then please come and join us. We are delighted that Yossi Chajes, our wonderful chazan, will be back again this year. … looking forward to your heartfelt support, your homebaked cakes, your leyning skills, your organisational spreadsheets and your friendly faces, babies and grandparents and any one who wants to make sure shul on RH is warm and vibrant and makes you want to learn more, get in touch with your traditions and your tunes and your ways of doing things differently http://grassrootsjewishnewyearproject.wordpress.com/ And the booking section of the blog: http://grassrootsjewishnewyearproject.wordpress.com/ticket-info/

SUKKAH BUILDING : MOISHE HOUSE LONDON Sunday, September 19 from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm Well, in order to have our week long Sukkah party we need a Sukkah. WE WANT YOU...To join in and help build the Sukkah. We have some skilled hands who have helped before. But not only do we have to build it, but also decorate it. We will start the day by going out and finding materials. If anyone has useful Sukkah articles to bring, then we invite you to! Then the building will commence and finally the decorations will be set. We invite ANY Jews that are actually good at DIY, plus all the arty folk, you know who you are. Come join and help make an amazing structure for people to party in all week.

	A WEEK LONG SUKKAH PARTY! in association with Grassroots Jews Wednesday, September 22 at 8:00 pm until Wednesday, September 29 at 10:00 pm We will be holding various events every night of the week for Sukkot. We haven't got them all planned yet, so, if you have an idea and would like to 'host' one of the nights do email with your ideas to thelondonhouse@gmail.com and copy in carlebach7@gmail.com. We can't wait to hear from you!
	LOTS OF MOHOLO LOVE TO NEW AND OLD, AND FROM NEW AND OLD,  X AVIAD, ALLI, RACHEL, JESS, JOEL & BRETT

MHSF - Sarah Curtin (personal blog?): Costco rules, or... does it?

Transitions are rough. Especially roommate transitions. Kiki and I found ourselves in just that sort of transition in June... looking for new roommates, saying goodbye to our old ones... watching furniture, decorations, and personalities leave our home. One of the biggest hits we took was we lost our connection to Costco. Now, I know you think that's sort of silly and trivial, but trust me, it's not. I've lived in the house almost 2 years, and it seemed to me as if without our highly-important, highly-used costco membership (and obviously, the members), Shabbat just wouldn't be feasible. How else do we buy enough food to feed an army of 25 hungry Jews, within our $100 monthly Shabbat budget? It seemed an impossible dilemma.

While I'd never been a card-carrying Costco member myself, the enthusiasm my former room mates held for the store was completely contagious. By the time they moved out I LOVED the place. But alas, I'm not on top of my game enough to get my act together and go just sign up for my own membership. July rolled around, and Dan, Ariel (the two newest MHSF additions!), Kiki and myself found ourselves lacking, and figuring out how to plan for Shabbat. Just in time -- I swear, literally the exact requisite 9 days in advance to sign up online -- the Birthright Israel NEXT partnership launched. We signed up our Shabbat, and boom, in a second, we had basically tripled our shabbat allowance. Whew. We could buy food!!!

We still could not, however, buy our trusted, well loved, Costco whole rotiserie chickens that had become a quick, easy, cheap Shabbat staple at our house. What to do? I'm excited to say that we took the opportunity to get cooking. We went big. We went huge. Not only did we cook a feast of both veggie and non-veggie options, but we were able to buy wine (thank you Moishe House and Birthright Israel NEXT for enabling our 2-buck-chuck habit!!), and most importantly, COOK OUR VERY OWN ROAST CHICKEN! I know it sounds silly, but it was a work of art. We got creative. We made a beer-butt chicken, with garlic, rosemary, thyme, sage, and PBR. It was gorgeous, and delicious, and a team effort that was really a lot of fun. And it only happened, if you follow the string of events back to the very start, because of the roommate transition. Everyone loved it, and we celebrated Shabbat with our new roommates in style. Needless to say we didn't have any left over chicken. Change is hard, but great things can come of it. Especially if you like poultry.