Moishe house blog: the day I was robbed

A couple months ago I was robbed by a couple thieves at Mexico City, although it was no surprise because here it’s kind of normal being robbed at the streets, especially at Christmas’s season, it was quite unpleasant.

When I was in my way back home, I took my usual way but when I was crossing a gas station near home, two guys appeared, pushed me to a dark corner and took my wallet, my cell phone and my laptop. But actually I won’t talk about me being robbed more, I ratter choose to talk about the reaction of both my moishe house partners Alan and Paul and some other people who helped me.

At first I didn’t know what to do, so I went back to the gas station to ask for help, nobody did, but then when I came to a café near there to ask for a phone, a girl that I think works there even gave 50 bucks. So I arrived home, neither of my roommates where there, and took a computer to cancel all my bank cards. But at that time I started talking to Alan by g-talk, and told him that I was robbed, he didn’t answer, so I started asking my neighbors for a phone, which they kindly lend me one. After I canceled all my cards, I came back home and Alan was here, worried sick about, so I looked at the laptop and where all kind of messages like –“talk to me man…” and that stuff. Apparently he started calling Paul, may be twenty or more calls I think.

That day both were really nice, they helped me a lot. To be honest one of my main intentions and concerns by joining the moishe house program was about living with other people; because I have been living alone almost two years for the time when I moved in to the moishe house; so gratefully it wasn’t a mistake, actually I think it was a great choice, because it was proven that I am not alone anymore.

Happy New Year...

Personal Blog

So I just came back from my Birthright trip to Israel and to anyone who has not yet gone, I highly, highly recommend it. Not only did it give me a chance to see the Holy Land, but gave me so much more perspective on the history and culture of the Jewish people. You can learn it from afar, but actually experiencing it first hand was enlightening and fascinating. Israel seems like a small country and it is, relatively speaking, yet there's so much to see and experience. It's hard to convey the feeling of walking on streets and squares paved with stones that are thousands of years old. You're literally breathing history. The visits to the Golan Heights (the site of the Six Day War), the city of Tsfat (birthplace of Kabbalah) and tour of the Old Jerusalem were especially memorable. It made feel connected to my heritage and really see where it all came from. It gave me a new sense of spirituality that I didn't have before. It's almost as if you can feel G*d's presence in Israel, especially in the Old City.

This trip has strengthened my Jewish identity and at the same time raised my curiosity to explore further. It's interesting, but my return from Israel marks a 6-month point in the life of our House. So it's almost as if we begin a new era, with the first being more experimental. I would like to bring my zeal for Israel along with my new-found knowledge to our community here in Chicago and share with them the wonderful experience that I had. The long-term effects of this remain to be seen.

-Rostik
RSJ-Chicago

Personal Blog

So it was my first year living in a Moishe House. I must say that it was my best year ever!
Finnaly I finished my almost two years lasting fight with statistics ( finnaly I scored A) and on my studies Iim having only pleasant courses. Only 1,5 left till I finish my degree. now I'm thinking about writing my thesis. My subject is The Level of Fear and Salutegenesis in third generation. My concept is basic on Aaron Antonovsky an American/Israeli academician whose work concerned the relationship between stress, health and well-being.A key concept in Antonovsky's theory concerns how specific personal dispositions serve to make individuals more resilient to the stressors they encounter in daily life. Antonovsky identified these characteristics, which he claimed helped a person better cope (and remain healthy) by providing that person a "sense of coherence" about life and its challenges, he developed a scale (Orientation to Life Questionnaire) to measure it.

What we want to do in 2010? Of course we want to extend our MH community, maybe some trips, maybe summer camp? Maybe mopre interresting guests? After visiting Mh Budapest we want to visit other Moishe Houses.
Now we are part of a preparations for Purim in our community and we are attending 65th anniversary of liberation Auschwit-Birkenau Camp. This is going to be huge so I cannot wait!

Personal Reflection - Josh of mohoden

On the Moishe House program and community of Denver-
I'm impressed. Our success ove three months has shown that the Moishe House model is indeed very practical - it's make sense - and with some effort and funding, is very easily replicable in cities and communities all over.

Our community is growing, and full of great people that really appreciate what we have to offer. You can learn more about us by doing a google search of IJN Moishe House Denver. There's a pretty good article there about the three of us that has really helped expand our outreach.

On life -
I moved to Denver from nyc almost 6 months ago to start a PhD program - it's a one-of-a-kind interdisciplinary program focused on Sustainable Urban Infrastructure - see www.cudenver.edu/IGERT. A lot of work - exciting projects for both the world bank on cities and climate change and on sustainable development intervention planning for two cities in India - but I'm really enjoying it. More recently, I took a short trip over winter break to Puerto Rico with my gf, spent new years east coast in very cold-windchilled nyc and dc with many old friends and family, and am now settling back in to the much nicer Colorado weather, upcoming ski season, and semester. Also looking forward to organizing a mohoden dance party event this month or next - so if \ you have good tracks to add to the list of our moho mix - let me know. We're also developing our jewish learning component - so if any of you want to share events you ran early on in your existence as a moho community - that'd be much appreciated.

Happy new year,
Josh

Chicago Reflections, by Hannah G.

We're four months into our tenure as the Chicago Moishe House. It's been a whirlwind, but I finally feel like we're falling into a rhythm of planning and hosting the programs. I really feel privileged to be a part of this program. I did Avodah last year and the community aspect was the element I valued the most. It's great to be supported in my attempt to continue to intentionally build a Jewish community here in Chicago.

In November, we went to the East Coast regional retreat in DC. It was great to meet the other Moishe-ers, not to mention the central staff. I enjoyed learning from the experiences of those that have been involved longer than we have. The retreat gave me perspective and helped me realize that we really are a part of something bigger than just our community here in Chicago. I'm looking forward to the months to come.

~Hannah Gelder, MH Chicago

mohoden December House blog

Newcomers:

• What does your house do when someone shows up to a program who doesn't know anyone?
• What processes do you have for integrating newcomers into your community and making them feel welcome?

1. Both formal and informal introductions - depending on how many newcomers at an event. We sometimes come up with fun games for getting to know each other. We're still relatively new, so still many new faces each event.

2. Introduce newcomers to others who may have related interests. Let them know about other fun upcoming events.

Danielle's first 2010 blog!

It's been an extremely busy last three months-- but since the pace of Moishe house Philly matches the pace of my outside life-- go, Go, GO!-- all my burners are on all the time and my weeks are packed with excitement! With so much to do between school and work, I'm grateful that living in Moishe house means I'm sure to make time for the most precious parts of daily living: friends, family, fun, (homemade) food, and reflection :) It's been really valuable for me to have "mandatory" study-breaks in my life and a social life I can't neglect. I have especially enjoyed some of our smaller events this fall, such as book club and study hall, as an opportunity to get to really talk to new people and experience a sense of group cohesiveness. That being said, I also absolutely love our large shabbat dinners-- our latest boasting a particularly impressive spread of food cooked with love and pride. Last but not least, I absolutely loved holiday time with Moishe House (and partners) including some scrumptiously sweet holiday holiday treats, a hanukah party, and a sit-down holiday dinner. Looking forward to all the joy and surprises 2010 will surely bring.