1753 Euclid Meets 9500 Liberty

The Moishe House DC is proud of the many partnerships we have in the city and the networks that are available to us. At a recent event, we partnered with the Service Employees International Union, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and Jews United for Justice to screen the film 9500 Liberty. This documentary takes place in an area of Virginia about 20 miles from our own home where the county was attempting to enact a law where police could question and arrest residents they believed were undocumented (think: original Arizona). We were lucky enough to have the filmmaker in the room and two of the heroes of the film who are shown fighting tirelessly for the rights of all members of their community. It was amazing to hear the women speak about the time when this law was at the nucleus of political debate and to hear the filmmaker talk about the challenges of filming, but also the visceral need to document this story as it unfolded.

For me, this was one of the best events that we’ve run since my time in the house because it truly encapsulated everything that I feel is at the core of MHDC beliefs and our place in our community. We hosted this well attended event (around 80 people) inside the office building of SEIU mid-work week with people entering with work clothes and government badges, forgoing dinner to tune in to a film and discussion. People wanted to be attending it not only because MHDC was a part of it, but because it was addressing a current issue in a space where ideas and questions could be challenged and answered. MHDC continues to not only be a part of the Jewish community here but also in the general patchwork that makes up DC.

1753 Euclid Meets 9500 Liberty

The Moishe House DC is proud of the many partnerships we have in the city and the networks that are available to us. At a recent event, we partnered with the Service Employees International Union, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and Jews United for Justice to screen the film 9500 Liberty. This documentary takes place in an area of Virginia about 20 miles from our own home where the county was attempting to enact a law where police could question and arrest residents they believed were undocumented (think: original Arizona). We were lucky enough to have the filmmaker in the room and two of the heroes of the film who are shown fighting tirelessly for the rights of all members of their community. It was amazing to hear the women speak about the time when this law was at the nucleus of political debate and to hear the filmmaker talk about the challenges of filming, but also the visceral need to document this story as it unfolded.

For me, this was one of the best events that we’ve run since my time in the house because it truly encapsulated everything that I feel is at the core of MHDC beliefs and our place in our community. We hosted this well attended event (around 80 people) inside the office building of SEIU mid-work week with people entering with work clothes and government badges, forgoing dinner to tune in to a film and discussion. People wanted to be attending it not only because MHDC was a part of it, but because it was addressing a current issue in a space where ideas and questions could be challenged and answered. MHDC continues to not only be a part of the Jewish community here but also in the general patchwork that makes up DC.

Omer Kalderon - Moishe House Cape Town - Being Israeli in Moishe House

For the past 6 months, Moishe House Cape Town has been my home away from home. I am currently functioning as the Cape Town community Shaliach, dealing with Issues of Jewish identity, Aliyah, Jewish education and building relationships between the Jewish community of Cape Town and Israel. I have the great privilege of living in such a vibrant city and an amazing house, with great housemates and incredible activities filled with so much passion.

The Idea of Moishe House is to maintain a Jewish life wherever you are in the world, and it has been a great place for me to fit in. Besides the fact that I'm here to deal with these issues, it has also helped me connect with a much wider circle of people by getting to know all those who come to the Moishe House. At the beginning of my year in SA I had a fear that I would not have a close group of friends – friends who I could really talk to and with whom I could share things that were on my mind. When I joined the House it was like a miracle! I fitted in right away and within seconds I got the warm feeling of home.

I never knew how hard it is to maintain a Jewish life outside of Israel. I've always been to an Israeli (Jewish/Hebrew) day school and 99.9% of my friends are Jewish. Living in Israel is living in a place where you don't really need to practice your Jewish life. It's there 100% of the time - Kosher restaurants, synagogues, Jewish culture, Hebrew and more. I knew it would be harder outside of Israel, but I didn't know how much harder it would be.

Our main goal of Moishe House Cape Town is to expand on the number of people attending our activities, mainly because we believe in what we are doing. I find it so inspiring working with people who are proudly building their own Jewish Zionist identity. As an Israeli who knew nothing, as I said, about struggling to preserve Jewish identity, I now know I can contribute a great deal. My personal experience and my "Israeli" attitude towards things are helping us, in the house, come up with some new, exciting and creative Ideas.

I am enjoying adding to the vibe in the house, deciding together what our goals are, debating what events we should run and getting to know my own friends and housemates opinions in regard to a variety of ideas. Bringing my own point of view to the table and trying to create this special connection between Jewish people in the Diaspora and Israel are just a couple of the things I'm doing, and will continue to do in my Moishe House.

I'm extremely happy that I have this opportunity to be a part of Moishe House Cape Town.

Omer Kalderon,

Moishe House CT and Cape Town Community Shaliach

And Now The Time Has Come. . . .

The winds of change are upon the Israelites of Moishe House Portland. Transitions are never easy, but when the comradeship of Jewish commune living starts approaching its end, it can be difficult to part with.

Two of our most beloved Housniks, Jodi Berris and Jeremy Rogers, have decided to bid adieu. They're departing -- slowly seeing themselves into a new life without us. Sometime in the next six months, they'll be gone. Yet I can't imagine what the house would be like without them. Let's consider their absence by recalling their accomplishments.

Ms. Berris is the undisputed champion of all things Jewish for young professionals in Portland. Bar none, no soul has contributed more for the enhancement of yiddishkeit for young folks in Portland than Berris. The founding mother of our chapter, she helped spearhead a kosher kitchen that we've maintained since the House's inception. From Israeli club night to 1800 Shabbat to sports leagues galore, Berris will leave lessons, undoubtedly; she will leave a legacy unmathced for years to come.

Mr. Rogers is like no other housemate. His rationalism and ability to lead have been crucial. His skill as a mediator of conflict is leveled that of with a skilled diplomat. Every home needs someone to rely on -- an indefinite source of truth, an illuminating force of wisdom -- to filter the fair from the foul. A musician with sensational smoothness and Hashem given talent, Rogers gave us evenings of Billy Joel ballads under the dimmed starlight and a leftover bottle from Passover. As for intellect, few can contain such immense amounts of knowledge; few will be as formidable a debate opponent as our great mind Jeremy Rogers.

If we could retire jerseys and hang them from the rafters, surely these two numbers would be immortalized. Both are original Housniks and house hall-of-famers. They'll be missed.

Parker and Rae Chat about MoHOC’s Past, Present and Future

Parker: This month marks the 1 year anniversary for Moishe House
Orange County. It has seen the transition of 2 members, and now is
home to a stable group of three awesome Jews determined to prove that
just maybe, there are a bunch of Jews hiding in the OC. I wanted to
interview Rae my roommate and the founding member of MoHOC for our
house's anniversary. What I'd love to know is what are some of your
favorite moments this year at the house?

 Rae:  I think my favorite moments in the Moishe House have been the
really simple things. Seeing people make friends, and later seeing
them post pictures on Facebook of them going out. That is the purpose
of Moishe House, to create community, and I feel like we have really

accomplished that in the last year. I also have loved our Tikkun Olam

events, our Black and Pink Chanukah party (which was a labor of love
for me) and some of the goofy game nights we have had

 Parker:  I know that I have only been around for a few months, now
but the concept of "labor of love" is very evident in all of the
events we put on. You especially pour yourself into the act of
planning and running an event.

 When you took on the Moishe House, you were already running your own

Jewish Organization, JewC, and since the inception of the Orange

County house, you have obviously gown as a person, and a Jew. Where
are you now compared to last year when the doors first opened.

Rae:  I am a lot saner! JewC was a wonderful experience, but
running an organization that has over 500 members with no budget and
just your ideas can be exhausting and overwhelming. I have to confess
I cried myself to sleep a few times when that organization was growing. For me
Moishe House allows me to do all the fun and interesting things I

wanted to do with JewC but never had the space, funds, or support of
enough people.

 

As a Jew, I think the thing I have learned the most is
that a lot of people aren't interested in connecting with being
Jewish. They are content to have friends, and date and then think

about the fact that they are Jewish again. Or, if they are interested,

they think that there isn't a place for them because they aren't

Jewish enough. We get questions from people asking if it is ok if they
come since they are only half Jewish. I have to laugh when I get asked that

because I am a convert, and my roomie is half, and my other roomie is

pretty secular.

 

Judaism comes not only in all shapes and sizes, but

also in all levels of practice. We aren't a "Jewish" house for Jews,
we are a house where most of the time we all happen to be Jewish.


 Parker:  I really love the sentiment, "we all happen to be Jews"

there are few religious spaces out there that are open to all beliefs.
I for one am proud that we bring people in that aren't necessarily
Jewish, the fact that our members are able to bring their non-Jew
friends to events without hesitation is really neat. We are part of
movement that lets people practice Judaism on their own time an in

their own ways.

Our house is a work in progress, and I know where I want to take it,
but Rae..our dear leader...Heh, has her own dreams and aspirations and
this blog is a spot light on her. So where do you want to take the
house in its second year?


Rae:  I hear (quite often) from Jews and non-Jews alike that there are

"no Jews" in Orange County. I quickly counter that statement, and tell
them that in fact, quite the opposite is true, and there are lots and lots of Jews in OC!

But some days I wake up and I wonder if we have found all the Jews that are interested

in coming to something like the Moishe House.

 

My goal for the next year is continue to grow awareness about Moishe House in our local community.
Our last Shabbat we had seven new people and they said that they
couldn't believe something like this existed and they loved it. I want
to hear that over and over again, as new people move to the area and

maybe someJews realize that they want to be more connected to their
Judaism, I want them to know about Moishe House.

 

A few months ago I just started randomly emailing fans on our Facebook
page asking them to join us (they were after all, already fans) and we have

several new members from those emails. It is about persistence and

making people feel welcome. Our problem isn't getting people to come

to the house again, it is about getting them past that initial
shyness, and just come to the house to see how rad it is.

 

I also want to go bigger and badder for our Chanukah party, finish our organic

garden, and set up a board of members to advice us so we can continue to offer

great events for the next year

MoHoLo MONTHLY NEWSLETTER WITH ALL THE EVENTS AND TING

Hello Moishe House Crew!

Hope you are doing well after Birthday celebrations, Glastonbury shenanigans or general sunbathing and enjoying the rare June sun rays.

Maybe could you add as an ongoing event that anyone's welcome to comecheck help with the community garden - email 

We are looking forward to a summer of interesting events at Moishe House. Check them out here:

Thursday, July 8

Ahavat Hinam: How Unconditional Love can Heal the World A special session with Rabbi Marc Soloway... We are right in the middle of the three week period of mourning culminating in Tisha b'Av, which commemorates the destruction of two Temples and endless tragedy throughout history. What a downer in the midst of the openness and summer loving we might be feeling. Is there a way to make emotional and spiritual sense of this darkness in the light and heat of the summer? We will sing, meditate, study and discuss this question, especially in the context of love and hate and inner Temples. Marc hasn't lived in London for 10 years, but grew up here. Once an actor and storyteller, he is now a rabbi in Boulder, Colorado in the foothills of the Rockies, where he straddles the worlds of Conservative (Masorti) Judaism and Jewish Renewal. Where: MoHoLo When: Thursday, July 8 from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Thursday, July 22

The Open Talmud Project Moishe House London are delighted to be supporting the Open Talmud Project, which this year will take place at locations in Hampstead Garden Suburb. The Open Talmud Project is a ground-breaking initiative promoting meaningful study of Jewish texts by teachers from across the Jewish spectrum for anyone who wants to learn. Following a highly successfully start in 2009, we’re back with a bigger and better programme for 2010. Taking place July 22nd – 25th the Open Talmud is a 4 day extravaganza of Jewish text learning, covering Talmud, Tanach, Halacha and Philosophy. The Open Talmud is unique in the UK – there is no another course offering serious cross-denominational learning, and no other opportunity to engage in high quality learning in such an open mind environment. Come and be part of this new way of doing Judaism! 'This was Talmud as I imagined the Rabbis did it - engaged, meaningful, deeply personal, and loudly argumentative' Rabbi Natan Levy 'Grass-roots, post-denominational, quality Torah study - that's what the Open Talmud Project embodied' Rabbi Shoshana Boyd Gelfand 'Like studying in Jerusalem again, but saving on the carbon credits' Adam Driscoll – participant For full details, and to sign up go to www.opentalmudproject.org The Open Tamud Project is supported by Jeneration, Marom and Moishe House London Where: Locations in Hampstead Garden Suburb When: Thursday, July 22 at 9:30 am until Sunday, July 25 at 5:30 pm

Sunday, July 25

SPECIAL TALENTS FUNDRAISING AUCTION   GOODS (AND GREATS) NEEDED Help Grassroots reach the grassroots, we're holding an auction to defray the cost of a venue, enabling more people to attend. Sunday, July 25, Moishe House. Donate NEW GOODS suitable for AUCTION (or get someone you know to do so). We're also looking to get lots of small items that can be sold in a JUMBLE SALE. Get in touch with Norm at norm.guthartz@haymarket.com. Deadline for auction goods: June 25. (All items will be listed in our online catalogue.) And don't forget to tell your friends and family about the event; remote bidding is planned. Details to follow. DO YOU HAVE A TALENT/SKILL OR THE TIME TO PROVIDE A SERVICE? Help Grassroots reach the grassroots, we're holding an auction to defray the cost of a venue, enabling more people to attend. Sunday, July 25, Moishe House. Grassroots Jews are still looking for people who can pledge to offer services for auction. Whether it's walking tours, music lessons, manicures or home organizing, we need you. Do you have any proceeds for the auction: Get in touch with Norm at norm.guthartz@haymarket.com. Deadline for auction goods: June 25. (All items will be listed in our online catalogue.) And don't forget to tell your friends and family about the event; remote bidding is planned. Details to follow. Message 3 TECHNICAL WIZARDS WANTED Lend your skills and time to the Grassroots Jews fundraising auction, Sunday, July 25. You can volunteer in one of two ways: − Set up an online catalogue of the goods and services being put on the block. We'll provide the content (including images). − Figure out how we can run remote bidding for those unable to attend – and then run it. (We can provide volunteers to field calls on the day. You'll need to train them.) Can you help? Contact Norm at norm.guthartz@haymarket.com as soon as you can. Where: HOUSE When: Sunday, July 25 from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Wednesday, July 28

HANG OUT AT THE HOUSE Our regular evening for chilling with friends from the Darfuri refugee community. Eat, drink and be merry in the July summertime, outside in the back garden with a nice jam session and new album of Sudanese music... We will be enjoying the reggae music and the wine. Come and join and 'hang out' Where: MOISHE HOUSE LONDON When: Wednesday, July 28 from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Sunday, August 1

ZOO-MANIA!! Get ready for our ZOO- MANIA! A themed Sunday summer garden mash-up! Think jungle animals, live music from the castle, carnivores and herbivorous bbq, animal yoga poses, a fully equipped alternative veterinary for all you wild animals and more... Where: MoHoLo - message us for the address When: Sunday, August 1 from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm

YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE

You may have seen that some of our events are run or co-produced by community members who want to make our space theirs too.  If you have a skill or idea worth sharing, you can easily make it a high quality, thought-provoking, fun and, as much as possible, free MoHoLo event, whether secular or Jewish-related.  From maintenance skills to Maimonides: this house is your house. Let us know what you'd like to do.

Much love

Aviad, Brett, Joel, Rachel and Tali
--
Moishe House London, in Willesden Green, is part of Moishe House, a worldwide network of houses that are centres for grassroots Jewish community. From our own home, we aim to bring exciting, creative, post-denominational Jewish community to London.

www.moishehouse.org

--
Moishe House London, in Willesden Green, is part of Moishe House, a worldwide network of houses that are centres for grassroots Jewish community. From our own home, we aim to bring exciting, creative, post-denominational Jewish community to London.

www.moishehouse.org

Leaving the vibrant community that is MHP

After two years of being involved in a successful experiment of Jewish community, I find myself moving on to other activities. One of the many contacts I have made over this time has helped me gain a new leadership role in my community - I am one of the co-chairs of LimmudPhilly, a large Jewish learning conference run almost entirely by volunteers. Unfortunately, it is a large time commitment and I cannot see myself performing adequately in Moishe House while putting the time into LimmudPhilly. Thus, I am leaving.

That being said, I want to emphasize to those residents in other cities who are moving out or who have moved out already: you can STILL remain involved. I plan on attending multiple events per month, helping to plan anything that I can, and bring a resource for the new housemates. As "Transition Specialist" I have already helped to bring a few of them into the fold and look forward to helping guide them in their new tasks.

And, in reality, I am not moving that far away. I found a wonderful place about four blocks west of Moishe House Philly so I'll be easily accessible. I look forward to sticking around and seeing how the community will grow and flourish. Yay MHP!