Rachael in Silver Spring checking in for December

I seem to have magically gone from insistently & consistently writing my blogs at the end of the month (in order to write about that month), to rather abruptly & surprisingly slamming out my blog in the very beginning of the month -- just when the rest of my house may finally start following my initial logic of waiting until the end of the month....

Ah, well. =D

1. November was awesome! I really like our interfaith understanding initiative. Although not of the same magnitude of Boston's Muslim-Jewish project, I am really excited for it & hope to see it continue to grow.

Our first interfaith learning event went really well, and I can't wait for our next one (in a couple weeks).

(For all who may possibly be alarmed or concerned: our disclaimer is always something along the lines of,

"No one is trying to convert, lecture to, pressure, coerce, make feel guilty, or etc. anyone else in attendance. SUCH BEHAVIOR IS ABSOLUTELY NOT ACCEPTABLE."

&,

"Have no fear!: AT NO POINT will anyone from any particular faith attempt to force their viewpoints on anyone else in the room!! There will be no converting, coercing, cajoling, bullying, or otherwise encouraging anyone present to abandon their particular faith and / or absorb the other faith into their belief structure."

I am absolutely adamant about this!
These are all personal friends of ours who come from or celebrate different faiths or cultures that we want to learn more about; and these people want to gain a greater understanding of what it means to be Jewish.)

2. Our Havdala party (& after-party ;) -- we need to have more of those!) at Ohev Sholom - The National Synagogue was fantastic (though, honestly, the Mikva wall clock in one of their study rooms kinda creeped me out), and our movie night with Jews United for Justice officially kicked off what I hope is a growing & deepening collaborative relationship between a concentration of social action-oriented folks & the Silver Spring Moishe House. AND, Brady was here(!) for the movie night. A few of us went to the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore Sunday afternoon before the movie extravaganza. It's a crazy place. http://www.avam.org/ -- check out the website, and you'll begin to understand.

Good times, good times.

3. December! December events, Hanukkah, a party for the secular New Year: December should be amazing. Football + crafting for charity, Sacred Evening for Rosh Chodesh Tevet (can it top October-Cheshvan natural healing with Julie or November-Kislev with the erins band [who is / are AMAZING & my new favorite musical experience!]?!?!), movie & chat with Brit Tzedek, Shabbat services & dinner with Taglit Birthright Alumni, informal learning & shmoozing with Rav T (as I like to refer to him) of Mesorah DC, our next interfaith event, and perhaps a couple unofficial trips to the Piratz bar nearby or to the Palace of Wonders to see some fire & other circus sideshow-esque performances (getting there in time to actually SEE the show) -- yes, yes: December should be amazing.

And then there's planning for January!: maybe a joint event with the Montgomery County Gesher City cluster, our January interfaith event, & thinking ahead to March for our proposed outdoor fire performance at the house, just for fun & in honor of my birthday. . . . And of COURSE in January is our conference weekend in California, to which I am really looking forward! (Proper grammar sounds so odd.) If only the worldly, non-U.S.A. MHs would be there as well....

More good times, and laughs, and hopefully not too much cold (but some snow would be great):
I miss Nature's Classroom, & I love the Moishe House. =D

As for the football + crafting for charity: great people, fairly good turnout (DESPITE the first sleetfall of the season! -- all you Californians don't know what you're missin'!) -- but, funny thing, the group came & went -- some leaving early, others arriving late -- over the course of a few hours... & our photos reflect that. :) Still, a great event. Now if only we can get everyone to be here simultaneously!

No-pressure, no-skill-needed Hope Buddies gave the non-craft-oriented attendees a low-key first venture into the world of arts & crafts (possibly for the first time since elementary school art class or arts & crafts at summer camp way back in the day): simple, fun, & out of it comes something for a child for whom a hope-giving friend might be just what they need.

I don't want to end this, but my writing has got to conclude at some point. :) So: Till next time!