Michelle's Quarterly Blog from Moishe House Boston

As the New Year approaches, it is always a great time to reflect a bit on what the past year has been like. By far, one of the most memorable and, in some ways, pivotal, moments has been moving into the Moishe House in September. In my last quarterly blog, I wrote about my trepidation with this move--questions about how I would navigate between my work and personal life, or maintain friendships with my housemates independent of our house. Now, 3 months later, it is striking to think about how comfortable I feel in the home. It has become a community, a family of housemates nested within a family of Moishe House members, and that has given me unexpected joy and nourishment. Perhaps the most grateful aspect of my living in the Moishe House is the closeness I feel with my housemates. Unlike any living situation I have been in previously, I feel no sense of resentment about the mundane aspects of living situations (i.e. taking out the garbage, eating food, cleaning the kitchen) or the more challenging aspects of running a community. We are able to speak honestly and directly to each other, bring up issues that bother us, and remarkably, move past them. Because we are all committed to open communication and take our jobs seriously, we have been able to build a home that generates positive energy, enthusiasm, and laughter--all while we are doing things that are terribly important to us (i.e. social justice campaigns). And so, we have become friends-- people to come home to and complain about our day to or celebrate with or go out to an amazing play with, or dance with.

As I begin 2010, I feel a tremendous sense of gratitude that I can start a new year with these friends and housemates, and continue to grow with them as we work to grow the Moishe House Boston community.