Halloween

Wednesday was my first Halloween in West Hollywood. It was nuts. The LA Moishe House is in prime location for a Halloween party. The parade marches right by our house, through WeHo, and ends at a stage that hosted costume contests and a special performance by Mini Kiss! The sights seen walking around were incredible. People went all out in their costumes. Our party saw at least 80 people through the door. It got to the point where we couldn't even count. I put together a Roger Rabbit costume. I had found a pair of red overalls at a thrift store and it was perfect. They seemed like they'd fit. Who tries on anything other than sunglasses at a thrift store? About 15 minutes before party time I slipped them on only to find that they were too small. Lee helped me stretch it on. We got the zipper to close. But I felt like a girl at a wedding. I had no room to breathe and was incredibly and uncomfortably squeezed in all the wrong places. Better yet, what would the chances be of finding another pair of red overalls at a thrift store? I had to make do. So I took some scissors and cut a slit in the crotch and one along each side. I ended up looking like a disheveled, past-his-prime Roger Rabbit who hasn't had a hit movie in 19 years. Nevertheless, it was a great night.

COSTUME HIGHLIGHTS:
One dude showed up as Iceman from Top Gun, only to find that 3 dudes he didn't know were Mavrick, Goose and Hollywood.
Bruce and Cory as Kermit and Miss Piggy.
John Poulos was the most believable Charlie Chaplin I've ever seen.
Dave Eagle as the Grim Reaper character from Guitar Hero II. He even made the scythe guitar.
Baby Cael as Babe Ruth.

Silver Spring Maryland & Shabblooween

I've done a lot of travelling in the past month. For various reasons I've been away from MHSS for a number of weekends up in New York and Baltimore. So unfortunately I was out of town the Sunday that we went to the Maryland Renaissance Festival, which you can hear about from other SS Moisheketeers.

I'm gonna talk about Shabblooween. How outrageous! Shabbat dinner with costumes, the friday night after Halloween! I'm sorry you all couldn't be there, because we don't have photographs during Holy-Sabbath-time, but there was Heidi the alpine girl, a fancy woman from India, an Israeli EMT, a man with a shrunken head, and more, all sharing food and song in our Moishetastic living room. We got to know some of the good kids from the local AVODAH (Jewish service corps) group, and we even successfully pulled off the first meaty Shabbat dinner at MHSS (with pot roast and delicious brisket) -- while still stuffing the vegetarians with non-murderlicious delicacies like Tomato-pesto Pastry rolls!

And the best part? I was dressed as Tom Cruise from that famous scene in "Risky Business", sliding across the floor in front of a dinner crowd of 20 (including 10 newbies) -- pantsless.

Moishe house la, Lee Levin. Nov. 4th

What up peeps. Last month was off the hizzy. We ended Oct with a huge gala and started Nov. off with that same power. It's Jew time over here at the LA Moishe house as we plan to add an increasing number of Jewish events. So get your Kepot out and your vocal chords ready. This moth is going to be awesome.

MHLA, Dave Eagle, 11/04/07

JEWS WEAR COSTUMES TOO

So a few nights ago we had a bash here at the L.A. Moishe House that just blew up......Halloween!!! I know its the not the most Jewish of holidays but we had to throw a party considering West Hollywood is the craziest place to enjoy Halloween in Southern California. We were expecting having some friends over and of course friends of friends, but we didn't realize what kind of chain that can form. Some of the best costumes of the night were a group of guys who just happened to all dress like Top Gun characters, a Myspace profile, and Kermit/MissPiggy. Our pictures are up on Phanfare so please have a gander.

On another note, myself and some of our regulars are noticing how little conversational Hebrew we can speak. So in an attempt to change this we are planning on hosting some Hebrew classes in our house with a group. We are planning a 2-3 times a month sort of class. I know the D.C. house had classes in their house before so I hope we can pull of the same success that they had. BTW it's great to see so many new houses popping up all over....including the London House. If I am in town I am definitely crashing with you guys!!!!!!

Have a great month to all!!!
~Dave

A typical day in london moishe house

Everyone rises 'early in the morning for a full english breakfast of eggs and (soya based) bacon prepared by the maid whose salary is paid out of the monthly budget. A series of english gentlemen of the mosaic persuasion arrive in a horse and carriage for shacharit and toast, our most popular event. They are briefly interrupted by the arrival of a small boy who has come to sweep the chimbley. 'Hebrew masters!' says he, 'can I earn an extra bob or two by turning on the lights for you on the shabbath'? Or perhaps you coud pay me with your delicious shabbath bread!' He is employed as part of the goy team on the spot. There is an unfortunate clash mid morning between the Mission society and Jews for Christians who used to be Jews, but they sort it out amicably. Chief Rabbi Adler arrives in the afternoon for tea and spotted dick, and discusses events in the commonwealth, in which the moishe house residents have certain trade interests. The evening sees a meeting by the ladies who promote 'votes for women'. A rabbi is present behind a mehitzah to make sure decency is practiced, and to begin the evening with he singing of 'eshes chayil'. Just as we are retiring to our chambers a leperous street urchin knocks at the door, calling 'alms for the poor, alms for the poor!' You've come to the right place, say we, this is a house of the Hebrews! Tzdekah is practiced here!' He goes away dirty but happy. It has been another great day.

Joseph

I think I am now officially a blogger (sounds rude that)

Gideon - checking into the Moishe House blog for the first time.

Well, here I am sitting in the small, quaint dining room of Moishe London, wondering quite how this all came about and how we have actually made this all a reality.

The truth is we got here through five people with a desire to create an alternative Jewish space then developing a collective vision and showing the comimttment to see it through. It was hard work but it was such a fundamental expression of what we are that it didnt feel like it. Obviously, it could not have been done without the vision and support of Moishe and his team.

Already a month into our project, it feels like we are really up and running. There is a real buzz amongst youngish Anglo-Jewry about what we are doing, we have already organised a range of events and had about 300 people through our door. We have a housekeeping rota and the spaces in the house are full of life. Lets hope this is the start of something really great, it certainly feels like it is.

Anyway until next time, when I hope to report on some great upcoming events in Moishe House London. Gideon over and out!

Autumnal Ponderings

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