Appreciating Every Day

This is a short 5 minute video that won an award at the Cannes (French) Film Festival.

Orthodox, but not Jewish Enough for Aliyah

A follow up article on the issue with Jewish conversions and applying for citizenship in Israel
(Click on the Title of this post to follow the link to see the article)

Help Decide who gets $1.5 Million

If you have an American Express Online Log-in you can vote for which organization gets $1.5 Million!
I fully support KIVA.ORG - Click on "Loans That Change Lives" below...

I worked with an organization similar to Kiva when I lived in India - and they are truly making a difference in peoples lives all around the globe. You can only vote if you have an American Express Card - if you don't have an American Express, you can still get involved at kiva.org - have you ever wanted to help a developing entrepreneur succeed? You can loan someone $25 on Kiva.org and when your loan is paid back, you can take your money back or loan it to someone else.

משרד "על" הפנים Israel Minsitry Playing Conversion Games with Jose Portuondo

From the Jerusalem Post on Sunday, October 5th, 2008:

Twenty-five-year-old Jose Portuondo-Wilson is wondering what it takes to prove to the government that he is Jewish.

Eighteen months after his Orthodox conversion in Chicago, he is resorting to a High Court of Justice petition to force Interior Ministry bureaucrats to approve his aliya.

Born to a practicing Catholic family of anusim, Jews who took their Judaism underground in the wake of the Spanish Inquisition and 1492 expulsion, Portuondo-Wilson discovered his Jewish roots in 2002, after his first year at the University of Chicago.

The discovery explained a lot, such as the heavy silver candlesticks decorated with a Star of David motif that his mother had inherited from her maternal grandmother, or the non-Spanish name Gil among the family's many last names, or the rumor he had heard at age 14 of Jewish blood in the family.

But Portuondo-Wilson was not satisfied with merely uncovering his history. He became Jewishly observant in 2003, beginning to keep kosher, observe Shabbat, pray three times daily and lay tefillin each morning. And he began to seriously study Judaism.

He joined the Jewish community at the University of Chicago, becoming president of the Orthodox minyan in his last year and working full-time for the campus Hillel the year after. He even majored in Jewish studies.

Off-campus, he joined the Orthodox Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Synagogue in 2005. The synagogue's Rabbi Asher Lopatin, who was a member of the beit din (religious court) that converted Portuondo-Wilson, recalled on Thursday that he was "a frum [observant] guy. He came to shul, not just on Shabbat but also during the week."

Then, in April 2007, after four years of an observant lifestyle and nearly two years as a member of a synagogue, Portuondo-Wilson was converted by a rabbinic court of three Chicago Orthodox rabbis, Rabbis Lopatin, Josh Feigelson, the rabbi of Northwestern University, and Barry Wimpfheimer, a Yeshiva University-ordained professor of Jewish studies at Northwestern.

In August 2007, Portuondo-Wilson decided to make aliya.

"I always had a strong sense of being at home when I was in Israel," he said. After five years of Hebrew study, including five months in Israel and a Hebrew University ulpan, "I felt I could contribute more to the Jewish people from Israel, particularly as someone with good English, good Hebrew and a degree."

But instead of making aliya, Portuondo-Wilson's application was the beginning of an 18-month (and running) battle with Israeli bureaucrats to prove his conversion was sincere and his Jewishness legitimate.

The Jewish Agency office in Chicago approved his aliya in August 2007. Once in Israel, he was told he should have stayed in the US for another year, an Interior Ministry policy to verify that converts are honest in their conversions and do not seek aliya benefits without genuinely joining the Jewish people.

Foreign converts are usually required to live for a year in their communities before making aliya.

But Portuondo-Wilson had already lived in his community for years, and knew no other. As a member of the anusim, his conversion was lehumra, a verification of his Jewishness, which according to Jewish law had probably remained intact.

This was in accordance with the rulings of Rabbi Aaron Soloveitchik (1917-2001), in his time among the most highly regarded halachic authorities in modern Orthodoxy.

It is unlikely Portuondo-Wilson made the move for the aliya benefits. With financial independence and a prestigious degree from the University of Chicago, Portuondo-Wilson's profile is closer to the young, educated olim Israel is eager to attract than to the "welfare aliya" government officials have come to fear.

Nevertheless, Portuondo-Wilson waited patiently until April 2008, a year after his conversion, to apply again for aliya. Jewish Agency officials assured him his conversion was approved and there would be no problem with it.

They were wrong.

Four months after the second application, on August 21, Portuondo-Wilson received official notice that his aliya was denied by the Interior Ministry. The reason: the rabbinical court that performed his conversion was "unrecognized."

"I'm not personally offended," Lopatin, reached by phone in Chicago, told The Jerusalem Post, "but that they're preventing him from being accepted is tragic and horrific. Israel can't be a place perceived as not accepting Jews. It's a terrible hilul hashem [desecration of God's name]."

"We don't know who made the decision [not to recognize the conversion], or what it even means. What makes a court 'unrecognized?'" asked Itzhak Bam, the lawyer Portuondo-Wilson hired days after learning of the ministry's decision.

According to Dr. Amnon Reichman of the University of Haifa Faculty of Law, whose expertise includes legal issues surrounding conversion, Supreme Court precedent has ruled that a rabbinic court is considered "recognized" if its own community accepts it.

"Legally, the ministry can only reject courts that are not recognized by the community itself," he explained. "The burden of proof is on the ministry."

Due to Chicago Rabbinical Council rules, Lopatin no longer performs conversions in religious courts outside the framework of the council, like Portuondo-Wilson's, but he cannot accept any rationale for denying the conversions already performed.

"I don't care whether the Israeli Rabbinate recognizes my conversion or not, but I don't want them to have a monopoly over who can convert," Lopatin said. "We should take the monopoly away from them. Like with [kashrut supervision], there are different supervisions."

Portuondo-Wilson's conversion, he insists, "is halachicly valid, and socially recognized."

An Interior Ministry spokesman would not comment on the specific case, but said rabbinical courts abroad were recognized only if they appeared on a list kept by the Conversion Authority in the Prime Minister's Office.

That list, the spokesman added, was determined through consultation with the leaders of the local communities.

But "my conversion predates that list," Portuondo-Wilson notes in response.

The Conversion Authority could not be reached by press time.

Portuondo-Wilson remains stubbornly cheerful. His next move, he wrote to the ministry through his lawyer, was a petition to the High Court of Justice.

In the meantime, he is contemplating rabbinical school. He may become the first Orthodox rabbi in history to be denied aliya, he notes with humor.

[End of Article]

=============================================================

The comments on this article are particularly intriguing -
Here's a sample of Jpost.com readers blaming everyone under the sun:
- the Israeli Conversion Authority (Comment #2, 19)
- The Interior Ministry and conversion policies (Comment #3, 10, 13, 16)
- The 'anti-religious' Liberal State Authority (Comment #11, 15)
- The religious 'Haredim control' (Comment #4)
- Russian Christians (Comment #7, 12, 15)
- The 3 Rabbis that converted Jose (Comment #8, 9, 14)

I think the reader's blaming the Israeli Conversion Authority should know the ICA was not involved with Jose's case at all. They are in charge of performing conversions in Israel - Jose's beef is with the Ministry of the Interior - the government body appointed to deciding who's a Jew and who's not.

I've posted several comments on the
TalkBack Section
of the JPost Article

In any case, it's a sad time when the government of Israel is given the ability to overrule not only the Jewish Agency's approval for Jose's Aliyah, but also 3 Orthodox Rabbis who converted him.

Here's one of my comments posted in the TalkBacks

Keeping kosher and laying teffilin are examples of Jose's Jewishness.
The communities he has lived in vouch for his Jewishness.
Being President of the Orthodox Minyan exemplifies his Jewishness.
Majoring in Jewish Studies shows his commitment to Jewishness.
Working for Hillel shows his commitment to OTHERS Jewishness.
3 Orthodox Rabbis attest to Jose's Jewishness.
Hitler would consider Jose a Jew... and Israel does not.

A Deaf Person is not allowed to Convert to Judaism - what!?

The head of the Rabbinical High Court in Israel (Rabbi Sherman) has fired Rabbi Druckman who he says is being too lenient on conversions (in effect, invalidating thousands of conversions that Druckman has performed). Sherman says by being stricter on conversions he would be supporting "national unity." But instead - I'm afraid the reality of his decision will create more strife and division.

Read this article: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/8016

Sherman actually says a deaf person cannot convert, because being deaf you can't hear yourself pray. And if you can't hear yourself pray - you're not obligated to pray - and therefore you cannot "fulfill this mitzvah." So Sherman takes a leap and says... and therefore you cannot observe all the mitzvahs as a deaf person - so therefore you cannot be given a convert status because you cannot observe "ALL" the commandments. But if you're not obligated to pray, than you're not breaking that mitzvah... this Rabbi is very scary because he has so much power.

Recent News Article about the controvercy: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331213971&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Pay It Forward

A wonderful story from my Aunt::

I waited patiently in line at Starbucks. There was a kind-looking man placing his order. He looked at me (I was next in line) and asked, "Are you by yourself?" I said, "Yes." He said, "Let me buy you a cup of coffee. I will ask you just one thing in return. Tomorrow morning when you wake up, please wake up with a smile." I smiled and said, "Sure!", and then thanked him. He paid for it and left. Wow...

Resident of Colorado

How do you pronounce and spell the word for a "Resident of Colorado?"
Before you read the article linked below... which way do you say it:

1. Color-ra-do-in
2. Color-rod-in

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_5447358

Response to Prisoner Swap

It's sad but also nice to hear the families of the two soldiers captured in Lebanon a few years ago have closure now. I would not want to minimize their loss in anyway, but it's scary to think of the implications of our willingness to "do anything" to bring our soldiers bodies back.
I understand that it's a very very good thing for Israeli soldiers to know that they can take the risks they need to knowing the dangers of capture - and knowing how we will do anything to bring them back... However, would it not be better for soldiers to know that the knowledge of their health status and being alive is more important than just their bodies being returned?
Did we not send the message that 1.) If a soldier is captured and killed, it's not a big problem because a dead Israeli soldier can still get imprisoned militants returned alive. 2.) It's okay to mislead and give false hope of captures being alive, because Israel will still give in, in the end - and it validates their reasons to be secretive about crucial information...
Are we not putting the lives of current MIA/POW and future captured soldiers at a higher risk by making the statement that we will give you your captives alive even if ours our dead? Does this not give the militants the idea that it's okay to kill a soldier they've captured because they know we'll give them there prisoners alive anyway? Does our "moral code" not obligate us to think practically and about our long term safety?

Additionally, what kind of people celebrate the release of convicted criminals? If it was one of our soldiers that snuck into an innocent families home in the middle of the night and killed the father in front of their 4 year old daughter, and then smashed the daughters head with a rifle butt - I would expect nothing less than to have him put in our prison if he was returned. In the current situation however, we exchanged such a man for two dead bodies and the enemy state (and government) CELEBRATED his return declaring the day a holiday.

I would never want my dead body to be exchanged for breathing evil men.

The best summary of this unfortunate exchange I found here:
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1823490,00.html

Soccer Fans Go Crazy!

So this past Tuesday was the huge National Soccer Match in Israel: Jerusalem vs. Tel Aviv. (It's called the State Cup - because in Hebrew the word for "State" and "Nation" is the same). Anyways, Jerusalem won - and the match was over at around midnight. But the stadium they played at was in Tel Aviv. So it took the Jerusalem fans an hour to get out of the parking lot (very very crowded), and then an hour to drive home. Soooo... at TWO in the morning hundreds of cars from the soccer game came flooding into Jerusalem on my little quite street - and you can check out the video to see what happened...



To understand how unusual this is, take a look at this video which shows what the street is like on a normal night at 2 in the morning...



Interestingly, They were partying and dancing with even more enthusiasm than at 2 am the previous week for Independence Day. Soccer gets some Israelis more excited than celebrating their countries 60th birthday!

The Power of Music on Yom Hazikaron

On the evening of Yom Hazikaron (English: "Memorial Day") I was walking down the Arab Shuk corridor in the Old City of Jerusalem. The official ceremony to light the memorial flame at the Western Wall had just ended, and most of the guests had cleared out for the night. The air was still and the metal gates to each store were drawn shut (as everything in the city closed before sundown in preparation for the holiday).

The shuk was empty save a few Israeli soldiers on security watch who were stationed along the long narrow path leading down to the Temple Mount. As I strolled down the seemingly endless path, the cold stone arches were lit by a warm yellow glow from the street lamps.

Dressed in my black suit and fiddle cap, I continued to walk down the path and began to play the Israeli National Anthem on Raphael (my violin). The notes echoed through the market tunnel. I was so proud Raphael and I could create music in the same corridors that carried countless years of history in its walls. A flood of emotion came over me as I reached the end of the song. Little did I know that the experience I was about to have in the next three minutes would be even more powerful...

Just around the last corner of the Arab market that leads into the Jewish Quarter stood more than a dozen IDF Infantry Soldiers scattered haphazardly under an archway dressed in full ceremonial uniform. Before I turned the corner and saw these soldiers, I thought to myself that I would play "The Hatikva" (Egnlish: "The Hope" and the Israeli National Song) one more time before I reached the Western Wall Courtyard. Just as I began the first notes of the anthem, I turned the corner to come face to face with this battalion of soldiers.

As they recognized their Nation's Song of Hope, their chatter quickly ended and the entire group formed two straight lines standing at attention. Their commander signaled to remove their hats. All listened and saluted the notes that Raphael sung to signify the 60th year of celebrating the Jewish Homeland.

Seeing them saluting in uniform gave me a glimpse into my future - As part of becoming an Israeli citizen I will be required to enlist in active duty at some point over the next 3 years.

Kotel

So I had a really rough night. It was one of those nights where it would be really nice to talk to God, but it was hard to feel like I had his attention while I was at home. So I had a moment of inspiration and excitement when I remember that I was only a short taxi cab ride away from the Western Wall. It was an exciting feeling because if I was anywhere else in the world besides Jerusalem, I wouldn't be able to just say to myself, I feel like I need to talk to God right now - and walk over to the house he grew up in.

15 minutes and 25 Shekels later, I stepped out of a taxi cab at 11:30 pm the night after Passover in the Old City of Jerusalem. Before I stepped out of the cab I already began imagining what my experience at The Kotel (Western Wall) was about to be...

I lived in the Old City 2 summers ago and I was literally just a stones throw away from the Western Wall. I went many nights around midnight to talk to God at The Wall, and it was always quite and empty - sometimes even lonely. A great place to be depressed and cry your heart out. This is how I imagined The Wall would be tonight as I was riding over - but God had something else in store for me...

Before I even came in view of The Wall, I could hear singing. Even though it was only in the distance, my entire mood, demeanor, and attitude changed instantly. My ears perked up and my sadness began to dissipate. I soon came into view of a few hundred men in black hats that aligned themselves in a few solid rows (some standing on podiums and chairs) in a rectangular shaped audience at The Wall. Their singing was intense and even though I was coming from a really rough night that had drained me emotionally right before arriving at the wall, I was charged with energy and positive vibes from the huge choir of voices coming from the wall.

It was a bit of a shock to find so many people there at almost midnight, so I walked passed them trying to find a personal space where I could have some alone time. But before I even got an ear-shot away from the singing, I couldn't walk further because there was a class going on with a Rabbi lecturing at full volume with vigor and excitement!

It seemed it didn't matter which way I went, I wasn't meant to "find a corner to be sad" by myself. I was surronded with joy, excitement, and song that helped me get through my rough day.

TWO Engagements!

Such amazing news!

1st engagement: Josh Hoffman is getting married!
2nd engagement: and Jessie Flitter, too!

p.s. - Not to each other.

Long Time No Post

I haven't uploaded pictures in a while - but here's some links to ones already posted online:

Tours in Jerusalem

The Green Village Photos

Other Places & People in Israel

Visiting Jordan

Me, Jose, and his sister crossed the Israeli/Jordan border in Eilat this morning. It's my first visit to an Arab country. We are staying for 2 days with our main goal of seeing Petra: the ancient city entirely carved out of the mountain.

But overall, Jordan has a more "authentic middle east" feel as compared to the Western-like Israel. Though my exposure to the country is limited to the 2 hour drive to Wadi Musa (the town bordering the ruins of Petra), and today's visit in this tourist haven (as Petra is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World). The locals are friendly and seem very genuine.

Jose pointed out one of the main differences of the way Arabs in Israel and the West Bank and Arabs in Jordan will view a Jewish tourist. In Jordan, you are seen as a tourist first, without relevance to whether you are a Jew. In the West Bank, you are most likely assumed to be Jewish before thought of as a tourist.

Arab hospitality is pretty intense. It was hard to tell if it was hospitality because we were tourist - or if it was genuinely part of their culture. For example, we made a pit stop on the way to Petra in the taxi. We stopped at a small stand with a make-shift coffee cart attached to a small temporary house/hut. I was excited to just get to where we were going, but the taxi driver insisted that we get out and have a cup of tea. I was waiting for the "gimmick" or "catch," but he really just wanted us to have some tea (no charge).

All in all, it was a good visit - but in the end, I was glad to be back in familiar territory when I got back to "Western Culture." Being in Jordan opened my eyes to how truly different life is in the Arab World - and that was only a very small snippet of it. It made me realize a tiny bit more (1st hand) how intense and difficult it must be for the Eastern and Western Worlds to meet and understand one another.

Hoffman from the Jerusalem Post

We just had a great speaker from the Jerusalem Post talk to us about Israeli Politics. Mr. Hoffman put a lot of things in better perspective and he has a comforting positive outlook on the future of Israel. Despite the kasam rockets and recent school shooting - people here are still crowding the streets and enjoying a normal life.

My favorite quote from his speech: "I don't have anything against anti-Semites. They can hate us if they want to. But I do have a problem with hypocritical anti-Semites. If they hate Jews, then they should stop using things we created like: the chips inside your cell phone and Intel Pentium to name a couple.

I'm on my way to make Shalach Manot baskets for people in Sderot....

The Week After

A Letter written by Sharon who lives and works in Jerusalem:

Every morning I take the 35 bus line to work. It's a quick ride and usually takes no more than 12 minutes. The third stop after I get on by the shuk is directly in front of Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav (where the shooting last week took place). This morning I found myself a bit anxious, unsure of what I was going to see as we passed by. As I looked around, I saw death notices pasted all over the street and flowers that had been brought lined the entrance to the Yeshiva. When the bus pulled up to the stop, the driver shut off the engine and stood. With tears in his eyes he told everyone sitting on the bus that one of the boys killed on Thursday night was his nephew. He asked if everyone on the bus would mind if he spoke for a few minutes in memory of his nephew and the other boys that were killed. After seeing head nods all over the bus he began to speak. With a clear and proud voice, he spoke beautifully about his nephew and said that he was a person who was constantly on the lookout for how to help out anyone in need. He was always searching for a way to make things better. He loved learning, and had a passion for working out the intricacies of the Gemara. He was excited to join the army in a few years, and wanted to eventually work in informal education. As he continued to speak, I noticed that the elderly woman sitting next to me was crying. I looked into my bag, reached for a tissue and passed it to her. She looked at me and told me that she too had lost someone she knew in the attack. Her neighbors child was another one of the boys killed. As she held my hand tightly, she stood up and asked if she too could say a few words in memory of her neighbor. She spoke of a young man filled with a zest for life. Every friday he would visit her with a few flowers for shabbat and a short dvar torah that he had learned that week in Yeshiva. This past shabbat, she had no flowers.

When I got to work, one of my colleagues who lives in Efrat told me that her son was friends with 2 of the boys who had been killed. One of those boys was the stepson of a man who used to teach in Brovenders and comes to my shul in Riverdale every Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur to be a chazan for one of the minyanim.

We are all affected by what goes on in Israel . Whether you know someone who was killed or know someone who knows someone or even if you don't know anyone at all, you are affected. The 8 boys who were killed will continue to impact us all individually and as a nation. Each one of us has the ability to make a profound impact on our world. This coming wednesday morning, I will be at Ben Gurion airport at 7 am with Nefesh B'Nefesh welcoming 40 new olim to Israel . We will not deter. We can not give up. We will continue to live our lives and hope and work for change, understanding and peace.

Sharon Millendorf

Student and Young Professionals Program Coordinator

Nefesh B'Nefesh

02-659-5715

Cell: 0546-797-323

From the U.S. : 646-502-8420

Email: sharon@nbn.org.il

www.nbn.org.il

Several years ago I was 10 miles away from the Columbine shooting when it happened in Denver, Colorado. The media latched onto this tragedy for days if not weeks after the incident - there was nothing else on the news. This past week, I was not much farther from the school shooting in Jerusalem. This tragedy made international headlines, but isn't "sensationalized" and drawn out in the same way the Columbine shootings were. So either I'm more out of the loop with the local media after this shooting, or the people here deal with tragedy in a different way.... In any case, the letter written above was comforting to read seeing how people can connect with one another.

Shabbat in Jerusalem

Had a great time celebrating Shabbat in Jerusalem! Friday night dinner was especially fun and unique at my friend Jose Portundo's house, as we were commemorating the 50th anniversary of one of his cousins' being Prime Minster of Cuba from March 6 through March 12 of 1958. We had a shmorgesborg of festive Cuban food including Chalupa like Cuban cheese turnovers called Epanadas, spicy watermelon (with chili and mint), Puerto Rican Eggnog with Rum (coquito), Flan, Black beans, and another tasty dish which I can't remember the Spanish name of.


It was also great getting to see my Cousin Betsalel who's in high school in Beer Sheva. We had Saturday lunch at the Seigel's (more amazingly wonderful food) and ironically Paul Seigel was visiting Denver and had lunch with Cheryl. The chicken soup was extra tasty as I'm trying to fight off this cough that's going around.

Nechama Kramish, Jackie Seigel, Jose, Betsalel, with some more friends and I ended the day singing songs in the park.

Jerusalem Terroist Attack

A horrific day for some, and a happy day for others. I was celebrating Ari Zipper's wedding when the gunman opened fire in a school in Jerusalem on Thursday night (March 6, 2008).

BITTERSWEET: At the same time that Ari Zipper and his bride were getting married - this attack in Jerusalem was underway. May the happy times that we share together bring us strength to get through our deepest struggles. - which is further symbolized at the end of every Jewish wedding when the groom breaks a glass in remembrance of the fragility of life.

These pictures come from the Lunar Eclipse that occurred during the early morning on February 21st. I was excited to catch these shots, especially the moon turning red, because it was announced earlier that we were only going to be able to see the beginning of the eclipse from Israel.


The above picture is of the Earth's shadow slowly covering the moon. The below picture is the beginning of the moon entering into a full Lunar Eclipse.

An eerie addition to the mood set by the red moon: as soon as the moon turned red, Jose (who's in Jerusalem) heard the mosques morning call to prayer - it's the first time he's heard it from his apartment and it was a wailing distant garble because he's usually too far away to hear it.

I'm in a German Jewish Newspaper

So I went into the restauraunt Sushi-2-go and saw this lady taking pictures....

She happens to be a Publicist for a Jewish German Newspaper and was writing a story about the sushi crave in Tel Aviv. She interviewed me and I appeard in the "Jüdische Allgemeine" Newspaper on Thursday, February 14th, 2008.

Someone helped translate the article and this is their translation summary:

The article is stating that Tel Aviv has turned into a Mecca of Sushi and that since last week the 100th Sushi place opened it brought Tel Aviv to the third place in the worldwide rank of Sushi markets. It further describes the situation that on week-ends it is merely impossible to get a free seat and that every tenth citizen eats Sushi at least one a month. They talk about the variety of Sushi restaurants from Gourmet to Supermarket sold Sushi-boxes. Then the article talks about the fact that Sushi is not only available and popular in Tel Aviv but all over the country and that there are Kosher Sushi places which represent 20% of all Sushi restaurants. T
his includes Sushi2go of which one of the partners is Roi Goldstein. It says that Sushi2go has franchises in Tel Aviv and in Ramat Hasharon and that the Slogan: Just Come and Take suits the ambience of the restaurant. Light, happy colors, fishrolls as decoration on the walls, a few seats at the bar and on the street. In a special cooling tray different variations of Sushi is stored, ready for take-away. Of every box variety only two are lying in the cooler, because “Freshness is crucial” says Goldstein. The dishes are always freshly prepared and behind a window screen cuts, rolls and fills the Thai Sushi-Chef.
Why this boom? Goldstein thinks that it’s part of today’s modern life in Israel, “ The people here live fast and want to be on top of the game all the time. And Sushi fits perfectly with this attitude, because it is modern and light. The Japanese kitchen has almost no fat. And suits a healthy lifestyle.” In addition does the owner believe that Israeli’s love variety. Which makes Sushi perfect.
Yoschi Dember is just eating an entire plate with various rolls. “It’s delicious” he says and shows the chopsticks. The young man from Colorado is in a program in Israel for a year, that program prepares American jews for their immigration. “The quality is very good, most of the times everything is fresh and yummy.” In the States in general the Japanese kitchen is good as well, but it’s much cheaper here and in addition often also kosher. Dember has not yet made up his mind if he is actually going to immigrate. But Israel’s Sushi offer is definitely a big plus on his list.

Tsfat

I spent this Shabbat in Tsfad. A small spiritual artist town in Northern Israel. I was accompanied by Yohanatan from my program at Kfar Hayarok and we stayed by the Waldingers you just built a new home (click here to see pictures of their new home) just outside the Old City of Tsfat.

We had a wonderful meal at the Waldingers Friday night and it was a 30 minute walk to the Old City for lunch with the Yates where we were joined by Chana Besser and her friend Leah from Jerusalem. It was a wonderful meal.

I also learned about some amazing things regarding the shmeta year that I will hopefully be blogging about in the future... for now though - I've gotta go catch a bus!

Walt Disney World

The past few months of working at Disney have been a blast! This January, I just transfered to a new department. I'm now working as a professional intern for the Destination Sales Department as a Florida Toursim Client Support Coordinator. Plus, I'm still doing my old job (Disney Attractiojns Operator and Artist) when they need extra help at DisneyQuest.

Have a Magical Day

ROAD TRIP

ROAD TRIP!

I'm on a drive from Denver, Colorado to Orlando, Florida. I haven't journaled much about my trip (except for Trinidad, Colorado). Mostly been drivin' straight through - but my most interesting spot was a stop in a small town in Texas...

CLICK HERE TO SEE A FEW ROAD TRIP PICS

Trinidad, Colorado

10:00 AM August 22, 2006

My first gas stop on the border on the South border of Colorado. Though my stop is at a Diamond Shamrock, the gas station is run like any small town. You know it’s a small town when everyone that stops in the corner store knows each other. Everyone from the clerks to the truckers and even the mechanics and electricians that stop in for a cup of coffee and a lottery ticket. “How’s your mom doin?” as their conversation goes.

The two construction workers scratching lottery tickets have been hanging out at the station for almost an hour now, they said. Already, their stack of lottery scratch tickets has added up to $43.00 in donations to the State.

Back in Denver, I used to always visit my neighbor Mary next door on Ivy Street. Even in her mid-80s she calls Nana (my grandma) a “little chicky,” because Nana wasn’t around during World War I.

Mary was born and raised in Trinidad. Trinidad didn’t have a sewer system in Mary’s day and she would even pump her own water for family home and barn. Now, the technicians sitting next to me in this Diamond Shamrock are talking about expanding highways, and gold course views, and public wi-fi internet access downtown.

Even so, Trinidad keeps the small town feel with a quaint downtown nestled in some amazing green hills at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.

Summer Travels

Vacation Time after Graduating from CSU :-)

* Chicago, IL * Providence, RI * Boston, MA * Cleveland, OH * Pittsburgh, PA * Los Angeles, CA * Summer advisor at Brandeis Collegiate Institute in California

BOSTON, MA

Holocaust Memorial on a street near Quincy Market in Downtown Boston

Each pillar has 1,000,000 numbers. Each representing a tatoo that was branded on Holocaust victums.

The etched numbers reach up to the sky as a tribute to those in our memory. (Up close picture on right)

It was also really neat to see the mixture of old historic buildings and new modern buildings attached like this building...

Ecselance International @ Lincoln Center

Ecselance International hosted a micro-financing reception at the Lincoln Center this past week. Interns Beth, Amy, and myself shared our stories of the experiences we had working with the village communities in India. Vinod Parekh, director of Human Development Services based in Nashik, India (and my host with his with Kamala during my stay in Belgaon Dhaga) was the keynote speaker at the event.

PHOTOS OF THE EVENT

Fun Gigs

This Tuesday, I got to play violin for a Mardi Gras Themed Retirement Party of Peggy Meis, the Financial Aide Advisor that was THE person responsible for my admission and scholarship at CSU. People were dancing and laughing, and the event was almost as fun as being in Baton Rouge itself! It was an extremley fun honor to get dressed up for Peggy's party!

This Friday, I'll be playing violin with Clayton Risner at The Avenue for a Multiple Scelrosis Benefit Concert. Tickets are $5 at the door, and all proceeds will benefit the victums of M.S.

Speaker Series

Wow! Our last day in Israel on the Hillel Biz & Tech Program was packed with info!

I've got random bits online right now (more to come), and we'll be hopefully getting most of the powerpoints shared with us over the trip available for download online soon.

Sherwin B. Pomerantz sharing information about Atid EDI

Jonathan Medved sharing insights on Branding Israel through the company Israel Seed

Eli Kazhdan with StartUp Jerusalem

Jerusalem Touring

Finally as the speakers, programming, and running around Israel begins to wind down our and relationships with other participants on this track begin to grow, our trip is coming to a close. None-the-less, this trip provided many unique insights and connections that will hopefully develope into meaningful relationships.

We've had so much information to process, our brains of full of potently powerful entrepreneurial mush. For Joey from Penn puts it, "The only thing that's keeping me sane is a combination of falafel, tea, and Judiasm."

Today, we visited IDT followed by Hebrew University. Fun and friendly tour guides shared their passion and experiences at HU. Followed by an explanation by Yakir Sagev of the student run program New Spirit. His attitude was truely Israeli, taking the process of business planning "as it comes." This style of planning day-by-day was hard to believe could work for an organization that is dedicated to making constructive connections between students and businesses, but hey, that's Israel - a country designed to be adaptable to its ever changing political and cultural climate.

Adapting to this climate.

Re'ut Institute

The progressive high tech industry in Israel has been driving it to become a leading player in the global economy. However, weak government structures and policies have been a huge barrier to Israel reaching its full potential.

Gidi Grinstein discussed with us today how the work of the Re'ut Institute is designed to transform the strategy of their clients (in this case, the Israeli government) by providing a methodological analysis and feedback to make government agencies more efficient.

Ein Gev

This is a picture from our bungalow on the coast of the Sea of Galilee. Today, we will be visiting Technion University, one of the world's leading technology research institutions to explore entrepreneurship and innovation. Following our tour of Technion Labratories, we will stop by the Center for Jewish Arab Economic Development before returning to our resort weekend spot for this weekend's Hillel Shabbaton: joined by 3 other Hillel tracks - hundreds of engaged Jewish college students together for the last Shabbat of the American New Year and the final nights of Hanukkah.

Amazing Itinerary

After just 2 days in Israel with the Hillel Business & Technology Mission, our program of 85 students from over 50 different universities in America and Canada have already had the opportunity to meet several professionals in various Israeli industries including:

* Aluf Benn, Journalist, Haaretz
* Yossi Vardi, venture capitalist and creator of ICQ technolgoy
Mr. Vardi discussed with us the entrepreneurial role that young people play in Israel’s private and research sectors
* Alisa Peled, writer of Debating Islam in the Jewish State
Dr. Peled discussed Trends in Middle East Economics
* Jay Pomrenze, CEO of E4X Inc
* Nir Brunstein, Director of Poalim Capital Markets Group

Also, we have visited Weizman Institute, one of the leading research and developement institutes in the world, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, and Raphael Recanati International School the first private university in Israel.

An amazing trip so far with a lot more to come...

In Flight

It was nice spending time with the cousins in Kew Gardens. I got to meet a few dozen of Chani’s relatives at a “Pre-Hanukkah” party on Christmas Eve.

The flight to Israel went by very quickly. Traveling 23 hours to India (with several hours lay-over at the International Airport in Seoul, South Korea) was the longest journey I’ve ever taken. So this 10 hour trip across the Atlantic only felt like a short flight in America across the Mississippi River.

Unfortunately, I caught a cold as we flew over Newfoundland, and my El Al in flight meals were replaced with cups of hot tea. Though my throat felt like a dried up baguette as we had breakfast flying over France, my head stopped spinning as we raced past Rome and the Tyrrhenian Sea.

On the bright side, I seem to always get sick when traveling to Israel, and hopefully I’ve gotten the worst out of the way, as we get ready to begin our Business and Technology program sponsored by Hillel. First stop: Kibbutz Shefaim Hotel to light the 3rd night of Hanukkah candles.

New York City

I arrived in NYC on the last day of the MTA bus/train strike. Walking over 200 blocks from Chinatown - Uptown - and all 'round actually wasn't that bad. I got to see parts of the city that I'd usually just fly right past underground on the subway.


Here's a picture of Rush Hour at one of the main subway stops near Time Square on Thursday, December 22nd, 2005 - The last day of the MTA Strike.




I arrived in NYC on the last day of the MTA bus/train strike. Walking over 200 blocks from Chinatown - Uptown - and all 'round actually wasn't that bad. I got to see parts of the city that I'd usually just fly right past underground on the subway.


Here's a picture of Rush Hour at one of the main subway stops near Time Square on Thursday, December 22nd, 2005 - The last day of the MTA Strike.

Washington DC

My 3 days in Washington DC visiting Elise were great! Elise works at The U.S. State Department. This picture is on the 8th floor of the State Department Building. We are standing next to the desk that Thomas Jefferson used to sign the Declaration of Independence.

The Nation's Capital

Spending a few days in our Nations Capitol was a great way to begin my winter break from Colorado State University. It was good to catch up with Elise Mellinger, and take a tour of the Diplomatic Reception Hall on the top floor of The State Department Building.

Elise now works the SE desk with a fellow colleague from FSI and other SD representatives covering TS information about FSO. I attended a holiday party hosted by OSE and SA while TBE was focused on SI. Ok, so I made up a few of those abbreviations, but half the job at the State Department seems to be getting all the acronyms in order! In civilian terms, Elise is currently working in the Office of Southern Europe.

It was really nice to be riding the metro around Georgetown and DC, as I was attempting to wait out the transportation strike that was announced in New York City. By Thursday, I took a bus from DC Chinatown to the NYC Chinatown for $20, and was ready to get some exercise in bustling bus-less Manhattan.

Indiana

It doesn't matter if life drifts by like a warm summer breeze or a chilling winter frost; we have to remember everyday to take the time to make it mean something.

Last week, I took a trip to Indiana. It was my first time seeing the green landscape and amazing fall colors in the quaker countryside of the northern side of our country's bible belt.

I had an amazing time with Professor Tim Scales and Students In Free Enterprise India Delegate, Johann DeSales. They filmed me as a violin entrepreneur for a segment of "In Your Business." A television show to debut in Richmond, Indiana later this month.

We also visited the Wernle Children's Home and gave a motivational speech to the children who are restoring hope and rebuilding relationships for a better life.

Remember to make the most of today, because tomorrow it will only be another yesturday ~

Final Descent

Adjusting back to the U.S. was more subtly gripping than I imagined.

I was truly becoming a new person at the end of my 8 month journey around the world, and settling back into Fort Collins is a scary thing. There's so many dreams and hopes that I almost feel slipping away...

Traveling with SIFE internationally was like taking a plane ride for the first time:

Fasten seat belts. Tray tables up. Seats in an upright and locked position. Taking off was a rush of excitement; just as arriving in India was a rush of excitement. After take-off, the high skies kept my veins running hot. In between take-off and landing you can almost completely forget about the world down below. I felt the same freedom through the months of traveling around the globe.

Towards the end of my trip, as the landing drew closer, reality drew nearer. The flight from Washington D.C. at the end of our conferance marked my final descent into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado that would end my 8 month international journey; tray tables up and seat belts latched, I braced for contact with the world I left behind what seemed to be ages ago.

Now it's a month later, and I still feel as if I haven't yet unpacked my experiences from abroad:

Experiencing the people and their homes,
cultures and smells.
Experiencing the foods and the clothes,
schools, and hotels.
Experiencing how vast our world really is,
a new sense of the power of global awareness.
Experiencing the poverty and the grief,
sadness, and strife.
But above all else:
A Passion for Life.

That being said, I still wait afraid.
Fearful of the changes that can possibly be made.
Too scared to take responsibility in my own hand,
pretending like the end has already been planned.

Breathing fresh air is the only thing on my mind,
Just like landing on a jet plane for the very first time.

Roller Coaster

When traveling for 8 months comes to an end, it's like slamming on the brakes on a really exciting roller coaster, then walking off the ride dazed and confused.

When I get my feet on the ground again from my flights around the world, I'll be updating my blog with thoughts and reflections of what this all means to me now...

Havdallah

Every week for over a year now, I call Nana (my grandma) to do Havdallah with her over the phone. [Havdallah: a Jewish ceremony involving a glass of wine/juice, sweet spices, and a braided candle that signifies the end of the Shabbat {The Day of Rest} and the new week]. This summer, I had the opportunity to do Havdallah with Nana from India, LA, Denver, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Israel, Switzerland, and this Saturday night I'll be phoning Nana from Washington D.C.

Havdallah is recited after the sun sets on Saturday evening. While I was in India and Europe, Nana and I would connect for Havdallah as the sun set on her end of the phone, and dawned in the morning sky on my end of the phone. On one Sunday morning in a phone booth outside of Nashik, India, I lit my candle and began speaking the first bracha [prayer] for Havdallah "Heneh El Yeshua Tee..." and towards the end of the prayer, a fight broke out right next to me. I didn't stop Havdallah because we were almost done with the ceremony, and I didn't want to get involved with the fight - ignoring a situation is unfortunetly the easiest way to deal with some of the experiences in "The Bharat" (India). I was pressed against the wall, candle burning, prayers chanting, fight brawling... "What's that noise?" Nana asks as I reach the end of the bracha. "Say amen!" I jeer back trying to distract her. "oh, amen."

A Few Shots from Europe

In transition coming back to the U.S. Click the above pictures for a few shots from Europe, many more to come once I get situated back in Fort Collins...

Trecking in the Swiss Alps

I'm currently hiking in the amazing mountains of Switzerland, will be out of contact through August 7th.

A Powerful Prayer in a Powerful Place

After talking a walk around the coblestone streets of Vienna's Old City around the Danube River, I prayed in the only synagogue that survived the Holocaust in Vienna. Tucked away behind a pedestrian shopping area, the Nazis did not get to it before it was locked up. Entering this Synagogue had higher security then any other syngaogue I have been to; a passport was required to enter, followed by a short verbal background check before being allowed to pass through a metal detector and a secure door. Aunt Cheryl and I were in awe to be standing in a place where just over 1\2 century ago, it was illegal to be Jewish.


This synagogue survived World War II because it was owned by a non-Jew, and it's apartment building apperance hides the magnificant praying space inside. (Click on the title of this blog: ''A Powerful Prayzer...'' to view the inside of this synagogue).

After praying, we had dinner at the kosher resturaunt just next door to the Synagogue. As we were walking out of the resturant, Aunt Cheryl remembered that we had not said Birkat Hamazon (after meal ''thank-you'' prayer). We stopped, and sat down on a step just between the resturaunt and the synagogue to recite the blessings as locals and tourists walked by to the neighborhood pub.

What an incredible privilage and sensation that was! To be reciting a Jewish prayer on an Austrian street in public. When just 60 years prior, we would have been imprisoned, shot, or sent to a concentration\death camp for doing such a thing. What an incredible place to be demonstrating our appreciation for our food, good fortune, and happiness to be alive.

HISTORY
www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org

In March 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany, the Anschluss. Following the annexation, Jews were chased through the streets, were forced to scrub the sidewalks and Jewish stores and apartments were pillaged. The Social Democratic party was crushed and thousands of Austrians who opposed Nazi rule were deported to concentration camps and murdered.
The Nazis enacted the Nuremberg Racial Laws in occupied Austria in May 1938. Within a short period, Jews had lost nearly all of their civil liberties, they were unable to attend university, were excluded from most professions and were forced to wear a yellow badge. All Jewish organizations and institutions were shut down. The Nazis encouraged emigration and nearly 130,000 Jews left Austria, including 30,000 who went to the United States.
Many Jewish stores, factories and building were destroyed during Kristallnacht on November 9-10, 1938. Public displays of hatred commenced across the city and all of the city’s synagogues were ravaged. The only synagogue that remained untouched was the central synagogue, hidden because of residential surroundings. That night about 6,000 Jews were apprehended and sent to Dachau.
The situation further deteriorated after the Wanassee Conference in January 1942. The remaining Austrian Jews were killed or sent to concentration camps; more than 65,000 Viennese Jews were deported to concentration camps, only 2,000 survived. About 800 Jews who managed to hide survived the war.

Today, Vienna has 15 synagogues, but the only surviving synagogue from the pre-war era is the Vienna Synagogue (Stadtempel), which houses the community offices and chief rabbinate. The synagogue was damaged during the war and reopened in 1963 after extensive renovations. The synagogue has limited visiting hours and heavy security (due to a 1982 terrorist attack). The spectacular round sanctuary has the look and feel of a Reform temple, but it is an Orthodox congregation with a separate gallery for women. Long discussions were held over whether to permit an organ and adopt more elements of Reform Judaism, but, ultimately, the decision was to stick with orthodoxy but to have some modern touches; for example, the bimah was placed in front of the ark instead of the middle of the sanctuary.
Besides for the Stadtemple, there are a number of prayer rooms serving various Hassidic sects and other congregations. Efforts made by the Lubavitch movement have increased synagogue attendance, especially of Georgian and Bokharan Jews, who have since opened their own synagogue. In 1984, the Zwi-Peretz Chajes-shule was reopened and, in 1986, the Lauder Foundation established the Beth Chabad Shules and other educational institutions. While only ten percent of the Jewish community is actively Orthodox, there are no Conservative, Reform or Reconstructionist synagogues.

"The Jew Mac"

Waiting for my flight to Austria, I stopped for a bite to eat at the KOSHER McDonalds at the new Israeli airport. The food is pretty much the same as every other McDonalds, except there's no dairy (cheese, yogart, etc.) served, and you can actually be 100% sure (guarenteed by Rabbinical supervision) that you're really eating 100% beef (that is also Kosher).

LeChaim

I had just finished a class at Yeshiva (Jewish learning center) looking into the deeper meaning of the Shema (A Jewish Prayer), when 2 guys were discussing what they might do over the next few hours we had before dinner. I casually suggested that I was going to visit Yaakov (Jacob), a friend who is very ill and was staying in a nearby hospital, and the others were eager to accompany me. So, two yeshiva guys and Raphael (my violin) joined me for the journey to visit my sick friend.

When we arrived at the hospital we sang and danced for some time, and recited the Me-sheh-bay-rach (Prayer of Healing for the sick), then made our way back to the Old City.

When I reached Zion Gate, I made my way directly to the Western Wall to say a prayer for Yaakov. Raphael came along too, and we played a somber melody called Oseh Shalom. At the end of this tune, a woman approached me and began speaking to me in Hebrew. I didn't understand most of what she had said, but I did get the basic idea that she wanted me to play violin for school children at some event. So I went.

I followed the woman and her 3 children into their car, and we set out on the roads of the winding hills of Jerusalem. On the way, I leraned that today was the 12th day of the month of Tamuz on the Hebrew calendar. The woman explained that the 12th of Tamuz (This year, July 18/19) is a day revered by some as a day of celebration. A day of recollection to the freedom of a Chabbad (Branch of Hassidic Judaism - pronounced "Hah-ba-d") Rebbe (The head-Rabbi of the time) from a Russian prison.

We arrived at our destination, and I found myself in a Chabbad house (synagogue / place of meeting) of one of the neighboring areas of Jerusalem where most people at the event spoke only Hebrew. The first person that I had a conversation with in English hapened to have a direct connection with Yaakov.

We said a Lechaim (raising our glasses in toast, usually with alcohol - literally meaning "To Life!") and Refuah Shlema (complete healing) for Yaakov on the anniversay of the Rebbe's release from prison.

Jerusalem Photos

CLICK THIS PICTURE for Jerusalem Photos

Kiddush at the Kotel

Friday Night. A night to celebrate.

The sun has set and the week at its end.
We prayed, we ate, and we sang about the land.

After our meal, the guys @ AISH have a tradition:
Offer soldiers on duty a glass of Kiddushim.

(Kiddush is drinking a ceremonial glass of wine. In the soldiers case, grape juice)

We grabbed some cake and a bottle of Holy juice,
and walked down the steps letting our vocal cords loose.

Towards the Wall of Wailing Wonders we marched along,
Searching for soldiers as we sang our happy song.

We approached the first two soldiers with delight and gratitude,
We approached each soldier, even the one in a grumpy mood.

Some accepted with a smile, and others asked us to leave!
But we acheived our goal in offering a good deed.

Whether reluctant or grateful each soldier was that night,
Our thoughts and good wishes helped spread light.

Packed @ Wall

Tonight, I'm visiting friends living in Har Adar, located on the border of the West Bank. Life here is "relativly peaceful" compared to what's happened in London today.

I'll be back in the Old City of Jerusalem again for the weekend. Friday nights at the Western Wall are packed with people, it'll be a great experience.

Soldier Meals

Not only are there student discounts, but if you're a soldier in the Israeli army, there's a special discount for a "soldier meal."

Kiryat Sefer

In English, Kiryat Sefer translates as: "The Neighborhood of the Book"

A dozen of the guys from the school I'm studing at, Aish Ha'Torah, took a bus to Kiryat Sefer this past weekend. This Shabbat (Saturday) I spent in the fully integrated Torah observant community of Kiryat Sefer. The culture immersion in this place can be compared to my experience 5 years ago when I spent Shabbat in the ultra-orthodox community of Meha'Sharim (Translation: "Hundreds of Gates") in Jersusalem with Rabbi Goldstein.

The difference between the cultures of Kiryat Sefer and Meha'Sharim is radiated by the land in which we ate, slept, and prayed on from Sunset Friday night to Sunset Saturday evening.

The synagogue we had the privilage of davening (praying) in had an Ark (in which the Torah scrolls are kept) that was carved by one of the world's best wood sculptures. I'm still struggling to understand some of our daily prayers, but everyday in classes I learn more about the meanings of each prayer, paragraph, sentance, and word that we repeat everyday.

The land has an amazing panoramic view of the majority of the Israel from its hilltop (in which Tel Aviv and even Ashdod can be seen on a clear day). The Arabs occupy the land just across the valley next to the Green Line from Kiryat Sefer. (The political Green Line signifies the border of Israel and Jordan prior 1967 and it got its name from the miles of evergreen trees that literly create a green line)

When constructing the city, bulldozers ran into ancient ruins of a civilization dating back thousands of years, where I got to stand in one of the oldest remains of the earliest synagogue excavated in Israel.

The land of Kiryat Sefer has a history that dates back to the Macabean Time, when the Greeks ruled the land which we know now as The State of Israel. The battles of the Hanukkah story occured in the hills surronding the Neighborhood of the Book which lies in the center of the Holy Land.

2500 years ago, Jews lived and studied about Torah (life) in this land, and 2500 years later, 80% of the men living in Kiryat Sefer learn and pray full-time today. They afford this lifestyle by limiting the luxeries most of us are used to in our everyday lives. Out of the 30,000 people that live there, not one owns a television, and many do not own cars. There is no movie theater or even a police station - the town has no need for either. A free loan and return system, called a Gamacht, is setup to borrow everything from chairs for a special occasion to power tools which the community shares.

Every Shabbat, all the road in the town are closed to motorized vehicles, and kids can play in the streets freely. Many of the worlds best Torah scholars reside in this area, including the Chofetz Chiam's grandson. (The Chofetz Chiam is one of the righteous men of modern time, who lived only a century ago).

Our group was paired off, and taken in by several families. Each family rearranging their homes to accomodate us as their Shabbis* weekend guests.

* Shabbis is a term used by Ashkinazik (Jews of European decent). Shabbat is a term used by Sefardic (Jews of Spain or Eastern countries decent).

On Shabbat, the traditional Orthodox "Jewish uniform" is a black suit, white shirt, tie, and black hat. On Friday night, I wore white pants and a white shirt that I brought from India. Topped off with a traditional black vest, and colorful Uzbekistanian-style Kippah. Now, keep in mind that the guys on our trip that wore the traidtional Orthodox Jewish uniform received many looks from curious children who were not used to seeing so many visitors from the outside world. When the kids saw me, instead of asking me "Where are you from?" They would innocently ask me, "What äre you?"

Other kids would stare at us, and as we passed by, would chatter with eachother about the special visitors coming to spend time eating and being with them. One child whispered to his friend, "Why doesn't he [me] have Tzi-Tzis?" A question I find myself unable to answer right now. (Tzi-tzis are the strings that are required for a Jew to wear on a 4 corner garment. The Tzi-tzis carry a powerful meaning by being a constant reminder to the wearer to remember the 613 good-deeds that the Jewish people are required to practice).

My time in Kiryat Sefer was relaxing and educational, and has furthered my connection to a land which I'm growing fonder of every day while I'm here.

Weekend Highlights

* Experiencing Kabalat Shabbat (Friday night services) at Rabbi Friedman's Chassdic Synagogue (Rabbi Twerski's brother-in-law)
* Playing my violin at an impromptu concert on Saturday night in Jerusalem's Old City Town Square with 2 guitars, a drummer, harmonica player, flutist, and dozens of people dancing to the music.
* Having lunch with the Waldinger's at their home near the Kotel (Western Wall)
* Walking through the mysterious lights of the Old City Market at night
* Meeting other peers that are searching and yearning for a deeper understanding of what our Jewish heritage is all 'bout.

Be & Do

A Rabbi here asked me if the people in India are much calmer than those bustling through the streest of Jerusalem or New York City. My answer surprised myself.

Even though the city of Mumbai is overstressed and past capacity with too many people to manage and provide for, the daily lives of those Indians that I met had a peaceful sense about them. I guess it's best explained that the Indian sense of BEING has a calm attitude, even though the daily life can seem so intense and under pressure. Though getting on to a train can be a mob seen, and waiting in long lines and pushing through crowded streets is common - the important thing to remember is it's how you are BEING not always DOING that counts.

Jerusalem

I'm in Jerusalem. Traveled by train from the airport. Though it was a longer journey than going direct by bus or taxi, I always think it's fun to travel by train.

The remodeled Ben Gurion Airport is incredibly nicer than it used to be! I've checked in to my residents at AISH Ha'Torah, and I'll be learning and living across from The Western Wall (Kotel) for the next month.

Though coming from India to Israel has made the Israelis abrupt demenor stick out, there's a feeling I get here that would never happen anywhere else. Probably most obviously distinguishable as a connection to my own heritage, traditions, and roots. I can't put my finger on it right now, but I will hopefully be able to better describe it as the next month goes by...

I've been to Israel twice before, but this is the first time I've felt a comfortable sense of familiarity of my surrondings in Jerusalem; from the surface level recognition of modern culture to the deep sense of spirituality that's hidden inside the walls. Walking in the Old City at night is quite and nice, and I'm sure I'll be hangin' out by the Rachov (Center of the Judaic Quarter) playing some fiddle and enjoying the town. Lilah Tov ~~ Good night.

LOOK! It's me at sunrise in the village of Belgaon Dhaga... I've finally figured out how to upload photos with the software "Hello!" and Picasa. I will start from the beginning of my trip and work my way forwards. If you don't feel like browsing through the journal for pictures - you can see most of them directly at: yoshiphotos.blogspot.com 

Pittsburgh

Yoshi and Pittsburgh Cousins 


MORE PHOTOS 

Updates Coming Soon...

Future blog updates will include:

* Encounter with a family in the Chicago Airport
* Chaos: It's all Realative
* Being Jewish: It's all Realative
* Ordering Fast Food
* Reservation Madness
* Appreciation and understanding

Kam Ta

On the flight from Korea to Los Angeles, I sat next to an elderly Korean couple. I found myself accidentally trying to communicate in Hindi.

I didn't even land in the United States before I noticed myself meaningfully (from my perspective) but aimlessly (from others perception) trying to communicate with the "Indian Wobble" - a gesture that means, yes and no. A gesture that requires one to pay extra attention to detail, expression, and intensions of others. A gesture that is a natural part of communicating in India. A gesture that I already begin to miss, as my wobble doesn't carry to same meaning as it once did during my time in The Bharat ("The Land: India").

Many people go to India to find "enlightenment" - to find "themselves." I had the same ambiguous and lofty ideas in mind, but discovered that what I was searching for I already had inside of me. I am the same person now, but with more direction, more confidence - and more internal drive.

Thank you in Korean: Kam-ta-hum-de-ya!

Jet Lag

muscles so soar... the "jet-lag" is hitting me hard! Been wide awake for a few hours, then barely able to move, and sleeping for 10 hours - then up for another few... my body still wants to be in India.

It was neat crossing the international dateline at sunrise this weekend. The Pacific Ocean was outlined by a thin crest of gold and red sunlight, just as the Movie "National Treasure" rolled it's credits on our 737 Korean Airline Jet. A fun adventure flick, that's about finding a treasure hidden in the U.S. - as I thought about all the treasures I carried in my mind about India.

Am I Dreaming?

On a short transfer-stop in-between my flight from Mumbai to Los Angeles in the airport in Seoul, South Korea. I was just in India for 4 months... it now almost feels like a very realistic dream - because in a way - it was.

A dream that has empowered me to have the ability to bridge international realities.

On my way back to the U.S. I am gearing up to experience "American Culture Shock." I think the most important thing for me to keep in mind, is that I am in a unique position to represent India to my friends and collegues in the States.

Departing India

My travels in India are quickly coming to a close... I'm jumping on a plane destined for Los Angeles on May 29th, will be in Cali for Memorial Day Weekend before returning for a short visit in Colorado to be soon followed by time in Israel!

So... my BlogUpdates will still be coming! Have so much to add and reflect on from my trip. Will be so interesting to experience "American Culture Shock" returning from the vibrant and intense life of Mumbai! ~ Cheers ~ Namaste ~ Shalom ~ Namaskar ~ Peace

Rural India

Currently, I am living on a farm in rural India. I am on assignment working on an independent study course through Colorado State University. My project is organized through a company in Fort Collins called Ecselance International. A micro-financing organization that provides funds to people who otherwise are too poor to be credit worthy to receive funds from any other source. The villagers dedication and commitment to better their lives through the small loans they receive is amazingly inspirational.

Water is Precious

I have gained a new appreciation for what a short water supply really means. Each day, water is pumped from a bowl well into a storage tank that disributes the potable water to the house. Somedays, only a few liters of water can be collected and pulled from the well. As the monsoon does not arrive for another month, we're in the heat of dry season at present. Which means, I have the opportunity to experience bucket baths, and true water conservation. For example, leaving the water running while brushing your teeth, would directly impact how much water we had left to drink for the following week.

The Village Entrepreneur

Accompanied with a dedicated work ethic and strong family values, the village entrepreneur is a pure example of what it really takes to survive. Unadultered by the flashing lights and glitter of a big city, a village entrepreneur can focus on the essential needs of developing his community. Committed and focused towards bettering the lives of his family and neighbors.

The Village of Hope

In October of 2004, Jim Epstein of Escelance International (www.ecselance.org) got word from CSU Professor Paul Hudnut, that I would be traveling to India. It was then, that I made the first connection to being part of experiencing the fruitful seeds of hope that were being planted in Belgaon Dhaga: The Village of Hope.

Belgaon Dhaga. Nestled away several kilometers from the town of Nasik, a swirling spirit of hope begins to stir in the wind. Lead by 5 hallmark projects that are the heart and soul of the proven success of hard work and dedicated leadership.

And now, I aim to assist with the further growth of the village entrepreneruship ventures with the help of:
Jim Epstein: The funds provider for the village vision.
Paul Hudnut: My CSU internship coordinator
Vinod and Kamala: Core motivators/educators of the village of hope.
Chandu, Vishnu, and Ashok: 3 of the growing number of entrepreneurs that compose the heart and soul of the projects.
Aanand Manhendroo: Successful dream builder and film producer.
Rutul Naik: A friend and aspiring film student.

More to come soon...
belgaondhagaproject.blogspot.com

Visiting Belgaon Dhaga

After two one-day visits to the village of Belgaon Dhaga (BD), I am gaining a clearer picture of my involvement with the village.

My first visit to BD was last weekend. I went alone by bus to meet Vinod in Nasik. The actual time on the road is 3-4 hours. We then drove together to BD, and I had a wonderful evening with Vinod and Kamala. They know one another so well, that every once in a while, they would finish their partners sentance or thought. Kamala's food was extra tasty, and Vinod's insight was extra stimulating.

My intial interaction with the villagers was one of the most rewarding experiences in my life.

After an intial meeting with Vinod, Chandu, Ashok, and Vishnu in Chandu's home, Chandu showed me his irrigation pond, and explained the precise math of the business model of his pond (how much water each crop needed, how much water the pond holds, etc).

Vishnu showed me his 17 water buffalo dairy farm, and explained the process of extracting methane from his water buffalo's waste. It was also exciting to find out that he plans to expand his business and share his bio-gas with his neighbors.

We sat down to chat in Vishnu's home, and the villagers had the opportunity to ask what I was doing visiting their village. Vinod explained I was here from Escelance International, and I added that it was an experience I never had the opportunity to be part of before. Then, I got to drink a fresh glass of milk that was cooked using bio-gas from the same buffalo!

Then, when the electricity came on in the village (It's out for 6 scheduled hours during the day - everyday), I got to see the basic program skills that Ashok was teaching at the second branch of his computer training business. He has a total of 30 young students, and plans to soon expand to a third branch.

Rather than translating Marahti and English when I interacted with the villagers, Vinod emphasized their need to practice English when talking with me, as well as my need to speak slowly and simple sentances when talking with them. He reminded each entrepreneur that it was important to share their full knowledge of each of their projects, in as much detail as possible.

This inital interaction with the villagers demonstrated how capable each of us were in our ability to communicate with one another - and with each visit, our communication will grow.

After the village visit, we stopped in the nearby town of Nasik to attend an Entreprenuership Workshop orgainzed by a spritly group of business men and woman and hosted in Mr. Bagwe's company training hall. (Mr. Bagwe is also a member of the village adivisory board). It was refreshing to see a group of entrepreneurs get together to developed and improve successful communication skills.

There are 2 key people that will be assisting me with the further development to basically "Market the village." One, is Rutul Naik. Rutul is my selected counterpart for the 2 week experience in the village. 19 years old, energetic, passionate, and excited about participating in this project, Rutul has grown to be my best friend in India. Rutul is a 1st year Mass Media student at a college in Mumbai. He is the son of Shaila Naik. Shaila is the principal of Lord's College in Mumbai, and one of the lead facilitators and driving force behind entrepreneurial education in India. Shaila has a tentative meeting with the President of India next month to share her enterpreneurial school cirriculm.

The second key person, is my newly found mentor and guiding light: Aanand Mahendroo. Aanand is a successful film producer that I met through a mutual friend at a Entertainment Industry Convention called FRAMES, that was held here in Mumbai last week. Aanand has an itching spark to help see others succeed. We visited the village school, and several young kids performed a few skits that they had learned in school. It was quite impressive to see the dynamic and commitment of the educators and students at the school. Aanand recognized that the village kids did not have the proper facilities to "excersize their playful minds," and has already made plans to improve the village school through facilitating the creation of a "Youth Center" at the school. As the best way to focus on the sustainability of any community project, is to start with teaching/nurturing the younger generation. Over the course of many years, Aanand has guided a countless number of young men my age to better their lives and achieve their goals. He also has 11 schools in India that educates urban and rural kids together. Enabling the farm kids and city kids to interact with eachother and learn from one another.

It was very rewarding to see Aanand's interaction with the villagers yesturday. As he spoke with them in their native tounge, their minds were put at ease, and the same interaction (questions and explanations of their businesses) that I had with them the week before, was much easier for the villagers to put expression and feeling into explaining their projects. It was wonderful to see that spark in their eyes. And, as I had heard the explanations in English just one week prior, I had the added benefit to see their expressions and passion about their projects this week as they explained them in Marahti.

We all agreed that it was vital to get the village teenagers involved with the projects or at least more active in their own community. Otherwise, the young adults will leave the village for the false perception of better oportunity in the city.

There was also a surprise visit by Vibha Patil. A woman who many describe as "a wonderful bundle of energy." I have been told that her passion and expertise are one of the main ingredients to the success of the GSBG (funding board). Even so, all her input as a lead member of the advisor board who managed a matching grant for 50 toilets (9 of which went to the local school) is topped off with a humble presance and warm smile.

Aanand also pointed out that there was not one pair of sad eyes in the village. That was an incredible observation, and rightfully gives Belgaon Dhaga the name "Village of Hope."

Entrepreneurial Spirit

The past week has launched my world view into a whole new dimension. Traveling into the small rural village of Belgaon Dhaga has transformed my understanding of what it truely means to be an entrepreneur.

A very tough question in itself: "What is an entrepreneur?"
Your textbook answer may be:
- Someone who is willing to take risks in a new business venture.
- An innovator that will take advantage of a profitable opportunity.
- Someone who is willing to do what others don't.
Though these are all commendable goals, none define the true nature of what the ambigous french term really means. A nature that alluded me until now. A nature that exists in the hearts of the entrepreneurs of Belgaon Dhaga.

Purim

I celebrated Purim and heard the Megillah at the Chabbad house in Mumbai. A speedy Megillah reading, was followed by a magician that played with fire, noshes and homentashin, a Fiddler on the Roof (me!), and a raffle.

There were almost 50 people there by dinner time. I won a picture frame in the raffle. Hmm.. it will be hard to choose one of the hundreds of pictures that I've taken here so far! I hope to upload more pictures for everyone to see soon, on my website: www.yoshistyle.com

The Human Machine

I heard what sounded like a small army responding to a drill sergant in unison...

"Hiya," one voice rang. "HO!" Dozens responded.
"Hiye!" one voice rang. "Heya! They responded.

...to actually find 37 men all tugging on a taut rope that wrapped around large cable lines the dozens of men were heaving into the ground.

The lack of machinery is made up by sheer man power.

Quick India Jew Facts

Did you know: There's a bit more than 5,000 Jews living in India?

* Around 3,500 of those Yehudim are residing in Mumbai (once known as Bombay)
* There are 10 Synagogues in Mumbai (3-4 are still highly active)
* This year, 10,000 Shmur Matzot were baked and distributed to the local Bene-Israel (Indian) Jews.
* The Bene-Israel Indian Jews have been in India since before the 2nd Temple was destroyed. Their common language is Mahrati.
* The JCC in Mumbai teaches Hebrew classes weekly.
* Chabbad is active in Mumbai (and provides free kosher meals for travelers every night) - yes, KOSHER chicken in INDIA!
* GOA, a small tourist hot spot on the West Coast of India, is notorious for Israeli vacationers just getting out of the army. There's even a few towns where you can communicate more easily with others in Hebrew, rather than English or Hindi.
* India has 12 official languages, English not being one of them. Though most locals in North India speak Hindi, English is often used as the common language.
* India has the 3rd largest English speaking population in the world at around 150,000,000 people (which is about 10% of their population, or HALF the United States).
* South Indians don't speak Hindi, so North Indians are considered foreigners in South India.

Sleeping Amenities

1 AM at the Downtown Train station:

I traveled on the last train into Churchgate (downtown) station last night. As I exited the train, several guards boarded to make sure there was no one trying to spend the night on the train.

One ragged man who was lying in one train car, was poked with a stick and scurred off like a dog, and chased out of the station.

I continued walking down the landing to find about 20 men in train-uniforms all sleeping on the floor by the ticket booth. I'm guessing these men would be driving trains first thing in the morning and the floor of the ticket booth is the train employees "overnight amenities."

Heading towards my destination, I had to climb over another 50 or so women and men sleeping in front of the train station enterance.

Blink of an Eye

Walking down the street past sunset. Smelling the aroma of Indian spices and sewage drifting past my nose. The sound of blaring taxi horns, and traffic ward whistles. The sight of hundreds walking through the market collecting their weekly rations.

Splat!

The man in front of me is covered with egg shells and flour that fell from a resturaunt that rest atop a 6 story building standing next to us. After a few brief shouts of disbelief, the man shrugs his shoulders and is on his way. The whole incident lasts no more than several seconds.

If I had been facing the other way, or looking another direction, I may not have seen what happened at all. Don't blink your eye in India - or you may miss out on everything.

The Essance of Leadership

Over the past month, I have had the opportunity to visit almost a dozen universities in Mumbai. Each one carries a slightly unique creed and approach to groom their students. Some are hands on. Others are by the book. Through my interactions with successful business people and students alike, this blog paraphases one aspect of the values in management leadership:

Management is a fluid artform. An artform whose true integrity is tested at its highest point of vulnerability; sustaining motivation at times of diversity.

Every artform has values. Values which create the structure for a strong foundation.

A leader must find people who are strong enough to build such a foundation. And when the right foundation cannot be built, a leader must foster tolerance for risk and behavior that deviates from their own objectives without loosing focus on the original intended value system.

Progress is about change. Leadership is about creating a worthy dream, then helping others achieve that dream.