October 2009

As someone who writes out the date no less than a dozen times a day, you’d think this would be a no-brainer. But there’s lots going on and it’s tough to keep track. We’re working hard to close the 2009 campaign (feel free to donate right now). Chanukah’s around the corner and Super Sunday will be here in a blink of the eye. Naturally, now’s the time to get in applications for Jewish summer camp (link to graphic/flyer we created), let alone take advantage of scholarship opportunities. All this and we’ve got new lay leadership coming in, while we’re getting ready to honor John Fishel for 18 years of dedicated service to our community. Did I leave anything out? Drop me a line and let me know. (I know you will!)

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Today, Alyssa Milano retweeted the Fed Up With Hunger contest that was announced on knowledge junkie blog MentalFloss.com to her 298,000 followers! Check out the post:
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/38686

Or sign up for the event on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159918248519

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Maccabi players sported our Fed Up With Hunger tees during warmup.

On October 20th, Maccabi Tel Aviv managed to do what no team has done before – bring all sections of LA Jews together to one place. From the stylish La Brea frums, to Pico-Robertson Jdaters, all the way to the 818 Israelis, it was a mixture that you will never find at your local synagogue.

The Staples Center was exceptionally exciting, like I had never seen it before. Then again, the only time I had ever been to Staples Center was for an LA Kings hockey game, so excitement is a relative term. But even wannabe cynics like myself couldn’t ignore the vibe, or to be more exact – the feeling that I was home. Some of us might have even shed a tear when they saw the Israeli flag on the Jumbotron (some of us, not saying it was me. Omg that would be sooo embarrassing. Maybe someone that looked like me).

And why shouldn’t we be proud? Jews have finally made some time for sports. In Europe (which Israel is part of as far as sporting events and international song contests go) Maccabi is considered one of the best teams, winning the Europe cup every other year or so. Sure, the Rabbi might question the commitment to the tribe of, let’s say, the legendary Derrick Sharp, but as far as we are concerned he has done enough Mitzvahs to earn him a good seat in the Jewish VIP section of heaven. Our players might not all be Israelis or even Jews, but WE put them together into a group, that’s got to count for something, right? And they in turn got us together to cheer for Israel. Doesn’t matter what the final score was, that’s a Win Win if you ask me.

<<Proceeds from the game benefited Migdal Ohr of Israel – the world’s largest orphanage caring for 6,500 needy and at-risk children.>>

Check out the Maccabi game photo gallery >>

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Recently, as part of my department’s staff retreat, we began with a mandatory volunteer opportunity. Mandatory volunteering is the one oxymoron that irks me – you see, I do a lot of volunteering and I work in non-profit. So forcing me to volunteer goes against every fiber of my being and therefore, I began my morning with quite a chip on my shoulder.

As the tour begins, I am reminded of the hugeness of the food pantry system in our Los Angeles. My group met at the Los Angeles Regional Food bank. The warehouse is enormous and filled with so many varieties of food and drinks. My shoulders relax and I begin to listen – to the guy giving the stats, to the sounds of the workers and volunteers who have already been there for hours and to my own heart which is breaking for all those who live in hunger every day.

The mundane tasks of sorting food into boxes gave my co-workers and me an opportunity to bond outside our office while doing a mitzvah. It only took 10 minutes or so for that resentment I walked in with to melt and in its place, my heart was filled with pure joy. Following the experience, the rest of the staff (we were broken into 4 groups at difference locations) all arrived to complete the staff retreat. Many of us were unknowingly smiling when we walked into the retreat location. I have been to other retreats and because we started with this spiritual exercise, we were all more open to share and learn.

To say I was simply moved by the day is an understatement, I literally walked out thinking about how to grab an opportunity like this again and even bring my 8 year old daughter. I plan to schedule a visit to another food pantry with my daughter and we might even bring some friends.

During these difficult economic times, I recommend volunteering at a food pantry to see the impact that a resource like this has on our community. And if you work for a company, I strongly suggest for your next dept or staff retreat, begin with some type of group volunteer opportunity. I promise you, it will enhance the rest of your meeting and your employees will thank you. And like me, your experience will be far more powerful than you ever expected.

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Our friends at JDub records have taken the floundering Jewcy.com and shot new life into it. We couldn’t be happier. Why? Because Jewcy was always our favorite blog.

But wait, there’s bonus: we’re now doing a little blogging for Jewcy! Check out my post today called How to Meet Jewish Girls (in 15 steps). Here’s a little teaser:

1. Move from New York City to Israel – Tel Aviv, to be exact. Board a bus driven by a bearded maniac; a wild-eyed, bearded maniac with hair sprouting uncontrollably from his knuckles.  He’ll look like Mandy Patinkin, back when Mandy did a Yiddish album and grew a long beard for the cover photo…only hairier.

2. Hairy Mandy will think it fun to race his accordion-style bus going 240 MPH down the tiny one-way streets of Tel Aviv. Yeah Mandy, that’s fun. You have other ideas about what’s fun – like making up words to The Daily Show theme song.

Read more >>

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