Well, there was a beautiful conference for all Shluchim and Roshei HaKehillos of Russia in Moscow, and they flew us in and put us up in a gorgeous hotel for a few days. I got to finally meet most of the other Rabbis, and take care of community issues of which I will write about another time, G-d willing.
Yesterday evening, transportation was arranged to take us to the airport. We arrived only to find out that Stavropol is snowed out and the airport there closed.
So we traded our tickets for new ones to Mineralniye Voda leaving today at 11:00 (Min Voda has a larger international airport and is 3 hours from Stavropol).
But we were stuck for the night without a place to stay or kosher food.
We called Or Avner and they told us to get to the Marina Roscha shul and they'll arrange for us transportation back to the airport and a hotel.
We went to the shul, and turns out that Lev Leviev's son had a bar mitzvah and we were all invited, so we got a full, yummy meal. Then we danced a little (first time my Rosh Hakahal danced without a girl), and went to the hotel.
It was 4000 rubles (about 170 bucks) a room, so we had to sdhare a room, and it was one of the drabbiest hotels in the world. THEY DIDNT EVEN GIVE US TOWELS!!!!
But Boruch Hashem I'm here in the airport, and though the flight is delayed til 11:50, and I heard the roads from Min Voda to Stavropol are closed, I;'m confident that it's Hashgocha Protis, and Hashem has a plan or reason why we're here.
Perhaps it was to meet a Jew from Siktivkar (find that on a map) and tell him about Shushan Purim Katan.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
Challah baking
On Thursday Chayale invited 3 women over to make Challah together while our housekeeper watches the kids.
Incidentally our amazing housekeeper last Friday told us it was her last day an hour before Shabbos. She felt bad leaving, but her priest told her she should. Then on Sunday our driver told us it was his last day, his rich son hired him. They both were sad to leave, and luckily we quickly found a new driver and housekeeper. We hope they'll be as good as the previous ones.
Anyway, so at 2:00, Anya Yaskovich came with her son, Yaroslav, who is only a little older than Miriam. Then Anya Davidova and Lena Berkun, two amazing women from the community, came with their children.
Together they spent all day making Challahs. They even stayed for supper. I'll try to convince Chayale to write about that experience.
Meanwhile, I am trying to get a working visa. Below I posted some pictures. They are not recent, but enjoy them nonetheless. We bought a computer and soon should have internet at home. Then we'll post more, and the blog will be G-d willing filled with photos, news, and videos.
Incidentally our amazing housekeeper last Friday told us it was her last day an hour before Shabbos. She felt bad leaving, but her priest told her she should. Then on Sunday our driver told us it was his last day, his rich son hired him. They both were sad to leave, and luckily we quickly found a new driver and housekeeper. We hope they'll be as good as the previous ones.
Anyway, so at 2:00, Anya Yaskovich came with her son, Yaroslav, who is only a little older than Miriam. Then Anya Davidova and Lena Berkun, two amazing women from the community, came with their children.
Together they spent all day making Challahs. They even stayed for supper. I'll try to convince Chayale to write about that experience.
Meanwhile, I am trying to get a working visa. Below I posted some pictures. They are not recent, but enjoy them nonetheless. We bought a computer and soon should have internet at home. Then we'll post more, and the blog will be G-d willing filled with photos, news, and videos.
Last photo for now
Odd, huh? we laughed when we saw this doll in the store, and took a picture (this is in December). Only in Russia would they sell a handcuffed baby in a bathtub.
Recently we've been having guests each shabbos - like 8 at a time (which is alot of fun).
Usually they bring gifts, though we try to discourage them from bringing on Shabbos.
This past week someone brought us THAT VERY DOLL!!!! Yes, Miriam now plays with the handcuffed doll. What should we name it?
Pictures
Mariashi requested photos. We are having troubles uploading them, but here's another go.
I hope this works. It's a sign we saw in Stavropol.
Garbage pickers
As a kid, in hockey when someone stood close to the net waiting to cash in on rebounds and screaming 'pass', they were called 'garbage-pickers' (though those very same kids, should they ever make it to the NHL would be called 'power forwards').
I never really understood where the term came from, after all - who picks things out of the garbage?
Well, now I understand.
Sometimes when I go out to dump my garebaggio, there is a cluster of poor people licking their lips and waiting like zombies for me to drop it in the dumpster, so that as soon as I leave they can dive in and eat the leftovers of Miriams soggy bananas.
It's kinda freaky. Real people actually PUBLICLY go picking through garbages.
I guess it says alot about the country, huh?
I never really understood where the term came from, after all - who picks things out of the garbage?
Well, now I understand.
Sometimes when I go out to dump my garebaggio, there is a cluster of poor people licking their lips and waiting like zombies for me to drop it in the dumpster, so that as soon as I leave they can dive in and eat the leftovers of Miriams soggy bananas.
It's kinda freaky. Real people actually PUBLICLY go picking through garbages.
I guess it says alot about the country, huh?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Thank you - public
Thank you to my family, who raised enough money to buy a Megilla for the Jewish Community of Stavropol in my Bubby Leah's memory.
In case you didn't yet hear the story
I assume everyone knows this one, as I've told it to everyone I know, but in case you are at the bottom of the grapevine in the mud, here is an amazing miracle story.
Every Shabbos, some old men and women meet in the Center to talk about the Parsha, eat some food, and read some Jewish newspapers. They do this at 2 PM for some unknown reason, though I am working on making it earlier so I can have a normal Shabbos meal.
Getting back on topic, one of these Jews is, to quote his words, "Yisroel Yitzchak ben Moshe" Farber. Married to a non-Jew, he knows that all his descendants aren't Jewish, yet is the most knowledgable of them all, reading the Parsha each week before Shabbos, and speaking a fluent Yiddish, I mean even fluenter than Rabbi Berkowitz!!!
Anyway, on Tu B'shvat there was a small celebration, and I sat down next to YY, whom I had become very friendly with. As we're talking, he told me that when he was a child he once received a Bracha from a Rebbe.
"Cool" I said in Yiddish (the Yiddish word for cool is 'Brekhtish'). "What was his name? perhaps I heard of him, maybe he was the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, or the Tosher Rebbe..."
He says, "no, his name was Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson."
I frieked out as one could expect, and then demanded to know the story.
"I was the first son born into my family (and the only one) after three girls," he said. "My father always wanted a boy, but he died when I was 9 months old. When I was 2, my mother heard that the Rebbe was coming to town. So she arranged a Yechidus. At the Yechidus she burst into tears, and asked the Rebbe, "my son has no father. Who will take care of him?" The Rebbe answered "Hashem will take care of your son.""
Yisroel Yitzchak then looks at me and continues, "and I survived throught World War 2, communism, and lived a life of luxury throughout. I know Hashem watches over me."
Every Shabbos, some old men and women meet in the Center to talk about the Parsha, eat some food, and read some Jewish newspapers. They do this at 2 PM for some unknown reason, though I am working on making it earlier so I can have a normal Shabbos meal.
Getting back on topic, one of these Jews is, to quote his words, "Yisroel Yitzchak ben Moshe" Farber. Married to a non-Jew, he knows that all his descendants aren't Jewish, yet is the most knowledgable of them all, reading the Parsha each week before Shabbos, and speaking a fluent Yiddish, I mean even fluenter than Rabbi Berkowitz!!!
Anyway, on Tu B'shvat there was a small celebration, and I sat down next to YY, whom I had become very friendly with. As we're talking, he told me that when he was a child he once received a Bracha from a Rebbe.
"Cool" I said in Yiddish (the Yiddish word for cool is 'Brekhtish'). "What was his name? perhaps I heard of him, maybe he was the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, or the Tosher Rebbe..."
He says, "no, his name was Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson."
I frieked out as one could expect, and then demanded to know the story.
"I was the first son born into my family (and the only one) after three girls," he said. "My father always wanted a boy, but he died when I was 9 months old. When I was 2, my mother heard that the Rebbe was coming to town. So she arranged a Yechidus. At the Yechidus she burst into tears, and asked the Rebbe, "my son has no father. Who will take care of him?" The Rebbe answered "Hashem will take care of your son.""
Yisroel Yitzchak then looks at me and continues, "and I survived throught World War 2, communism, and lived a life of luxury throughout. I know Hashem watches over me."
Monday, February 11, 2008
#3 - January 15. New Updates. Problems
Well, News Update is as follows. I am as hormonal as ever. In the morning I am flying high at the thought of having a whole week to myself in New York and spend my hours dreaming about the food I'm going to eat and the milkshakes I'm going to live on. At night, I sob, hysterically, at the INSANE idea of leaving my baby all alone without a mommy. Who's gonna keep her warm and wipe her boogers and give her a fruit or veggie with every meal!?Anyway, meanwhile, we have other problems. Bigger than my hormonal meltdowns.Russia is not a big on the legal and lawful. They haven't quite figured out how to make rules and stick to them. So they just came out with a new law. Even though we got visas for a year, unless we get a new different (expensive) visa or get permanent residency, we must leave the country in February for three months. So we are panicking.I, actually, am having my Shlichus kick-off this week with an older women- with gold teeth- get-together and we're making challah. Sunday, we have a Bar Mitzah, we're teaching the kids about Tu B'Shvat and then in the afternoon, I am having a womens group. Lots of cute, young women are coming to make fruit platters and learn!! I'm so proud of myself!! I got a professional fruit platter lady teacher to come! And a translator!!Oh and one more BIG piece of news: The Segals bought us cheese. They rock!
#2 - Upshernish in Stavropol - posted Jan. 14
Yesterday, we were invited to an Upshernish of a little boy named Yossi who actually has a Jewish mother AND father and brother. We came bearing a Tzizis cake, chocolate chip bars and a present for the boys. Only us and a another family were invited. It was really a beautiful afternoon. Zvi said a beautiful speech about an upshernish and blessed the home. We brought a laminated alef Bais and had Yossi licked honey from it. We stayed for five hours, chatting and eating (fruit and the cake I brought!). They kept on making Lechaims and telling us how happy they are that we came to Stavropol. The dad cried a few times. It was my first real Shlichus experience.Another thing we did was bring our Jewish neightbors cake for Shabbos. They were so happy.Fsyo. for now.
Some old posts of mine which went to the wrong place - #1 - the Metro Millionaires
So... Zvi has been bugging me to post so I will write about my experience I had yesterday in.. Metro!Well, I went to buy an oven so I can finally make normal food. Of course, though I can speak perfect Russian, no one can understand a word I say. So when I inquired about which oven was "Sami Luchi" (the best), they frantically sent the word out that any English pseaking employee should make their way to the aisle. Well, withing minutes there were 10 employees. One spoke English. I chose an oven, a bread machine and then proceeded to continue with my shopping. As I an walking, I notice that this guy is following me. I said "why you following me???" He said "the floor manager said I must go with you and help you with anything you need." They thought I was an American millionaire! Boy did I take advantage. He pushed my cart, ran to get me things, bagged my groceries. I even got his phone number is case I ever need anything. While I was in Metro, by the way, I found the couch of dreams. Leather, chocolate brown and is a sofa bed. We're going back to get it today!Stavropol's awesome. I come to New York in two weeks from today. I'm dreaming about the pizza.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
An update
So much happens here you forget to post, especially when you need to travel around to find internet. So here's a little update.
Two days ago our driver was taking Chayale somewhere so I took a taxi home. The guy immediately notifies me that I happen to look Jewish. I answer my standard answer, "ya Superyevrei". This always gets a chuckle. Anyway he tells me his Grandma was Jewish. As a proper shliach, alarm bells rang in my head and I immediately asked him what any one of the Rebbe's shluchim's response to that statement would be. I said, "do you have 1000? we want to make a kosher kitchen...." oops, no that's for fundraising. I actually tried to find out if it was his maternal grandma, and it turned out it was. So I told him he's Jewish.
Of course he asks the standard Xenophobic question upon hearing that. He says, "so why don't I have alot of money?" I replied, "not all Jews have money, you know." Anyway, we spoke a little, and he tells me he has a sister living in Prague (mental note to Rav of Prague, contact that woman). So I took his number and told him I wanna invite him for Shabbos. I ask him his name.
Pause for effect.
ALEX KOVALEV!!!!!
I promise. This is one of my hockey heroes!!! Could Hashem have made me love hockey so much for this very reason???? probably not, but it was kinda cool.
So he is my project of the year. Someday he'll meet his namesake, and say the following words to him: "do you want to put on tefillin?"
Two days ago our driver was taking Chayale somewhere so I took a taxi home. The guy immediately notifies me that I happen to look Jewish. I answer my standard answer, "ya Superyevrei". This always gets a chuckle. Anyway he tells me his Grandma was Jewish. As a proper shliach, alarm bells rang in my head and I immediately asked him what any one of the Rebbe's shluchim's response to that statement would be. I said, "do you have 1000? we want to make a kosher kitchen...." oops, no that's for fundraising. I actually tried to find out if it was his maternal grandma, and it turned out it was. So I told him he's Jewish.
Of course he asks the standard Xenophobic question upon hearing that. He says, "so why don't I have alot of money?" I replied, "not all Jews have money, you know." Anyway, we spoke a little, and he tells me he has a sister living in Prague (mental note to Rav of Prague, contact that woman). So I took his number and told him I wanna invite him for Shabbos. I ask him his name.
Pause for effect.
ALEX KOVALEV!!!!!
I promise. This is one of my hockey heroes!!! Could Hashem have made me love hockey so much for this very reason???? probably not, but it was kinda cool.
So he is my project of the year. Someday he'll meet his namesake, and say the following words to him: "do you want to put on tefillin?"
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