Lack of posting

Pesach preparations are crazy, I barely have enough time to post, but some quick updates.

First anti-Semitic experience: someone followed me around, telling people I was a "zhid". I eventually went over to a street vendor I know, who threatened the dude, who obviously ran off. Interstingly, he was an older man. Also, he actually believed a swastika was "Russian." I told him to read his history how many Russians died over that.

In the world of Hashgacha Protis: I am delivering presents of Shmura Matza to Gvirim here. One gvir, head of the medicine centre, I got in the elevator with my two gifts (one for his daughter, head gyneacologist), but forgot which floor he was on (of 10). The lift stops on the second floor, and guess who walks in? his daughter. I gave her the Matza, and then she arranged an immediate meeting where I gave him the Matza.

We have had the hardest time trying to find a place for Chaim Hertzel (coming in over Pesach) to sleep. But finally someone offered his house, where he has 2 extra rooms. The guy has no money, but is the sweetest person on earth.

STARS is happening! 5 people have signed up for this amazing program. I'm told that usually it takes like 4 years to find people ready. Boruch Hashem more people are thinking about it. It's a program for students 17-28 years old. They come to two classes a week, and earn up to 120 bucks a month, plus events in Moscow and Israel. Cool, huh? only Rabbis can organize it.

We got security to walk us home after the Sedarim. 2 huge men with guns. Cool, huh?

First seder: 8:30 PM starts. Second: 7:00 starts. Of course by both we come home and start from the beginning again. Should be fun.

Sunday was perhaps the best "voskressenia school" day ever. We made a play for the kids, telling them the story of Pesach. Malky was Pharaoh (all she said was Nyet and Idi - go). Chayale the narrator (and by the second plague, a frog). And I of course was Moshe. We did all the plagues, the kids loved it, so did the parents. Then they followed me into the next room where we got stuck with Pharaoh chasing us and two blue blankets representing the red sea in front of us. But we davenned to Hashem and miraculously and with the help of two mothers, the sea parted, and everyone got to go to their seats, make a bracha, and eat lunch (phew). Then everyone made Kaaros for this coming Sunday school. Bummer that our camera had no batteries.

We fundraised locally 120 bucks. Not bad for a start. Really impressive when you consider we don't yet know any of the Gvirim here.