An unknown kiddush hashem

As I wrote before, I have been working doing data entry for a stamp seller.

Today I was putting in some information and something bothered me about a certain stamp (pictured above) which hails from Sierra Leone, a small African country. As I read the biblical passages on the side, it hit me.

They spelled G-d the way I just spelled it! (Gee dash dee). Only orthodox Jews spell Hashem's name that way (because we don't what power it has, and don't want to wind up throwing G-d into the garbage. If it's spelled differently, it's like a sorta loophole and you can do what you want with it).

So what is it doing on a stamp from SIERRA LEONE?

The answer is that a Lubavicther in Crown Heights (and old friend of my Dad from Montreal) prints stamps for many countries around the world. I guess he couldn't handle writing G-ds name down, even on a stamp. What a kiddush hashem!

By the way, the stamp pictured can be found and bought. Google 'stamp Sierra Leone natures wisdom'.

Hey! I was mentioned!

In http://yamlive.blogspot.com/2009/05/interview-with-yammer-boruch-tauber-aka.html that link.

Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

When Hashem closes one door...

Arriving in America, and discovering that we were in limbo had us in Morristown for a month, trying to fundraise, and then find a job. It didn't work out, so we came to Montreal, where we had a disappointing first week before finally finding an apartment.

Then we davened hard. I needed a temporary job, and tried everything. I even have been working for my mother, cleaning out the backyard. Hashem answered in a very weird way.

I made an appointment with Coho (a job-helping agency from and for Outremont Chassidim), and met with a woman there, who told me that they only had one job available, data entry for 10 dollars an hour. She also helped me write a resume, but then she emailed it to the wrong email address, and deleted it off her computer and email.

Desperate, I called and met with a Mr. Davidovici, a sweet little Litvishe man who sells stamps. I took the job, and spent the first week working for him.

I'm in my second week now and it's been a blessing. In most of my past jobs, I have worked with or for people who make me lose my faith in humanity. Finally here is a decent elderly guy who is so laid back and to be honest 'cute', and a mentsch to boost, that even though the work is boring, I'm actually somewhat enjoying it.

At the end of the first week he walked over to me and said, "usually my worker doesn't know computers and isn't quick to catch on, but I can see you know what you're doing. I'm paying you 14 an hour."

For anyone who has ever made fun of Litvaks (or Misnagdim), I wish they would have seen that. In general I actually find most Litvaks to be more honest than any other denomination.

Anyway, I've also been receiving call after call and offer after offer to write. Screenplays in particular. And not just screenplays of their choosing, it's mostly people (and well-known frum filmmakers too) telling me, "Zvi, you've got a name. Write whatever you want and we'll produce it and you'll make money."

Lots of doors have opened, and I will be walking through them. Not all of them, just ones that I see the people are serious and willing to partially pay me beforehand. But I will write nonetheless. I already have ideas brewing.

I also want to go to school to study screenwriting. Perhaps I should take a writing course too over the summer. If I'm gonna be doing this, I should do it right.

A sad email

We sent the news to Stavropol. We want to write a nice goodbye letter - only positive, nothing political whatsoever. Like saying how it affected us, and we know that what happened was something special, and all the times we had, all the projects and work and classes and shabboses we did went somewhere, and telling people to keep doing torah and mitzvos, and continue their Jewish heritage. Finish off with my contact information, and the idea of doing a class online. I am accepting advice for what to put in to the letter, and I must give Chaim Danzinger a huuuuge thank you for his input.

We received our first response, from the Davidov family. I welled up with tears reading the simple Russian they wrote. Here it is, translated:

Shalom Zvi and Chayale!!!!!! Today I was at Natasha's for school, and read your letter. Our family is extremely hurt. We are simply horrified that you won't return any more!!!! But we hope that we can remain friends through Skype.

Chayale, you know that we have grown fond of you and consider both of you family. You are our Rabbi and Rabbanit. We are ready to help you in any way if anything is necessary. You can rely on us, for we were your friends not because of money or work, simply as a religious Jewish family.

If any help with transportation of things is necessary, you only need to say the words and we will be there to help...

The Davidovs

A punch in the stomach

It's over.

Yesterday I received an email from Rabbi Lazar telling us to move on. Prime Minister Medvedev told the chief Rabbi that he had spoken to the head of the FSB and there was nothing more he can do. Other Rabbis need not fear, according to Medvedev, but we may not return.

For many of you readers, this means the end of reading the blog, as it will for now be alot more boring, based on our personal lives. I may even reopen the blog.

There are some final things to look forward to, such as Chayale's trip back (iy"h) and the goodbyes she will make, the journey of our stuff to return to Montreal, perhaps a final emotional letter to my community pleading with them to find a decent leader and stand up for themselves, and I'll iy"h repost some of the more inspiring stories of things that happened to us while we were on shlichus to Stavropol, Russia, a place that I will very much miss.

To all of you, thanks for all your support through our shlichus, and the time we were stuck in limbo.

Now it's time to figure out what to do with our lives (once again). Should I go to school, or back on shlichus?

Hockey cures stress

I've known it for a while... I played 3 games this week and with each one my mouth felt better. Now it is perfectly back to normal, except that I'm sore all over from all the roller-hockey.

We've started playing every friday at 3. This week some college hotshots came by and tried to kick us off the court, saying that our players are 'too young' and they'll cream us (my nephew Menachem Mendel Myhill, 15 years old, plays along with some friends). Finally they agreed to make 3 teams, 2 would be 'their' temas, and one would be us (8 players). We'd play 4 on 4. Anyway, we creamed them and it made my week. They barely even got shots on goal. We shocked ourselves and shocked everyone watching - as some yeshiva kids beat these super-cool college guys.

Oh, I finally got a job - sorta. I'm doing data entry for a stamp collector and dealer in Montreal. Pays 10 bucks an hour. And Dovid Russ helped me find a good job, which is sporadic. It's Hashgacha work, and pays well (250 dollars a day!). So far I haven't received a call.

I'm also writing.

Of course, if anyone hears of anything, please let me know. I'm still looking for a temp job for now.

And the reason for the lack of posting is over - Miriam will be going to preschool so we finally have time for ourselves :)

No news yet from Stavropol :(

Miriam's view

So yesterday I couldn't fimd my normsl Yarmulka, and for the first time time in about 2 years put on one of my crazy ones, the gold one with giraffes on the side.

Miriam looked at me and said, "Tatty's wearing a crown!"

It's official: I'm stressed out

The right side of my jaw started bothering me two days ago, and I assumed it was a toothache. It kept me up two nights ago, it kept me up last night.

I went to the dentist, and after doing work on my teeth and finding several cavities etc. I asked him why I was (and still am) in so much pain.

"Stress." He said.

Basically, somehow I have knots in my jaw, and now I have to do these facial exercizes invented by Jim Carrey, and apply a hot pad onto my jaw every 20 minutes. I also should rest and take lots of Advil.

Apparently this is something he sees alot of, and he said I'll probably have this problem throughout my life whenever I get stressed out.

This is the first time in my life that I've been diagnosed with stress, and it sucks. My life IS quite stressful. I wish I knew if we were returning to Russia soon.

I am an impatient man.

Hard work pays off

Today was a good day.

After helping my father clean up the backyard, cut down a tree and start building a shed, I dropped by our Montreal apartment for a few moments.

As I was leaving, Miriam called out: "I love you, Tatty."

That's the first time I received such spontaneous words from my daughter, and it completely melted my heart. I left with a push in my step.

This evening, I put Miriam to bed. As I was singing her a Niggun (lying next to her), she lifted her head off the pillow, pulled her pacifier from her mouth, and to my surprise planted a kiss on my cheek (first time, too). Then she lay back on her pillow and whispered, "I love you, Tatty."

I could eat her for breakfast, lunch and supper.

And even without any ketchup.

A day at the park

The family

Chaim Shimshon

Chayale and Audra

Miriam with Audra's kids (Ryan, Mason and Jake)

Photos by Audra.

Online class for exiled Shliach

In the comments of a previous post, my brother Benny suggested that I try to organize online Torah classes with my community. Apparently that is what the Shliach of Cuba does or something tothat effect.

Anyway, before Shabbos I wrote to Anya Davidova, a very active member of the community and leader of most of the young people, and I asked if she would be interested in helping to organize an online Torah class.

Well, tonight I rceived her response, and it was a positive one.

So now the question is: what should I teach?

Last post was deleted...

Due to a misunderstanding I had. Everything remains the same...