From this past thursday's class. I slipped into the room and took a picture without flash. No one noticed (tee hee).
Friday, February 27, 2009
Chayale teaching
From this past thursday's class. I slipped into the room and took a picture without flash. No one noticed (tee hee).
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Treaty at last!
So today I went on Mivtzoim again. Truth is that I wasn't in the mood, but Chayale pushed me to go, and gave me some Challah's she made specially for my route.
As I left her womens class was going strong. Today they made Hamantashen. Yum.
My route started off slow, but picked up when I was at the Zizovs, and we spent over an hour debating Torah, Talmud, and all sorts of Jewish law. His cousin, who works with him, is a Jew and leader of Stavropol's Jehova's witnesses. He thinks like a Karaite, and we argued back and forth...
It was lots of fun. Almost like being in Yeshiva again.
When I got home I received a phone call from Yefim, wanting to meet as soon as possible to sign. Finally! I hope this means the city will finally see peace.
A new contract with Rabbi Lazar was drawn up in the past month, and we met to make the final changes. We will be signing tomorrow morning.
Among the changes:
- He only receives his monthly cash from FEOR when I sign with him a document that everything is ok.
- He must shut down his Sunday school as soon as we move our school out of the Sachnut.
- He must keep my programs and classes going when I'm out of town.
- He must inform me of all meetings on the subject of religion with authorities and what-not.
- I finally get to browse through (and make copies) of all the papers proving Jewish people's Halachic status.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
What to do? what to do?
So many things happening...
Moscow has been stalling on the paychecks, which means that we are of course getting paid, but it's comng real late these days.
This complicates matters. If we get paid today, it won't go through til after we leave, and we need to borrow someone's credit card to use the 2700 US dollars it costs for us to leave on the 1st of March (when our visas run out).
My supportive family immediately has helped out, by putting money in through our paypal account. But it takes 5-7 days for paypal to go through... If anyone knows of someone who can loan us 2700 for like a week or two (we need to use a credit card), let us know. Our salary will be transferred to our Canadian account immediately when it comes through.
The current help coming from Moscow for the community is from 'Keren Yedidus', thanks to the generosity of Rabbi Yechiel Ekshtein. And while they are generous and helpful, they are also a huge stress.
Meat just arrived from Moscow (not 100% super-kosher), and we will be givnig it out to the children in Sunday school.
But his other projects (clothing for children, money for elderly and sick) are such that we must have everyone write thank you letters, take pictures of us giving out the clothes, and the Rabbis must write a letter explaining why we are choosing these 10 people to support, etc.
I suppose it's a good thing on the other hand, since people will learn to appreciate what they're getting, and to understand that it ain't free, and also with all the corruption and bribery going on in Russia, at least Rabbi Ekshtein will know that it's going where he wants it.
Something to ponder.
P.S. If anyone has a credit card we can use, email me at rabbizvi44@yahoo.com
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Purim is difficult
Picture from last years Purim event.
I never thought it would be this hard!
I have started fundraising, and it is a torturous job. The crisis has finally made its way to the provincial cities in Russia, and it has hit harder than it could in Moscow.
We are going to be in America for Purim, which means that aside from the fundraising we must do for the event, we also must fly out two Bochurim from Moscow in order to read the Megilla and talk about Purim.
I've started making calls and everyone is up to their necks... I have no idea what I will do for now, but I'm sure it'll work out.
More importantly, How will we be able to make sure that only kosher food is served?
This could be a disaster.
More on Chaim
Pictured is Sasha Filatov, Davening in Sunday school.
In the last post, I mentioned how I met a young Mountain Jew named Chaim in the street after trying to get in touch with him for ages. I'd like to write more about him.
Chaim comes from a town about a 6 hour drive east of Stavropol, but still in the Krai (province) which makes me responsible for the spirituality of his family. The town is called Zelenokumsk.
They know of only one other Jew in Zelenokumsk, but they are very proud of their heritage. Chaim has joined our Minyan, and he brought with him some fascinating objects. A picture of his great-grandfather Rabbi Rachman, who was the chief Rabbi of Chechnya a century ago, a picture of his sisters family, who are religious, and close to Chabad of Norway. Matter of fact, they live in Stavanger, and bring in Kosher meat from Oslo through the shluchim there.
And finally, his family owns a 'yad' from a Torah, 300 years old! His grandmother is a deeply religious person, and hasn't eaten meat in over 60 years (since the last time there was a shochet!).
His family keeps as many Jewish traditions as they can. Some day I'd like to travel out there to meet them.
For now, his father will be joining him this Shabbos at our Minyan/meal.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Another great moment in Stavropol
Chaim and Kaila Danzinger landed in Rostov thursday night. They will serve the community as Rabbi. Chaim is my good buddy, and Kaila is Chayale's, which means that life will get a little easier for us. At least we'll have a friend to commiserate with, to visit when we get down, and to join in our Simchas who is only a 4 to 5 drive away.
A few days before Chayale left to America, something amazing happened. SOmething I can probably farbreng with the bochurim in Moscow about.
I went to the notary to make a document allowing Chayale to travel overseas with Chaim, and when the business was done, the notary asked me (I get this often): "why do you walk around with your hat? There are many dangerous anti-Semites in Stavropol. It's not wise."
I responded by removing my hat, under which was a huge, bright blue Yarmulka. We all had a laugh, and then I told her that even if I were to wear a baseball cap, people would still know I was Jewish (since I need to wear tzitzis anyway). Besides, what kind of life is a life of fear? better to go back to Canada then live looking behind my back all the time. I finished by saying that the main reason I wear my hat is because I meet so many Jews that way, and even if they don't come over to say Shalom, at least it warms their heart to see a Rabbi, and lets them know that they have nothing to worry about.
We then left. Now I rarely walk in the street with Victoria (my secretary), but this time we had to do other business nearby (get a foosball table for Sunday school).
As we trudged through the mass of Russians, Victoria asked me if it's true that I meet people through wearing that hat, or if it has only happened two or three times. "It's really unsafe, Rabbi." She emphasized.
Before I could answer, my cell phone rang. I did the 'just a second' motion with my finger, and looked at the caller ID. Chaim Khanukayev!
Chaim is a young Jew who just finished college that I had had several phone conversations with. We had tried to meet several times, but it never worked out.
I put the phone to my ear.
"Rabbi, turn around!"
I turn around to see this young man walking toward me with arms outstretched.
I hugged Chaim with a huge Shalom! and then Chaim told me, "I was walking down the street, and suddenly saw your hat! I knew it had to be you!"
I immediately turned to Victoria and said, "this was not orchestrated!"
A few days before Chayale left to America, something amazing happened. SOmething I can probably farbreng with the bochurim in Moscow about.
I went to the notary to make a document allowing Chayale to travel overseas with Chaim, and when the business was done, the notary asked me (I get this often): "why do you walk around with your hat? There are many dangerous anti-Semites in Stavropol. It's not wise."
I responded by removing my hat, under which was a huge, bright blue Yarmulka. We all had a laugh, and then I told her that even if I were to wear a baseball cap, people would still know I was Jewish (since I need to wear tzitzis anyway). Besides, what kind of life is a life of fear? better to go back to Canada then live looking behind my back all the time. I finished by saying that the main reason I wear my hat is because I meet so many Jews that way, and even if they don't come over to say Shalom, at least it warms their heart to see a Rabbi, and lets them know that they have nothing to worry about.
We then left. Now I rarely walk in the street with Victoria (my secretary), but this time we had to do other business nearby (get a foosball table for Sunday school).
As we trudged through the mass of Russians, Victoria asked me if it's true that I meet people through wearing that hat, or if it has only happened two or three times. "It's really unsafe, Rabbi." She emphasized.
Before I could answer, my cell phone rang. I did the 'just a second' motion with my finger, and looked at the caller ID. Chaim Khanukayev!
Chaim is a young Jew who just finished college that I had had several phone conversations with. We had tried to meet several times, but it never worked out.
I put the phone to my ear.
"Rabbi, turn around!"
I turn around to see this young man walking toward me with arms outstretched.
I hugged Chaim with a huge Shalom! and then Chaim told me, "I was walking down the street, and suddenly saw your hat! I knew it had to be you!"
I immediately turned to Victoria and said, "this was not orchestrated!"
Friday, February 20, 2009
Thank You!
You know, when we go to the Kinus, it feels like a big happy family reunion. You can talk to people you don't know about your hardships and challenges because they are facing the same thing and understand what you're going through. I thought, as I sat there in the workshop where people shared their difficulties, that I am not alone. I truly belong to the most supportive, most caring family one could imagine.
What amazes and inspires me though, more than being in New York with my family, is meeting a family member in Yehuuppitz ville and receiving an outpouring of support out in the middle of nowhere. After a 12 hour flight from New York to Moscow and a two hour stop over in Moscow, I missed my flight back to my city. I was very upset, needles to say since the next flight was the next morning. A neighboring Shlucha (four hours awayt!!) was with me, Chavi Segal from Krasnodar, so I left my baby with her while I frantically ran and changed my flight to to with her to Krasnodar. I was exhaustd when I arrived and dreaded the thought of another four ride to Stavropol. When I got off the plane, Chavi's 6 year old son Aryeh, came over to me with a bouquet of orchids. Her husband, Shneour gave me a bag full of food for the trip home. Then they helped me sort my luggage and sent me home with their personal driver! I was so inspired by the way that Shluchim take care of each other, how my family was right there with me, out in the middle of nowhere. What an amazing family the Rebbe created. It's real! We don't just talk about it at the Kinus, but out there we are caring for each other and for every Jew that they should have what that they need.So thank you Chavi and Shneour Segal for bringing the inspiration and the feelings of the Kinus home to me.
A practical donation
As I have previously written, there's a man in the community who has a 2-year-old son with Leukemia.
Boruch Hashem there's an 85% chance of the boy surviving, but it's been hard on the family. The parents have separated, and the father lost his job due to the crisis.
I raised 500 bucks to help the family several months ago, and told the father (Denis Feldman) that I will keep trying. So far, no luck (although if anyone wants to make a donation, please contact me).
Last week, I was speaking to Denis, and he was telling me how difficult it is. He is doing all kinds of odd jobs, but still can't put together enough to pay for his son's medicine, which is extremely expensive.
I had an idea, and told him I would see what I can do.
Each Thursday I visit many businessmen from the community. Among them is Yosef Zizov, a wealthy Jew who imports medicine and sells them to all the hospitals and pharmacies. He is a 'hartzige yid', and so I told him about Denis, and he agreed to sponsor the medicine. They just met, and Denis was given the medicine.
Another Mitzvah in Stavropol! (pictured above is Yosef).
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The 'N' Word
Picture from my Sunday school class.
Today I went on my Mivtzoim route and had a great chat with my driver, Oleg Bogopolsky. As we usual, he asked some questions regarding the Torah, and then we chatted a little about Chayale's experiences in America.
Then Oleg asked me, "so what do American Jewry think of the fact that the new president is a N...?"
I'd normally be shocked, but now I've gotten used to it. It's a very odd deifference between Russia and America, and the first time I heard it, I gave a sermon-worthy speech to the person who said the 'N' word (comparing it to 'Zhid'...).
Anyway, in America it is unbelievably rude to call someone a 'N'. Instead, the polite way would be to say, 'Obama is a black.'
In Russia, the reverse is true. The 'N' word is polite, but to call someone a 'Chorni' (black) is a horrific insult.
And to think that I encouraged someone to stop using the 'N' word here and start using the word 'Chorni.'
Oyoyoy. They must think their Rabbi is a racist.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tu Beshvat Womens club
Preparing the oranges (how easy it looks. But don't be fooled...)
Some of the food they decorated.
Some of the women at the event (one woman left early because she was allergic to cucumbers!)
We're back
Internet is up again, and here is what you've all missed.
- Upshernish of Dan Berkun. It was fun and lively.
- Start of Friday night Minyan. Last week I had 9 attendants.
- Chayale's women's club. For Tu Beshvat they made fruit platters. 9 women came.
- I started weekly visiting a senior in the community. Thanks to Levi Stiefel for that suggestion, it's been going great!
- Chayale went for a week to New York for Chavi's engagement party and the kinus (international conference for shluchos). She came back inspired, and with shalach manos for all the kids in Sunday school.
- Once again peace talks have begun in the community, and I am almost literally bending myself backwards to show I am serious about peace, though on the other hand I told the president of the community that 'I have proven that I want peace. Your actions up to now show otherwise, and therefore you must prove to me that you want peace before funding from Moscow returns.' Nonetheless for the time being, I've requested a return of the funding, and will attend shabbos afternoon gathering provided it is kosher.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
On the streets of Krasnodar
Can you see the marching band?
I also danced with the Torah! The other Torah also came out of the Shul to greet the new one.
Hillel Davidov was one of the first guys to grab the Torah outside. Apparently there was a preset order of whom Rabbi Shneor Segal was giving the Torah to, but he was so excited he kind of pushed in and grabbed the Torah and started dancing with it.
They had a marching band behind the Chuppah. It was really nice. The only hitch was that the parade took about 45 mnutes, and they only knew 3 Jewish tunes.
Try dancing to Haveinu Shalom Aleichem repeated for a half hour.
First new pictures... The Torah event in Krasnodar
That's me! Writing in the Torah!
Hillel Davidov writes a letter in the Torah.
Putting Tefillin on Refoel Khaimov as the event started.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Baby food
We're back. Internet is working.
And the above picture was taken in Moscow's Vnukovo airport bathroom.
Todays topic, before I upload a thousand more photos: baby food.
I never thought it would be this big of a deal. When your 7 month old baby needs food, you just whip over to the local supermarket and buy a couple of cans of mushed bananas.
Not in rush.
No sir. Mushed bananas in a can in Russia are not totally kosher. In Moscow they have a bunch of kosher food, but way out in the windy city of Stavropol (which has been experiencing wonderful summery weather for a month already... take THAT Los Cabos) you gotta MAKE all the food for your baby.
I never thought it was so difficult, but it is a while situation.
First you gotta find the mixture of stuff you want to mush. Then you gotta cook it. After that is done, you must zhuzh it for a while to make sure there are no chunks of whatever it is, and finally you gotta cool it down (or if it was in the fridge from last use, heat it up).
Chaim eats SO much!!!!
Monday, February 02, 2009
Quick updates
- Chavi is engaged. Woooooo! I danced around the house in my pyjamas when I heard. (Chavi is chayale's sister).
- To Dovid Russ! (he's a buddy). For that I will now perform a split.
Ouch.
- We received money from our Or Avner organization to do some work. Most of it goes to pay salaries, but we are closer to standing on our feet.
- We have taken over sunday school. It's now full of Yiddishkeit, and how we want it. We also are making it one of the best Sunday schools in the city (where else can kids learn English in stavropol from a NATIVE SPEAKER)?
- chayale's womens class has been rocking. It's popular, and for the past 3 weeks she has averaged around 10 women a week. (it's in our apartment. She teaches lessons on prayer, and then teaches them how to cook something else each week).
- She also made a womens club for Tu Bishvat in which they turned fruits into swans and stuff. 10 people came (several cancelled at the last moment).
- Friday night Minyan in our apartment is growing and is really nice. We just sing the entire time, talk about a different prayer each week, and then sit down to eat.
- We bought a dryer. The ones here aren't like the ones in America. You don't need a plastic pipe poking out the window, rather the dirt magically disappears.
- Our kitchen is still missing some essentials. We have no office to speak of yet, but we are happy.
- I went to Krasnodar for their Torah celebration last week and it was absolutely stunning. I brought two Jews from stavropol, and they got pumped about it. I'll post pictures when we get internet at home. The party went from a classy theatre through the streets of Krasnodar with a marching band to the beautiful shul where we made Hakafos. Both Stavropol guys got to write a letter in the Torah, and I showed them where we 'will be in 3 years.' They were particularly impressed with the kindergarten.
My time is running out in the internet cafe. I gotta go.
- To Dovid Russ! (he's a buddy). For that I will now perform a split.
Ouch.
- We received money from our Or Avner organization to do some work. Most of it goes to pay salaries, but we are closer to standing on our feet.
- We have taken over sunday school. It's now full of Yiddishkeit, and how we want it. We also are making it one of the best Sunday schools in the city (where else can kids learn English in stavropol from a NATIVE SPEAKER)?
- chayale's womens class has been rocking. It's popular, and for the past 3 weeks she has averaged around 10 women a week. (it's in our apartment. She teaches lessons on prayer, and then teaches them how to cook something else each week).
- She also made a womens club for Tu Bishvat in which they turned fruits into swans and stuff. 10 people came (several cancelled at the last moment).
- Friday night Minyan in our apartment is growing and is really nice. We just sing the entire time, talk about a different prayer each week, and then sit down to eat.
- We bought a dryer. The ones here aren't like the ones in America. You don't need a plastic pipe poking out the window, rather the dirt magically disappears.
- Our kitchen is still missing some essentials. We have no office to speak of yet, but we are happy.
- I went to Krasnodar for their Torah celebration last week and it was absolutely stunning. I brought two Jews from stavropol, and they got pumped about it. I'll post pictures when we get internet at home. The party went from a classy theatre through the streets of Krasnodar with a marching band to the beautiful shul where we made Hakafos. Both Stavropol guys got to write a letter in the Torah, and I showed them where we 'will be in 3 years.' They were particularly impressed with the kindergarten.
My time is running out in the internet cafe. I gotta go.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
This is what I did last Sunday...
http://col.org.il/show_news.rtx?artID=44599
I'll write more about it soon...
I'll write more about it soon...
Thursday, January 22, 2009
A Moscow secret
Day 3 in Moscow.
I awoke early and had a Chassidish start to my day. Mikvah (amazing how much it is missed when on shlichus), I leined for the early Minyan (7:00), got an Aliyah (being the only Levi there), and FINALLY said the Hagomel blessing.
I was supposed to meet Peter Order (the other sponsor) at Minyan, and I even arranged a pair of Tefillin for him, but he went to a different shul, thinking that was where we had made up to go (or maybe I went to the wrong shul).
If anyone ever visits Moscow, put this on your list of things to do, of little Moscow secrets. Breakfast in the Marina Roscha kosher restaurant is a bargain and is delicious. For 250 rubles (about 9 bucks), you get an all-you-can eat buffet with everything you can imagine, plus good juices, tea and coffee.
As well, there are two tables on the sides, and behind each of them a woman stands. One on table there are all kinds of vegetables and salad dressings, and a woman with a knife will toss up a salad for you based on your preferences on the spot.
The other table is for eggs, and it is full of spices, cheeses, etc. You can have a lady fry an egg any way you like or get creative.
Lunch and supper, on the other hand, they need to work on.
Anyway, from there I went to buy kosher baby cereal which can only be bought in Moscow. This will relieve some pressure off Chayale, who needs to make everything from scratch in order to feed Chaim.
It was odd to realize that an ordinary store in Moscow is equivalent to Stavropol's largest food shop.
Russia is so different in many ways from the US and Canada, but one way which stands above all is how everything is sourced to Moscow. It's like every province is a slave to the main city. This means that all the best food from Stavropol winds up in Moscow. Since no one really cares about the smaller cities, especially since that's not where all the money is they wind up at the far back of the line.
Thank G-d we have Metro.
Now if only we can get a normal shopping mall and some normal stores.
Rant over.
Anyway, I then went to finish sorting out the meat, which is another problem. I have to pay for the meat, AND for the driver to drag it and bribe the busdriver to take it with him on the trip to Stavropol.
I made a huge order.
One thing really impressed me about the Bolshoi Bronnaya shul.
At the entrance after you get through security you are immediately greeted by a smiling Rabbi with a pair of Tefillin in his hands asking how he can help you.
Of course, if you don't have a Kippa, he hands one to you. And if you haven't put on Tefillin, he'll wrap some on you.
Luckily I went to Mikvah or he may have stripped me naked.
They also have an awesome Fleishig restaurant on the 5th floor. Real classy, yummy food.
Peter soon dropped by and we chatted for awhile about personal issues. I'm going to get him a pair of Tefillin, and he will be sending 3 computers fully equipped to Stavropol to help us start our office.
The I had to rush back and pack up. My cab driver didn't know the way, and what was supposed to be a half hour drive turned into an hour and a half. When I got to the apartment I was staying, the other cab was already there, impatient.
Boruch Hashem I made it to the airport, hauling my 52 kilo bag behind me (full of kosher food and books).
In an hour my plane flies. I gotta get to my gate.
I awoke early and had a Chassidish start to my day. Mikvah (amazing how much it is missed when on shlichus), I leined for the early Minyan (7:00), got an Aliyah (being the only Levi there), and FINALLY said the Hagomel blessing.
I was supposed to meet Peter Order (the other sponsor) at Minyan, and I even arranged a pair of Tefillin for him, but he went to a different shul, thinking that was where we had made up to go (or maybe I went to the wrong shul).
If anyone ever visits Moscow, put this on your list of things to do, of little Moscow secrets. Breakfast in the Marina Roscha kosher restaurant is a bargain and is delicious. For 250 rubles (about 9 bucks), you get an all-you-can eat buffet with everything you can imagine, plus good juices, tea and coffee.
As well, there are two tables on the sides, and behind each of them a woman stands. One on table there are all kinds of vegetables and salad dressings, and a woman with a knife will toss up a salad for you based on your preferences on the spot.
The other table is for eggs, and it is full of spices, cheeses, etc. You can have a lady fry an egg any way you like or get creative.
Lunch and supper, on the other hand, they need to work on.
Anyway, from there I went to buy kosher baby cereal which can only be bought in Moscow. This will relieve some pressure off Chayale, who needs to make everything from scratch in order to feed Chaim.
It was odd to realize that an ordinary store in Moscow is equivalent to Stavropol's largest food shop.
Russia is so different in many ways from the US and Canada, but one way which stands above all is how everything is sourced to Moscow. It's like every province is a slave to the main city. This means that all the best food from Stavropol winds up in Moscow. Since no one really cares about the smaller cities, especially since that's not where all the money is they wind up at the far back of the line.
Thank G-d we have Metro.
Now if only we can get a normal shopping mall and some normal stores.
Rant over.
Anyway, I then went to finish sorting out the meat, which is another problem. I have to pay for the meat, AND for the driver to drag it and bribe the busdriver to take it with him on the trip to Stavropol.
I made a huge order.
One thing really impressed me about the Bolshoi Bronnaya shul.
At the entrance after you get through security you are immediately greeted by a smiling Rabbi with a pair of Tefillin in his hands asking how he can help you.
Of course, if you don't have a Kippa, he hands one to you. And if you haven't put on Tefillin, he'll wrap some on you.
Luckily I went to Mikvah or he may have stripped me naked.
They also have an awesome Fleishig restaurant on the 5th floor. Real classy, yummy food.
Peter soon dropped by and we chatted for awhile about personal issues. I'm going to get him a pair of Tefillin, and he will be sending 3 computers fully equipped to Stavropol to help us start our office.
The I had to rush back and pack up. My cab driver didn't know the way, and what was supposed to be a half hour drive turned into an hour and a half. When I got to the apartment I was staying, the other cab was already there, impatient.
Boruch Hashem I made it to the airport, hauling my 52 kilo bag behind me (full of kosher food and books).
In an hour my plane flies. I gotta get to my gate.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Kosher meat plays hard to get
This morning I was meant to go visit Eli Ginsberg and get to see his newborn daughter Mira, but due to complications we eventually got together at the Marina Roscha Shul in the early afternoon.
There we spoke for several minutes. I told him that now that he has a family, he should start putting on Tefillin every day. We negotiated, and he decided to do it as often as he can. We also spoke about several other intelligent stuff, after which I gave him some cute gifts that Chayale put together (Jewish book, little Torah) and I bought (the Mezuza pictured above), which he weill use to make Mira's room have more of a Jewish feeling.
Then he made a nice donation, which will be used to get a ton more meat to Stavropol.
With Or Avner's office closure and gradual implosion to what it is now (due to the crisis), the way of shluchim in regional cities to get kosher meat has become harder.
Previously we could call Or Avner in Moscow, place our order, and they would pay for it and send it to us by having a driver take it to the train or bus (or plane if you live in the far east I think). All that is because no food is allowed in the post or something like that.
Anyway, the money would be taken out of our next paycheck, simple as pie.
However, now that resource has closed. And so the shluchim are trying to discover new ways to get meat. And then of course there is the problem of paying the companies for the meat too (they have no access to our salaries).
So I spent the day working out how to get meat, and placing a massive order (which I will finish tomorrow iy"h). What a pain.
Tomorrow, incidentally, I also leave back home, which means that the next time I will be posting regularly is when we have internet, which should be soon (quick hopeful glance at the sky).
By the way, the first picture is of me putting a Mezuza up in our new apartment.
Birds
Every evening millions of birds fly poast our apartment. Here is a video.
Ignore Miriam's screams. She wanted to see. I always hold her by the window, and this time the camera got a turn instead.
Ignore Miriam's screams. She wanted to see. I always hold her by the window, and this time the camera got a turn instead.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Some photos
The jaccuzzi in all its glory:
Hallway entrance to the living room:
The hall:
Kitchen ceiling:
The view from outside our house:
As you can see I found a good computer with internet here in Moscow. Again, the pictures don't do it justice. They make the apartment seem smaller than it is. Each room is way bigger. I just had to stand in each one and couldn't find a good spot to keep it looking roomy...
And by the way, this morning after Minyan we gave Eli Ginsberg's daughter a name: Mira.
His friends came, and afterward we said Lechaims. My Lechaim was:
"May she only keep you awake in the night before she turns two."
Hallway entrance to the living room:
The hall:
Kitchen ceiling:
The view from outside our house:
As you can see I found a good computer with internet here in Moscow. Again, the pictures don't do it justice. They make the apartment seem smaller than it is. Each room is way bigger. I just had to stand in each one and couldn't find a good spot to keep it looking roomy...
And by the way, this morning after Minyan we gave Eli Ginsberg's daughter a name: Mira.
His friends came, and afterward we said Lechaims. My Lechaim was:
"May she only keep you awake in the night before she turns two."
Some more quickies to report
- I'm in Moscow... Eli Ginsberg had a baby girl, and I'm here to celebrate with him
- We started running Sunday school since the Sachnut has no more money for it, and our new ideas and style has already been applauded by the parents. The kids love it... but more on that when I get internet at home, which should be iy"h this week
- I started: learning with Yisroel Silberstein once a week shulchan aruch over the phone, organizing my Wednesday class and making it more professional, visiting an old person from the community every Monday in order to meet more people in Stavropol (and I try to go to ones with large families that are Halachically Jewish, but don't have much to do with the community). That idea credit goes to Levi Stiefel of Voronezh. And finally, my Mivtzoim route has expanded a bit on Thursdays. I'm out of the house almost the entire day. Oh, and Friday night I started a Minyan.
Last shabbos we had the first 'minyan', and it was better than I dreamed. I spent all Friday working on typing out in Russian some main songs of Davening (Yedid Nefesh, Lecha Dodi, Shema til Emes, Vayechulu, Aleinu and Al Tira), and two men came. But there was such a beautiful atmosphere. At one point, one of the men's children came in and started singing with us, holding onto his fathers hand. They also quietly read from a Siddur by Shmone Esrei and whispered their own private prayers. At Lecha Dodi I explained the history of the prayer and spoke a little about it.
I finished with a Dvar Torah on the week, then we gathered for Shalom Aleichem, Eishes Chayil and the meal.
They are learning the tunes and words. It helped that I gave them some downloaded youtube videos (gorgeous ones) with the songs on them, such as:
Search for this on youtube under שלום עליכם.
Also, Moscow cut all funding from the president of the community...
More next time.
- We started running Sunday school since the Sachnut has no more money for it, and our new ideas and style has already been applauded by the parents. The kids love it... but more on that when I get internet at home, which should be iy"h this week
- I started: learning with Yisroel Silberstein once a week shulchan aruch over the phone, organizing my Wednesday class and making it more professional, visiting an old person from the community every Monday in order to meet more people in Stavropol (and I try to go to ones with large families that are Halachically Jewish, but don't have much to do with the community). That idea credit goes to Levi Stiefel of Voronezh. And finally, my Mivtzoim route has expanded a bit on Thursdays. I'm out of the house almost the entire day. Oh, and Friday night I started a Minyan.
Last shabbos we had the first 'minyan', and it was better than I dreamed. I spent all Friday working on typing out in Russian some main songs of Davening (Yedid Nefesh, Lecha Dodi, Shema til Emes, Vayechulu, Aleinu and Al Tira), and two men came. But there was such a beautiful atmosphere. At one point, one of the men's children came in and started singing with us, holding onto his fathers hand. They also quietly read from a Siddur by Shmone Esrei and whispered their own private prayers. At Lecha Dodi I explained the history of the prayer and spoke a little about it.
I finished with a Dvar Torah on the week, then we gathered for Shalom Aleichem, Eishes Chayil and the meal.
They are learning the tunes and words. It helped that I gave them some downloaded youtube videos (gorgeous ones) with the songs on them, such as:
Search for this on youtube under שלום עליכם.
Also, Moscow cut all funding from the president of the community...
More next time.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
So much to post, so little time
I am back in an internet cafe... There is so much to say, I will be brief.
Our new apartment doesn't have a phone, kicthen, or internet yet. Everything else is amazing.
The kids love it and we love it, but for now our fridge is outside the window and our oven is only our small milchig one.
The head of the community was holding the Aron Kodesh hostage since Moscow cut funding from him, but now he agreed to send it to our apartment. Yay!
It took us a day to move. Crazy day too, 4 workers shlepped from 10 AM to 9 PM. We paid 400 dollars for the work.
We still need to buy an oven and a fridge.
The jaccuzzi is amazing, as is the bathroom heated floor.
From our bedroom window you can see Lenin square, and the sort of miniature 'times square' of the city. Also, a few floors under us is the top of a small apartment building. They don't have any curtains on their windows, which isn't so bad.
What is bad is that this includes the bathroom. During the day you can't see anythihng, but at night everything is dark, and you can very clearly watch people go to the bathroom.
Only in Russia. Chayale is planning on giving them a visit (and NOT to use their bathroom).
Being in a super-classy building means you gotta deal with the super classy people. There's a building committe and stuff. This lady met me in the hall and told me the ordinances. Whatever.
Our new apartment doesn't have a phone, kicthen, or internet yet. Everything else is amazing.
The kids love it and we love it, but for now our fridge is outside the window and our oven is only our small milchig one.
The head of the community was holding the Aron Kodesh hostage since Moscow cut funding from him, but now he agreed to send it to our apartment. Yay!
It took us a day to move. Crazy day too, 4 workers shlepped from 10 AM to 9 PM. We paid 400 dollars for the work.
We still need to buy an oven and a fridge.
The jaccuzzi is amazing, as is the bathroom heated floor.
From our bedroom window you can see Lenin square, and the sort of miniature 'times square' of the city. Also, a few floors under us is the top of a small apartment building. They don't have any curtains on their windows, which isn't so bad.
What is bad is that this includes the bathroom. During the day you can't see anythihng, but at night everything is dark, and you can very clearly watch people go to the bathroom.
Only in Russia. Chayale is planning on giving them a visit (and NOT to use their bathroom).
Being in a super-classy building means you gotta deal with the super classy people. There's a building committe and stuff. This lady met me in the hall and told me the ordinances. Whatever.
Monday, January 05, 2009
No time to blog
Too much packing... We signed for our new apartment today and took the kids through the center of the city on a trip... will post pictures tomorrow. It was amazing.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Friday, January 02, 2009
Just a little scratch from my bigger sister
Malky asked about our office.
We don't have an office, Malx. And won't be getting one probably until February. Reason: because of the crisis, and the fact that lots of our funding was cut, we had to close our old office. Since prices haven't yet fallen, Rabbi Lazar wants us to hold off getting a new office for a month, since everyone is predicting that prices will shoot down.
Anyway, we need to move house, so there's no time for that...
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Packing...
Sometimes I watch them...
Sometimes Malkali watches them...
So that we can pack all our boxes.
She's nuts
Notice how poised and under control I am at the end of the video. As a normal serious-faced gentleman, I abhor her behavior.
Angela Avshalumova brings toys for the new year
As we were packing, we noticed how many things she has brought us as gifts that are now part of our household items. It's actually pretty amazing.
How very, very Russian
Inspired by my friends beautiful display of pictures of her visit to Israel, pictures which truly exeplified the Israeli spirit, I felt compelled to share some pictures of my tropical city in all its uniqueness and grandeur.
Even the coke can wants to use the beautiful and fun swing outside our house.
The park outside our house.
Selling fruits and veggies on the corner next to our house Erev New Years (and every other day).
Selling 4 old forks and a shoe-horn.
Luckily, the fire station is round the corner from us, so if we have a fire this nifty and modern firetruck will come zooming around the corner and save us.
Side view of the firetruck with all its gadgets.
We have a very clean city. No littering allowed.
Eggs for sale (the chicken is behind the table).
Rabbits for sale. Yummy yummy. I bought two home for Shabbos.
Fresh (whatever that means) seafish for sale in a glass box.
Beats the gap BIG TIME!
Posted by Chayale.
Even the coke can wants to use the beautiful and fun swing outside our house.
The park outside our house.
Selling fruits and veggies on the corner next to our house Erev New Years (and every other day).
Selling 4 old forks and a shoe-horn.
Luckily, the fire station is round the corner from us, so if we have a fire this nifty and modern firetruck will come zooming around the corner and save us.
Side view of the firetruck with all its gadgets.
We have a very clean city. No littering allowed.
Eggs for sale (the chicken is behind the table).
Rabbits for sale. Yummy yummy. I bought two home for Shabbos.
Fresh (whatever that means) seafish for sale in a glass box.
Beats the gap BIG TIME!
Posted by Chayale.
Russian New Year
Yesterday we spent all day packing. You can't buy boxes here, rather you need to either grab them from the garbage next to stores or have a friend who will give you his boxes from his stores. Luckily Oleg Bogopolsky has a friend, so we got a bunch of boxes.
New Years is crazy in Russia. Since fireworks are legal for everyone to own, there is no planned event, rather there are like 50 of them, plus all of the private people who just shoot them off at home, in the street, or out the window. So much fireworks happen at once and for over an hour that it sounds like a popcorn machine.
Last night we watched a neighbor shoot rockets from his window. One of them smashed into the building across the street. We also saw some drunk guys singing in the street beneath us, and someone lighting fireworks in the middle of the road. Also, at about 12:45, all 3 firetrucks from the fire station near us raced to center of the city, sirens wailing. I wonder what happened.
For the next couple of days it's dangerous to go out into the streets, and most shluchim in Russia stay home.
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