From the department of raising kids

This morning Miriam woke at 6. I watched her til 8, and after Chaim got up, she managed to abuse him somehow with her Sussy (pacifier) in her mouth, so I took it away.

She went into her room, upset. A couple of minutes later she stormed out, rushed over to me and using her left (weaker) hand, proceeded to hit my leg with each word as she said, "don't... take... my... sussy... away..."

Now what are they TEACHING her in camp?

Another stamp kiddush hashem

I came across this one at work while posting it online.

I've come across many stamps that have been fascinating for me, like a Rambam one, a beis hamikdosh one (both from Antigua & Barbuda, where there isn't even a shliach), and my conclusion is that a Lubavitcher prints stamps for the countries.

Sammy Malamud, anyone?

We're missed

My odnoklassniki public profile picture.

As I've written many times before, I met many Stavropol Jews on the website odnoklassniki.ru, which is pretty much the Russian version of facebook.

I even created a group titled 'Stavropol Jews.' As of today, there are 60 members. Admittedly, about half of them are ex-Stavropolians living in Israel, but still 30-40 members of a Russian Jewish community in a semi-public internet group is something unique and pretty amazing, I think.

There is a discussion board, with an 'ask the Rabbi' thread, which recently was filled with questions on Kabbalah.

What can I tell them? I said I don't know Kabbalah, except for the very basics.

Anyway, today the board got interesting. Someone I don't know wrote that they've been speaking to people in the community who supported getting rid of me, and they said that there is a general consensus among them that they made a mistake. They want us back.

While I wish they'd have discovered this earlier, it's a good feeling to have. And I'm glad I listened to the advice people gave me not to reply publicly and turn this into a war and ego battle. I'm proud that we did the right and decent thing by not answering back publicly.

I wrote a reply on the thread. It was simple. "Thank you for telling me this. I wish I could return."

It's the truth.

Kinus for Russian shluchim in Israel

The idea of a kinus for Russian shluchim started Kislev-time at the huge shluchim convention.

Originally they thought of doing it in Russia, Kislovodsk - which is in Stavropol's region (under my responsibility) was considered an option since Leviev apparently has a kosher hotel there (it's a 3 hour drive from Stavropol).

In the end, they decided to do it in Israel.

Planning was already underway when our deportation took place, and we were thinking of booking tickets back then. But once we were in the US and things were different we changed our minds.

This past weekend was the kinus for Russian shluchim and from the looks of it and the reports it sounds like it was amazing.

Usually they are. The Federation does a good job of impressing and inspiring the shluchim in Russia.

They toured all over Israel, had some workshops and finished with a massive banquet (pictures can be seen on collive and crownheights.info). Businessmen who support Chabad in Russia also were there, and it looks like they were inspired as well.

I wish I could have been there.

If for any other reason, then to have added in the Chayos department.

See, usually people get a little awkward when it comes to the end and they put on loud music and expect people to dance. It happened at the last conference in Moscow and it looks like (from the pictures) it happened again at the end of this one. (Not that it was lacking Chayos - liveliness. Just that I feel I could have added some).

Usually when it comes to the dancing (at weddings and in general), I feel like it's my cue. I hop in and just let completely loose. I go wild. Last conference I grabbed some knives and apples and started juggling in the middle.

I'm rambling. I guess I kind of wish I could have been there. I miss shlichus in Russia. The downs... and the ups.

Shnyukov fired

Hmm. Maybe it had something to do with me.

The news out of Stavropol is that Vassili Shnyukov, head of the department of religion, has been fired and replaced by a new guy.

Yesterday the community had a meeting to create a 'new community'. They are calling it 'together', or 'achdut'.

The new guy came to the meeting and promised his support.

This gives me some hope. I met Shnyukov twice while I was in Stavropol, and it was very clear that he was a friend of Yefim's.

The first time I met him was when one random day I came to the office to find Yefim chatting with two guys. I was told that they were from the department of religion. We chatted a bit, and they asked me if I need anything, and I told them 'no thank you. I'm settling in just fine.'

After they left, Yefim told me that they had been asking about the shul. I wish he'd have notified me earlier.

The second time was at this meeting in the center (obshina) with leaders of all religions. I didn't understand a thing of what was being said, but met some interesting and fun people, including a 'father Pavel' who was a young Ukrainian priest who ran a center to get people off drugs and spoke fluent English. We hit it off well, and he invited me for supper (which I declined after explaining about kashrus). But he left me his phone number, which I then sadly lost.

I think it would have ben interesting to meet him again.

Another guy I liked was this priest named 'Feodor.' He was an old man with a big white beard (looked like an eltere Chossid) and he smiled throughout the meeting. By far the most cheerful Russian I met. He seemed intrigued by me, but the language barrier prevented us from speaking much.

Anyway, having a new guy in the department of religion raises my hopes. Maybe somehow we can go back now. Maybe Shnyukov was one of the guys adamant about me not returning (he was a friend fo Yefim's).

I hope so.

Shlichus in Russia

For those of you who originally were reading my blog for the interesting stories and stuff that happens to a (North) American Shliach in Russia, check out marozov.blogspot.com which is written by my buddy Yossi Marozov in Ulyanovsk, Russia.

And support him. His community could use your donations.

I'm gonna also link him on the side of the blog.

I wonder which other shluchim around the world have blogs. Does anyone know of any? post in the comments. Maybe we can make a shluchim blog portal.

The ones I know:

Ulyanovsk, Russia - marozov.blogspot.com
Stavropol, Russia - jewishstavropol.blogspot.com
The world wide web - therealshliach.blogspot.com
Los Cabos, Mexico - running84.blogspot.com
Simferopol, Ukraine - www.chabadcrimea.org/templates/blog/default_cdo/aid/514938/jewish/Blog-CREME-DE-LA-KRIM.htm

And one more which for now will remain private, unless he wants me to publicize it. You know who you are. If you want it publicized, post.

Edit: I dunno why but the links aren't working, so I added the websites. Copy and paste them into your browser.

Second edit: fixed the links and added Simferopol. Thanks le7!

There are more to Yahrzeit's than meet the eye

Pictured: Mordecai Richler

Today was Chayale's birthday (I'll post photos etc. iy"h tomorrow night).

A bunch of friends came over, and we ate and chatted for awhile. One of them mentioned that he had been downtown in Montreal, and bumped into the director of the upcoming film 'Barney's version' starring Dustin Hoffman and shooting in Montreal.

The director, seeing someone in full Chassidic garb, had said that he needed actors. They had spoken awhile and then my friend took his number.

This triggered a memory from my last year of Yeshiva in Montreal. I shared it at the party and I'll share it here.

Let me preface by saying that Barney's version is based on a book by Mordecai Richler. Mordecai is considered one of the greatest Canadian authors in history, and is my second cousin.

He was the black sheep of the large Richler family, particularly because for some reason or the other he was a terribly rebellious child and grew up with a seething hatred for religion and religious Jew sin particular. His first book (and the book Barney's version) was called 'the apprentinceship of Duddy Kravits' and was also made into a Hollywood movie in the '70s.

Both books (actually most of his books) are horribly biased against religious Jews, making us out to be seemingly ignorant hypocrites and bigots (he is correct about some of us though).

Anyway, he married a Goy, and was shunned by his family pretty much until his death. No one from the family went to the funeral. Or so I'm told.

I saw him once. When my Bubby o"h passed away, he came to my parents house for a Shiva. I was a little starstruck and remember him as a cynical guy who seemed kinda nice. I thought it was kind of him to show up. I mean, he had no connection to her...

A couple years later, I was in yeshiva Montreal as a 19-year-old Bochur.

Two friends of mine, Michoel Harari and Levi Welton, had never been to the Montreal viewpoint at the top of the mountain, and so after planning to take them for ages, one Shabbos at the end of the winter, I convinced them to walk with me to see the panoramic view of my beautiful city.

It took us a couple of hours and we were at Beaver Lake. Just a little more of a walk to get to the viewpoint (and the summit). In order to get there, the final path runs along a narrow road, and the path is actually on top of these cliffs which are on the side of the road. On the left of us was the Mount Royal cemetary, a non-Jewish graveyard and below us to the right was the road with its steep turns and zooming cars.

We trudged along the path which eventually turned into the cemetary for about 30 steps, after which it returned to the road.

I had never been this way before and as we passed through the graveyard, I noticed a 'Richler' on one of the tombstones. I looked closer and saw that it was Mordecai Richler's grave.

When I mentioned this to the others, Michoel (always inspirational) told me that it was Hashgacha Protis that we had come here. First of all, we had pushed off this walk for weeks, add to the fact that I usually took the path on the other side of the road and it is not coincidence.

We decided to Daven Mincha there (it was getting dark). So we Davened at the grave of Mordecai Richler, and Michoel said a Dvar Torah.

We moved on and made it home Motzei Shabbos. It was fun.

Sunday afternoon I bumped into my father and told him the story. He stopped and thought a moment. Then he went downstairs to the computer. He returned a few moments later, shaken.

"Yesterday was Mordecai Richler's Yahrzeit!" He told me.

Video of Hachnosas Sefer Torah in Krasnodar, Russia

From a couple months back. We danced in the streets.

Zvi says another Bracha

This time over Tzitzis, at Dan Berkun's upshernish.

He was so cute!

The Chanuka choir - I wish Chayale had panned the audience

The kids who didn't know the song (and the older kids) were in the audience.

Stavropol's ex-Shul - different view

If you thought the Jews were the only ones who knew that this was our shul 80 years ago...

Stavropol's ex-Shul - panoramic view

The only thing missing is the view from the viewpoint. Yes, it's at the top of the mountain and a minute walk from Lenin square (in other words, the center of the city).

Nice, huh?

According to Russian law, the Jews are supposed to get the Shul back.

That is, if the official leaders of the Jewish community WANT it back...

When we arrived, we tried to work on getting it back, but everything we tried, all ideas... were vetoed by Yefim. We didn't understand why.

The only thing he did was:

- Organize a meeting with the lawyer who had worked on getting the shul back a few years ago, when the city gave them their current location for free instead. The lawyer spent an hour convincing me that the Jews don't want or need the shul back and that even if we worked on it we wouldn't be able to get it back.

- One day when I walked into the center he was meeting with the heads of Stavropol's department of religion. I assumed it was to introduce me to them and we chatted. At one point they asked me what I thought about the Shul. I told them that we'd like to get it back, and I'm speaking to Rabbi Lazar about it. Later, when they left, Yefim told me that that had been my opportunity to ask them to return the Shul.

What a shame. What will happen with it now?

Sunday school Hamantashen

More Sunday school in Stavropol.

Chayale teaching kids how to make Hamantashen. This was a tremendous success and the first time even the parents had made Hamantashen. They brought them home.

Twice the amount of kids showed up the next week.

I find it interesting. If you look at our pictures of Sunday school through the months, the population grows...

Zvi says a bracha

Sunday school during lunch.

I miss this.

:(

Excercise? nu feh!!

My brother Benny just left Montreal for Mexico where he is on shlichus.

I realize that I should've taken a picture with him, since he doesn't come in often. Oh well, at least we had a nice family dinner at our apartment that Chayale prepared.

He was only in for a few days, but we also got a good roller hockey game in on Sunday afternoon.

So you know how after a huge workout a person might vomit?

Benny is so out of shape that after 5 minutes of playing hockey he leaned on the side boards and out came his morning coffee (and croissant, judging by the look of it).

But after a drink of water and a powerade, he was back.

We both were out an hour later. We couldn't move.

Perhaps there should an excercise schedule for shluchim. Or Krav Maga classes. Maybe there should be something at the next Kinus about it.

They'll need some negel vasser shissels in the room.

Hashgacha protis story from Los Cabos, Mexico

I am simply copying a pasting this story which recently happened to my brother Benny who is on shlichus in Los Cabos, Mexico. Ironically, before he went on the vacation, I told him he'd meet a Jew out there. I was almost correct. Read on (reposted from his running84.blogspot.com blog).




Just a story I'd like to mention about our vacation.

As several people commented on the blog, they predicted that I would meet a bunch of Yidden in the city and I would make them Frum overnight and it would be an incredible Hashgocho Protis story for next week's Kfar Chabad or Beis Moshiach magazine and it would be Sholom Al Yisroel.

Well, it wasn't so. We spent most of the time secluded and to ourselves. It was a vacation after all. I know! I know! You're thinking "Feh! Shluchim NEVER have vacations!!".

Perhaps.

But that's not part of the story now, is it?

So anyways, we finish our trip, pack up the car on Tuesday morning and begin heading back to Cabo.

In order to get back to the highway with the normal 'paved' roads, I would have to take a road all around the entire city to the highway. It would take double as long and serve as a huge detour.

So I geniusly decided to take a shortcut. I would turn onto some unpaved road on the way and it should Lecheoireh take me straight to the highway, which would save time on our trip.

I took some turn and drove. We were on some rocky, bumpy, unpaved road in the middle of Mexicoville. There were clothelines all over the place. Stray dogs running about. Basically, it was as Mexican as it gets.

While we were driving, we see some sort of Cemetary coming up. It had a huge Tzeilem on the gate and a bunch of gentile graves. I didn't pay much attention to it while I was skimming over rocks and what not. But Sonia noticed that one of the graves at the end of the cemetary had a Magel David on it.

She convinced me to stop and have a look. After all, "This may be the reason why Hashem made us take this road!"

I stopped and snuck through the barb wire fence and slowly guided my way to the end of the graveyard, where I took a picture of the grave.

It's the top picture of this post.

The name was Allan Gordon, most definitely an American Jew, who apparently lived in Los Barriles (There are lots of American retirees who live there).

But he died almost three years ago and is buried among all these Goyim.

Needless to say, it was a very inspiring Hashgocho Protis moment.

I have the picture and have already begun working on researching who this guy is, if his family in Los Barriles is Jewish, if there are any other Jews in the city and other stuff that might help bring some Yidden back to Yiddishkeit. Who knows where this will lead.

I looked it up. His Yahrtzeit is 5 Teves, 5767. IY"H, I plan on travelling to the graveyard on Hei Teves this year and saying a chapter of Tehilim for his Neshama. Who knows??

All this, because I decided to take a shortcut through some random Los Barriles town road. Crazy!

Going back into the field

Pictured are our good friends the Davydovs, whom we greatly miss. They are really on the path to Yiddishkeit, and need a Rabbi to further guide them. They are standing in front of the World War Veterans Memorial in Stavropol. (Hillel and Anya, top. Nachum and Yossi bottom)



I've been getting alot of flack recently for some of my opinions and statements.

For example, Friday night I went to Yeshiva to Davven Mincha Maariv. My brother Benny had flown in from his shlichus in Los Cabos, Mexico and we spent half of Maariv catching up, which meant that as everyone left the building I was still finishing Shmoneh Esrei.

When I was done, I turned to leave and bumped into two truly Chassidish and good people in the Montreal community. Both are a couple of years older than me, both do lots of shlichus work in Montreal (though they aren't official shluchim). I should add that I think highly of both of them.

We got into a conversation, and they asked me what I plan on doing. I told them that I am currently writing personal projects and working for someone who sells stamps online.

And what do I plan on doing?

"School" I said.

Their mouths dropped open and they immediately started farbrenging with me.

"You were doing one of the most fulfilling things in the world, and one of the holiest things in a special place (i.e. shlichus in Russia), and you are now going to do THIS? That's like walking slowly upstairs to get to your box seats in the Bell Center only to jump down near the top and run back out into the streets!" (My words..)

What do I tell them? How do I explain to them how badly I want to return to Stavropol and continue what I've started? How do I tell them that I CANNOT go somewhere else until I know that someone is caring for the Jews of Stavropol? Because the fact is, no one else will, at least not on a spiritual level.

Do I still consider myself a Shliach? no. But I am not ready to start a new place, not until they have another Rabbi.

I also don't want to give up. I want to leave the option of return forever open (or until there's a new Rabbi). After all, it's Russia we're talking about. They can change their rules tomorrow. I still pray for there to be a 'hishapcha' (complete turnaround) in which we can go back to our shlichus. And I want to be ready to return. But things could get complicated should I be somewhere else.

It feels like a stab in the back for me to go somewhere else, particularly so quickly. In a sense, it would mean that I was there for them, but now that I'm gone they are forgotten. This is why when Chayale goes back to collect our stuff, I want her to mail out to everyone in the community a letter from me, in which I will speak about what we had and what they could have. I will finish off giving them all my contact information, and telling them that I'll be there for them at all times until the city gets a new Rabbi.

One final thought, and a complaint against the Yeshiva system: if it weren't for the 'system', I wouldn't be thinking about going to school. But there are no other options. You gotta be a Rabbi when you finish Yeshiva, since you learn no other skills there. They really need to work on this, in my opinion.

I've seen several people jump from shlichus to shlichus, and get older and older until they have 12 kids and when their final shlichus doesn't work out they are left scrambling with no other alternatives. I don't want to live like that. It's not fair to my family. I want to learn something I can always fall back on, should shlichus not work out. And with only 2 kids, now is my last opportunity.

And that my friends, is why I am not rushing into another shlichus just yet.

In and out

I just got back from the Ohel.

It was a last minute decision. My father rented a car and we drove into New York for Gimmel Tammuz. We stopped at the Ohel, then went to a restaurant for supper, and finally returned home.

We left yesterday at 10:30 and returned at 9:00 this morning. I drove through the night.

I am wondering if it was worth it. Originally I had no plans to go, since I kind of feel like I have lost the connection I once had, and there was nothing much to 'report' to the Rebbe.

Then Chayale told me that I had to go to ask for Brachos for the Jews of Stavropol, who need more blessings than we do. I agreed, and went.

It's odd, though. I kinda felt like I had lost that 'connection' I had with the Rebbe. As if when you're a shliach, you are coming in and reporting everything you've done. You are asking for Brachos for the community growth and success, as opposed to more minor issues.

In a sense, I feel it was kind of pointless to spend a full day traveling (missing 2 days of work), in order to spend 5 minutes (that's all we were allowed) at the grave of the Rebbe.

Maybe I should have stayed home and just faxed in a 'Pa"n.'

I don't know.

The Torah in Russia

That's me with the Torah back when we had the Hachnosas Sefer Torah in Stavropol last summer.

The time has come that we must make a decision about the Sefer Torah.

As Chayale gets ready to fly back (probably with one of my siblings) to pack up and pick up some of our stuff, and ship the rest to Canada, I have to get ahold of Eli Ginsburg, who donated the Torah, so he can advise me on what to do.

I've been having emails back and forth with Rabbi Lazar, and here are the options I see.

1 - Keep the Torah with a family in Stavropol who will hold onto it until the next Rabbi shows up.

This is what Rabbi Lazar suggests. I would give it to the Davydovs, since their love for Yiddishkeit is under no question. Obviously the Torah cannot be given to the Center, since the president (Yefim) publicly stated that he is anti-religion and who knows what he would do with it?

The advantage of doing this is that the 'opposition' (Yefim and his cronies) will turn it into a scandal about how the Rabbi leaves and everything goes with him. That while it's in Stavropol, the community can say, 'look what the Rabbi has brought to our city. Here is physical evidence of his work.'

The disadvantage would be that who knows when a new Rabbi would show up? is it fair for a Torah to sit around only due to political reasons?

2 - Give it to a different community.

I personally think this might be the better option, and I have a community in mind. Yossi Marazov is doing a fantastic job in Ulyanovsk, Russia (Lenin's birthplace for those of you who care), and has a Minyan running each Shabbos. The city has no Torah and could use one. Plus it's an opportunity for another Hachnosas Sefer Torah.

3 - Eli can bring it to Moscow and decide what to do with it there (maybe donate it to a local Shul or something).

Ultimately it IS Eli's decision, but I'd be interested to hear what you think.

So post your comments below.

Shabbos morning havoc

Being that we just moved in, we haven't had a chance to put any clocks up (our only clock is in Russia).

So yesterday we awoke to Chaim crying. I rolled out of bed, exhausted, and rubbing my eyes, went into the kitchen to check the time. The stove has a clock on it, and I figured it must be properly configurated, and it read 8:15.

In my innocence (after all, why would a stove lie?) I assumed it was telling the truth, and I passed him to Chayale and went back to bed.

I should probably note that we suspected nothing since Chayale has the kids on a tight schedule. It's amazing! They go sleep every night at 7:30 and wake up every morning at 7:30 (and may all my readers be blessed with such a wife, unless of course you are a female reader).

So Chayale fed him a huge breakfast while I went back to sleep. This lasted an hour, over which I was constantly woken up by Chaim's cries. He was in a very bad mood. Finally, Chayale put him back to bed. He went to sleep immediately, but Miriam awoke.

At this point Chayale had to sleep, and I took over. Miriam was complaining alot, and we had a small discussion, guessing the time. Chayale thought it was 11:30, I was sure it was 10:30.

Anyway, Chayale went to sleep and I dressed Miriam and took her to Shul. It was a long trip, thanks to Miriam who was in a horrible mood, crying almost the entire way. We had to return home to pick up her pacifier, but finally we made it.

I looked up at the clock when I got in, and it was EIGHT FRIEKING THIRTY IN THE MORNING!!!!

Only 3 people were in Shul, which was only open so early because it was Shabbos Mivorchim. I hung around for an hour and a half until Miriam became impossible and my sleep deprivation had me jealously eying the empty hot water urn and thinking of breaking Shabbos to fill it with coffee.

I brought her home and went to sleep.

When I awoke, I davened ate, and then went to a farbrengen which lasted to the end of Shabbos.

The Jewish comedy festival

I was never really a VIP or someone with 'connections', but last week we had a special treat. The second Jewish comedy festival took place in Montreal, and was organized by our best friends in Montreal, Rabbi yisroel and Sara Bernath of Chabad of NDG and Loyola Campus.

I wrote a 30-second tv spot about the comedy fest which was advertised on global-tv for about a month, and I also helped him put together a 5 minute video about Chabad of NDG which was displayed between performances and got a round fo applause at the end of it (yay). Actually I just wrote the outline since it was anyway interview-based.

In return, Yisroel gave us front seat tickets - basically the best seats in the house. Here are some photos from the amazing and hilarious event:


Tali yess and something Segal, who emceed. Tali was fantastic, but the woman didn't know her audience and tried too hard. It still came out ok.


Yisroel Campbell who came on after Joey Elias (sorry, no picture of Joey).

I should mention here how awesome Joey Elias was. He wrote his act specifically for the target audience. If you weren't from Montreal or you weren't Jewish, you'd miss out on half his jokes. He was awesome!

For example:

A bunch of yeshiva bochurim walked in late in the middle of the show. As they were getting into their seats (near the front of the audience), Joey quips:

"Oh look! The 32 bus from Victoria just arrived!"


Yisroel is the man! He gave over a Dvar Torah and dazzled the audience. He's only been in NDG for a little over a year!


I was the first victim of the Mark Salem show. He had me (and then 2 other people) think of a random number between 1 and 10. Naturally I thought of the number 4. The other two thought of 7. Then he pulls out a paper which he wrote on before speaking to us, and it said, "4-7-7".

When he asked me my name, Malky and Esty who were in the back, started whooping and cheering. Mark looked up and asks me, "why are they up there?"

Chayale retorted, "Hey, I'm his wife and I'm right here!"


Mark Salem writing something down and me smiling like a dolt.


That's me behind Mark Salem's shoulder down at the bottom near the stage.

It was a great night out, and we felt like VIPs. I think next year Yisroel will have to find a larger hall.

Should I make the blog public again?

What do you think? will it get me into hot water if I do?

Edit: the blog is open. Please comment on whether you think I should close it again.

I need to scream!!!!

Ilana (formerly Lena) Berkun.


Things can be so unfair!! It eats me up inside!

In a good way.

It appears we were making lots of headway in Stavropol. Today I received this in my message inbox on odnoklassniki (the Russian facebook) from Ilana Berkun:


Шалом Цви !!!!!!!

Очень рада видеть вас !!!!

Как Хая ,Мирьям и Хайим ?Очень по вас скучаем ,помним и любим !!!!!!В нашей общине в пятницу несколько еврейских семей ,в том числе и наша семья ,мы будем встречать Шаббат! я буду печь Халлу и принесу в общину ,как меня учила Хая .Будем вести беседу на тему кашрута.


Free translation:

Shalom Zvi!!!!

I'm very glad to see you!!! (note: you can see if your friends are 'online' on this site)

How are Chaya, Miriam and Chaim? We very much miss you all, we remember you and love you all!!!! In our community (note: talking about our supporters) on Friday a couple of Jewish families including ours are going to start meeting to celebrate Shabbat! I will prepare Challah to bring to the center, in the way that Chaya taught me. We are going to make sure everything is completely kosher.



OYY! It's SO DIFFICULT! If only we were allowed to return, I'd willingly give up everything we have here in America (including -gasp- roller hockey) to go back, even with all the hardships we'd be facing.

These Jews need to be able to move forward and further. They need someone to guide them. Who will take us over? What can we do?

It physically hurts.

MADA

Above photo: from a news report you can find here: http://www.feor.ru/news/index.php?newsid=7733 about a class and preparation for Shabbos done by members of our community. Apparently according to the report I received they asked Hashem to let the 'gezeira' to be overturned so that we can return.

I like the think this exists only in the Jewish community, though it probably is something done on a smaller scale for their population percentages by other religions.

I'm talking about Gemachs, or in our case, a furniture Gemach.

We arrived in montreal pretty much impoverished. All our stuff was far away in Russia. As a matter of fact, we had come with virtually empty suitcases, assuming that the judge was saying the truth when she announced that we were allowed to return.

Empty suitcases that could be filled with Kosher food when we returned.

I even left my juggling equipment at home on the excuse that we'll have more space for food and clothes for the poor. Instead, I had to borrow someone elses stuff to entertain my sister-in-law and her husband at their wedding.

Luckily we had my parents help, and while I searched for a job, MADA gave us some food packages, which really helped.

Recently we moved into a nice new apartment. We had no furniture and someone advised Chayale to give MADA a call. This she did, and the Israeli Chabadniks out there reserved the following for us:

- A dining room table
- A queen size mattress and spring board
- A washing machine
- A dryer

Unfortunately they had no fridge. I went with my father to pick them up yesterday.

When I got to MADA, aside from just giving us what they had put aside, and all were in amazing condition, they also took us to the back where they had BRAND NEW beautiful furniture that the company donated because they were somewhat chipped.

So we basically took a bedroom set, an office desk, and some other furniture, and all for free! Amazing! I kept trying to tell them to stop adding stuff to our pile, but they said, "you were a shliach! You NEED all this!"

It took a lot of hard work to get it all in the apartment, but it now feels like a home. They even added a mattress for our guest room!

If it took 6 months for our stuff to get to Russia, how long will it take to get all our furniture back home? particularly after what I heard about the Russian border patrol being extremely careful about what they 'let out' of the country!

Well, we are waiting for Rabbi Lazar to pay for Chayale's flight out to Stavropol, and she needs to go as soon as she can since our landlord in Stavropol wants to put all our stuff into storage.

What a mess.

An email from Viktoria - more bad news

Hi!

We’ve just come back to Stavropol after a 3-day holiday (Independence Day of Russia), a rare chance for my kids to see their dad. This is the update:

So far I didn’t manage to find a deliverer from Stavropol to Canada . And no one will come to estimate the weight – everything connected with packing is the responsibility of the owner. Another point is the customs – only the owner with Stavropol registration can do it in Moscow , at Sheremetyevo. Or we should find a forwarding agent, do the customs clearance here, and then he would go to Moscow and push the container through Sheremetyevo. I’ve phoned 7 companies – no luck. You know yourself that Stavropol is far from civilization in this respect. I’m afraid here I’m of no help to you, sorry. Maybe Kostya will find the way, please ask him.

Yanna called today, she is ready to take the fridge and the oven, as well as the washing machine (some for money, some as replacement for damages). She is offering her garage (in the basement) for storage. The point is she has found a family of new tenants, and they would like to move in early July.



Good luck, good health and all the best to you both and the kids,

Victoria

This is a frum Jew?

How can something like this be ok??

Pictures we took from Dovid and Chavi's wedding

Video: Chaim Shimshon climbs over me

Taken in our old apartment. And finally, FINALLY we signed for an expensive but very nice apartment. We'll be living on top of Shternie and Zalmy Samama. More pictures tomorrow iy"h (after roller hockey).

Perhaps I should elaborate on the offer

Below, Viktoria and Chayale working in our apartment in Stavropol.


From all the comments of my last 'news post' telling me to take it (said three times by my east bloc friends too), I think that without going into too many details I'll explain what it is and why I think it isn't for me.

The offer:

A teaching (Yiddishkeit) shlichus for a prestigious shliach (who has a record of throwing out several shluchim under him). I'd also be expected to bring more families (through the children) to the Chabad House.

What I think:

I've tried teaching, and aside from the fact that I'm not really good at it (I'm more of a guy who 'hung out with my class'), I also hate preparing classes, since you spend an hour working on something that you (and the children) will have forgotten most of by as soon as you've finished teaching the class.

Also, I'm reluctant to work for someone with a record of chucking people who 'threatened him by being successful' or 'didn't do a good job' or 'didn't fit in'.

There are several other reasons which I cannot write, since they have to do with the location, which I don't particularly like for certain reasons.

Perhaps more offers will come forward, but for now I'm writing in most of my spare time. Actually, I'm looking for a Litvishe guy my age with a good sense of humor to assist me in my writing and brainstorming. Lots of money potentially involved, so if any readers knows anyone, please email me.

Retro pictures - arrival from Russia - a trip to the childrens museum

Smart woman

We've been here two months and I've been aching to post pictures. But our plug attaching our camera to a computer is in Russia!

Chayale just discovered that we can plug our memory card into my parents basement computer, and she uploaded EVERYTHING! So I'll post a few here.


Miriam plays in the grass.


Chayale and Miriam on the slide in the park.


Miriam posing in classy gear.



More to come!

Curveball

I can't go into details, but I just got my first offer for a very good shlichus somewhere else. The Rabbi actually called me!

I probably won't take it, but it serves as an ego boost.

Today we have another dilemma. Chava Malloy (who is basically family and stays at my parents house) is returning frmo California and we have to leave her room and find somewhere else to stay (the basement?).

We may have found an apartment, though there's another couple 'in line' for it before us.

Nisyonos

Caution: emotional post ahead.

Why? Why does Hashem keep doing this to us? Why do we wind up in all these dramatic situations?

If I were an observer watching the events of my life, I would have laughed my brains out already. Murphy's law is the norm when it comes to our life. Just when things seems like they can't get any worse, they do.

We moved into a basement a month ago, since nothing else was available. You see, in Montreal, all leases end on July 1st, which is when everyone moves into their new apartments. I don't understand the system, but it makes it difficult for people coming into town before that time.

We knew that we had to leave by the end of the month, since the owners had sold the entire house, including the basement, to someone else who didn't want tenants. The owner, while a decent guy who helped us, did it for the money and now that our contract is up wants us out.

Chayale spent the entire month, and particularly the last week, franticly searching for apartments. Nothing was available in our price range with enough rooms, except for one basement on Barclay, which is the equivalent of living in Afghanistan except without the warm desert air.

Finally Chayale found an apartment. Expensive but perfect. We called our Mashpia and he told us to go for it. This was a last minute sorta thing. So we called the landlord and took money out of the bank, but he had already prmised it to someone else.

So tonight I will be up late packing and shipping the stuff to my parents house where we will be staying until we find somewhere better.

Why us? can't we lead a normal life? it's so frustrating!

Think good and it will be good

There is another chance. Rabbi Lazar has a meeting set up with the FSB director (and before you ask... I have no idea when it will be). So my prayers are getting more intense once again.

We spent Shavuos in Morristown with Chayale's family and had a really nice time. On the way home we stopped off in upstate New York to have a barbeque dinner with the Silbersteins, our comrades in exile from their shlichus in Vladviostok. The Silbersteins actually are the reason we moved to Russia. We called them while contemplating whether or not to move to Russia, and they convinced us to go.

At dinner, Yisroel farbrenged with me. Coincidentally, Yossi Marazov, Rabbi and fellow American Shliach in Ulyanovsk, Russia called, and we chatted with him for a little while too.

Over some beer, Yisroel told me something interesting. I may not have all the details correctly but the gyst of it is: a couple of weeks ago he learnt a Sicha, choosing one of the Rebbe's talks randomly (Likkutei Sichos Chelek Lamed Vov, Parshas Shmois, di ershtin Sicha, ois hey if I remember correctly).

He was shocked at how relevant the Rebbe's words were, particularly when he didn't choose the Sicha. We sat down in front of a computer, pulled the page from otzer770.com and learnt what the Rebbe says.

The Rebbe explained that the Chassidic saying 'tracht gut vet zein gut' (think good and it will be good) is a literal thing. And it doesn't mean that the result is already there and the 'right thing to do' is to think good, rather it's a cause and effect. In other words, if you think good, then it will be good. You have the power to change the reality, even though the work takes place from a spiritual point of view, and that is the essence of 'bitachon' and 'emunah' (trust in G-d).

The Rebbe continues and writes that even though you might think that according to the natural order of things, it is IMPOSSIBLE for there to be a change for the better, nonetheless the spiritual positive energy you create by thinking good makes G-d reply by thinking good about you and changing the physical for the better.

The Rebbe went on to stress that even if the person doesn't DESERVE to be helped, still just by 'trachting gut' it will be good.

Incidentally, I read over the Sicha, and the entire Sicha makes its point without the necessity of that Ois (those words). Perhaps we were meant to be reading it.

So my new resolution is to think good. I KNOW we will be allowed to return to Stavropol and this will all be behind us.

You hear me, Hashem?

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...