Monday, February 11, 2008
#3 - January 15. New Updates. Problems
Well, News Update is as follows. I am as hormonal as ever. In the morning I am flying high at the thought of having a whole week to myself in New York and spend my hours dreaming about the food I'm going to eat and the milkshakes I'm going to live on. At night, I sob, hysterically, at the INSANE idea of leaving my baby all alone without a mommy. Who's gonna keep her warm and wipe her boogers and give her a fruit or veggie with every meal!?Anyway, meanwhile, we have other problems. Bigger than my hormonal meltdowns.Russia is not a big on the legal and lawful. They haven't quite figured out how to make rules and stick to them. So they just came out with a new law. Even though we got visas for a year, unless we get a new different (expensive) visa or get permanent residency, we must leave the country in February for three months. So we are panicking.I, actually, am having my Shlichus kick-off this week with an older women- with gold teeth- get-together and we're making challah. Sunday, we have a Bar Mitzah, we're teaching the kids about Tu B'Shvat and then in the afternoon, I am having a womens group. Lots of cute, young women are coming to make fruit platters and learn!! I'm so proud of myself!! I got a professional fruit platter lady teacher to come! And a translator!!Oh and one more BIG piece of news: The Segals bought us cheese. They rock!
#2 - Upshernish in Stavropol - posted Jan. 14
Yesterday, we were invited to an Upshernish of a little boy named Yossi who actually has a Jewish mother AND father and brother. We came bearing a Tzizis cake, chocolate chip bars and a present for the boys. Only us and a another family were invited. It was really a beautiful afternoon. Zvi said a beautiful speech about an upshernish and blessed the home. We brought a laminated alef Bais and had Yossi licked honey from it. We stayed for five hours, chatting and eating (fruit and the cake I brought!). They kept on making Lechaims and telling us how happy they are that we came to Stavropol. The dad cried a few times. It was my first real Shlichus experience.Another thing we did was bring our Jewish neightbors cake for Shabbos. They were so happy.Fsyo. for now.
Some old posts of mine which went to the wrong place - #1 - the Metro Millionaires
So... Zvi has been bugging me to post so I will write about my experience I had yesterday in.. Metro!Well, I went to buy an oven so I can finally make normal food. Of course, though I can speak perfect Russian, no one can understand a word I say. So when I inquired about which oven was "Sami Luchi" (the best), they frantically sent the word out that any English pseaking employee should make their way to the aisle. Well, withing minutes there were 10 employees. One spoke English. I chose an oven, a bread machine and then proceeded to continue with my shopping. As I an walking, I notice that this guy is following me. I said "why you following me???" He said "the floor manager said I must go with you and help you with anything you need." They thought I was an American millionaire! Boy did I take advantage. He pushed my cart, ran to get me things, bagged my groceries. I even got his phone number is case I ever need anything. While I was in Metro, by the way, I found the couch of dreams. Leather, chocolate brown and is a sofa bed. We're going back to get it today!Stavropol's awesome. I come to New York in two weeks from today. I'm dreaming about the pizza.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
An update
So much happens here you forget to post, especially when you need to travel around to find internet. So here's a little update.
Two days ago our driver was taking Chayale somewhere so I took a taxi home. The guy immediately notifies me that I happen to look Jewish. I answer my standard answer, "ya Superyevrei". This always gets a chuckle. Anyway he tells me his Grandma was Jewish. As a proper shliach, alarm bells rang in my head and I immediately asked him what any one of the Rebbe's shluchim's response to that statement would be. I said, "do you have 1000? we want to make a kosher kitchen...." oops, no that's for fundraising. I actually tried to find out if it was his maternal grandma, and it turned out it was. So I told him he's Jewish.
Of course he asks the standard Xenophobic question upon hearing that. He says, "so why don't I have alot of money?" I replied, "not all Jews have money, you know." Anyway, we spoke a little, and he tells me he has a sister living in Prague (mental note to Rav of Prague, contact that woman). So I took his number and told him I wanna invite him for Shabbos. I ask him his name.
Pause for effect.
ALEX KOVALEV!!!!!
I promise. This is one of my hockey heroes!!! Could Hashem have made me love hockey so much for this very reason???? probably not, but it was kinda cool.
So he is my project of the year. Someday he'll meet his namesake, and say the following words to him: "do you want to put on tefillin?"
Two days ago our driver was taking Chayale somewhere so I took a taxi home. The guy immediately notifies me that I happen to look Jewish. I answer my standard answer, "ya Superyevrei". This always gets a chuckle. Anyway he tells me his Grandma was Jewish. As a proper shliach, alarm bells rang in my head and I immediately asked him what any one of the Rebbe's shluchim's response to that statement would be. I said, "do you have 1000? we want to make a kosher kitchen...." oops, no that's for fundraising. I actually tried to find out if it was his maternal grandma, and it turned out it was. So I told him he's Jewish.
Of course he asks the standard Xenophobic question upon hearing that. He says, "so why don't I have alot of money?" I replied, "not all Jews have money, you know." Anyway, we spoke a little, and he tells me he has a sister living in Prague (mental note to Rav of Prague, contact that woman). So I took his number and told him I wanna invite him for Shabbos. I ask him his name.
Pause for effect.
ALEX KOVALEV!!!!!
I promise. This is one of my hockey heroes!!! Could Hashem have made me love hockey so much for this very reason???? probably not, but it was kinda cool.
So he is my project of the year. Someday he'll meet his namesake, and say the following words to him: "do you want to put on tefillin?"
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Chayale Reporting From Moscow
I am on my way to New York for the Kinus. I have left Miriam (sniffle sniffle) with Zvi and am travelling babyless! Which is actually really exciting- no bottles, no pacifiers, no stroller. Zvi is holding down the fort at home.
The Russians have yet to figure out the travel system. The airport here is insane. But at least they have internet.
I can't wait to see everyone!!
The Russians have yet to figure out the travel system. The airport here is insane. But at least they have internet.
I can't wait to see everyone!!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Kosher food
Here's some food for thought (get it?)
Anyway, here is how we survive with or without food.
Our first month here was spent trying to get milk and chickens.
See, this is the way it works. We can only buy certain foods, such as fresh fish (which we barely ever find) or salted fish (which is kosher in Russia for several halachic reasons). We can also buy fruits and vegetables, and some spices.
So in short, Chayale must cook everything from scratch. This merans that to make Challah, she uses fresh yeast (the blocks), eggs, and flour and makes it from the beginnig. She's an awesome cook though.
We get milk and chickens shipped from Moscow. Other kosher food they cannot and do not ship. Also, they only ship bulk, so we need to order like 90 kilograms of chickens, which come in 3 huge bags.
Those we keep outside (until we get a freezer).
Every time someone comes in, or we go ANYWEHERE, we make sure to get kosher food.
Boruch Hashem we found someone who sells kosher wine (Fortant red and white) , and sometimes in Metro you find kosher food. We've been living off Americna granola bars from there, and recently we found peanut butter there with an OU.
Anyway, here is how we survive with or without food.
Our first month here was spent trying to get milk and chickens.
See, this is the way it works. We can only buy certain foods, such as fresh fish (which we barely ever find) or salted fish (which is kosher in Russia for several halachic reasons). We can also buy fruits and vegetables, and some spices.
So in short, Chayale must cook everything from scratch. This merans that to make Challah, she uses fresh yeast (the blocks), eggs, and flour and makes it from the beginnig. She's an awesome cook though.
We get milk and chickens shipped from Moscow. Other kosher food they cannot and do not ship. Also, they only ship bulk, so we need to order like 90 kilograms of chickens, which come in 3 huge bags.
Those we keep outside (until we get a freezer).
Every time someone comes in, or we go ANYWEHERE, we make sure to get kosher food.
Boruch Hashem we found someone who sells kosher wine (Fortant red and white) , and sometimes in Metro you find kosher food. We've been living off Americna granola bars from there, and recently we found peanut butter there with an OU.
Our apartment at the moment
This is where we are up to. I will go room by room.
The entrance. Some dude is in our house putting finishing touches on the floor, which already looks nice. Since we don't have a dryer (they have only existed in Russia for about a year), lots of clothes hangs around the entrance in different stages of drying.
Our room: We spent about 1200 on a bedroom set, which includes two large beds with mattresses, a wardrobe, and a bureau. Oh, and a mirror. Also, we have our DVD player we bought (and THANK YOU MALKALI for keeping Yummy occupied occassionally), and an old (but working) TV screen (no TV) which we keep on the windowsill. Also, lots of our bags around the room since we can't yet finish unpacking (we need more shelves etc).
The dining room: Just a gorgeous leather couch which can turn into a bed when the clock strikes 12. The rest of the room is empty besides for a china closet, which looks nice, even though every day a new piece falls off like it has leprosy or something. Yummy sleeps here sometimes.
Yummy's room: Just an iron and ironing board. Her pack and play.
Kitchen: A fridge, a new stove, a new sink, a small new kitchen set of which only half is standing. The other half needs to be put up on the wall.
Toilet: a toilet.
Bathroom: a bath.
Repairs need to be done with the water in the bathroom, and to put in a second sink. Also half our kitchen needs to be hung on the wall. We need to buy a freezer to put in all the meat that comes from Moscow. We need to buy a dining room table and chairs, fix a grandfather clock in our entrance, and buy Miriam closets and a crib.
The entrance. Some dude is in our house putting finishing touches on the floor, which already looks nice. Since we don't have a dryer (they have only existed in Russia for about a year), lots of clothes hangs around the entrance in different stages of drying.
Our room: We spent about 1200 on a bedroom set, which includes two large beds with mattresses, a wardrobe, and a bureau. Oh, and a mirror. Also, we have our DVD player we bought (and THANK YOU MALKALI for keeping Yummy occupied occassionally), and an old (but working) TV screen (no TV) which we keep on the windowsill. Also, lots of our bags around the room since we can't yet finish unpacking (we need more shelves etc).
The dining room: Just a gorgeous leather couch which can turn into a bed when the clock strikes 12. The rest of the room is empty besides for a china closet, which looks nice, even though every day a new piece falls off like it has leprosy or something. Yummy sleeps here sometimes.
Yummy's room: Just an iron and ironing board. Her pack and play.
Kitchen: A fridge, a new stove, a new sink, a small new kitchen set of which only half is standing. The other half needs to be put up on the wall.
Toilet: a toilet.
Bathroom: a bath.
Repairs need to be done with the water in the bathroom, and to put in a second sink. Also half our kitchen needs to be hung on the wall. We need to buy a freezer to put in all the meat that comes from Moscow. We need to buy a dining room table and chairs, fix a grandfather clock in our entrance, and buy Miriam closets and a crib.
Internet issues
Guess what?
Our wonderful internet cafe has been having issues, so we need to find a new one. But for now, this'll have to do.
Benny commented in a previous post about the Canadiens.
Well, back when we used taxis to get everywhere, we once took a taxi back from Metro, and when I mentioned (on the way) to the driver that I'm from Canada, he gave me a thumbs up and said, "Ahhhh... Montreal Canadiens."
Believe me when I tell you that had we been driving I would have slammed on the brakes.
After scooping up my eyeballs and returning them to their proper sockets, I asked him what he meant. Turns out he is a massive fan, and he kept recalling the 'glorious days' when Montreal beat the Soviet's best in the late 80's and early 90's. He told me he used to catch some games on TV.
Turns out he is from Murmansk (here's some fun for you readers. Find Murmansk on a map and post your comments about that city of 500,000), but he moved to Stavropol about 30 years ago.
Then he tells us he loves Elvis. He even had music in his car to prove it, and the rest of the way we were forced to listen to Barchi Nafshi (had to throw in that Tatty joke).
All Russians are characters.
Our wonderful internet cafe has been having issues, so we need to find a new one. But for now, this'll have to do.
Benny commented in a previous post about the Canadiens.
Well, back when we used taxis to get everywhere, we once took a taxi back from Metro, and when I mentioned (on the way) to the driver that I'm from Canada, he gave me a thumbs up and said, "Ahhhh... Montreal Canadiens."
Believe me when I tell you that had we been driving I would have slammed on the brakes.
After scooping up my eyeballs and returning them to their proper sockets, I asked him what he meant. Turns out he is a massive fan, and he kept recalling the 'glorious days' when Montreal beat the Soviet's best in the late 80's and early 90's. He told me he used to catch some games on TV.
Turns out he is from Murmansk (here's some fun for you readers. Find Murmansk on a map and post your comments about that city of 500,000), but he moved to Stavropol about 30 years ago.
Then he tells us he loves Elvis. He even had music in his car to prove it, and the rest of the way we were forced to listen to Barchi Nafshi (had to throw in that Tatty joke).
All Russians are characters.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
A Shlichus shot
Just so you don't think all we do is hang with Yummy. This is after a class with some students. Left to right: Yanna, Borya, me, Valeria and her boyfriend Sergei, and finally Marina. Missing were Katya, and Misha.
Misha is one of those Russians that makes mne remember why I came here. His first words to me were: "I saved up to buy a Mezuza, but only got the case. How do I get an actual Mezuza? I want to hang one on my dorm room." He asked tons of questions about Yiddishkeit. Incidentally, all of these students speak very decent English.
A real sign in Stavropol
This in the Intourist, the fanciest hotel here. Couldn't they find ONE English speaker to take out an 'o'?
Starting over in photos
Dancing before we leave to Stavropol. This was at the end of our goodbye party in my parents house. Yisroel Bernath and Leibele Rodal were my fellow dancers.
Signs you know you are in Stavropol:
1 - Legless people all over begging for money - I have never in my life seen so many people without legs. I don't know what the epidemic was or if they were imported from Sodom, but it's quite odd. I once saw one being pulled in a sleigh to his work spot. Some have wheelchairs.
2 - Occassionally lampposts start playing music at random intervals. This really has happened to me twice. Regular streetlights on odd days were playing music. Must have been some faulty KGB tap.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
New driver and other great stuff
Holy crap! I just found an internet cafe where I can upload photos!!! I'll try to come back and upload more!!! Pictured above is the former Shul, now marriage license center of Stavropol.
Anyway, after our driver left to Nizhnevartovsk (or in English, the North Pole), we needed a new driver. Boruch Hashem we had two other options from my previous interview. One was a Turk named Mohammed with a gorgeous car, but he seemed like a wheeler-dealer when we discussed salary etc.
The other is a nice guy I liked named Roman. Problem was that I never saw his car. So I called him and asked him to bring his car and let me look at it.
He agreed, and after seeing the car (a typical, but well maintained Lada), we hired him on the spot.
Yesterday was also another big day, in which my wife proved she was wiser than me (again).
We had bought beds, kitchen cabinets, and several other pieces of furtinure, which are to be delivered today, but we needed the (drabby) furniture that was in the apartment when we arrived to be moved out. We had been promised it would happen immediately, but because of the Russian 13 day holiday, no one had showed up.
I didn't want to trouble the landlords, but Chayale persuaded me to call them. Anyway, within an hour people came, and cleared our apartment of all furniture. We had to sleep on the floor last night. We did that by piling towels and stuff, but it was a bad night nonetheless.
In other news, Chayale got her ticket to New York. She arrives there on the 23rd and leaves back on the 29th.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
We need a new driver
Our driver is moving to Nizhnevartovsk - in Siberia.
So we need a new driver.
Oh, the situations that arise.
So we need a new driver.
Oh, the situations that arise.
A miracle story
First off, I apologize for the long wait between posts. In Russia the new year is celebrated for 13 days. Almost all stores and businesses are closed and everyone stumbles around drunk. This is because they celebrate 'Kratzmach' as well on the 7th of January. So now that I finally found an internet cafe which is open, I can post a wild and wacky story happened to us two Fridays ago.
About a month ago, we were suddenly told by our landlord Nikolai that he wanted us out of our apartment because 'he couldn't understand what we said' and 'we didn't live by the rules' by which he meant that we actually (GASP) put toiletpaper down the toilet (this is absolute truth. Our toilet couldn't handle paper inside it, and if there would be any, all the hot water in the building wouldn't work until it was fixed).
So we started looking for a new apartment. We had several people looking for us. We found one that we liked, but the owner, as soon as he saw us, backed out - he 'doen't want foreigners'. We kept looking with no luck, even though we had four realtors searching and an ad in the paper. With barely any time left we requested an extra week from Nikolai to look for an apartment, and he agreed. We paid for the extra week and continued looking.
As I wrote before, we found one possiblitly. Small, and drabby-looking, at least everything worked, it was cheap, and they promised to fix most of the problems. And so on Friday we found ourself on the way to one more apartment in the heavy traffic of a Stavropol afternoon. Sudden my secretary called. "Nikolai is in the center, demanding to see the Rabbi. He wants you out of the apartment within two hours and he is not budging."
It didn't make sense. I had paid him on Sunday for a week, which meant we had until SUNDAY!
Stuck in traffic, on the way to see an apartment, we tried to argue with him, explain to him and that our Shabbos was coming and it was impossible to move, even tried bribing him, but he wouldn't hear of anything.
So we looked at the apartment and sped back to the center. By the time we arrived at the Obshchin Nikolai had left 'in a fury' according to the secretary. Everyone there suggested we move into a hotel for Shabbos, but of course with 2 hours to go that would be impossible.
With no choice, and knowing there was a half hour left to Shabbos in Moscow, we called Rabbi Lazar. Or rather, his secretary. Meanwhile Chayale raced home to finish cooking for Shabbos (barely anything was prepared).
A few minutes later Moscow called back with the report from R' Lazar. "Tell Nikolai that it is impossible before Shabbos to move out, and that he doesn't want the chief Rabbi of Russia on his head."
I called Nikolai immediately, and told him I had to meet him (I had no idea how to explain him Shabbos over the phone). He said he'll be over in 10 minutes.
Time passed, and everyone left the building. the Rosh Hakahal, Yefim Fainer, agreed to stay to help, but he lives a half hour away by bus, and wanted to be home before Shabbos. So Yefim stayed with me, to help translate and back me up. An hour went by. Meanwhile, some people showed up at the center. The first one was a Jew who sells Kosher Mevushal Fortant wine here. In the middle of the crisis I decided to put Tefillin on him. Then Igor, another Jew popped in with his brother Moshe. Igor is very interested in Yiddishkeit, while Moshe isn't. I quickly put Tefillin on Igor, between answering phone calls from a desperate Chayale, who wonderfully managed to make Shabbos and watch the baby while this was going on.
Moshe refused to Leig Tefillin, so I told him how this Shabbos was HIS Shabbos - Shmos. It's the first time Moshe is mentioned in the Torah, and the rest of the Torah discusses him. Also, it's the Rambam's Yahrzeit, and 'Mimoshe limoshe lo kam kimoshe'.
He smiled but still refused to leig Tefillin. They left after a while, and I sat with Yefim, and tried to learn something. With a half hour left to Shabbos I gave up. I told Yefim, "I'm going home!"
And walked to the door to leave, when the bell rang, and Oleg, one of Nikolai's men (a secretary?) showed up.
I let him in and sat across from Oleg in an office. I knew that this was crunch time. I secretly Davened to Hashem for help, asked the Rebbe to put in a good word for me, and started explaining Oleg about our Shabbos, etc.
I also told him that I thought it was until Sunday, and finally told him what Rabbi Lazar said. He called Nikolai and told me it was ok. We could stay until Sunday. Then he left.
I know it doesnt sound like the greatest miracle stroy but BOY did I thank Hashem. Yefim left, and I raced home. We didn't even have time to start packing, what with calling the realtor and taking the cheap, small place, arranging to meet after Shabbos, and setting up for Shabbos.
Shabbos I came to the Shul and Farbrenged with the 10 or so Jews who meet at 2 PM. I made Lecahim and thanked Hashem and the Rebbe, and farbrenged with Yefim until after Shabbos.
About a month ago, we were suddenly told by our landlord Nikolai that he wanted us out of our apartment because 'he couldn't understand what we said' and 'we didn't live by the rules' by which he meant that we actually (GASP) put toiletpaper down the toilet (this is absolute truth. Our toilet couldn't handle paper inside it, and if there would be any, all the hot water in the building wouldn't work until it was fixed).
So we started looking for a new apartment. We had several people looking for us. We found one that we liked, but the owner, as soon as he saw us, backed out - he 'doen't want foreigners'. We kept looking with no luck, even though we had four realtors searching and an ad in the paper. With barely any time left we requested an extra week from Nikolai to look for an apartment, and he agreed. We paid for the extra week and continued looking.
As I wrote before, we found one possiblitly. Small, and drabby-looking, at least everything worked, it was cheap, and they promised to fix most of the problems. And so on Friday we found ourself on the way to one more apartment in the heavy traffic of a Stavropol afternoon. Sudden my secretary called. "Nikolai is in the center, demanding to see the Rabbi. He wants you out of the apartment within two hours and he is not budging."
It didn't make sense. I had paid him on Sunday for a week, which meant we had until SUNDAY!
Stuck in traffic, on the way to see an apartment, we tried to argue with him, explain to him and that our Shabbos was coming and it was impossible to move, even tried bribing him, but he wouldn't hear of anything.
So we looked at the apartment and sped back to the center. By the time we arrived at the Obshchin Nikolai had left 'in a fury' according to the secretary. Everyone there suggested we move into a hotel for Shabbos, but of course with 2 hours to go that would be impossible.
With no choice, and knowing there was a half hour left to Shabbos in Moscow, we called Rabbi Lazar. Or rather, his secretary. Meanwhile Chayale raced home to finish cooking for Shabbos (barely anything was prepared).
A few minutes later Moscow called back with the report from R' Lazar. "Tell Nikolai that it is impossible before Shabbos to move out, and that he doesn't want the chief Rabbi of Russia on his head."
I called Nikolai immediately, and told him I had to meet him (I had no idea how to explain him Shabbos over the phone). He said he'll be over in 10 minutes.
Time passed, and everyone left the building. the Rosh Hakahal, Yefim Fainer, agreed to stay to help, but he lives a half hour away by bus, and wanted to be home before Shabbos. So Yefim stayed with me, to help translate and back me up. An hour went by. Meanwhile, some people showed up at the center. The first one was a Jew who sells Kosher Mevushal Fortant wine here. In the middle of the crisis I decided to put Tefillin on him. Then Igor, another Jew popped in with his brother Moshe. Igor is very interested in Yiddishkeit, while Moshe isn't. I quickly put Tefillin on Igor, between answering phone calls from a desperate Chayale, who wonderfully managed to make Shabbos and watch the baby while this was going on.
Moshe refused to Leig Tefillin, so I told him how this Shabbos was HIS Shabbos - Shmos. It's the first time Moshe is mentioned in the Torah, and the rest of the Torah discusses him. Also, it's the Rambam's Yahrzeit, and 'Mimoshe limoshe lo kam kimoshe'.
He smiled but still refused to leig Tefillin. They left after a while, and I sat with Yefim, and tried to learn something. With a half hour left to Shabbos I gave up. I told Yefim, "I'm going home!"
And walked to the door to leave, when the bell rang, and Oleg, one of Nikolai's men (a secretary?) showed up.
I let him in and sat across from Oleg in an office. I knew that this was crunch time. I secretly Davened to Hashem for help, asked the Rebbe to put in a good word for me, and started explaining Oleg about our Shabbos, etc.
I also told him that I thought it was until Sunday, and finally told him what Rabbi Lazar said. He called Nikolai and told me it was ok. We could stay until Sunday. Then he left.
I know it doesnt sound like the greatest miracle stroy but BOY did I thank Hashem. Yefim left, and I raced home. We didn't even have time to start packing, what with calling the realtor and taking the cheap, small place, arranging to meet after Shabbos, and setting up for Shabbos.
Shabbos I came to the Shul and Farbrenged with the 10 or so Jews who meet at 2 PM. I made Lecahim and thanked Hashem and the Rebbe, and farbrenged with Yefim until after Shabbos.
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