Looking at who we are through a different lens

I am sitting among many models of Synagogues around the world with a recording of collective Hebrew prayers playing in the background.

I am sitting in the Beit Hatfutsot: The Museum of the Jewish People, created in 1978 to represent the Jews in the diaspora, the museum has not been updated since.

I am sitting in a rather comfortable chair after eating a very Israeli lunch and having not slept since Saturday night, trying to keep my eyes open, very open.

I am sitting alone.

I am sitting in the land of Israel.

As our group was so wonderful guided through this aging museum by David Mendelson, title here, I couldn't help but think about what I would want to say to Israelis about life in the diaspora as a Jew, if I were to design this museum. I would want to reflect my own Jewish experience, summer camp, youth group, modern Synagogues, speeches by my favorite Rabbis, Jewish nonprofit organizaitons, and the Jewish university in which I currently study. I would want to convey how happy I am as a Jew in the diaspora.

The museum ends with the idea that all the Jews in the diaspora will eventually make their way to the land of Israel and that the diaspora will be a thing of the past. I take this, of course, with a grain of salt because of the aging nature of the museum. However, I can not break away from this idea. In my wonderful Jewish history class, we talked about Jewish nationalism before Israel was a state. Many nationalist were purponants of assimilation and living in the diaspora, that is until a Jew was targeted for a crime they did not comit and the entire host nation turned against the whole Jewish community. That was the Jewish problem these nationalist were trying to solve by having an autonomious Jewish state, anti-semitism.

One of my classmates and I spoke about this idea today that nowhere is safe for Jews, the idea that no matter where we live, persecution will eventually follow and all Jews will make their way to the land of Israel for it will be the only safe place in the world for Jews. This is the exact opposite message I would want to send Israelis from the diaspora.

I don't live with anti-semitism, I live with the opposite. I live in a world where I watch movies and tv shows that make regular references to Jews and Jewish culture. I live in a world where Jews are promenant politicians on both sides of the isle. I live in a world where the President throws a Hanukkah party! I live in a world without anti-semitism, outside of the land of Israel (where I could argue one might experience more anti-semitism than I have).

The fear then is that this world I live in, my bubble in Los Angeles, is but a temporary farce and at any moment the tides could turn as they have done time and time again in our collective history. And when that happens, the Jews of Los Angeles will flock to Israel for refuge, as many non-Jews do today. Nevertheless, if I were to send one message about the diaspora, it would be that Jewish life outside of Israel is flourishing in a million different directions, growing strong Jewish identities among our people.

What would you want to add to Beit Hatfutsot (diaspora)? What message would you want to send Israelis about life as a Jew in the diaspora?

Not quite 'political' but the best nonetheless!

I started this blog in 2009 when I graduated college and was feeling worthless as a waitress. I've since neglected the best blog and chose to use it to write about my trip to Israel (starting tomorrow). When I came back to it I found that over 2,000 people had viewed it and 51 this past month from the US, Russia, Spain, and Australia. I suppose that's what a good title gets you since I have not written a post in 2 years!

That being said, 2013 is upon us as I sit in the airport awaiting my flight to Newark. There I get to spend 7 wonderful hours with my boyfriend Barak (get it, Barak and Michelle- feel free to laugh out loud :) and then it is off  to Israel with my classmates for 14 days, then back to Jersey for New Years and our 1 year anniversary : D THEN to Sacramento (Rockville to be specific) to see my sister Kim and my 10 month nephew, this is my idea of a perfect break!!

Today is also the day I finished my last final from my first semester of graduate school. For those who don't know, in June I began a duel masters program at Hebrew Union College's School of Jewish  Nonprofit Management and USC's Price School of Public Policy (Masters in Jewish Nonprofit Management and a Masters in Public Administation). It's a mouthful and as you can imagine a lot of work! However wonderful my experience has been, this is not the topic I wish to discuss here. I'm going to Israel- what does that mean to me as an American Jew? Lets explore!

I've found it weird to tell non-Jews that I am going to Israel. Not that it's a bad thing, I get the normal 'oh, great' reaction but regardless I'm left feeling as if I'm a religious weirdo. When I tell Jews they get excited for me and concerned for my safety. A few weeks ago as rockets flew toward Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, I sat on the phone with my mom and FaceTime (apple's Skype) with Barak and cried because I did not want to go, I was truley concerned about my saftey. Alas, the fighting stopped and the trip was not canceled, so here I am... going to Israel...

I like Los Angeles, I like being a Jew in Los Angeles! No rockets here :) The weather is beautiful, there is a huge tight-knit Jewish community, you can be any kind of Jew you want to be and you'll be fully accepted, you don't have to know another language, I don't have to serve in an army, and for the most part we enjoy a relative courtesy like lines and saying your sorry when you bump into someone. This is my dilemma as an American Jew. I love that there is a place where Hebrew is a spoken language, Jews are looked at as strong, and you can visit historical sites that you feel a connection to. But beyond that I'm pissed... there are so many elements of the way Israel operates that do not in any way reflect my Judaism and I think the founders would roll in their graves if they knew how Israel was being run. Women being arrested at the Wall?? Reform Rabbis are not considered Rabbis nor are the marrages they perform?? Reform congregations can only get state support under the 'recreation' budget line?? Israelis growing up in Israel with no religious Jewish identity?? Sending refugees back to their genocidal country to die?? These elements keep my heart in the west, in Los Angeles.

All that being said, I look forward to exploring all these things and more on my trip. I hope my perspective can be changed and when I write my last blog post I will be able to articulate a different, more educated point of view (I'm not sure if I'll ever change my feelings about LA though). Here are the topics we will be covering:

*Issues in Modern Israeli Society: Responses from the Nonprofit Sector
*The Peoplehood Paradim: The Changing Agenda in Israel Diaspora Relations
*Challenges to the Social Fabric in Israel: Social Justice
*Diverse Populations
*Religious-Sector Diversity Focusing on Hareidi (Orthodox Jews) and Secular
*Israeli Political System and Current Realties
*Shabbat: Jewish Public Space
*Socail Entrepreneurship in the Arena of Israeli Nonprofits
*Training Leaders of the Next Generation
*Enhancing Jewish Peoplehood
*The Emerging Peoplehood Agenda: Changing the Relationship Between Israel and the Diaspora

Lastly, I have to give a shout out to Richard Siegel, the Director of the School of Jewish Nonprofit Mangement, Mandi Richardson, Associate Director of SJNM, Mikaela Bender, SJNM Administrative Assistant, other HUC staff and the JCC staff in Israel for their tireless hard work in making this trip possible. I feel so very blessed to not only be able to go on this trip but to be able to study at HUC with a group of amazing people. Thank you! :)

I will be posting as often as I can throughout my trip, wifi allowing, and if all goes well posting more about politics when I return. That being said I close this blog with tears welling up in my eyes at the thought of the tragedy that bestowed our nation today as 30 people senselessly lost their lives. I pray that the memory of those lost will live on in the hearts and minds of their loved ones and that our nation can eventually figure out how to stop these things from happening (on what seems like) a monthly basis.

Shabbat Shalom! Have a wonderful reflective weekend and hug your loved ones tight!

**PLEASE excuse any misspellings or typos, I will do my best to edit my posts but I am typing from an iPad into a Google application, which as we all know is far from perfect :)

The House Gets Taken Over By Republicans - Good Luck!

Republicans think they can do it better and the American people believe them. Now here is their chance to really fix all of American's problems with all their great ideas!


Idea's like huge tax cuts for the wealthy adding billions of dollars on to the deficit, repealing health care reform so children with cancer will have to get a job to pay for their health bills, and of course keeping that great policy of 'Don't ask - Don't tell’ because the military is much better off without those gays getting in the way.

Oh - and we get to watch an oversize ompa loompa decide how to run a section of the government. This should be entertaining! One way Obama can make sure that Republicans can be seen for their true colors is to just agree with them, all of the time - that way the Republicans will be left with no ideas at all nothing to show for themselves except their discontent for the American President (Nobel Peace Prize winning American President, by the way).

I'm so excited for these next two years, for Republicans to really show us what they've got, that THEY know how to fix the slow growing economy, that they can bring millions of job miraculously back to America by giving really rich people more money to createcheaper jobs overseas because it’s better for business that way *cough* Meg Whitman *cough*. They have spent the last 2 years whining like babies (Nut Gingrich anyone? - I'm only 23 and I remember what happen last time)- that no one is listening to them - that no one cares what they have to say - and that Democrats are big bullies trying to push their crazy socialist agendas on all of America.

The problem does not lie with the Republicans - they are only the loudest voice in the room. The problem I fear is with the Democrats - their fight for what is right is a quiet one. They do not boast about their accomplishments, they do not highlight the good work they have done as legislators; they do not tout their frustrations with an opposition that simply wants them to fail at everything. Democrats sense of standing up for what is right is done in a way that they are not the loudest voice in the room or the voice that gets the most attention - except for the few brave ones *cough* Anthony Weiner *cough* - who choose to use their voice to gain media attention to bring to light the unfair politics that have been occurring in Washington.

I know Obama is going to get re-elected, that I am not worried about. He is a strong intellectual man who stands up for what is right not based on ideology or blind faith, he stands up for what is right through pure humility in connecting with people on a deeper level than any other president and he knows how to give a speech!

Obama is not who I am worried about - Republicans are not who I am worried about - it is the American people who have been blinded by ignorant hate, by acid words, and by fear filled propaganda. To use Glen Becks homage to WWII - do you ever wonder how an entire country could have participated in the systematic inhalation of 12 million people in a few years? Now I am in no way equating what the right wing does as ever possibly being able to cultivate such strong hatred as to ever reach this level of evil - I am however asking that you open your mind to see how it was possible 60+ years ago with similar campaigns fueled by the rich, similar media propaganda spewed by those who lack the maturity to compromise, similar finger pointing to a single set of people who are the root cause of all the problems our society faces??

No, Republicans it is your turn. You are in power. You are the ones who will take the blame, who will take the fall, who will loose and this time you will not be able to hide behind Democrats for your failures. And don't think for one minute that Democrats will not be right behind you doing the good work they do with the American people's best interest at heart - the quite voices, the humble policy makers, with the well informed and the disenfranchised by their side.

Or maybe you'll succeed - maybe you'll somehow create jobs, lower the unemployment rate, bring prosperity back to America, and once again we will be a strong economic front to the world. All in all, it's a win-win situation - the down side, this continued stalemate of our government, the continued decline in our material wealth and global strength, the continued bloodshed of American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the continued policy of 'NO', and the continued suffering of so many Americans needlessly- this would be the greatest loss for the next two years...

I apologize for the length of this post, I have been off the blog radar for some time but now that I have internet in my home I am back, I will be getting the facts, I will be deciphering the opinions and I will be following the issues. More to come, thanks for playing :)

Remarks by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, at a Security Council Stakeout, on the situation in Darfur

Remarks by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, at a Security Council Stakeout, on the situation in Darfur

Time to Conga!!

Last night, the Jewish World Watch put on an event entitled ‘Conga Line for Congo’ a Mother’s Day women-only dance party for the Jewish community of Los Angeles. Although I was unfortunately unable to attend the event, it began to make me think about the way people respond to humanitarian need and the way Jews respond to tragedy.

For the women of the Congo who have suffered unspeakable life altering events, a dance party in the city of Los Angels on their behalf might seem a little off to some people. ‘Why are these people dancing around and having a party, while there are thousands of people suffering?’ or ‘what is a dance party suppose to do for the situation in the Congo?’

In my experience with Judaism, tragedy and celebration are closer than one might think. For example, when commemorating the Shoah or Holocaust, the very next day is Israel’s Independence Day, full of celebrations and parties. Judaism seems to realize that tragedy happens and however horrific, life continues and life is wonderful!

At the present moment, organizations are scrambling to get the funding and necessary attention to the country of Haiti who’s people are still experiencing the repercussions of the massive earthquake that hit their under developed country five months ago. When the earthquake first hit and the preceding weeks everyone was willing to donate, via text or through their religious institution or telethons, etc. Now, everyone has ‘done Haiti’ and the situation does not seem so drastic- the need not so needed- and the support has died down.

This is why we need events like ‘Conga Line for Congo’ or ‘Hats off for Haiti’ or ‘Kickball for Kentucky’- because people want to be engaged in many different ways so that their interest in helping others does not dwindle. With any tragedy comes hope, comes the celebration of life, comes the need to more forward in the best way possible.

So what would the women in the Congo think about the Jewish World Watch’s ‘Conga Line for Congo’ event? In my opinion, they are probably happy to know that someone cares enough to mobilize their community in support of helping make their lives better. Along with the many other events the Jewish World Watch puts on- activist protests, educational speakers, direct victim relief- a dace party for women on Mother’s Day seems to be the perfect way to keep the community involved and informed about the situation in the Congo while continuing to enjoy life- mothers, daughters, and sisters together for one purpose- so that the mothers, daughters, sisters, fathers, and brothers of the Congo can live in peace and have a dance party of their own!

The Congo Initiative

Hello again ‘Best Blog’ readers! After a brief stint as the Assistant Director of a call center that does telephone fundraising for non-profit groups, I am once again in pursuit of a fulfilling, professional, challenging, and exciting job with a non-profit organization (none of which were the case with the position I held at Telefund). I could go into detail about that experience, however, I think it best to look forward and move on to put my efforts toward the greatest good.

My junior year in college I did an internship with an organization called the Jewish World Watch. The organization was founded by a retired lawyer after an inspiring High Holiday speech at her local Synagogue. From the foundation, their goal has been to mobilize the community in order to do three things: Educate the community about genocidal situations, Advocate for better legislation through public policy, and provide Refugee Relief for those who have suffered from genocidal situations.

Their initial focus was on the situation in Sudan, more specifically the southern Darfur region. The situation goes as such- the villages of the people living in the Darfur regions were being raided by government supported Janjaweed militia for the purpose of displacing the people of the region- all because they had resources those in the north did not have access to.

Flash to October 2004- as the JWW joins other organizations like ‘SaveDarfur.org’- uniting communities for public activism for Darfur, ‘24HoursForDarfur.org’- an online video/ story based organization, ‘EyesOnDarfur.org’- Amnesty International’s response to the situation, and ‘DarfurIsDying.com’- an interactive online experience where you are a Darfuian refugee who has to forage for water, food, shelter, and remain healthy to raise awareness. What is unique about the Jewish World Watch is the Jewish part. A common theme taught in Judaism is the concept of Tikkun Olam, or fixing the world- the JWW harnesses these ideals within the Jewish community to do its part to help the situation.

In the last six years, the Jewish World Watch has mobilized more than 60 Synagogues and more than 2,500 individuals in unity to end the genocide in Darfur. Unfortunately, the situation continues…

More recently, the JWW has taken on the situation in the Dominic Republic of Congo, as a necessary situation that needed more spotlight within the Los Angeles and Jewish community. But why? Don’t we have other problems to deal with?? The US’s economy is still in shambles, the congress still can’t pass any legislation (easily), there are gallon and gallons of oil spilling out all over the gulf coast, earthquakes, volcano’s, tornados, OY VEY! Why- why the Congo, why Africa, why should we pay attention??

Now- take your iPhone, open it up and dismantle it’s parts, ok maybe you won’t go that far- get out your electronic x-ray machine and take a closer look at the newest electronic. Whether it is apparent to you or not, every new iPhone contains minerals such as gold, tin, lithium, and tungsten- all of which are mined out of the Congo. Thanks to the liberal magazine Mother Jones, people can be more aware of the true price of an iPhone- http://motherjones.com/environment/2010/03/scary-truth-about-your-iphone. This is the source of why we, as Americans, and me as a Jew should care about the situation in the Congo- we are all a part of what fuels the ever burning fire.

The Congo is different- the German’s targeted Jews, the Turk’s targeted Armenians, the Janjaweed targeted Darfurians- in the Congo everyone is at risk. With the high demand for the mineral rich land of the Congo, anyone who gets in the way- or doesn’t- is at risk of being slaughtered, displaced, or worse. The women of the region suffer the most- repeated rapes, watching their children be murdered or turned into the very soldiers who assaulted her in the first place.

So this isn’t my normal blog- my normal opinion about the new immigration law in Arizona being unconstitutional or Goldman Sacs giving three million excuses because they know they’ve been caught and are about to be punished for being thieves or how for some reason I don’t believe that a man who beats other men to a bloody pulp didn’t hurt his ex-porn star pill addicted baby’s momma. But it is the most important thing that I’ve written about yet. Next time you use your electronics- 33.75 MILLION iPhones sold to date- think about the lives of women, men, and children- think about murder and greed- think about unsatisfyable wealth and unstable government- think about gang rape and being burned all over your body- think about doing something!

As for me- I’m still in search of my purpose- ‘the little flame that lights a fire under our a**’ (Avenue Q). Whether it be as a youth worker or social justice advocate- I know what my purpose isn’t- to simply make money. No matter what I end up doing with my life, I know that I will never stop caring about other human lives and doing whatever I can to ensure that everyone has the same rights and privileges I have had living in America. With a new puppy, Shlomo, my one year old cat Kit-Kat, and my loving boyfriend Colin- I know I am on the right track!!

As the War Turns

Today our President announced his plan to increase troops in Afghanistan by 30,000 soldiers- totaling over 100,000 troops fighting the extremist Afghanistan’s who hate America. All in the name of safety for American civilians.

As conservative and liberals all weigh in on President Obama’s decision, I can’t help but think about what everyone would say if Obama were to announce the opposite strategy:

“Today, I announce the withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan within the next six months- we will turn our focus to American’s at home and use our resources to better the lives of the people living and struggling in this great country. We will continue to promote the stability of the Afghan government but the toll this war has taken on our country has been immeasurable and has to come to an end.”

My words are not as eloquent or suave as President Obama’s might have been- maybe cheers would have filled Westpoint, as relieved soldiers hugged their families knowing that they will not be put in harms way against an unclear enemy in a corrupt nation. Maybe they could start to think about their lives finally continuing, not being afraid of even their own comrades turning on them or their fellow soldiers turning on themselves.

This is not what happened- instead the American people get AT LEAST two more years of American flag draped coffins, staggering numbers of soldier suicide, fear, and a room full on droopy eyed young adults having to call their loved ones and say they love them and goodbye for what could be the last time. All for the fear that if this is not done that America is vulnerable to another attack like the one we all experienced on 9/11.

Does this also mean two more years of unfathomably climbing debt? Two more years of increasing job loss? Two more years of American hunger, disease, under education, and strife?

And what if it doesn’t work? What if 2011 comes and goes with American soldiers still fighting and dying? What if this great nation continues to collapse onto its self and dig its self into a hole we can not climb out of? Worst yet- what if we ARE attacked and we only have 20,000 troops here in America to help?

We will have FIVE TIMES more troops on our offensive line than we will on our defensive line- and this makes us some how less vulnerable to attack- less likely to live in fear- more prepared to fight?

With so many questions and less answers- Obama is acting more like a pastor asking us all to drink his special blend of cool aid. (Now that might be extreme but it was the best example I could come up with, bear with me)

FAITH- have FAITH cries Obama- BELIEVE what I say- I KNOW I am making the right decision-

Not that any of us really have a say- not like anything we could do would change his mind and find a way to not be at war any more. Flex our intellectual strength, create a strong display of scientific discovery, show mortality rates increase and literacy becoming wide spread.

So now the American people have to believe in this, very un’CHANGE’d, decision that I could see John McCain or former President Bush making. This is NOT the Change I believe in.

But I’m an American and he is our President. We’re continuing this war in hopes that it will stabilize an unstabilizable nation, bring Afghanistan to a place where we could leave and not feel guilty about being there is the first place. Bring our troops home to a nation not in turmoil- a nation prospering and offering education and job opportunity. By the end of President Obama’s first term, we will look back on this decision (as we do now about the Iraq surge) and know it was for the better and that we are not only safer but better off having sent more troops to Afghanistan.

Somehow, I’m still afraid for the people of America- not from foreign attack but from spontaneously imploding onto ourselves- and Obama being blamed.

He’s a good person, a good president between a rock and a hard place- and that’s where he remains with this decision- stuck…