An Olah Without A Parachute: My Aliyah Adventure v
Filed under Israel, Jewish Blog, Jewish Life, Jewish Perspective, Jewneric
When first asked to write a column about my aliyah experience - I thought that at best, it would be a help to someone going through or wanting to go through aliyah and at worst, a boring couple of minutes for someone who wasn’t so interested in what I was writing.
Imagine my surprise when I’m the one who benefited from the column. My last post was an emotional one and brought on responses that were encouraging and empathetic. There were people who called, emailed and posted back. THANK YOU. I can’t fully articulate how each response helped me and I want you to know how much I appreciate the time those of you took to send me a message of support.
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posted by Eliana Rudolph on September 7 2008 ♦
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The Friendship Jewneric Opportunity
Filed under Community, Education, Fundraising, Jewish Life, Jewish Perspective
Hey Jewneric Family, I want to share with you an incredible opportunity to help the Jewish community at large. The friendship Circle in West Bloomfield is holding its third annual Walk4Friendship. And I think that this is something we can get involved in. The friendship circle has over 70 locations worldwide, and has just opened the first ever Kosher Living Facilities for people Jews to go to. Yah I know most people think that drinking and drugs is not a Jewish problem. But believe it or not, it is.
If everyone who reads Jewneric donated $2.00 we could raise thousands. Let’s make it happen.
http://www.walk4friendship.org/*/jewneric
Here is some info on the friendship circle, and the friendship recovery homes.
posted by Benji Rosenzweig on September 3 2008 ♦
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An Olah Without A Parachute: An Aliyah Adventure iv
Filed under Israel, Jewish Blog, Jewish Life, Jewish Perspective, Jewneric, Uncategorized
My last post was about the trials of packing, this post is about what I am feeling this very moment.
I’m scared.
It’s starting to really hit me. I think what opened this dam of emotion is something my grandmother said to me. She asked if my father was sad that I was leaving. So while I figure he’s not the happiest about it, he hasn’t expressed anything major. But she said that when she asked him what he thought about me leaving, he said, “I don’t want to talk about it.”
That hurts me. The idea of my strong, stoic father hurting or sad because of me grinds my world to a halt. My eyes blink rapidly to hold back tears, and my breath becomes slower as I try to stable my breathing. Perhaps this sounds overly dramatic, but this is what’s happening.
The reality check that my grandmother unwittingly gave me, reminds me of what I’m doing. I’m leaving everything I know so well. I’m leaving my parents, my family, my friends that I’ve had for years, my friends that I’ve known for a short time but still have become so important in my life. The life that I’ve lead is about to steer in a direction I don’t know. And now I’m not sure I’m ready.
posted by Eliana Rudolph on September 2 2008 ♦
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Perfection, Eugenics, Israel, and America
Filed under Entertainment, Humor, Israel, Jewish Perspective, News, Politics, Sports
I will always remember Friday night. I came to a realization, an understanding, the veil of darkness was lifted from my eyes. I recall the mad dash before leaving for my brother’s house, seeing online that McCain had chosen Sarah Palin for the job of VP, in the likely case that he won. Immediately, I started researching the future Veep, with much gusto and fervor. I wanted to know everything I could about her, so I can be in a strong position to debate everyman (and everywoman) on the street corner, in a true democratic-style intellectual tete-a-tete.
I finally felt vindicated. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am extremely shallow. I choose my friends solely on basis of their appearance, and therefore I only have ridiculously good looking friends. [This is actually the truth.]
As everyone knows, Sarah Palin, the governor from one of the largest states in the US, Alaska, was the runner up in the Miss Alaska competition. Indeed, her looks provided her with a college education.
posted by Ezra Butler on August 31 2008 ♦
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FUD on Israel attacking Iran
Filed under Israel, Politics
In his weekly opinion column on August 22, M.J. Rosenberg argues that Israel would endanger Jews living outside of Israel by attacking Iran. Furthermore, he rattles off a frightening laundry list of negative outcomes which he claims would result from such an attack:
“An Israeli attack on Iran—absent an imminent threat of attack from Iran—is a terrible idea for many reasons. It would not succeed in eliminating Iran’s nuclear program but would almost surely prompt Iran to both opt out of the international inspection regime and redouble its efforts to produce a bomb. It would unite Arabs and Muslims against the United States (they know that Israel could not attack Iran without implicit or explicit U.S. approval). It would have a disastrous effect on the American effort next door in Iraq, eliminating recently made gains and endangering 130,000 American troops (this is why Secretary of Defense Gates so vehemently opposes an Israeli attack). And it would end the Arab-Israeli peace process, even putting the peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan at risk. And, no small thing, an attack would lead to a deadly Hezbollah missile onslaught against Israel, joined no doubt by Hamas in the south.”
The problem with this ominous litany of negativity is that there is little evidence that any of it is true.
posted by Jonathan Kamens on August 23 2008 ♦
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What do you do when someone you know gets a new job?
Filed under Business, Career Advice, Web 2.0
Over the past number of years I have seen numerous friends and networking partners get new jobs. I usually send an email congratulating them, if I know the industry I will ask if I can help. I almost always let them know to feel free to ask for an introduction through linkedin. But in most cases I wasn’t very proactive in trying to drive them business.
About 3 months ago I started with a new company. I am in the same industry, but a new role, a new service, new clients, and new pipeline.
I put a few networking feelers out there asking for introductions to Insurance Agents (my prospects and clients), and got a number of people who introduced me to Insurance Agents, for which I was and am very thankful.
posted by Benji Rosenzweig on August 22 2008 ♦
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An Olah Without A Parachute: An Aliyah Adventure iii
Filed under Israel, Jewish Blog, Jewish Life, Jewish Perspective, Jewneric, Uncategorized
One of the most annoying things in the world is packing. In case you are not already aware, I shall enlighten you. Packing all your goods, and I’m one of those sentimental collectors, takes serious time and energy and people say you have to throw things out that you love, so it’s sad too. I know that I don’t need every chatchka I got from YU, (cowboy hat anyone?) but I want to keep them.
Why is she packing now? you might wonder. Well, I am moving out of my apartment this week and having mixed feelings about it. This place has been my home for the past two years. We have such memories in this apartment. I remember, within the first week Roto Rooter had to come - there was gross flooding all across the floor. I remember when my upstairs neighbors’ bathroom wasn’t working so the whole apartment trooped in to use the shower and facilities. We had a few lovely dinners and holiday soirees, even a spur of the moment BBQ! Our couches, tree of light, breakfront will forever remain in what I consider a great first apartment.
posted by Eliana Rudolph on August 13 2008 ♦
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Good Samaritans and Basic Honesty
Filed under Jewish Perspective
When I began my summer internship, writing about honesty and selflessness was the last thing I thought I’d be doing.
I started right in the middle of one of the biggest summer news stories in Northern Virginia, which featured us at the center of the storm. A local couple found a $40,000 diamond ring in a parking garage nearby, and brought the ring to us to track down the owner. They said they just wanted to do the right thing and asked for nothing in return.
It was one of my first days at Mervis Diamond Importers, a Washington DC jewelry store, and I was somewhat overwhelmed by the buzz that surrounded the place. We had reporters and media people swarming the building, from Washington Post and a bevvy of local TV stations. It seemed all the reporters kept repeating the same amazement and admiration for the “good Samaritans.” Paraphrased in different metaphors, each station had its own way of saying, “What honest and good people these are.”
posted by Matt Kahnert on August 13 2008 ♦
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Where Zionism Lives
Filed under Education, Israel, Jewish Perspective, News, Non-Profits, Politics
By: Michael Dickson
The despondency that marks the two year anniversary of the recent war in Lebanon is, for me, mitigated by the happy anniversary of my Aliyah, which coincides with it. Packing to move to Israel as rockets rained down on the North and the IDF was being tested by Hizbullah was a strange experience indeed. So bizarre a lifestyle change was I apparently making, that at least two major newspapers interviewed me, asking why I would wish to immigrate to a war zone. Though neither I nor my wife questioned our decision, there was a collective sigh of relief amongst our family when the war came to a conclusion as we boarded the plane.
“Zionism is dead”, a friend had told me before my Aliyah. “It’s a dirty word”. He went on to describe how those bent on Israel’s destruction had hijacked the word and that the Israel organization he worked for was contemplating removing it from their materials. This was far from being the only downhearted comment that I heard in the Summer of 2006, right up until we stepped off the plane into Ben Gurion Airport and the officer at Passport Control greeted me with the question, “Why you come?”
posted by Dani Klein on August 12 2008 ♦
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Alone Again (Not) Naturally
Filed under Community, Halacha, Humor, Israel, Philosophy
The week didn’t go at all as I expected. When Jody made plans for her and Amir to go to Cleveland for Jody’s grandmother’s 90th birthday at the same time as Merav and Aviv were to be in sleep away camp, I thought: this is great. I get the house all to myself. Peace and quiet to work without interruption.
Plus I can do whatever I want, whenever I want with no responsibilities. I can make a mess and no one will nag me to clean it up. With no kids around to throw dirty clothes on the floor, their rooms will remain spotless. I can take long showers (without worrying that the hot water will run out), leave all the lights on and eat junk food every night.
Sure I would miss my wife and family. But as friends expressed their jealousy - and even envy - at this opportunity I had to watch as much TV as I wanted (in between work of course), I began to relish the thought. On Saturday night I drove Jody and Amir to the airport and then came home to begin my two weeks of serious fun.