Moishe House SF

Moishe House SF - Dan's Blog

2011-02-05T11:02:00.001-08:00

Shabbat Shalom Moish-uginahs!

This is my first Moishe House blog so please be gentle. I have been a part of the Moishe House community for about 2 years now. I was at the tender age of 26 and had been trying to rediscover my Jewish identity. I tried going to services at Temple Emanu-el, danced at Second Saturdays @ the Cellar, attended Mission Minyan and tried other Jewish activities that I found online. However I didn't feel any of these places fit with my unique style of Jewish living or lifestyle. I am a social person by nature and appreciate good conversation with friends and discussing my beliefs or questions with those around me.

In my first year of living in San Francisco I found myself working as a Communications Director at a Non-profit and co-managing a Funk Accordion band called Sex with No Hands...a mix of Kelzmer, Funk and 80's Rock! Half of the band is Jewish (a mix of orthodox and conservative dudes who know how to observe in style!) and introduced me to the Jewish community of San Francisco and to their traditions of holding Seders and Shabbats in their homes. While in New York on the East Coast leg of their 2008 tour I met one of my best friends...Sarah Curtain (and now current roommate) who went to school with two members of the band. Sarah eventually moved out to San Francisco and joined the Moishe House later that Fall. I started attending Shabbats, musical performances, movies and other fun activities that I really enjoyed and I finally felt that I was a part of a larger Jewish Community!

Fast forward a year and a half later...I was getting ready to moved out of the Sunset and was looking for a new place. Three of the current roommates at Moishe House were moving out and had asked me if I wanted to take a spot. It took me all of a week to make up my mind, but I gladly took the offer and have been at the Moishe House SF ever since!

I've had a chance to meet a ton of new people, create some great events and collaborate with some fantastic organizations. Over the months I have been able to bring in friends to play music (The Coo Coo Birds, Moishe House Gypsy Jazz Band and Lautaro D'Amato), made some amazing foods (German Food Themed Shabbat, Hummus Making, Indian Food Shabbat and many Vegan Dishes) and we are starting a Comic Book Club and Rotating Art Gallery which I am super excited to do!

The future is looking bright and I am excited to do so much more! Keep an eye out for our upcoming events:

Friday - February 11 - Pink Pot Luck Shabbat - Breast Cancer Awareness and Valentines Day Shabbat

Saturday - February 12 - Moishe House Wine Tasting

Sunday - February 20 - Food Bank Volunteering!

Tuesday - February 22 - Madhouse Rhythm the comedy of Joshua Walters

Thursday - February 24 - Moishe House Movie Night - Jewish Directors Series

Sunday - February 27 - Moishe House Art Show and Concert

Building a Jewish Community

2010-06-09T11:57:00.001-07:00

One of the confusing things about Jewish community is the feel of it – it’s different from mainstream American community. For folks who aren’t Jewish it can seem to make sense that Jews are different – even if they can’t quite put their finger on why. But for American Jews it can be baffling – why do I feel different or out of place? After all, I grew up here. The American dream is that an individual through hard work can rise to wealth and greater independence. If you become wealthy enough you can pay for your own home, car, health care, vacations, etc. However we never learn about the American Dream as a communal concept, it is an individual goal.

On the other hand, Judaism’s greatest hero is Moses. When Moses rode (or walked) off into the wilderness he took the whole Jewish family along, the women and children, the weak as well as the strong, the complainers with the enthusiasts. The Jewish dream is a time of peace for all the Jews, an end to persecution and the return to Zion. The expectation is that each Jew will care for all the other Jews, sacrificing her/his own needs and desires for the greater needs of the group.

In America we create Jewish community in synagogue. There the multiple burdens – responsibilities – are spread out over the many members so that no one person is expected to do it all. However, synagogues are inherently expensive to be a part of, synagogue dues are currently going up exponentially as synagogue membership is going down, as a way to offset one another. Unfortunately, when you are in your 20's, paying $1,000 or even $2,000 a year to be a part of a "Jewish Community" just is not in the cards. This is where Moishe House steps in. Additionally, there are very few burdens associated with being a part of a Moishe House. There is shopping and preparing food, posting events on the internet, taking pictures, and general event promotions. However, the dividends are endless. We get to create our own community, we get to do the events we want to do, and if the go really well, we get to them again. We get to invite our friends, and have the opportunity to make new friends every single time we have an event. Moishe House is a very informal and comfortable environment, a sad reality that is missing from some synagogue environments.

Countless times, whether it be during Shabbat, a Yom Hashoah dinner, celebrating Hannukah, sharing a tikkun olam experience, playing sports, poker, cooking events, or even picking weeds in a community garden this conversation of how to be a part of a Jewish Community comes up with the people we interact with. What a wonderful outlet for young Jews to be a part of, and not only is of no cost to them, it is with other young Jewish people who are also wanting to be a part of Jewish community, who already are living in the same community. What a wonderful recipe for success that speaks to the groups needs, while also including individuals wants and desires!!

SF monthly blog

Building a Jewish Community

2010-06-07T19:51:00.000-07:00

Ari B. - San Francisco

2010-04-04T11:38:00.000-07:00

i can't believe it's already april. It's as if we've already lost a quarter of the year, but yet we still have so much to go until 2011. It's almost like losing someone in your life, or losing a member of our moishe house community. So many people come through our doors, some more than others, but it seems as though a good amount of people transplant to other cities. I guess that's inevitable for a group of 20-somethings, with grad school and job opportunities taking people all across the country. We have an email list of nearly 500 people, and I'd guess that in any given month we have 25-50 people either unsubscribe or ask to join our list. Most emails sound something like: "Hi, my name is ____ ____stein and I just moved to SF. I've heard about Moishe House and I'd love to come by." However, for every one of those emails, we also get a "Please unsubscribe me, I'm going to law school."

While that's expected, what about when a roommate leaves? How can you keep the moishe house vibe going strongly if the moveout situation isn't exactly ideal? In my experience, I think it's real important to recognize that Moishe house is bigger than all of us, and it's a true privilege to be a part of it. Understanding that we're here as a larger movement and goal should help to realize the relatively insignificant consequences of a rooommate moving out. I don't know if this is much help to anyone, but it seems to me that one of the main issues left unattended by the Moishe House organization is how for roommates to deal with one another. While we're roomies in the sense that we leave together and do non-moishe house things, we're all here for the larger purpose of carrying out Moishe House's mission statement. Have a a great month, I wish I could've written this on April 1st because I love April fools stuff.

Cheers.

Yom Hashoah

2010-04-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

This upcoming month marks the annual anniversary of Yom Hashoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day. Throughout the years I have tried to make an effort to do something out of the ordinary for this special day. Last year, as well as this year, I plan on attending a dinner and conversation event which is sponsored by one of the local synagogues, here in San Francisco.

There is something incredibly powerful and humbling about the evening experience of being able to deeply delve into the personal experiences and life stories of a person who lived a lifestyle during a time period none of us can imagine. Trying to understand, make sense of and even find ways to appreciate the events that took place in people's lives 60 or 70 years ago during WWII is a fascinating and incredibly interesting experience, something all Jews, and all humans, young and old, should make a priority of doing.

There are not a lot of Holocaust survivors left, as many of these people are either getting too old to remember and be able to relive and retell their stories due to a variety of health effects, or they simply are no longer living with us. My grandfather is a survivor and often times I ask myself why I did not ask him to tell me and my sister his stories more regularly, or even at all; even though it was hard, scary, emotional, incredibly difficult, and very sad to see him revisit those upsetting and horrific experiences. Unfortunately, due to Alzheimer's he is not in the position to retell these stories, even if for some whirlwind reason he felt more comfortable doing so now than he had in the previous 70 years...

This population of people are some of our richest historical heirlooms and we should continue to take advantage of the resource and privilege we have by still having them in our lives, even if we only have the opportunity to really hear and experience their stories one time a year.

Danny in SF

Integrating Newcomers

2009-12-29T11:15:00.000-08:00

Here at MHSF we love welcoming newcomers into our mix of community events. At least once a week, sometimes two or three times, we get a random email from someone who has heard about MH from a friend, a cousin, coworker, or some other random person in their life. Once we get this email contact from them, we are quick to write back and let them know in a short paragraph what we do, what we are about, and how they can get connected and be involved. We will send them a link to our monthly calendar, forwarded them our monthly email, and add them to our email list.

When someone shows up to an activity or program where they (clearly) do not know anyone, or it is their first time over to our house, we do everything we can to make them feel welcomed and comfortable. Engaging them in their personal story, where they are from, what they do, how they heard about MH, why they wanted to check it out, what sort of involvement they have had in the past with their Jewish community, where they went to college, what sort of traveling they have done, these are all some of the general questions we like to ask people if it our first time meeting them. Often before we get to the third or fourth questions, some sort of connection is made in which we can relate our lives and or experiences to one another. Also, people are often very interested in knowing more about MH, how it started, what specifically we do, how we all got involved, etc. It's important to feel out the person, see if they come across as introverted or extroverted, as some people are very comfortable talking about themselves, and others keep their self descriptions short and sweet. I like to think of it as being comfortably curious when we meet new people, be curious about them, but also help them feel comfortable. Moreover, if there are people at the events who are shmoozers and enjoy meeting new people, it is great to introduce the new person to one of these people, knowing we don't have to feel like it is up to us to entertain the person throughout the remainder of the event. More like, we welcome them in for the first 10 or 15 minutes until they look a bit more at ease, and then we can introduce them to some of the other people in attendance. More times than not, especially when we have Shabbat, we ask people go around and introduce themselves to the group, as an informal hello of sorts, although it can feel a little awkward, it is important to do this.

Also, if we have made a good connection with someone after they have come to an event for the first time, one of us will send them a follow up email, a sort of "thank you" email for them coming by and taking some time to meet new people and getting to know their Jewish community a little better. This personalized touch has huge dividends, and makes the person receiving the email feel very valued, and not so much like a random person who just showed up one evening. Lastly, this small effort on our end will more than likely encourage the person to want to return to future events, or at least spread the word to their friends about our house, how inviting the residents are that live there, and how friendly the other attendees were. Word of mouth after positive experiences is the best way our MH SF community will continue to nurture itself.

Danny in SF

MHSF - House Blog - New Roomies

2009-12-29T10:42:00.001-08:00

The new decade is upon us! Is is crazy to think the 00's have come and gone. Many of us have graduated high school and college in this quick blip of time, gotten a taste of the working world, and even gotten a chance to participate in this incredible opportunity known as Moishe House. As this year and this decade comes to an end, we will be welcoming 2 wonderful women into the full time mix here at MHSF. Dave Persyko, the eldest standing Moishe House resident turned in his keys this month, making room for a couple of other folks to take his spot, one of which is taking his bedroom, and the other is taking the often talked about and somewhat mysterious "5th bedroom".

New faces bring new energy. New energy brings fresh and creative programmatic ideas, possibilities, dreams and goals. I think it is a real treat for the three of us who have been here for over a year each to be starting this new year and new decade in partnership with two new housemates who are bringing a fresh and energetic perspective and outlook to everything Moishe we do here in San Francisco. It is awesome to also know after just 3 1/2 months living in the house, all five of us will be able to meet up with all the other Moishe Houses in Texas for the national retreat. What a special and sweet way for out new roommates to be see and hear first hand what other people in their houses are doing, after having 3 months of time here in SF to put their best foot forward, and get immersed in the wonderful Jewish community that is thriving and only getting stronger as the new year approaches.

Danny in SF

MHSF - Ari

2009-12-22T11:11:00.000-08:00

Earlier today, I googled the word “trust.” It was a sobering experience. I was more than 20 pages into the results before meeting a single instance of trust in the sense of belief in something or someone. There were all types of financial trusts, businesses with “trust” in their names, companies eager to help you set up personal trusts, charitable trusts of every kind—but nothing about putting your trust in anything or anyone. When I did find an entry relating to trust in this common sense, it was about mistrust; a psychiatrist offering help for people whose trust had been abused through infidelity or fraud.

Trust is fundamental to life. If you cannot trust anything, life becomes intolerable—a constant battle against paranoia and looming disaster. You can’t have relationships without trust, let alone good ones. Intimacy depends on it. I suspect more marriages are wrecked by lack of trust than by actual infidelity. The partner who can’t trust the other not to betray him or her will either drive them away or force them into some real or assumed act of faithlessness.

In the workplace too, trust is essential. An organization without trust will be full of backstabbing, fear and paranoid suspicion. If you work for a boss who doesn’t trust her people to do things right, you’ll have a miserable time of it. She’ll be checking up on you all the time, correcting “mistakes” and “oversights” and constantly reminding you to do this or that. Colleagues who don’t trust one another will need to spend more time watching their backs than doing any useful work. The office politics would make Machiavelli blush.

I’m constantly amazed when people claim to be overworked and under constant pressure, yet fail to do the one thing most likely to ease their burdens: trust other people more. They don’t delegate, because they don’t trust people to do what they’ve been asked to do; so they have to take on every significant task themselves. They attend every meeting, however futile, because they don’t trust others not to talk about them behind their back, or reach decisions they don’t like. They demand copies of every memo, report and e-mail, because they don’t trust what might be said if they’re not watching. They’re constantly keyed-up and tense, watching for rivals or other departments to launch some covert operation to undermine their position. It’s not the pressure of actual work that’s driving them towards some stress-related illness, it’s their lack of trust in anyone and anything. Is it any wonder they’re close to total burnout?

So this year new year, let's go ahead and trust one another in an attempt to relieve stress, produce good events, and generally enjoy life.

Welcome to THE BAY Moishe Foundation

2009-10-04T21:15:00.000-07:00

It's been a long long long time coming. However, after years of anticipation, the Moishe Foundation has moved to their new home, Oakland, California. Welcome to the Bay! Im really excited that David, Summer, Kevin and Jeremy are all now working so close to our home, here in San Francisco. It will be awesome to have the four of them attending events more regularly, getting to know the folks that come by our house throughout the month. It's always cool to have the people that work full time for the Foundation to be attending house events. Hopefully with the move to the area, this can become a more regular activity. It's awesome to know the next time I am in downtown Oakland I can stop by the Moishe office, hang out, have lunch, and see what's going on. I think it's awesome for the organization to have a new home! Hopefully this change in location and increase in space will continue to allow the Moishe Foundation to expand and thrive in ways unimaginable.

Danny in SF

The 5th bedroom

2009-09-07T14:37:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have never been to our house, we have a 5th bedroom, although there are only 4 of us that live in the house, essentially an extra room. When I moved in, i knew it more as a storage room, also the room aaron gilbert (a MHSF alum), however i never knew it is a sleeping area. After my first few weeks in the house, a good friend of ours, ari ELDEN!, came up from san diego and spent some nice nights in the room. However, it was not until March when the room had its first international visitors. Our friend, Mauro from Buenos Aires, who is deeeeeep in the MH Buenos Aires scene and a former MHer himself, enjoyed the luxuries of 5th bedroom during his 2 1/2 week odyssey of northern california. Bay to Breakers weekend we had guests from Long Beach stay in the room. Later in May, more visitors from Buenos Aires came and went, and then in June another set of Argentinians. By mid June, we had our first and then close second Israeli guests. Again in July we had a tandem come through from southern california.

The room has gotten some attention, but it was just getting ready for the end of summer months. Beginning August 1st, Jen Rosenthal, a Sacramento MH alum, spent the month in the room while she was doing some schooling at UCSF. After a solid 30 day stint, Jen moved out. Our most recent Israeli guests, Gigi and Noyat then picked up the 5th bedroom for just over a week, in between their excursions up to Yosemite and the Redwood Forest.

Without our 5th bedroom, would our new friends have wanted to stay in our place? Well, yeah, sure they could've slept on the couch. However, by having that extra room, we are really able to share our home with our guests, allow them to have a private and comfortable space when they are on their traveling adventures. How cool would it be for all of us to be able to travel internationally, contact your local Moishe House and see if you could spend a few nights in a cozy and nice house, get to know some young and cool Jews, and share your story with other people. I can't wait to do some international Moishe House traveling when I get a chance!!

What Makes a MHSF Event Successful?

2009-07-03T00:07:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, an event is successful when everyone involved had a good time. Different people can "have a good time" in a number of ways, and that's why the I believe that a good event requires its creation born from a unique idea. Granted, some repeat events, like Shabbat, are wonderful staples that bring a consistent following, and at times new folks. However, I really think that the more peripheral and experimental events are the ones that make a difference between a good house and a great house. Getting a significant number of people to attend a relatively random idea, like Tuesday night Bowling, is a great accomplishment. The key to getting people to come is feeling out what others might want to attend, not necessarily what you'd like to be doing yourself as a house member.

Appealing to your community's interests is difficult, because, at least in San Francisco, the folks coming to our events are quite different. We have people coming who could tell you every player in the major leagues, and folks also come who have no idea of the shape of a baseball. That's a stupid example, but it brings up the important point of the necessity of appealing to your community's interests. That said, while certain general recommendations are an excellent idea to follow, advice taken from another house must be understood with the caveat that everyone's audiences are different.

I think everything that's been said in this blog is accurate, especially those emphasizing planning centered on thought and not necessarily action. I'd say think through an event and ask whether this is a realistic idea that at least a few people will want to attend. Good luck everyone...

Making a resolution... ari b from sf

2009-01-04T22:47:00.001-08:00

New years is the time when people are concerned about what they're doing more than any other evening of the year, and it's usually a pretty fun night. And then as soon as it ends, people start talking about their resolutions. Whether it's working out more, or being kind, or anything, the most important part is keeping it to yourself. As soon as people start talking about what they're trying to accomplish, the resolution gets jinxed. I'm not gonna talk about mine, I think I'm just going to try and accomplish it. As for Moishe House, I think there should be an organization-wide resolution. I think all the members of the house should realize what an amazing opportunity Moishe House provides, and to appreciate the system while creating as great of a product for people coming to events as possible. But don't tell anyone...

David P, MHSF - 11/5/08

2008-11-05T20:28:00.000-08:00

I'm gonna cheat a little bit. I usually don't condone going outside the rules, but in this case I'll make an exception. It's nothing too scathing, don't worry. If I rally wanted to pull a fast one I'd just cut and paste my roommate Ari's blog and claim later that it was he who had hacked into my computer to steal my profound blog wisdom. It's just that usually in my blog I touch upon something from the last calendar month, but I'll be honest, none of it compared to the few hours I spent with some of the Moishe House community last night, on the 4th of November.

There are few moments in our life which we can point to, while there happening, and say, without a doubt, this is something spectacular and it will forever live in my memory. Maybe it's a graduation, a wedding, a birth, or that magical moment when you realize that you are more proud than ever before to tell people what country your from. To share a moment like that with friends makes it all the more meaningful. It felt like I'd always imagined the culmination of a democratic process should; cathartic, overwhelming, and joyous.

Looking around the room as results came in, speeches were made, and countless silent moments were shared, I couldn't feel anything but grateful. After all, what is democracy if not sharing in the accomplishments, defeats, and challenges of those around us. Thank you friends, neighbors, and everyone across the country who helped make this moment happen.

winter in summer in san francisco

2008-08-06T06:58:00.000-07:00

the world is working
hard
and effortlessly, keeping pace

I've had an amazing opportunity to participate in a Somatic Educator's program in the bay area. Through this program, I have like many past times, gained skills and tools. Yesterday, I put into effect the tools of teacher... It has been a long time since I've been- chosen this role. And to do it among peers, in a somewhat unexpected space, as an offering of my knowledge and skill- wonderful!

I shared bodywork knowledge and technique in an impromptu tutoring session. It was great. And I got to get into the real nitty gritty of body ergonomics and mechanics of the practitioner in a real and applicable way. It was beautiful. I have been in Somatics and bodywork land, strictly, for the last several weeks of this intensive... And it is wonderful!

And now, to bridge my worlds and incorporate my Moishe House life and role into my body arts centered world...

This friday we are going to have a contact shabbat- an opportunity to explore shabbat through contact... it'll start out at a park, and be a group of invited folks, and we'll see where the contact improvisation and praying and connecting in this way takes us!
---awesome - peace out

Non-profit job: Onward! Program Consultant

2007-06-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Onward! Program Consultant

A program of St. John's Educational Thresholds Center

St. John's is a community based, non-religious affiliated organization with 35 years experience developing the gifts and talents of young people in the Mission District. St. John's works with youth (5-18), families and schools to increase educational commitment and achievement through year-round academic support, leadership development, and cultural enrichment activities.

While we believe that education is the most effective way to improve lives and impact community, our youth development approach extends beyond academics to include:

1. Interpersonal skill development, personal health, and relationship building;

2. Parent involvement, support and education;

3. Community engagement, service learning and neighborhood wellness.

Onward! works to increase the number of Mission District youth who pursue post-secondary education. In collaboration with Mission High School, Onward! leads informational workshops for students about college and provides Mission High seniors with individualized support throughout the entire college admissions process, including applications, financial aid, scholarships, and school choice.

Position: Onward! Program Consultant

15 hours/week, 10 months/year, Independent Contractor

Required hours 11-4 Tuesday and Thursday, plus 5 other hours TBD

$25/hr

Job Summary

The Onward! Program Consultant is responsible for working with the Mission High School College Center to support juniors and seniors with the college application process. This position is a part-time, independent contractor position, and reports to St. John's High School Programs Director.

Primary Responsibilities

In collaboration with Mission High School college counselor:

· Work on-site at Mission High School Tuesday and Thursday afternoons throughout the entire school year;

· Work with students in groups and one-on-one, by appointment, drop-in, and email;

· Support seniors with entire college application process, including but not limited to: applications, personal statements, financial aid, scholarships, and school choice;

· Help prepare juniors for college application process by leading informational workshops;

· Work closely with Mission High School college counselor to ensure that all students are receiving necessary support and services;

· Maintain all required registration and attendance records;

· Adhere to current contract requirements to implement and evaluate college-readiness activities.

Additional Responsibilities

· Weekly check-in with supervisor;

· Act as a member of the St. John's High School Programs team;

· Assist with grant reporting about Onward! activities as needed;

· Implement other college-readiness activities as assigned.

Required Qualifications

· BA or BS;

· Strong understanding of issues effecting low-income, urban youth, specifically regarding access to post-secondary education;

· Commitment to youth development principles;

· Experience working with high school youth;

· Familiarity with college application process;

· Excellent organizational and communication skills, including public speaking;

· Ability to set clear and consistent boundaries with youth and co-workers;

· Ability to maintain a respectful and professional demeanor at all times;

· Proven ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds;

· Health clearance from a medical professional;

· Fingerprint clearance from the US Department of Justice.

Preferred Qualifications

· Experience providing college-readiness services to high school students;

· Bilingual Spanish or Cantonese;

· Familiarity with the Mission District community and its youth-serving organizations;

· Familiarity with Bay Area college preparation programs and resources.

Mission District residents, bilingual Spanish-English or Cantonese-English speakers, and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please send your resume and a cover letter articulating your interest and qualifications to

(no phone calls please):

HR@sjetc.org

or you can send us a fax at 415-864-0916

ATTN: Onward! Program Consultant

Non-profit job: College Connect Coordinator

2007-06-29T10:58:00.001-07:00

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

College Connect Coordinator (Americorps*VISTA position)

A Program of St. John's Educational Thresholds Center

St. John's is a community based, non-religious affiliated organization with 35 years experience developing the gifts and talents of young people in the Mission District. St. John's works with youth (5-18), families and schools to increase educational commitment and achievement through year-round academic support, leadership development, and cultural enrichment activities.

While we believe that education is the most effective way to improve lives and impact community, our youth development approach extends beyond academics to include:

1. Interpersonal skill development, personal health, and relationship building;

2. Parent involvement, support and education;

3. Community engagement, service learning and neighborhood wellness.

College Connect refers to St. John's new vision and identity as an important college access advocate in our community. Beginning in fall 2007, each St. John's program will begin implementing the best practices in college-readiness at their program sites. This will include high school "cohorts" to provide individualized support to qualified college-bound students and public awareness media campaigns. St. John's main office will become an educational resource center where youth and parents can attend workshops and receive one-on-one counseling about college. College Connect will provide support for families related to college choice, academic preparation, the admissions process, and financing a college education. College Connect intends to increase the college-going rates of first-generation, low-income youth from San Francisco's Mission District.

Position: College Connect Coordinator

40 hours per week, Americorps*VISTA

August 15, 2007- August 15, 2008

Compensation: Americorps*VISTA Stipend and post-service Education Award/Stipend

Job Summary:

The College Connect Coordinator Americorps*VISTA will play a critical role in the roll-out and implementation of St. John's newest initiative—College Connect. The goal of the College Connect Coordinator position is to help institutionalize college access as the ultimate goal of all of St. John's youth development programming.

Primary Responsibilities:

* Support Program Directors to "roll out" College Connect at their programs in ways that align with the broad goals of the College Connect initiative.
* Identify creative ways to create a "college-going culture" at all St. John's after-school programs.
* Work with Program Directors and the Executive Director to create measurement tools to gauge our success and report back accurately to funders.
* Develop workshop topics, book volunteer guest speakers in collaboration with Americorps*VISTA Community Resource Coordinator, and manage annual workshop calendar.
* Publicize and recruit youth and their families to attend College Connect workshops.
* Maintain a college resource library at St. John's main office, featuring a variety of up-to-date materials including college brochures, financial aid information, and scholarships.
* Create a process of continuous evaluation; survey community members about the effectiveness of College Connect's services and report findings to Executive Director.
* Link with other community based organizations to create new partnerships that improve College Connect's effectiveness, scope, and services.
* Represent St. John's and College Connect in various public settings.
* Establish linkages with local colleges and student groups that can support College Connect participants through mentoring and individualized support.
* In collaboration with Executive Director, explore establishing college savings accounts with local banks and financial institutions.
* Explore scholarship opportunities for undocumented youth.
* Create linkages with national and local college access programs to learn best practices.
* Ongoing research of college access issues to keep St. John's informed of current trends and projections for the future.
* Support development of a youth leadership program geared towards the creation of public service campaigns about college access.
* Pursue in-kind support and resources from community foundations, small businesses, and other community-based organizations as needed.

Qualifications:

* Strong understanding of issues effecting low-income, urban youth, specifically regarding access to post-secondary education.
* Experience managing projects that involve many people and various groups.
* Strong communication skills including verbal, written, and presentation-based.
* Knowledge about college, financial aid, and scholarship applications, processes, and resources.
* Experience with or interest in Youth Development principles and practices.
* Proven ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds.
* Bilingual Spanish/English skills preferred.
* Proof of a negative TB test and fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice required before beginning work.

Mission District residents, bilingual Spanish-English speakers, and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please send your resume and a cover letter articulating your interest and qualifications to

(no phone calls please):

HR@sjetc.org

or send us a fax at 415-864-0916

ATTN: College Connect *VISTA

Non-profit job: Community Resource Coordinator

2007-06-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

Community Resource Coordinator (Americorps*VISTA position)

A Program of St. John's Educational Thresholds Center

St. John's is a community based, non-religious affiliated organization with 35 years experience developing the gifts and talents of young people in the Mission District. St. John's works with youth (5-18), families and schools to increase educational commitment and achievement through year-round academic support, leadership development, and cultural enrichment activities.

While we believe that education is the most effective way to improve lives and impact community, our youth development approach extends beyond academics to include:

1. Interpersonal skill development, personal health, and relationship building;

2. Parent involvement, support and education;

3. Community engagement, service learning and neighborhood wellness.
Position: Community Resource Coordinator

40 hours per week, Americorps*VISTA

August 15, 2007- August 15, 2008

Compensation: Americorps*VISTA Stipend and post-service Education Award/Stipend

Job Summary:

The Community Resource Coordinator Americorps*VISTA will support all of St. John's programs by leveraging and coordinating community resources, including volunteers, parents and families, and in-kind donations of goods and services. The goal of the Community Resource Coordinator position is to create a vibrant, centralized, volunteer network that supports St. John's programs while expanding St. John's visibility and reputation as a significant resource for Mission District families.

Primary Responsibilities:

Volunteer Management:

* Develop and implement a centralized, agency-wide volunteer program, building on the current successful volunteer program at one site.
* Link with all St. John's Program Directors and Americorps*VISTA College Connect Coordanator to identify specific program needs.
* Create marketing materials to recruit volunteers.
* Recruit volunteers from Mission District and larger San Francisco community.
* Develop volunteer protocol, ensuring compliance with all St. John's policies and procedures.
* Maintain intake and placement system.
* Create and implement volunteer orientation and assessment.
* Establish and maintain youth volunteer component through which St. John's program participants have opportunities to volunteer internally at other St. John's programs.
* Create annual volunteer recruitment and appreciation events.
* Help stage agency events that act to engage and introduce new volunteers to the organization.
* Meet with members of St. John's Board of Directors to elicit board involvement.

Community Liaison:

* Represent St. John's at various community meetings and events.
* Work to engage local business community in feeling "vested" in the success of St. John's.
* Pursue in-kind support and resources from local businesses, individuals, and other community-based organizations as needed.

Qualifications:

* Experience working with adult and youth volunteers.
* Experience managing projects that involve coordinating many people and groups.
* Excellent communication skills including verbal, written, and presentation-based.
* Event planning experience.
* Simple database creation skills desired.
* Experience with or interest in Youth Development principles and practices.
* Proven ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds.
* Bilingual Spanish/English skills preferred.
* Proof of a negative TB test and fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice required before beginning work.

Mission District residents, bilingual Spanish-English, and people of color

are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please send your resume and a cover letter articulating your interest and qualifications to

(no phone calls please):

HR@sjetc.org

or send us a fax at 415-864-0916

ATTN: Community Resource *VISTA

Incredible Opps for future Jewish MBA and MPA students

2007-05-11T15:05:00.000-07:00

If you or anyone else you know that is interested in completing an MBA or MPA and might consider a career in the Jewish professional world - please let them know about this opportunity before the May 15th deadline.

PLP LAUNCHES NEW FELLOWSHIP FOR MBA AND MPA STUDENTS AT TOP TIER SCHOOLS ACROSS THE U.S.

Professional Leaders Project (PLP), a Jewish Initiative announces the dynamic expansion of its highly successful Academic Fellows program. Building on the first two outstanding classes currently enrolled in New York University, Brandeis University and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, PLP will choose a select cadre of entrepreneurial students with a deep passion for building Jewish community who will be entering the nation’s top 30 MBA and MPA programs in the Fall of 2007.

PLP Academic Fellows receive a full-tuition scholarship, additional stipend to access extraordinary professional development opportunities, supplemental Judaic studies, on-going personal mentoring and coaching, and active participation in PLP’s network of emerging Jewish leaders. Fellows must reflect the innovative "change-oriented" nature of PLP by agreeing to help continually shape the Academic Fellows program utilizing their past and current experience. Upon graduation, Fellows are proactively placed in executive-level positions within U.S.-based Jewish organizations and serve as mentors to future PLP participants. The Fellowship is only one PLP’s initiatives aimed at turning leadership over to the next generation in the Jewish community. Rolling admission but apply now to ensure your consideration! URL: http://www.jewishleaders.net/web/guest/initiatives/academic-fellowships

DETAILS

Amount of award:
PLP provides Academic Fellows with full tuition, plus a stipend of up to $3500 per year for specific, pre-approved professional development needs. In addition, we provide mentors, coaches, professional leadership training and proactive placement in executive positions in Jewish non-profit organizations upon graduation.

Criteria
Candidates must be able to show demonstrated leadership skills, prowess, and creativity in developing and implementing solutions. They must be of strong character, entrepreneurial nature, have a deep passion for building Jewish community and seek to set new standards of excellence individually and as part of an organization or team.

Commitment and additional requirements
While in school, PLP Academic Fellows pursing an MBA must take part in an additional Judaic study requirement, including, but not limited to, a 3-week winter study session in Israel and a 7-week summer study session in Los Angeles. Tuition and the cost of flights for both components are fully funded by PLP. Fellows must reflect the innovative "change-oriented" nature of PLP by agreeing to help continually shape the Academic Fellows program utilizing their past and current experience. Fellows will be required to serve in highly substantial leadership roles in the American Jewish community (United States only) for a minimum of 3 years following completion of their degrees, and will be expected to participate in all official PLP offerings in a fully engaged manner and serve as mentors to future Academic Fellows and/or PLP Live Network participants.

Q’S? CONTACT ARIANNA JERET, DIRECTOR OF PLP ACADEMIC FELLOWS ASAP! arianna@jewishleaders.net

Want to Live and Work in Phnom Penh, Cambodia?

2007-05-03T09:17:00.000-07:00

Here's an email I (Isaac) got from an Israeli young adult I met in Cambodia in December. He's looking for people to take over the work he and his partner were doing there. His name is Omry Revach and his email is omry545@gmail.com -- email him if anyone you know is interested.

"I would like to update you shortly on last month's developments in Phnom Penh:

Ariella (my girlfriend) and I arranged picnics for volunteers, a website www.volunteerscambodia.com and an information center in my shop that in the backpackers area of Phnom Penh (picture attached).
At the same time Ariella and other Belgium friend, Virgine, continue the activities for KLC project (Kids Lake side Creations), this is a project that Ariella setup last June, the first project that enable backpackers to volunteer and contribute to the local children without a long time commitment.

You can see pictures and blog at http://www.klc.volunteerscambodia.com

I was starting to develop my house (chakra house) to a healing center, even got an article in Asia life Phnom Penh Magazine (see link in www.chakrahouse.org) but then, a month ago, while watching the Celestine Prophecy I decided to go back to Israel by the end of May, and by that to close a circle of 4 years outside of Israel. The same movie made Ariella decide that she wants to start learning in university this year.

…So, these days we are working to find someone to take over all our current responsibilities (KLC project, VolunteersCambodia website and my shop – Chakra visions), Ariella will continue her traveling for few month in India before she will start social work studies in Jerusalem."

Incredible Theater Performance - Don't Miss!

2007-04-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

A play done by one of the members of our Moishe family. Great opportunity to see some exciting clown theater from an awesome young member of the tribe:

The Damsel's Demise
by Summer Shapiro & Suzanne Santos

Opened April 17th with a bang:

"Wow! It is one of the best shows in clown theater I have ever seen.
Fully realized and developed. Every minute well played. Not one off
move. Funny, sad, moving, complex ideas done simply."

-Judy Finelli
Artistic Director of The Pickle Family Circus, 1987-90
Co-founder of the San Francisco School for Circus Arts
Faculty of Circus Center Clown Conservatory

SHOWS: TWO NEW DATES @ A Traveling Jewish Theatre!
As part of foolsFURY's FURY Festival:

April 20th - 22nd
FRI, SAT, SUN 8pm -
Arc Cafe Courtyard - Outdoor Venue
Florida St. @ Mariposa St.
San Francisco, 94107

April 24th & 25th
TUES & WED 8pm -
A Traveling Jewish Theatre -
470 Florida St.
San Francisco, Ca. 94107

Contact: summer.shapiro@gmail.com or santos_suzanne@yahoo.com

ADL Finding Our Voice Conference

2007-01-10T13:01:00.000-08:00

This should be a lot of fun for the whole family...
From Liane Baskin - LBaskin@adl.org :

We hope you will be able to attend Finding Our Voice: The Conference for
Progressives Constructively Addressing Anti-Semitism, organized by a
coalition of organizations and volunteer activists (email me for a list of co-sponsors). It will take place on Sunday, January 28, 2007, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.,
at the Jewish Community High School of the Bay, 1835 Ellis Street (at Scott
Street) in San Francisco. We first conceived of this conference in late
2005. As you know, Northern California, and the Bay Area in particular, is
well-known for its progressive politics and appreciation of diversity. With
increasing frequency, however, we at the ADL hear from politically active
and progressive Jews feeling alienated from their traditional allies in
social justice and civil rights movements. Much of the anti-Jewish sentiment
they tell us they encounter is wrapped up in debates over Israel-Palestine -
especially within the anti-Iraq war movement, and in the calls for boycotts,
divestment, and sanctions - and the use of classical anti-Jewish rhetoric
and imagery in the criticism of Israel. In addition, we have noted the
tendency among some to misleadingly identify Jews as a universally white,
privileged and oppressive class worthy of opprobrium. It is as though many
Jews are being forced to choose among their core identities and values:
Jewish, progressive, concern for social justice and universal human rights,
etc.

The central mission of the Finding Our Voice Conference is three part:
1)To educate politically active and progressive Jews and allies about the
roots, nature, and extent of the new anti-Semitism and its interplay with
traditional anti-Semitism;
2)To mobilize and empower participants to counter this phenomenon; and
3)To galvanize a broad-based coalition of organizations and leaders to join
together in continuing to recognize, expose, and resist this trend toward
anti-Semitism.

"Finding Our Voice" will enable progressive Jews to constructively address
the increasingly pervasive problem of the "new anti-Semitism," or
anti-Semitism from the extreme left. The day will be comprised of
educational workshops and skills sessions on issues ranging from Jewish
self-esteem to anti-Semitism in the labor movement. The keynote speaker for
the conference is the renowned English lawyer and writer Anthony Julius.
Julius is a highly-regarded English writer and lawyer who has gained
world-wide prominence for challenging all forms of anti-Semitism. In 2000 he
successfully defended Holocaust historian Deborah Lipstadt against spurious
libel charges brought by the Holocaust denier David Irving.

LOOKING FOR MALE MENTORS!!

2006-12-27T16:04:00.000-08:00

Mentor Children at JFCS

Spend your time volunteering with youth by hanging out and making a
difference! Volunteers mentor 8-18 year olds in one-on-one matches,
providing supportive friendship, encouragement, guidance and academic
assistance. Just one hour a week of mentoring can help mentees succeed at
home, at school and with their friends. Volunteers are screened, trained and
committed to working with a mentee for at least one hour per week for a
minimum for six months.

Job duties include:

-visit with a mentee once a week to provide companionship
-listen attentively and enjoy matters of common interest
-assist with school work as arranged
-maintain monthly records if time spent with mentee
-abide by the agency confidentiality policy

Required Skills:

- volunteers must have experience working with children or adults with
disabilities
- Interest and ability to work with youth as well as the issues and
decisions they may face
-ability to listen supportively
- ability to work independently

FMI contact Taylor Epstein: TaylorE@jfcs.org

Art, Dance, Martial Arts... can you teach these?

2006-12-13T08:19:00.000-08:00

Art, Dance, Martial Arts Instructors for Youth
St. John's Tutoring Center is a youth development and enrichment program
serving students at Marshall Elementary School at 15th and Capp.

We are looking for instructors to direct mixed-age groups of 10 to 14
students on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:40 to 4:40 for 10
week cycles. the next cycle begins 1/9/07. Instructors are responsible for
creating and directing their own lessons. We offer a stipend of $25 per
class hour and up to $100 for materials.

All instructors need to be fingerprinted by the DOJ. St. John's will
arrange and pay for fingerprinting.

If you are still interested please email me with a description of your
experience (no experience is needed, we're looking for folks who love
toshare their knowledge with kids) and an idea of the type of class you
would be interested in leading.

I look forward to hearing from you.
John Pabst
Assistant Director
St. John's Tutoring Center at Marshall Elementary
jgpabst@sjetc.org

Volunteer anyone?

2006-11-27T17:45:00.000-08:00

From Taylor Epstein: TaylorE@jfcs.org
Jewish Family and Childrens' Services of San Fran seeks volunteers for:

POSITION #1:
Math Tutor at After school Program for Elementary School Students
Spend your time volunteering with elementary school students, tutoring, hanging out, mentoring and making a difference! Volunteers work with elementary school students in a group setting, providing supportive friendship, encouragement, guidance and academic assistance. Just a few hours a week can help students succeed at home, at school and with their friends. The elementary school program takes place at Hebrew Academy, on Tuesdays from 4-5pm.

Job duties include:
- tutor youth in math, in a group setting
- listen attentively and enjoy matters of common interest
- maintain monthly records if time spent with mentee
- abide by the agency confidentiality policy

Skills
- Interest and ability to work with youth as well as the issues and decisions they may face
- ability to listen supportively
- ability to work independently
- experience tutoring
- listen attentively and enjoy matters of common interest

POSITION #2:
Volunteer at After school Program for High School Students

Program Description:

Spend your time volunteering with high school students, tutoring, hanging out, mentoring and making a difference!

Volunteers work with high school students in a group setting, providing supportive friendship, encouragement, guidance and academic assistance. Just a few hours a week can help students succeed at home, at school and with their friends.

The high school program takes place at the JFCS Teen Space from 3:30-6:30 two days a week, where there are computers, reference books, and materials available. Teen Program Staff will also be assisting students.

Volunteers are screened, trained and committed to working with the program for at least one afternoon per week for a minimum for six months.

Job duties include:
- tutor teens in a group setting during the designated "drop in hours"
- listen attentively and enjoy matters of common interest
- assist with school work, SAT prep (verbal or math), college essays
- maintain monthly records if time spent with mentee
- abide by the agency confidentiality policy

Skills
- Interest and ability to work with youth as well as the issues and decisions they may face
- ability to listen supportively
- ability to work independently
- experience tutoring high school students
- listen attentively and enjoy matters of common interest

POSITION #3:
Mentor Children with Disabilities at JFCS

Spend your time volunteering with youth who have disabilities by tutoring, hanging out, mentoring and making a difference! Volunteers mentor 8-18 year olds in one-on-one matches, providing supportive friendship, encouragement, guidance and academic assistance. Just one hour a week of mentoring can help mentees succeed at home, at school and with their friends. Volunteers are screened, trained and committed to working with a mentee for at least one hour per week for a minimum for six months.

Job duties include:

-visit with a mentee once a week to provide companionship
-listen attentively and enjoy matters of common interest
-assist with school work as arranged
-maintain monthly records if time spent with mentee
-abide by the agency confidentiality policy

Required Skills:

- volunteers must have experience working with children or adults with disabilities
- Interest and ability to work with youth as well as the issues and decisions they may face
-ability to listen supportively
- ability to work independently

Gelt without Guilt (or maybe less guilt?)

2006-11-27T17:26:00.000-08:00

From the homies:

Gelt . . . Without Guilt! Does the holiday frenzy and focus on consumerism get you down? Join us to prepare for a joyful, socially-conscious holiday season. Come browse fair trade and sweatshop-free gifts, taste delicious organic latkes (with recipes to take home), and reflect on how Jewish ethical traditions can help us have a meaningful Chanukah. Date: Wednesday, November 29th Time: Doors open at 6:30 p.m., program begins at 7 p.m. Location: 2736 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. Lehrhaus Judaica Reutlinger Center Rabbi Bridget Wynne will facilitate a brief discussion connecting social justice, Jewish values, and ethical consumerism. Following the discussion you will have a chance to browse and purchase gifts (at a discount) from local and online fair trade stores, so we suggest that you bring some gelt to get your holiday shopping done early! Beautiful artisan wares and fair trade food will be on site from Global Goods Partners, World of Good, Global Exchange, Thanksgiving Coffee, and others. Sponsored by the AJWS and AVODAH Alumni Partnership, Progressive Jewish Alliance, JGate, and 510: Calling All East Bay Jews.

Looking for Staff for Jewish Teenage Retreats

2006-11-06T10:50:00.000-08:00

A message from good friend Danny Blum - who lives in the East Bay Moishe House:

RETREAT STAFF NEEDED!

Wish you could go to summer camp all year round? Need some extra cash? Want to make a difference in the lives of Bay Area teenagers?

We’ve got a job for you!

The Center for Jewish Living and Learning (CJLL) is hiring Midrasha retreat staff for this coming academic year. Jewish high school students from across the East Bay attend four Shabbat retreats over the course of the year to complement their weekly in-class learning.

We are seeking enthusiastic and hard-working individuals with a strong Jewish background and experience with teens to join our fantastic team. Prior camp or retreat experience preferred.

Staff must be able to commit to staffing all 4 retreats on at least one of the following tracks:

Etgar (9th grade) weekends

Dec 8 - 10

Feb 23 - 23

April 13 - 15

May 4 - 6

And/Or:

Kesher (10th-12th grade) weekends

Nov 17 - 19

Feb 2 - 4

March 16 - 18

April 27 - 29

The retreats are held at beautiful Camp Loma Mar, off highway 1 between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. Retreats take place Friday afternoon from about 4 pm until Sunday at noon. Staff members are also compensated for attending a mandatory staff meeting before each retreat.

Staff must be age 21 or older.

Salary is competitive and based on experience and education.

Please send a resume and letter of interest to toba@jfed.org

Toba Strauss

Director of Youth Services

Center for Jewish Living and Learning

300 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610

phone: 510-839-2900 x234

fax: 510-839-3996

www.jfed.org

Travel with other Jewish Young Adults to Mexico!!

2006-10-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

Travel with an American Jewish World Service Bay Area service
delegation to the Yucatan, Mexico this January!

Join other members of your Bay Area Jewish community to experience:
*Service-working in a community development project with Mayan
peasants to promote environmental sustainability, food
self-sufficiency, and the advancement of the integration of women in
the economy
*Study-learning about social justice within a Jewish framework
*Cross-cultural exchange-living, working and playing with a local
community
*Community-building and embracing a pluralistic Jewish community

This will be a trip of a lifetime... learn more today!!
Trip dates are from January 1-8, 2007
Trip cost is $1150 (excluding airfare)

For more information, please contact Mollie Schneider (415) 751-2541,
ext. 124 or at mschneider@emanuels f.org . To learn more about American
Jewish World Service, visit their website at www.ajws.org. This
delegation is being sponsored by the Young Adult Community of
Congregation Emanu-El.

Building a Network for Social Change

2006-09-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

The Network for Social Change is a new venture of the Forest Foundation designed to provide seed money of up to $10,000 to young social entrepreneurs between ages 18 to 25 who are passionately committed to projects of social change. The Network for Social Change is a devoted community of social change activists armed with a passion for great ideas that benefit local, national, and international communities.
What's the general idea?

Do you have an innovative idea to benefit the community? Need money to implement it? Apply for a grant with the Network for Social Change for an opportunity to better yourself and communities around you.

When is the application deadline? What is the process like?

We are currently looking to sponsor four Directors/Projects in our first round of applications. The deadline for submitting the app is October 15th 2006, and available online at http://www.theforestfoundation.net. The application is SIMPLE, logical and not complicated whatsoever.

What types of projects are you looking for?

The Network generally, but not only, seeks projects with focus on:

Social Change Environment and Sustainability Diversity, gender equality Peace and conflict resolution Youth and Adolescents
Homeless Gentrification and clean-up Religion, Culture and Traditions Learning and teaching cooperatives Parent education / Family development
The Network for Social Change seeks sustainable, endurable projects that produce marked and measured change for specific groups and sectors in society. The Network does not sponsor pending projects, but those that are "ready to go," and have proven to need financial assistance.

All Directors must be ready to submit or participate in:

Monthly project reports and budget updates

Network conference calls every 2 weeks, and 1:1 calls throughout your involvement

Two all-expenses paid Network retreats focusing on teambuilding, project development, and personal growth. The first retreat will take place in mid November. (I would have a date if there is one). May want to wait until two rounds have passed before having the first retreat.

Periodic readings and discussions
Website: http://www.theforestfoundation.net/network.html

If you'd like more information regarding the network or want to apply, please contact:

Aaron Small - aaron@theforestfoundation.net

Social justice Jewish fellowship

2006-09-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a great Jewish social justice fellowship that
you may be interested in applying for - applications
are due Oct 15th!
==
"And seek the well-being of the city in which you
dwell...for in its peace you shall find peace." -
Jeremiah 29.7

PJA is thrilled to announce the launch of our Jeremiah
Federation Fellowship in the Bay Area! The Jeremiah
Federation Fellowship educates a select cohort of
young adult Jews about PJA’s unique vision of Jewish
social justice and engages them in meaningful
activism. After two successful years in Los Angeles,
and with the generous support of the Jewish Community
Endowment Fund of the Jewish Federation of San
Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, a
Bay Area Jeremiah Federation Fellowship cohort will
start in January 2007. We will be accepting
applications until October 15th.

The Jeremiah Fellowship aims to educate a small cohort
of Jews in their twenties about PJA’s unique vision of
Jewish social justice and to engage them in meaningful
activism. The Fellowship instills the next generation
of Jewish professionals and leaders with PJA’s brand
of Jewish social justice and helps them become
effective and informed progressive community leaders
and activists; it expands the leadership vision of
participants, deepens their Jewish social justice
values, and provides them with a progressive Jewish
context and community for their activism.

**Help us find creative and dynamic young Jews to
become part of this exciting project.** For more
information about the Jeremiah Federation Fellowship,
testimonials from past participants, and an
application, visit www.pjalliance. org.

Pesach Rocks the House!!!

2006-04-18T09:19:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday Moishe House SF had a few exciting firsts. One, we hosted our first Seder. Two, thirty five people attended the Seder, which officially makes it the largest house event for the year. Three, the Seder was the first event to be hosted at Moishe House, and organized by a non-house member.

Seth Mazow who has been coming to Shabbat and such since January stepped up big time to promote an event that he really wanted to happen. He really was the driving force; creating a wiki for people to register food for the pot luck, cooking a few dishes including an intoxicating charoset, personally inviting the majority of attendees, and setting up an online open source Hagadda for us to create our own Seder. Big props to Seth for blazing the trail for the rest of you who might want to organize an event at Moishe House. It is here for you!

!!!!Up Coming Events!!!!

Wednesday April 18th - Movie Night - This Wednesday at 8pm MoHouse will be viewing the 2002 Pedro Almodovar drama "Habla con Ella (Talk to Her)". Almodovar is also well known in recent years for "Todo Sobre mi Madre (All About My Mother)" (1999) and "La Mala Educacion (Bad Education)" (2004). MoHouse will provide snacks and comfortable seating, all you have to do is come.

Tuesday April 25th - Yiddish Class - Pesach really stuck its nose in there and messed up our flow, but next Tuesday at 7:30pm we are getting back on track. If you are looking to join the class have no fear, we are all beginners and many of us don't even read Hebrew. We have a great teacher and a friendly class.

Wednesday April 26th - Yom Hashoah Dinner with Young Adults and Survivors - It's not too late - you can still reserve your spot at the Moishe House table for Congregation Adath Israel's dinner for young adults and holocaust survivors. The synagogue's young rabbi ( http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/27066/edition_id/519/format/html/displaystory.html) is determined to provide a meaningful experience for young adults on this year's day of remembrance ( http://history1900s.about.com/cs/holocaust/a/yomhashoah.htm).

House resident Isaac Zones will be hosting a table for Moishe House community members and facilitating a conversation between 8 young adults and survivors Harry and Sally Recht - incredible people - over dinner. For more information see the attached flyer. To sign up email isaac@theforestfoundation.net - there are only a few spots left and they're going...

Moishe House rolls harder than rock

2006-04-10T21:40:00.000-07:00

That's right we are hard core to the max! These last weeks have been all about being hardcore!!! Just take our movie night... Royal Tenenbaums! Does it get any more extreme then that! AHHHHHH!!! you thought that was all but that's just because you don't think outside the box. We do! Outside of the TV BOX! That right it was on the wall, and Royal never looked so good. Not to mention Pagoda!

And lets not forget SHABBAT!!! That's right ladies and gentelmen there's no rest on our day of rest. Not only was there COUS COUS for days but we made two TWO lasagnas with get ready for this... ROASTED RED PEPPERS. no...YES!!!!

POKER NIGHT IS OFF THE HOOK. Imagine if you can 10 people in one gaME!!! IT looked like it was never going to end! For all we know it's still going! Only it's not. it ended. The pay outs were HUGE and Amy and Dena made Annie Duke proud by making it be an all women's heads up match. Women kick ass!!! Especially Moishe Women. They are hard core and EXTREME.

We hope you all have a SMASHING SHABBAT!!! Break that fast like a hammer!

As Always
The Moishe House

So Jewish it hurts

2006-03-27T19:12:00.000-08:00

Brady is gassy. And sassy. In fact he is a sassy 57 year old nicaraguan woman. I'm serious, I've seen it. Through his clown school he created a clown character based on a paitient at SF general. When I met her I thought she was imitating Brady.

Poker night has become an impromptu affair. As events wind down those remaining in the house start eyeing the crowd to see what comes next... if theres 4 of us its Spades, if there less its karaoke across the street or movies, but whenever we've got a respectable crowd it seems to be poker night. Miriam needs to buy a new needle for her record player so we can return to the cheesy lounge atmosphere that our record collection brings to the table.

A few nights ago during the final 2 minutes of a NCAA game we heard the doorbell ring. Through her abundantly generous spirit, Miriam offered to miss the end of the game to welcome a guest to the house. Much to her suprise upon opening the door she found a horseshoe of a dozen men gathered around our driveway watching two other men fight each other, occasionally running into the garage door and apparently the doorbell as well. She cut herself off at "H-" when she realized that she was about to welcome to moishe house, several people who never intended to visit And after a brief awkwardness, she shut the door.

A couple of weeks ago, we watched an Army of Darkness take over our entire wall. We are set on projecting movies onto our wall because once you go projected you never go back. So, one movie a month will be huge. This coming month it will be The Royal Tenenbaums.

Challah!

2006-03-13T21:19:00.000-08:00

We had a great Shabbat on Friday. Pasta and song session... who could complain? The Moishe House stood strong at Sunday night's poker game. At 12:00 all had left except for Isaac and Aaron who played heads up until Aaron proved himself victorious!!! March is blowing up so don't miss out. Army of Darkness on Wednesday on the big screen (well wall actually). Our first ever Game Night, and Yiddish, Yiddish, Yiddish!

Shabbat rocks the House!!!

2006-02-27T21:51:00.000-08:00

Shabbat rocks the house at Moishe House, but check out what is going on now. It was an action packed week at Moishe House. Yiddish and movies and books... oh my. Yes it is true, Moishe House is filling a regular repertoire of monthly and weekly activities. Yiddish Revival classes with Devon Strolovitch will continue bi-monthly on Tuesdays so stay tuned to emails and check out our calenda r. Last week's movie of Office Space brought the regular crew and some new folks. As usual it was a lot of laughs and a good time. Finally, the Moishe House Book Club met last Thursday for a pot luck dinner and a discussion of last month's book, The End of Faith by Sam Harris.

"Amedium" gives SF artists an oportunity to support one another

2006-02-21T16:59:00.000-08:00

On the first Tuesday of every month Miriam hosts "Amedium" - an art critique group where artists of all kinds have the opportunity to share their work with other artists and stay up on what's going on in the city. The group is regaining momentum after taking a hiatus through the summer and fall. Miriam's assignment for this month is to create a piece of art and give it to a stranger. When you do - come over and share the experience. The next session of "Amedium" will happen on Tuesday, March 7th. For more information email us: moishehousesf@gmail.com

Poker Night is a growing success

2006-02-15T14:56:00.000-08:00

Ari cleans up, and edges out Brady for the big money at the second Moishe House "All in Motherfucker" poker night.

Lebowski makes cult classic debut

2006-02-15T08:11:00.000-08:00

Wednesday movie nights continue to be a success. Last weeks showing of the Cohen brothers' 1998 tour de force and instant cult classic the Big Lebowski, confirmed our suspicion that people like movies, especially ones that go exceedingly well with cocktails. If you are as excited about the Big Lebowski as we are check out Lebowskifest which is coming up in LA in the first weekend in March.

This Wednesday's viewing of Alfonzo Arau's Like Water for Chocolate promises to provide a delicious post Valentine's Day treat. As always the movie will start "promptly" at 8pm.

If you want to find out about up coming events you can get on our mailing list by sending a request email to moishehousesf@gmail.com or check out our new hotlink to our events calendar on this blog. We hope to update that calendar twice a month.

Young Jews Watching Movies in San Francisco every Wednesday!

2006-02-08T14:25:00.000-08:00

Moishe House SF is now showing movies out of their home every Wednesday! Already having had big turnouts for Wet Hot American Summer and Spaceballs we have The Big Lebowski screening tonight and Like Water For Chocolate due for next wednesday (2/15). The 1st Wednesday of each month will be comedy night, the 2nd will be Cult Classics, the 3rd foreign and the 4th will be viewer request - make your dream movie night happen at Moishe House SF! To get on the mailing list for movie night and all other events email us at moishehousesf@gmail.com
See you for a movie soon!

We're not playing for gelt!

2006-01-24T23:05:00.000-08:00

Poker nights have officially been added to the Moishe House SF repertoire of programs and activities. Last Sunday a small group of "intermediate" to "advanced" players kicked of what is sure to become a popular Moishe House event. The stakes may not be high, but don't tell that Ari, just look at the determination on his face. Stay tuned for future poker nights where we will have games for novices and tournaments for more serious hold'em players.

Art, Movies, Poker, and Jews!!!

2006-01-19T21:50:00.000-08:00

The hottest Jewish community in the Bay Area has kicked off its first programs. Moishe House programs will be piloting this month and early next month. Art critique nights are off and running on the first Tuesday of the month with Miriam. Isaac with the help of Dave Persyko will host Texas hold'em "All in motherfucker" poker nights. This one should really bring the noise. Also, Brady and Aaron will be collaborating on various movie nights both in house and at local theatres. Join them on Monday January 23 at 7pm at the Red Vic to see "Wings of Desire". In that same vein on Thursday January 26 Isaac will be organizing a group to go to the Metreon with $5 discounts only available through Moishe House!

Calling all young Jews in San Francisco!!!

2006-01-10T19:31:00.000-08:00

Lookout young San Francisco Jews. Moishe House San Francisco is officially here! The fun loving quartet of Miriam, Isaac, Brady and Aaron are taking the young Jewish community of SF by storm. With their cozy spot in the heart of the Mission District (30 Cunningham Place), they have already hosted a Hanukkah party for 20, Shabbat dinner for 25 - in conjunction with the missionminyan.org -, and of course super-Jewish and campy movie night showing the one, the only, Wet Hot American Summer. Highlights thus far have been Brady's Hanukkah grab bag gift, "The Color of Ecstacy, Erotic Love Skills" on VHS and of course an epic camp-style fraylach with Isaac on guitar. More fun is just around the corner so stay tuned and drop us a line at moishehousesf@gmail.com to get on the hottest mailing list in town.