GBIO Healthcare Webinar, Tikkun on Tap: October, Community Sukkot Party

Greetings Moishe Kavodniks,

We hope all of you had a meaningful Yom Kippur and a delicious Break the Fast this past weekend. As you all may have noticed, if you’ve been reading these e-mails the days leading up to Yom Kippur are generally a time set aside for self reflection. It is a time when many Jews the world over are focused internally on themselves, on their shortcomings, their priorities, and their relationship with God and the Community. While this sort of internally focused reflection is both growthful and often necessary it can be quite tiring. It’s a good thing then, that Sukkot is right around the corner. Sukkot is a time when we change directions and face outwards towards our friends, our families, our neighbors, and the world. It is a time to invite people into our homes to eat, drink, and celebrate all the goodness that the harvest has to offer. To symbolize this new orientation we build sukkot or small huts which allow us to literally move part of our home into the outside world.

We hope that you all are able to focus this new outward orientation towards not only celebrating with friends and neighbors but also towards living the Moral and ethical priorities that you’ve set for yourself during Yom Kippur. As always we offer many avenues to live your values. If you’ve decided that this year you want to fight for better healthcare, a more sustainable Jewish Community, or the ability to have shame-free truthful conversations around sexuality we have projects for you. If there are other ways you’d like to live your values in this new year, let us know. We’re always here to help you make an impact on the world around you.

Featured Events

Community Sukkot Party – Don’t dwell on it – dwell IN it! Join us this Sunday, October 16th from 5-9 pm and celebrate in and decorate our sukkah, and enjoy and evening of music, food, learning, lulav shaking, and other fun. We’ll have plenty of stuff to eat, but please BYOB.

GBIO Healthcare Webinar – Are you interested in learning about and supporting the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization’s Healthcare Cost Control Campaign, but don’t know where to start? Join Moishe Kavod’s GBIO Team, along with TBZ leaders and JOI Fellows, to learn about the ins and outs of our health care system at one of GBIO’s Regional Webinar Viewings and House Meetings on Wednesday October 26th from 7-9pm.

Tikkun on Tap – Who was your favorite teacher when you were growing up and why? This October, our monthly networking and learning bar night is focusing on the issue of education reform. We’re joined by a couple representatives of the Boston Teacher’s Union who will be bringing a unique perspective to a number of complex issues. Tuesday October 25th 7:30-9:30 pm.

Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan – We are having our 1st Rosh Chodesh meeting and New Moon Gathering of the year at the end of October, date TBA. Any women or female identified people who want to join us to learn, create, and celebrate the new month are welcome. We’d love to see many new and familiar faces so if you are interested in our New Moon Gatherings in general and have not gotten e-mails from newmoonkavod@gmail.com, please email us to get on the mailing list

Other Announcements

Want to Use Our Sukkah? – Want to fulfill the commandment to eat outside but missing your own sukkah? Our Community Sukkah is open to the public, October 12th-18th. Enjoy dinner in the beautiful Moishe Kavod Sukkah. You must reserve time and space to make use of our sukkah, but once you do, the sukkah is yours from 5 pm – 9 pm. Click here to sign up, space is limited. Please bring your own dinner (vegetarian only).

We wish you the best in turning outwards to the world and hope we can be a part of your new year!

In Peace,

Aaron Gunning, Tslil Shtulsaft, Annie Fox, and Helen Bennett

Community Calendar

Sunday October 16, 2011 -
Sex Ed Team Faciliator Training, 1:30-4:30 pm
Community Sukkot Party 5-9 pm
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 – Benefit Planning Meeting, 7-9 pm
Friday, October 21, 2011 – Shabbat Service and Potluck 6:30 pm
Tuesday October 25, 2011 – Tikkun on Tap 7:30-9:30 pm
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 – GBIO Healthcare Webinar 7 pm

Well Moishe Kavodniks,

This is it. Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe. Last chance to be written down in the book of life before it gets sealed til next year. For some of you, this means that God is literally writing down your name. For others, perhaps it means you are writing your own name in a metaphorical book of life by committing to living fully and according to your highest ideals. Whatever your belief, soon many of us will stand in the waning light of the autumn sun and recite the ancient words of Ne’ilah, Yom Kippur’s concluding service. “What are we? What is our life? What is our piety? What is our virtue? What is our salvation? What is our strength? What is our accomplishment? What shall we say before You, O Lord our God and God of our ancestors?”

Well, what will we say, whether to God or to our fellow human beings, when we are confronted with that which is wrong? When faced with unjust foreclosure, the threat of sexual violence, or callous indifference towards workers and the environment, will we say that we are too busy to get involved? That we’re not strong enough to help? That this was not our fight? Or will we make a firm declaration, when all is said and done? The buck stops here! This is our responsibility! We will stand up and we will do something!

That’s a pretty heavy line of questioning, no? Fortunately for you, the book of life is never really closed and The Moishe Kavod House always has opportunities for you to get involved and stand up for what’s right. Take a look at our featured events and get started writing yourself down the in Book of Life.

*First a Note to Our Members – As Yom Kippur approaches, it is time to think about how you will be contributing to our community in the coming year. Please take a moment to fill out this short time commitment form by October 12th to help us ensure that everyone does their part to make our community personally meaningful and politically powerful!

Featured Events
Yom Kippur Breakfast – Come join us as the sun sets on Yom Kippur. and we communally break the fast. This Saturday October 8th, 8 pm. Bagels never tasted so good! Food will be provided.
Sukkah Decorating – Please join us on Sunday, October 9, 3:00 – 5:30 as we build our very own Sukkah in the Sky and create colorful recycled decorations, which our community will use to adorn the Sukkah during the party on the 16th.
Sukkot Party – Don’t dwell on it – dwell IN it! Come celebrate in our sukkah, and enjoy and evening of music, food, learning, lulav shaking, and other fun. Food will be provided, but please BYOB. Sunday, October 16 from 5-7 pm
SojoCoCo Kick Off – If you’re a new leader or a seasoned veteran, we encourage one and all who are interested in helping Moishe Kavod House to build it’s power and become an effective force for social justice within the Jewish community and without to attend this meeting. Join us Monday, October 9th at 5 pm for discussion and training around campaign planning and Moishe Kavod’s ten year strategic plan.
GBIO Healthcare Webinar – Are you interested in learning about and supporting the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization’s Healthcare Cost Control Campaign, but don’t know where to start? Join Moishe Kavod’s GBIO Team, along with TBZ leaders and JOI Fellows, to learn about the ins and outs of our health care system at one of GBIO’s Regional Webinar Viewings and House Meetings on Monday October 24th from 7-9pm.
Tikkun on Tap – Who was your favorite teacher when you were growing up and why? This October, our monthly networking and learning bar night is focusing on the issue of education reform. We’re joined by a couple representatives of the Boston Teacher’s Union who will be bringing a unique perspective to a number of complex issues. Tuesday October 25th 7:30-9:30 pm.

Community Allies Events

Little Bride – Check out this world premiere song and story event that follows a Jewish mail order bride on her journey into the American West. TONIGHT Tuesday October 4, 2011 at Middlesex Lounge in Cambridge.
Jewish Identity Focus Group – Want to make a few bucks and help provide valuable information on Jewish identity and continuity? The Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies is conducting a focus group in Brookline on Wednesday October 5th. Interested? E-mail Dina Bleckman at bleckman@brandeis.edu for more information.

We at Moishe Kavod of wish everyone an easy and meaningful fast this weekend and all the best in your efforts to inscribe yourself in the book of life.

Shana Tova,

Aaron Gunning, Annie Fox, Helen Bennett, Tslil Shtulsaft

Upcoming Events

Saturday, October 8, 2011 – Break the Fast, 8pm
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Sukkah Decorating – 3 pm
Farm to Shul Meeting – 7 pm
Monday October 10, 2011 – SoJoCoCo Kick Off 5 pm
Sunday October 16, 2011
Sex Ed Team Facilitator Training 1:30 pm
Sukkot Party 5 pm
Friday October 21, 2011 – Shabbat/Simchat Torah 6:30 pm
Monday October 24, 2011 – GBIO Webinar
Tuesday October 25, 2011 – Tikkun on Tap

Greetings Moishe Kavodniks,

It’s time to dust off your rams’ horns and finish perfecting your honey cake recipe because Rosh HaShana begins this Wednesday at sunset! Yes the wait is over and the new year has officially arrived! Tremble, shake, and gasp, for Days of Awe are upon us!!!

Ah, but that’s so serious and even sort of scary in its tone. The temptation at this time of year is go for the grandiose, to remind people that this is their last opportunity to repent, to find wholeness, to re-commit themselves to those things that are most important, and to stand before G-D and the community with a clean conscience and pure heart, but it seems quite likely that you’ve heard enough of this by now. Rather as we head into the lunar year 5772, let us simply remind ourselves to do something to bring some sweetness into our lives. Let us make time for family and friends, go for a walk outside while we still can, or just bake something tasty and start our new year off with joy and the sweet taste of honey on our lips.

Our hope is of course that you mind find some of that sweetness, whether it be in the company of warm and nurturing community or in lovingly crafted baked goods, or even in standing up for what’s right, here at Moishe Kavod. Hopefully you may even find it in this week’s featured events.

Featured Events

Sukkot Planning Meeting – Want to help bring some sweetness to others? It’s not too late! Join us TONIGHT Tuesday September 27th at 7:30 pm to plan our community Sukkot Celebration.
Reflection and Healing Tashlich – Cast of the transgressions, doubts, and “coulda, shoulda, wouldas” of the past year and envision a hopeful and joyous year to come with guided reflection, singing, and a potluck picnic. Join us this Thursday afternoon September 29th at 4:00.

Tashlich Through Action – Join MKH and Workmen’s Circle this Friday 9/30 at 3 pm for a Tashlich ritual that will culminate in taking action. We will join hundreds of other Bostonians in raising our voice against the banks and businesses that are bankrupting our communities in the Right to The City Action!

SoJoCoCo Kick-Off Meeting - I believe a wise man once said “First you get the sugar, then you get the money, then you get the power…”. Actually that may have been Homer Simpson. Regardless it just goes to show, how sweet a thing power can be when its leveraged to achieve justice. Do you care about building power for Moishe Kavod House so that we can be an advocate for justice inside and outside the Jewish community? Join us on Monday October 9th to get involved in Moishe Kavod’s Social Justice Coordinating Committee.

Community Allies Announcements

Jewish Identity Focus Group – Want to make a few bucks and help provide valuable information on Jewish identity and continuity? The Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies is conducting a focus group in Brookline on Wednesday October 5th. Interested? E-mail Dina Bleckman at bleckman@brandeis.edu for more information.

Limmud Boston Proposals - Are you a teacher, scholar, or just have something interesting you’d like to share with the Boston Jewish Community? Yes? Limmud Boston needs you! Limmud Boston is a community wide day of Jewish learning for all ages coming this December and they’re looking for people just like you to be presenters and teachers. Click the link to check out their website for more information.

Boston Maccabi Rugby Club - Interested in representing the Boston Jewish Community in the rough and tumble world of competative rugby? E-mail Alex Goldman at alexjgoldstein@gmail.com

We wish you sweetness and joy as you begin your new year!

Shana Tova u’Mtukah
(A Happy and Sweet New Year)

Aaron Gunning, Tslil Shtulsaft, Annie Fox, Helen Bennett

Upcoming Events

Tuesday September 27, 2011 – Sukkot Planning Meeting at 7:30 pm
Thursday September 29, 2011 – Reflection and Healing Tashlich 4:00 pm
Friday, September 20, 2011 – Tashlich Through Action 3:00 pm
Thursday, October 6, 2011 – Membership Team Meeting 6:30 pm
Sunday, October 9, 2011 -
Farm to Shul Meeting 7:00 pm,
Monday, October 10, 2011 – SoJoCoCo Kick-Off Meeting 7:00 pm

Thanks so much for your contribution to Moishe Kavod House! If you have questions, email moishekavoddevelopment@gmail.com.

Best,
The MKH Team

Shalom, Moishe Kavod!

I am writing in my capacity as the new communications chair, and outgoing housemate.  Thank you for six amazing years, and thank you to Lauren Jacobson Spokane (outgoing communications chair) for all of her great work.

I wanted to let you know that we are in the process of updating the website, after a bunch of communications team folks conducted a web-audit.  See http://www.kavodhouse.com/about/media/ for our new-and-improved media page, with more articles coming in the next few weeks.  If you have suggestions for ways to improve the website, please send them Lauren, who has generously offered to finish this process from Seattle, at laurenspokane@gmail.com.

If you have other communications questions or comments, please direct them to me -margieklein1@gmail.com, and for general comments or questions, please email moishehouseboston@gmail.com.

Best,
Rabbi Margie Klein, Moishe Kavod Founder and Communications Chair

Calling all Moishe Kavod House Members!  We are less than two weeks away from our 3rd Annual Membership Meeting!  We will be gathering to take a bird’s eye view of where we’re at and how far we’ve come, discuss our visions for our community’s future, contribute all of our voices to strengthen Moishe Kavod House.   The fun begins on Sunday, March 6th at 4:00pm – meeting will conclude by 6:00pm and dinner will be served at that time.  RSVP to MKH Membership Chair Jill Lofchie at jill_lofchie@yahoo.com.

AND, of course, as we look forward to our 3rd annual membership meeting, it is now time to affirm our commitment to Moishe Kavod by RENEWING or JOINING the Moishe Kavod House and encouraging others in our community to become a member.  To those who have recently joined or renewed, thanks and Mazel tov!  If you haven’t, please go to www.kavodhouse.com/resources/membership and fill out the MK membership form to share or update your information, then click “Donate” to pay via PayPal. You can also send a check to the house c/o Alix Zamansky, 165 Winthrop Rd. Apt. B, Brookline, MA 02445.  Feel free to contact  jill_lofchie@yahoo.com if you have any questions.

We’re thrilled that Repair the World has highlighted Andrew Cohen, Moishe Kavod friend and ally, and his work joining with us to support City Life/Vida Urbana through the recent benefit concert featuring his band, Hot Molasses.  See the interview on Repair’s blog here: http://werepair.org/blog/repair-interview-andrew-cohen-and-hot-molasses-rock-out-for-justice/5174

Remember to vote Tuesday November 2!
Click here to find out who is on your ballot and where your polling place is.

All other elections information can be found here.

Remember to vote NO on Ballot Questions 1,2 and 3 to preserve essential state and local services and support new affordable housing!

Deval Patrick event RESCHEDULED until Monday, Sept. 6, 2pm – more seats now available!

Dear Moishe Kavod Community,

Due to Hurricane Earl, Gov. Patrick has had to reschedule his visit to Moishe/Kavod House until the following day, Monday, September 6th, at 2pm.

People who had already RSVP’ed to the event have first priority, but we believe we will now have an extra 15-20 spaces for folks who were unable to come Sunday.  If you would like to come, please RSVP asap.

Warm regards,
The Moishe Kavod House Residents and Board