Timeraiser: Volunteer & do something
Cocktails will be provided ( 2 per registered guest)
The Projects aim is to expose young Jewish Torontonians to social service agencies in the city as a means to engage people in social action efforts and community services. The Projects is a volunteer initiative that strives to provide volunteer opportunities for Jewish young professionals which are meaningful and relevant.
A Timeraiser allows YOU to shop volunteer opportunities. YOU can donate time instead of money to help rebuild this city! The more hours you donate to a cause, the more chances YOU get for winning prizes! The Projects Launch Party- Timeraiser and Volunteer Awards Night- will feature live music and art, heavy refreshments, 2 comped drinks, door prizes, and the awards of course! Click this link to read more: http://feduja.org/theprojects/
These 20 individuals are nominated for their commitment to helping others- To read their full nomination, visit http://feduja.org/theprojects/
Dave Goodman: Big Brother, Jewish Family and Child Services
Gilad Epstein, Jewish Vocational Service
Justin Lebofsky, JACS Toronto
Shayna Nussbaum, JACS Toronto
Evan Pilz, IMPACT TORONTO
Evan Cooperman, IMPACT TORONTO
Oren Tamir, Kehilla Residental Programme
Shael Katz, Reena
Renee Goldenberg, JIAS Toronto
Renee Rosenzweig, Zareinu
Jordan Lubek, The Annex Shul
Elana Metter, The Annex Shul
Jessica Taylor, B.A.C.
Grant Valentine, JUMP
YoelitLipinsky, Mt. Sinai Hospital
Meagan Solomon, Big Sister, Jewish Family & Child Services
Anna Yalkut, Reena
Daniel Steinhart, VeAhavta
David Warshafsky and Eric Kaplovich,Serve 4 Success JIAS Toronto
Purim. Most Jews rank it highly on their list of favorite Jewish holiday celebrations. Who wouldn't love a holiday where it's a Mitzvah to get shikkered? I remember celebrating Purim growing up in Halifax, being the only Jewish kid in my class at public school. My mother always felt it was necessary to teach the class about each Jewish holiday as we celebrated them and insisted on making annual presentations to my class.Of all of my mother's holiday presentations, Purim is the one that resonates the most. I was in grade five when my mom came into my class unannounced dressed in full costume (as Queen Esther), handing out triangular shaped cookies. I remember all of the kids' first reactions, which was an overall look that said, "does your mom know that it's not Halloween?" Nobody actually ever asked though, because my mom's fairytale explanation of the holiday and it's significance to the Jewish people always cleared all the confusion. Since then, around the age of my Bat Mitzvah, Purim has been one of the Jewish holidays that I haven't really celebrated beyond indulging in a few poppy filled Hamantasche. In other words, my 'gregor' has long since been covered in dust. This past weekend I was reminded of the meaning behind this holiday, and although my costume didn't go beyond a feather mask, this year's Purim experience revived my love for this Jewish holiday. Here are a few of my favourite moments from this past weekend, which were undoubtedly experiences that have re-inspired me to get back on the annual Purim celebration train.
Tamara Caplan and Myself
ready for Purim celebrations!
I will drink to that
Community Connect, The House and JUMP set the Purim tone with a Masquerade Shabbos dinner, complete with extra L'chaims, amazing company and Purim stories filled with bits of traditional insight from friends colleagues. Tamara Caplan (Program Director, The House)http://www.thehousetoronto.com/Default.aspx
taught me something new when she explained that Queen Esther (Hadassa, her real name) kept a pocket of seeds on her for sustenance in order to remain kosher while living in the Palace that often served traif. Imagine all theses years I was blindly eating poppy seed humantashen without really knowing the seeds' significance...
The mohn represent the seeds that Esther chose to eat
on her vegetarian diet in a traif court
Shalach manos
I vaguely remember getting "treat bags" as a child on Purim, and wasn't reminded of this tradition until last Wednesday, when my 4 year old nephew Koby came running at me holding a bag of treats he received from Chabad Daycare, yelling "Mishloach Manot!" A few days later when a girlfriend called with an idea, something she likes to refer to as a "project", I was once again reminded of this childhood tradition. I haven't made Misloach manot packages for friends in years, but together my girlfriend and I created and "secretly" delivered 12 hand made Purim packages to our friends late Saturday night and Sunday morning.The mitzvah of giving mishloach manot derives(as it is explained) from the Book of Esther. It is meant to ensure that everyone has enough food for the Purim feast held later in the day, and to increase love and friendship among Jews as a counter to Haman's assertion that the Jewish people are characterized by strife and disunity. We had so much fun deciding what went into each package, including our best find and what I referred to as the 'piece de resistance', a mini bottle ice wine from the LCBO. I can say with confidence that this is a Mitzvah that I will contine to practice for years to come.
One Night with the King
Saturday night was an evening full of Purim party options happening around the city.
While trying to decide with my friends which party to attend, a friend called and suggested we have our own Purim party, and invited us to her place to watch the movie "One Night with the King". We decided this sounded like the most viable option in our state of exhaustion after preparing and delivering all of our Mishloach Manot packages. The movie was a cheese fest to say the least, but was totally worth the watch. It reminded me of the story of Purim and the true meaning behind the holiday, and King Achashverosh wasn't so hard on the eyes either.
It wasn't long ago that I blogged about TribeFest and who I'd hope to see sitting around a poker table...suffice to say non of my hopeful star sightings were spotted. However I did have an incredible time and do feel it is only fair that I share some of my TribeFest Vegas highlights with you.
The Opening Act
Kicking off the weekend we heard from Congresswoman slash breast cancer survivor Debbie Schultz, Aaron Cohen Author of 'Brotherhood of Warriors', The “Hebrew Mamita” Vanessa Hidary, and TV actress Mayim Bialik,
As much as I loved listening to Blossom tell everyone about her Jewish Journey, I am pretty sure she knows as well as I do it's got to suck to have to speak after the "Hebrew Mamita". Vanessa Hildary spit out her signature poem 'Hebrew Mamita' (which I have always been a fan of) but hearing it while surrounded by 2000 Jews from across North America I felt like a "pride filled Jewish girl"...I mean with her as a sister who wouldn't be proud to be Jewish?
Dinner at The Wynn
The first Jewish evening gathering of the weekend was at the Wynn's Surrender Night Club, seems fitting, no? My girl friend and I were hoping for hors d'oeuvres so when we realized it was an un-catered event, we decided drinks on an empty stomach was not the way to go and made our way over to the closet restaurant. Dinner at 'Stratta' on its own did not make the Tribefest Vegas highlight reel however spotting Gary Busey: and either La Toya Jackson or Star Jones (couldn't tell which?) having dinner a few tables away did. Sitting at the back of the restaurant eating ribs with other cast members of what I thought was the cast of Celebrity Rehab (but realized it was Celebrity apprentice, when someone pointed out that rehab in Vegas makes no sense.. ) were the only star sightings I can report of this trip outside of The famous Jews (Blossom and the Hebrew Mamita) attending TribeFest.
The Speech that brought me to my Feet
Have you ever had the opportunity to hear someone speak that was so inspirational you were compelled to jump out of your seat in applause? Alina Gerlovin Spaulding was that someone for me while in Vegas. Alina's story is a miracle story.
The daughter of an Olympic hopeful for the Soviet ski team Alina's family tried unsuccessfully for years to escape the Former Soviet Union. It wasn't until 1979 when, North American Jewish agencies whom I work directly for and which are funded by yours and every Jew at that conference's Jewish federation dollars. stepped up and made it possible for Alina and her family to immigrate to the united States. Her story was personal, emotional and real, she made you feel as thought she was speaking directly to you when she thanked the Jewish people for everything that she has as a result of Jewish Federations support. Alina was a TribeFest Vegas Highlight, she brought me to my feet.
MASH-UPS
If you read my previous Glee blog it shouldn't come as a surprise to you that a Vegas highlight would be something described as a "mash-up" (Mash-up was the eighth episode of the television series Glee.) However as much as it appealed to me because it reminded me of Glee, the Mash-up's in Vegas were the evening social events that took place at the Mandalay Bay for all Tribefest attendees. The Mash-up's make my TribeFest highlight reel because it was where I met some of the coolest Jews (shout out to Dallas) that I may otherwise not have met. The live entertainment and open bar also added to the overall Mash-up enjoyment.
These 20 individuals are nominated for their commitment to helping others- To read their full nomination, visit http://feduja.org/theprojects/
