Week of Feb 20th- 26th
Mindy's parents were in for the week so she moved into the apartment they were renting with them. Monday they came with us to Yad V'Shem, the Jerusalem Holocaust Memorial Museum. Our guide was none other than Hanoch Teller. When I was going around on my own afterward, it trully hit me how lucky we were to have that privilage. A guide I had stopped to listen to was giving a detailed analogy of all the art in the museum, who designed it, and their lives.Its scary to think that the guide really shapes your way of thinking about the entire meseum- and the holocaust itself. Whereas we heard facts and true stories (survivor accounts) of what happened during the holocaust- coupled with all the pictures and evidence being presented in the glass cases and exhibits of the museum.
For most people, not surprisingly, I think the most moving part was the children's memorial- even though it presented no facts or stories, had no pictures and no evidence. It was a stone buiding. Inside is dark with a walk way suspended half way through a huge empty room aside from the whole middle being a giant glass case. Inside it and on the walls were thousands of candles seemingly suspended in mid air. One candle per child that was documented murdered in the holocaust. Resonating through this stone building was a deep male voice slowly speaking out the name age and country of every child- one by one. Going across the catwalk took less than 3 minutes but just about everyone who came out of there had tears in their eyes.
Tuesday I crashed Mindy's apartment for the night just to get out of the dorm, and Wednesday night her parents took her, me and my roommate out for dinner at Rimon. It was a beautiful evening and I had a great time.
This past Shabbos I was in Maalei Amos with Leora Gershaw and family. Of course I had a beautiful, relaxing shabbos together with them and look forward to going again.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
How Many Balloons....
Week of Feb 6th- 12th
Monday night we had a Mechanchos Supper at my teachers house in Ramat Shlomo.
That Shabbos I also stayed in the dorm. There were only about 4 other girls there this time though.
Week of Feb 13th- 19th
Monday night I went to Karaoke with Mindy which is always fun.
Wednesday, Shalom Task Force came to speak to us. For most of you Michigan people, you have no idea what this is. But its pretty recognized in NY. STF is an awareness program for Domestic Abuse. They help and aid frum women in abusive marriages all over the east coast. They also put together informative and preventive programs for single women who are either dating or even not yet. They focus on recognizable signs of manipulation and that sort of thing. I found the program very interesting, and overall it wasn't at all extreme or assuming. Just down to earth and real.
That night me and bunch of the gals stayed up blowing up balloons and stuffing them into Rabbi Meisels office. 500 balloons wasn't enough to fill it to the door so we started with a balloon wall and tape and then worked toward the door. In random balloons we put water, rice, flour, confetti, and beans. Also we made faces and pictures on the balloons. The madricha made a Baloon Rabbi Meisels and put it on his chair, so that when he broke through all the balloons he would see it. We wrote P'ninim Purim Katan in Balloons on the wall behind his desk too.
We closed the light and left a safety pin on his door. When he came into school the next day (the day before Purim Katan b/c there is no school on Fridays) me and one other girl were sitting outside the office (a common place to be for most students) as if to be waiting to speak to him. When he unlocked the door but couldn't open it, we were right behind him with the video cameras. So we have a full 15 minute video of Rabbi Meisels trying to break through the balloons with the safety pin. The whole thing was a riot and we all had a lot of fun doing it!!
That Shabbos was a Shabbaton in Kommimius (a Chassidish Kibutz). The girls were absolutely enthralled with the scene around us- all the Yoelli's on tractors :P
The theme was Tov LeHodos LaHashem and Gam Zu LeTovah.
Okay, all in all, it was a beautiful 75 degree sunny shabbos that was just relaxing and inspiring. I gave a 'Dvar Torah' on the Gam Zu LeTovah part of the theme during Shalosh Seudot that I was mucho not prepared for. No but I really wasn't... I had zilcho written down. I just had printed out a few pages on the subject from chabad.org and Aish.com... and asked people for some stories over shabbos. It ended up being more like a 15 minute shiur because I had so many cool things to say even without the stories.
Like the whole concept of the Tes for Tovah. If i'm correct its the first Tes in the torah, and just like the Ches represents a marriage, the Tes represents the child in the womb- inner goodness that is hidden. The idea being that all is good but goodness is not necessarily revealed or known to man. Just like to Moshe's request for G-d to reveal Himself- He answered "You may see My back, buy My face- that you will not see"- I believe its the Ksav Sofer who says that Hashem was telling Moshe a rule- in hindsight (at the end of days) you will know why I've done all that I do, but foresight was not given over to man. And I told a few stories about knowing that even when something is bad... and it stays bad... and its not going to change- it too is intrinsically good, whether we can see why or not.
Vacation!!
Week of Feb 1st- 5th
Okay, so the beginning of Feb I was on vacation for a few days. From Tuesday until the next Motzei Shabbos I think.
Wednesday we went on a Tiyul to Rosh HaNikrah. We went on Cable cars, a small hike, some caving, and saw a cool presentation on the formation of the mountain. We also went ice skating. It was just about the worst ice rink i had ever have ever been on but nobody died I guess. Had to hold back on most of my tricks though :) It was a beautiful68 degree day though, right in the middle of the winter.
Thursday night I went with Mindy to Maalei Adumim for the night where we had a little vacation-celebration. lol- i hereby copyright that phrase and officially name it the korniest line of the year ;)
That Shabbos I stayed in the dorm. Most of the girls did too since the whole week was very tiring.
Okay, so the beginning of Feb I was on vacation for a few days. From Tuesday until the next Motzei Shabbos I think.
Wednesday we went on a Tiyul to Rosh HaNikrah. We went on Cable cars, a small hike, some caving, and saw a cool presentation on the formation of the mountain. We also went ice skating. It was just about the worst ice rink i had ever have ever been on but nobody died I guess. Had to hold back on most of my tricks though :) It was a beautiful68 degree day though, right in the middle of the winter.
Thursday night I went with Mindy to Maalei Adumim for the night where we had a little vacation-celebration. lol- i hereby copyright that phrase and officially name it the korniest line of the year ;)
That Shabbos I stayed in the dorm. Most of the girls did too since the whole week was very tiring.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Production!!!!
Okay so there is not much to say about the days leading up to production other than that i practiced all day, and that my best friend here is AMAZING! She always knew when I just needed to get out of the building and would take me for a coffee or for some fun night out where I had to get dressed up..... <3 u Mins! I was really nervous the few days before the play because its a really funny script with some really funny actresses and I was having a hard time staying in character and not laughing. I was one of the only parts that COULD NOT laugh. I told the director that I couldn't do this part like a day before the play and she told me that I was doing it and that I wasn't going to laugh. Well, I guess she was half right. I think I laughed half the play behind my hand. Luckily nobody realized.
First observation of mine, I looked like a witch in my costume and makeup. I used base from the summer and it was like 4 shades darker than i am now. So I looked like an indian witch due to the excess of stage makeup. Apparently on stage it didn't look quite so witchy. Although I'm not sure I believe the directors anymore... I spent an hour before play getting into character. Everyone who wished me good luck, I looked them straight in the eyes and with a cold unfeeling stare said, "Thank You, but I'm fine."
I don't know, in the actual play I felt like I didn't know my lines... like i was laughing the whole time... like I was always late for my scene... like the 6 outfits I had to switch between were too confusing (even though i had an awesome personal dresser)... like my solo was too high pitched... all in all, it happened.
From everyone elses perspective on the other hand... It was AMAAAAZING! Apparently it was one of the best plays that P'ninim has ever put on. and Apparently more than a few people asked my teachers if I was a professionally trained actress who is a baal teshuvah. and Apparently, more than a lot of people asked my teachers if I was really as evil and snobby and obnoxious as my character in the play. and Apparently one of my teachers went around telling everyone that the part of the character I relate to and exemplify is the nobility part. lol....... all the attention I got afterward was driving me crazy and I don't even know why. But whatever, that's the end of that story anyways.
We had a cast party at like 10:00 in the morning and watched a slideshow and ate salad and junk and played a trivia game that the teachers made up..... with questions like: who changed clothing the most times during the play? and what line in the play is something you should never believe about yourself? (answer: "Religion, I'm probably bad at it" Sophie. or "But I can't change!" Rosa [Me]) Okay so it was in the morning but at least it was fun.
................and.......................
Cut....... that's a wrap. ;)
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Wello...
no the W is not a mistake ;)
So basically, I had thought i was all caught up and that I would write about Benei Brak shabbos and then get back on schedule... but unfortunetely, the play directors had other plans. But its fine because I didn't do much of anything in the past month besides for hang out with Sarah, practice for the play, um- practice for the play, .....try on my costumes for the play, eeeh- try them on again, practice a bit more for play, OH- and did i mention i've had a few play practices lately?? ;-P
So its not that play directors aren't great, in fact i think we have great ones.... but they do All seem to have this thing agaist eating, sleeping, and ever seeing daylight. :P haha, jokes on u tobi. lol
Oh- and i would like everyone who knows me for at least a year to note the change in the About Me section of my profile. :} u may get a kick out of it.
Okay, so the last thing I remember is Benei Brak Shabbaton which was flippin awesome and starting me seriously thinking about my life and the direction its going.... and i don't think i'll expound upon that concept anymore. :-X lol- nothing to awefully serious. don't worry, i haven't fallen in love with Chassidous or Chabad. Right, after that I spent practically the whole next two weeks with Sarah.... um, the first shabbos after I actually went with a sem friend to her grandmother's-friend's-grandson's Bar Mitzvah. Where we both slept on a half inflated (notice i didn't say half deflated) air mattress. Which wouldn't have been as bad as it sounds if the floor had not been freezing!! lol, no really, i had a really fun time. They were really really sweet people. The next Shabbos I went with Sarah to her cousin's house which was also fun. I got to learn all about a Mezumenet and some other Daati Leumi fun customs...... right and then the rest is all play practice..... which btw- is on MONDAY!!! AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so i'm totally not nervous... whatever. :P
lol- kk. gtg. love u all!! bye!
So basically, I had thought i was all caught up and that I would write about Benei Brak shabbos and then get back on schedule... but unfortunetely, the play directors had other plans. But its fine because I didn't do much of anything in the past month besides for hang out with Sarah, practice for the play, um- practice for the play, .....try on my costumes for the play, eeeh- try them on again, practice a bit more for play, OH- and did i mention i've had a few play practices lately?? ;-P
So its not that play directors aren't great, in fact i think we have great ones.... but they do All seem to have this thing agaist eating, sleeping, and ever seeing daylight. :P haha, jokes on u tobi. lol
Oh- and i would like everyone who knows me for at least a year to note the change in the About Me section of my profile. :} u may get a kick out of it.
Okay, so the last thing I remember is Benei Brak Shabbaton which was flippin awesome and starting me seriously thinking about my life and the direction its going.... and i don't think i'll expound upon that concept anymore. :-X lol- nothing to awefully serious. don't worry, i haven't fallen in love with Chassidous or Chabad. Right, after that I spent practically the whole next two weeks with Sarah.... um, the first shabbos after I actually went with a sem friend to her grandmother's-friend's-grandson's Bar Mitzvah. Where we both slept on a half inflated (notice i didn't say half deflated) air mattress. Which wouldn't have been as bad as it sounds if the floor had not been freezing!! lol, no really, i had a really fun time. They were really really sweet people. The next Shabbos I went with Sarah to her cousin's house which was also fun. I got to learn all about a Mezumenet and some other Daati Leumi fun customs...... right and then the rest is all play practice..... which btw- is on MONDAY!!! AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so i'm totally not nervous... whatever. :P
lol- kk. gtg. love u all!! bye!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Lol
Okay so this was just a totally random post. The other day I sat down to write down some of the things that I think are either funny or ironic about sem, or about me in sem..... and I figured you would all enjoy something up to date to read. For sure those of you who either know me well, or have been to seminary will laugh at some of these funny things i've listed below.
So, this is for all of you who were wondering about the new me... :D Enjoy!
This year in Seminary....
1) i've learned to not be picky about what i eat... seriously, i've can eat cottage cheese or chumus out of the container... or soups of various thickness and colors- including orange and purple... :)2) i sleep on a matress that is less than 4 in thick with a wooden board underneath.
3) i've learned that despite what everyone has told you- air conditioning is not a necessity, even in 100 degree chamtzins.
4) my room is, surprisingly, warmer in the winter than my room at home ever was. :P
5) I still can't always differenciate between the crying of a cat and a baby
6) I no longer need to hear the words "Ani Tzarich Ezra LaChatzot Et HaKvish" in order to understand that the 3-year-old on the busy street corner wants me to cross him.
7) I still can't bring myself to imagine spending 30-40 shek on a box of cereal when in America we pay 2-4 dollars.
8) I learned that it's possible for ones room to be emaculetely clean for a month straight (even with 4 girls living in it), but as soon as one of us has a hard day and her bed is a mess, Pitom- everybody's space is messed up.
9) i've learned that there is no depression that some blasting jewish music and a manicure party can't cure.
10) Practical advise for life: If your carrying an UZI, they will put you up first for karaoke... and every other time u ask.
11) My dictionary of English words- Buscuit= cookie, Plaits= braids, Fringe= bangs, Knickers= pants, Trainers= sneakers, Dodgy= sketchy. O, and don't ever say bloody... not even if you've just cut yourself and are bleeding everywhere.
12) Being sharp in class only gets u nicknames.... like Bamboo for instance.
13) I can now recognize a Frenchy from a mile away.
14) I've learned that sometimes staying away is the best way to keep someone close.
15) I've come to appreciate rain and bushes
16) I can now understand sentences like- "I love chinked peeks"
okay that's enough for now. hope u enjoyed hearing about the totally true, funky things in my life. So long folks!!
love you all!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The Rest of December
Shabbos of December 11th:
Okay, So Shabbos i went to Ramat Beit Shemesh with a friend and stayed at her old neighbors house. There daughter is in Rachel Factor's seminary for the arts, Midreshes Shmuel. Her and 2 friends also were home for shabbos. It was the first shabbos in a long time that was rainy and slightly chilly. I went to a sem friend for Shalosh Seudos.Then on Motzei Shabbos I went to Rabbi Kahn, my halacha teacher's house for Melave Malka ( a different teacher makes one every motzei shabbos).
Week of December 12th-18th
Monday I was casted as a snobby upper class woman in the production. I got my script and we started practicing soon after.
The next shabbos was an in shabbos. Friday night I ate at Ariella Zilberman's- Sarah E's cousin. On shabbos day after the seuda in the dorm, i took Aviah and Efrat Zilberman to the park. While we were there, 2 chabadnicks came into the park and called all the children to come for a shabbos party. They started to call out passukim of Tehillim and some Pisgamim for the kids to repeat after them. To be honest it looked like a cult, but it was so beautiful. The kids were so excited... and they were screaming out words of Torah, and then at the end the boys (who were only younger twenties probably) gave out candy to all the kids. Afterwards I ate Shalosh Seudos by Ariella again.
Week of December 19th- 25th
Monday we went bike riding at this random bike trail. The trip was a smashing success!!!! ..... A successful disaster that is. :P 4 girls ended up in the ER. Because of all the injuries we lost all our guides one by one until certain groups were left to navigate the trails alone. Me and 9 other girls got lost and ended up in an Arab village. When we started seeing black water tanks and little huts we turned and rode the other way as fast as we could.
Tuesday I went out to dinner with a friend... we bought a pizza and some drinks and sat nearby to eat. the only reason this stands out in my mind was b/c it was the first time i missed tuesday night classes. It wasn't the smartest move, but it gave me a chance to chillax and unwind. specially b/c breaks in schedule don't happen nemore b/c of play practices.
Thursday I went to the Aish Hatorah Cumzitz and then went with my friend to her old sem dorm in Maalei Adeumim for the night.
Friday morning the two of us went from there to Beitar for Shabbos. We stayed at her Israelli cousins' house.
Sunday night a girl in the seminary made a Brachos Party for a Zechus for one of our teachers who doesn't have any children yet.
Monday we went bike riding at this random bike trail. The trip was a smashing success!!!! ..... A successful disaster that is. :P 4 girls ended up in the ER. Because of all the injuries we lost all our guides one by one until certain groups were left to navigate the trails alone. Me and 9 other girls got lost and ended up in an Arab village. When we started seeing black water tanks and little huts we turned and rode the other way as fast as we could.
Tuesday I went out to dinner with a friend... we bought a pizza and some drinks and sat nearby to eat. the only reason this stands out in my mind was b/c it was the first time i missed tuesday night classes. It wasn't the smartest move, but it gave me a chance to chillax and unwind. specially b/c breaks in schedule don't happen nemore b/c of play practices.
Thursday I went to the Aish Hatorah Cumzitz and then went with my friend to her old sem dorm in Maalei Adeumim for the night.
Friday morning the two of us went from there to Beitar for Shabbos. We stayed at her Israelli cousins' house.
Sunday night a girl in the seminary made a Brachos Party for a Zechus for one of our teachers who doesn't have any children yet.
Week of December 26th- 31st
Monday we had the day to prepare for the Benei Brak Shabbaton. At lunch a girl had a seizure in the dorm. A lot of people were really freaked out. I wasn't there and I guess that's what Hashem wanted, but it still bothers me that nobody knew what to do. They told me that not only did nobody know what to do but nobody knew Hatzala's number!!! By the time i found out what was going on, it was all under control. The girl was taken to the hospital, and B"H she is now back in school.
That night I went out with a friend and got the Iced coffee I had been craving for almost 3 weeks. Then we went to all girls karaoke which was basically empty. So we got a lot of chances on stage and had a ton of fun!!
Wednesday Sarah Epstien surprised me. She had told me and everyone who might know me, that she was coming on Thursday just so she could surprise me. lol, boy was i surprised!!!!!! i was on the computer actually and she covered my eyes. The funny thing was that i had just been thinking about her. So i had a feeling it might be her, but i quickly dismissed it. When i turned around and saw her i totally freaked out!!!! For real- i haven't seen her in almost 2 years! Since then i've pretty much been spending all my time divided between class, practice, and sarah.
Thursday night we went to Daniella Jacobowitz's wedding. All you Detroiters know her husband and his family.... Rabbi J's son Shmoo. Afterward we went to stay at Sarah's cousins house in Beit Shemesh for the night. We stayed up basically all night talking, and I left at around 7:00am to catch a bus back to sem in order to be on time to leave with everyone to Benei Brak for our shabbaton.
Monday we had the day to prepare for the Benei Brak Shabbaton. At lunch a girl had a seizure in the dorm. A lot of people were really freaked out. I wasn't there and I guess that's what Hashem wanted, but it still bothers me that nobody knew what to do. They told me that not only did nobody know what to do but nobody knew Hatzala's number!!! By the time i found out what was going on, it was all under control. The girl was taken to the hospital, and B"H she is now back in school.
That night I went out with a friend and got the Iced coffee I had been craving for almost 3 weeks. Then we went to all girls karaoke which was basically empty. So we got a lot of chances on stage and had a ton of fun!!
Wednesday Sarah Epstien surprised me. She had told me and everyone who might know me, that she was coming on Thursday just so she could surprise me. lol, boy was i surprised!!!!!! i was on the computer actually and she covered my eyes. The funny thing was that i had just been thinking about her. So i had a feeling it might be her, but i quickly dismissed it. When i turned around and saw her i totally freaked out!!!! For real- i haven't seen her in almost 2 years! Since then i've pretty much been spending all my time divided between class, practice, and sarah.
Thursday night we went to Daniella Jacobowitz's wedding. All you Detroiters know her husband and his family.... Rabbi J's son Shmoo. Afterward we went to stay at Sarah's cousins house in Beit Shemesh for the night. We stayed up basically all night talking, and I left at around 7:00am to catch a bus back to sem in order to be on time to leave with everyone to Benei Brak for our shabbaton.
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