http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k
http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090908-tows-flash-mob-dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ3d3KigPQM
I am editing this post after watching more of the Flashmob and Improv Group videos. This is my original post:
"I suppose these became famous after Oprah's opening show, but this group has been doing this way before the show. They also do ones where they freeze in supermarkets, grand central station--just stay in one spot. Both kinds are pretty cool in my opinion. I think there is something to be said for the smiles people give when they see this.
Check it out, it's cool."
I feel it is necessary to restate how much I appreciate them. I don't know why I am obbsessing over it (if you're here with me you know I love to watch them over and over again), but I really think that they way they go about making other people happy is totally cool. I know if I were to be stranded in a train station, having missed my train or soaked by the rain or running late for work, seeing a dance like this would totally cheer me up. In fact, I'd be one of the people trying to follow along in the middle of the dance floor.
I am encouraging everyong to DANCE. Wherever you want, however you want...
Shalom, Cheers and Peace
Staci
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
High Holidays, Take One
Rosh Hashana in Jerusalem... woooooow.
Let's rewind.
First, I left on classes on Thursday with a "farewell, L'Shana Tova" toast. It was great... pomegranates, apples and honey, cards. All wonderful (see pics).
By Friday morning I was on a bus on the way to Jerusalem. When we got there, we explored the old city for a while, got lost, and found our way into what I thought was an exit--it was actually the entrance into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We made note of that, and went on our merry way to the Reformed Rabbinical school just a ten minute walk away from one of the most Holy Christian Sites in Jerusalem.
My friend, Rossanna, and I stayed with two first-year HUC students, one cantorial and the other rabbinical. They are just four years older than I am, leading services, and doing exactly what I want to be doing in four years. AND, they are two of the NICEST, FUNNIEST, and WELCOMING people we've met since we've been here.
Friday night we went to services at HUC where we watched Amanda be one of the three cantors, and had the service be lead by "the first female rabbi ever ordained in Israel, ordained in 1992." It was great, a reformed service was JUST what the doctor prescribed for me.
Saturday morning we woke up and went to Hallel, a reformed synagogue in Jerusalem with a female Israeli Rabbi and a Male Cantor who was born in America. Everything was in Hebrew but I was happy to be able to follow along...a combination of improved Hebrew and memorization of the Holy Day prayers. Then lunch with the rabbinical students at one of their apartments, then to Tashlich. This is the ritual where Jews throw breadcrumbs into a running body of water to "cast away their sins," and we looked back on our actions month by month to remember the good times and bad times that occurred in the year. Ending the ceremony with "Eli Eli," I left the park feeling refreshed and ready for my two-hour "Shabbat nap," yes they do exist, and then dinner with the rabbinical students again.
Sunday morning, second day of Rosh Hashana, Rossana and I woke up and went to "The Great Synagogue," a modern orthodox synagogue in the center of Jerusalem. What was cool about this was that their was one Chazzan, Cantor, who lead a 12-male choir and literally read from the Machzor (prayerbook) the entire time. That was the service, and the music sent chills up and down my spine.
After that we went to meet our friend Josh, after dancing in the RAIN ...IT RAINED... and explored the Old City again. First Rossana and I went to the Kotel, Western Wall, and then all of us went back to the Church, this time on purpose. It was a very good experience, and with it being the last day of Ramadan and us in the Arab quarter, we got a taste of all religions!
After a New Year/Shabbat/weekend like that, I can't even explain how weird it is to be back in the desert. But we are going back up to stay with our gracious hosts on Sunday night and I can barely contain my enthusiasm. I even have an excited face just for Yom Kippur!
This time is my all-time favorite part of any year. It is a time of ultimate renewal of body, spirit, and mind. The New Year, in Judaism, is not a time of partying or watching the ball drop, but it is a time of reflection on the past year and aspiring for the years to come. During the next ten days, I will be looking back on all of my actions before our day of judgement, and I encourage everyone to do the same.
L'Shana Tova Umetuka -- May this New Year bring EVERYONE Health, Happiness, and Joy!
Shalom, Cheers and Peace
Staci
Let's rewind.
First, I left on classes on Thursday with a "farewell, L'Shana Tova" toast. It was great... pomegranates, apples and honey, cards. All wonderful (see pics).
By Friday morning I was on a bus on the way to Jerusalem. When we got there, we explored the old city for a while, got lost, and found our way into what I thought was an exit--it was actually the entrance into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We made note of that, and went on our merry way to the Reformed Rabbinical school just a ten minute walk away from one of the most Holy Christian Sites in Jerusalem.
My friend, Rossanna, and I stayed with two first-year HUC students, one cantorial and the other rabbinical. They are just four years older than I am, leading services, and doing exactly what I want to be doing in four years. AND, they are two of the NICEST, FUNNIEST, and WELCOMING people we've met since we've been here.
Friday night we went to services at HUC where we watched Amanda be one of the three cantors, and had the service be lead by "the first female rabbi ever ordained in Israel, ordained in 1992." It was great, a reformed service was JUST what the doctor prescribed for me.
Saturday morning we woke up and went to Hallel, a reformed synagogue in Jerusalem with a female Israeli Rabbi and a Male Cantor who was born in America. Everything was in Hebrew but I was happy to be able to follow along...a combination of improved Hebrew and memorization of the Holy Day prayers. Then lunch with the rabbinical students at one of their apartments, then to Tashlich. This is the ritual where Jews throw breadcrumbs into a running body of water to "cast away their sins," and we looked back on our actions month by month to remember the good times and bad times that occurred in the year. Ending the ceremony with "Eli Eli," I left the park feeling refreshed and ready for my two-hour "Shabbat nap," yes they do exist, and then dinner with the rabbinical students again.
Sunday morning, second day of Rosh Hashana, Rossana and I woke up and went to "The Great Synagogue," a modern orthodox synagogue in the center of Jerusalem. What was cool about this was that their was one Chazzan, Cantor, who lead a 12-male choir and literally read from the Machzor (prayerbook) the entire time. That was the service, and the music sent chills up and down my spine.
After that we went to meet our friend Josh, after dancing in the RAIN ...IT RAINED... and explored the Old City again. First Rossana and I went to the Kotel, Western Wall, and then all of us went back to the Church, this time on purpose. It was a very good experience, and with it being the last day of Ramadan and us in the Arab quarter, we got a taste of all religions!
After a New Year/Shabbat/weekend like that, I can't even explain how weird it is to be back in the desert. But we are going back up to stay with our gracious hosts on Sunday night and I can barely contain my enthusiasm. I even have an excited face just for Yom Kippur!
This time is my all-time favorite part of any year. It is a time of ultimate renewal of body, spirit, and mind. The New Year, in Judaism, is not a time of partying or watching the ball drop, but it is a time of reflection on the past year and aspiring for the years to come. During the next ten days, I will be looking back on all of my actions before our day of judgement, and I encourage everyone to do the same.
L'Shana Tova Umetuka -- May this New Year bring EVERYONE Health, Happiness, and Joy!
Shalom, Cheers and Peace
Staci
Shay
The first couple of weeks we were here, there was a student with us who is going for his Master's degree at Brandeis University. He is married and a father of two, so he was here for the short ulpan before going home to his family and school. But the first time I was in Jerusalem, I learned how knowledgeable of Israel he is because we toured the ramparts of the old city and he was a better tour guide than anyone we could have gotten. He will be TA-ing in my major back at Brandeis and so I am eager to maybe be able to take his classes...I can learn a lot from him.
The reason why I am sharing this on my blog is because in the JERUSALEM POST today, there was an article about the very same Shay I am talking about! How cool!
Please read it...he is an inspiring person and a role-model for all!
The reason why I am sharing this on my blog is because in the JERUSALEM POST today, there was an article about the very same Shay I am talking about! How cool!
Please read it...he is an inspiring person and a role-model for all!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
A week of "new"
It is late here so i am going to keep this a short one, but this week I started my classes and I wanted to write about how amazing they all are. I have learned something about myself this week: I am confident that I know exactly what I want to do and what I am supposed to do. And it does feel really good to be in Israel doing what I know I need to do to get where I want to be.
Here is some warm greetings from my israeli friends at bgu. I don't really know anyone to point out, except if you go about 1:02 minutes in you'll see my professor on Jewish philosophy. A really nice, smart man...I know I will like his class as much as the others.
I will post again before the new year.
For now, Shalom, Cheers and Peace.
Staci
Here is some warm greetings from my israeli friends at bgu. I don't really know anyone to point out, except if you go about 1:02 minutes in you'll see my professor on Jewish philosophy. A really nice, smart man...I know I will like his class as much as the others.
I will post again before the new year.
For now, Shalom, Cheers and Peace.
Staci
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Cotler's "Listen"
Out of many Reformed Judaic songs, Doug Cotler's "Listen" never fails to move me. The lyrics, I feel, reflect ideas of not only Shabbat but of Judaism in general. Obviously that's the point. But I love love love this song--the way the Shema is brought in at the end is absolutely beautiful.
As I ended my Shabbat last night, and prepare for the next one which falls out exactly on Rosh Hashana, I found myself in the mood reflected by this song.
Hope you enjoy!
Weekend was great, and now about to start semester. Then the holidays this weekend!
But I'll be back before then :)
Shalom, Cheers and Peace.
As I ended my Shabbat last night, and prepare for the next one which falls out exactly on Rosh Hashana, I found myself in the mood reflected by this song.
Hope you enjoy!
Weekend was great, and now about to start semester. Then the holidays this weekend!
But I'll be back before then :)
Shalom, Cheers and Peace.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Andrea
I have come to meet many, many cool people here. A couple of them share the blogging with me, and their blogs are all different and fun and interesting and cool and impressive...I can go on and on.
Andrea, who spent a year studying abroad in Turkey and now a couple of years later is spending a year studying abroad here, is one of those impressive, blogging folk I just mentioned. Her blog is fashioned by her extraordinary pics of where we are staying and what we are doing, followed by her own thoughts on various subjects.
http://alwiese.blogspot.com/
I am really happy that she is here with us and look forward to spending time with her.
Andrea, who spent a year studying abroad in Turkey and now a couple of years later is spending a year studying abroad here, is one of those impressive, blogging folk I just mentioned. Her blog is fashioned by her extraordinary pics of where we are staying and what we are doing, followed by her own thoughts on various subjects.
http://alwiese.blogspot.com/
I am really happy that she is here with us and look forward to spending time with her.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
The weekend!
So. I have had a busy past couple of days and I am finally settling down to write about it. Inspired by Benzi's emails, this post is going to have sections, divided by a table of contents.
Table of Contents
i. Thursday's night hike
ii. Friday Shabbat
iii. Saturday Shabbat
i. Thursday night hike
Well, there is just so much I want to say about this and not enough ability to gather my thoughts. This hike was AMAZING...or, as Gali would prefer, AWESOME (she says Americans abuse that word).
Let me start at the beginning. Thursday night my program went on a nighthike in Sde Boker, a section of the desert about 40 mins away. Because the desert is so scary in the dark and pitch black to the point where you can walk off a cliff without even seeing in, we had a tour guide who would prevent that from happening. And with her explaining where we were and what we were doing, and the fun spirit of the group, the night was fantastic.
I wish I could emphasize how special the desert is, but I truly believe you can't understand unless you're living it. Yes, there are days when it's 99 degrees and you can feel the sun burning every part of your visible skin, and you think to yourself "why am I not in Jerusalem but in the DESERT." And then nights like Thursday reinforce the reasons why Ben Gurion wanted the desert to be established...and why we truly love it.
The best part of the hike, in my opinion, was the "three minutes" of quiet time. Sitting on top of desert rock with a breeze, stars wherever you look up, and silence, my thoughts wandered everywhere from thinking about my family and loved ones to "I wonder if this is what it was like when Abraham wandered here, or Moses and the tribes of our people." Constantly a conversation we have here, it seemed to be better in my head when I was physically living it and realizing it.
Once again, the desert proves to leave me breathless. It has a way of connecting a person to not only nature, but to faith and to God, and to my friends here and afar. So I am going to say it for the trillionth time-- Ben Gurion was onto something, and I can thank him everyday!
Table of Contents
i. Thursday's night hike
ii. Friday Shabbat
iii. Saturday Shabbat
i. Thursday night hike
Well, there is just so much I want to say about this and not enough ability to gather my thoughts. This hike was AMAZING...or, as Gali would prefer, AWESOME (she says Americans abuse that word).
Let me start at the beginning. Thursday night my program went on a nighthike in Sde Boker, a section of the desert about 40 mins away. Because the desert is so scary in the dark and pitch black to the point where you can walk off a cliff without even seeing in, we had a tour guide who would prevent that from happening. And with her explaining where we were and what we were doing, and the fun spirit of the group, the night was fantastic.
I wish I could emphasize how special the desert is, but I truly believe you can't understand unless you're living it. Yes, there are days when it's 99 degrees and you can feel the sun burning every part of your visible skin, and you think to yourself "why am I not in Jerusalem but in the DESERT." And then nights like Thursday reinforce the reasons why Ben Gurion wanted the desert to be established...and why we truly love it.
The best part of the hike, in my opinion, was the "three minutes" of quiet time. Sitting on top of desert rock with a breeze, stars wherever you look up, and silence, my thoughts wandered everywhere from thinking about my family and loved ones to "I wonder if this is what it was like when Abraham wandered here, or Moses and the tribes of our people." Constantly a conversation we have here, it seemed to be better in my head when I was physically living it and realizing it.
Once again, the desert proves to leave me breathless. It has a way of connecting a person to not only nature, but to faith and to God, and to my friends here and afar. So I am going to say it for the trillionth time-- Ben Gurion was onto something, and I can thank him everyday!
ii. Friday Shabbat Dinner
With all of my complaints about missing the reformed movement, I have grown attached to Shabbat in Israel. It is quite different than Shabbat in New York, but then again, quite similar as well.
This Friday I spent Shabbat in Be'er Sheva (meaning I wasn't away or anything...) And I would really like to give a "shout out" and a special thanks to Gali, my dorm counselor and friend, who threw together a fabulous Shabbat dinner.
After food shopping with her Wednesday, I expected everything to be good. But the whole atmosphere of Shabbat, outside on the grass with friends, great food, and conversation, was brought out much more intensely than I thought it would be.
It's fun for me to be with a group of people who appreciate and embrace our past, and understand that the past is also the present. What we do on Shabbat is more for ourselves than people think it is, and I know Friday night gave me the relaxation, rejuvenation, and pride that I needed.
So thank you, Gali. You are more than just our counselor and we love you very much.
iii. Saturday Shabbat
In addition to Gali, there are two other people I really have to thank: Rakefet and Bezi, you guys are absolutely two of the most wonderful people I have ever met and you bring so much to our program.
For those of you reading this that don't know who they are or what I am talking about, I'll explain...
Benzi and Rakevet are two members of my overseas program who graciously invite us to their home in Be'er Sheva to bring in Shabbat. They were with us on Friday night and then on Saturday, about twelve of us walked to their place and spent the afternoon the way Shabbat should be spent: singing, dancing, eating, drinking, and talking.
The conversations I get to experience are so great. Benzi has a way of getting us to think about Judaism and the Torah portion, which is lovely for me because we all know I like to do that anyway. To be able to talk about it and challenge it with people that have either the same or different opinions is a nice way to spend my time, and it is great preparation for what I will be doing in my future.
The songs we sing are so fun because if we don't know the melody, we hum until we catch on. If we feel inspired (which we did) we get up and dance, and if we really get into it (which we did...again) we close our eyes and belt out the words we truly believe in.
Shabbat with the two of them is so fantastic, and it is something I do look forward to and appreciate.
So thanks to you guys too, we love you also!
In an older post I touched upon how much Shabbat means to me. It's been a fun new discovery. Now, with it being sunday and the beginning of the week here in the Holy Land, I look back on the weekend and can only simply smile!
Shalom, cheers and peace,
Staci
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