moocowinthecity

Weekend Wrapup

moocowinthecity 2007-08-26 No Comments

Weekend Wrapup

Friday
I went to hang out at Hillel before Shabbat services started and it was so nice to see Eli, Kim, Silberman (and as Silberman pointed out, it just seemed ‘right’ to see everyone back in the office, especially after the events of last year…it’s good that we’re all coming together again).

The new director realized that we didn’t have wine (something we normally keep in stock)…but fortunately Silberman just bought himself a shiny new car…and I had two bottles of Manischewitz (Concord and Extra Heavy Malaga) in my fridge that I’ve been trying to pawn off on people for a couple of months now so opportunists both, Silberman got to show of his wheels and I got to make space in my fridge with the disclaimer of ‘no backsies’.

We had Shabbat services with maybe eight people in attendance (which was fine, more students will start to show up again once classes are in full swing and we’ll be back to our usual boisterous crowd) and after I decided to go downtown to the club to dance a little and see old friends.

Saturday
Mostly as I wrote in the post that I made last night and subsequently memory holed (it didn’t express my perceptions accurately) I felt pretty blasé about the whole night, but when I woke up I wasn’t fully sure why I felt the way I did and I didn’t feel that my initial perception of events was entirely accurate either.

I don’t like not knowing why I’m feeling a certain way, so most of today was spent walking around trying to do just that (UB has some nice walking trails which I made use of…as well as some wonderfully air conditioned buildings).

I’ve been going to Club Marcella (in it’s various forms, at it’s various locations) going on six years now (hard to believe I’ve been living in Buffalo that long…it seems like I moved here yesterday).

While I once was a regular there, over the past year, I haven’t been (my priorities have always been my degree first, social life second…and last year was not conducive to having any form of social life period, let alone one downtown). Most of my friends who were regulars there have also stopped going and my old haunts are no longer mine, which is certainly fair and to be expected: groups move on, inner space changes to reflect those who are currently entitled to claim it, regulars become visitors and such is the normal ebb and flow of any area that’s designed for nothing more than socialization and without that flexibility no social establishment has the ability to last.

What I found was actually making me uncomfortable last night (upon reflection) was the very real reality that the age/lifestyle demographic at the club has changed drastically (it used to be 18-35 and now it’s really 18-21) and with it, they’ve changed the inner space to reflect that. Not only do I not fit into that demographic (though while soon-to-be 23, I can still fudge it) but because I consistently seek out relationships with people outside of that demographic (Vince was 25, Glen was 36, and only two of my hookups have ever been 18, most have been mid to late twenties) it is an inappropriate venue for me to find any form of emotional/physical satisfaction. The other reality was that for me to locate a venue where I could both integrate myself into as a regular and that would also be open to the age group of people that I’m looking to socialize with also wouldn’t be terribly productive either since I’m moving out of Buffalo on December 17th, with four-ish months left, there’s not a whole lot of return on the required investment of time.

Fortunately, I do have other social networks that I can (and do) hang out with and take part in: the problem is that they’re not Gay, which is fine (they fill the need to socialize and they are certainly my close friends) but they don’t fill the need of what essentially is a carnal desire.

I think the other issue at play is that I’ve certainly been in a bit of funk of sorts as of late. While I don’t believe it’s anywhere near dysthymia or depression, my sleep cycle has been off more than it normally is, I’ve been avoiding sleep at night and seeking it during the day and haven’t been doing much of anything (which bothers me, because it makes me feel lazy…which sleeping all day, well..is) so I’ve been feeling just ‘off’ in general.

Fortunately, this will be corrected ‘by design’ so to speak once classes kick in, and I have a regular class schedule, a regular TAing schedule, a regular Gym schedule, a regular Wellness/Fitness schedule and a regular Work schedule and I move from this present state of inaction into a regimented lifestyle.

I was originally trying to think ahead and see if this could be a potential problem that I’d have to address in the future, and I was happy to come to the conclusion that it won’t be: the only reason that I’m floating around now with nothing to do is because there is, literally, nothing that I can do at the moment due to forces that are entirely out of my control.

There’s only so much laundry that can be done (I mean after it’s washed and folded…it doesn’t make much sense to re-wash it and re-fold it), only so many times you can scrub the floors and due to location I’m in an area (geographically) where my entire focus is the University…so when the University is closed, and I’ve done all my chores, and there’s nothing going on at the local museums that’s new or different or compelling, and my friends are out of town or unavailable there’s not a whole lot left to do (well, there’s always reading which I’ve been doing. There’s also entertainment…but too much of that and again, I feel like a slacker)…right now, until classes start in 28 beautiful hours, my options essentially are (and for the past week, have been): bars, restaurants, tattoo and body modification shops, casinos (I don’t gamble), the movies or the zoo…and I feel pretty iffy about the Zoo here…mostly because I feel bad for the lion who was resting peacefully in Africa, and wham/bam wakes up with a killer hangover in Buffalo, NY and has to wear a parka in the winter (of all places to put a zoo…). We have an elephant that paints, but I’ve always had the sneaking suspicion that’s part of therapy for the elephant who must be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Coming to an understanding of why I was feeling the way I was feeling and realizing that it was incredibly temporary, I went to socialize, and while not a gamer, I have a large group of friends who are, so I hung out a bit and watched the LARP in the foyer of Baldy Hall (from what I was able to gather, it was about Vampires who were in different clans setup around the City of Buffalo dealing with an impending Nuclear strike…I think…) and hung out there for a bit before I went home.

After taking the inter-campus bus to South Campus, I started walking to my apartment, as I was turning the corner I caught one smell of the Chinese Food place at the end o the street and that quickly answered the question as to what I was going to be having for dinner. I went in and placed an order for take out, then went home without further delay and had some wonderful food and watched a movie and just chilled for a bit.

Out of all this though, I think I’m going to observe Shabbat a little more closely than I have been; at times I need a gentle application of the clue-by-four to get the message…like how I’ve been friends with Alice for five years, knew that both her parents were respected linguists, took a plethora of language classes starting in my sophomore year (Sanskrit, Hebrew, Arabic), but it didn’t dawn on me until more than four years that – maybe – I should look into this thing called linguistics…and upon reflection, when I would sit with Sarah on Shabbat after services for the past year and a half and just talk with her, and sit in quiet, drinking coffee and talking about our week or about recent current events I felt more recharged and well rested than when I’d go out and have a night on the town…(gee gosh golly Batman…you mean…Shabbat is about rest!?…no wai! yes wai! ZOMG!!one!1!eleven…ORly?YARly!)…not that I plan on going totally Shomer Shabbas, but I think I’ll be seeking out more relaxing venues for after Shabbat activities…actually, a Shabbat Yoga/Pilates Mat Class could be fun.

“I read most of your emails Matan, but that one you sent while you were in Tiberias…I took one look at how long that was and said ‘hey, let’s see if my delete key still works’…and I clicked it and went ‘yup…still works'” ~ Eli

Ahh, I’ve missed Eli…actually, I’ve missed Israelis in general.

Anyways, I finished writing the Chai Line Program Procedures Manual (which indicates how the entire program can be implemented and run given three different budget scenarios that will pretty much let any Hillel have the program regardless of how much money they have as their base operating budget). Right now, it needs to be reviewed by the director so we can move it from Version 1.2 to 2.0 so I can bring it to Group Legal Services and have them check to make sure that we aren’t opening ourselves up for any kind of major liability and that we’re in compliance with University Regulations and NYS Law (will we need health department permits?, what aren’t we allowed to do?, what if someone has allergies do we need warnings on the containers?…these are things I don’t have experience in or the answers to…fortunately, we do have an accountant on the Board of Directors so at least that part’s taken care of).

Right now I’m writing for/in the process of completing:

1. Wellness Center Grant (Max $500.00)
1. Hillel Grant (I’m thinking their Tzedek Grant for Chai Line, but they have a few others I can apply for as well for other initiatives)
1. Nefesh B’Nefesh Packet (I’m asking for $4,700.00 out of $5,000.00)…oddly, NBN wants far more information than the Aliyah Organization did; the only thing I’m missing is the letter attesting to my Judaism, and two letters of recommendation that I should have by Monday…I sent an email gently poking my Rabbi last night and I’ll see Scott on Monday.

Noah asked me if I would help her with her paperwork which I told her I would…so I have that to keep me busy until homework sets in later next week.

Anyways, time for some sleep and then hanging out with friends later today.

G’night

– Matan

Weekend Wrapup

moocowinthecity 2007-08-26 No Comments

Weekend Wrapup

Friday
I went to hang out at Hillel before Shabbat services started and it was so nice to see Eli, Kim, Silberman (and as Silberman pointed out, it just seemed ‘right’ to see everyone back in the office, especially after the events of last year…it’s good that we’re all coming together again).

The new director realized that we didn’t have wine (something we normally keep in stock)…but fortunately Silberman just bought himself a shiny new car…and I had two bottles of Manischewitz (Concord and Extra Heavy Malaga) in my fridge that I’ve been trying to pawn off on people for a couple of months now so opportunists both, Silberman got to show of his wheels and I got to make space in my fridge with the disclaimer of ‘no backsies’.

We had Shabbat services with maybe eight people in attendance (which was fine, more students will start to show up again once classes are in full swing and we’ll be back to our usual boisterous crowd) and after I decided to go downtown to the club to dance a little and see old friends.

Saturday
Mostly as I wrote in the post that I made last night and subsequently memory holed (it didn’t express my perceptions accurately) I felt pretty blasé about the whole night, but when I woke up I wasn’t fully sure why I felt the way I did and I didn’t feel that my initial perception of events was entirely accurate either.

I don’t like not knowing why I’m feeling a certain way, so most of today was spent walking around trying to do just that (UB has some nice walking trails which I made use of…as well as some wonderfully air conditioned buildings).

I’ve been going to Club Marcella (in it’s various forms, at it’s various locations) going on six years now (hard to believe I’ve been living in Buffalo that long…it seems like I moved here yesterday).

While I once was a regular there, over the past year, I haven’t been (my priorities have always been my degree first, social life second…and last year was not conducive to having any form of social life period, let alone one downtown). Most of my friends who were regulars there have also stopped going and my old haunts are no longer mine, which is certainly fair and to be expected: groups move on, inner space changes to reflect those who are currently entitled to claim it, regulars become visitors and such is the normal ebb and flow of any area that’s designed for nothing more than socialization and without that flexibility no social establishment has the ability to last.

What I found was actually making me uncomfortable last night (upon reflection) was the very real reality that the age/lifestyle demographic at the club has changed drastically (it used to be 18-35 and now it’s really 18-21) and with it, they’ve changed the inner space to reflect that. Not only do I not fit into that demographic (though while soon-to-be 23, I can still fudge it) but because I consistently seek out relationships with people outside of that demographic (Vince was 25, Glen was 36, and only two of my hookups have ever been 18, most have been mid to late twenties) it is an inappropriate venue for me to find any form of emotional/physical satisfaction. The other reality was that for me to locate a venue where I could both integrate myself into as a regular and that would also be open to the age group of people that I’m looking to socialize with also wouldn’t be terribly productive either since I’m moving out of Buffalo on December 17th, with four-ish months left, there’s not a whole lot of return on the required investment of time.

Fortunately, I do have other social networks that I can (and do) hang out with and take part in: the problem is that they’re not Gay, which is fine (they fill the need to socialize and they are certainly my close friends) but they don’t fill the need of what essentially is a carnal desire.

I think the other issue at play is that I’ve certainly been in a bit of funk of sorts as of late. While I don’t believe it’s anywhere near dysthymia or depression, my sleep cycle has been off more than it normally is, I’ve been avoiding sleep at night and seeking it during the day and haven’t been doing much of anything (which bothers me, because it makes me feel lazy…which sleeping all day, well..is) so I’ve been feeling just ‘off’ in general.

Fortunately, this will be corrected ‘by design’ so to speak once classes kick in, and I have a regular class schedule, a regular TAing schedule, a regular Gym schedule, a regular Wellness/Fitness schedule and a regular Work schedule and I move from this present state of inaction into a regimented lifestyle.

I was originally trying to think ahead and see if this could be a potential problem that I’d have to address in the future, and I was happy to come to the conclusion that it won’t be: the only reason that I’m floating around now with nothing to do is because there is, literally, nothing that I can do at the moment due to forces that are entirely out of my control.

There’s only so much laundry that can be done (I mean after it’s washed and folded…it doesn’t make much sense to re-wash it and re-fold it), only so many times you can scrub the floors and due to location I’m in an area (geographically) where my entire focus is the University…so when the University is closed, and I’ve done all my chores, and there’s nothing going on at the local museums that’s new or different or compelling, and my friends are out of town or unavailable there’s not a whole lot left to do (well, there’s always reading which I’ve been doing. There’s also entertainment…but too much of that and again, I feel like a slacker)…right now, until classes start in 28 beautiful hours, my options essentially are (and for the past week, have been): bars, restaurants, tattoo and body modification shops, casinos (I don’t gamble), the movies or the zoo…and I feel pretty iffy about the Zoo here…mostly because I feel bad for the lion who was resting peacefully in Africa, and wham/bam wakes up with a killer hangover in Buffalo, NY and has to wear a parka in the winter (of all places to put a zoo…). We have an elephant that paints, but I’ve always had the sneaking suspicion that’s part of therapy for the elephant who must be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Coming to an understanding of why I was feeling the way I was feeling and realizing that it was incredibly temporary, I went to socialize, and while not a gamer, I have a large group of friends who are, so I hung out a bit and watched the LARP in the foyer of Baldy Hall (from what I was able to gather, it was about Vampires who were in different clans setup around the City of Buffalo dealing with an impending Nuclear strike…I think…) and hung out there for a bit before I went home.

After taking the inter-campus bus to South Campus, I started walking to my apartment, as I was turning the corner I caught one smell of the Chinese Food place at the end o the street and that quickly answered the question as to what I was going to be having for dinner. I went in and placed an order for take out, then went home without further delay and had some wonderful food and watched a movie and just chilled for a bit.

Out of all this though, I think I’m going to observe Shabbat a little more closely than I have been; at times I need a gentle application of the clue-by-four to get the message…like how I’ve been friends with Alice for five years, knew that both her parents were respected linguists, took a plethora of language classes starting in my sophomore year (Sanskrit, Hebrew, Arabic), but it didn’t dawn on me until more than four years that – maybe – I should look into this thing called linguistics…and upon reflection, when I would sit with Sarah on Shabbat after services for the past year and a half and just talk with her, and sit in quiet, drinking coffee and talking about our week or about recent current events I felt more recharged and well rested than when I’d go out and have a night on the town…(gee gosh golly Batman…you mean…Shabbat is about rest!?…no wai! yes wai! ZOMG!!one!1!eleven…ORly?YARly!)…not that I plan on going totally Shomer Shabbas, but I think I’ll be seeking out more relaxing venues for after Shabbat activities…actually, a Shabbat Yoga/Pilates Mat Class could be fun.

“I read most of your emails Matan, but that one you sent while you were in Tiberias…I took one look at how long that was and said ‘hey, let’s see if my delete key still works’…and I clicked it and went ‘yup…still works’” ~ Eli

Ahh, I’ve missed Eli…actually, I’ve missed Israelis in general.

Anyways, I finished writing the Chai Line Program Procedures Manual (which indicates how the entire program can be implemented and run given three different budget scenarios that will pretty much let any Hillel have the program regardless of how much money they have as their base operating budget). Right now, it needs to be reviewed by the director so we can move it from Version 1.2 to 2.0 so I can bring it to Group Legal Services and have them check to make sure that we aren’t opening ourselves up for any kind of major liability and that we’re in compliance with University Regulations and NYS Law (will we need health department permits?, what aren’t we allowed to do?, what if someone has allergies do we need warnings on the containers?…these are things I don’t have experience in or the answers to…fortunately, we do have an accountant on the Board of Directors so at least that part’s taken care of).

Right now I’m writing for/in the process of completing:

1. Wellness Center Grant (Max $500.00)
1. Hillel Grant (I’m thinking their Tzedek Grant for Chai Line, but they have a few others I can apply for as well for other initiatives)
1. Nefesh B’Nefesh Packet (I’m asking for $4,700.00 out of $5,000.00)…oddly, NBN wants far more information than the Aliyah Organization did; the only thing I’m missing is the letter attesting to my Judaism, and two letters of recommendation that I should have by Monday…I sent an email gently poking my Rabbi last night and I’ll see Scott on Monday.

Noah asked me if I would help her with her paperwork which I told her I would…so I have that to keep me busy until homework sets in later next week.

Anyways, time for some sleep and then hanging out with friends later today.

G’night

– Matan

Paper Towels…

moocowinthecity 2007-08-26 No Comments

…I’m out of paper towels…this is troublesome, since I’m trying to clean the apartment, windows and do dishes…in hindsight, I probably should have picked up some rags, but tonight is my last chance to finish cleaning before the semester starts and I get sucked into the vortex…this means a trip to the corner store…sadly, the corner store isn’t on my corner and is about fifteen minutes away. However, the weather’s nice so I’m going to slip on some Birkenstocks and go get some paper towels…then cleaning…then laundry…then finishing my grant packet…a full update somewhere in between (and sleep…definitely sleep).

Paper Towels…

moocowinthecity 2007-08-26 No Comments

…I’m out of paper towels…this is troublesome, since I’m trying to clean the apartment, windows and do dishes…in hindsight, I probably should have picked up some rags, but tonight is my last chance to finish cleaning before the semester starts and I get sucked into the vortex…this means a trip to the corner store…sadly, the corner store isn’t on my corner and is about fifteen minutes away. However, the weather’s nice so I’m going to slip on some Birkenstocks and go get some paper towels…then cleaning…then laundry…then finishing my grant packet…a full update somewhere in between (and sleep…definitely sleep).

Chiropractors, Weddings & Sushi Oh My!

moocowinthecity 2007-08-23 No Comments

Chiropractors

Well as I was walking out of the house today to have lunch with Joe and Jacqueline, Joe had the suggestion that I see the Chiropractors at UB (which are housed on South Campus, conveniently two blocks from my apartment). So before lunch, we made a pit stop at South Campus.

I walked in, there was a chiropractor to see me instantly, no waiting (oh, and I should mention that it’s free…as in, they don’t even bill insurance, no co-pay, no charge, so long as you’re a UB student).

After running some tests, taking my vitals and going over my family history, he determined that it was due to muscle strain in my shoulder and upper-lower back area (stress, what stress?!). He did a back adjustment (I had no idea that hands could make things feel that good…when I get married, I want to marry a chiropractor…) and my pain, though it didn’t diminish entirely, went down significantly. I’ll be seeing him twice a week, for the next couple of weeks (to fully relieve the pain), and then once a week after that. The fact that it’s free (no insurance even required or mentioned) is a blessing.

The Guzman Wedding

I photographed The Guzman Wedding last weekend, it was the first time I ever worked with an assistant, and it was a wonderful, wonderful experience.

Jacqueline is beyond competent, highly educated and really, really knows her lighting systems (she has a letter of recommendation coming from me that will be nothing short of glowing). It was truly a pleasure to work with her. The wedding went well, I delivered the CD to the happy couple today, and tomorrow I deposit my paycheck (which is good, since there are birthday presents to buy for some of my friends, a tattoo that I’ve been waiting to get, and a savings account for Israel that needs to be fed and an assistant who needs to be paid).

As I was leaving their wedding I had three people come up to me, ask for my card and then ask if I would also photograph their weddings as well (all three were having weddings sometime next year) which I thought was slightly interesting because it meant that they were asking for my card based solely on how I conducted myself at the wedding rather than on my work (since none of them, to my knowledge, would ever have any reason to have previously seen my work). My general rule for conduct is ‘don’t act like a wedding photographer’ (as a kid, I remember loathing Bar-Mitzvah and wedding photographers: they were loud, obnoxious, inappropriate and really just made my skin crawl).

However, I’ll be in Israel starting in February and I believe that I’ll be hanging up my wedding photographer hat shortly (this may, in fact, have been the last wedding that I shoot). I’ve been working in a darkroom since I was eight, I have had photography gigs since I was in High School and throughout University (which were, and still are, a great way of earning cash). What I’ve learned though, is that I much prefer the studio or the great outdoors to other kinds of events (weddings, sporting events, historical reenactments, etc).

The other factor that’s pushing me towards this decision is that I’m getting to the point where I really only want to be concentrating the largest majority of my time working jobs as closely related to my field as possible (and since I’m not yet at the level where I can work on my own in Linguistics, I really need to be working to find and pushing for jobs as an educator of some kind, whether running youth programs that have some kind of reading/language comprehension focus to them, health education or otherwise). More and more, I want my resume to reflect academia, languages and linguistics related fields compared to the odd jobs I’ve had in the past.

Not that I’ll be putting down my camera anytime soon – I also have a modeling shoot this Friday – but I’d much rather keep it my hobby rather than my profession and leave the profession to the guys that act like wedding photographers.

Sushi

Oh man am I craving Sushi; tasty, tasty Sushi…I’m craving the Avocado sushi more than I’m craving the different kind of fish sushi though…When I was in Israel I made some mental notes of where I could find Chinese Food and Japanese Food (there’s Chinese food right over the 24/7 tobacco shop near Ben-Yehuda street)…not that Sushi is a deal breaker, but it certainly comes close.

There’s apparently a class that you can take in Williamsville (?) where you can learn how to make sushi, which sounds like it would be fun, but right now I think I have my plate full (har har har)…though it’s something to think about in the future as a fun weekend thing to do with friends. I mean, I get the basics, seaweed, rice, fish…but there’s all of the other stuff (like what combinations make what roll…how to cut the roll without squashing it) that I’d love to learn…actually, I’d be happy if my roll came out looking like a roll…we can start with that and move up.

Hollywood?

I may be in a promotional video for UB; which I think would be pretty cool. The College of Arts and Sciences is apparently putting something together and they got my name and number, so we’ll see where it goes…this could lead to my big break…I could…I could be on YouTube even! Man, that’d be…neat…maybe…

I just think it’s funny; there’s these large posters all over campus with random students on them (and of course some kind of inspirational quote that borders more on an Orwellian wet dream than it does on inspiring: “four legs bad, two legs good” “Stay longer, live larger”) and sometimes you run into one of them or someone who knows them…so I can be “that guy” in the video…or even better “that guy #3” which would be entertaining.

Again, we’ll see where it goes.

Today’s To Do List

1. 1. Sleeping in

1. 1. Call Rabbi Harvey (Letters, Appeal)

1. 1. Clean the Apartment

1. 1. Bank (Woohoo Cash Money!)

1. 1. Finish Chai Line Program Write Up (Get Binder on North Campus

1. 1. Laundry (…I hate laundry…love clothing…an evil, evil cycle)

1. 1. Scheduling (Book Flights, PUB Meetings, UBULS Meetings)

1. 1. E-Mail

1. Finish Blog Stuff

This can’t end well…

moocowinthecity 2007-08-22 No Comments

…I think I may have pulled (?) out my back, or something this morning when brushing my teeth (I know, I know…that’s one of those activities that you should wear a jockstrap and pads for…) but all of a sudden it hurt to breathe, and my back felt really, really warm…I’ll have to go see a chiropractor, though for now I’m going to take some IBU600.

This can’t end well…

moocowinthecity 2007-08-22 No Comments

…I think I may have pulled (?) out my back, or something this morning when brushing my teeth (I know, I know…that’s one of those activities that you should wear a jockstrap and pads for…) but all of a sudden it hurt to breathe, and my back felt really, really warm…I’ll have to go see a chiropractor, though for now I’m going to take some IBU600.

A brief update…

moocowinthecity 2007-08-22 No Comments

TESOL/TEFL/TESL Certification

Well Dad and Mom thought that the TESOL/TEFL/TESL Certification class was also a much better idea for a graduation gift than a new computer; so they graciously paid for me to register and take the course. The cool thing is that if you register and pay in full before Sept. 15th they take off $100.00, so it was 895.00 instead of 995.00. According to the program outline, I should have my TESOL/TEFL/TESL Certificate on October 28, 2007. This does mean that I’ll be unavailable for most of my weekends in October, but I think that the certificate will be more than worth it in the end. I’ve already blocked it out in my schedule. I’m excited…and I’m happy that it doesn’t start until October so I can get myself all setup with the first month of classes before I add on something else to my plate.

Fellowship

I applied today for a Hillel Fellowship; if all goes according to plan, I’ll be a paid fellow working for Hillel at the University at Buffalo.

The fellowship I applied and interviewed for is for the Tzedek Fellow position (Tzedek means Justice) which is a Social Justice fellowship. Given my long history of Activism, and my contacts in Buffalo, what this would allow me to do is use my current contacts on the campus and in the community to implement programs that would benefit both the Jewish Community and the Buffalo community as a whole.

I would be able to advocate for the Jewish Community and other social justice causes (Darfur, LGBT Rights, Counter Klan Organizing, etc) and while doing so train someone to take over for me when I leave for Israel (sort of writing the manual as I go). I also hope to be able to train sophomores in various forms of activism that they should know to be effective leaders.

Part of the Interview was dedicated to Chai Line; and I’m hoping to have it up and running within the next week and a half. What I posted the other day was my concept, and now I just need to turn in the manual that I’m writing to the new Hillel Director and I think we have ourselves a program.

I really want to leave Chai Line with Hillel of Buffalo as sort of a legacy for both the organization and myself, something that they can bring school to school and setup as part of a national network, and the program is so productive, so easy to implement, so cost effective that I believe with the right support and guidance it can turn into a national Hillel initiative/movement.

My Interview was an hour and a half long, I believed it went well. Regardless of whether I get the position or not, I really, really like and admire the new director of Hillel and I’m going to be happy to work with her. She’s a mother, she’s a Jewish Professional, and she has a long history of turning around Hillels that are in dire straights…if anyone can use her after the events of the last year, we certainly can

High Holy Days

I’ve been asked to give the High Holy Day Appeal at my Synagogue (it’s a huge…huge…honor); so this is what I’m thinking of saying and I’m hoping that I’m hitting the nail on the head, nothing is guaranteed yet, but if anyone wants to provide constructive criticism it would be welcomed:
Hello, my name is Matan Ar’ye Schwartz, and I’m honored to speak to you today; it’s not often that I get to address my entire extended family all in one place. Temple or-Elohim is my second home: I was raised here. I’ve been walking these halls and praying here since I was six years old, I stood on this bema when I said the Shema and declared my own connection to Judaism for the first time since my parents entered me into the covenant with Abraham when I was born, I can even tell you where I stood and on what step. I stood where Rabbi Harvey stands when I was thirteen and became recognized as a man by our community at my B’Nai Mitzvah with my Twin Brother by my side, as we were both set on the right path in life by the village who raised us (that’s you guys) and as we affirmed our commitment to Judaism and our community, so to did our community let us know that they had expectations of us: and let me tell you, they’re high…and I haven’t quite reached the bar yet, but I’m still reaching.

I know that every year some person comes up here and asks you for your money which you work hard for; don’t worry, this year you’re spared…I’m not going to ask for your money, this year I’m going to ask you to dance.

This synagogue is the heart of our community, or at least it should be: it should be the cool place to hang out, where everything happens, where kids race to after school. Right now it may not look like that, and I’m sure there are some things that could use some repair, but look past the physical shell that houses the spirit of this synagogue and look directly at our temple’s soul, because when you do, you can see an awesome opportunity and something that is so important to the survival of our community that it should be treasured as much as we treasure the Torah. Around me we have the ability to educate youth, to empower teens, to look after our families and the elderly members of our community, who have so much to give back to people in my age range but are so rarely invited to give their input. More importantly we have the ability, the power to affect change. And it isn’t hard, you don’t need any special training, you’re allowed as many mistakes as you want, and like that first time you learned how to dance there are people here who will be more than happy to teach you the first moves.

And other than that warm feeling inside that so many people write off when they do good works, there are some very important reasons that we should be spending as much time making this synagogue the Jewish epicenter of Long Island, but before I can explain that I really need to make sure that we’re all operating on the same page for a moment. It doesn’t matter if you feel that your secular, reform, reconstructionist or ultra-orthodox, it doesn’t matter if you’re gay or straight, it doesn’t matter if your rich or poor, because at the gates of the camp we all look the same and if we don’t take care of each other now and we don’t watch each other’s backs and don’t realize that we must be united, we are writing the beginning of our end. Our enemies, and we still sadly have them, don’t care if you call yourself a Jew or not, or if you identify as a Rastafarian or if you eat pork, because at the end of the day, when they see you, when they see me, all they see is JEW; those other words like Reform and Conservative are Adjectives, those words mean nothing to them.

And right now they’re fighting with chains and with broken beer bottles and with guns and they’re destroying graves in Poland, and attacks are on the rise in France and around the globe, and they’re organizing hardcore in Buffalo, New York believe me, I know, I’ve been a counter Klan organizer in Buffalo for Five Years now and I’ve come head to head with a Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan and from what my Long Island counterpart tells me they’re on the rise right here on Long Island too; and they may think that their guns make them strong but we have a much stronger weapon than any gun or bomb they can procure: we have Mitzvahs.

And I’m not just saying that to sound corny but to ask you to look at it realistically for a moment: with one act, they can take one or two lives…with one act we can change hundreds! Mitzvahs are contagious; because when you do good work, other people see you, and they realize that they can do good work too…and pretty soon one person at a soup kitchen turns into twenty, and another thirty are building another shelter because everyone wants to get in on the action, to feel that kesher – that connection to their community. And we’re not just doing Mitzvah’s for the Jewish community, oh no…we’re going to reach out and touch as many communities as we can because that way when someone comes up to them and says “hey come to this rally against Israel!” they’ll say “hey, wait a minute…no way!…the Jewish community was the first ones on the scene when our church was taken out in a storm, they brought tools and home made food for people who were making repairs and they helped us when we needed it most!” and that way when a protest turns into something much more sinister and when the KKK or the Skinheads are attacking synagogues again on Long Island (and don’t think that they won’ t do so openly, World War II isn’t a distant memory yet), this time we won’t be standing alone, imagine how much stronger we’re going to be when we have our friends of all denominations, Sikh, Muslim, Christians, Buddhists standing next to us, arm in arm, saying “you’ll have to get through me first” You want to talk to me about weapons? I’ll bet on a mitzvah against any gun any day.

So what are we going to do? Do we lament the fact that things are a little difficult right now and pad around or do we do something great? Talking from experience, watching my father work it’s a lot harder to just sit still because it eats at you and it’s so much easier, and so much more fulfilling to just get up and do what needs to be done (which is why my dad rarely sits down) and I know sometimes it doesn’t seem like we’re the life force we should be – and I know that sometimes we have to make hard decisions (and we don’t always make the right ones…and that’s okay too) but some people see this synagogue and see something that’s out dated or antiquated, but I see a beating heart, I see heart strings making hallways and classrooms and while the pulse may be fading I know that it’s worth fighting for. I also know that if we put on some jeans and get ready to get a little bit messy we have more than what it takes to turn this synagogue first into a light in our community, then a light in our state, and then a light in the country, and pretty soon we’ll be a light amongst the nations; and it isn’t complicated, it doesn’t require committees…all you have to do is follow three simple words: “do good work…”

A friend of mine is dying of HIV, and we were talking over lunch the other day and he was telling me about his experience last Simchat Torah; his synagogue is right across from the department of health where he was told, three years ago, that he had six months to live; and as his synagogue brought the torahs outside to dance with he said “I’m going to dance on the spot where I was told this is the end” and he clutched the torah close to his chest as he walked across the street, to the garden next to the department of health, and as he held the torah to his chest he danced in circles, covered by the light of the lord, so I’m telling you that without you, without your smarts, without your energy, without your expertise, without that really, really, really important thing that I’m not going to ask you about…without that, I’m telling you that this is the end. I’m asking you to dance.

And It isn’t hard, and sometimes we think that we look silly when we first step foot on the dance floor, but believe me the moves will become more natural to you; you’ll be amazed at how good you look when you put on a tool belt and help lay down carpet instead of having to hire someone to do it: and you’ll learn a new skill too (again, with plenty of room to make mistakes). You’ll be amazed how good you’ll look when you’re helping me feed the homeless at the food shelters and you’ll be tearing up the dance floor when you come in to read to the children’s classes and how rocking when you mentor a teen so he doesn’t take a wrong turn and start fighting for the other side and I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep up when those in the medical community start working on community health initiatives for those who are less fortunate and require basic care or when kids start saving their cans and bringing in the nickels for a good cause and it doesn’t matter if you’re Disco, Salsa, The Jitterbug or hip-hop, I don’t care…everyone of all ages can dance so let’s get out there and move our bodies like our lives depend on it; because, newsflash: they do.

L’Shana Tova
Nefesh B’Nefesh

I’m in the process of finishing my Nefesh B’Nefesh paperwork, that should be done by Friday. I just have to complete the essays, print out some more of my supporting paperwork, my revised C.V., and my travelogue from Israel as well as the letters of recommendation from two sources.

The maximum grant they offer for those making Aliyah by themselves is 5,000.00. I’m asking for $4,700.00.

Paperwork & Travel

Right now I’m swimming in paperwork..but come September 1st, everything gets a lot easier. I really need to work out some of my flights to make sure that I miss as little class as possible for the High Holy Days. I’m also in the process of finishing setting up the UBULS meetings for this semester…which reminds me, slightly out of left field, that I have to go pick up my text books from the bookstore.

The Blog

The Blog will be totally up and running exclusively on nomadmatan.net probably this Sunday. I’m still figuring out all the details of RSSing my information here. I’ll let everyone know all the details…once I figure them out myself. I still need to edit a couple of hundred entries for spelling and content, and then go back and tag them, but that can happen over the coming weeks. I weeded out the important stuff that needed to be memory holed and the blog is up and running so you should check it out at some point :o)

Tattoos

I’m getting some new tattoos soon…sweeeeet…can’t wait.

I have a real post coming soon
…but I need to finish editing Christie and Lorenzo’s photos from their wedding which I photographed last weekend. I’m giving them their photo CD at 7pm tonight…and before I can do that, I need to clean up my apartment or I’m likely to spazz out…which means I’m off!

A brief update…

moocowinthecity 2007-08-22 No Comments

TESOL/TEFL/TESL Certification

Well Dad and Mom thought that the TESOL/TEFL/TESL Certification class was also a much better idea for a graduation gift than a new computer; so they graciously paid for me to register and take the course. The cool thing is that if you register and pay in full before Sept. 15th they take off $100.00, so it was 895.00 instead of 995.00. According to the program outline, I should have my TESOL/TEFL/TESL Certificate on October 28, 2007. This does mean that I’ll be unavailable for most of my weekends in October, but I think that the certificate will be more than worth it in the end. I’ve already blocked it out in my schedule. I’m excited…and I’m happy that it doesn’t start until October so I can get myself all setup with the first month of classes before I add on something else to my plate.

Fellowship

I applied today for a Hillel Fellowship; if all goes according to plan, I’ll be a paid fellow working for Hillel at the University at Buffalo.

The fellowship I applied and interviewed for is for the Tzedek Fellow position (Tzedek means Justice) which is a Social Justice fellowship. Given my long history of Activism, and my contacts in Buffalo, what this would allow me to do is use my current contacts on the campus and in the community to implement programs that would benefit both the Jewish Community and the Buffalo community as a whole.

I would be able to advocate for the Jewish Community and other social justice causes (Darfur, LGBT Rights, Counter Klan Organizing, etc) and while doing so train someone to take over for me when I leave for Israel (sort of writing the manual as I go). I also hope to be able to train sophomores in various forms of activism that they should know to be effective leaders.

Part of the Interview was dedicated to Chai Line; and I’m hoping to have it up and running within the next week and a half. What I posted the other day was my concept, and now I just need to turn in the manual that I’m writing to the new Hillel Director and I think we have ourselves a program.

I really want to leave Chai Line with Hillel of Buffalo as sort of a legacy for both the organization and myself, something that they can bring school to school and setup as part of a national network, and the program is so productive, so easy to implement, so cost effective that I believe with the right support and guidance it can turn into a national Hillel initiative/movement.

My Interview was an hour and a half long, I believed it went well. Regardless of whether I get the position or not, I really, really like and admire the new director of Hillel and I’m going to be happy to work with her. She’s a mother, she’s a Jewish Professional, and she has a long history of turning around Hillels that are in dire straights…if anyone can use her after the events of the last year, we certainly can

High Holy Days

I’ve been asked to give the High Holy Day Appeal at my Synagogue (it’s a huge…huge…honor); so this is what I’m thinking of saying and I’m hoping that I’m hitting the nail on the head, nothing is guaranteed yet, but if anyone wants to provide constructive criticism it would be welcomed:
Hello, my name is Matan Ar’ye Schwartz, and I’m honored to speak to you today; it’s not often that I get to address my entire extended family all in one place. Temple or-Elohim is my second home: I was raised here. I’ve been walking these halls and praying here since I was six years old, I stood on this bema when I said the Shema and declared my own connection to Judaism for the first time since my parents entered me into the covenant with Abraham when I was born, I can even tell you where I stood and on what step. I stood where Rabbi Harvey stands when I was thirteen and became recognized as a man by our community at my B’Nai Mitzvah with my Twin Brother by my side, as we were both set on the right path in life by the village who raised us (that’s you guys) and as we affirmed our commitment to Judaism and our community, so to did our community let us know that they had expectations of us: and let me tell you, they’re high…and I haven’t quite reached the bar yet, but I’m still reaching.

I know that every year some person comes up here and asks you for your money which you work hard for; don’t worry, this year you’re spared…I’m not going to ask for your money, this year I’m going to ask you to dance.

This synagogue is the heart of our community, or at least it should be: it should be the cool place to hang out, where everything happens, where kids race to after school. Right now it may not look like that, and I’m sure there are some things that could use some repair, but look past the physical shell that houses the spirit of this synagogue and look directly at our temple’s soul, because when you do, you can see an awesome opportunity and something that is so important to the survival of our community that it should be treasured as much as we treasure the Torah. Around me we have the ability to educate youth, to empower teens, to look after our families and the elderly members of our community, who have so much to give back to people in my age range but are so rarely invited to give their input. More importantly we have the ability, the power to affect change. And it isn’t hard, you don’t need any special training, you’re allowed as many mistakes as you want, and like that first time you learned how to dance there are people here who will be more than happy to teach you the first moves.

And other than that warm feeling inside that so many people write off when they do good works, there are some very important reasons that we should be spending as much time making this synagogue the Jewish epicenter of Long Island, but before I can explain that I really need to make sure that we’re all operating on the same page for a moment. It doesn’t matter if you feel that your secular, reform, reconstructionist or ultra-orthodox, it doesn’t matter if you’re gay or straight, it doesn’t matter if your rich or poor, because at the gates of the camp we all look the same and if we don’t take care of each other now and we don’t watch each other’s backs and don’t realize that we must be united, we are writing the beginning of our end. Our enemies, and we still sadly have them, don’t care if you call yourself a Jew or not, or if you identify as a Rastafarian or if you eat pork, because at the end of the day, when they see you, when they see me, all they see is JEW; those other words like Reform and Conservative are Adjectives, those words mean nothing to them.

And right now they’re fighting with chains and with broken beer bottles and with guns and they’re destroying graves in Poland, and attacks are on the rise in France and around the globe, and they’re organizing hardcore in Buffalo, New York believe me, I know, I’ve been a counter Klan organizer in Buffalo for Five Years now and I’ve come head to head with a Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan and from what my Long Island counterpart tells me they’re on the rise right here on Long Island too; and they may think that their guns make them strong but we have a much stronger weapon than any gun or bomb they can procure: we have Mitzvahs.

And I’m not just saying that to sound corny but to ask you to look at it realistically for a moment: with one act, they can take one or two lives…with one act we can change hundreds! Mitzvahs are contagious; because when you do good work, other people see you, and they realize that they can do good work too…and pretty soon one person at a soup kitchen turns into twenty, and another thirty are building another shelter because everyone wants to get in on the action, to feel that kesher – that connection to their community. And we’re not just doing Mitzvah’s for the Jewish community, oh no…we’re going to reach out and touch as many communities as we can because that way when someone comes up to them and says “hey come to this rally against Israel!” they’ll say “hey, wait a minute…no way!…the Jewish community was the first ones on the scene when our church was taken out in a storm, they brought tools and home made food for people who were making repairs and they helped us when we needed it most!” and that way when a protest turns into something much more sinister and when the KKK or the Skinheads are attacking synagogues again on Long Island (and don’t think that they won’ t do so openly, World War II isn’t a distant memory yet), this time we won’t be standing alone, imagine how much stronger we’re going to be when we have our friends of all denominations, Sikh, Muslim, Christians, Buddhists standing next to us, arm in arm, saying “you’ll have to get through me first” You want to talk to me about weapons? I’ll bet on a mitzvah against any gun any day.

So what are we going to do? Do we lament the fact that things are a little difficult right now and pad around or do we do something great? Talking from experience, watching my father work it’s a lot harder to just sit still because it eats at you and it’s so much easier, and so much more fulfilling to just get up and do what needs to be done (which is why my dad rarely sits down) and I know sometimes it doesn’t seem like we’re the life force we should be – and I know that sometimes we have to make hard decisions (and we don’t always make the right ones…and that’s okay too) but some people see this synagogue and see something that’s out dated or antiquated, but I see a beating heart, I see heart strings making hallways and classrooms and while the pulse may be fading I know that it’s worth fighting for. I also know that if we put on some jeans and get ready to get a little bit messy we have more than what it takes to turn this synagogue first into a light in our community, then a light in our state, and then a light in the country, and pretty soon we’ll be a light amongst the nations; and it isn’t complicated, it doesn’t require committees…all you have to do is follow three simple words: “do good work…”

A friend of mine is dying of HIV, and we were talking over lunch the other day and he was telling me about his experience last Simchat Torah; his synagogue is right across from the department of health where he was told, three years ago, that he had six months to live; and as his synagogue brought the torahs outside to dance with he said “I’m going to dance on the spot where I was told this is the end” and he clutched the torah close to his chest as he walked across the street, to the garden next to the department of health, and as he held the torah to his chest he danced in circles, covered by the light of the lord, so I’m telling you that without you, without your smarts, without your energy, without your expertise, without that really, really, really important thing that I’m not going to ask you about…without that, I’m telling you that this is the end. I’m asking you to dance.

And It isn’t hard, and sometimes we think that we look silly when we first step foot on the dance floor, but believe me the moves will become more natural to you; you’ll be amazed at how good you look when you put on a tool belt and help lay down carpet instead of having to hire someone to do it: and you’ll learn a new skill too (again, with plenty of room to make mistakes). You’ll be amazed how good you’ll look when you’re helping me feed the homeless at the food shelters and you’ll be tearing up the dance floor when you come in to read to the children’s classes and how rocking when you mentor a teen so he doesn’t take a wrong turn and start fighting for the other side and I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep up when those in the medical community start working on community health initiatives for those who are less fortunate and require basic care or when kids start saving their cans and bringing in the nickels for a good cause and it doesn’t matter if you’re Disco, Salsa, The Jitterbug or hip-hop, I don’t care…everyone of all ages can dance so let’s get out there and move our bodies like our lives depend on it; because, newsflash: they do.

L’Shana Tova
Nefesh B’Nefesh

I’m in the process of finishing my Nefesh B’Nefesh paperwork, that should be done by Friday. I just have to complete the essays, print out some more of my supporting paperwork, my revised C.V., and my travelogue from Israel as well as the letters of recommendation from two sources.

The maximum grant they offer for those making Aliyah by themselves is 5,000.00. I’m asking for $4,700.00.

Paperwork & Travel

Right now I’m swimming in paperwork..but come September 1st, everything gets a lot easier. I really need to work out some of my flights to make sure that I miss as little class as possible for the High Holy Days. I’m also in the process of finishing setting up the UBULS meetings for this semester…which reminds me, slightly out of left field, that I have to go pick up my text books from the bookstore.

The Blog

The Blog will be totally up and running exclusively on nomadmatan.net probably this Sunday. I’m still figuring out all the details of RSSing my information here. I’ll let everyone know all the details…once I figure them out myself. I still need to edit a couple of hundred entries for spelling and content, and then go back and tag them, but that can happen over the coming weeks. I weeded out the important stuff that needed to be memory holed and the blog is up and running so you should check it out at some point :o)

Tattoos

I’m getting some new tattoos soon…sweeeeet…can’t wait.

I have a real post coming soon
…but I need to finish editing Christie and Lorenzo’s photos from their wedding which I photographed last weekend. I’m giving them their photo CD at 7pm tonight…and before I can do that, I need to clean up my apartment or I’m likely to spazz out…which means I’m off!