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MOISHE HOUSE @ BROADMOOR FEST 2010

Come visit the Moishe House table at...

The 5th Annual Broadmoor Fest sponsored by the Broadmoor Improvement Association and Ochsner Baptist Medical Center!

WHERE: South Galvez Street (Between Napoleon and Upperline)
WHEN: Saturday, May 15 from 12-7PM

This event is FREE and open to the public with food, entertainment, kids activities and fun for all ages!

Come enjoy excellent food vendors serving a variety of delicious home-cooked fare, cool treats, and refreshing beverages. Raffle prizes sponsored by the BIA include local restaurant gift certificates, passes to WWII and Ogden museums, Rock 'N Bowl package, Broadmoor Fitness pass, jewelry and more!

Ochsner Baptist Medical Center is the official sponsor of the Broadmoor Fest Music Stage, featuring musical performances by Andrew Duhon and the Lonesome Crows, Wild Bill and the Juanderers, Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots, Coot, The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels String Band, Kinfolk Brass Band with Dancing Man 504, the Andrew H. Wilson Charter School Music Ensemble, F&S Dancers, and much more!

Community info stations will also provide helpful services, including a dogwash fundraiser sponsored by the Broadmoor 4-H Club and free asthma counseling offered by two nationally certified asthma counselors.

FEBRUARY 2010 NEWSLETTER

Dear MoisheNOLA Supporters,

MoisheNOLA would like to thank you all for your participation in a fantastic month of January events! Your enthusiasm is an inspiration to us, and we hope that you continue to share with us your ideas and feedback so we can continue to provide events that are both fun and meaningful to you.

Highlights from January programming:

Krewe du Mishigas Shabbat Potluck

Jewish Funds For Justice Panel

Jewish Roots of Dumpster Diving – w/ Rabbinical Student Getzel

MoisheNOLA Shabbat Potluck

Bard College Volunteer Party

‘Get Fit!’ – Yoga w/ Tess

‘Get Fit!’ – Pilates w/ Meghan

Krewe du Vieux Float Build

Avodah/Moishe House Bonding and Career Development

Mardi Gras Bike Decorating and Tune up

Krewe du Vieux Parade

Our February 2010 calendar is filling up, and features several of your ideas from December’s‘MoisheNOLA Visioning Session’. Keep an eye out for emails with additional event details and follow us on the MoisheNOLA Facebook page where you can read up on our upcoming events and view pictures from past events.

Click the link below to view/join MoisheNOLA Facebook:

Moishe New Orleans Facebook


REMAINING JANUARY EVENTS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2010

Bike TuneUP/Decoration

Location: 5416 S. Tonti – Moishe House

5:30 – 7:30pm

We’ll be hosting a bike TuneUp/decorating night in preparation for Mardi Gras.Check out the Facebook page for more info. Jeff’s excited about the decoration he picked up cheap at Dollar General and spray painted Black & Gold.You may bring your own flair or tuneUP tools, but the house will provide some for you to use.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2010

Krewe Du Vieux Parade w/ Krewe du Mishigas

Location: Marigny/French Quarter

6:30PM – till…

Keep an eye out for Moishe House as we join KdM for the second year.

The Krewe du Vieux was founded in 1987 from the ashes of the storied Krewe of Clones. This wild, satirical Carnival parade first marched in 1978.

FEBRUARY 2010 CALENDAR

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2010

Meditation and Relaxation Workshop w/ Dr. Calderone

8:00PM – 9:15PM

Location: 5416 S. Tonti – Moishe House

Moishe House introduces Dr. Calderone for the first Meditation and Relaxation Workshop. Dr. Calderone is a professional who leads a conversation at yoga studios in New Orleans and will provide tools and a guided conversation to help the community find center before moving into Mardi Gras.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2010

WHO DAT! Saints Super Bowl Party @ Rendon Inn

5:30 PM Kickoff

Location: Rendon Inn – 4501 Eve St.

The Saints are heading to Miami! If you don’t already know, the Rendon Inn hosts one of the hottest Saints game-day parties in town. Great food, cheep drinks, and DJ spinning Saints Jams. Voted as 1 of the top 5 places in New Orleans to watch a Saints game.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010

Kings of Zulu/ Rex Meet-up

7:00 AM

Location: TBD – check facebook!

Bike down and meet-up with the zulu and rex krewes down by the muddy Mississippi. Second lines, food, music and fanfare.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010

‘Get Fit!’ – Yoga w/ Tess

6:00PM-7:00PM

Location: 5416 S. Tonti – Moishe House

Tess Monaghan – certified yoga instructor – hosts her monthly Moishe House yoga class. Approximately a one-hour class, you’ll leave feeling relaxed and realigned. This class is open to all skill levels and a great opportunity to get some one-on-one instruction to refine your skills. Floor mats are available for purchase from Tess day of, or bring your own.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRURAY 24, 2010

Swing Dancing w/ Joey

8:30PM – 11:00PM

Location: The Spotted Cat – 623 Frenchmen St.

Join the Moishe House for swing dancing in the Marigny. We'll start at Spotted Cat with the Loose Marbles, and Joey will provide dance instruction as we swing down Frenchman. Get on out and enjoy (swing to) some live local music!

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010

Shabbat Potluck

7:30PM Drinks; 8:00PM Dinner

Location: 5416 S. Tonti – Moishe House

MoisheNOLA’s monthly shabbat potluck is without a doubt our house’s most special event of the month. This is a great chance to catch up with your friends, make new friends, and enjoy great food in the comfort of our home. We encourage you to bring your friends who don’t know MoisheNOLA so that they can become a part of our monthly tradition. As always, please bring an appetizer, entrée or dessert to share.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

‘Share What You Do!’ - Moishe Homeroom

Location: 5416 S. Tonti – Moishe House

This will be the Moishe House’s first Homeroom event. ‘Homeroom’ is an opportunity for the diverse network of MoisheNOLA to share and present on the exciting projects that are going on their professional lives or projects of personal interest. Moishe house supporters are doing amazing work in New Orleans, and ‘Homeroom’ is a chance to share these interesting projects, get feedback, and garner support for your initiative.

Currently accepting presenter positions – please contact Jeff, Gill or Jon if you are interested in presenting your work.

LOOKING AHEAD TO MARCH 2010…

WICKED @ MEHALIA JACKSON –March ~26th

In February we’ll be sending out an invitation to attend a group session of Wicked at Mehalia Jackson Theater. We’ll be buying tickets midway through Feb based on RSVPs to a Facebook invite.

RABBI & PASTOR STUDY –Mid-March

An evening conversation with a local Pastor and Rabbi is sure to be an interesting discussion. We’ve been in conversation with our Rabbis and are reaching out to a 9^th Ward and Central City Pastor to help with a Talmud/Bible Study.

IF YOU HAVE AN EVENT OR PROGRAM AND NEED SPACE, LET US KNOW. WE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP!!!!

Best Wishes,

Jeff Prussack, Gill Benedek, Jonathan Graboyes

Outcomes from Moishe Nola Visioning Sessions

Thank you for participating in Moishe Nola's Visioning Sessions. Pasted below is a list of events and ideas that were brainstormed by the group. We appreciate all your help in this collaboration and look forward to putting your ideas into action. Your interest and excitement about your ideas means a great deal to us, and is a tremendous asset of our Moishe House network.

Please feel free to continue to ask questions and share your ideas. You can email us at Moisheneworleans@gmail.com or contact any of us by phone:

Gill (339)223-3679
Jon (504) 259-7753
Jeff (415)430-5192

Also, help us by taking a brief 2 minute Moishe House survey.


* Comedy Stand Up night
* Talent show
* "Homeroom concept" - Colleagues and Friends lead presentations
* Krewe de mishigas/ Krewe de vieux
* Beer brewing
* Purim party
* Café du monde Hanukah
* Hanuka Party
* Class night/ Hobby night
* Ballroom @ dancing rock n bowl
* City Art tours
* Challah cooking
* Rabi Linden Jewish study Series
* Walking tour of Jewish New Orleans – Central City
* Yiddish learning program
* Progressive support of Israel - Nathan Rothstein
* Tapas/taco Tuesday
* Meet Up at New Orleans many Free music/culture/local flavor events
* Volunteer- house painting Broadmoor
* Day in the park
* Capture the flag – w/avodah (Jefferson ave?)
* Mardi gras parade gathering wk 1 (e.g. Shabbat Potluck on Parade Route)
* Havdala + pregame
* Middle East film festival
* Interfaith night
* Moishe house member of the month
* Prom night/ ball
* Slosh ball / beer Olympics
* Sunday school volunteering
* Rabi + Pastor – interfaith
* Uptown minion
* Hornets game – march 29th
* Shabbat On The Road Tour - Hosts: Shira Glazer
* Brew tour – abita/nola brew
* Cookie making
* Jewish funds for justice conversation
* Tulane students discussion – Michael Cohen
* Laser tag
* Friday Night Synagogue Services - leave from moishe house
* Trolley ride to CDB/French quarter event

Sukkot at MoisheNola

Friends and Family came together for MoisheNola's 2nd Annual Sukkot. This past Friday night we were joined for a potluck dinner in our backyard Sukkah. The group included a regular cast of characters and a visit from a few family members in from Boston and Philadelphia.

Next Year join us for the celebration, or better yet start looking ahead to Mardi Gras. This year it is conveniently held on a Tuesday, allowing for a weekend of buildup and celebration!!

The PBS Piece

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/august-28-2009/moishe-house-new-orleans/4089/

Looking Good Broadmoor

Moishe Nola in the Picayune

"Above the Fold"
Moishe Nola in the New Orleans Times-Picayune

Thank you to all our supporters, friends, funders and guests. There would be no article, no dinners, movie nights and trips without your continued interest and participation. A shout-out to Bruce Nolan for spending time with us in writing the great article. And last but not least, thank you to the Moishe House Foundation for being bold enough to offer New Orleans this opportunity

Jewish Learning #2: The Radical Contradictions of Tikkun Olam


Rabbi Uri from Beth Israel shared a fantastic lesson with Moishe Nola Monday, July 27th on the history, interpretations and teachings on Tikkun Olam - perfecting/fixing the world. Pictures can be seen here:

Jewish learning #2 With Rabbi Uri

For the selected teachings see the following links. Please email us if you want to be added to the list and help us plan the next series of classes.

Overview of Tikkun Olam Origin and Interpretation
Elements of Rabbi Kook Text - Not exact text used but good supplement.

Text Used Last Night (see below provided by Rabbi Uri)

ORIGINS OF TIKKUN OLAM

A discussion about the roots of social justice in Jewish tradition

Lights of Holiness by Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook (early 1900s)

“Two Values of Perfection”

We understand in the Absolute divine perfection, two values of perfection.

One value of perfection, because of its greatness and completeness, has no relationship to any growth. However, if there was not a possibility of growth, this itself would be a deficiency. Because the Perfection which progresses and increases consistently has no extra, transcendental pleasure - a certain height that we yearn for, to grow from power to power, and therefore the divine perfection could not miss this advantage for growth.

Therefore there is to divinity the ability to create, a no end actualization of worlds, that continues in its full value and ascends, and therefore, what gives life to the soul is this constant power to ascend, this is its divine foundation, the call to actualize and improve.

To the extent that science progresses and establishes itself upon the principle of evolution, it progresses and comes closer to the clearest divine light, the highest vision.

An Evening With New Orleans Master Plan

An Evening with the New Orleans Master Plan
By: Gill Benedek
Soon to be Published in The NPN Trumpet

On June 18th, a group of young-professionals gathered at the Moishe House to review the New Orleans Master Plan. The Moishe House invited planners David Dixon and Raphael Rabalais from Goody-Clancy & Associates to join the Master Plan review session. Earlier this year, New Orleans’ a voted on a Charter Amendment that would give the Master Plan the "force-of-law" - thus making it a legally binding document that greatly influences zoning and policy decisions for the next twenty years. A Master Plan is a document that describes, through narrative, maps and other data an overall development vision for a city's future development. The master plan is used to coordinate the preparation of more detailed plans or may be a collection of detailed plans. The plan may be prepared by a local government to guide private and public development or by a developer on a specific project.

Currently weighing in at over 500 pages, the Master Plan is packed with data, historical analysis, land use maps and sweeping policy suggestions. The evening’s purpose was to offer an opportunity for an in-depth review of the current Master Plan draft. Out of the approximately 40 people in attendance, only a handful of the evening’s participants were raised in New Orleans. While this bolstered Goody Clancy’s hope and belief that the 23-35 age demographic will migrate to New Orleans, it also highlighted the existing divisions among New Orleans' Generation Y demographics.

After a 40 minutes overview of the Masterplan, the participants broke out into 3 groups to discuss their areas of greatest interest: land use, economic development and housing. Every table engaged in a lively discussion of the issues and were tasked with identifying the Master Plan policies they supported, challenging the Master Plan’s assumptions and suggesting new strategies.
As one participant that evening noted, “The master plan meeting was an incredible opportunity to meet directly with David Dixon and Raphael Rabalais who have worked on the master plan as well as other planning efforts in New Orleans.”

The following is a summary of points concluded by the breakout groups:

Land Use: The land use maps, ultimately one of the most important elements due to its influence on zoning, did not reflect the forward-thinking, bold revitalization suggestions discussed in other chapters. By suggesting more of the same, the land us maps only re-enforce a "status quo"for development rather than leading the coordinated, innovative and sustainable urban growth that the Master Plan recommends.

Housing: Being such a large issue, this group spent a good deal of time asking David Dixon further questions about housing policy in New Orleans. Common points that were echoed by the participants included strategic suggestions such as:

• New city agency positions to interact as liaisons to neighborhoods.
• Increase funding to important housing departments like NORA.
• Raising city salaries to attract talented people to work in city hall.
  

Economic Development: Participants in the Economic Development acknowledged the interdisciplinary nature of improving New Orleans’ economy. Increasing investment in New Orleans’ public schools and university infrastructure was also acknowledged as a primary drive for a establishing a strong economic base for any city. Companies seek city’s that have reliable public education systems and a highly trained workforce . Participants felt that not enough funding serves alternative or vocational programs.

SlideShow of Moishe Nola Pics

Living Legacy

The proof is finally here. Click on the link below for pictures of the greatest team since the original Harlem Globetrotters.

http://picasaweb.google.com/moisheneworleans/STontiTrashTalkersTheLivingLegacy?feat=directlink

We Won A Consolation Pool Party Prize - Courtesy of Joel Ross' Fine Pools Emporium:

Cuatro de Mayo @ Felipes

Es El Cuatro de MayoEste lunes los hombres de casa Moishe Nola fueron a Taqueria Felipes, la mejor taqueria en Sureste de Ustados Unidos. Por este blog, recantamos la historia rica de Felipe's. Taqueria Felipe's viene por Boston orginalmente. La taqueria tiene relacion a otra taqueria, una de pedigree mas impresionante, Ana's Taqueria. Desde 1998

Tuesday Movie Night

Moishe House New Orleans draws in the neighborhood with our first first outdoor movie of the summer. Projecting on the front of the house over the driveway we've drawn in a few neighbors and some good friends for this first event. This regular program will continue throughout the summer. Next up is to be Streetcar Named Desire, a local favorite.

Thanks to Zachary Youngerman:

When Jewish Scholars Fled to the South

European academics' exodus to small black colleges had lasting effects, an exhibit shows

Tuesday Movie Night: Ghostbusters

Drop by for the first in a series of Tuesday Movie Nights! Moishe House invites you to come enjoy our outdoor theater. We'll be projecting on the front of the house and are invited friends and neighbors to come to what will surely be a memorable event. Popcorn to be provided. Event starts at 7:30.

See you there!!

April Shabbat Dinner

From the blackberry of gill benedek:

I am currently sitting in the Shrewberry neighborhood center, a stop and go 10 min car ride from the moishe house. Around me are 20 New Orleans residents armed with their very own hhc - handheld computer for you non-federal employees. Everyday for this week I will be training as an address enumerator for the 2010 US census. As a second job, my primary incentive was the position's generous hourly wage. Additionally, it is also providing me with inside look at federal programming.

One example of federal bureaucracy: with every person I talk to I have to give them the D-31 slip of paper ensuring that all the information is confidential. If anyone has questions about the D-31 piece of paper they can send an email to the "Paperwork Reduction Project 0607-0809".

New Orleans is eagerly anticipating for the completion of the official census, the key measure of population demographics. The entire New Orleans community is holding its breath to see exactly what type of change it is. Has the population grown? Where is it distributed? What are the income and education demographics?

City hall and businesses point to the census as key driver to spur investment. It also has a very immediate impact - federal dollars are allocated to districts based on their population size. New Orleans has had a tough time getting its population numbers with any clear certainty.

Alright, I need to go. But keep your eyes open for your friendly neighborhood census taker. Hopefully I won't get canned for taking a few days off over Passover.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Moishe hosts Stanford Volunteers

Last week Moishe Nola hosted a group of Stanford Sprink Breakers for a conversation about the history of the recent rebuilding effort.

Nate Rothstein joined the house for this panel discussion that addressed the relevance of recent graduate activity in post-Katrina neighborhood/city-wide development.

March Shabbat

Friday Night's Dinner was a blast!

The house was packed for our first spring Shabbat, and with a little luck we may be able to expand into the backyard for next month's dinner.

New Puppy

Moishe House New Orleans get's a Puppy!

Josie is a hound sheppard mix, or so we think. Jon picked Josie up last week from the pound and at only a few months old, she is still working out a few of the basics.