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At Moishe House, Millennials Build Community and Strengthen Jewish Identity by Michael Wittner in Oakland, and Decided to Host JOURNAL STAFF a Shabbat Dinner

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At Moishe House, Millennials Build Community and Strengthen Jewish Identity by Michael Wittner in Oakland, and Decided to Host JOURNAL STAFF a Shabbat Dinner DECEMBER 5, 2019 – 7 KISLEV 5780 JEWISHVOL 44, NO 8 JOURNALJEWISHJOURNAL.ORG At Moishe House, millennials build community and strengthen Jewish identity By Michael Wittner in Oakland, and decided to host JOURNAL STAFF a Shabbat dinner. When 72 peo- ple showed up, Cygielman real- Simona Gilman has a busy ized there was a genuine need few weeks coming up. In addi- for Jewish programming and tion to hosting a chicken soup- community for young adults too making night, she and her room- old for high school youth groups mates will supervise volunteers and university Hillels, but too cooking for the homeless. Then a young to start families and join seminar on mental health, then synagogues. Shabbat at the Seaport, then a Cygielman decided he wanted book group. The list goes on. to fill this void by creating a net- But this is nothing new work of houses just like his own, for Gilman, 26, who grew up and Moishe House was born. in Newton. In fact, she and The model of residence-based three other friends – Chelsea programming worked well, and Rapaport, Mariah Kretch, led to astonishing growth: 13 and Ben Suster – organize a years later, there are over 100 different event each week in Moishe Houses in 26 countries their roles as residents of the with over 300 residents. Greater Cambridge branch of Moishe Boston, with its unusually high House, an international organi- concentration of young adults, zation aimed at building com- is one of the fastest-growing munity for young Jewish adults. Moishe House members making challah at a nursing home. areas. There are Moishe Houses Just like the residents of the in Cambridge, the South End, more than 100 Moishe Houses erously subsidized rent. and event planners second,” stone of Moishe House. Back in Fenway, Brookline, and Brighton around the world, Gilman and “One thing that makes the said Gilman, who works in mar- 2006, David Cygielman, a recent (which is a house specifically her fellow residents organize Moishe House model work real- keting at a health care tech firm. graduate of the University of Russian-speaking Jews). Any seven Jewish-themed events ly well for our house is that we’re Friendship between young California at Santa Barbara, was young adult who feels there is per month in exchange for gen- friends first, and roommates Jewish adults is the corner- living with four friends in a house continued on page 19 Brandeis goes behind the scenes with ‘Shtisel’ By Maya Zanger-Nadis buzzing with excitement. JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT Professor Eugene Sheppard, chair of the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies WALTHAM – Earler this fall, I received Department, kicked off the evening by a notification that some of the actors pointing out that “Shtisel” takes audi- from “Shtisel” would be coming to ences inside a community – the ultra- Brandeis in late November. I practically Orthodox Jerusalem neighborhood of jumped out of my chair and immedi- Geula – that tends to be caricatured. He ately got tickets for myself and my sister added that the show is widely beloved – and not a moment too soon. Just days for demystifying and humanizing the later, I learned that the event had sold community. out. He then introduced Professor Alice I haven’t even finished both sea- Kelikian as the driving force that sons of “Shtisel,” an Israeli television brought the women of “Shtisel” to cam- drama available on Netflix, but I have pus. She ushered the actors onstage and seen enough to recognize its brilliance. mediated their conversation, which was “Shtisel” has become a sleeper hit on interspersed with clips from the show to Netflix, and its renewed popularity has demonstrate various talking points. spawned talk of adding a new season Neta Riskin, a veteran of “Shtisel” on the streaming network. And so, for panel discussions and the most vocal weeks, all I could talk about was this of the three, was quick to point out that event; this unique opportunity to sit this event was the first-ever all-female in the same room as Giti (Neta Riskin), “Shtisel” panel in the United States. She Photo: Zach Katz/The Justice Ruchami (Shira Haas) and Libbi (Hadas tied this into the fact that the stories of Israeli “Shtisel” actors Hadas Yaron, Neta Riskin, and Shira Haas at Brandeis. Yaron). our Eurocentric cultural heritage tend to When the big night arrived and the focus on “the man” – the Odysseus type home while her husband Lippe, played we can know exactly how far off the Shtisel women came to town, Wasserman who leaves his family at home and has by Zohar Strauss, has crazy adventures. derech he went, Giti interrupts him to Cinematheque was filled with excited exciting adventures. She acknowledged “We follow [her] ‘boring’ role,” she say that she simply does not want to students, parents and faculty members. that lately, popular media has flipped explained. know. Upon reading the script for the Even a number of university donors and the trope, allowing a “woman to play the Riskin also addressed the frustrating first time, Riskin – like many viewers – members of the Board of Trustees were man,” but the story of the spouse who scene in the third episode of Season 2, was shocked and confused. Instead of in attendance. By the time the clock stays at home remains untold. Riskin’s in which Lippe is about to reveal what revealing the details, the writers decided struck seven, the room was positively character, Giti, is the one who stays at happened while he was abroad. Before continued on page 13 The Jewish Journal is a nonprofit newspaper supported by generous readers, committed advertisers and charitable organizations. Email [email protected]. 2 THE JEWISH JOURNAL – JEWISHJOURNAL.ORG – DECEMBER 5, 2019 NOW OPEN! Andover’s Newest Senior Living Community Now welcoming new residents Living well means the freedom to have quality care and a lifestyle without worry. We take care of the details so you can spend quality time with family, meet new friends, learn something new or simply enjoy life. Make moving easier. Ask our team about arranging moving services. Call to speak with Dina or Patty: 978.664.2600 Visit: 141 Elm Street in Andover, MA Online: StoneHillAndover.com 15 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE SERVING SENIORS IN NEW ENGLAND THE JEWISH JOURNAL – JEWISHJOURNAL.ORG – DECEMBER 5, 2019 3 APPRECIATION Yup … Chelsea’s Joe Smith signed Jimi Hendrix, James Taylor and the Grateful Dead By Steven A. Rosenberg Ask the Audiologist JOURNAL STAFF Dear Dr. McCormack: Joe Smith always walked How can I encourage my husband to have a hearing evaluation? He denies around with a little bit of having difficulty hearing, but I watched him withdraw at Thanksgiving Chelsea in his stride. His smarts because as he could not follow most of the conversation! came from the streets and the classroom – he was the presi- People often do not realize what they are missing. The first step is to create dent of the Chelsea High School an awareness of when something was missed or misunderstood. By not Class of 1945. Smith went on to saying anything you reinforce his perception that he is functioning just fine. Yale, served in the military, and Show him how his untreated hearing loss affects relationships with loved drove out to Los Angeles where ones. Family life does not have a “repeat button!” he became a seminal figure in Enlist the help of other family members or your physician to encourage having the music industry. He even- a hearing evaluation as a first step to better hearing. We are here to help! tually led three major record labels, and along the way signed dozens of artists ranging from Frank Sinatra, Allan Sherman, Jimi Hendrix, and James Taylor Photo: Steven A. Rosenberg/Journal Staff to the Grateful Dead, Van “Chelsea is a part of me, it will always be,” Joe Smith said during a Morrison, Garth Brooks and the tour of his gold record collection in his Beverly Hills home. He died Eagles. this week at the age of 91. Smith died earlier this week at the age of 91. Square?” he wanted to know. Asylum and Capitol-EMI. Several years ago, I heard While he had spent years rub- Smith said that because of Smith was donating hundreds bing elbows with the world’s different management styles of hours of taped interviews greatest musicians, Chelsea was – which focused on carefully he had conducted with most never far from his thoughts: crafting superstars – stars such HELP WANTED of the top music luminaries of “Chelsea is a part of me, it will as Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and the 20th century to the Library always be.” the Grateful Dead would not of Congress. He had included He also wanted to know if you be signed today because they excerpts of those interviews in could still find good Chinese didn’t fit the corporate mold. North Shore Conservative Synagogue his book “Off the Record: An food in Boston’s Chinatown. “I “First of all, the corporate seeking a High Holiday assistant Oral History of Popular Music.” used to have Sammy Davis Jr. would want a business plan. He invited me to visit him in over here for dinners, and we’d They’d hear the Grateful Dead to co-officiate with the Spiritual Leader. his Beverly Hills home where he fly in a chef from Chinatown and they’d say, ‘What’s this would discuss his career. because he loved Boston’s about? How many do you expect “The cassette tapes were sit- Chinese food,” he said. to sell, what kind of profit can we If interested, please email ting in my garage for over 20 Smith told me that most of make on this?’” he said.
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