Aviva In Poland

April Shower bring May Flowers?

2007-05-09T03:15:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends Family and Readers

I have gotten really bad at keeping up with my blog and I think the reason is that it comes to a point where you get so caught up in the life you are living. But I still want to share as best as I am able what I am doing and what life is looking like here.

April is a very busy month for Polish Jews and this week in May marks the end of a period of memory, commemoration and reflection. Right when Pesach ends Poland becomes filled with young people here to learn as first hand as possible about the Holocaust through the March of the Living Program. It was very overwhelming for me to come to shul on the Friday that marked the beginning of the trip. Suddenly the small Friday night service that I have come to enjoy and feel so comfortable at was filled with at least 600 people for the 3 different Kabalat Services. I happen to have for the one that a large delegation from Canada was at and ran into many people who were shocked to find me living in Warsaw. Luckily the JDC March of the Living group that I was working with was not beginnig their program until Sunday morning and I had the pleasure of hosting one of my JDC bosses from NYC for a Shabbat meal. I have to share with you how nervous I was to commemorate Yom Hashoah, which began Sunday night, in Poland. I spent Sunday hosting MOL participants, that JDC gathers from many countries and continents around the world. We did a ghetto tour and saw many key monuments. To start the evening one of my seniors who I have gotten very close and who has a wonderful story, came to the Youth Club to share her story witht the teenagers. On Monday I joined 8000 on the March of the Living which is a march from Auschwitz to Birkenau. The day brought out many different feeling and I look forward to sharing them in the future. The week also brought Ghetto Uprising Memorial Day which is a very important day in Warsaw and is commemorated in many different ways.

To switch from Holocaust commemoration to happier things, my Dad and Linda came to Warsaw. After 8 months I got to see some of my family and it was so great to have them in Warsaw with me. We had such a busy week. The day they landed there was big birthday party for Tal Osnat and I and my parents were overwhelmed with all the people they met, but enjoyed seeing the people who I spend my life with. Together we went to Zakopane a mountain town outside of Krakow, Krakow and to Auschwitz(yes thats a lot of that place in a short time). We returned to Warsaw in time to celebrate Yom Ha atzmaut in the Senior Club and they got to see me speaking in Polish and hanging out with my seniors. It was a very special program and it was incredibly moving to be with 25 seniors in Warsaw while they all sung Hatikvah. I took my parents to meet friends, they were happily in attendence at my surprise party at the office and of course I made sure to include one of my favourite spots in my Warsaw tour, H&M.

I am now back at work after my parents have gone and week holidays in May-they have soo many national holidays here it is wonderful! For that week I was in Stockholm with friends and I met my Dad and Linda for the last part of their trip in Budapest. I feel like I have been running all around and cramming lots of different things in and when I looked at the calander today I realize I have just over 3months here and so much that I still want to see do and be able to share. These nexts are going to be incredibly busy seniors camp, a volunteer exchange program visit and camps! I am looking forward to sharing the last part of my journey here with all of you

Lots of love from Warsaw
Aviva

Wonderous Life in Warsaw

2007-04-08T02:08:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends Family and Readers
Wow a whole month since I have posted, I really have been so incredibly busy with so much that has gone on. So I will just give the short and sweet run down of what I have been up too. I did move, apartment hunting in Warsaw is a very interesting experience. One of my co workers was put in charge of finding me a new place and together we looked at lots of places, and let me tell you, after 7months in Poland your needs and standards really change. I found a great place that is very close and central, it has is very small and lacks an oven but I love it. My friends all helped move and I got setteled into my new place very quickly-there of course some hilarious stories of figuring out a new apartment, but those will need to be told in person. Right after the move I went to Slovakia for a students seminar which was very interesting, very unlike any other seminar I have ever been on and the bottom line even though we spent 10 hours in small van to get to and from and it was still very fun.
In terms of work Pesach meant a lot of prep, a program for the Seniors, Matzah delivery for the seniors and of course visiting with all my old ladies. All of these projects were a lot of work, a little aggervating but at the end of the day very rewarding.
Pesach of course for me meant a lot of cleaning, a gathering of different food that was sent to Poland from Israel and North America and learning how to make food that I never had to cook before.
The Seders that I had were very different and meaningful. On the first night I attended the large community seder, which fortunatley was divided by Polish and Hebrew, so I attended the smaller Hebrew Seder with many of my close friends. It was very nice, desipte the homesickness that I felt not being with my family. I did bring some of our family traditions to this Seder. On the second night I had a really special oppurtunity to a lead JDC Community Seder for young families and adults. It was a lot of fun, I used my broken Polish and had someone translating and Tal and Osnat brought a lot of ideas and explanations to the Seder as well. Together we know that we gave an interactive fun and informative Seder to people who never would have one.
Now as Pesach is nearing the end, I am sick of Chicken Soup, have gone to the movies twice, have been able to plan some upcoming programs, most excitingly my Dad and Linda's trip to Poland and have gotten numerous emails from people coming on the March of the Living this week. So I am getting ready for a lot of work and fun things coming up!
Sitting in shul a lot these past few days I have thought a lot this year and my Pesach. The message of from being Slaves to being free is a strong one in the Hagaddah and a strong one to Polish Jews today. For me, this year I have felt the message of freedom in a stronger way then I have ever felt before. I have been free to spend a year helping a reviving, dynamic and interesting Jewish Community. I have had the freedom to learn, help and learn more. I hope that the freedom I have felt this year and Pesach is one that I will be able to nurture and maintain. The lessons that I have learnt about what it means to Polish Jews today to having once been an enslaved community in so many ways to now being free are lessons that I will always take with me.
I am looking forward to sharing with you about the March of the Living, my visit from home, Yom Hatzmaut and the birthday party that Tal Osnat and I are having in honour of the three April birthdays we have. Enjoy your holiday
Lots and lots of love from Warsaw
Aviva

Spring is Coming.....

2007-03-15T02:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends Family and Readers
I didn't realize how long it has been since I have posted some news from life in Warsaw. Time is flying here, a lot is going on and best of all the sun is starting to shine and the weather is getting warmer. Since the last time I wrote we managed to pull off wonderful Purim programs. For a holiday that is a day and half,, for me it went out for about 2 weeks with all the programming that took place around the holiday. My office, together with the community, the JDC Youth Club and the Lauder School put together wonderful Mishloach Monat for 200 seniors in the Warsaw area. The Youth Club kids contributed the cards, the school hamentashen, members of the community volunteered to help pacakge and deliever and my office and our volunteers did just about everything that needed to be done. In the end we had full beautiful packages, fufilled volunteers and happy seniors. I also organized a Purim Party in the Senior Club which was soooo much fun. Around 40 seniors came, the Rabbi's spoke about the holiday and we sang, danced, decorated masks and the seniors enjoyed Mishloach Manot. I also had a special program that weekend for some of our Families in Need prgoram-they came to my apartment for hamentashen baking and then joined the Youth Club for their Purim acitivies. There was also a special program for the parents, which my boss Ewa facilitated. All of these activites were amazing, so much happened and I know that the participants got a lot out of them. The different facets of the community also worked together and contributed so much to the programs. The week after Purim when I had finished sending out Thank You notes, cleaning up the mess and sorting out the receipts I joked that if I never see another hamentashen it won't be too soon. The truth is I know that I will never have another Purim like I have had here. The messages of survival, of taking care of one another and of celebrating were highlighted to me this year. Anyways Purim is no long gone and many other things are on the go.

I am working on big program for Pesach, together with the Lauder School Students and I hope some other young people I hope to have what I am calling a Pesach Circus in the Senior Club where the seniors and the young people work together on several small activities, share their different stories, questions and insights and create some art, thought provoking questions and stoires, that in which ever way people celebrat Pesach, these things can be shared.

With the nice weather, a lot of my old ladies have been very excited when I have and we have been able to go on walks together. For some of them, it is too hard to walk far alone so they are very happy for the air and a walk. I am so appreciative of their stories, advice and questions that they always have. There are so many things that I can not wait to share in person with so many of you. To write them here-does not do justice to how they are told.

This weekend I am attending another Madrichim(counselor) training seminar just outside of Warsaw. I have worked on a program to educate and model different Shabbat rituals and traditions. The hope is that this summer all of the madrichim will be able to not only participate in these rituals, but to lead them and to teach them at camp-well see how it goes.

With all of these things going my apartment problems have continued to the point that I am moving by the end of the month. I told my boss that I could write a book on apartment searching in Warsaw. I do believe I found something that will work well, hopefully by the next time I write I will have moved. It is funny how your standards totally change once you move to another part of the world and what was once important and essential no longer is. I will keep you updated.
So I have been busy and continue to amazed, challenged and inspired by my life here. It is also very weird, that I am more then halfway done my year, time is flying!
Lots of Love
Aviva

The Snow Continues to Fall...

2007-02-22T02:33:00.000-08:00

The snow continues to fall and life in Warsaw is continuing despite it all. Things in Warsaw are very busy with work, sorting out the washing machine saga and with starting to look into my future as I am realizing that my work in Warsaw will one day end.

I have been swamped preparing Purim programs. I am laughing again at the fact that a one day holiday has turned into a week of programs, but what I am working on is great. I will tell you briefly and next week share how it all turned out. My office(the Volunteer Centre) has mobilized the community and we are working with them, the school and the youth to organize the purchasing of products, packing and delivery of Mishloach Manot(Purim Packages) to over 200 Seniors who are community members and our clients. It is an incredible amount of work, organzing list of seniors and calling them, recruiting additional volunteers(including the Lauder school students), shopping for it all and making sure that it will be a nice experience for the volunteers and the seniors receiving the packages. My nightly shopping at Carefour(our local Walmart) has become a laughable experience and figuring out if it is wiser to include vitamins or pill boxes in the packages-it is for seniors, in addition to how many hamentashen can be baked. This project is emphasizing the community building work which is so important.

In addition to that I am planning the Senior Club Purim party-we will be decorating masks and those premade masks don't exist in Warsaw, so I am becoming a good mask cutter outer. And finally I am working on a new program idea-we have a group of people that we assist called our "Families in Need Program" and for Purim I have pushed a new idea, to bring the children who live in Warsaw and the area to the youth programming which they have not been exposed to, and before that, to come to a special hamentashen baking party at my apartment. So the parents and children will have a full day and I am hoping that programming like this can continue and happen in other cities as well.

Sooo it is very busy and in the middle of these days I am spending time taking lunch to an old woman who used to come by for English lessons but has gotten very sick. I am so happy to be seeing her and visiting with her for a bit. Winter here is hard, I have been gone for a long time and I am so busy. But spending half and hour (and the 1hour trek)with my Josephina amidst it all is a great refreshing breath and really warms my heart. She is the kindest wisest woman and the illness that her and her husband are dealing with is so sad. I will share with you the sweetest thing-despite what they are sick wtih she wanted to go for a short walk with me so she put on her shoes with a shoe horn and since she cant bend, he appeared there the moment she was ready and tied her shoes for her, it was the sweetest thing to see.

Next will be the test of our ability to accomplish big things and pull these programs that we have put so much into. I am looking forward to a weekend with my first visitor to Warsaw, my friend Mollie a fellow JSC volunteer who is spending the year in Kiev. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I will share at the end of it all how the programs went and maybe one day I will be able to also share that I have a working washing machine
Sending warm hugs from Warsaw
Love
Aviva

And You Want to Tell Me there are No Jews in Poland....

2007-02-12T01:13:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends Family and Readers

I was surrounded by 200 of Polish Jews for Shabbat and another 300 for an incredible day on Sunday. This weekend marked the opening of the Yeshivah in Lublin, marking the first time that there was a Yeshivah there since before the war. The Yeshivah space was returned to Polish Jewsish Community in 1997 and has been recently renovated. All of these fun details are placed in varies news stories on the net which you really should read about. What is not found in the articles in the incredible spirit and energy that those of us there felt. Arriving Friday for Shabbat and participating in Kabalat Shabbat with over 150 in synagouge that hadn't seen that many Jews in that space for over 60 years is incredibly moving. Throughout Shabbat, my dear friends Tal and Osnat(2 volunteers from Israel) and I brought an abundance of energy singing and life to the group of Polish Jews who were so enthralled by the experience. There was singing, dancing learning, neighbourhood tours and eating during Shabbat. The media was all over the moving Havdallah Service which was followed by all of the women lighting big candles and filling all the rooms in the 3 story building, symbolizing the fact that the lights are back in the Yeshivah.

Sunday morning brought an additional 300 people for the official opening of the Yeshivah.It was very cool seeing the community leaders unveil the sign, the bringing of the Torah and people of all ages feeling very proud to be standing at the event. Everyone present felt the hope for continued growth and revival of Jewish life in Poland. Having been a part of this community for almost 6months, you appreciate the smallest things-a big group of people showing up for a senior club program, a new person wanting to volunteer in the community, a child learning the words to a song you taught them-and so seeing something so big and so important for the Polish Jewish Community is really incredible. No one knows the future of Jewish Communities anywhere but seeing an event like this and the pride, energy and hope which filled the Yeshivah, there is no denying that for Jews in Poland there is a future. I am so thankful that I was able to be at the event, to bring my joy and energy to it and to see history and a future taking place.

Have a wonderful week
Love from Warsaw
Aviva

The Almond Tree Is Blooming...

2007-02-06T01:05:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends Family and Readers

The Almond Tree Is Blooming..while not quit yet but I certainly did celebrate TuBishvat and sang the song "Hashkaidiah Porachat" which means the Almond tree is blooming several times in the past week and half marking how I have celebrated TuBishvat in Poland. For a place where the sun doesn't shine very often, unless of course you are willing to make your own and share(think about how you would do that) I certainly sang about sun, new growth and talked about the history of the holiday a lot.
At the Sarvasz follow up that I wrote about last time, we had a lovely TuBishavt Sedar filled with all the different kinds of fruits and wine and gave a group of 14-16 year olds an oppurtunity to celebrate TuBishvat in a way that they have never done before.
Fast Forward one week and come you will come to this past Friday night where we had a group of University Students gather together in our New Youth Club for a Shabbat Dinner and of course a TuBishvat Sedar. We enjoyed the addition of Rabbi Goldberg who added his thoughts and with this group we had some more singing which was really very nice.
For my last TuBishvat celebration I organized a special program in the Senior Club. We spoke and shared thoughts on TuBishvat, ate dried fruits, I taught them the song "Hashkediah Porachat" which they loved and then the 15 of us all planting seeds together. We did not venture outside in the snow but we did plant flower seeds in cups which we will all take of and water regularly in the senior club, bringing new life into a place with older souls. There is something very special about planting seeds and celebrating new growth with a group of very old, yet very new and curious people. So as I am laughing that I have never celebrated TuBishvat more often then I did here but in all seriousness it was really wonderful to bring new ideas, some new life and some more hope to a community that is in the process of reviving.

Sending warmth and hopes for continued growth in communities all over the World
Aviva

Winter in Warsaw

2007-02-01T05:25:00.000-08:00

Dear Family Friends and Readers

It is finally winter in Warsaw. As soon as I landed from Israel last week it started to snow and it got super cold-that is ok because I have all my warmest winter clothes and my apartment could even be said to be too warm.

Things have been pretty busy since I have landed, I am working on a lot of TuBishvat Programs, taught a cooking class and helped out at a Sarvasz(International Jewish Summer Camp) weekend retreat. The retreat brought young teenagers from all over Poland together for a long weekend of Jewish Programs, Dance Parties and the oppurunity to for all the campers to reconnect!

In addition to the work I have been struggling to maintain my sanity amidst the insanity of my apartment. You may remember reading a while back about th fuse blowing and the broken washing machine. While...this week brought even more apartment adventures. I went to put just 4 dishtowels in the machine and could not focus on the Friends episode I was watching because of the horrible sounds the machine was making. When I went to investiagate I found a very overheated machine(why I have no idea) that was also stuck. In my attempt to unstick the machine I got my fingers caught, I did get them out but my hands are not a pretty sight-I hope you are not laughing too hard cause this gets more insane. I called my dear friend over to help and we attempted one more time to start the machine, this time when we did that it started smoking-dont worry we unplugged it fast and we are fine. At this point the landlady is called and her very Polish mother came over to investigate. Amidst her investigation she turned the machine on-even though I really tried to explain to her not to, but there is that whole language problem, soo she did and it started flooding everywhere. The machine will be repaired soon I hope and in the meantime I will be using my friends washing machine. If this story is not enough for one week, I have more. I woke up this morning and there was no water, apprently in several apartments on my street this is the case and no one knows when it will return, my dad hopes by his visit in April and I hope by the time I get home from work!

I hope you are all doing well and starying warm
I will write all about the Seniors planting seeds for TuBishvat next week-Im sure it will be fun
Warm Hugs from Warsaw
Aviva

It Seems Like Forever....

2007-01-23T04:10:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends Family and Readers

It seems like forever since I have last written and it has been a long time so I will just share the highlights since Chanuukah.
Almost right after Chanukah I spent a week at Lauder Foundation Winter Family Camp. The camp took place just outside of Lodz and there were over 80 young, old and in between people who attended the camp. There were special programs for children, Jewish based lectures and seminars for adults and super evening programs for everyone. The camp of course fell during Shabbat and everyone enjoyed an uplifiting and spirit filled day. I was there to help with the children and evening programs and really had a lot of fun doing both of those things. Even in Poland with my limited language ability I managed to bring an abundance of energy and ruach to the program. The best part....they appreicated my singing there more then it has ever been appreicated at camp before. It was a great program and it was a really nice way to get to know more of the families in Poland.

After that I had a short time in Warsaw and then I had the pleasure of a working vacation in Israel. I just returned after spending 9 days there and in that time I did a lot of things. I had the chance to see some dear friends that I have been missing like crazy. They gave the best hugs, lots of support and good ears. I also ate so many of the treats that I have been missing while in Poland and enjoyed the endless sunshine that was in Jerusalem for the week I was there.

The main reason that I went to Israel though was for a JDC Jewish Service Corps Seminar. All 12 volunteers came together and met in Israel along with several JDC Executive Staff members for an informative, idea sharing, experience sharing, reflection and motivating semiar. The Seminar took place for 4 days in Jerusalem and I have to say that it was such an incredible 4 days. The sharing and understanding that took place between the volunteers was so helpful and important and the reasources, information and support that JDC staff shared was exceptional. The value of sharing with people who are in totally different places physically, but doing similar work and encountering some similar challenges and successes was very powerful. I entered the semiar with names, places of where people were based, a brief idea of who many of them were and I left with wonderful friends and people who I feel very connected to. The work that my fellow volunteers are doing all over the world, is different, important and inspiring. I feel renergized, motivated and looking forward to another 7 months to continue my work in Poland.

I will stay better connected in the coming months. I hope that you are staying warm and sunny wherever you.
Love from Warsaw
Aviva

The Lovely Lights of Chanukah

2006-12-21T12:41:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends Family and Readers
My apologies for not writing sooner. I didn't realize how long it has been but know I promise a good post. When you volunteer with the Jewish Community, Chanukah is up there on one of your busiest times of year and that is how these past weeks have been! Getting ready for Chanukah I wanted to make sure that everyone that I work with has a special way to celebrate. So the plans began and last week my office sent out Chanukah Packets to the over 60 Jewish Famailies in Need that we work with who are scattered throughout the country. The packets had dreidles, Chanukah games and information and small gifts, it was a great project to work on and I know that people who would have no way to celebrate had something. There were other prpeperations but you will read about them through my each candle description!

Candle One
This candle was light at a small retreat centre just outside Warsaw. I had the pleasure of working with the Youth and Education Department to help plan a seminar for upcoming madrichim(counselors) for this upcoming summer camp. This seminar was for new and returning counselors and brought 20 youngens from all over Poland together for a great weekend. So this was the first thing that we did together

Candle Two
This candle was also light at the seminar, it was lit after an incredible Havdallah by the water and at the end of a really amazing day. The group was incredible, hard working, motivating and energetic. They made me feel so lucky to be at such an incredible semiar and to have the oppurtunity to bring a lot of what I have experienced to them and for them to teach me so much. My love for Jewish camping returned and in a very different way. So this candle felt special and it was great to be in room surrounded by so many great people and so many new friends. After we light the candles, we got ready for the Warsaw Community Chanukah Ball which we all went to, and danced the night away at.

Candle Three
Just when I thought it could not get any better it did. The community hosted the third candle in the sqaure by the synangouge. It was a huge ceremoney with speechs by many Jewish leaders, the First Lady and lots of singing. The huge Chanukiyah was lit and the community celebrated together, while sharing our miracle and holiday with the entire city.

Candle Four
Candle four was another special light. There was small party for one of the JOINT departments that I work with. It was at a colleauge(who has become a good friend) home. The gathering was cozy, warm and made me feel lucky to have gotten to know and work with such amazing people in such a short time.

Candle Five
This candle was light with some close friends. We had a good meal and I was surrounded by amazing company. At the holiday time, when I feel like I should be home with my family, but know I can not be I really appreciate the new family I have here.

Candle Six
How could I have Chanuakh without my seniors. They are my people and I wanted to bring and spirit to them and together we had a wonderful party. There were sufganiyot or ponchkees in Polish, latkes, music, Chanukah cards(made at the madrichim seminar) a talk about Chanuak(I even used some Polish) and of course some of my favourite company in Warsaw.

Candle Seven
If you are still reading, you will be happy to hear that I hosted a Chanukah Party too. Every year at University my dearest friends and I hosted a Chanukah Party at our home and I decided that this year, even though I am in Warsaw and not at Queen's I would keep the tradition alive and have a party at my place. Since I have limited(but wonderful space) I kept it to just work people. Work people for me have become my extended family here and it was so great to have them at my apartment, to eat latkes that I made(dont worry no fire) and to make a nice party for them. They have been so amazing and helpful to me and I wanted to do something nice for them. Thats just what it was-warm and nice. They are amazing people and I hope that in every job I have I work with such an amazing group of people.

Candle Eight
I know it has not happened yet but I will be with a family and friend that are just so wonderful and so thoughtful to make sure that I will be filled with warmth for the last light.

So that is what I am doing and how I have spent my time. This blog is filled with mushiness but that is how I have felt this week. I had a holiday that I gave a lot too and that I got a lot from. As it was approaching I was nervous about my programs and nervous about being away from my family. Now that it is over Im so pleased with the work that was done and despite missing my friends and family soooo much I realized that I have created a family here and I am so fortunate to have my colleagues, friends, seniors and community that I feel so close to. My Chanukah miracle is the realziation, hope and knowledge of Jewish life in Poland and the warmth which is within it.
Please Be in touch and enjoy your holidays, family and friends, whoever they are and wherever you may be celebrating
Warm Hugs from Warsaw
Aviva

The Wonders of Warsaw!

2006-12-01T01:09:00.000-08:00

Dearest Family, Friends and Readers

Yesterday officially marked 3 months since I arrived in Warsaw and the past weeks have been so incredible and energizing!

I have been writing for a long time about Mitzvah Week, which took place in the 7 communities that the Social Welfare System works in, was run by the volunteer centre(my office that I share with my wonderful boss) and the idea was to create a program in each community to thank and show volunteer appreciation, promote our work, unite communities and bring everyone together. Our centre created special gifts and diplomas for all volunteers. We sent material about Mitzvot and encouraged the Social Workers to include as much of the community as possible. Events took place on different days throughout the week and I was fortunate to travel to Krakow and Gdansk for their events.

In Krakow the event took place at the senior club, volunteers, seniors, members of the community, the Rabbi and Youth leadership all came. The Social Worker made a presentation, the Rabbi spoke addressing the importance of the work and everyone had a wonderful time.
I returned to Warsaw and left Friday morning to spend Shabbat in Gdansk. Gdansk has a small and truely lovely Jewish Community. Volunteers, seniors and members of the community gathered for Shabbat Dinner. The President of the community addressed the volunteers and expressed gratitude for their work, the Social Worker made a short presentation and I made a speech about the week and the importance of what we do. I even managed a few sentences in Polish! At that dinner which had about 30 people I really felt like I was surrounded by a wonderful family.

I got back to Warsaw late Saturday night and on Sunday we were having the final Mizvah Day program that we had worked very hard on. I was so nervous about numbers, the program, the food-you name it and it went so well. The idea was to bring our volunteers, their clients, the youth, the day school kids, the community leadership and members of the community together for an afternoon to celebrate...and thats just what happened! We had over 50 people, our volunteers brought their clients, the Youth Club kids performed, the Lauder School students sang, the community President Spoke, the Lauder School Director spoke, my boss( the volunteer centre director) presented our volunteers with diplomas and gifts and everyone had a wonderful time. People remained for a long time and enjoyed the wonderful food and company. I felt so inspired by the event. So many different people came together to celebrate doing Mitzvot and so many different people were touched and inspired by the event. I now know that these events are possible. Uniting communites is so important and it is embraced when it is done. There are so many different people, different Jews with different stories, ubringings and values and they are connected to eachother, their Judaism and their roots. Their Jewish lives, past, present and futures are important and embraced and I was fortunate enough to see this first hand and experience the energy and warmth in different communities around Poland.

Sooo that was what I did-this week I took a mini vacation with my friends to Berlin, which was soo much fun. Its wonderful when it only takes 5 hours to get there! Now I am back at work and we are working on plans, for Chanukah, Im going to be attending and planning a training seminar for young counselors(a differnt JDC department-but Im here to do anything) and are making some long term plans and goals for the New Year.
If you are still reading-thank you!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend and Shabbat Shalom!
Sending lots of love and inspiration from Warsaw
Aviva

On the Go...

2006-11-21T02:21:00.000-08:00

Time continues to fly and I continue to be amazed at the oppurtunities that I have here. Since I last wrote many things have gone on.
Firstly last weekend I spent Shabbat at Swdborow with the organization "Children of the Holocaust". They were having a 10 day retreat and I went for Shabbat. They were a wonderful group of people and I had an incredible time with them. We enjoyed learning the hebrew alpha bet, writing making Shabbat Shalom notes, singing shabbat songs and enjoying a traditional meal together. The participants have incredible stories and a wonderful spirit. They wanted me to teach them Israeli Dancing and if you know me you know that I cant dance. But...I will try anything, so without music, which meant me singing too, which I also can not do I sang and danced with them. I must have fooled them and we all had a wonderful time. Shabbat ended with me leading them in Havdallah and them seeing me off to the bus. I hope to spend more time and provide special programs for this wonderful group of people.
My week has been very busy preparing "Mitzvah Days" which are happening now and taking place in 7 Jewish communities around Poland. Every community is doing a small and different program which will show volunteer appreciation, promote volunteering and unite communities. We have prepared diplomas and gifts for all the volunteers.
I am looking forward to attending the program in Krakow this week and spending time in the community there. I am also going to be spending Shabbat in Gdansk and making at speech at their Mitzvah Day event, which is a special Shabbat Dinner. I will return to Warsaw late Saturday night and then Sunday the final Mitzvah Day event is taking place in Warsaw. Im hoping that the day will be a special day for the volunteers and the entire community. We have been working hard to involve and include everyone to be together and to celebrate volunteering. I will post pictures and give a good update once all the programs are over. I can do this after I return from a small trip to Berlin which is how I will be spending the first part of next week. Sooo Im off for some fun adventures. Hopefully my cold will disappear and Im looking forward to sharing some wonderful stories with all of you.
Lots of Love
Aviva

A Mishmash Of News

2006-11-09T05:13:00.000-08:00

My Dearest Family, Friends and Readers,
It has been a long time since I have written-and Im sorry. I have been busy doing lots of different things. So, what I will do is just let you in on some of the exciting things that have been going on in Warsaw.
Last I wrote I was gearing up for a weekend Seminar for the Social Welfare Commission Volunteers. At this point it feels lifetimes ago, but really it is just 2 weeks. The Seminar went over very well, with a few small glitches-nothing major. Its seemed that all 32 participants got a lot out of the sessions on assertivness, active listening, group building and case studies. The seminar was enintirely in Polish so I was a very active observer. It was an itneresting and educational experience. We are planning to have another seminar in Mid March to build on the ideas of this past one.
Now we are gearing up for an exciting Mitzvah Week which is a week that will celebrate and show appreciation for volunteers, educate about volunteering and unite the various communities. The week will take place from November 19-26 and will be happening in the 7cities that the Social Welfare Commission works in. I am working on the program in Warsaw and will be attending the one in Gdnask and Krakow.
This weekend there is a retreat for the organization "Children of the Holocaust" and I will be joining them for shabbat, bringing songs, candles and the sprit of shabbat to the group.
I have finally gotten into my Polish lessons. I am taking them with my friend and we go for an hour twice a week. It is super hard and learning a new language from the beginning is no easy task.
I have explored a wonderful exhibit at the Modern Art Museum and enjoyed watching how Polish people celebrate "All Saints Day"-their version of Halloween. They go to the cemetary and light lots of candles and bring flowers to the grave. We went late at night and look at the beautiful cemetary all light up.
That is a quick update about what Im up and what is going on. It is defenitly becoming winter, it has already snowed and it is getting very cold. The malls also have their Christmas music on and specials starting.
Please keep reading and continuing to be in touch-it really helps a lot!
Sending lots of love and warm hugs from Warsaw
Aviva

The Value of Kindness

2006-10-27T02:18:00.000-07:00

Dear All
Another week has past and Im not sure where the time is going...I can not believe that this week marks the end of my second month in Warsaw. In case you were concerned I do have power, and I learnt not to use the washing machine and the oven at the same time! In that same note, I did manage to break the washing machine and had quit an adventure fixing it, but at the end of the week I had power and a washing machine! Its amazing how the tiniest thing can be much larger when you have a lanuage barrier. I am so fortunate to have such wonderful support fromt the people I work with. The care and attention they give me to make sure the things I need are taken care of is really amazing.
This week has gone by so quickly and I have been incredibley busy preparing a seminar for the Social Welfare Commission volunteers. There will be volunteers and Social Workers coming from all over Poland to participate in a Seminar which will include group building and communication activities, a workshop on the role of the Social Worker and the volunteer when dealing with clients, an acitive listening workshop and several other small things. There will be meals, hopefully some singing at Shabbat and an oppurtunity to unite a diverse group all people all putting time and effort into volunteering. The weekend should be motivating and inspiring for all those involved.
The Seminar will end with the next project being presented. Mitzvah Days are something which the Social Welfare Commission presents and they are several days used to promote the Mitzvah of volunteering, show our appreciation and thanks to the wonderful volunteers, recrute new volunteers and highlight the value and importance of volunteering within the various Jewish communites. Each community will host a special event for volunteers, clients, Social Workers and members of the community. In addition, volunteers that see clients regularly will take special gifts to their clients during that week. This week will take place between November 19-26 and it falls nicely into "Social Action Month". If you are interested in doing something in connection with your schools, youth groups, hebrew schools, campuses, or anything else you are involved in, please be in touch. It is a great way to promote doing good deeds, volunteering and helping others. I hope you have had a wonderful week
Shabbat Shalom
Love Aviva
If you are interested in doing a program like this please check out
www.jdc.org,
www.jdc.org/how_vlntr_jsc.html

Lights?-A Hilarious Moment!

2006-10-18T14:24:00.000-07:00

I have been sharing with you all about the wonderful work I am doing, what I have not been sharing are some of the moments that one only has when they are in a new place building a new life. I could write a book on how to get lost on Warsaw, how to go about getting internet when you do not speak the language, how I nod to so many things, when I have no idea what people are saying- but the best happened tonight.
I was making dinner for my friends and it was almost ready and they were about to come. My music was blasting and I was having a good time-till suddenly theres no power at all. I must have blown a fuse and needed to think how to quickly fix the situation and save the dinner in the oven and on the stove. I speak little Polish, my neighbours dont speak English and I dont know how to fix anything! So luckily my landlandy had written her apartment number down for me and I went to her. She also speaks no English so when I showed up we called her daughter who translated the situation for us. After she turned her dinner off she came to my apartment where my friends were standing at my door confused and then laughing. We needed to get into the fuse box but the key would not work. So when the neighbours heard the continued commotion one came with wire cutters to break open the fuse box, Of course I had no idea what they were saying but about 30 mintues after this episode began-I had power. All this with being unable to communicate with those around me for help! I was soo appreciative I offered them the cookies I had received from home today! Im rearning that smiles, tears and translators can be an ok way to communicate. Thankfully I stared Polish lessons yesterday.
Hope this makes you laugh as much as it made my friends as I when we finally sat down to a great dinner-thanks to the amazing package of desired treats, condiments and books I got from my family today. Have a great rest of the week
Love
Aviva

Sukkah, Students & Seniors

2006-10-16T01:28:00.000-07:00

Part of what I am here to do is to encourage young people to volunteer and to share the imoportance of volunteering. This task is not always easy, but when it happens and you are able to see the outcome it is amazing. I have been working with the Lauder Morasha Day School to bring some of their students to the Senior Club. This past Tuesday, after several meetings 14 girls from the school came to the Sukkah and sang to the Seniors who came to hear them.
The girls, with the assistance of their music teacher, who played the key board sang Jewish songs in Hebrew, Yiddush and Polish. There were several things that literally brought tears to my eyes throughout the hour the students were with the seniors. Firstly, that all of us were sitting in a beautiful Sukkah which adjoined the shul on a bright sunny day in Warsaw. The students brought enthusiasm, smiles and several songs which I have commonly heard sung at Camp and Shuls in North America. They also brought tradtional Yiddush songs and then the addition of Polish songs about Sukkot.
The Seniors, who often love to talk more then listen, were clearly enchanted with the singing and sat patiently and calmly while they were sung to, and enganged with, trough the copies of all the songs, that were brought to them. After all of the singing was over the seniors spoke to the students for a few minutes before they returned to school. The fact that the students could bring their talents of singing and particularly Jewish song to the Sukkah and the seniors, enhanced the holiday for everyone.
For me, it showed me that there is a way to connecting the young to the old and for everyone to enjoy from one another through the common love and appreication of being able to share together in the Sukkah, during the holiday. I look forward to more activities with the students and the seniors together! I hope you all have a wonderful week and I promise to write something about how much fun Simchat Torah in Warsaw is! Have a great week
Lots of Love
Aviva

As I Continue to Get More Setteled....

2006-10-04T06:49:00.000-07:00

It has been along time since I have posted something-I was feeling that nothing overly exciting was going on and then I realized that eachday and everything that I have the oppurtunity to do is exciting. Since Rosh Hashanah and the ending of the holiday I have continued to think about what will happen during this New Year and where life will take all of us-I wish I had some answer but Im contiuning to focus on the special community I am in now and what I can do for it.

Im learning that even the smallest things that I do make a big difference. Ive been bringing one lady lunch everyday and I stay and visit for a few minutes and when I leave she is in such wonderful spirits. Last Friday I brought Shabbat candles and we lit them together. Im continuing to spend time at the Senior Club and while my language is still a barrier I continue to enjoy their company. I have organized a special program for Sukkot which will take place next week. The Lauder Morasha Day School students will be coming to the Club and we will all go to the Sukkah together for a wonderful activity. Im thrilled that I was able to orgazine the students coming. It will be a great oppurtunity for them to spend time with the seniors and think about how they can be active in volunteering and of course the Seniors will love their time with them. I promise to post pictures of the event!

Tomorrow we will have our opening volunteer meeting for all of the Social Welfare volunteers in Warsaw. Im looking forward to meeting the ones I have not met, to sharing some ideas with them and to doing a special program about "Hashnasat Orchim-Welcoming Guests". Im also realizing that the to bridge the gap between the generations , to have the youth volunteering and doing programs with seniors-is a large task and something which I am slowly making some moves in the right direction. These ideas and programs are something I work on daily and look forward to getting at least one more off the ground in the next month. It is not easy to do but it is a wonderful challenge and anytime someone gets in touch or shows interest its a success. Im learning to appreciate all small feats and to understand that things take time-lots of time.

I personally am getting much more setteled and comfortable in my life. Ive adjusted to living alone a little too well and I love knowing how to get around and find what I need easily. It is still fun to discover more places and meet different faces. The language barrier is still a challenge. Im starting to understand more and my boss has found me some semi-private polish lessons and hopefully they will start very soon! Im slowly meeting more young people-I would love to meet more and I will. My life has slowed down and is less hectic. I can really appreciate what I am doing and the people I interact with. I look forward to conitnuing to share more about the life and would love to hear what you think!

Please check out these links if you are interested in having oppurtnity like this one
www.jdc.org
www.jdc.org/how_vlntr_jsc.html
www.jdc.org/how_wolf.html

A Special New Year with A Special Community

2006-09-25T02:14:00.000-07:00

Shana Tova and Happy New Year
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. I must share with all of you what Rosh Hashanah in Warsaw was and what it meant to me. For me in really began when I returned to Sdborow for the last night that they had there. I was able to bring them Rosh Hashanah packages from the Lauder Morasha Day School which included a note about the holiday, apples, honey and challah. A fellow volunteer gave a talk about the meaning of the holiday and I made honey dishes with several of the seniors. It was wonderful to know that they were getting some things to sweeten and start their New Year.
The First Night, many people gathered at the Nozyk Synagouge where I attend(there is also a Chabad and another shul, Beit Warszawa) had a very nice service and similar to one I am used to. Afterwards, there is a community meal at a hall just beside the shul. I was amazed to see so many people gather and come to the meal. It was very nice to enjoy the first night with many members of the community that I am starting to get to know. The dinner was very long but nice and afterwards I went with some friends to PUSZ(Polish Union of Jewish Students) for a dinner they were having there. We got there late but it was nice to meet some youth. Shul shabbat morning was long-but again very much like a service at home. Afterwards I attended lunch at a family that is so wonderful, warm and welcoming. For that evening I went to another family-my supervisor which was another warm experience.
The Second day, I brought a woman who I have met through my work who is unbelievable. She has the most incredible story of survival and the way she helped in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, how she helped save over 2000 Jewish childern and how she survived 6 camps-not being a Jew. It was two years ago when she realized she was Jewish-so she joined me for services and lunch at my apartment. I will share more about her, the book she wrote and the movie that is being made about her another day.Buts shes Amazing!
Through the three weeks I have spent here the perspective I have been gaining about the Jewish community in Poland is so different then the perspective that most people have. Many of the tourists I meet regularly and the friends I have only know Poland to be somewhat of a graveyard. They do not have the privilege I have to understand the complexity, yet vibrancy of what is here.There is a community here. It is growing and changing and is composed of people who have had such a different experience with their understanding of their Jewish identity. Many many people who are middle aged did not always know they were Jewish and have discovered it at different points. But this holiday opened my eyes and reinforced what I am learning-there is a wonderful community in Warsaw and when to end my holiday, over 200 Jews from all the communites gathered and walked about 40 minutes-with Police stopping traffic at all intersections-to go to the River for Tashlich(a Jewish ritual which takes place during the 10 days of Repentence and is meant to throw away your sins) and saying the prayer together, one can not helped but feel moved and energized that not only is there a community here, but a community that cares and a community that is interesting and committed to being Jewish.
Please Continue to Read my thoughts about this as I continue to learn and discover more about Poland, the community and what it means to me. Nothing what make me happier then to read your thoughts, comments and what life is like for you.
I am attaching an amazing article that echoes some of what I have shared-someone sent it to me from the Washington Post and Jerusalem Post
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/21/AR2006092100240.html
Lots of Love
Aviva

A Smile Really is the Universal Language-September 18

2006-09-18T05:04:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a wonderful weekend filled with many great experiences. On Friday morning I took a bus to a small town outside of Warsaw called "Srodborow" where there is a 10 day retreat for Holocaust Survivors. There were 33 of them staying at a hotel like place that was on a beautiful property. After a somewhat nerveracking bus ride-I had no idea where the stop I needed to get off was and of course in true Poland fashion no one spoke English-I found my way. I spent the day visiting with the Seniors. We made candle sticks and decorated candles. My boss was in Warsaw so there was no one there to translate but somehow we understood eachother and had the most wonderful day. I was able to help them create things they were so proud of and they made me smile with their compliments, their attempt to teach me Polish and their energy. Many of them think I understood what they were saying because all I did was smile. Even though I really didn't I understand much I loved that they were full of life, enthusiasm and appreciated my company a lot. We had a very nice Shabbat dinner-I was able to light candles with them and listen to an old man proudly recite Kiddush. After dinner I sat and sang with some of them and then I listened to their stories. While again I could understand very little-someone there explained to me that they were telling the stories of their survival. I could see the tears and emotions, but also that they appreciated where they were. Saturday I spent more time with them and then I needed to catch a train to Krakow. The shabbat I spent with them was so special and wonderful. I really could understand very little of what they were saying but I could see how they felt and it made me so happy to know I got to spend time with them. Many of them live in Warsaw so I will be seeing them weekly and many of them live in other places that I will be visiting and doing programs at.
After my day with them I caught a train with my boss and ended up in Krakow late Saturday night. We were staying in the Jewish neighbourhood of Kashamish where we had dinner and even though it was super late-she took me to the downtown square which was beautiful and full of life. I need to say that where we were staying also had a wonderful square and there many "Jewish" bars and they were all very full and vibrant.
Sunday for my visit in Krakow I had the unique oppurtunity to attend and be a part of a symposium on the Jewish Community Centre which is being built and expected to be ready for Spring 2008. Unlike many who when they visit Krakow go right to the camps, I was able for my first time to be a part of a symposium about the present and the future of the very vibrant Jewish community of Krakow. The centre is being funded my many and there were representatives of the World Jewish Relif Fund, the JOINT, an Architect and of course the community(young and old leaders). Many people spoke about the plans and goals but most importantly the day was about engaging the 70ish members of the community who were in attendence about what they wanted to see the centre become and what they could contribute. There were open questions, small discussion groups and many different people sharing their hopes for the future of the community. It was energizing and inspiring to hear the excitement, fears, and hopes of the community for its future. I hope to return to Krakow for Sukkot to do a program with the youth and hopefully elderly. It was amazing to be a part of the beginnings of what they desciribed as their dream.
I returned late Sunday night and will be busy at work helping out and working on a program. I just returned from delivering Kosher lunches to two elderly couples. While of course I had the usual challenge of figuring out where they lived-I did and they so appreciated their food. With a smile we talked and now Im back at work.
Have a wonderful week
Love Aviva

So it Begins-Aviva In Poland-Septmeber 12

2006-09-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Family and Friends
I think the time has come for me to start a blog. I will continue to remain in touch with all of you personally but this will be a nice way for people to hear what Im doing on a regular basis.
Ive been in Warsaw for about 10 tens and Im finally starting to feel more setteled in my new home. I have a great apartment in downtown Warsaw and right near the shul that I work in. I have everything I need and there are several markets near by.
Im starting to learn my way around the city and have found a great mall, the beautiful Old City, the downtown area and some great streets. Im starting to get into the work that I am doing which will be the best part about being in Warsaw. I work with the Social Welfare Commission and am assiting the elderly and will be putting programs in place to bridge the gap and have the youth volunteer with the elderly. I will hopefully not just be doing this is Warsaw but in a few other cities that are involved with the Welfare Commission.
This week there is a Senior's Retreat-for Holocaust Survivors in a place just outside of Warsaw called Srodborow. They will be there for 10 days. I went out yesterday to help get them setteled and I will be returning for shabbat to doing crafts with them before. We will make challah and make shabbat and havdallah candles. We will have shabbat together and Ill help them with the rituals-I cant wait.
I singed up for Polish classes-I really need them. I usually communicate with a smile and nod. I will add more pictures and keep updated as life progresses here.