A short report from New York

After a couple of days in New York I thought I would let you know that I am safe and sound. My fundraising trip has been going surprisingly well and I am very thankful for the contributions rabbi Hammerman and I have been able to collect so far. We shall see how it goes for the rest of the trip. As for the more joyful sides to my journey - I spent two delightful days with Marcus Lange, a friend who studies in the rabbinical program at JTS. Among other things he took me for a Judaica shopping trip to Brooklin (hey for the Heimishe Bakery in Borough Park) and helped me to pay my debt from my last New York visit and crossed the Brooklin bridge on foot with me. It was so freezing that the cold killed my camera and I have no pictures from this truly historic event. What a shame.

While I stayed in JTS, I met many of my friends from the Yeshiva, who either study there or date:-) the rabbinical students - Corey, Jenny, Melissa, Jeremy, Ben, Richard, Mike and some of the older students that studied at Machon Schechter last year. Today, I briefly met Seth Pertain, who kindly enough took a picture of the two of us for me to have a proof I am actually in New York. I am not sure this proves anything but I swear there is New York around the car.

Good news and leaving

On Friday night my brother revealed to me that after passing his BA exams on Thursday, he proposed to his girlfriend Olga and she - naturally :-) - agreed to marry him. That´s great news! The picture below shows them during their last year´s holiday in Croatia.


On another note - I am about to leave for the States today in the morning. I packed in rush so I guess I am leaving half of the things I need at home. In addition, the pre-departure time was so rushed that some of the things I need to take care of before I leave are still not done - for instance I will be marking some of the tests of my students on my way to the airport and sending them back with my brother. Well, I am the ultimate time manager, aint I:-)Well, at least I have something to laugh about. Ok - all being well I will write again from New York. Shavua tov

Another short update

Time flies. Incredible. I am going to the States in a week´s time. In the past couple of days, my 7th graders started to get all very sensitive and teenagy and puberty like and I am worried. On the other hand, my biggest troublemaker David K. calmed down and became the student I have always told him he can become - witty, challenging and simply good. I swiched to first names terms with the headmistress of the school. My brother passed a Russian language exam (miracle!). Shmil, my boss, has had a son born ( The brit is tomorrow.) My community and school has successfully survived a visit of the Presidents of Major Jewish organizations last week and I had my students over for a Tu bi-shvat seder today. Well, that´s about the most important news.