Why I Want to March

I am hopefully going on March of the Living in April. One of the things on the application is to write 500 words or less on why you want to go. I thought I would share what I wrote.

Recently I read Night by Eli Wiesel; everyone was shocked and distraught at what they are reading but me. It is not because I am heartless but because I had read this book before and even before that knew the horrors of the Holocaust. I grew up surrounded by it; I never had to learn about it because it was like I already knew. I was marching outside a diner when I was about nine my father look over at me and immediately told me to stop, this was very unlike my dad, and he then explained that the way I was marching was the same way the Gestapo marched.

The Holocaust was never hidden from me. It would have been hard to hide considering my grandfather was on one of the Kinder Transports with his sister. Three of my great-grandparents had been killed in the camps. I had great-uncles who had numbers on their arm. I grew up surrounded by the Holocaust. When I did a unit on the Holocaust in 5^th grade, my grandfather came into speak about his story.

 It was not until recently that I realized that I was part of the last generation who will grow up this way. My little sister who in seven never met either of my uncles who had numbers on their arms, she never heard the story of the Kinder Transport from my grandfather and probably never will. If she if already less surrounded and so much farther away from the Holocaust then I am, what about my children? They will never meet a survivor. They will have the family history but will only hear stories second hand or from movies. The only way I can come close to a firsthand story is by going to the camps, it is the closest thing I will ever be able to get to a firsthand experience of the Holocaust even if it is still miles away.

The camps are like a grave for all those who died in them and do not have graves of their own. Auschwitz is at least two of my great-grandparents’ graves. Yet no one in my family has ever visited these graves. I have been to five of my great-grandparents’ graves and paid my respects. Do I not owe it to my other three to do the same for them? Shouldn’t at least one of their descendents go back to the place where they died?

Most of all I want to go to the place where the Holocaust happened so I can bear witness. Bear witness to one of the most tragic eras in human history, where unimaginable atrocities happened. I want to go and say with knowledge and remembrance “Never Again.”

Membership Mania Points!!

I realized I forgot to post the exact points for membership mania. Sorry.

Membership Mania Points

5pts for every returning member

10pts for every new member

5pts more for every member signed up by December 11

15pts for every member at Regional Kickoff

10pts for every member at LTI

15pts for every member at a Regional Convention

5pts for every member at a Lounge Night

10pts for every member at another type of regional event

5pts for every member who attends their first regional event

25pts for every $100 raised for SA/TO

20pts for each chapter news letter

40pts for each event that the entire region is invited to

30pts for each inter-chapter event

25pts for every chapter SA/TO event

25pts for every chapter Rel/Ed event

25pts for every chapter IA event

20pts for every chapter event not already mentioned

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

Wordless Whenever: IC Boston

Sorry for not posting lately. Just got back from IC where they announced next year's IC location... Boston.

I can't get the best picture to upload properly, I should really get a real camera.

1st Timers Olympics

First all participants will be divided into countries (teams of 5). There will be three Olympic events each one will participate in.

The first is a game of intellect. Each person will have to get to know the people in their country. Each person will be responsible for knowing one other person but the person who one is responsible for cannot be responsible for him or her. After a few minutes everyone will be asked questions about the person they were supposed to get to know. Every time a person gets a question right their country earns a sticker. The country with the most stickers at the end wins.

The second event is a team building activity. The team has to arrange themselves in order of their birthday without talking to each other. First country to finish and be in the right order wins.

The last event is a more active one. It is an Israeli game call three sticks. Tree sticks are laid on the ground. All the players must line up in front of them. As their turns come the players must get from in front of the first stick to behind the last, but can only take one step in between each stick. The last stick will be moved to where the last player’s foot lands after they have finished. If a player falls or takes an extra step they are out. The last player who is still in wins for their country.

Kinnus on Crutches- A Survival Guide

I have now experienced 3 conventions and part of an encampment on crutch so I feel more than qualified to write this guide.

Luggage!!!


First off packing can be a challenge. If you are having surgery and you know ahead of time that you will be on crutches pack ahead of time what you can. If you have to pack while on crutches put everything on the floor, don't try to use a table it will only make it harder.

The bigger problem than packing with luggage is carrying it. I suggest that you have one friend who will hold onto your luggage, especially if you are traveling using public transportation. If it stays with one person you are less likely to loose it. There is no way my suitcase would have made it to fall boards weekend if it wasn't for Micah.

Food and Drinks and other Stuff


Most of the time food at conventions is served buffet style which is an issue if you are using crutches. Again go to get food with a friend, than let your friend carry it back for you. If someone is sitting near you and is going to get a drink ask them to get you one too. I personally made sure all my friends at Leadership Convention (which I went to 3 days after knee surgery) knew how I liked my tea and that way if they were getting some for them selves they would grab me a cup.

Shabbat Issues


All people on crutches know that elevators are essential to life. Staying on say the 4th floor of a hotel on Shabbat can pose a problem. Make sure you know how to go up stairs on crutches prior to the convention, and when going up the stairs make sure someone who is willing to go at your pace is with you. Not only for safety but you will want someone to talk to and who can cheer you on.

If the convention is home hospitality make sure you talk to your regional director. If you don't need to walk and there are some houses where people are driving stay there. If you are shomer shabbos or everyone is walking make sure you are staying as close as possible to the Shul.

Services can pose another problem, it is a lot of standing...and then sitting and standing again. If you can stand you should. If it hurts to be up right or is just too hard to get up and pack down it is ok to sit the whole time. I didn't even attempt to stand during services at Leadership.

Other Random Things


If you are at a camp make sure you are never walking through the woods and similar areas alone.

I wanted to be self sufficient my first convention on crutches, but I would of been so much better off if I accept more peoples help. People are nicer to you when you are on crutches so you might as well take advantage of the only good thing about crutches. If someone ask you if you need help just say yes.

Be creative, if everyone is playing mini tanks you can too, only you should play the hand version.

Most importantly HAVE FUN!!!

Shockingly one of the only pictures of me on crutches at Fall

Icebreakers: Around the World Themed

This past weekend was Hanefesh Fall Convention, it was around the world themed, plus I really like post-its.

Length of program: 10 Minutes

Overview / Summary of Program:

The purpose of this program is to put people into groups for the skits activity. Each

person will have to guess what his or her card says and then organize themselves by

the continent the card is associated with.

                                   

Supplies Needed:

Index cards (each card will have a word that is associated with a specific continent),

tape

Step-by-Step instructions (be specific):

1. Give out the cards, one per a person. Have them tape it on either their forehead

or back without looking at the word written on the card.

2. Have people walk around and ask other people yes or no questions about the

word that is written on their card.

3. Once each person has guessed the word on their card, have everyone get into

groups based upon which continent their word is associated with.

Special Notes to make the program successful:

Make sure people don’t start cheating! Also make sure that the tape can stick to skin.

Examples for cards

South America – Salsa dancing, taco, World Cup 2014, Amazon

Asia – Martial arts, Mulan, sushi, panda

Australia – Koala bear, kangaroo, boomerang, outback

Europe – Big Ben, Eiffel Tower, Summer Olympics 2012, pizza

Africa – Lion, safari, The Lion King, pyramid

Antarctica – Ice, polar bear, penguin, North Pole

North America – Hamburger, baseball, maple syrup, Coca Cola

Flat Stanley's Adventures

I hope everyone had a very yummy Thanksgiving.

For the break Lily was given a flat Stanley and was told to take pictures of his adventures. Lucky for Lily she has three older siblings who took care of it for her.

All the pictures started out innocently enough, mostly involving food.

Flat Stanley poses in front of the turkey.

So many were taking we started calling him "fat" Stanley.

"Fat" Stanley hiding behind the chocolate cake.

After running out of food we had to get more creative though.

Here are the picture Lily has seen.

Flat Stanley's Leg Catches on Fire

Using Water to Put out Fire

After we were done with "light" him on fire our hostess asked much to my parents' dismay, "Has Flat Stanley gone to the bathroom recently?"

Off my brother goes to the bathroom with the camera and Flat Stanley in tow.

Flat Stanley Takes a Bathroom Break

The next section of pictures Lily has not seen.

After the bathroom pictures someone decided to get ketchup. Max launches into a 127 hours theme photo shoot.

The rock has been replaced with a mug.

And now Flat Stanley cuts off his leg of course.

The Ketchup Comes Out

It is pretty safe to say most of these pictures will NOT be sent to school with Lily come Monday.


*No Flat Stanleys were harmed in the making of this post*