Liveblogging Purim @ Muqata

If you need to kill a few minutes today, this is awesome. JoeSettler and Jameel (?) rock. :)

Observing Depression

Via Chana, the latest edition of Stern College's paper, The Observer, is out. In addition to a well-done interview with our favorite smiling friend, Jameel of the Muqata, this issue's main thrust is depression, particularly as it pertains to the Orthodox community. I've just spent time reading through every one of the pieces on the subject, and credit is due to The Observer's staff for doing a fantastic job in covering as much on the subject as could be hoped for in such a publication and more.

From Chana's post:

Those of you who remember Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot's groundbreaking article entitled "Dimensions: A Young Man's Story of Torment: Surviving Depression," which was published in Jewish Action in 2001 will be thrilled to see he has followed it up with an interview he has given us at The Observer. The interview includes his thoughts on how depression is perceived by the Jewish community now that it's been 8 years since his original article, how he came to write that piece, and other thoughts and suggestions regarding depression.

As part of our powerhouse lineup on the series, we also have an interview with Dr. David Pelcovitz on depression. This offers a different point of view, because rather than discussing the issue from personal experience, Dr. Pelcovitz answers in his capacity of psychologist.

See the rest of our articles on depression and mental health in the Features section.

R' Helfgot's interview is interesting and extremely clear; Dr. Pelcovitz's is illuminating from the other end. The aforementioned Features section covers depression by giving an overview of depression in addition to discussing it as it pertains to YU and Stern, how it can affect shidduchim, and of course by discussing mental-health helpers and organizations. It is an interesting, informative, and important issue, and again - kudos to The Observer on a job very well done.

Support Volunteer Medics in Israel

*Advertisement*

This is an ad that I am happy to put on this blog* as it is so incredibly important. As some of you already know, our good friend (and SerandEz contributor and editor) Jameel of the Muqata is a volunteer medic for United Hatzalah of Israel. The work they do is amazing, and the current crisis created by Hamas rockets raining down in Israel is stretching their capabilities even further. The current range of Hamas rockets is now 40km, which covers an incredible chunk of the country and its inhabitants, meaning Hatzalah must be ready in countless places at once to help who knows how many victims, ranging from shock to serious trauma.

Hatzalah in Israel is many cuts above what even the best volunteer medics in the United States do. These volunteers are not only stopping their work or their dinner, they aren't just rushing out on their kids' storytime, and they aren't just being woken up in the middle of the night. They're doing so and rushing to assist people who have been in terror attacks. They're rushing into the middle of war zones, into situations where they may be fired on, into places which no sane person would wish to be in at all - and they're doing so voluntarily, to help those who are in need. They're not paid for their work - they simply believe in serving a greater purpose.

As we all know, even their 1,000 volunteers can't make things free. Ambulances cost money. Medical supplies cost money. Personal armour to protect these medics cost money (and terrorists don't differentiate between medics and anyone else). Fuel, equipment, communication systems - they all cost money.

Saving lives costs money. Please, help save a life.

* (It may be a bit of a tricky transaction, so this is bli neder...)

SerandEz intend on donating half the proceeds of this ad to Hatzalah, which is received from people going through this ad to (hopefully) donate.

Where To Read About The War

Firstly, the IDF Spokesperson now has a blog as well, which shows, discusses, and gives some explanation of some of the actions being carried out in Operation Cast Lead, or even some footage of Hamas actions just to show how they truly work, such as shooting mortars from a UN school. It also has a post in memoriam for the soldier who was killed by a rocket two days ago.

Jameel (@ the Muqata) and Dave (IsraellyCool) are the live-bloggers of this war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Jack keeps churning out roundups of posts from the J-blogosphere and pieces from the media, though it's worthwhile to note that the stories the media picks up tend to be about a day or two behind the blogs. Even some of the news aspects are slightly trailing the blogs...

A couple posts I particularly liked in addition to Gila's below were Treppenwitz' on the media being allowed into Gaza, and WestBankMama's on an impressive feat the Israeli school system is pulling off, educating even the 200,000 students who are within range of the rockets and can't go to school. Excerpts on expand.

3. The Palestinians have demonstrated their willingness to play to the cameras during two Intifadas. Your presence has a tendency to get young, bored, otherwise-non-political Palis out onto the streets and into violent confrontations with our troops. So far we've been able to limit our attacks to Hamas leaders and combatants. But once your camera crews draw out the idle young mobs, the casualty figures will shoot through the roof. And that will end up being your story. Reporters are supposed to report the news... not manufacture it.

4. You have demonstrated that you have no contextual or historical background for covering this conflict. You have also made it clear you have no desire to acquire either. You will inevitably send in 'journalists' who don't know the geography, language, culture or history of either side in this conflict, forcing them to rely on unreliable (and biased) local sources and 'fixers' to supply the meat of their stories. There are already Palestinian journalists inside Gaza. Your stories are going to end up echoing their propaganda, so why not just take their feed?

The educational ministry has set up a way to teach the kids (at least part time) by having both the students and teachers go online. Each schoolkid gets a special code and a time to go on to a site, and he gets assignments from his teacher. Sometimes the teacher is online also, and can answer questions in real time.

Due to the fact that the cities of Sderot and the small villages near the Gaza border have been under rocket attack for years, the government saw to it that each child received a computer. They haven’t done the same for the students in Ashdod or Beersheva, because the rockets haven’t reached there until now. But at least most of the kids are covered.

The War Has Started in Israel

Shabbat Morning in Israel -- IAF jets attacked Gaza and the operation has begun.

Jameel is war-blogging again; get the latest up-to-date news at The Muqata.

Shavua Tov, Chodesh Tov, Chanuka Sameach.

--Jameel

PS: let's hope we win this time.

What About ALL Of Us?!

After spending the last couple of hours watching the latest Nefesh B'Nefesh flight (and occasionally commenting back and forth with Erachet, who relived Camp Moshava watching the goings-on), which included the best friends and neighbors of my sister and brother-in-law, I was a bit overwhelmed and posted at the Muqata:

We just spent the last two hours watching [also known as crying while watching] the latest NBN flight arrive, including my sister and brother-in-law's best friends and neighbors from Baltimore. Apparently my nieces cried the whole Sunday night... but they'll be using their webcam to stay in touch all the time.

A former co-worker of mine is going next month (maybe Jameel will help him pack!), too. Actually, our whole lives, close family and friends have been taking that leap and making Aliyah... if you're from Cleveland, you know what I'm talking about. Hopefully soon my sister's family will be able to fulfill their dreams and make Aliyah.

...and then us, too. Hopefully soon...

Wherever I am, my HEART turns towards Eretz Yisrael

We miss it sooo much.

Jerusalem's Singles Scene

Since so many singles find their way to the SerandEz blog (and household), and there are so many fascinating discussions about dating and singles life here on this blog, I thought to direct your attention to a TV show shich debuted in Israel last night; Srugim.

It's all about the religious singles scene in the Katamon area of Jerusalem. While the actors are secular, they do a fantastic job (perhaps too good?) of portraying religious singles life in Jerusalem.

I wrote a whole post about it here, complete with video clips and all.

Perhaps we could invite the director, Laizey Shapiro to do a TV series on the singles scene in the SerandEz apartment?