MY URBAN KVETCH

Josh Malina and MAZON Project Update

It's Josh Malina's birthday today, and as you know from the previous post, the West Wing and Scandal star decided to ask his fans and followers to celebrate with him by giving a donation to MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. If you missed the post, go back and read it now. I'll wait. (Good job.)

Since that post, two things have happened that I think are noteworthy.

Firstly, whereas Malina's first hope was to raise $5,000, they're now at $12,313. This illustrates the power of asking for small contributions from lots of people - they are able to illustrate support for someone whose work they appreciate, understanding that this person adds value to their lives, and they're able to improve the lives of others as a tribute. This is wonderful.

Secondly, what the Causes page doesn't reflect is something else that happened on Twitter. NFTY (The National Federation of Temple Youth, the youth group for Reform Judaism) made Malina an offer:

@NFTY: @JoshMalina We’ll match your @causes campaign for @StopHunger up to $10,000 if you’ll join us in LA to pick up the check. #NFTYConvention

Malina's response:

@JoshMalina: Seriously?! Done!!!

It's not a surprise that this happened via social media organizing - Twitter has emerged for so many celebrities as just another PR engine, feeding the American hunger for information about the minutiae of celebrity existence and creating a perception of insiderness for pop culture consumers. But Malina gets it in a way that not all actors do - he shares authentic insights of intelligence and humor in a way that shows you it's not his PR team doing the tweeting. (Or if it is, WOW. Great job.) On Facebook, he uses that medium to expand on the cleverness and to interact with people in the comments. Malina's using social media to actually reach people. And that's why a campaign like this is working - because he writes from a place of authenticity and value. People relate to that, and trust him for it.

So this is how the world of fundraising can work today. Someone authentic with a large network (and loyal followers who relate to and feel connected to him) identifies a cause they're passionate about, and a reason to ask people donate, and sets a decent, but modest goal. This person is not a celebrity spokesperson - this cause was their idea, emerged from their understanding of a need and their trust in a particular organization to achieve that need. People respond as generously as they want to, helping that person reach the goal and go beyond. Other people or organizations see the movement and are inspired, putting their own money up to match the cause. 

Now, because a celebrity is involved, NFTY realized it was an opportunity to do good, but also an opportunity for their organization, whether it is greater visibility for their programs or enhanced inspiration for their participants. Neither one of those is a bad thing. Although one could look at this as celebrity blackmail - we'll give you a check, but you have to make a personal appearance to pick it up - the whole concept of a matching gift itself issues a challenge not unlike blackmail - we will do this, if you do that.

In any case, Malina seems happy to submit to this specific kind of blackmail, which I described to someone else as "the good, mitzvah-laden kind of blackmail." Being "ultimatum'd" into a public appearance in order to fight hunger isn't the worst thing in the world. And maybe that's the lesson - that when you're passionate about a cause, you do what you need to do to get it done. 

Best of luck to Mr. Malina, wishing him much success, many happy returns of the day, and much nachas from the success of this campaign. (And in the 20 minutes it took me to write this post, donations have shot up - the total is now $13,597 and growing. Why not add a few bucks of your own to this cause? Donate here.)

Celebrity Do-Gooder: Josh Malina

Anyone who's following Josh Malina on Facebook or @joshmalina on Twitter knows that the actor - an alum of various Acts of Sorkinalia (A Few Good Men, Sports Night, The American President,The West Wing) and other memorable roles (Psych, Big Bang Theory) and currently featuring as the resident "white hat" district attorney on Shonda Rimes' Scandal - is achingly funny. With the literal "to wit," here's his comment from a few hours before the Golden Globes Awards: "I love the Golden Globes! There's something touching about current waiters giving awards to former waiters. (In fact, my theory is that any Twitter backlash against Malina's Scandal character, David Rosen, stems from fans' disappointment that the role is largely dramatic and doesn't permit Malina to manifest his comedic timing as much as the fans would like. But I digress...)

But now, Malina proves that he's also sensitive, and a nice Jewish boy to boot - for his 47th (!) birthday, he's declared a campaign to raise funds for MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, a national nonprofit organization working to prevent and alleviate hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds. The intial goal was set at 1 billion dollars (and why not?), but in the accompanying campaign video, Malina notes it would be great if they could raise $5,000. Perhaps he should have targeted higher - the campaign is at $8,800 and rising, and his birthday isn't until January 17. (It would be great if he could mobilize his celebrity friends to match what the crowdfunding raises, too. That would send a powerful message.)

Besides the swag that Malina offers in the video below for higher donations, you too can get as you give - for a donation of $10 or more, @joshmalina will follow you on Twitter.  

Mazal tov to you, Josh - on your birthday, on making the 40s look like not such a scary place, and for being an example of how your public voice can amplify the message that we can all do our part to make the world a little better while we're here. Kol hakavod!

 

Limmud on One Leg: Vayigash

Writing to you from Warwick, UK, where I'm attending a full Limmud conference. (As opposed to last year, when forces of nature tried to prevent me and only succeeded in delaying me. For a reminder of that fine time, check out "Snowpocalyptic Airport Sleepover," "Sleeping at JFK: Hot Tips for a Quick Nap," and of course, the crowd-pleasing "20 Things to Do at JFK Airport During a Snowpocalypse.")

Limmud regularly asks individual presenters to write interpretive pieces on the Torah portion for a weekly email called "Limmud on One Leg" - this is mine, on Vayigash (written for Limmud on One Leg, week of December 25, 2011.)

Saying kaddish for my mother this year, I spend a lot of time in shul, spending Shacharit (or Mincha or Maariv) thinking about the words, the editors’ translations, and the choreography that accompanies certain pieces of text. Recently, I was contemplating the beginning of the Amidah, the prayer in which we approach God in meditative encounter. Taking three steps back, we pray “God, open my lips”; three steps forward, and we complete the thought, “and may my mouth tell your praises.” We need this preface because we approach our Creator with a twofold fear: 1) That we will be speechless, and 2) That if we do indeed succeed in opening our mouths, the words we unleash may be not be words of praise. Then thanks to Limmud, I found myself contemplating Vayigash and the idea of “approach.”

In this Torah portion, Jacob’s son Judah approaches the viceroy – an unrecognizable Joseph – to beg for Benjamin’s freedom. As Judah approaches, he petitions Joseph-in-disguise through a paragraphs-long retelling of the history of the brothers’ arrival in Egypt. His mouth opens, and what comes out is verbal choreography: preparatory steps back that integrate the viceroy into the larger story as Judah sticks to his liturgy: “this is who we are, this is where we came from, this is what we need.” Approaching the man in power, and using deferential language, Judah indicates his intention to enter into relationship with the viceroy and his willingness to assume responsibility for his brothers, whatever the consequences.

The act of approach is both art and intimacy. It takes confidence and strength, sensitivity and humility. Proximity - a literal step closer to a thing, an experience or a person - is the first step toward face-to-face encounter, and the closer you are, the harder it is to hide your identity or conceal your intentions. By stepping forward into a new experience, or coming face-to-face with a challenging person or piece of learning, we enter into a relationship that is scary but intimate, honest, exciting and holy. Judah’s monologue is rewarded with revelation and embrace. But after our Amidah, we must retreat from that intimate moment, without the powerful relief of a forgiving embrace from a long-lost relative. Instead, we have another set of back-and-forth steps, accompanied by a prayer for peace over all of Israel.

Perhaps the message here is that, although we are reluctant to disengage from the intimacy, the approach itself enables us to connect more honestly with everyone. As we tell our stories and engage with texts and people, let us always approach with the sense that this work, approached with humility and candor, can transform us all.

Important: Rosh Hashanah Help for a Friend

On the eve of Rosh Hashanah (eve), I'm asking your help.

A friend of mine is going through cancer treatments and will not be able to attend services this year (crowds, and their accompanying germs are very dangerous for him because his immune system is repairing itself). He's found something for Yom Kippur. But he's still looking for something online, live streaming video, or the like that will enable him to feel like he's at shul, participating in the Rosh Hashanah service, even though he will be homebound. He understands that such services, if available, will likely be Conservative or Reform. But so far we've not been able to find anything for him for Rosh Hashanah.

Do you have anything to recommend? Organizations/rabbis/leaders to contact? Put them in the comments section, or email me at esther.kustanowitz at gmail dot com.

Let me know if you know of anything like this--it would be a real mitzvah.

Wishing us all health in the new year.

Save Darfur Rally in Central Park, Sunday 9/17

Next Sunday is a rally for Darfur in Central Park. I can't be there, but if you want information, you can download a flyer with complete information (Download flyer.pdf) and volunteer to help out through their website or by contacting the Save Darfur Coalition 646-624-5053 or email [email protected].

Help Match Lindsey

From MatchLindsey.org:

Lindsey is a 26-year-old New York City law student who was diagnosed with leukemia in the spring of 2005. She needs a bone marrow stem cell transplant, and is looking for a donor. Lindsey is Jewish, and since tissue type is inherited, her best chance of finding a donor lies with recruiting as many volunteers of Eastern European Jewish descent as possible. But because the Holocaust destroyed so many Jewish bloodlines, identifying matches is very difficult.

If you haven't already been tested for a bone marrow match, there are a few options in the NY area next week.

	Wednesday. August 30th Thursday. August 31st 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where:	Cardozo School of Law - map Lobby of Building
	55 Fifth Avenue (between 12th and 13th Street)
	New York, NY

If you can't attend the drive, but still want to be tested, please e-mail

[email protected].

Plea for Help: Liver Transplant Needed

This is not a joke. This is not a hoax. This is a real person, a 31-year-old woman from Long Island, who is engaged to be married in October, and who led a 345-city tour to raise awareness of the importance of blood donation, whose liver suddenly failed this week, and who needs a complete liver transplant (Type A or O) to survive.

There are very few of us who might be able to help in finding a liver. But if you know someone who can help, contact [email protected] or go to http://helpshari.typepad.com. Link to the blog, send emails to your friends, send notes of support to her friends and family (via the blog)--do whatever you can.

And if nothing else, pray.

(Cross-posted to Jewlicious and JDaters Anonymous)

Everyday Hero

I've known this hero since he was four years old. Rather, since we were both four years old. He's one of my oldest friends, and like a third brother to me...just wanted to share his inspiring story:

Thursday July 14th, I was heading south on Broadway towards the subway at 9:20 when a two-story wall of a building fell onto the sidewalk. The site was a two-story Gristedes supermarket that was being demolished to build a 40-story condo. The demolition began about one week ago, so scaffolding covered the sidewalk to protect pedestrians.

The entire street-front brick wall and the scaffolding crashed down onto the side-walk and innocent pedestrians. I was about 50 feet away from the site. As I was walking I blinked for a moment and suddenly heard the crash; I looked up and saw the terrible accident.

I ran to the site immediately. I threw off my blazer and surveyed the situation as some more citizens arrived to see what happened. As I looked down I saw an arm of an adult, wearing orange. Some people tried to lift the debris off the person, but I know there was too much to lift and pull a person out.

I yelled, "just clear the debris, throw it into the street." Within seconds we formed "pail-lines" and were removing debris from the site. Within minutes we pulled out a woman who screamed, "My baby, my baby."

I looked down and saw what was clearly the front wheel of a jogging-stroller. Someone who was standing on top of the debris yelled, "where is the baby?" I yelled back, "you are standing on it." People looked down as I pointed to the wheel. Despite what you read in the papers, there was a solid brick wall and scaffolding on top of this baby. I doubted there was anyway the baby could survive. We continued to clear the debris to reach the baby. We moved brick by brick, chunk by chunk. First we found another adult, in a "pocket." He was ok, and crawled out. We got to the baby and pulled out a flat, smushed stroller. I did not hear the baby crying; I was sure hope was lost.

But EMT was already there and, from what I hear in the news, resuscitated the baby. I want that brand of stroller for my child!

We continued to clear the debris because no one knew how many people could still be trapped. We found another adult past the infant, and people pulled this person out. By now police started to arrive, and, not knowing what to do, helped clear debris. Everything was frantic.

Eventually the fire department arrived with huge saws and chains. The Fire Dept cleared the civilians because, by now, we realized that we were working under exposed electricity and telephone wires.

I was dusty and dirty, but left the rest of the job to the professionals. I retrieved my blazer as I saw the lady in orange being loaded into an ambulance.

By the time I left the site there were news crews already there. I was interviewed by NY Times, 1010WINS, Ch2, 4,5,7 and CNN, among others. Article on some web sites say, "It was not immediately clear how the child was injured, officials said, but some debris spilled onto the
sidewalk and street. " Let me assure you. Nothing spilled into the street. It was a solid brick wall laying over that baby. I was told that some news sources say debris flew and hit the baby sitter in the shoulder; the baby sitter, turns out, was the first person we saved -she was buried all but her arm.

NY Times

CNN

Friday Night Lights

I’ve been posting fairly frequently on Jewlicious, a Jewish and Israel issues blog, where the discussions become vast and often heated. One recent post, which started as a report gleaned from the Jerusalem Post about the issue of pre-marital sex in the Orthodox community, has burgeoned into a 460+ comment post about whose Judaism is authentic. The discussion, which is usually pretty respectful even when divisive, has devolved into a shouting match over what true Judaism is, and what Jewish tradition encourages or discourages in terms of thoughts and approaches to modern life.

Because I’m also coming off of a weekend at the Jewlicious @ the Beach conference, a gathering of students from CA Hillels where I was part of a panel on the challenges of being female and Jewish, I found this particular comment resonant (although not in the way the author might have hoped):

It is important for a Jewish woman to light two candles on Friday night. Takes half a minute. This will make the world a better place…You can light candles every Friday even if you are not seeing anybody at all, and if you live alone. ) Even lighting once will make the world better. Lighting every week will REALLY make the world better.

Postings at Jewlicious

In case any of you were wondering what I've been posting about at Jewlicious, here's the rundown.

Brave New Blog; Nice Jewish Girl (a religious woman in her 30s who is "shomer negiah" [abstains from physical contact with the opposite sex] has started a blog about her struggles)

You Go, Yaldah (Orthodox girl founds new magazine for Jewish teenage girls)

Shmuley's Back! (Shmuley Boteach has a new book about America's hatred of women)

Come on over to Jewlicious. You know you want to.