Shabbos House / Jewish UAlbany "News" Jan 03

News In The Family

Shabbos House / Jewish UAlbany NEWS January 2003 thru early Summer 2003
click here for CURRENT "News in the Family" click here for 2001-2002 News Pages

another update before July..	updated 6/29/03
August Alumni Reunion?	We're looking to plan an Alumni Reunion somewhere in the NY area for one Sunday in August. Stay tuned for info, we'll send the info via postcard sometime later in July when plan materialize. It will be great to see you there
Our July Contact Info	For the month of July we will be in the Catskills for the ILTSP Summer Program. (We return about once a week or so to take care of stuff) Our address there is: Rubin's c/o Katz Family Shaloh Center II 689 Route 55 West Napanoch NY 12458 PHONE: 845-647-6165 You can also leave a message at our regular phone number at Shabbos House: (518) 438-4227 as we check the messages regularly.
Alan Rosen's Ufruf Shabbos	We were pleased to host the pre-wedding Ufruf Shabbos of Alan Rosen (class of '99) at Shabbos House, with his family and friends. Visiting Alumni were Joel Feurer ('99) Jason Nadell ('99) with Rani, and Nadine Kochavi ('00). We had a Minyan throughout thanks to several Maimonides High School boys who joined us, to Chesky Larsh (now living in Albany who is an alumnus of SUNY Albany), and to Alan's family and extended family from Memphis and elsewhere.
320 Available for GUESTS	An important feature of the new, bigger and better Shabbos House will be guest rooms for alumni, parents and friends who want to join us for a weekend or special occasion. While the new place is not up yet - and we're still short of our fundraising goal - 320 Fuller Road is available for such guests, please contact us for more info and availability.
Wedding Photos now online!	Finally, we have Fred and Stacey Lotwin's wedding photos online! See pictures of Jaret ('98) and Hana (Stein) ('99) Lefberg's wedding, and Jerry ('90) and Susan Kahn's wedding on our 2nd wedding page.
finally updated!	updated 6/17/03
Alumni Wedding in Boston	We went to the wedding of Shaina Marrus (class of '98) and Larry Copeland in the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston. It was a lively wedding, great to participate in wedding of so close and dear a friend from our earliest Shabbos House days (we came in Fall 97). We also enjoyed seeing Boston, a different type of city, and spent some time in Brookline, a neighborhood where many Jews live.
Away in NY for wedding and holiday	We spent almost a week in Brooklyn celebrating the wedding of Raizy's sister Elkie (Galperin) to Moshe Wolff of Chicago. In addition to the subsequent family festivities we also enjoyed the festival of Shavuot in Brooklyn. The wedding was the night after the big event we worked on - mentioned below. We look forward to more Simchas this summer, and plan IYH (G-d willing) attend 3 alumni weddings!
Maimonides Pillars Reception	Our children attend Albany's Maimonides Hebrew Day School, and we both teach there Judaic subjects in the mornings. As soon as SUNY was over - we spent two hectic weeks designing and publishing the annual Yearbook and Tribute Journal and also preparing and organizing the Tribute Reception which was held this year the Comfort Suites in Clifton Park on June 2nd. Thank G-d, it turned out to be a wonderful success.
To Order Memories 2003 PHOTO-VIDEO & Grad Party	This 6-minute Photo Video of "Memories of the Class of 2003 at Shabbos House" together with an edited version of the Graduation Party is now available to those who wish to order it. Usually we do the copying and editing ourselves, but we had loads of technical trouble this year and after days of Raizy's dedicated efforts to do it alone, we had to bring it in to a video editing and copy place. If you wish to order your copy, the cost (since we're not doing it in-house) is $12 per copy plus $2 for shipping.
Graduation Day BBQ	After a beautiful sunny graduation on the South Lawn behind the (still) new Science Library - graduates and their families came over to Shabbos House to enjoy an all-afternoon BBQ. People came and went, depending on their particular individual school's ceremonies.
Grad Weekend Shabbos	Though most students already left following their finals, we had a nice Minyan (primarily Sephardic folks) for Graduation Weekend. It was especially nice to spend Shabbos with the families of the graduates, some of whom we never met before.
Grad Party - farewell to the UAlbany Class of 2003	Ah, and what a special celebration it was! Each year it is so difficult to bid farewell to the fine group of students and dear friends which we've become over the four years. Quite a crowd of students (100+) came to honor and bid farewell to the group of 18 graduates who have so richly contributed to Jewish Life at UAlbany and especially ay Shabbos House. Raizy cooked up a storm, a delicious hot buffet with mini-meatballs, hors d'oeuvres, sesame chicken, pepper steak and rice, with fruit platters and cakes, and red and white Sangria. No leftovers! Mr. Stanley Kivort (Chairman, Kivort Steel) addressed the graduates about staying involved in the Jewish community in the years ahead, and giving back to the community. Hillel Director Dr. David Liebschutz presented a farewell certificate to Danny Newman, outgoing JCSC. As is our tradition, we had a 6 minute "Memories" picture-video-montage (see "ordering" information above) and gifts to the Grads of a book and a letter. Following the ceremonies (during which quite a few Grads spoke as well) David Gretah and Jason Kersch shared a warm memory recollection of the Grads, and Ben Lieb sang original lyrics remembering the Grads. Both presentations were enjoyable and humorous. In conclusion the Class of 2003 presented Shabbos House with a new embroidered Bima Cover, and all posed for the Class Picture. Grad Party and Grad Weekend at Shabbos House Special Presentations at Grad Party Jewish World Picture PDF format
Brandeis Study Interview	SUNY Albany was chosen as part of a nationwide study by The Cohen Center of Brandeis University to research trends, stats and issues among Jewish college students. As part of a comprehensive 3 day visit, they interviewed everyone involved with campus life - and we enjoyed a intensive interview with them as well at Shabbos House. In addition, they asked us to put together a student focus group and they were most impressed with the 10 students present (shh, being part of a study it is all confidential). Thanks to all who participated.
New 2003-04 L'chaim Board	Harriet Roffe returns as L'chaim President, Jeremy Soussan (well-known from the Simchat Torah celebration) as Treasurer and Michele Ginsburg as Vice President. This is the official active board who is responsible for the many events throughout the year, and we also recognize the dozens of student volunteers from all the Jewish Student boards and across the Jewish student spectrum who assist with L'chaim events and activities.
Hillel-Tagar Boat-Cruise & morning after Minyan	Everyone aboard the Spring 2003 Hillel and Tagar sponsored Boat-Cruise on the Hudson had a marvelous time. In addition to the usual drinks and dancing there was special Israeli festivity and decorations honoring Israel's 55th Birthday that same week. Some excellent pictures of that night were included in the Graduation Party's "Memories" Video - but have since been returned to their respective owners, and are not available here on the website. Special kudos to those fine fellows who after a late night of exciting revelry on the Boat Cruise made the supreme effort of showing up for a special Minyan for Mr. Roffe (Harriet's father who was in town for her PULA award - see below) who needed to say Kaddish. These valiant heros included: Nathan Tobin, Scott Gultz, Jason Kersch, Ben Lieb, Dan Marzouk (who was up all night with his adorable twin boys) and Arie Lipnick.
Shabbos 5/3	Special guests Jack and Joan Rosenblum, very involved with the building campaign joined us for Shabbos Dinner.
Pula Awards	We were pleased to attend a special honors ceremony for outstanding students who received the Presidential Undergraduate Leadership Award, quite a percentage of which were students involved at Shabbos House and in the UAlbany's Jewish Campus Community: Dara Stofenberg, Wendy Hale, Harriett Roffe, Jessica Insel, David Gretah, Matt Lissauer, Matt Forman, Mike Genkin, did we leave anyone out?
	Updated May 3, 2003 There's so much news since the last update to this page on April 11, before Passover, I don't know where to begin.. so we'll just post for now some of the latest news tidbits and come back next week and bring it all up-to-date...
Hillel Elections	A hearty congratulations to the very fine Hillel e-board elected for next year... Ben Lieb President, Corrie Fierstein Exec VP, Michele Adler G-Board VP, Rachel Harris Membership VP, Adam Kofinas Communications VP, Teri Goldstein Treasurer.
L'chaim! Thanks	Special thanks to the L'chaim Board of 2002-2003 who made SO many events happen, and successfully! Co-Presidents Jason Kersch and Harriett Rofe assisted by David Gretah (yey! for all that flyering, you are amazing..) and Eric Himy. Harriett is incoming President, and a board is now in formation, with some new and some old members. We look forward to another great year - even better - since the budget has been increased, due to fantastic student effort.
Brandeis Nationwide Study at Albany	Albany was selected as one of 20 campuses nation-wide to participate in a special study conducted by Brandeis University. The visiting researchers met with Hillel Staff (David and Aviva) as well as with us at Shabbos House, and many other involved persons in campus life, as well as a focus group of Jewish students at Shabbos House (thanks to y'all for coming on short notice, top-secret, we can't list your names as it is supposed to be confidential..)
Hillel's Awards Dinner	The weekend just after Passover, Hillel's Awards Dinner was held in the Campus Center. Ben Lieb VP and outgoing President, and long-time involved Arie Lipnick, presented the humorous awards in dozens of categories. It was the first Hillel Dinner we (Raizy and Mendel) were able to attend in a long time, since our little Sara was born 5 months ago. We enjoyed sitting at a very fine table with Ben Tabar, Joel Wurtzel (who took the initiative when it came to getting the Kugel) Yishai Cohen and Rachel Kopp, and Edith Selover... Special guests for the evening were Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Zuckerman, Chairman of University at Albany Hillel, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Eugene and Barbara Berkun - long-time involved in JSS which later became Hillel, and with Shabbos House as well.
Passover Thank Yous	Thanks to everyone who came and made this a wonderful 2 days of holiday concluding Passover.. Thanks to L'chaim and Tagar for co-sponsoring much of the extensive costs of the Passover meals.. Thanks to the Minyaneers who came out on class-days and made every minyan possible.. Thanks to all who helped serve, clean-up, peel potatoes and everything else, it made it so much easier on Raizy..
Passover	Here's what the 7th and 8th Nights/Days of Passover was like at Shabbos House... 4/22 TUES 7:30pm Prayers, 8pm Festive Dinner 4/23 WED 9:00am Prayers, 12:30 Festive Lunch 4/23 WED 7:30pm Prayers, 8pm Festive Wine* Dinner 4/24 THURS 9:00am Prayers* (Yizkor � Memorial Service), 12:30 Festive Lunch * Prayers on Class-Days� Usually, we don�t like to �push� folks for prayer, rather encouraging dinners, atmosphere and the like.. But we were especially tight with Minyans, being that these prayer times fall on class days. We thank all those who made a big effort and enable SUNY Albany to host these wonderful prayers.. Everyone's pitching in made a big difference. ** Why Wine? More Seders? No, No� The Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic movement instituted a beautiful custom of ending Passover with longing for our future redemption. So we�ll eat some more Matzah, drink some more wine � but don�t worry � no long Haggadah, we�ll do some songs instead. I prepared a sheet (soon to be posted online, due to popular demand..) with a series of circles generated in MS Publisher, simplifying the complex Kabbalistical time-frame of Creation and Moshiach, as explained in a Chassidic 500 page plus book with no breaks.
	April 11, 2003
Mazal Tov to Sarah Szymkowicz	Hey Everyone! Avi and I got officially engaged last night! He proposed at the Kotel, it was really romantic. The wedding will be sometime in June 2004. Love, Sarah (April 10, 2003)
Now Online!	See Pictures of Moshe's Upshernish!
Hillel's Semi-Formal	Held this year at the posh Crowne Plaza Hotel on State Street across from the NYS Capitol, Hillel's annual semi-formal event was a most enjoyable night out.
David Broza, LIVE!	Israeli (urban-folk-rock) superstar came to UAlbany's Downtown Page Hall, sponsored by TAGAR - and it was an exciting evening of Hebrew music, with some Spanish and English songs. Though he came only accompanied by a guitar, the hall filled with his intense and enjoyable music. The Albany community - especially youth groups like USY, NCSY and CBEYG came out in numbers - thanks to the dedicated efforts of Tagar President Yishai Cohen over the past weeks to network and connect them with this event.
Fred & Stacey's Wedding & Sheva Brachos	Fred Lotwin is a former 2-term Hillel President, and Tagar President, as well as being very (very!) involved at Shabbos House. Stacey was just as active at Shabbos House, and served as SA Women's Issues Director. We were honored to participate in such an exciting Albany wedding, and it was quite emotional to officiate for friends such as these. During the week following the wedding, it is traditionally customary for friends and family to host a series of dinners (or lunches) honoring the new couple, and concluding the meal saying the same 7 blessings as on the wedding day, over a cup of wine. This is called "Sheva Brachot". Fred & Stacey had 3 such Sheva Brachos in Albany, first at Dan and Atara Marzouk (fellow alumni) then the next night at Shabbos House, followed by a Lunch in Kosher Dining at Dutch.
Shabbos Guests	We had a number of interesting Shabbos Guests recently, including: (1) Menachem, a Geography Bee Finalist from Long Island, with his Radiologist father, Dr. Minkin. (2) A team of MTA boys 'checking out Albany' for possibly coming here next year (3) Mr. Chaim Elkobi, a civil engineer, from the prestigious NY firm Cantor Seinuk which specializes is hi-rise buildings.


	updated 03/22/03
PURIM PICS	Purim Pictures now online!
Tagar Israeli Dinner	Tagar and Hamagshimim hosted a special Israel-themed Friday Night dinner in the Campus Center Patroon Room. Special guests were Yaron and Revital Fuks, an Israeli couple from the Kollel.
Purim T-Shirts	Many of the UAlbany Purim T-Shirts have been sold, but some are still available. If you are interested in getting one.. please contact Shabbos House.. Long and Short Sleeve Shirts are still available.
Purim Feast and L'chaims...	After a final Megillah Reading for the day, all present joined for a Purim Feast - complete with L'chaims and joy. Purim was technically long over when we continued to the festivities and joyous celebration further on into the night. Thank you to all who participated and made it a warm, enjoyable Purim Feast. Additional special Simchas celebrated along with Purim was the completion of Arie Lipnick's thesis on Shakespeare and the Bible, as well as Seth Grossman's (RPIgrad/GE) Master's thesis on medical imaging. Seth is off to Med-school!
Midday Megillah @ Hillel Office	Somehow a minyan came together to read Torah, daven and hear the Megillah at the Hillel Office just before Midday. Yishai was in a great mood and kept slamming metal pots together whenever Haman was mentioned, while Nathan Tobin more appropriately kept shoving the swinging door of a nearby trash can to make the necessary noise.
	updated 03/17/03
Megillah Reading	Purim Night (eve of..) a well-attended (over 100 people) Megillah Reading was held in CC 375. Jason kersch read the first chapter, with the rest by Farmer Mendel, and the graggering start/stop and page numbers by Ben Lieb aka Sheikh Lieb. Even little Moshe got the graggering down pat - and everyone enjoyed the bagels and refreshments afterwards. The special designed Purim T-Shirts were sold, more are still available in most sizes (L/S $9 S/S $6) contact us if you're interested.
Masquerade Pictures to be posted by week's end!	Winners of this years' Costume Contest were (1) Yossi Joe Roza aka goofy construction worker/crossing guard (2) Sarah Faillah: Yiddish Teacher (3 & 4) The Two Arabs - Jon Faro and Ben Lieb (5) Laurie Dickstein as the Purim Princess. Other costumes included Max Wein as Bush with a Kippah, Sam Gillman with IDF headgear, Dave Shahverdi as IDF Special OPs, Adam Strosberg as MD in scrubs, Jason Kersch in a pseudo-Tux - Aviva Zucker (Hillel Student Life Director) and Danny Newman (Hillel-JCSC) came as construction workers in jeans and hats... Rabbi Mendel and Raizy were farmers in overalls, Mushkie and Chanie had the cutest scarecrow costumes (their idea!) and Moshe (surprise!) and little Sarah had cow outfits. Mushkie and Chanie had enough courage to sing aloud their own adaption of "Old McDonald had a Farm..."
NCBI	On Sunday pre-Purim there was a special leaders training session on diversity, sensitivity and interpersonal group dynamics. It was an exciting workshop sponsored by Hillel and made possible ny Harriet Roffe's insistence. Raizy and Mendel both attended and enjoyed.
Purim Packets on Quads	SUNY Albany loves Hamantaschen! We've refilled the Purim Packets in most Quads already 3 times (even before Purim began!) 3 of the Quads were totally emptied each time we came around to refill. It might be this year's special theme, the joy of the holiday, or just the taste of the sweet-filled cookies. Thanks again to all who packed the 2000 packets, they're almost all gone by now, and enjoyed by fellow students!
	updated 03/15/03
130 !!! on Friday Night	A record-breaking turnout of 130! came to came out for L'chaim's Pre-Purim Wine Dinner at Shabbos House on 3/14. Ten tables, plus a mini-table near the door were filled, as were the couches and the kitchen (even spilling into the kid's bedroom..) It was a beautiful, warm and lively atmosphere. 50 bottles of wine were enjoyed.
Welcome Back Alumni	For this special Shabbos we were pleased to welcome back Payam Danielzadeh (now in Cardozo Law School in New York) Nadine Kochavi (working for the Joint Distribution Committee - JDC in NY) Melissa Gardonyi (working in a Nursing Home in Long Island) Mike Heonig (in Thomas Cooley Law School in Detroit) and Ben Kallos (a more frequent alumni guest - from UBuffalo Law School).
Thank You!	to Michelle Adler and Michelle Ginsburg and Honey Roffe for making the Broccolli Quiches, homemade hamantaschen, Mushroom Barley Soup, and other Shabbos Prep help, to Yishai Cohen for uncorking an endless number of wine bottles, to the student leaders for their announcements and event planning, to big and little dave and many others who pitched in to clean up so many tables, to the students who navigated the crowded room to make sure every table, including the couch-people had plenty of everything.. the list goes on - to be added to asap..
Purim Packet PACKERS!	It took 2 night and over a dozen student volunteers to pack up 2,000 Purim Packets to be distributed in the Quad Dining halls to share the joy of Purim with fellow students at UAlbany. Thank you to all those who have stuffed the little blue packets, it makes a big difference to so many students - and is much appreciated. Thank you to L'chaim and University at Albany Hillel for co-sponsoring the cost of the packets.
Learning Night with Rabbi Zeff	Rabbi Zeff of Shappel's (Darchei Noam) Yeshiva in Jerusalem, led an engaging and interesting learning (just before the Purim Packet Packing) on our regular Tuesday Night Learning with Dairy Dinner. Appropriate for Purim - his topic was "Purim Drinking" - in original text sources.
	updated 03/03/03
Elkie Galperin is Engaged!	Mazal Tov to Raizy's sister Elkie Galperin (and the whole family!) on her engagement to Moshe Wolf of Chicago. We're going down to NY for one night to celebrate the engagement. Elkie has been very helpful at Shabbos House on her visits up here. We wish her all the best!
Jazz Pianist at Jamming Night	Richard Samuels, a Jazz Pianist originally from Vancouver (by way of LA, Brazil and Israel) and now of NY, played at our Jamming Night, with songs from his recently released CD of Chassidic Melodies. For one funky Brazillian Jazz piece, Ben Lieb bongoed along with him. Later during the Jamming Night, we had a great session with Josh Arcus, Yishai Cohen, Matt B, Asher Berman played both Base Guitar and Mandolin.
The Biggest, Tightest Minyan	Since quite a few regulars were away for the weekend of 2/22 - we sent out an urgent e-mail to "who wants to be a minyaneer?" and made a few calls and we ended up with 19 (!) for our Saturday Morning Minyan! Thanks to all who made the extra effort - and it was inspiring to all.
Challah with Love	This semester we launched �Challah with Love� a special community service project. For six years, University at Albany students have been baking Challah regularly at Shabbos House. Now, in addition to the students enjoying their own homemade Challah we are sharing our Challahs with people in the community who would appreciate the gesture. �Challah with Love� will be distributed several times a year. Abby Crapo, Teri Goldstein, Sam Gillman, Sarah Failla and Harriet Roffe baked the Challah, which was then personally delivered to 30 area homes (in the Bnai Brith and Whitehall Court Apartments) by Jason Kersch, Sarah Failla, Jeremy Soussan and Eric Himy. Sarah Failla, a Russian language major at the University at Albany and 2002 recipient of the Albany-Tula Alliance Writer�s Award, translated the Challah card into Russian. Mrs. Rachel �Lola� Yamrom, Mrs. Emily Rubenshtayn (our babysitter), and Mr. Monye Zhvinakovsky (who helps us with cleaning after a big shabbos) assisted in contacting the recipients. According to Mrs. Yamrom, �Some of my neighbors told me, this is the first Challah they have seen since leaving Russia!�
Hillel's Opportunities Fair	This year's fair took on new proportions with a good number of Jewish orgs, local and national - internships, study abroad etc.. It was located around the hallways of the Lecture Centers.
President's Snowstorm	Though we did not get as much snow as further south - we did get quite a bit, and classes were cancelled on Tuesday Feb 18th. Our learning night benefited from everyone having a day off, and we had an exceptional turnout (for the one class I was unprepared for..)
Valentines' Day and Shabbos	For the Friday Night Dinner that fell on Valentines' Day (Feb 14) and President's Weekend we had our smallest turnout this year - about 60 of us. Shabbos House felt so roomy with 'just 60'... For this weekend 5 of my High School students joined us to experience a Shabbos House weekend and to help with the Minyan. Thank you to Yaakov Backman of Maimonides High who read the whole Torah portion, allowing me to savor a relaxing Shabbos morning with the kids.
Growing Learning Nights	Learning Nights with Dairy Dinners are growing, we keep needed to add a table or two. raizy's lasagna, spinach-broccoli soup, and other goodies have a lot to do with it, as does a strong interest in more learning. So far this semester we covered: (1) The Anatomy of a Blessing (2) More on Blessings (3) "The 12 Torah Passages for Kids (and for us, too). Our upcoming Learning Night will feature a guest Rabbi Zeff from Israel (formerly of USA) teaching in a yeshiva called Shappels' in Jerusalem.
Falling in Love, Staying in Love	This weekend (1/31) with Dr. Edwin Yisroel Susskind was excellent, we received lots of very positive feedback (even from some unlikely places). It was our first time to have a guest speaker on a Friday Night, so we were kind of hesitant, but everyone really enjoyed it. Dr Susskind spoke for about 10 minutes during the meal, introducing his relevant topic - and then spoke for another hour or two afterwards, to a packed house! Using good humor, interesting pertinent case stories from his psychology practice, and real-life issues - he talked honestly, openly and meaningfully about many of the issues people are dealing with all the time. A Q&A period went on at Shabbos House until after midnight. Then again during Shabbos Lunch, there was roundtable discussion and Q&A. Special thanks to Jason Kersch, Michael Kashani, Farrah Fidler and all those who insisted we bring Dr. Susskind to campus. Thank you to the L'chaim and Hillel Student Groups for their co-sponsorship of this much appreciated event.
Mendel & Raizy's Birthdays	On what must have been one of the coldest nights of a cold winter, a hardy bunch of buddies gathered together for a little celebration at Shabbos House for our birthdays. We viewed "Challenge" a video of selections of the Rebbe's talks and snipets of his talks with people on the subject of "doing more", "never resting" and rising to ever greater challenges. They were great selections and it gave us all stuff to think about.
	updated 01/20/03
Mazal Tov Yossi!	We drove down to NY for Sunday and Monday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) to celebrate the engagement of our brother (in-law) Yossi Rubin to Leah Vilenkin. (We're driving back down for the women's convention later this week..) Some of you might know Yossi from his assistance with Sukkah Building and with the Shofar Factory.
Brrr...	Albany is cold! Aside for the snow, and patches of ice - this place is freezing with bone-chilling temps. We look forward to warming it up with a warm and exciting semester.
Snow-block	The well-trodden path leading down to Shabbos House from University Drive is now heavily blocked with tons of snow - which our friend Mark Ditonna plowed when clearing our driveway. We wishfully thought that it would melt-away before students got back - but no such luck. For the meantime you can walk around to the top of the driveway on Fuller Road, we keep salting it. Before the Susskind weekend we hopefully will be able to shovel through that stuff.
pre-semester-shabbat	We enjoyed a very cozy - tiny! - pre-semester Shabbos (literally a handful of students) on Jan 17-18, it had a special flavor all its own. It was our first week home during the break (we've spent other shabbos weekends in Albany with the Rubin Sr's, in Troy with the Labers, and in NY with the Galperins..)
Some Family News	Raizy is back on "LA Weight Loss" (something Mendel should be doing..) and losing already. Little Moshe is in a transitional period between diapers and potty - and while we're making significant progress (via bribery and hopefully consistent encouragement) these frequent trips to NY set us back a bit. (Moshe is sitting on my lap as I write this, and is arguing with me whether the screen is the "screen" or a "computer"...)
	updated 01/13/03
Building Campaign Thank You's	Thank You to Jason Kersch for mailing 75 shabbos house building brochures to friends and family! We are already beginning to see the results and it makes a big difference! Thank You to Yishai Cohen for networking with friends and community - at home in Jersey - making the dream closer to reality! Thanks to the many who have already contributed shares or half-shares as well as other contributions to this exciting and necessary project. We also received several pledges/contributions for Mezuzot (@ $1800 over two years) as well as a recent major contribution of $7,200 dedicating the new Aron Kodesh. It all adds up (small contributions, too!) and makes a difference. We need everyone's help in making this possible.
Albany.edu Front Page!	Our very own Sarah Failla made it to www.albany.edu Front Page! There's a feature story on her writings based on her semester in Russia and Russian studies..
Away in Brooklyn & Alumni Wedding	We returned from a weekend in Brooklyn NY (01/10-12) and an alumni wedding of Tzvi Erik & Sarah Tischler in New Rochelle. They will be coming up to Albany this week, and Raizy is making lasagna for a sheva brachos at the Yeshayahu's home in the Albany community (near Shomray Torah).
Condolences	To 'Honey' Harriet Roffe on the passing of her grandfather. May we only share Simchas!

	updated 01/05/03
Even more Snow!	And yes, we got hammered again with another 20 inches of soft, fluffy snow - that was so pleasant, serene and peaceful until we had to shovel out our mini-van (and that's a whole different story!) It is really beautiful out here - but there is SO much snow, you can not imagine! Here's an update from the Albany Times-Union Newspaper on the snowfall so far this season in comparison with last year's mild winter.
Shabbos in Troy NY	We spent Shabbos at the Laber's home in Troy, we have children the same ages and they go to the Maimonides school together. Rabbi Laber is Rabbi of the Beth Tephila Synagogue - an old beautiful landmark building on River Street in downtown Troy alongside the Hudson River. It was some experience trudging down those great hills (Troy is a hilly city) in the deep snow, and then in the slippery slush (after the plows came by). Remarkably, despite the huge snowfall on Friday Night (which continued all Saturday) we managed to have a Minyan because of a Chassidic family reunion in the nearby Best Western Motel.
Front Page News!	Without even our asking - the Jewish World Newspaper ran a front page small article about our building campaign! Hopefully this will help to continue spreading the word about the good works happening here and our need for a bigger and better place. It was a short article and had we put it in we would have added some important details - but we're not complaining!
Trips to NY alumnus wedding, chabad womens' convention, etc...	We're planning two trips to NY this month. (1) We look forward to going down this coming weekend (01/12) to spend Shabbos with the Galperins (Raizy's family) and to be at Erik Tischler's (class of 2000) wedding in Westchester area. (2) We will also be going to NY on the first weekend of Spring Semester when everyone gets back for Raizy's International Chabad Shluchos Convention with about 1500 or more Chabad women from around the world - all sharing the Rebbe's mission, dedicating themselves to Jews and the Jewish community, in one way or another. For that first week - Friday Night will be Hillel's Dinner in the Campus Center. On Saturday Morning following Prayers in Chapel House - there will be Lunch there as well (instead of at Shabbos House where we always have Shabbos Lunch..)
The Kids	Our children are especially enjoying this winter break, as we're spending lots more quality family time together (we make an effort to do lots more of that when we're on winter and summer vacations). They're all well, aside from a cold/virus that traveled the family the first week of break. Mushkie is trying to read, she kind of starts with the beginning letter and end letter and moves her way to the middle. She also enjoyed playing with the "skins" on our Computer CD-music player. Chanie loves cutting, pasting and coloring and is busy writing the alphabet (in words) among other things. We're trying to get Moshe potty-trained, but that's not coming easy. He talks plenty and is SO expressive. Little Sara began to smile, coos a bit, and cries some of the night. She's our easiest baby yet, and we're happy.
	updated 01/01/03
Winter Storms	Snow, Snow with more Snow yet to come! (I write this stuff because (a) it's been a big portion of our activities here the past 2 weeks and (b) quite a few folks wrote that they were expecting to look on the website and see the news about the snow etc.. so here it is!) It all started on 12/25 thru 12/26 when we got a deep fluffy snowfall of about 20-22 inches - with drifts that piled higher. The kids had a blast, we went sledding up and down the slopes around Shabbos House and even built a sizeable fort facing University Drive and Fuller Road. During that storm, the weather was mild and the kids could stay out for quite some time (bundled in snow-pants, mittens and the works). We did take lots of photos - but we didn't develop them yet - we hope to post them sometime next week. Though much of that original snow melted, quite a bitof it was still around when we had an ice-storm on 01/01 - leaving a slick coating of ice underneath another inch of snow. That made things treacherous. And while we're spending a Shabbos with Rabbi Laber's family in Troy, we're supposed to get another 10-16 inches of snow! So while we had two very mild winters, this winter is for real! Thanks to Mark Ditonna (former long-time chef at Kosher) for plowing our driveway each big snow, especially after the Fuller Road County Plows block any hope of getting out.
Personal Simchas	Raizy's two married sisters also had babies around this time. Esty Greenberg in Commerce MI had a baby boy named Levi Yitzchak and Chani Lazaroff of Houston TX had a boy named Menachem Mendel. Mendel's sister Mushkie celebrated her Bat-Mitzvah, and it was a beautiful celebration - and an important milestone.
Bon Voyage!	Marshall Haber is headed down under to Sydney for a semester - no shoveling snow there.
Thank You INTERNS!	Eric Himy, Jason Kersch and Mike Kashani were really a tremendous help during a hectic semester! From getting the tent built for Simchat Torah, organizing building campaign mailings, and furthering our database, yeshiva networking, shabbos food preparations, holiday packets and shopping and much more! Also much thanks to all those who assist at Shabbos House all the time, without official credit, and really make everything that happens here possible!
Want to INTERN?	Shabbos House offers 3 internships a semester through the CPSP program located in Ten Eyck 101 at Dutch Quad. 3 Credits for 100 hours or 2 Credits for 60 hours. Interns are a tremendous assistance with Shabbos and event preparations, work on the building campaign and a dozen other things. Call us 438-4227 or e-mail for more info. We now have 1-2 openings for the Spring Semester!
Ruth (Seliger) Shiva	This info should really be on the alumni page - and I'll move it there when I get around to updating that page next week. Ruth (Seliger) Lind (now of Crown Heights in Brooklyn) is a former director/family of Shabbos House in the late 80's and early 90's and is sitting shiva after the passing of her father during this first week of January 2003. We have her number and contact info should anyone of the old timers be interested.
building campaign brochures		As said above, we continue to mail the new building brochures. We are excited and encouraged by the strong positive interest this generated. It's going to take a lot of people to make this exciting project happen. If you or your family can purchase a share or two (payable over two years) that's really wonderful and makes this much closer to a reality.. If not, if you can help us reach out to others, and perhaps with the aid of several friends, family, or community people - to purchase a share or half-share. Each share is $1,000 - over two years it is $250 twice a year. Each dollar will be matched by generous friends of Shabbos House. There are also building dedications available, see the brochure or contact us for details. A special "doorstep" on our website will soon have more details on this very important and exciting building campaign. Stay tuned and stay involved. We need everyone's help. need more brochures? contact us.