This post by Joel Stanley, Director of International Programming for Moishe House, initially appeared in the June 2012 Moishe Monthly.

It has been a while since I moved out of Moishe House London as a resident and transitioned into the role of Regional Director for the international houses. But I was given the opportunity to get involved with the nitty gritty of the house’s programming again when a couple of participants, Symon and Zoe, asked if they could have their aufruf (in which the groom is called up to the Torah the week before his wedding) at Moishe House London, and if I would help organize.

Symon sourced 50 chairs, a full Kiddush and a Sefer Torah in order to make the event happen, and the service was led entirely by friends of theirs, who happened to also be Moishe House participants. Being quite an egalitarian community, there were aliyot not only for the groom but also for the bride, both sets of parents and at least one grandparent too. The weather held and afterwards everyone gathered in the garden for bagels and cakes.

The event was unique in a number of ways and it got me thinking about a few important things related to the global Moishe House community …  Read More »