tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25915093646742542512024-03-12T21:58:34.598-07:00Door l'DoorUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2591509364674254251.post-35856296829939902432017-10-24T19:33:00.001-07:002017-10-24T19:33:07.744-07:00Giving and Recieving: A Gift from the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan ChicagoDoor l'Door is a labor of love. With each day, I am touched by the lives I touch when I give a mezuzah to an individual or family. AND I am also blown away by the emotions I feel when I receive mezuzot (more than one mezuzah) from those who want to give a mezuzah to those who have experienced the loss of their beloved homes.<br />
<br />
Never in my wildest dreams did I expect that I would have the opportunity to make a difference in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey or any natural disaster for that matter. With every ounce of my being, I felt like I had almost nothing to give. I say almost because I knew I could give my love and hugs; I knew I could cook a few meals and clean peoples belongings; and I knew that I could open up my home to families in need of a home or perhaps to volunteers from outside of Houston who wanted to help. But the truth is that I felt helpless. I believed that whatever I could do wouldn't really make a difference.<br />
<br />
One afternoon that all changed when I posted on Facebook that I wanted to purchase a few kosher scrolls to give to friends and congregants. The responses that followed made me realize that I couldn't just give to a few people, there were so many Jewish families who had their homes devastated by Hurricane Harvey.<br />
<br />
Just the mention of wanting to collect a few kosher scrolls led to sparks of love flying. Friends and colleagues all over the United States wanted to help, they wanted to give scrolls to those in need. And with that first mention, people started to collect money for scrolls, purchase scrolls and then make mezuzah cases to house the precious parchments.<br />
<br />
A couple of days after my first Facebook post asking about where to purchase kosher scrolls, the first two kosher scrolls arrived at my home, then another three, and then another two, slowly they have been coming in with promises of more. And then we had a national NFTY convention in which Jewish teens from all over our region under the artistic leadership of one of the many advisors, Michelle Renfrow, made fused glass mezuzah cases for our mezuzah recipients.<br />
<br />
With that my mission for Door l'Door grew:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><b><i>When Jewish homes are destroyed, Door l'Door </i><i>will provide each family with a new mezuzah. Together, we can restore their spirits, nourish their souls, and renew thei</i><i>r faith.</i></b></span></blockquote>
While my initial hope was to give mezuzot to those impacted by Hurricane Harvey in Houston, I soon realized that I wanted to give to those impacted by Hurricanes Ike and Maria and those impacted by earthquakes in Mexico and wild fires in Northern California. Jewish homes and congregations, a Jewish camp and Jewish owned businesses are needing to be rebuilt and I want to help all of them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkiJRgIzVbh_j2mOnb88IVEX-kQeZSjSDPL9tU0kaFKqGGkDKmnxtfm8xgallu-3uRBMTsOdRkuCHtuooqktboK-CMc-s6PG7sarCxyJU1pHcwzT_KyvJt6T8hLpu49vERmbsiWXk6V4/s1600/Chicago+Scrolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkiJRgIzVbh_j2mOnb88IVEX-kQeZSjSDPL9tU0kaFKqGGkDKmnxtfm8xgallu-3uRBMTsOdRkuCHtuooqktboK-CMc-s6PG7sarCxyJU1pHcwzT_KyvJt6T8hLpu49vERmbsiWXk6V4/s320/Chicago+Scrolls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Tonight came the largest donation to date. Door l'Door received 100 kosher scrolls and cases from the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. These can be distributed immediately to those that had their homes devastated by Hurricane Harvey. While I was given a head's up about this precious gift a little more than a week ago, I was stunned by my reaction. I am not sure if the Chicago Federation volunteers who are visiting Houston knew it, but I was literally shaking when I saw the box. And as soon as I got to my car after receiving the scrolls, I could barely contain the tears that fell.<br />
<br />
And then came a new flood of tears once I got home and opened the box when I saw that each beautiful scroll would have a case to go with it.<br />
<br />
Tonight, for the first time in years, I realized that I was going to finally make a difference. With the help and love of our Jewish community as well as others, over 120 families to date will receive a kosher mezuzah and case. May their spirits, souls, and faith be impacted for good.<br /><br />I only need about 950 more scrolls and cases. I can do it with your help.<br />
<br />
With love, light, and gratitude,<br />Chava<br />
<blockquote>
<br /></blockquote>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350046843996465492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2591509364674254251.post-84592645419447426742017-10-04T23:01:00.000-07:002017-10-06T01:28:19.548-07:00Door l'Door: Planting Seeds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjXLBvNm9PukZKK-ET1picXekyeBpN7Y2GYurWTX7r1NPURLa3twoHixbLEip_i2ixCPwIqtW7ov_nctviPvffsHs5BBUrGGYWm2WQ_Mumc_1eI0CxxBUy5ztQTmlZJri-qoTglk_HQo/s1600/Mezuzah+1+-+Chava%2527s+Kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjXLBvNm9PukZKK-ET1picXekyeBpN7Y2GYurWTX7r1NPURLa3twoHixbLEip_i2ixCPwIqtW7ov_nctviPvffsHs5BBUrGGYWm2WQ_Mumc_1eI0CxxBUy5ztQTmlZJri-qoTglk_HQo/s200/Mezuzah+1+-+Chava%2527s+Kitchen.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Creating <b>Door l'Door: Mezuzah Rescue and Replacement</b> has become what I now refer to as an incredible detour. When I asked friends on Facebook where I could go to purchase kosher scrolls for those I knew who had lost their homes during Hurricane Harvey, I didn't know that what I was actually doing was birthing an idea that would ultimately explode in front of me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />In three weeks, I have seen one planted seed transformed into more seeds and a whole lot of growth. And with each day, more and more people emerge with thoughts, ideas, concrete advice, and of course scrolls and mezuzah cases!!!! And through it all, my personal schedule has been packed with the beginning of my program year as the Director of Congregational Learning at Temple Sinai in Houston, the High Holy Days with more holidays on the way, a nasty case of bronchitis, and finally the emergence of Door l'Door into my world and hopefully yours too!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />So here is a brief update of what has happened to date:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">September 12 - On Facebook, I asked for help on where to purchase kosher scrolls on a limited budget.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">September 14 - Created MezuzotProject@gmail.com as my 'formal' email address. (I couldn't figure out how to get Door l'Door to work and look good too.)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">September 15 - The Mezuzah Project became formally named Door l'Door through crowd-sourcing ideas with friends on Facebook.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">September 23 - I started this blog with the help of my close friend who simply purchased my domain name and then set up a blog. I love having friends who understand the nuts and bolts of creating a internet presence for this work.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">September 26 - The Jewish Herald Voice Published an article about this project: <a href="http://jhvonline.com/door-ldoor-mezuzah-rescue-helps-after-harvey-p23290-96.htm">http://jhvonline.com/door-ldoor-mezuzah-rescue-helps-after-harvey-p23290-96.htm</a></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And throughout this brief journey, the beautiful gifts that are making Door l'Door possible include:</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">purchase of the domain name for future website</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">new kosher mezuzah scrolls with more ordered and on the way</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">used mezuzot with cases and scrolls</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">money to purchase <i>klafim,</i> (kosher parchments or scrolls)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">help with PR </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">support from our local Jewish Family Service and local clergy and from so many in my community Temple Sinai</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">writers and others that want to share this work are emerging daily.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">people that believe in this project and are offering their love, wisdom, and insights</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I still need:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">share Door l'Door, this blog, or the article (link above) with everyone you know</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">more kosher scrolls </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">financial support to purchase the kosher scrolls or</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">actual kosher scrolls</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to collect photos of Harvey homes missing their mezuzot and Jewish homes that are devastated.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to collect photos of mezuzot on door frames</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">help creating a website</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">friends willing to help me think out loud about how to move forward and to potentially join my nonprofit board. :)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Moving forward, I will be reaching out to every friend, congregational rabbi, and synagogue professional that I know - asking them to help with this project. In order for this holy work to touch those that need it, I will need help, lots of help.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Door l'Door has blossomed into a labor of love. I truly believe that with this work, we can make a difference and help people heal from the devastation of losing their homes or having their homes nearly destroyed. I want people to see the mezuzah on their doorpost and know that they have truly come home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Consider helping Door l'Door by contributing to putting a mezuzah on the door of every Jewish home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are interested in sending kosher mezuzah scrolls or mezuzahs, please send them to:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chava Gal-Or<br />c/o Temple Sinai</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">13875 Brimhurst Drive</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Houston, TX 77077</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are called to participate in what is now called Door l’Door: Mezuzah Rescue and Replacement, please connect with me by mail at the above address or via email at <a href="mailto:MezuzotProject@gmail.com">MezuzotProject@gmail.com</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Donations towards this project can be made out to Chava Gal-Or with Mezuzot Project in the memo section of the check or via PayPal. Please note that Door l'Door is not yet a nonprofit; but I am in the process of creating 501(c)(3). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">l'Shalom </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350046843996465492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2591509364674254251.post-64448040995577661312017-09-23T18:32:00.000-07:002017-09-24T19:05:32.563-07:00Birthing Door l’Door: Mezuzah Rescue and Replacement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4JEjbHi24YlBzFe3cN-Kas2pvZrCmMl3N9fxpunqQUdt7TI8m2eWPTj_5SwfRNZwPfUad4wrJYrpgM0xxQ_PEUx24atmLRoZOftsuThG5BnyRd_VMw9rL4tH7zDTvpeuU0L0IpxVeAo/s1600/Mezuzah+1+-+Chava%2527s+Kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4JEjbHi24YlBzFe3cN-Kas2pvZrCmMl3N9fxpunqQUdt7TI8m2eWPTj_5SwfRNZwPfUad4wrJYrpgM0xxQ_PEUx24atmLRoZOftsuThG5BnyRd_VMw9rL4tH7zDTvpeuU0L0IpxVeAo/s320/Mezuzah+1+-+Chava%2527s+Kitchen.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since childhood, I have loved the tradition of reaching up
to kiss the mezuzah; knowing that the six Hebrew words written on parchment and
secured inside the box connected me with God and my people. <i>“Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheynu Adonai Echad”</i>
translated to mean, “Listen! People of Israel, Adonai is our God; Adonai is
ONE.” This one sentence is often considered to be the heart and soul of the
Jewish people – a reminder of how we walk in the world and walk with God or
Godliness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">August 25<sup>th</sup> marks the day that Houston received a
very unwelcomed guest that unleashed destruction of our homes and damage to
some of our synagogues. Hurricane Harvey's devastation remains overwhelming. While my own home
was(mostly) spared, I wanted to do something concrete to help friends going
through the challenges of losing their homes and belongings. I knew others would
be there to help them fix their structures and replace their “stuff,” yet I
wondered if that powerful touchstone of Jewish life, the mezuzah, would receive
adequate attention. It is in this wondering that an idea emerged – to provide
each family with a new mezuzah to restore their spirits, nourish their souls,
and renew their faith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As a Jewish Educator, when I want support with a task, I
network with my friends and colleagues via Facebook including the thousands of
Jewish educators connected in a group called JEDLAB. Within an hour, the
response for the Mezuzah Project was joyfully and overwhelming! Friends (Jewish
and non-Jewish) requested my address so they could send me the kosher scrolls
to go into the mezuzah. Colleagues and
friends alike are pursuing avenues and resources to help me provide a mezuzah
with a kosher scroll inside for every Jewish home that was devastated in Houston.
My hope is that as I continue to reach out to local congregations, Jewish
Family Service, the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, and by word of mouth,
that together, we will find those who are in the process of rebuilding their
homes and lives in Houston.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wouldn’t it be AMAZING to reach out to other Jewish families
and communities beyond Houston that are reeling from the effects of nature’s
fury?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are interested in sending kosher mezuzah scrolls or
mezuzahs, please send them to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chava Gal-Or<br />
c/o Temple Sinai<br />
13875 Brimhurst Drive<br />
Houston, Texas 77077<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are called to participate in what is now called Door
l’Door: Mezuzah Rescue and Replacement, please connect with me by mail at the
above address or via email at <a href="mailto:MezuzotProject@gmail.com">MezuzotProject@gmail.com</a>.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Donations towards this project can be made out to Chava
Gal-Or with Mezuzot Project in the memo section of the check or via PayPal. Please note that Door l'Door is not yet a nonprofit; but I am in the process of creating 501(c)(3). </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350046843996465492noreply@blogger.com3