Top Ten Reasons Why San Francisco Kicks My Ass Back to Brooklyn (no, I have never lived in Brooklyn and yes, that is a good thing).
1 - All the people, you know who you are: DH, JN, NS, JE, RB, AN, LG, RF, JS, MK, MH, LS, RK, HS, JH, ASK, ESK, SE, FB, GF, JJ, ZS, RJ, TK, NG, NK, EJ, JB, NB, DK, SL, EG, LM, DR, TB, DS (and perhaps most: JCL) - I'm sure I forgot some. You have enriched and I expect will continue to enrich, brighten, challenge, teach, and inspire me. Thank you!
2 - Of course, the
Mission Minyan! You have taught me about Judaism, group dynamics, what it means to love an organization. You have opened my mind to more ways to connect to the Divine. You have shown me what a diverse group of people who mix intention with devotion can create.
3 - 1237 Broadway - Mostly because of the people who resided there, but also because of the rooftop view, the wonderfully pressurized shower, the lack of parking that encouraged me to sell my car before gas prices went out of control, the futon that was easily moved to accommodate regular shabbat dinners and 17 people for Pesach seder, the kitchen with blue countertops that allowed me to experiment with
epicurious recipes. Of course, thanks to
craigslist and DS for bringing it all together.
4 -
ISDLS and
Koret which both paid the bills sufficiently for me to live comfortably and taught me more than I can go into here.
5 - NS's swanky pad that played host to a rockin birthday party for me, delicious, hamish shabbat dinners and of course, the owner, NS, who helped me get through it all.
6 -
Beth Sholom YABS - for introducing me to many of my most important people. For cooking shabbat dinner when I just couldn't muster the energy and pushing me long and hard into a theological crisis from which I've grown and matured.
7 -
MUNI - for making me wait just long enough so that I opted to walk more often than not. For the #1- California for smelling just vaguely like fish, and being so crowded that hiking up the hills usually seemed quite appealing. For the
Cable Cars whose bells rang ever-so-sweetly when I was getting ready for bed and reminding me that a piece of my heart will always be left in SF.
8 - One word -
Hagim - From the most revelationary Shavuot of my life, to two Pesach Seders (one that ended with a dance party at 2am in my kitchen, and the other which welcomed Eliyahu at 3am with song and ruach) to Shabbat, Shabbat, and more Shabbat, this year has been filled with the most celebratory holidays in my life. Thanks to all those who sang, davenned, taught, walked, planned, opined, kvetched, leyned, awoke early, stayed up late, baked, sauteed, chopped, seasoned, served and hosted. The food was delicious!
9 - For the International Forum at the
World Affairs Council, all-you-can-eat sushi at
Nara,
Pacific Arabic Resources,
Jewish Fashion Conspiracy,
Fat Chance Bellydance, the Commonwealth Club, A Well Lighted Place for Books, The Hustler Club, Le Beau (for those in the know), Chinatown produce shopping, overpriced boutiques in Pac Heights, burritos in the Mission, Burmese food in the Richmond, vegetarian options!!, and of course,
Peets (for providing the juice of life).
10 - For Mt. Tam and
Muir Woods (where my Saba loved to take us as kids), the bison in GG Park, the Presidio, Big Basin, Berkeley Rose Garden, Monterey and all the rest that I can't think of now.
