Babushka Gone Wild

The ultimate old lady music video of the Former Soviet Union by Serduchka.

Eritchka Returns to Minsk After Setting World Record for Meat-Eating

2 weeks, 11 steaks, 4 burgers, and 10 shnitzels later, Eritchka is revitalized and thrilled to be back in Minsk. In Israel, Eritchka met with 11 other Jewish Service Corps volunteers who gathered together for their mid-year seminar where they shared their thoughts and received briefings on all topics from community building, to teaching techniques, to security on the field.



Needless to say, innumerous anecdotes of awkward cross-cultural situations made their way into group conversation. Awiwa (Eng. Aviva), the volunteer in Warsaw described how she asked some locals, without speaking Polish, where the cemetery was by making gestures of strangling herself. Chloe, from Izmir, regaled the group with the legendary tale of how she tripped the Chief Rabbi of Turkey while simcha dancing with him. These meetings were essential for Eritchka to understand that she wasn’t the only one accidentally calling people “constipated” when she meant to say “this blintz is simply delish.”

Thanks to one another and the JDC professionals who organized and attended the seminar, the volunteers are all back in their respective countries, batteries recharged and ready to use the new ideas they collected. And frankly, after all that binge-eating Eritchka is happy to be back to eating kasha. But don't worry-- she's got a few salamis in her luggage for those carnivorous attacks.

Away From Minsk, Eritchka Turns Blue

After an overnight flight sitting next to a Belarusian woman and her yapping chihuahua, Eritchka arrived in Israel feeling a bit sad to be away from the Old Country. Thankfully though, there are planty of blinztes to eat in the Holy Land to tide her over until her return. Eritchka is in Israel for her not-so-mid-year seminar for Jewish Service Corps fellows, and will return to Minsk Jan. 23.

December Babushka of the Month

Now that January is upon us, it is time to reflect on December’s triumphs, failures, and babushkas. There is more to this babushka than looks. Alona, 76, is one of the few Jews remaining in the historical yeshiva-town of Volozhn. Once 80% Jewish, Volozhn now only houses approximately 30 Jews out of its population of 20 thousand. This wonder of a woman made latkes for 25 as part of the JDC “warm-home” program, which helps Jews in remote areas celebrate Jewish festivals.