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Quaran-Cleaning & Organizing Part 2

April 15, 2020 by Hannah Isaacs

Hi there, Tribe 12 community! I’m Nicole Wasilus, owner of Everybody Loves Organizing, and I’ve got some organizing tips for you to make your home more zen & orderly while you’re staying in.


Bedroom

 

Most of us are working from home now, so we’re spending much more time in our spaces. A simple but effective thing you can do is make your bed every morning. It takes just a minute or two, and it makes your bedroom’s energy so much different. It’s a great way to get the day started on the right foot. And if you don’t have a lot of storage space, remember that the underside of your bed has plenty of room for plastic bins or slide-out drawers!

Take a look at your dresser. A method from Marie Kondo that I love is file folding, which is where you fold and stack your clothes horizontally rather than vertically. Here’s a video tutorial on how to do it, and I challenge you to give it a try. It takes a little time upfront, but you’ll save time and energy down the line. No more fishing for that one t-shirt and messing up the rest!

Finally, let’s look at your bedroom closet. I recommend having uniform hangers. When everything matches, it looks so much cleaner! And just like in the kitchen, take everything out to see what still fits and what you actually like. As you put everything back, take time to sort by sleeve length, formalness, or even color!


Closets 

You know what I’m going to say, but it’s important to repeat: look through your closet’s coat collection, and decide if there’s any you don’t wear. Using matching hangers, organize your coats from short to long, and group them together with who they belong to in your household.

Treat your suitcases and luggage like nesting Russian dolls. Store smaller suitcases and travel bags in a larger one to save space! Similarly, maximize your storage by using all the vertical space in your closet. Store out of season items or things you don’t frequently use at the tippy top. Consider a shoe rack like this one I have from the Container Store (my home away from home). When everything has its place, your closets really come together.

Those are all my tips. I hope they were informative and sparked a fire in you to take this time we have and get organized! If you have questions or would like to talk in-depth about your space, contact me on my Facebook page!

 

Filed Under: Adulting, Fellows, Professional, Social, Trends

12 Questions with a Tribe 12 Fellow

March 11, 2020 by Hannah Isaacs

Fellow: Hillary Barlowe

1.) What was your introduction to Tribe 12?

Rachel Lewitt, began her venture, Somewhere, last year and I was excited to support a friend at Pitch Night! I started attending Tribe 12 events and was excited to apply for the fellowship!

2.) What motivated you to take part in the Fellowship?

I hoped to create my own opportunities as an entrepreneur and make connections to others in my community doing the same. 

3.) Which elements of the Fellowship did you find most enjoyable? Most difficult?

To show up authentically is always vulnerable, but finding that others reciprocate that presence made it much more comfortable. I’ve been so glad to get to know the cohort and support each other’s ideas and ventures.

4.) How did your venture begin?

I saw a church on 42nd and Spruce that is no longer in use and had an idea for community religious spaces that isn’t centered on services, but supplementary. I envisioned a space that would be a sanctuary to those who feel spiritual in whatever shape that takes and would allow individuals to learn tools to reconnect with their souls. 

5.) How did it change throughout the Fellowship?

I’ve focused on trauma-informed care, though I’d ideally love to have space for creative activities like art and music, I found the most pressing space that needs to be held is one for cultivating resiliency as well as workshopping individual, generational, and ancestral traumas with community. To care with, not for each other’s joy as well as their pain is the goal. 

6.) How is your venture influenced by your Judaism?

I was inspired by tikkun olam within a similar framework to Kintsugi. There’s an idea that when too much Source fills a vessel, it may shatter. Kintsugi, a Japanese art, allows for the improvement upon broken things rather than just mending. Broken ceramic is restored with golden paint. I’d like to help others learn the tools to mend their own scars with the golden paint of Source. While we may never be the same as we once were, we can be creative works in progress endeavoring to be even better.

7.) What are your future goals and plans?

I’m currently looking into accreditation programs like mindfulness certification and somatic experiencing as well as ordination. One day I would like to have a storefront with space for workshops as well as space for individuals to create their own ritual objects. 

8.) What does Jewish community mean to you?  

I find so much joy in being a member of a community and supporting those around me. Jewish community to me, means that individuals are able to express their Judaism with freedom and individuality.

9.) What are you looking forward to for Launch Night?

I’m looking forward to celebrating the culmination of the cohort’s ventures as a shared community.

10.) What is your nerdiest hobby?

I’m a knitter…

11.) Where would we find you on a Friday night?

Shabbat services or a Shabbat dinner with friends!

12.) What is your favorite thing about yourself?

My favorite thing about myself is my ability to start fresh daily.

Join us for a sneak peek of the ventures at Pitch Night, March 31st and the finished product at our 10th Annual Launch Night, May 12th. 

Written by: Carly Goldberg, Tribe 12 Intern

Filed Under: Cool Stuff, Fellows, Professional, Social

Your Philly Guide to Purim 2020

February 27, 2020 by Hannah Isaacs

There are so many Purim experiences this year, we thought we would put them all in one place for you!

March 5th: Neshama Hadassah Hamantaschen Baking Event: Thinking outside the triangle

Learn to make the tri-corner cookie we all know and love! Hear all about Hadassah and take home your delicious creations! Join Neshama Hadassah and Aish Chaim for a night of Hamantaschen Baking. Aish Chaim’s Gevura Davis will teach you everything you “knead” to know!

For more info and to register email neshamaphilly@gmail.com

March 5th, 6th, 12th, 14th: A Very Poppy Purim 

Wait, so you drink like it’s St. Patrick’s Day, dress up like it’s Halloween, and put on an interactive musical?

What is this? It’s Purim, of course. Will you celebrate with us?

Every year, A Very Awesome Purim throws a big Purim party and puts on a musical about a drunken king, an evil prime minister, and a queen who saves the entire Jewish population. The production strikes a careful balance of off-color humor, on-key parodies, and surprisingly poignant lessons about cultural acceptance. With your help, we choose a theme—this year: “Pop Legends”—and translate it into an original musical telling the story of Purim.

Click here to get your ticket!

March 7th: March Madness Maccababes: Purim Inspired Improv Show

It’s March Madness time AND the Jewish celebration of Purim! Join the Maccababes, an all-Jewish improv team, for a night of laughs and a vague explanation of Purim. Wear a costume, bring some hamentashen, and celebrate with us!
Click here for tickets!

March 9th: Monte Carlo Masquerade

Fifth Annual Premier Purim Masquerade is going to be an Epic Bash! Concert & Monte Carlo Casino @ The new City Winery
Live Music Featuring Israeli Sensation: Yemen Blues : W/ The Chevra’s Rock House Band: Aryeh Shalom, J-Baum, & The Mystic Mayhem

Click here for tickets!

March 12th: Party like a Queen: Purim at Penn


Purim, or the Feast of Lots, is a joyous holiday that recounts the protection of Jewish peoples from a threatened massacre during the Persian period.
Now, Purim is considered by some to be feminist holiday, due to the ancient queens that played major roles within the historic events.
Join the Penn Museum as we celebrate this festive occasion with a queer twist. Guests will enjoy special highlight tours of the galleries, crafts, music, and end the night with a bang: a costume contest!
Throughout the evening, we will be hosting a Donation Drive for the Gloria Casarez Residence. The Gloria Casarez Residence, is an LGBTQ+ young adult community housing space. In an effort to support the will be collecting the following: Body soap, Deodorant, Toilet Paper, Toothpaste, Liquid laundry detergent, Shaving cream, USB cords, Baby blankets (New), Cat litter, Dog Waste bags, Stain odor eliminator, Cat/Dog Treats (Sealed) and Pet Feeding bowls.

Click here for tickets!

Filed Under: Adulting, Cool Stuff, Culture, Philly, Social

Do I Have Too Many Deal Breakers?

February 19, 2020 by Danielle Selber

When I sit down with someone for a “matchmaking date“, one of the conversations that clocks a fair amount of time is around their deal breakers. I ask about common ones — age, height, and location for example — and ones people might not have thought of, like whether politics is a factor in dating for them. Having had hundreds of these conversations means I have heard every super-specific, wait-are-you-joking deal breaker you can imagine.

There was the girl who was 4’10 and insisted on dating someone no shorter than 6’0. Then, there was a guy who swore off girls named Elizabeth because he had dated two of them. The girl who would only date guys who lived not only in Center City, but between certain cross-streets… oh this list goes on. Deal breakers have a role in dating, and I’ll happily match people according to whatever they tell me is important to them — but like anything taken to the extreme, such ironclad must-haves can be a big barrier to success.

So how many deal breakers is too many? Go ahead and grab on a piece of paper (or pull a list you already wrote out of your sock drawer) and pick up your favorite pen. Think through the following questions as you write out your preferences:

  • Do you want pets or have allergies?
  • How do you feel about tattoos and piercings?
  • Anything to do with smoking / drinking / drugs?
  • How about dietary considerations like kosher or vegetarian?
  • Is location a consideration?
  • Are medical issues a factor in dating?
  • Are you looking for monogamy?
  • How important is sex to you?
  • Do you have races or ethnicities you prefer to date?
  • Is Judaism a factor in dating?
  • Is Israel (or the possibility of moving there) a consideration?
  • Do politics play a role in dating for you?
  • Is height a factor?
  • How about hair?
  • How do you feel about someone who is divorced or has kids?
  • Do you want kids, if so when, and how do you feel about biological kids vs. other paths to parenthood?

Now take a good, hard look at your list — then mercilessly attack it with fire and rage and slice that baby down to FIVE. Five non-negotiables, five make-or-breaks, five hills you will die on – EXACTLY five. No more, no less.

Cat high-fiving a person
Yes, just five. Don’t make me come over there.

By limiting ourselves to this (admittedly arbitrary) number, it forces us to really think through what is inexorably important, and weigh competing priorities against each other. Is it more important that this person lives in the city, or that they don’t smoke? Is height a bigger factor than whether or not they want kids in the next three years? There are no right or wrong answers to these questions — just what’s true for you.

Having just five items on your list also helps to distinguish between what is a strong preference — of which you are welcome to have one billion — or a true, honest-to-god deal breaker. One way to know is to ask yourself whether whatever it is would stop you from going on a first date with someone. If you would pop an antihistamine to go on a first date with a cat owner who was amazing in every other way, then someone being cat-free is likely a preference and not a deal breaker.

Before I went apartment-shopping, I made a list of the five non-negotiable things I wanted in a place. When I found the place I ultimately ended up moving into, I was so excited — and then of course I started with the second guessing: oh but the kitchen isn’t that big, oh but it’s near a main road… getting in my own head about it. But I had my trusty list — and those things were not non-negotiables. I was able to move through my doubt and into my (totally sweet) apartment.

Those items that made me second-guess were at most nice-to-haves, and they may even have just been my crazy mind’s way of convincing me out of exactly what I was looking for — something that happens a lot in dating. Making a paired-down, thought-through list before the complication of an actual human is involved is something you’ll be grateful to have when you reach a crossroads with someone.

And then, of course, know that sometimes you’ll click with someone who makes you throw away your list. After a particularly tumultuous break-up a few years back, I fumed to my roommate: “I’m DONE with younger men, Russians, and AEPi brothers!” And damn if my next serious relationship wasn’t with a younger Russian AEPi.

Consider your list-of-five a guideline, a living document that can change as often as you do… and don’t beat yourself up too much about it. Happy scribbling!

 

Our in-house matchmaker wants to be in your corner. As the only “non-profit matchmaker” in the country, Danielle blends traditional Jewish matchmaking with modern sensibilities. To meet up with her for coffee, email danielle@tribe12.org.

Filed Under: Adulting, Dating, Philly, Social

Goldie Tahina Shake Review

February 12, 2020 by Hannah Isaacs

Goldie is a favorite of the Philly Jewish food scene thanks to their top-notch Israeli fare. Their naturally vegan, not-too-sweet Tahina Shakes are the perfect complement to a falafel sandwich, but which one is the best? We at Tribe 12 set out to taste test them all.

Original

The first sip of Goldie’s original flavor tasted almost like peanut butter, but with a definite and slightly bitter sesame aftertaste. The consistency is reminiscent of a Wendy’s frosty, and the shake overall would go great with a hot order of their shawarma spice fries.

Coconut

My first taste was of this shake’s homemade whipped topping, which reminded me of my childhood favorite Girl Scout cookie, the Caramel deLite. The shake itself was considerably more melted than the others (food scientists please explain) and was a sweeter take on the original with hints of coconut flavor. It would be a fun summer flavor to sip in Rittenhouse Square Park.

Mint Chocolate

This shake is definitely minty, and is a great option for someone who wants a vegan shake but isn’t into the tahina flavor. It tastes specifically like spearmint, and the chocolate slivers added a nice variation in consistency, but it can be a little overwhelming as a whole.

Turkish Coffee

Did we save the best for last? I was skeptical of the flavor combination at first, but the coffee shake was topped with delicious little halva crumbles and has a nice balance of coffee and tahina flavor.

We ended with a two-woman hung jury: my favorite was Coffee, but I see the appeal of enjoying the novelty in the Original’s tahina flavor. Hannah’s best-liked was Coconut, but the possibility of an Original and fries was equally appealing.

Any one of Goldie’s tahina shakes is a great start to an NJP (Nice Jewish Picnic): grab some falafel, fries for dipping, and someone to share it all with.

Until next shake!

Carly Goldberg, intern extraordinaire

 

Filed Under: Cool Stuff, Culture, Philly, Social, Trends, Uncategorized

ICYMI: Top Five Philly First Dates

February 4, 2020 by Danielle Selber

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, a reblog and update of the place our matchmaker Danielle deems Philly’s best places for a first date!

Waterfront happy hour at Chart House
555 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard (Penn’s Landing)

You know that episode of Friends where Joey’s dad says “I could make a meal just out of the appetizers”? That’s Chart House’s happy hour menu. It’s cheap, delicious and hearty enough to count as dinner. You get the benefit of a posh location with a waterfront view without breaking the bank, and you can go any weekday from 4:30pm to 7pm.

Magic Gardens and Lorenzo’s, on a weekend
Start at 1020 South Street (South Philly)

You’ve seen the mosaic-tiled storefronts all down South Street, but the story behind that ubiquitous art is all mixed in with Philly’s history and the artist Isaiah Zagar’s life as an activist (and a Jew BTW). A weekend visit gives you all the lovely culture and detail of a museum trip without feeling like you have to speak in a whisper, and it’s got the most Instagram cred of any date imaginable. After you leave, head south on South Street (with plenty to chat about as you spot Isaiah’s mosaics all throughout your walk) and grab a slice at Lorenzo’s, the place that all the people who don’t read Bon Appetit Magazine will tell you is the best pizza in Philly.

Shane Confectionery on a Friday night
110 Market Street (Old City)

Shane’s is something like the oldest chocolate shop in the city and it’s just the quaintest little gem you ever did see. On Friday nights, you can take a cute little tour for $8 where you learn about the equipment, taste the candy, and generally revel in the adorable nostalgia of it all. Tours are at 6:30pm and it is best to reserve in advance they only have 13 spots. If the weather’s nice and things are going well, you can walk one half a block to Penn’s Landing and look over the water (and maybe snag a first kiss, you fox).

Shakshuka for brunch at Cafe Ole
147 N. 3rd Street (Old City)

For a casual, no-pressure first date, head to Israeli-owned Cafe Ole and get the shakshuka, Israel’s quintessential tomatoey poached egg breakfast and a pair of “cafe hafuch”s, their delish riff on cappuccino. With Israeli realtors shouting into their phones all around you, a million hamsas hanging on the wall, and a sign that says “this place is not kosher” in Hebrew, you’ll feel like you’re on a date in Tel Aviv.  

Roll the dice on date night at Thirsty Dice
17th & Fairmount (Spring Garden) 

For a fun first date head to Thirsty Dice in Fairmount! They claim to have over 800 available to play on their giiiant boardgame wall. They have great share-able food options like nachos, soft pretzels, and sweet/salty/spicy popcorn, plus Thirsty Dice is lucky enough to offer a full bar with wines, cocktails, drafts, and an espresso bar. Challenge your boo to a game of Connect 4 or see if you have compatible beliefs with the Game of Life. At the end of the night you’re both winners anyway, happy dating! 

Looking to meet people IRL so you can try out these delicious dates? Join us in February, the month of luuuuv, for these dating-related events!

2/5: Online Dating is Online Marketing Workshop + Reverse Happy Hour
2/7: Powerpoint Slide… Into My DMs
2/10: Sick of JSwipe Silent Rave
2/21: Kinky & Kosher

Enjoy your wandering, rendezvousing, exploring and galavanting!

Filed Under: Adulting, Cool Stuff, Dating, Philly, Social

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