Stories of the House of Love and Prayer
donnam's Page
Profile Information
- How much were you at the House of Love and Prayer?
- Was a Regular
- How did you meet Shlomo?
- I met Shlomo first in 1965 (66 ?) in Berkeley, California. Shlomo's tale of our first meeting, while entertaining and sweet is not quite as I recall our first encounter. Anyone who knows me, knows how inconceivable it is that I would be seen "dancing down Telegraph Avenue". The meeting is less important than the impact. My relationship with Shlomo and the people I met as a result changed, defined and molded my life forever. I think of him daily, and his music, stories and teachings inform my being.
- What is your Jewish and/or spiritual practice today?
- Being Jewish defines and informs virtually every part of my life. For me, perhaps the most important learning I've taken from my Jewish education and practice is the requirement that we do not stop questioning. For example, the Talmud reflects our need to analyze, to define, to systematically question; this I believe keeps me as honest as I can be, helps me "be brave" and does not allow me to rely on the "obvious answers". For me being Jewish makes me strong and gentle, curious and serious. I'd describe myself as a ethical, cultural, intermittently semi-modern-well actually extremely modern-orthodox feminist lesbian practicing Jew.
- Where do you live now?
- Western Massachusetts
- Please tell us a little about your life today.
- I am living in Western Mass with married to Ellen, my partner, of 25 years. We have two delightful grown, children Ora (31) and Natan (28). I am a senior professor, teaching management, leadership, diversity, organizational psychology to graduate students in Cambridge. I am currently the COO of a growing multimillion dollar corporation based in Massachusetts - I've also worked in the field of HR management as a senior manager in both profit and non-profit settings. Ellen is a practicing attorney with over 30 years of experience. I write and paint and spend my limited "off" time traveling and gardening.
- If you answered "Other," above:
- supporting Aryea in the completion of his book
donnam's Photos
Comment Wall (8 comments)
- At 11:56pm on February 26, 2009,
Ne'eman said… - whoops , I meant Mordechai Levy, Ah" s
- At 10:51pm on February 26, 2009,
Ne'eman said…
- Donna, thank you for the memories! Were all of these from your wedding?(besides the one of Shlomo and Zalman) You were really shining, especially on 0023. Old faces worth seeing- Marvin and Pesach on 0007, Elana and Yisroel on 0008, Aryae on 0011 and 0026, Barry and Jonathan on 0013, Adina on 0018, Moshe Levy on 0013 and 0018. Is that Itzik Eisenstadt on 0023? Ruthie on 0012? Is that Yosepha in purple, holding the long candle on 0008? Who is the girl standing between Malka and myself on 0010? She looks familiar, but I can't place her name. What was the date of your wedding? As for me, pretty scary, I forgot how long my hair was- long gone! Thanks again. Ne'eman
- At 1:25pm on February 19, 2009,
Susan (Burns) Bernstein said… - Yes!!! At that time, Steven lived there, a guy from England who was into TM, named Peter Graham Bell (really), a lady named Robin who was into Meyer Baba, another lady into astral traveling and others who came and went who were all into some type of spiritual path. That was the criteria for living there. It was a vegetarian house, and I remember that one Thanksgiving they wanted to get a turkey, so I convinced them that since we were vegetarians all year, we shouldn't compromise and instead we had a Tofu turkey. Also, on Pesach I bought a hot plate, pot, pan, dish & silverware and Lissy Shick (Rabbi Shick's daughter, who I knew from Israel) and I went to the ocean and toiveled my things so I could have a kosher Pesach in my "room." Someone who saw us thought we were homeless and just there to wash our dishes!
- At 10:53am on February 18, 2009,
Susan (Burns) Bernstein said…
- Hi Donna, I wasn't at the house yet when you & Steve got married, but I do remember both of you. Didn't Shlomo stay with you when he came to town? I lived in a yellow & white "ginger bread" house on Shrader St., right across from Elana, but was at the House every day. Thanks for saying hello. Susan
- At 2:31am on February 16, 2009,
Ne'eman said…
- Donna, Iread your interview,and found it quite interesting. I never realized how involved you were in setting up Shlomos concerts. I saw you constantly with him with your guitar, but there were a lot of folks trailing him, playing backup. You must have a lot more stories to tell about those those years, that would fill in our memories. I would like to hear them, and I'm sure others would as well. Sholom, Ne'eman
- At 10:14am on January 8, 2009,
Ne'eman said…
- Hello Donna, I joined the site in order to express thanks to Louise for the chesed she showed me, and to send consolations to Joy, when I read that she passed away. I visited Louise on the Moshav in May, '06. I've enjoyed reading entries and comments of old House compatriots. Similiar to you, the years I spent at the House are an integral part of who I am, although it might be hard to discern at first glance. I have no pictures of myself from those years. I was such a holy beggar, I don't remember owning anything that I didn't have in my knapsack when I started hitchhiking, certainly not a camera. Stay well, thanks for sending a comment, Ne'eman
- At 12:48pm on March 11, 2007,
donnam said…
- What’s the cliché…build it and they will come? I’ve sent invitation to a number of people as I locate more addresses. Remember the story about Nachshun and the edge of the Red Sea, pharaoh’s men hot on the trail. Nachshun, stepped first to the ankles, then the knees and nothing, bold steps took him to his chin and next the water covering his mouth. That final act of bravery, a step toward drowning, perhaps driven by desperation, possibly by faith; that step into drowning opened the sea. Be brave my friend, this seems to be a path worth taking.
- At 8:38am on March 11, 2007,
Aryae Coopersmith said… - Donna,
This is so cool that you've joined -- thank you! I feel a little like I did when I first rented the House on Arguello in 1968. It was big and empty and I was the only one in it. I had the hope and faith that others would come. Thank you for being the first (other than my wife) to join me in this one! Let's see what happens next ...
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