Building a community in a town no one heard of... - Rabbi Yossi Posen - Pushet Pshat • Ep. 48

You look around. Do I fit in? Do I not fit in? Like when I meet them like Rabbi, I'm a bad Jew. You know why? Like it happened. Turns out with depression against depression for us most of what we experience is a given. Don't want to be on shific The school black and white color. Um forestond finally. How was it? Unbelievable. Happens to be sus. The time where you bring down the inspiration like sitting down you internalize it. So that's not internalizing. Everyone's still on a high. Um but unbelievable hundreds of literally hundreds of people like from where to see that their their interest their enthusiasms little kids. So like people people were unbelievable. Well the listeners listen Mexico is based on tourism. connected local tourist even the tourist for the tourist expats or people that that are staying there for an extended period of time. Um but it's run very differently whatever it is. So naturally Eping is a just introduce Eping. So like you said outside London like 45 minutes in beautiful forest but a suburb sto young families um there's no um it's people was we didn't know at the beginning but in the surrounding villages um the history in Europe. >> Wow. >> I never did my own research. >> A huge center for Yiddish. >> East London East London. >> North East London. >> Yeah. East is Yeah. So basically and what happened is over time directions mainly traditional butcher school whatever it is towards London Borumwood Milh Hill Shandley like all those London areas huge huge uh growth in the Jewish community. in the Jewish community going. Yeah. Um but without without um judging but of the tough and the priority and so on to school but mention for the local schools and traditional vine you know as the generations went by. Um so this is eping the job is to find them and everything local infrastructure for the Eden. It's a very it's a very different lifestyle. Vietnam. So like I mean I can speak for myself and most of most of my fellow we're going to go somewhere nice and fun. It's a big decision to make right. you're giving up basically when you're young for life, you know. So, it's a massive jump to to drop everything and to go. So in the context in their decision, you know, I was in my early 20s, seven years ago. Um, in that context inspired like you hear it again and again and again and you don't really I don't think you think about So in that context location but it happens to be there was very tropical tropical locations which came up but each place for a different reason and you know and ultimately we ended up in Eping. Having said that I won't be fully in it but um in retrospect they have under the challenges constantly faces and the movement but on the other hand it's school away 20 minutes each way every day. Can I know how to food is is next door right we do shopping cuz even though it's only an hour away from I don't know mention you know and suddenly we have amazing people in who has our text message they they pack it up in the shops branch pit different places in San Phil such good people um easily community mention that you're going throughout their lives. So the investment mention suddenly they gone right like tourists you give them everything but they gone the next day where you're actually growing together with the families Yeah. What's going on there? a caveat basically. I don't as a young Okay. So, one second. So, a personal question like what's going on? Yeah. Okay. I'm sure we'll get to it. We'll get to it. But one second. So don't forget to take this off. We're on it. We're on it. So um okay. So I know you didn't mean it in that way. I think that's the first the first But that's the first misunderstanding was >> because he grew up. Yeah. >> And and it's true. I didn't know Eping exists until like eight years ago when I found out about Eping. It wasn't on the radar forest. But uh it's in in our insul community >> in a bubble bubble hopefully bubble but um but we automatically think Um, but what I've come to see like that's you know punishment it's expresses our true self. Um so as much as you see it the same thing in on on the ground and that's been my experience 99.9% for mentioning accessible for drive the taxi. So weekends whatever happens doesn't matter when 7:15 719 by the fence ers, you know, the sun's beginning to set. I was looking forward to the list, but obviously whatever. So, in the background, There's no excitement. Where was I going with the story? a personal invite, right? Like it was one of the intentionally could be, could be not. But personal invite. So everywhere experience most of them mostly speaking in the to bring it there to bring make awareness communities. Um like it's not too much. You don't think twice. You know, you look around. Do I fit in? Do I not fit in? You know, like when I meet them like Rabbi, I'm a bad Jew. You know, I'm I'm not I'm not religious. You know, this is the the opening comment. I hope it's okay back into stories, but I was walking on the high street and um and for whatever reason he stopped coming uh let's call him uh let's call him There you go. By the way, it brings, you know, whatever. How do you celebrate, you know, what do you do? It was a genuine question. I got emotional. I was like I was choking up. 45 minutes minimum. reasons like whatever you could live like everyone else like it's incredible what you do like we um but there I was in Harlo Harlo but I'm which I look after in the last few days. Anyway, the hose I can't remember what it was from Harlo. It's far out. Yeah. A council house kitchen a cabinet for the followers walk-in closet. This is my kitchen. This couple was hard nothing dedicated whatever it's unbelievable. I mention but everyone and on the contr because they're not getting it a lot. So when the guest enthusiastic Epic. Yeah. So, Eping the the location based on like I was saying earlier more or less system is amazing by the way is a fan. We all we all love is the Jewish organization in the UK. people in the UK in England the numbers 79 kabad houses individual moes 79 in the UK >> oh wow >> um um 30 of them in the last 10 years 30 mention of them from scratch in the last 10 years it's booming it's growing massively come from >> the budget the budget UK were terrible for some reason. Yeah, 100%. It's a next door guys in the city meeting Hebrew schools. You know it's it's all happening. Who are you thinking about? >> Yeah. But anyway, Very good. >> Exactly. >> Very good. No problem. >> Yeah. for the branding. for the branding. Coffee report. I agree. So why at the early years? So the country got the couple in Italy in England. So um um and they started from scratch you know and eventually the setup is Manchester in the early days you know so it's kind of systemat like couples was then ready in desperate to go on, you know, to set up. This is the this is the the goal in um and and so how it works nowadays young couples after you know for life for the um and how you look for a place everyone do networking and you don't know if the follow but um but what's more interesting is caravans RVs I think they call it in Australia documentary of them um I think but anyway so the guy in the supermarkets. I got in the the local the city center, you know, any Jews, you know, and slowly but surely unfortunately 100%. Yeah. Jonathan, chief rabbi as um what was his statement to hunt down every Jew with love as if he said the antidotes to the Holocaust where they hunted down every Jew with hate. with love um 100% in like the most valuable thing is a list for name addresses but prospects social media n And for sure startups in California for sure. But um anyway, so so list you know that's how I start. So happens to be and I were looking at somewhere else in fell through going to burn out cuz like I said you know the family and move I remember before leaving like no matter how much we knew and you know um when it came to actually signing the dotted line, you know, to to likeacking packing the bags, watering the shipping company. >> It takes it was it was a a transition was we had to actually have a reckoning like are we in are we in all the way like we we have to take inspiration from there. It's a big step. So Eping we were looking at a different place after for whatever reasons in Spain in Mayora beautiful place name I'm not retireism. But anyway, you know, Barcelona, I don't remember. Um so we you know everything was an option. Eping came up. So compiled demographics to um so he was considering changing uh moving so he reached out to us security meaning the highly Muslim area basically >> he he doesn't feel safe yeah he doesn't feel safe there, you know, it's one of our big jobs just to be on the front lines, you know, when people people experiencing we'll talk about it later. Okay. Actual life changing the situation is is >> in some areas is not safe anymore of the positive side but uh on realistic also. Yeah, I think also infrastructure community experience because neighbors not like you don't get carried away. >> By the way, but before main spor which is um the famous Sterns bakery. Exactly. So famous brands since 1955 in America. >> Yeah. Exactly. Finally bringing the product a big variety and a big range of stuff in the shops already. So I'm sure come full circle of the podcast I don't know half the things the lines so have you tasted favorite for the favorite black and white. Don't worry breakfast. Breakfast. I'm going for months break. Very good stuff. Closeup camera. So, we're passing the the brownies. The clown. Oh, get tomato. Mhm. So, tasting the products from St. Go check them out in the UK supermarkets or in America probably quality products made in the USA. and the cost of groceries and enjoyment mentioned anti-mitism. You meet it also in apping the noise of an antiism. So advert and sterns and singing delicious but segue cut a sharp cut. So maybe just to to to back step back in terms but like you're saying flourishing but it changes very quickly. armed police outside my house of the trunk in England for the follow but in England police got guns right so so armed police usually armed undercover police rifles six seven types of guns as we all know terrorism plot against those in England in Manchester >> really had no idea >> I can I can bring up if you want me to check exactly cleav um I'll tell you roughly what the report said. So two men have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offense following major counterterrorism operation Manchester. The pair were arrested in the northern quarter on Sunday afternoon under the terrorism act and remain police custody. Um yeah counterterrorism officers have also carried out searches at addresses in Sford and Liverpool. H no idea. So security got you know um anti-semitism. So I can't speak for can't speak for anyone just about for myself but the lived experience often I'm out of it. Let's say the city or whatever jobs maybe it's more I'm not under I'm not underestimating it. Um, I'm not belittling the experience, but I think mostly mostly growing up in October 7th issues, dirty, we got shouts from I don't know but and we arrive back and we get egged on car drives by like it happened but um so but it doesn't make us question who we are it doesn't make us couple of whereas community you know there's so these people experiencing level 100% and I experiencing this because I I experienced because they're with and people say comments especially people who don't even know Eden because let's address going to school and you know mixed. Yeah. Yeah. So for sure their their experiences I would say on on the most part personally first of all personally local public feel safe. I love the Jewish people. Don't don't wear the don't wear the yam on on here. Like it's not safe. Like he cared about me. So like I could put him in. Um I was just going to say the Facebook group and tag the Facebook group. So the the post basically and and the engagement from that post what's newsworthy and the engagement the comments with the likes but people definitely are experiencing it in community and uh in we prepared whatever shiny event family out of That's a it's a move haircut. >> Yeah. In mystical. That's like So I think that's why. So she's So we're having this thing. So as the meaning exactly we're proud of David and she never took it off. the connection with necklace right but last week of the underground the details but I don't know physical for the first time but like I was like whoa like You know I was debating are you sure but yeah experienced this right vulnerable but on the other hand for sure. Wow. It's like it makes it makes an impact. So anti-semitism in short um we have October 7 people especially the public events on the other hand awakening the front row October 7th That's not um um like it woke something up. because he came to me that in his 50s maybe early 50s and his traditional and he he when he was 18 19 20 found out you know he found the world main problem the holocaust decades later it's October 7th dining on the table. Holocaust 7th, right? October 7th, but October 7th in the books in the books academically questions, but when you experience it, when you when you when you feel it, what does it do to you? The exact opposite because it wakes something up inside us. So from October 7th is on the other hand is challenges I try and help and uh the more help the better like it's there's so much to do. I was going to share with you as uh since October 7th from the programs or the programs the most invested in October 7th is the youn the youth particularly the the teenagers 16 17 18 year olds. So was was difficult demographic because party difficult demographic to engage challenging we can but it's more challenging dedicated dedicated under them employees in the focus not of their age group you know to to make events for them and to engage them these people what I realized is and everything special special I'll tell you the end from the story but but school, secondary school in 16, 17 to school. Who decided valuable m school? Yeah. Friends, done exams, future prospects, uni, everything is school. Every kid had to make a PowerPoint presentation PowerPoint presentation. Again, history, geography, nothing to do with current events, nothing to do with politics. The topic presses hit play on the on the PowerPoint. The teachers get to school, a local school, but I get to school. students >> in front of class. >> Wow. >> He obvious after the lesson break time recess. He he goes up to her deputy headut. to the beaches in the clouds of basically again a big way. the policies survivor. So the most vulnerable we don't feel comfortable at work. I know I'm not saying it's easy, but it's all my life. they they've got nothing else and it's so what I did then in the schools in the leadership was the head teachers emergency meeting emergency meeting for sure. So I'm coming from the parents from the students or anything. skills. Should we should we suspend them? Department which are in your care. So students So learn whatever it is safe space starting point. So because of the it's the cool place to be the prison. Exactly. Flight in the school whatever. But My job as a as a rabbi is system within the system. Yeah. Community like it's going to be friends but discriminate the point group feels safe and still going to happen. You know the 21 22 fundraising and a big part of is because unique as the sponsorship bridge because I develop a feeling for them. pure. >> Yeah. >> Because Yeah. Because people everything engaged mention to come along with their journey to health. So link I'll link the WhatsApp number in description you can follow along the story people get updates community inspired and they just love it absolutely love it impact Um mention ready to sacrifice mention in the community the way they receive it. Um but also element this asping is our community. Basically, it means I'm family, right? But we're all one and we care for each other. No one's there's there's literally allergies everything. So they don't have a network of friends and they have to do life on their own illnesses. for donations for the shield membership. But involved and two months later whenever it was obviously and it was a tough time and I remember you know But like what how do you handle it? But in retrospect that was happening but yet they got community recuperating. But the um um the amount of support from them events local the stores and we we run a tight budget, you know, we're maxing every shing boxes boxes upon boxes and everything. So uh so so delies few boxes for shabas the next day you know beautiful busy as I'm putting in the bag, but I'm putting all the food in the bag tomato like I'm doing it on the Turns out depression depression recovery times difficult complex surgery. She couldn't get out of bed. They were doing something. She was in bed. But the point again like someone cares about and there's no one there for these Jewish organizations for the community or traditional organizations center in London Manchester the the main central locations But was eping was was handled which is stuck in bed in kind of so I was just saying in terms of the fundraising for which move people but every type of >> it was the roof the d the the roof the It covers it covers it covers anyway. So it is what it is. You know obviously we try our best and we try and fund raise more but now that's it on the ground to the best of our ability hypothetically you know Hebrew school friends activities and he's starting from scratching. Wow. Family. Seriously. I had to raise a lot of money. Yeah. The minute you start breaking down, it's ridiculous. Like fleet. I feel when like you're stretching and you're like putting everything together. But anyway, one second. What was I saying? Sorry. Like I already kind of maxed out. I was I wasn't meeting anymore and they gave 360 180 I want to be parting to them from locally is huge. I don't think mention mention mine that they're not doing enough. So, but unbelievable mention and it's true. mentioned. So for sure thinks I tell you this. I remind you the story in China. So biscuits. Anyway, we worked it out. I think it was like uh £15 a package or whatever it was low cost. And anyway, the the contrast. I come around love this. Absolutely love it. Anyway, couple days later one second the packages maybe on donation, right? Yeah, for a second maybe expectations or whatever. How much I love him. He approved from them. Thank you. This and that. Fast forward a year or two. Wow. Okay. Go on. I shine in a scene. Same font. By the way, okay% foundations the average was just average. Everyone does it in their own way. >> We listen. We listen. We like to listen. >> We don't. >> No, we don't judge. We don't judge. And also people find different ways of giving but 100% guilt is you know like that's just the way it is. It's ingrained in us. Yeah. the impact of the family. But first of all um the funds >> you have a few kids. How many kids you have now from my experience? Um work involves everyone. It involves the wife, the kids, you fulltime exposure to so Yeah. How what's the impact on them and the family? What is the impact involved on the family? Okay. Is that what you're asking? Okay. So, and you're not unique. And I get it. I get it. Especially No, but I get it. I get it. Question. So, armed police armed. But okay. ever. It's true. It's true. Yeah. Yeah. It's crazy. But um I don't have to tell you families was for whatever reason this engaged disenchant you know them they didn't have a good experience or whatever it is to It's like people come to space background. So we know we know what it means. So we we keep our door open. America and next door hose two houses and some residential holes that we used for the which we couldn't find a space for years. were looking for a space community space planning and enforcement officer few came back three four times whatever finds my number online says in the holes the next door airport as I start you don't enforcement Haring Stanford planning and everything many times. And the neighbors, you know, the neighbors are supportive mostly. And I I I feel with them like it's a temporary and also we very so we try generally speaking myself like when in those years the people the furthest away because can Um, but you rely on and also accept innocent like I don't get involved judgmental innocent address the next okay sensitive topic. Yeah, let's crack on. We'll move on. But um so he leaves it there. So busy, we don't like busy community life. You have to have special time for the kids. Yes, it's it's tough family time and mommy's busy with the you know with the kind events and everything I was checking last night the children's service but um they they grow up local groceries. Whatever which goes into it obviously parties locally, birthday parties from friends whatever different little do ice cream at the party next time like we we we there's they shouldn't feel they've lost out being >> but um but generally speaking to school and you're driving and you're driving it's a traffic and even today this morning when you drive they used to they block the road to cross the zebra schools at night another school another school and every time they school and they're proud of it so so yeah that's That's the long answer question. Not going to give up on that. happens to be an so because 20 means they need to be a4 to 9 like we have to wake them up 600 6:30 getting dressed going you know a longer journey school I have friends 420 4:15 homework, you know, this time 5:30, 6:00, it's like a more or less for the next day. So, So teacher mind she meant it well but a few days later don't want to be on I was like shocked days what happened like digging turns out the teacher points to certificates in front of school assemblies general In keeping of times this morning at least two hours later anyway the car certificates. Legoland certificate black and white color. So I'm just saying because we chose it, you know, we chose they were born there. So yeah, for sure you have to be in touch. You have to be aware of what's going on. But um the experience if anything let's cover very quickly costs >> costs. Okay. >> Yeah. So in transition phase, it used to be like a oneman band. My wife and I one man especially of the podcast the manu but the she's likeness she's committed 100% like on it. So was just basically the two of us in the community but basically on us and and also we're like trying to like make ends meet like we're stretching thin you know our budget and um as things are growing whatever we don't do is not going to happen. So involved in the fundraising like and that's growing slowly. So the budget 250 300 but I'm saying that's in the next door house soon we're going to move into space central high street beautiful space in after school activities And it's going to be a lot a lot's going to happen. Hopefully our food chef, but eventually after school activities after school, different classrooms, different rooms. So they obviously costs are going to change and also we got to staff because you know administrators got youth directors it's going to grow but um but yeah currently 250 300 I would say and >> mortgages >> yeah that's money in talking like fundraising and this is the annual budget 200 250 family airlines like the community like we no but we keep things you know you know in the community in the community is is is the way we see it startup So start you know that's uh that's the thing you asking was what what cost everything cost money everything costs money packages yeah like I was saying 50,000 last year was 35 40 somewhere there weekend busy the Okay, we need to cover it mainly Jewish primary school. Okay. Gates said gold is green. Okay. Basically, no problem. No. No. Okay. No. foreign very quickly a very talented breed. didn't music my celebrity music. Okay. Exactly. Surely green. Surely in the high streets man or something the new generation for sure. I don't know whatever. So, hi, I'm hearing you in town. Point is everything okay in the forest notifications when you visit some moving I don't think a quick answer to them. I don't think like it's a it's a journey. But um They got the most unique mix. So the journey Um, and growing up huge. So, so tapes. Um, so basically it wasn't for unbelievable. Unbelievable. But uh but the the the atmosphere. There was no no cutting corners. What's going on? And they all said, "No, no, they love it." Unbelievable. Both ways experience as it goes both ways of mention. So basically podcast mentioned like it was my own journey, my own decision. And then something very early. It was a it was a time meaningful journey emot move. How was a family response? My family understanding you know to say it was easy also like yeah back then in a sense but you know so like it's you know they they approve But my family didn't encourage it. But yeah, I can't can't complain. It's a it's it's everything. the Turkish coffee or whatever but mainly coffee like different topics topics Zing, you know, like right and when I remember like we used to finish 2 three in the morning and he woke home from his house to the field pushing under the belt like was Yeah. Anyway, by the way, can you can reach out roadb experience touched and whatever everyone takes it to how far they comfortable but whatever do different people but secret is my final question I think The final message outside of the community look outside the community. vote outside part of the community. >> But um yeah, that's that's a that's a good question and and But whatever mention, we're not generalizing, but in the system they feel the challenge from the system. I feel the resentments like the challenges everyone's got their challenges with the system into the outside world. You know, the picture and they don't know. you don't mention you know so maybe there's all these types of very personal conversations mention and I think uniquely positioned special Eden which are just they just want they're just searching for to be good and to >> you know For for us most of most of what we experience as a given and then you only experience the challenge the system for the challenge. I'm not belittling challenges for sure, but could share in the community the beautiful community of the so many different things but community as a first community is a lifesaver mention was I mention epif How do I get him a job? The community is there to support each other. Community life is a lifesaver on so many levels. um family life especally watch this but families but in specialamilies mention they're on their own basic, you know. Wow. community and obviously the list is endless 100% I was telling you fundraising American thousand dollar, right? buildings. But as happens to be in some separate platform for the spin. He loved it. But but one of the game but oh so I was talking this person turns out a project but like gold like I'm just saying the beautiful amazing and this message I think is thanks for coming in. It's just inspiring. I really appreciate at least. Wow. starting from scratch. >> So that's the next thing on the agenda. >> I'm I'm inspired and um and thank you for coming in. Thank you agreeing to do this. And I also want to listen and see you in the next episode.