AVRUM'S BLOG is hosted and authored by me, Avrum Rosensweig, the founder and president of Ve'ahavta: The Canadian Jewish Humanitarian & Relief Committee. I am also a writer, artist and a father.
AVRUM'S BLOG is here to create a community where people can express wondrous ideas, thoughts, stories and comments. I can do the same.
At AVRUM'S BLOG people can challenge one another, debate and schmooze about humanitarian issues, peace, war, Israel, the Jewish people, slices of life and perceptions.
Please contribute thoughtfully. We are in charge of our world. Let's give it purpose through beautiful, decent, intelligent, raw and intuitive talk and interaction.
B'shalom, Avrum (avrum@veahavta.org) 
“The reason one writes isn’t the fact that he wants to say something. He writes because he has something to say.” –F. Scott Fitzgerald
When I write, there are times the screen seems to just looks back at me, as dumfounded and blank as I am.
Other times, I have an idea, generally one I encountered during the week. Often, I will jot down ideas as they come to me, especially those packed with horseradish. As an example, I’m currently considering writing a piece on what goes into the making of a good speech. I have already sent out a few e-mails to colleagues and friends, asking them what they go through in order to eke out a good talk. I am in awe of fine orators and have a dream of one day being inducted into a speakers’ hall of fame.
Oratory. Speech writing. Horseradish. Therein lie the potential for a good commentary.
Every person does indeed have a story. Some stories write themselves and others must be delicately picked from the minds and mouths of the protagonist.
Writing about someone is much harder than writing about something because the notes from an interview can be very detailed. My first draft might be 1,500 words, when the end result must be 600. The editing process can be a literary emasculation.
A favourite article of mine was one I wrote a few years ago about the late Neil Mernick, a good man, someone many of us knew and/or would see walking the streets of Toronto. I titled it “Walking man,” after a James Taylor song and felt I was able to bring Neil’s footprints to life through my words. I like it to this day.
A happy moment for writers comes when they can read their article after it’s been published, and like it, as mistakes seem to abound once it’s in ink.
I write a lot about Israel. One article was about Israeli parents and the moment their child walked out the door with a khaki bag and an M16 slung over his shoulder. The thought of a father and mother holding back tears, as they are supposed to do, inspired and saddened me as I wrote. That, and the misunderstanding of the new generation about the importance of Israel, make me write harder.
I write about the Holocaust and anti-Semitism. One of the biggest challenges for me is to write about something other than Jew hatred. I say this because I believe we are not preparing ourselves for another round of anti-Semitism, perhaps a very serious one. I therefore feel compelled to urge, warn and encourage every Jew to work more broadly, intelligently and quickly at creating a movement that would stymie anti-Semitism as never before.
So when I write about Noah and me at the store and laugh, I feel guilty for not being more serious about our troubles. When I compose a piece on a glezel tay (glass of tea), I feel as warm as the drink itself, but figure I’m letting us all off the hook from taking responsibility for our Jewish lives. I’m terribly worried about us. You?
This year, I hope to write about: buildings versus soul in the Toronto Jewish community, the absurd price of kosher olive oil, more of our community members who sing with character and experience – and yes, anti-Semitism. What else is new?
We do not write because we want to; we write because we have to. –Somerset Maugham
2 Comments
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Write about a glezal of tea when you feel inspired. Write about anti-Semistism when you are concerned. Write about Israel when you feel moved. What’s important is that you write what you feel needs to be shared.
“Better to write for yourself and have no public than to write for the public and have no self.” (Writer Cyril Connolly)
Good comment. Thanks for writing and your kind words. Email me at avrum@veahavta.org and let’s schmooze about the possibilities. Well done!