And the IRS said ...

We are an official 501c3 organization!  We are a non-profit!  Hooray for OTYF!

So grateful to Brava Magazine!

Thank you, Brava for featuring OTYF in this month's magazine!!

Olive Tree Yoga Foundation meets Madison Midrasha March 21, 2012

Several weeks ago, I was contacted by my student Ellen Weismer and asked to speak to her Midrasha class of 11th and 12th graders.  Ellen is a DYNAMO; she is everywhere, inspiring the Jewish community in Madison.  She has worked at Camp Shalom, she teaches Israeli dance, she is involved in Gan Ha'Yeled, the Jewish preschool in Madison, and she is a powerful yogi!  Wow.  I admire her dedication to the Jewish community, her generous spirit, and her laughter!  The Midrasha students are very lucky to have her as a teacher.

Midrasha is the Madison Hebrew high school.  Beth Israel Center, Temple Beth El, and the Jewish Federation all jointly run the program.  Students take Hebrew, Jewish studies, and other classes.  When I went last Wednesday, March 21, I was inspired to see the classes so full and thriving.  I was proud to be a part of the Madison Jewish community, and I was honored to be asked to speak to such a large group of students.

I prepared a slideshow for the class, but initially spent a lot of time talking about language.  It is better to acknowledge up front that you may say words (Palestine, Israel, settlement, apartheid wall or separation wall) which trigger ingrained responses of anger or indignation.  I called on the students to listen, not to what they THINK I was saying, but what I really was saying.  I mentioned how language is a form of respect, and I respect all the groups I work with in OTYF.  Each person may think that because I used a certain word, I AM something (pro-Israel, pro-Palestinian).  But I challenged them to go beyond labels they are used to using and listen.  And they did.

I knew a few of the students from when they were much younger, and it moved me to see them listen intently to the stories about the women and children I taught last summer.  Their questions moved me, and their genuine interest in OTYF's mission floored me.  Several students stayed after class and thanked me and asked me questions about how they can help OTYF.  Again, I learned that if you speak with love and respect AND call upon the listeners to listen powerfully, you can create huge possibility.  

Thank you, Ellen, for inviting me to share OTYF with your students.

I Heart OTYF Fundraiser

Our "I Heart OTYF" online fundraiser is happening right NOW!  The OTYF team has been working tirelessly for several days to get our tshirts delivered, get gift certificates in hand, and online media coordinated.  And now we are waiting and hoping.

Here's the deal: we know that you guys have donated before.  We know that most of you are students and friends and supporters already.  We know that you might be thinking, "Again, already?" (A giant THANK YOU to those who show up on our donation registers again and again -- your support inspires us!)  If you can't donate, what we need is your help.

OTYF is a tiny, tiny, tiny organization, with a tinier budget, and a somewhat-tiny following.  Would you please take a moment and forward our website to someone you think would be interested in learning about our efforts to bring the transformative power of Baptiste Power yoga to the Middle East?  Would you please share our mission to train and support teachers to travel into dramatically underserved areas in the Middle East and teach yoga, regardless of whether or not students can afford to pay?  Would you please tell one person about how dedicated we are to creating a powerful community of teachers and students in Israeli and Palestinian communities?  

When you know someone might connect to our mission, please send them to our website at www.olivetreeyogafoundation.org

or our fundraising website at rally.org/olivetreeyogafoundation/donate

or our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Olive-Tree-Yoga-Foundation/230425636973830

Whatever we can do to grow our community deserves all the thanks I can possibly give you.  

One week in the states

One week ago, I left Israel. This week I am sitting next to the lake in Madison, WI, but my heart is still in Israel and with the Israelis and Palestinians I am so fortunate to work with. My kiddos go back to school soon, and I will be planning my return trip right away. OTYF will be back, and soon!


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Location:N Lake St,Madison,United States

Such a day.

Today we brainstormed with Nahed, Lisa, Nihad and Nihad's beautiful mother. I wish I could explain what happened in the room in a house (filled with three families) in Sur Baher, but we all left changed and inspired. OTYF has a vision of empowering people to create centers of possibility for Israelis and Palestinians. And we created the idea of a place to support and inspire. Nihad, soon to be an OTYF sponsored teacher and reiki practioner, is pictured in the photo in full abaya and niqab.


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Best. Day. Ever.

Today Olive Tree Yoga Foundation made it to Israeli tv! We haven't seen it yet, but we have reliable reports that I was filmed teaching a yoga class to the protesters on Rothschild in Tel Aviv!! We have a young technological wizard on the case, so we hope to have a YouTube link soon.

OTYF's class at Ella Yoga on the Namal tonight was INSANE! Karen and I both left knowing we brought incredible energy and love. The students all asked when we were coming back -- soon, Ella Yoga, soon! OTYF workshop weekend, anyone?


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Location:Tel Aviv