Lighten the load

As much as I look forward to and enjoy Thanksgiving, it signals that the season of gluttony has arrived. This year I figured joining Weight Watchers would help, but then my husband pointed out that I actually have to follow the program for it to work.

Who am I kidding anyhow? Even with moderation as my mantra, at some point during the holidays my sister-in-law’s chicken and dumplings make an appearance and my willpower implodes.

The good news is that there is a jelly doughnut, I mean non-fat yogurt, at the end of the feedbag.

Starting in January, the Jewish Light and the JCC are teaming up for the “Lighten Up Weight Loss Challenge,” styled along the lines of TV’s “The Biggest Loser” competition. Teams of four will compete to see which team loses the largest percentage of weight. An individual award will also be given to the entrant with the largest percentage of weight loss. Teams will have an initial weigh-in during the week of January 10, with the challenge kicking off the following Monday, Jan. 17 and running for eight weeks through March 13, 2011.

Entrants will be able to gauge their progress with weekly weigh-ins and follow the Challenge through coverage in the newspaper and on our website.  Personal training and nutrition packages will also be available. Standings will also be posted at the JCC, so teams can keep an eye on the competition. Discounts on the entry fee will be published in the Light over the next month.

Yes, you do need to be a member of the JCC to compete. But if you want to get a jumpstart on the competition or try to maintain your current weight by exercising through the holidays, you can join the J now and receive the rest of 2010 free. This special runs through December 12.

You’ll be hearing much more about the “Lighten Up Weight Loss Challenge” in the coming weeks. In the meantime, get a team together to enter and take solace in knowing that as you stuff another latke into your mouth, you have a plan to shed those extra pounds and then some, come January. For more information or to get registered, contact Katie Hughes at 314-442-3176 or [email protected]

Rock on

Kosha Dillz is jamming on the radio and I’m not talking pickles.

Kosha Dillz, nee Rami Matan Even-Esh, is an Israeli-born, New Jersey-raised Jewish rapper who is in heavy rotation on Jewish Rock Radio at www.jewishrockradio.com. Launched via the Internet at the beginning of this month, Jewish Rock Radio is the flagship initiative of Judaism Alive, which was spearheaded by St. Louis’ own Jewish music impresario Rick Recht.

Recht explained that his hope is that this initiative will “strengthen Jewish identity and connection in Jewish youth and young adults by providing a mass communication channel utilizing the power of music to attract, inspire, entertain, and educate.” That’s a mouthful, all right, but Recht is nothing if not passionate about this endeavor.

He points out that there are dozens of Christian-inspired radio stations but none dedicated to playing established and emerging Jewish artists 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “One of our goals is to create this communication hub for the Jewish world where we use this medium to deliver a variety of meaningful Jewish messages,” Recht explained, adding that in addition to playing music, the site features interviews with youngsters who are engaged in various Jewish programs and projects, talking about them.

“They are breaking the silos that exist out there by telling one another what they are doing and how others can get involved,” he added.

The music played is chosen by a youth advisory board, ranging in age from ‘tweens to young adults. Listeners can also send requests into the website.

I’ll admit that I spent more time than my employer would have liked today perusing the site as I listened to a bunch of Israeli and American artists who I never heard of before. Recht hopes that listenership will continue to expand and eventually, he would like to see more integration with Jewish formal and informal learning institutions such as Jewish day and religious schools, camps, youth groups and Hillels.

Thanks for giving

How about doing a little pre-winter cleaning and getting rid of the coats, jackets, hats, gloves and the like that family members have outgrown? This is the final week of Jewish Community Relations Council’s (JCRC) Outerwear Drive to benefit refugees recently relocated to the St. Louis area and children in underserved neighborhoods who might otherwise be unable to afford warm winter coats, hats and gloves.

Items will be donated to the International Institute and the Little Bit Foundation. Outerwear is being collected for people of all ages and can be dropped off between now and Friday, Nov. 26 at the following locations:

• JCRC, 12 Millstone Campus Drive

• The JCC, Both the Fox and Staenberg locations

• BSKI, 1107 Linden Avenue

• Central Reform Congregation, 5020 Waterman Avenue

• B’nai Amoona, 324 S. Mason Road

• Shaare Emeth, 11645 Ladue Road

• Shaare Zedek Synagogue, 829 N. Hanley Road

• Clothes Tree Boutique, 2538 S. Brentwood Boulevard

• Distinctions, 12354 Olive Street Road