Even though I’m not Jewish, I’ve spent the majority of my adult life in Jewish communities. Penn, where I went to undergrad, was 35% Jewish at the time. I attended my first Shabbat dinners there and learned about Jewish culture, traditions, and holidays.
New York theater, where I started my career, has a large Jewish community. I lived on the Upper West Side for many years, a neighborhood that is largely Jewish. Now I live in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn where there is a mix of just about every religion, culture, and language, including a large Jewish community and a large Muslim community who live side-by-side. Many of my dearest friends are Jewish and Muslim, and their pain now is palpable.
My friends Vince and Jane visited me last weekend. When we went out for our kosher pizza crawl and tasting, we found that nearly every shop was closed, in mourning. As I’ve gone for my run each day this week, I can see and feel the heavy weight of sadness here. Everyone is waiting for word about their loved ones and what will happen next in this horrible, dangerous war.
I have been in touch with my friends in Israel, and friends here whom I know have family there. Thankfully, they are all safe. And all of them are scared. Some are leaving the country. Some are determined to stay. Some are still trying to decide what to do. The heightened alert has also extended to NYC.
The footage from Israel and Gaza is difficult to watch this week but I have forced myself to do it to bear witness and to listen to their stories. I find myself crying with them, hurting with them, and fearing what’s to come.
I’m not an expert on the geopolitics there, nor on all of the history. But I do know that people whom mean a lot to me are there, and I’m afraid for their safety every day. I’m gutted for all of the families and friends who have lost someone and who have no idea where their loved ones are. I’m devastated for all of the children, the wounded, those whom we’ve lost, and the many who have lost who and what they hold dear.
I’m hoping for peace for everyone. Israel and Gaza have already been through so much, especially this last year. Now the devastation has escalated exponentially.
Yesterday, I found this photo by Levi Meir Clancy. It was taken last year at Netiv HaAsara facing the Gaza border. It has the words “Path to Peace” in Hebrew, Arabic, and English further along and the mural depicts a path with flowers, homes, and trees. Netiv HaAsara is a moshav (a cooperative agricultural community) in southern Israel. I hope we can all find our way to that path and walk together. There is so much healing needed.
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
View all posts by Christa Avampato
I'd love to know what you think of this post! Please leave a reply and I'll get back to you in a jiffy! ~ CRA Cancel reply
Christa Avampato 