Tzionah

It all began on a trail at the Mohonk Preserve where I was hiking with my friend Rhea.  I was whining (it’s my heritage, isn’t it?) that Jews never seemed to spend very much time outdoors, let alone hiking.  I was feeling like we were the “lone Jewish hikers”. Rhea turned to me and exclaimed “why not start a Jewish hiking club?”  I thought about it and concluded “why not?”  That was the day about 10 years ago that Mosaic Outdoor Mountain Club of Greater New York was conceived.

It started with an ad in New York Magazine.  I set up a voice mailbox with a recording describing the club, its upcoming activities and allowed for the opportunity to leave a message to receive information on membership.  The ad in New York Magazine referred those interested to that voice mail number.  The response was plentiful.  My daughter Jaime and I sent out a mailing to all of the respondents describing upcoming events.

One of the first respondents was my cousin David who I had lost touch with many years earlier.  We became fast friends.  There was also someone by the name of Eddie (I can’t remember his last name) who called early on.  He offered to lead hikes for the club, which he did a couple of times before disappearing.  He was great while he lasted, allowing me the opportunity to be a participant at times and not always the leader.

I received a call from Steve Millmond who had already started a few Jewish-hiking clubs when he saw the New York Magazine ad.  The clubs he started were all called “Mosaic”.  After much coaxing on his part, I broke down and agreed to name “my” club Mosaic as well, as long as he understood that it was an entirely separate entity.  He agreed and provided me with a copy of his club’s application and liability release as well as other helpful information.

My long time friend Gary Stadtmauer offered to do the legal work necessary to incorporate the club as a non-profit organization gratis.  There would be no MOMC-GNY without his efforts.

I set up the hikes similar to the AMC model of designating a meeting place accessible by public transportation from which we would carpool. The first hike was attended only by Michelle Ross (She and Richard Goldstein were the first Mosaic couple to be married) and only one other participant.  By the second hike the following week we were up to seven and the numbers grew steadily. 

The club took off!  Our volunteer base grew and we would meet monthly at a Chinese Restaurant to plan our future events and the direction of the club.  Richard Jobsky, Rick Levey, Janet Mansky, Joel Miller, Mark Schweber, Ellen Blankfein and many others worked hard to ensure that this club would be a success.

I am very proud to see how MOMC-GNY is flourishing and to know that when I left it, the club had the capable people it did and does to ensure its continuity and growth.  I now live in California, exploring the plethora of incredibly beautiful places it has to offer.  I hike or backpack most weekends and really enjoy my life here.  When I think back to the wonderful hiking experiences I had in New York, I think back to my hiking with MOMC-GNY and smile.  Thank you all for making this club the success it is.  You make me proud.

Hi to all of my old Mosaic friends!

Tzionah Rapaport, President MOMC-GNY 1992 - 1993