Jewish Musings Thursday 12/22

[hollygail]

What’s on your mind — how to make kugel? This week’s Torah reading? Life goals? Prayer? We are all engaged in weight loss/weight maintenance journeys and we are all Jewish or at least interested in Judaism. We like to eat, we like to discuss. It is our goal here to provide each other support on our journeys, to share experiences, to call on our rich cultural heritage and texts, and to help each other grow spiritually.

Some of us take weekly turns starting the thread:

Angelika
Holly
Lee
Louise
Lynne
Peachy

[hollygail]

I read a d’var Torah yesterday that struck a chord for me. Here’s a copy. What’s your take?

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American Jewish University — Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies

Today's Torah

Shabbat Parashat Vayeshev / First Lighting of Hanukkah Candle

December 24, 2016 — 24 Kislev 5777

By: Rabbi Ephraim Pelcovits, Assistant Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies

For the Love of the Ordinary

Torah Reading: Genesis 37:1 – 40:23 Haftarah Reading: Amos 2:6 – 3:8

For the past six months, at least (!) my children have been planning for Hanukkah: making sure we know what kinds of presents they are hoping for, or perhaps better yet, expecting; anticipating a visit from grandparents who live far away; and planning for a vacation from school and a family trip. And so, this Shabbat, a time we typically look forward to as a family, when our normal junk food rules go out the window and we have plenty of time to play together, will be transformed into a day that I know my children will be looking to "just get through" so that we can light our Menorahs, fry fresh latkes, and most importantly, open a first batch of gifts!

Anticipating this challenge — of Shabbat [sic] being potentially overlooked as a result of our anticipation of the onset of Hanukkah — drew my attention to a ruling of Maimonides in his collection of Hanukkah laws. (Mishnah Torah, Laws of Purim and Hanukkah 4:14) There he declares, "If one is so terribly impoverished that he or she can only afford to purchase candles for either Shabbat or Hanukkah candle lighting — then Shabbat candles take precedence and Hanukkah candles are set aside." While Maimonides himself clarifies his rational for this ruling, explaining that Hanukkah candles are meant to shine their light outward, to the world at large, while Shabbat candles, even more crucially, are intended to light the insides of our homes, allowing for a peaceful and loving domestic life. Perhaps however, Maimonides also prefers that we purchase Shabbat candles based on a famous rabbinic principle, Tadir, v'She'eino Tadir, Tadir Kodem — Mitzvot that are common are given preference over mitzvot that are uncommon. Yes, you heard that correctly, all things being equal, our classical literature teaches us to give precedence to the normal over the extraordinary in observing Jewish ritual.

There is something beautifully counter cultural in this rabbinic axiom. It recognizes that while we are naturally drawn to the new — be it an iPhone 7 over an iPhone 6, or the Menorah that has sat in our breakfront unused for the last 11 months over our Shabbat candle sticks — that which is ordinary can be incredibly important, perhaps even more important, than that which is bright and new. The rhythm of both our religious observance, and of our daily secular life as well, is necessary to provide structure, balance and meaning to the schedule of our lives.

This lesson of "Tadir, V'She'eino Tadir…" seems even more important in the life we live today, than I imagine it may have been in a time of gradual change. Today, with the dynamism of our lives, it can be exceedingly difficult to establish patterns and create the structure that makes sense of our existence. In this environment, it can be the most mundane things that allow us to sustain healthy relationships and personal wellbeing. Whether it's regularly unloading the dishwasher for a roommate, or reading a nightly bedtime story to a child before she drifts off to sleep, everyday rituals are the traffic lights that keep us safe. While extraordinary ceremonies can inspire and lift us, let's not forget the importance of the ordinary, especially in this extraordinary time of the year. Shabbat candles are just as important as Hanukkah candles. Thank you Maimonides for reminding me of the importance of ordinary acts, especially during this season of the unexpected. [emphasis mine]

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Hanukkah!

Rabbi Ephraim Pelcovits, is the Assistant Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at American Jewish University. He was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary, and now teaches as Lecturer in Rabbinics at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at AJU

[momof2]

Boker Tov,
Sorry for being MIA and not on topic.
Yesterday was my last time nursing DS, as I started back on my meds. I did WI at lifetime, for the month.
Chanukah is sneaking up on me. A friend is coming over, and will help decorate. I just started to address the holiday cards. Haven't even looked for latkes. Haven't wrapped presents (at least they are bought).
DH and I decided that only a couple of presents are given. The rest we will save for a rainy day. I don't want the kids growing up expecting a present each night. Hard to do with the bubbies and zaydies, aunts and uncles, and good family friends. We appreciate everything, just want to spread it out as we see fit. (Saving some for Toys for Tots for next year, is that wrong?)
So my mind is everywhere. I tracked yesterday and plan to continue. One day at a time.
If I'm not back.... Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah!
Tamara

[gazelle18]

Holly, his is a lovely piece. It's good to be reminded that ordinary acts of observance and loving kindness are crucial to our well being. If we waited all year to "celebrate" life, do mitzvah, or be kind to others, it would be a very long year, indeed.

[peachymom1]

Tamara, great to see you! I think it's lovely to save some toys for next year's Toys for Tots. In my family, Chanukah is much more about getting together for the holiday than about gifts. We exchange gifts on just one night, and we don't give large gifts. I know other families do one gift each night, and plenty of my kids' friends did that, but my kids thought it was better to do it all on the first night, so that became our tradition. And I think putting some toys away for later is great for young children, because then they can have the fun of getting something new later on.

Holly, I love this piece. I would add that if we know someone who can only afford one or the other of Shabbat candles or Chanukah candles, we can find a way to either give them some candles as a gift or invite them to our own Shabbat table or Chanukah celebration. It would certainly add to everyone's celebration.

That reminds me, we have a neighbor who last her husband last year, and I need to find out when she can come over for candle-lighting and latkes! I'll go see her right after work.

[louise]

i THINK Maimonides ALSO GOES ON TO PRIORIOTZEHANNUKKAH LIGHTS OVER WINDE FOR KIDDUSH.

[savtele]

Boker Tov All! Especially this year, when the holidays all crash into one another and, as mentioned before, Hanukkah "grows" by the overlap of Christmas (and Natalie Portman & others see the overlap as an excuse to "do both!") I think the simplicity of our weekly observance is almost an "island" in the festivities! A moment to breath, a moment of Shalom. No doubt this year our Shabbat meals may be a little more simple, in anticipation of latkes & sufganiyot to come. I have pulled out my grandmother's apron, which she wore at Hanukkah, for potato-grinding every year. It is brown linen, with green trim - she sewed it all by hand, there are hand-stitched buttonholes on the shoulder straps. I grind my potatoes in the food processor, so don't need this apron to protect my clothing, just a nice nod to her.

I mouse has managed to die on one of the mousetraps (the joys of country living!) I need to go sweep him up & give him a proper send-off. (since we don't use poisons, I have no problem throwing him out into the weeds, where some other critter will no doubt be thankful for the feast in the snow!)

I'll be working again today. (there are 2 pieces I hope didn't sell after I left the store yesterday - I'm hoping to bring them home myself! A gravy boat & a small cabinet to show off my collection of gravy boats)

Have a good day ladies!

[louise]

Sorry about my earlier post - it was clearly (I hope) still a work in progress that somehow got "sent"! I also enjoyed Holly's post and the reminder about not letting the spectacular diminish the everyday. Maimonides did go on to prioritize Hanukkah lights over wine for Kiddush if a person could not afford both. More grist for the mill!

I am in a flurry of baking mini loaf cakes for distribution for the holidays. I doubled my pumpkin bread recipe and was able to make 8 mini loaves - will do the same again tomorrow or tonight.

[lee058]

Hi everybody. Sorry to be posting so late, but today was busy, busy, busy. I am glad to finally be sitting still so I can "appreciate the ordinary."

I'll try to have more to say tomorrow. Have a peaceful night, Lee

[happysavta]

Me too, Lee. Today was a busy day. Got the bedrooms ready for guests. Am still washing blankets and sheets and pillowcases. DS#4 came over to help me with sweeping and vacuuming and carrying things out to the garage. He's a sweetheart.

My grandgirls (9 and 4 y/o) will be here on Saturday morning. They want to meet Coco who becomes Coco-Loco when she sees children to play with. I have 4 pages of children's activities I have found to keep them busy including movies, ice skating, going to the beach, 4 synagogue Chanukah celebrations, museum trips, ton of fun library programs, Chanukah sing along at the Senior Center. I have more activities than we can possibly do.

[hollygail]

You ladies may be interested in this
www.meaningfullife.com/chanukah-guide-download/

You have to give them your email address before you can download, but I subscribed not too long ago and will unsubscribe soon. It's either directly connected with Chabad or else indirectly...