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Post by louise on Feb 15, 2017 23:59:56 GMT -5
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
And for those of you that stop by to read this thread without posting — you are welcome to do that but you are also welcome to chime in!
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Post by louise on Feb 16, 2017 0:01:13 GMT -5
Continuing with selections from “Personal Prayers Before the Open Ark” from Siddur Lev Shalem:
T’filat Ha-Derekh – A Prayer for the Journey: Transitions in Life
Our lives are always changing, and change brings with it fear of the unknown. The journey into the unknown is fraught with danger, yet rich with possibility. It has always been so – as Abraham and Sarah went forth, as Rebecca and then Jacob went forth. Our ancestors across time have looked to You for protection, from the wild beasts of the road, from the vagaries of weather. So too I, in this place, in this time, look to You. Help me to remember my strength and courage, help me to see clearly, to listen deeply, to act wisely. Help me to be my best self in this new place and time. Every journey leads into the unknown. May the unknown ahead of me offer blessing.
Merle Feld
In the marginal notes there are some words about T’filat ha-derekh: Traditionally, a prayer is said before embarking on a journey. While the context for that prayer is an actual journey, Merle Feld has expanded the notion to include the life journeys we undertake. The phrase “the wild beasts of the road” is taken from the traditional prayer for a journey.
I gotta say this phrase “the wild beasts of the road” presents a really vivid image. Each one of us in the last couple of weeks has come across a wild beast or two in our paths that we had to deal with! Another phrase I really like is about the journey into the unknown being “fraught with danger, yet rich with possibility”. It falls to each of us to face the fear (or not).
An aside about the author: Over our time together I have shared a number of poems with you by Merle Feld. She is also the wife of Rabbi Edward Feld, who is the Senior Editor and Chair of the committee that put together this new siddur.
May the unknown ahead of you offer blessing.
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Post by peachymom1 on Feb 16, 2017 1:18:58 GMT -5
"Help me to remember my strength and courage, help me to see clearly, to listen deeply, to act wisely."
This particularly speaks to me. It reminds me that when I have faced fear in the past, it was my strength and courage that sustained me, whether I stepped up to the challenge myself or asked God to help me. If I've been able to handle the unknown in the past, I know I can do it again. Even if it's different, even if it's hard, even if I feel alone.
Louise, this has really been an interesting and thought-provoking week!
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lee058
This space for rent
Posts: 23,286 
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Post by lee058 on Feb 16, 2017 7:19:25 GMT -5
Good morning everybody. Hope you are all well. I really like today's prayer! It puts everything very clearly, and I feel like it was spoken from the heart. Usually I have mixed feelings about poetry, but this spoke to me.
Right now, I am wearing my new glasses and I like them very much. I don't have to take them off to eat, as I did with my previous pair; things don't seem to slip in and out of focus as they did. No PT this morning, so I can spend some more time online, as well as make my shopping list for later. DS and I are going to go to Wegmans after I pick him up from work, then come home for lunch, and then go to the movies. I think today will be a good day! We are going to see "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" at the cheap theaters. We saw it when it first came out at the regular theaters, and let me tell you, it really is nice to have a cheap theater too! There's a big difference between paying $11 for a ticket and paying $5!
I'll check in later. Have a peaceful day, Lee
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Post by gazelle18 on Feb 16, 2017 7:30:52 GMT -5
Hi everyone! I am on my way back to the States. I had s great time in India, but am excited to be getting back to regular life. I have missed you all.
Unless there is an unexpected detour in my travel home, I will open for Sunday ....
Love to all,
Lynne
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Post by savtele on Feb 16, 2017 10:15:31 GMT -5
Boker Tov All!
I signed up to bring dinner to my brother & SIL today. Meatloaf, and potato/carrot pancakes.
I love today's prayer! Whatever path we are on, it is never a straight road, start at point A, end at point B. Fits and starts, detours, or the "scenic route" (read "lost"), stopovers to consult the map, new friends met along the way!
It's warm & wet today - heat never kicked in overnight (I set it at 62 at night) When I got up, with the window open, it's 66 degrees in my house!
The coffee pot is ready. (me to!)
I'll bbl
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Post by happysavta on Feb 16, 2017 17:31:36 GMT -5
Hi, dear ladies,
I liked this phrase, "Help me to be my best self in this new place and time." In new environments, with new people, trying new things, I tend to be very guarded, fearful, hesitant. My best self is when I'm confident in what I'm doing, when I reach out to the people around me, and when I take the time to try to look at, enjoy and appreciate the beauty in a new environment.
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lee058
This space for rent
Posts: 23,286
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Post by lee058 on Feb 16, 2017 18:22:10 GMT -5
Hi again everybody. Just looking in to say hello. I'm tired but it's been a (mostly) very nice day. I will focus on the positive things that happened and not the troublesome ones for my peace of mind!
Have a peaceful evening/night, Lee
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