Jewish Musings, Sunday, 8/7/2016

[savtele]

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

[savtele]

Wooot - I figured it out!
Boker Tov & Shavuah Tov All!

This weekend marked the beginning of the Summer Olympics - I have some thoughts.

For years now, the host countries have spent millions of $s building new venues. In most cases, the housing is inadequate for long-term occupancy, the stadium & other venues are seldom used for much of anything afterwards - to the point where countries have backed out of wanting to host. So - enter Brazil. They were upfront about not having a lot of money to spend. Instead, they refurbished their existing Maracana Football Arena (in use since 1950). They didn't spend enormous amounts of money on elaborate sets for pageantry - instead, they invested in a really amazing media projector system for the arena.

Housing is still inadequate - but will hopefully do for the duration. I don't know what the long-term plans for the buildings are. The bay that will be used for open swimming has been somewhat cleaned up - but athletes are encouraged not to open their mouths & to wear goggles while swimming in the water. (I shudder as I write this)

Meanwhile, political unrest has left the country with an interim president. And a man was found killed outside the stadium after the opening ceremonies.

Which begs the question: is it time to change the expectations for the Olympics? I love the idea of athletes competing, from all countries - and from none! (I get all verklemmt whenever one of the Refugee Athletes competes.) But the idea of spending millions for pageant, when much of the city lives in slums is odious!

What are your favorite events? I loved the men's bike race yesterday - it was fast, exciting and dangerous (and there were several injuries). Perhaps some changes need to be made there also - the men had no way of communicating once they were underway. So, when the leaders of the pack ran into trouble, everyone coming round the corner after them - also got into trouble! Perhaps they need a mic attached to their helmets? The race was 150 miles - it was amazing to watch!

Anyway, I'd love to hear your thoughts. It always inspires me, even if I just watch for a few minutes. (ok, not the boxing or wrestling, or weight-lifting.)
I'll see you all in the AM!

[lee058]

Good morning everybody. Hope you are all well today. Re the Olympics and Rio: I used to love the Olympics, but this year I have a lot of negative feelings about them. I think it was a mistake to have them in Rio. The water is polluted, the housing is inadequate, the crime rate is high, and in general the country is broke. Any of these would be good reasons to have the Games somewhere else.

Also, I watched part of the opening ceremony, but gave up in disgust after the ten billionth commercial. I will watch some of the competitions, but I hate so many commercials.

The Olympics used to be inspiring and amazing, but now it is harder to get into the spirit of things.

Anyway those are my feelings. Have a peaceful day, Lee

[brgmsn]

Good morning all.
I used to watch the Olympics all the time. I still watch when the non professionals compete. When did it become OK for paid professionals to be in the Olympics next to kids who are amateurs? I thought being an amateur was the whole idea.
Plus I usually forget it's on. DH enjoys them so if it's on I'll watch.
Plus already controversy about the Syrian or Lebanese and Israeli athletes. Keep politics out of this!
Scary place out there in many ways.
Have a good day.

[louise]

Angelika - I see you tried your hand at making an avatar too! I love that you chose the great outdoors for your background. So right.

I have been dumbfounded also by the conditions in Rio - and appalled about the water that triathletes will be swimming in. I could do without the pomp of the opening ceremonies altogether but I guess after putting so much work into their sports the athletes deserve their moment to strut though. Dunno.

I enjoy watching the gymnasts (men and women) and get a kick out of the volleyball - but how did it ever come about that women wear bikinis for this (never mind, I can guess, but seriously?) I sometimes watch the diving too.

Yesterday was a turning point for me in the grieving process. I didn't want to go to shul because I didn't want to do my usual role - I assign aliyot, greet people, etc. I wasn't feeling all smiles so didn't want to have to put that on. My rabbi (who is away) encouraged me to be with the community and that they would want the opportunity to be with me too. So I decided not to go until musaf. Came late, sat in the back, and a little at a time people came over to me. During kiddush I elaborated on the events as people asked me, much hugging, some crying – all good. And people told me they were glad to be with me and share it with me. And I with them. Solidarity. Commuity. At some point during kiddush there was a table full of women actively (and Jewishly) engaged in conversation and in the process we decided to start a women's study group that would meet once a month to discuss various Jewish topics/questions. Sound familiar?

[hollygail]

I've never had any interest in the Olympics or sports in general. I have nothing to contribute regarding today's topic.

However, I am SO glad, Louise, that you went to shul yesterday. And yes, I fully support the idea of a once a month women's group, regardless of what it is you'll choose to study. I meet with a Rosh Chodesh group at one synagogue or another practically every month and get so much out of them. It doesn't seem to matter whether the topic is light or heavy, I still feel good when I leave (and often the results stick with me for days).

[savtele]

I agree about professional athletes. Then again, some levels of definition have changed, since many countries sponsor their athletes, while maintaining their non-professional status. Then you see the basketball players and they are all, in fact professionals. Not 1 HS or college player playing with the big boys.

We watched the men's cycling yesterday. Part of the track was in tropical rainforest - and parts of the road, for that reason, never got really dry. Dangerous & slippery. Part of the road was cobblestones. Dangerous and bumpy. The bikes are all carbon titanium, or something, very rigid, and very light. Those men suffered! Water bottles launched themselves off bikes. Chains fell off. It was an exciting race.

As to the levels of pollution in the bay - I'm sure it's polluted by our standards. I'm also sure they have cleaned it up considerably from when they were 1st awarded the venue. We have to remind ourselves that reporters have been in Brazil for over a week now - international reporters in an international city, with nothing to do or talk about till the athletes get there.

Yes, I'm still playing with the avatar. Kinda fun. I love this backdrop! (our mountains did not have much snow this past winter)
My summer cold, which I thought was on the upswing, is either back in full force, or allergies have kicked in -I'm not sure which. Much watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing - I'm drinking my coffee & thinking about some meds & back to bed for a while.

Have a good day ladies!

[peachymom1]

I was 10 the summer Mark Spitz set records for swimming in 1972, and I turned 14 the summer that Nadia Comaneci wowed us all with her amazing performances in 1976. Since then, I have especially enjoyed watching the swimming and gymnastics events, both men and women. For winter events, I love to watch the ice skating. My mom grew up in the midwest and loves all the snow events, but they hold no interest to me. I've never been on skis or a toboggan in my life!

When Los Angeles hosted the Olympics in 1984, I was in college and up to my ears in books, but I do remember when my shul hosted the Israeli athletes on Shabbat evening. It's a large shul, but it was crammed full, tons of extra security, and we couldn't get in. We went home, disappointed, but plenty of people didn't. They waited outside until the service was over so they could catch a glimpse of the athletes and show their support. It was talked about for a long time afterward. I wish I'd thought to get there way early and stake out a seat!

[savtele]

My dad joked in 1972 that if the Olympics had been held in Portland, OR, my sisters and I would have been camped outside Olympic Village to meet Mark Spitz. He was probably right.

I'm watching the women's bike race right now so far, so good.

[happysavta]

The womens gymnastics are particularly beautiful.