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Post by louise on Jul 9, 2023 20:59:24 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:
Frieda
Holly
Lee
Louise
Lynne
Peachy
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Post by louise on Jul 9, 2023 21:01:30 GMT -5
I have written about sacred space before and some thoughts are with me now about that. Certainly being in Jerusalem is all about that. And going to the Wall. We were able to have Friday night services at the section of the Wall where men and women can mix. Amazing to be there – despite the irony of not being able to go on the Temple Mount that holds the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque! The Wall goes around this area and we also went through the tunnels in the Wall, supposedly getting as close as we could to where the Holy of Holies was. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is right nearby. So this area is not only intensely infused for Jews but is a sacred spot for many. Mind blowing. And in Istanbul my hotel was right near 2 of the most famous mosques – The Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. Going into each of them brought tears to my eyes. The Hagia Sofia was built in the 6thc and was originally a Byzantine church. Later the Christian mosaics were covered up and still later minarets were added. Walking in you could just feel the centuries of people praying. A beautiful space. On my last morning I got to go inside the Blue Mosque (built in 15thc). Also beautiful. The first call to prayer each morning was at 4:30AM! I know this well as being so close to these mosques the calling woke me up each morning – in stereo. Surreal.
It is always very special to me to be moved by holy spaces regardless of the religion.
Any thoughts or experiences about the universality of houses of worship?
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Post by hollygail on Jul 10, 2023 7:29:12 GMT -5
It's been a very long time since I was inside an old house of worship. In the last three decades, the oldest one I've been in is about 150 years old and it's the first synagogue built in San Diego. I've been in it numerous times, once or twice just to walk around and look, but many more times either for someone's wedding (one time) or bar/bat mitzvah (a couple of times) and of course it's the place I recommend to the parents of private students of mine where I'm not only the b. mitzvah tutor but also the officiant on the day of their youngster's b. mitzvah.
A very long time ago, I lived in Europe for a year (as you all know). During that time, I'd traveled a bit and had the good fortune to be in Notre Dame de Paris (on my birthday, no less!) and in several southern Italian cathedrals (I've never been inside a mosque). Yes, there's a particular "feel" in the air inside any of these buildings. I experienced it as a feeling of calm. It's not something I felt in other types of structures. It is, however, similar to being outdoors in nature (without a lot of people around, no hustle-bustle to be found).
Louise, thank you for such vivid descriptions!
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Post by gazelle18 on Jul 10, 2023 8:37:30 GMT -5
I found the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, a massive, unfinished , but gorgeous church, to be amazing! The scale is immense, but it seems very light inside due to the incredible use of stained glass.
The old synagogue in Florence is a beautiful space, and it felt very sacred to me.
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lee058
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Post by lee058 on Jul 10, 2023 9:18:38 GMT -5
Good morning everybody. Hope you are all well and SAFE!
Re today's topic: I think I find "sacred spaces" in Nature at least as much as in buildings created for that purpose. Trees are very special to me, as were the amazing rock formations out West. I was in awe (literally) at the Grand Canyon and many other places, when I was younger during my traveling time.
To me, a sacred space is one that makes me feel connections between myself and spiritual oneness.
Have a peaceful day, Lee
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brgmsn
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Post by brgmsn on Jul 10, 2023 17:56:42 GMT -5
Louise, your enjoyment of the trip and what you bring home with you from it is NOT your weight gain or loss. Your memories are priceless. They are not devalued by pounds on an arbitrary scale. Please remember that. I am enjoying my vacation and dammit I had some vegan ice cream last night. It was delicious. I ate some of it, not all of it. But I had it. And I'm fine with that. We did an hour trail hike this morning and that made me feel good too.
I love the St Thomas synagogue. Our former assistant rabbi was the rabbi there. It's beautiful and very meaningful. So is the one in Providence RI with the pulpit in the middle and there is an underground tunnel where they hit runaway enslaved persons. I think it's the second oldest in North America. The synagogue in Lynne's neck of the woods is gorgeous too. I remember lots of gorgeous old, dark wood. Is that correct Lynne or am I off base (wouldn't be the first time!)
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Post by happysavta on Jul 10, 2023 18:52:02 GMT -5
Shalom, chaverot,
I had a consult with the radiation oncologist today. He offered 6 weeks of external beam radiation to kill any cancer cells left behind by the surgeon. I'm going to do some more blood tests before I do radiation. And I'm going to Houston very soon to get a specialized PET scan. The radiologist told me I can take about 3-4 weeks to come to a decision, but not to delay longer than that because Merkel cell carcinoma is particularly aggressive and has a very high recurrence rate. I'll check in sometimes just to tell you where I'm at, but I won't be leading for awhile.
Hugs to each of you!
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lee058
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Post by lee058 on Jul 11, 2023 15:54:21 GMT -5
happysavta, I just saw your post Tuesday afternoon, and want to wish you well!!
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