Jewish Musings, Friday/Shabbat, Aug 11

[louise]

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

[louise]

Well, I didn’t get as much done this week as I had hoped but I did start learning another aliyah for RH and I did write a number of the emails I needed to get some things assigned for the High Holy Days. I even made some incremental improvements in my apartment. I just need to keep on going.

This shabbat we have another haftarah of consolation from Isaiah. I am always taken by these verses (55:1-2):
Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?

These are words I need to hear as I don’t always choose what is best for me. Of course, I am not alone in that. I thought these verses would be a good way to bookend the week that started out with treating ourselves with dignity and self-respect.

Thank you all for sharing your wisdom this week.
Shabbat shalom.

[gazelle18]

“Why spend your labor on what does not satisfy?”

These are words to live by.

Some chores are necessary, even if not that satisfying. But when you think of what you spend your actual life’s work on, there is hopefully something in that endeavor which gives some satisfaction. (I think often about the satisfaction Holly gets when one of her students makes a b’nai mitzvah.) This becomes a whole different question when you are, like me, retired. Nowadays, I have been re-evaluating some of the things I spend time on. Do they bring me joy? Do I feel good about the work? These are good questions for me.

Thanks for all, Louise, and good shabbos everyone!

[hollygail]

Well, you sent me to sefaria.org to read the first two verses in Hebrew with trop. I sang them to myself and heard the plaintive undertone. You're right, it really is a terrific opener for a haftarah of consolation. I don't know who's chanting it tomorrow at the shul where I'm going; I hope it's someone who has a clue about the meaning of what s/he's chanting...

Good week, Louise. Once again you've done us proud. Shabbat shalom to you and to all of us.

[lee058]

Good morning everybody. Hope you are all well and SAFE!

Re today's topic: I agree, why waste your precious time and energy on things that don't satisfy? The days when I could just keep on going are faded out; I need to take better care of myself. Thanks for the reminder.

Have a peaceful day, Lee

[peachymom1]

Thank you for a great week, Louise! And hang in there - I hope you can take some time for yourself and still get other stuff done.

I'm reading three aliyot tomorrow, and although I've prepared and practiced, they still feel difficult and cumbersome. I'll just do the best I can and not stress about it. But if you want to wish me good luck, I'll take all the help I can get! :+)

I'm having a colonoscopy on Monday morning, so this weekend is the prep. I just did the same kind of prep before my hysterectomy in May, and I'm not thrilled about having to do it again, but it's been ten years since my last proper colonoscopy, so it's time. Instead of grumbling that I have to do such an unpleasant thing, I'm going to adjust my attitude and be glad that: (a) I have access to good preventive care; (b) that DH is available to drive me there and back; (c) that my employer gives me paid time off to cover the day; and (d) that the GI doctor said I could mix Crystal Lite in with the liquid I have to drink, to make it less yukky. Hooray!

Everyone have a great weekend! Shabbat shalom!