Jewish musings, Wed., Sept. 20

[gazelle18]

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:
Holly
Lee
Louise
Lynne
Peachy

And for those of you who stop by to read this thread without posting — you are welcome to, but you are also welcome to chime in. Don’t be shy!

[gazelle18]

Hi everyone,
So we are smack dab in the middle of the Days of Awe. Or as I used to say, the Days of Awful. (That’s because I put way too much pressure on myself to dress well for shul, put on fancy meals, etc.). Nowadays, for me, I prefer to think of these days as the Days of Awesome.

What do you find particularly awesome (or perhaps awful) about the high holidays?

[lee058]

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

Re today's topic: During the HHD, I find myself thinking about relating serious things with ordinary ones much more than usual. What's awesome is that there are so many areas where even the most trivial ideas can be related to deeper thoughts. For instance, if I am writing a note to myself, I can think about how great it is that I can read and write! I have a good sense of time and am able to keep calendars reminding myself of what's happening. I can keep track of medical and other appointments for my family, as needed. I can renew medicine. I can do all kinds of things that I take for granted! The HHD are a great time to contemplate connections.

In other words, the HHD remind me to be responsible. I am in awe of how life has so many connected aspects. They may not seem important, but when I add them up, they make up big parts of my life. I appreciate that, and should do more. BTW, I am part of a gratitude thread on the main board, and I love reading about the various things that other people think are worth mentioning. I try to write at least three things every day.

Have a peaceful day, Lee

[hollygail]

Only one of the things I like about the HHD (High Holy Days) has to do with the people. Not only do I see people I never get to see during the year (yes, I know people who used to be more active in my congregation who are no longer a constant presence, like Dede and Den, the parents of one of my awesome former students [she was my student in the early-to mid-90s]) whom I don't get to see during the rest of the year. I spent time chatting with one woman (she chants the maftir both for RH and for YK morning) who does show up from time to time during the year, but at RH last week, she and I got to spend some real information-exchanging time (her daughter was my student shortly before Dede and Den's). There's another woman I liked a lot who went through a quiet divorce and was absent for several years and only in the last few has she come back to HHD services (sometimes with her [female] partner) although I didn't see her last weekend (I look forward to seeing her whenever she is able to attend services; I ded see her once a couple of months ago and it was a real treat!). One of the worst things about the pandemic for me was the lack of people-interaction, so I really look forward to seeing people in person, being with people in person. I am about to check today's weather forecast and if the 9:00 hour looks like low-70s or cooler, I'm really really really looking forward to joining the women who walk on Wednesdays at the lake that's about a mile from my house!

[louise]

Actually, I think I came to some clarity on an issue that has been troubling me. Maybe I will be able to go into the New Year dragging less baggage with me! Very glad for that.