Jewish Musings Tuesday, Nov. 7

[hollygail]

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 (hopefully)?
Holly
Lee
Louise
Lynne
Peachy

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

[hollygail]

Yesterday's thread turned out to be full of information and emotion and support for each other. Good for us!

Another topic is raised in this week's Torah portion. The Land of Israel is precious to Jews. Abraham purchases a burial place for Sarah, which will wind up being the burial site for all the Patriarchs and Matriarchs (except Rachel). He paid a lot for that piece of land — far more than it was actually worth. The Land of Israel is so precious to Jews that we have been willing to sacrifice almost anything for it — not only money (early Zionist settlers purchased swampland in Israel for exorbitant rates in the 1800s), but life as well. We see it not only in this week's Torah portion but this week IRL as well.

Every since Oct. 7 (and today is Nov. 7, ladies), Jews all over the world, including individuals (like me, for instance) who were never all that gung ho when it came to Israel have rallied and stood up for today's Israel like crazy. Throughout the generations, Jews have remembered Israel in prayers, psalms, Prophets, you name it. When I was a little girl, I read from my DGF's little paperback pamphlet (like a bentsher) If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither, may my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth. I had no idea what it really meant (other than it wasn't okay to forget Jerusalem), but that's about all. Since growing up, however, it hit me that people have been repeating those lines for 2000 years. There has always been a yearning for the Jewish people to return to our ancient homeland. Yes, I surprised myself after the events of Oct. 7, and I have a clearer understanding now than ever before...

Your comments?

[lee058]

Good morning everybody. Hope you are all well and SAFE! Please pray for Israel.

Re today's topic: hollygail, Thank you for your post. I have been adding the phrase, "Please pray for Israel" to my comments since October 7th, but your post gave me an extra reason and stronger feelings about continuing to do so. We have a lot going on these days, and it is important for us to stick together.

Have a peaceful day, and for those who live where it is Election Day, please remember to vote!

Lee

[peachymom1]

I feel a strong connection to Israel. I don't know why, exactly. I've never been there, never seriously considered going there until the last year or so, and I have no family or other generational connection to it. Yet I choke up when we sing HaTikva or Yerushalayim Shel Zahav, and I have since the beginning. Before I had kids who went there on Birthright. I can't explain it. Maybe it washed over me in the mikvah?

[louise]

I notice that when I talk about something Israel did I sometimes say "we" or "our side" clearly aligbning myself. I'm on a WtasApp with a former synagogue member inow living in Tel Aviv so I see almost daioly pictures of life there for them. Never would have had that before. I feel close and afraid for Israel more than ever. I have learned there is a march on Washington next Tuesday and we are tying to organize a bus to go there. The thing is we need to solidify plans by today and I just don't see myself going. Can't put my finger on it. Fear? Just not strong enough? If it's just that it's not convenient that is hardly a good reason! Dunno.

Election day today and we have some local elections. I'm not so up on local politics but feel the need to just vote blue. Scary times here as well.

[gazelle18]

I find that a lot of Jews who previously avoided all religious observance are now feeling very communal. So that is a small silver lining to an otherwise horrible time.