Jewish Musings, Friday/Shabbat/Chanukah, Dec. 8-9, 2023

[peachymom1]

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!

[peachymom1]

Good morning everyone! Happy Chanukah!

Last night I lit my new menorah for the first time – the one I bought at the Skirball Museum last February. It’s a row of cupcakes! Very cute! We’re waiting until Shabbat dinner to have latkes and doughnuts (and some healthier things along with them), since DS33 worked last night. But DH and I lit our menorahs and sang the blessings together. It felt a little strange, just the two of us, but tonight will be a big bunch at the Shabbat table.

Chanukah is a holiday of miracles, as we all know, but what do we really think or believe about miracles? The Chanukah story tells of a small container of oil lasting eight days, when it only held enough oil for one. A lovely story, but the real miracle, of course, is the military victory against the Greek Syrians, who greatly outnumbered us. The fact that we Jews survived then, as well as through many other challenges throughout the centuries, is the over-arching miracle, isn’t it? There’s so much about life itself that is mysterious and miraculous, that sometimes it’s hard for me to even get any farther in my head than that.

What about other miracles? Do you notice everyday miracles, or only the uncommon ones? The Hebrew word “nes,” usually translated as “miracle,” actually means more like “sign.” Does that mean a miracle is a sign of something deeper, something that points you to a greater purpose or a need to express wonder or gratitude? What do you think?

I can’t leave this week without mentioning the Torah portion of the week, Vayeshev, which is the beginning of the Joseph story. By the time the portion ends, Joseph is in prison, falsely accused of molesting Potiphar’s wife. It occurs to me that this is the first time in his life that Joseph is truly alone, no father to adore him, no brothers to antagonize him, no master to defend him. He could have fallen to pieces like the spoiled little brat he was, but instead, he found the courage to find himself and reach out to others. While still in prison, he interpreted the dreams of the cupbearer (a favorable outcome) and the baker (a terrible outcome), but he didn’t tout his own dreams anymore. He learned to think of others instead of just himself. I think that is a miracle right there.

What are your thoughts about miracles, whether everyday ones, special ones, the Chanukah story, the Joseph story, or ?

Thank you all for your participation this week. Shabbat shalom!

[hollygail]

With just the two of us, we don't always light the candles. We didn't last night. And DH was feeling bad that he hadn't gotten all his grandkids and niece and nephew something in time for yesterday (although, on the bright side, he did get his phone back in great working order yesterday, which also means I got mine back from him!). It hadn't occurred to me in advance that he might have felt less crappy had he had the experience of lighting one of our chanukiot (he and I came into this marriage with two chanukiot each).

As for miracles: I started noticing everyday-types of miracles when I was still in high school. I remember looking at the inadvertent designs in the sidewalk under my feet. No one had intended them; they just were. And later (about 6 months before my 30th birthday) I noticed the similarities in flowers that grew in completely different parts of the world and were not related to each other (pistils and stamens, mostly). That blew my mind! So yes, I have been seeing everyday miracles, not just the "parting of the Sea of Reeds" or any "burning bush" incidents... Most of the miracles I've witness are everyday-types of occurrences. And I'm glad not only that they exist, but that I've noticed them.

Thanks for another terrific week!

Chag chanukah sameach and shabbat shalom to everyone. May the world wake up to see the light! "Soon and in our days!" (as the liturgy goes).

[gazelle18]

I do think about “everyday miracles,” of which there are many. Here is one:

My son and his ex wife divorced about 5 years ago. He was very depressed, and frankly we were quite concerned about him. He somehow got through that terrible period of loneliness and depression, and met a lovely woman. They married, and she is wonderful. She is now 38 and has never had a child, and she wanted one very badly. My son , who has 4 kids from the first marriage, was less enthusiastic, but understood his second wife’s maternal urge. After several years of trying, she is now pregnant, and in her second trimester. They are both very very happy, and we are thrilled for them.

Happy Hanukkah all, and thanks, Peachy !

[peachymom1]

I was just getting really cranky about one of my VPs, who is irritating me without trying to (or meaning to). I took a break to get a banana and check in with you ladies, and I feel better already! The miracle of friendship is a wonderful thing!