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Post by hollygail on Dec 12, 2023 9:44:41 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 (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!
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Post by hollygail on Dec 12, 2023 10:13:40 GMT -5
If you're in the mood for a little Chanukah change of pace, check out www.kveller.com/the-top-8-hanukkah-parodies-of-all-time/
(I'm not sure they're the "top" parodies "of all time" but they're fun.)
One I like just a little better is here: www.google.com/search?sca_esv=590159290&tbm=vid&sxsrf=AM9HkKlx6IXD-hoaWla8hboxmWg89BUOTw:1702392298781&q=funny+chanukah+songs+OR+parodies&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjxwvLBkYqDAxVMJkQIHUYtAMYQ8ccDegQIFxAJ&biw=1366&bih=619#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:36b92695,vid:jiskf_lZXv8,st:0
This week's Torah portion, however, is Miketz ("after" [two years], Genesis 41:1−44:17. It covers the following general points:
• Joseph interprets Pharaoh's two dreams and predicts seven years of prosperity followed by seven years of famine. (41:1-32)
• Pharaoh places Joseph in charge of food collection and distribution. (41:37-49)
• Joseph marries Asenath, and they have two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. (41:50-52)
• When Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to buy food during the famine, Joseph accuses them of spying. He holds Simeon hostage while the rest of the brothers return to Canaan to retrieve Benjamin for him. (42:3-42:38)
• The brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin and for more food. Joseph continues the test, this time falsely accusing Benjamin of stealing and declaring that Benjamin must remain his slave. (43:1-44:17)
Assimilation has always been something that Jews have grappled with. Joseph assimilates in Egypt. In some ways, he becomes like a regular Egyptian. In others, he is still Jewish. He has a foot in two cultures, like modern Jews who are both deeply American (or Canadian, or British…) and deeply Jewish. On this former WW board, we are all Jews and we are all Americans. What things that you love to do are Jewish? Which are American? Do you ever feel you need to choose one over the other? How do you deal with this "dual" type of "being"? Are there times when they are in conflict and one "wins" out over the other? How do you decide which is better for you (at least at the moment, if not all the time)?
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lee058
This space for rent
Posts: 23,285 
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Post by lee058 on Dec 12, 2023 10:46:28 GMT -5
Good morning everybody. Hope you are all well and SAFE! Please pray for Israel.
Re today's topic: I don't even know where to start commenting on today's topic!! I am Jewish and an American, through and through. Both parts of me want to improve the world and make it a better place for my having been here. I feel that this is a responsibility and a gift. Do I think this is coming from one aspect or another? Not particularly; they are so intertwined.
I'll try and write more later. My friend Carol (non-Jewish, btw) is coming over for Scrabble in a few minutes, so I need to get moving.
Have a peaceful day, Lee
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Post by peachymom1 on Dec 12, 2023 12:50:26 GMT -5
I can't think of a time when I've felt a conflict between begin Jewish and being American. Well, maybe now, during Christmastime, because the commercialization of gift-giving is so very American. I've never been in a position to be able to go crazy with gift-giving, and I'm not so sure I would if I could. I don't want birthdays or Chanukah to be overwhelmingly about gifts. When the kids were growing up, we emphasized the fun of playing games and doing stuff with their friends at birthday parties, not so much the gifts. I don't think they've suffered from getting modest gifts.
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Post by louise on Dec 12, 2023 14:34:28 GMT -5
I have been very sheltered in my life as far as my Jewishness. It has never been an issue so I dont feel a conflict. I guess now that israel needs American aid so much I feel some strain because not everyone is seeing it the same way.
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