Jewish Musings Friday (8th day) / Shabbat, December 15/16

[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]

As we wind down the week, let's look at one more perspective about this week's Torah portion. Joseph cries when he realizes his brothers have changed. Showing emotions is healthy for everyone. Joseph shows more emotion than almost anyone else in the Bible. He cries — out of sadness, longing, and even joy. Mature men and women can show their emotions, and it is often good to do so.

We've all experienced emotional times in our lives. But how do we look at society's view of showing emotion (other than in the movies or on TV)? I remember a scene from Network News. The news anchor, played by William Hurt, asks the cameraman to film him as he adjusts his persona into one of empathy for the woman he'd interviewed; he cries on camera, as if on cue. When we see the broadcast of that news segment, the camera goes from the woman to the anchor who is now crying. We all watched him interview her and he wasn't crying in real time. But it made for good TV for the anchor. But in real life, what stories can you share of stoic types who have shown honest emotions?

(I'm often surprised when DH cries during the sad parts in a movie or even during some commercials on TV.)
- - -
(I found this poem at customandcraft.org/clip/blessing-for-the-solo-person)
- - -
Blessing For The Solo Person

Our communities include people who are not in long-term partnered relationships, whether by choice or circumstance. If this is you, take a moment to celebrate yourself this Shabbat with this blessing for the solo person.

This Shabbat, amidst the growing twilight,

I affirm myself in my full dignity,
In my truth,
And in my lived experience

I celebrate my resilience
And my wholeness,
My fortitude and my strength

And I name and bless myself
As a sovereign being
Under a canopy of stars
My aliveness is my own
- - -

Shabbat shalom / gut shabbes.

[lee058]

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

I've been having a difficult morning dealing with ordering one of DH's medications. I've been on the phone with the local pharmacy, CVS Caremark (mail order pharmacy), and DH's doctor's office. To make a long story short, his prescription was cancelled at the local pharmacy but is not yet on the computers at the mail order pharmacy. I'm supposed to get called back by a nurse from the doctor's office, to tell me if they were able to straighten out the situation. I then will have to call the mail order pharmacy to arrange for overnighting the meds. DH is going away for a couple of days for work, and it would be nice if he got the prescription before he left.

I was going to go out with DS to look for a new cane (the handle of mine has a ripped grip), plus have a burger out. However, although I hate to disappoint him, I am feeling exhausted, plus I feel like I ought to wait for the phone call. We'll see. Maybe the nurse will call over her lunchtime and not wait until the end of the day; that would be helpful.

Re today's topic: I liked the poem. I thought it was useful for everyone, not just single people.

Eek, I'm supposed to do leads starting Sunday, and have absolutely no ideas for topics. I may do something outlandish.

Have a peaceful day, Lee

[gazelle18]

Lovely poem!
Sorry too busy to post more… crowd coming for shabbos dinner and I’m behind!
Good shabbos all!

[peachymom1]

Good morning everyone, chag sameach, and thank you, Holly, for a great week!

I really like the poem, and I plan to forward it to my single sister. Well, actually, I think I'll send it to all my sisters. It's lovely.

DH has told me that he remembers vividly how his maternal grandfather cried when he lost his wife. It's the only time DH remembers any of his male relatives crying, and he thinks that's a shame. DH himself was also brought up to be stoic with his emotions, but he's been with me for so long that he's left that meshugas far behind. I've seen him get choked up by a moving TV show or movie, and he isn't embarrassed by it. We taught our kids to express whatever they felt. I remember one of the boys being admonished by MIL for crying, and he stood right up to her and said, "In our family, we cry when something hurts!" I think he was seven or eight at the time.

I was supposed to go in person to our office today, for a cookie exchange and to help wrap gifts for needy families. But I bugged out at the last minute. They're ordering pizza for lunch, and I just can't deal with the dual challenges of huge quantities of available cookies and pizza. I gave a generous donation for gifts for the families, so that's going to have to be enough.

Everyone have a wonderful weekend. Shabbat shalom!

[louise]

Went to the jeweler this morning with the last of the jewelry from my mother that I want to sell. Turns out the amount of money is about equal to the cost of a neckklace I have wanted. They are going to make it up for me. Love that the necklace will be a gift from my mother - as it turns out the last time she and I went shopping together she bought me such a necklace but not real. Love that this one will be from her too.

Potluck shabbat dinner tongith in someone's home for people over 50. Okay, I'm game. Going to bring a noodle kugel. Should be fun..

Looking forward to tomorrow's haftarah. It is not one that comes up very often - the story about Solomon, the 2 mothers and a baby. Perfect for a drama queen!