Jewish Musings Friday/Shabbat, Febrkuary 23/24

[hollygail]

hat’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 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!

[hollygail]

Yesterday I caught the end of an interview on NPR with a poet (whose name I didn't catch) who read one of her poems. As I was listening to it, I knew I wanted to share it on today's thread. However, because it was only the end of the segment and I didn't catch her name, I haven't been able to look up either the poet or the poem. I've completed the online form asking the local NPR radio station about it and will let you know when I hear back from them...

In the meantime, and for a change of pace, how about we look at the haftarah for this week's Torah portion?

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Ezekiel 43:10–27
[https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/haftarah-for-tetzaveh/]
Ezekiel, prophesying from exile, shares vivid apocalyptic visions. One of these is a vision of the future Third Temple, and part of this vision is the haftarah selection for Parashat Tetzaveh.

At the opening of the haftarah, God instructs Ezekiel to share with the people of Israel all the details of this future Temple: its layout, exits, entrances, floor plan, and all the relevant laws pertaining to its construction.

Though this is meant to be a comforting prophesy, God indicates that these details should make the people of Israel feel ashamed of their sins. Pairing rebuke with words of comfort is a common motif in the book of Ezekiel. In this context, the rebuke seems intended to motivate positive action–repentance and preparation for the Third Temple’s construction...
- - - - -

Although I personally do not hope (nor pray) for a Third Temple, still and all we can learn from what Ezekiel says about his hopes for one. Take for instance the statement that although it's meant to be a comforting prophesy, God indicates that these details should make the people feel ashamed of what they've done. And aside from the aspect of "shame" itself, in your life, have you witnessed situations where someone said one thing and it was interpreted to mean almost the opposite? What was the eventual outcome? Did the individuals "get over" the (perceived or intended) "insult"? How?

Gut shabbes / Shabbat shalom!

[lee058]

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

Re today's topic: I sometimes talk to myself about things I did that were the best I could do at the time, yet weren't as good as I wished they were. When I tell myself, "You did the best you could," often I take it as a reprimand rather than a comfort. I don't know if I will ever "get over" some of them, i.e. dealing with my mom's illnesses and death. I really did do the best I could but it was far from ideal. I wish I could have done things differently, and I blame myself for things that were often out of my control. It's tough to live with this.

Have a peaceful day. I do leads starting on Sunday, so I will see you then. I think I am going to stick with light topics.

[peachymom1]

I think we should feel shame when we've done something wrong. But then we should make amends and move on, and try to be better in the future.

I have a cold and am feeling tired and achy. I plan to do absolutely nothing this weekend except rest and loaf. Everyone stay warm and dry. Shabbat shalom!

[hollygail]

I heard from the radio station. Here's the information (based on the transcript of the segment emailed to me)!

"NPR's Leila Fadel talks to poet and author Omotara James about her collection...."

The name of the book is "Song of My Softening." The interviewer at one point asks Ms. James to read a particular poem. I'm copying its name and what the transcription has about the poem itself.

Heaven Be A Sturdy Chair [note: the transcript, of course, does not take into account that it's poetry, and since I don't want to misrepresent the artist's work, I'm not going to start a new line anywhere. If you read it aloud, chances are you'll pause at all the right places and emphasize all the right syllables]
Heaven be a sturdy chair. When I show up to the reading, it's not to talk to you. I'm cruising for stability. A pound of fat is three times larger than muscle. Fat demands space, describes it. Fat belts a show tune, plus an R&B, plus a ballad at karaoke. My fat never goes home alone. Think about your last moment of pleasure. Multiply it by three.

Now: Gut Shhabes / Shabbat Shalom!

[louise]

My mother used to compliment me and then say"I hate it when you used to...". Oh well . I love the line "My fat never goes home alone>" Wonder oow literal that is. Tremendous confidence.It was a heavy duty weel for me and I still didn't learn that megillah reading - promising myself hours of study over the weekend.