Jewish Musings, Sunday, April 21, 2024

[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 and shavua tov! On this date exactly 40 years ago, I celebrated my bat mitzvah with the adult class at my shul. I still remember how hard I studied and how proud I felt. It blows my mind that I’ve been reading Torah for FORTY YEARS!

So, it’s our last full day before Passover begins on Monday evening! Are you ready? DH and DS33 have a few tasks left, but I’m finished with all my preparations and am treating myself to a manicure and pedicure. I’m going to pay for a ten-minute shoulder massage too. I’m taking Monday off so DH, DS33 and I can make desserts and potatoes we’re taking to both seders, but that’s it. Yay!

Over a week ago, I chanted six aliyot of the Torah portion Tazria. We had a profusion of simchas that Shabbat morning – three baby namings! Quite a cacophony as well – there I was, concentrating hard on chanting the readings properly and tuning out the astounding noise level, and though I stumbled a couple of times, I didn’t falter or forget or louse anything up. Twice, the ritual director stopped me so the congregation could be shushed a bit, a much-appreciated (if short-lived) effort. But as I stood there reading, it occurred to me how wonderful it was to have so much to celebrate, when the Jewish community as a whole has such a mountain of challenges right now. I felt very happy to be there among so much joy and hope. And those babies were adorable!

What’s bringing you joy these days, during such dark times? What do you do when the world seems impossible or hopeless? How did your family react to tough times when you were a child? We had a speaker recently who said during his talk, rather offhandedly in fact, “We Jews will survive.” This was not one of the salient points of his lecture, but it’s the line that jumped out at me. Yes, we will survive. But more importantly, the way he said it implied that of course we will survive, of course we will keep going, of course we will thrive, because that’s what we are: survivors and thrivers. Not just victims. And when happy events come, we celebrate to beat the band. Am Yisrael chai!

[lee058]

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

Re today's topic: Thank you peachymom1, for quoting the speaker. Yes, we will survive, and keep going, and thrive, and CELEBRATE! It's good to be Jewish.

I'm psyched for Passover. I want to think more about what it means to me in these difficult times, and hopefully will have something to share with our group.

DH and DS are out shopping, and although I made out a list (of course), I have the feeling he is going to surprise me with some good additions for the week.

Have a peaceful day, Lee

[louise]

What a great attitude Peachy (about thew ould be distractions)!
I don't rememeber any really hard times growing up. My parents sheltered us and made us always feel safe.

I finished at the the synagogue and am absolutely delighted so far with our new seder caterer. Everything looks better than I expected e.g. the cookie platters are not just macaroons and the fruit plates are neatly arranged thin slices instead of chunks - time and care was spent as opposed to just throwing things together. Our previous caterer had been in decline so the difference is amazing.

Have a littl3 more kashering still to do - have set the bar pretty low. Would like to make the raspberry sauce tomight. Then I just have to make the torte, whipped cream, and rolls tomorrow.

[lee058]

When am I supposed to do the weekly leads? I'm confused again. Thanks, Lee

[peachymom1]

Lee, I'm doing the leads this week, Holly is up next week (starting Sunday 4/28), then it's your turn (starting Sunday 5/5).

[peachymom1]

I did go for a mani-pedi this morning, complete with an extra 10-minute foot massage and a 10-minute shoulder massage. I feel wonderful!