lee058
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Post by lee058 on Nov 18, 2016 7:23:19 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:
Angelika
Holly
Lee
Louise
Lynne
Peachy
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lee058
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Posts: 23,285
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Post by lee058 on Nov 18, 2016 7:32:34 GMT -5
Good morning everybody. Hope you are all well today. DS and I are going to the movies as he has off work; we are going to see "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" (set in the Harry Potter universe). I'm looking forward to it. This is opening day, so I expect there will be crowds, but we are going to the first show so hopefully it won't be a problem.
Since it's the end of the week, let's consolidate our various themes and talk about things that we would like to see for ourselves, our friends and family, and/or the USA. What are some ideas that you have for improving life?
For myself, I would like to be in better health. I would like to be more involved politically, make more friends, take better care of myself, and reach out more about things I care about. For my family and friends, I would like everyone to be healthy and happy. For the USA, I would like to see a calmer political climate with people working together and not hating each other because of race, religion, political viewpoints, or other characteristics.
What are some of your ideas? I'll be back later. Have a peaceful day, Lee
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Post by hollygail on Nov 18, 2016 10:02:26 GMT -5
I posted a URL last night on the Thursday thread. Please take a look at the rabbi's letter to President-Elect Trump. It sort of fits into Lee's topic for today. Warning: it's a long letter...
I'm off to minyan in a few minutes. I'll be back later to write on today's topic.
Great week's worth of topics, Lee! Thank you, really.
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Post by happysavta on Nov 18, 2016 10:45:56 GMT -5
Aspirations? For myself, I would like to have more energy and be less tired. Action towards that goal? I'm going for a walk. Houston is very level, no hills, so it's easy.
Aspirations for my children? I would like my adult children who are married to work on their marriages. Action towards that goal? Be a non-judgmental listener when they want to vent. Offer to babysit to give them time alone together.
Aspirations for my grandchildren? To be healthy and happy and never have to go to war. Actions toward that goal? To have vegetables present on their dinner plate when I'm asked to make their meal and to have fruit for snacks so they are healthy and strong. To encourage them to be confident in themselves and try new things. To take them places where they learn and experience new things. To tell them how interesting their thoughts are and how important and loved they are, so they are happy. To never have to go to war, see below.
Aspirations for my country: To lose all the labels: "Looney-left", "Alt-right". These are code words for "evil". I want my leaders to look for consensus and make compromises. I want them to stop fighting amongst themselves and with other countries. Peace is a necessity, both nationally and internationally. Peace abroad and quiet in the streets. Actions to reach these goals? Keep in touch with them by phone and email and make sure they don't forget who they are working for and what I want. Oh, dear, I'm so going to miss "No Drama" Obama.
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Post by happysavta on Nov 18, 2016 11:39:51 GMT -5
I saw the movie "Hacksaw Ridge" yesterday. It was the story of an ordinary American private from Virginia, Desmond Doss, who was a conscientious objector but served in the Army in WWII. He went into the army, was assigned to a combat unit, and completed basic training except for his refusal to take rifle and weapons training. He refused to bear arms or kill because of his religious beliefs against killing as a 7th Day Adventist. But he did not want to leave the army and he asked to be trained as a combat medic. He served in a terrible, terrible battle on Hacksaw Ridge which was the gateway to Okinawa. This is WWII and the Director, Mel Gibson, spares no battle gore, and it's tough to take, but it's a very, very moving story of faith, love, courage, patriotism, and loyalty to comrades.
Conscientious objectors were reviled by the public in that era as cowards, but Desmond Doss received the Medal of Honor after tending to 75 wounded men and lowering them off the cliff with ropes while under fire until he was himself wounded. This man totally changed public opinion about the stigma of being a Conscientious Objector. I think we still benefit today in being able to speak openly from our conscience or from our religion about a political issue and not be dismissed.
My DH was a combat medic in 1967 and was in a battle, also at the base of a mountain. Unfortunately I can't take him to see war movies because he is very sensitive and they cause him to have flashbacks, nightmares, and disturbing and sad memories which push him to tears, so he won't be seeing this movie.
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Post by happysavta on Nov 18, 2016 11:43:36 GMT -5
Holly, I hope Rabbi Simon Jacobson's letter to Trump finds its way to the speech writers who are working on the Inaugural address!
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Post by hollygail on Nov 18, 2016 12:09:29 GMT -5
What I’d like to see for myself:
I’d sure like to shake this cold… I’d like to have more consistent energy. I’d like my memory to improve; there are too many times I can’t think of the word I want to use — I know what the word is (like what the first letter is, or how it’s constructed, or something like that), and it’s somewhere in my brain, but I just can’t retrieve it… I want continued good health with no decline in the state of my health. I could use more patience, especially with the students who know how to push my buttons…
What I’d like to see for DH:
More patience. Better listening skills. Better communication skills. Less pessimism and more optimism. Good health.
What I’d like to see for my DS and his family:
Better communication all around. Better listening. Less judgmental thinking. Good health, physical, mental and psychological. Success in all endeavors.
What I’d like to see for my DS and DBIL:
Better health for both of them. (It’s my DBIL who just had the pacemaker put in after zero history of any heart issues of any kind, mind you; a complete surprise to everyone).
What I’d like to see for the USA:
This may be the most difficult to be coherent about… An awareness of fairness, of kindness, of respectful speech and behavior. Abolishment of hate, whether action or speech or in any other manifestation.
There’s a lot running around in my brain right now. I’ll stop typing.
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Post by peachymom1 on Nov 18, 2016 17:48:11 GMT -5
I read the open letter to Donald Trump that Holly posted a link to. While I agree with the rabbi on many points, such as taking this opportunity to step up and do great things, the one thing I hesitate about is using God as a reference point. I am so fed up with people who claim to be religious but say and do hateful things in the name of God. Can't we just leave God out of politics?
Oy, I'm tired, and I'm glad Shabbos is coming. Everyone have a wonderful weekend. Shabbat shalom!
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lee058
This space for rent
Posts: 23,285
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Post by lee058 on Nov 18, 2016 17:52:46 GMT -5
Hi again everybody. Thanks for all your comments this week! It was a meaningful week for me, and I hope it was for you too.
Have a peaceful weekend, Lee
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Post by louise on Nov 18, 2016 19:04:39 GMT -5
I had trouble logging on today and was also very busy work so I can just say "Hi" and Shabbat Shalom. My mother is flying in tomorrow and I didn't get done as much as I had hoped - it is what it is. Will tidy up some more this evening.
For now - I'm beat!
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