Jewish Musings, Friday/Shabbat July 26

[louise]

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.

[louise]

Tempting, but I don’t want to discus childless women and cat lovers today, although I was shocked to hear these mentioned as problematic in a speech today! C’mon now! It would be funny if it wasn’t so scary and sad. Also calling to me is that we are about to begin the first of the 3 haftarot of admonition – boy would I like to go right to the 7 of consolation and skip the admonition!

I’ll go with a poem by one of my favorites, Merle Feld:

Dreaming of Home
We want so much to be in that place
where we are respected and cherished,
protected, acknowledged,
nurtured, encouraged, heard.
And seen, seen
in all our loveliness,
in all our fragile strength.
And safe,
safe in all our trembling vulnerability.
Where we are known and safe,
safe and known.
Is it possible?

I think it makes us think about what or who makes us feel this way. I feel we should (or used to?) get a sense of this from our country and government. I don’t find that to be this case these days. Hopefully we find this in our actual homes, but where else? In our synagogues? With special friends (like at a shabbat dinner)? With each other? Do yo ave other ways to describe what makes you feel safe?

Shabbat shalom.

[hollygail]

Sorry I didn't get back to yesterday's thread. Louise, your congregation seems to be in very good hands; and yasher koach to your rabbi for his advice.

I do feel safe in my own home and in the congregations I attend, whether my own or another one I visit enough that I'm known there. I feel safe with my friends; there's a Women's Chavurah (which is what we named it about 25, maybe closer to 30 years ago); we no longer meet frequently, but we do meet from time to time and even between meetings, we're friends and see each other when we can. I feel safe with them too. (Two have become widows in the last several years, both of whom younger than I am...)

And unfortunately, I agree that my country no longer feels anywhere near as safe as it used to.

Lovely poem; I enjoy Merle Feld's work too.

Gut Shabbos / Shabbat Shalom, all.

[lee058]

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

Sorry I didn't make it to the thread yesterday. I read it and thought it was good, though.

Re today's topic: I generally feel safe in my house, neighborhood, and with my friends and family. I am concerned about the state of the nation and the world though; times have changed, and it can be scary to be Jewish.

Have a peaceful day, Lee

[gazelle18]

There are situations where I feel safe and loved - it almost always depends on who I’m with. Certain family and certain friends give me that secure feeling. I feel secure inside my home, which I realize is a luxury some people don’t have. Last night, I acted as mikvah attendant for the first time. While the woman was dressing (after we had completed the immersion) , I sat in the mikvah space quietly and meditated briefly. I felt very secure in that environment.

Good shabbos all!

[peachymom1]

Thank you for a great week, Louise, and have a wonderful time next week!

What a lovely poem. I've just been thinking this week how it's nice to feel safe, comfortable and secure at home, and in the homes of friends too. I also draw a lot of comfort and belonging from going to shul, and I am looking forward to going tomorrow.

I'm giving blood during my lunch break, then coming home to a nice tall glass of iced tea. Everyone stay cool and comfy! Shabbat shalom!