Afflicted

The 25 hour done for Yom Kippur is to be an affliction. It is supposed to cause us discomfort. It is not only about not eating or drinking. We are note supposed to wear leather, perfume, etc. We cannot use any of the creature comforts we are used to. Toward the end of the Musaf Service, my stomach began to growl and my lips and mouth were dry. This discomfort led me to think about others. How are the cantor and rabbi continue to be able to chant, to lead, while their mouths are parched? How does the shofar blower manage to that last, long blast that ends the Yom Kippur evening service?

As my stomach growled, images of those starving in Sudan came to mind. It makes me want to do more to feed the hungry. As my mouth grew dryer, it made me think about all those millions who don't have access to clean water. As the day wore on it made me think of how I can better help those in my community who are worn down.

It made me think of how I can do better to increase shalom among my family, congregation, and neighborhood.

For some reason, as those thoughts were going through my mind, the hunger and the thirst were pushed into the background and during the Nei'lah and Yom Kippur services there was only joy at the mercy HaShem shows for His people and that we need to do the same with others.

The Day

Beginning at sundown today, we Jews will begin a 25 hour fast. It will not end until the triumphant blast of the shofar is sounded tomorrow evening. There are many beautiful prayers. Below is part of one:

It is true that You are their Creator and You know their inclination, for they are flesh and blood. A man's origin is from dust and his destiny is back to dust, at risk of his life he earns his bread; he is likened to a broken shard, withering grass, a fading flower, a passing shade, a dissipating cloud, a blowing wind, flying dust, and a fleeting dream.

G'mar Chatima Tova. May you have an easy fast. May you be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life.

L'Shanah Tovah!!

Jewish Greenies

In an effort to stem global warming, an Israeli group suggests lighting one less candle for each night of Hanukkah. It defeats what Hanukkah is about. The hanukkiah is to be placed so that it can be visible to the outside. The lights serve as a reminder of winning over those who would oppress religious freedom and the lights are a reminder of the re-dedication of the Temple after it had been defiled. The lights are to blaze forth and to be seen by all.

These Jewish greenies are wrong in their approach. Lighting one less candle a night will hardly make a dent in pollution. It also defeats the purpose of Hannukah. This idea only serves one purpose: more publicity for the group that purposed it. And it distracts from the ongoing endeavours that can make a difference.

Seambiotic has a plan and it is a good one. It reduces polltion emitted by coal-burning smoke stacks and the resultant product is more a more cost-effective biofuel.

The simplicity of the idea is what will make it workable.

Israel's Seambiotic is employing algae as a biofuel that could also reduce pollution from coal power plants. Executives said the method channels carbon dioxide emissions from coal-burning smokestacks through pools of skeletonema algae, which in turn converts to fuel.
....
Algae was said to be capable of manufacturing 30 times more oil than crops currently used for biofuel production.

Using algae to both clean pollution from coal-burning plants and to produce a biofuel will help more than calling on people to light one less candle each night of Hannukah. The candle idea makes about as much sense as having a conference on global climate(warming) change and having 10,000 people fly to it.

Nah. My lights will blaze forth each night and as I gaze upon the candles, I'll remember those days of old when the light of freedom blazed forth.