Tonight Congregation Beth Israel will be in our new synagogue! We will dance our Torahs in and our first services will be for Shavout. Shavuot is one of my favorite festivals because it has such special meaning for me. I've chronicled my journey into rejoining my tribe.
The Megillah of Ruth will be read. Like her, I and thousands of others have said, "Your people will be my people, and your G-d my G-d". She, I, and thousands of others have stood at Sinai and said "We will do and we will obey".
It has been at times, a struggle for our congregation. Since Hurricane Katrina, some of families have had to move away because they lost jobs, homes, or both. Through it all, we have remained a strong community committed to supporting one another and celebrating bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, and the festivals together . We have persevered. We now will celebrate as a community the completion of our new home.
Chazak, Chazak, V'nitchazeik !!!
I know these are the words said at the completion of reading each of the Torah. It seems appropriate to say them today.
Showing posts with label festivals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label festivals. Show all posts
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Only Four Days Left!
During my seder, I was honored to host a doctor who had been back from Iraq for just a few days. He was homesick for his wife and children. He talked of the Pesach customs handed down by his family. He would hide the afikomen and then give his children hints as to where it was.
I talked about my earliest Jewish memory, which was when my grandfather made matza brie. When I would visit him in Chicago, he would make it for me and then we would play yatzhee or work on a puzzle.
I love matzo! You can make matzo toffee, matzo brie, or matzo pizza!
Cook something to read along with this week's Haveil Havalim 212: How Many Days til We Can Eat Bread.
Maybe next year I'll be one of those Ashkenazim Rebels and add corn to the brie or pizza.
Update: I just had to add Pesach Doritos and other yummies.
I talked about my earliest Jewish memory, which was when my grandfather made matza brie. When I would visit him in Chicago, he would make it for me and then we would play yatzhee or work on a puzzle.
I love matzo! You can make matzo toffee, matzo brie, or matzo pizza!
Cook something to read along with this week's Haveil Havalim 212: How Many Days til We Can Eat Bread.
Maybe next year I'll be one of those Ashkenazim Rebels and add corn to the brie or pizza.
Update: I just had to add Pesach Doritos and other yummies.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
The Search Goes On!
Why do we do this every year? We do we rid our homes of leavened bread and go to such extremes? Perhaps the answer is in this post. I like this answer as well. For me, the act of sweeping away the unleavened bread is an act of freedom. How can the seeming drudgery of cleaning be an act of freedom?
Each year, millions of Jews prepare for Passover and at some point their kitchen is turned over. The old way of things is out and everything is prepared for the new. It holds us together as a family and as Am Yisrael.
Haveil Havalim 211: Preparing for Pesach indicates the frenetic pace of preparations is picking up.
David has A Friendly Request.
Miriam shows a new way of parting the seas.
And huge footprints have been discovered which attest to the long Jewish presence in Israel.
After work, I'll continue the search(cleaning), and G-d willing, my kitchen will be turned so I can start preparing the feast!
Each year, millions of Jews prepare for Passover and at some point their kitchen is turned over. The old way of things is out and everything is prepared for the new. It holds us together as a family and as Am Yisrael.
Haveil Havalim 211: Preparing for Pesach indicates the frenetic pace of preparations is picking up.
David has A Friendly Request.
Miriam shows a new way of parting the seas.
And huge footprints have been discovered which attest to the long Jewish presence in Israel.
After work, I'll continue the search(cleaning), and G-d willing, my kitchen will be turned so I can start preparing the feast!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Dancing in the Streets
Okay, my congregation didn't dance in the streets during Simchat Torah. We did dance with joy and love holding our precious Torahs. Our voices rang out with songs of joy. Each adult was given a turn dancing, men and women. Each held the Torah close.
It was my turn! After a long day and trying to fight back a cold, I tenderly held the Torah and carried it as I would an infant. As soon as I held it, the tiredness lifted and a spring came to my step. The dancers circled around me and the other Torah holder. Hands were joined and the music of our voices echoed through the building. The children made a circle within the adults circle and we were all embraced by the comfort, joy, and love our Torah brings.
We skipped like rams. We danced like trees in the wind. Our voices sounded as joyfully as water burbling in a stream. Our voices sounded like the mighty sea. Our Torah: Our joy and our life.
It was my turn! After a long day and trying to fight back a cold, I tenderly held the Torah and carried it as I would an infant. As soon as I held it, the tiredness lifted and a spring came to my step. The dancers circled around me and the other Torah holder. Hands were joined and the music of our voices echoed through the building. The children made a circle within the adults circle and we were all embraced by the comfort, joy, and love our Torah brings.
We skipped like rams. We danced like trees in the wind. Our voices sounded as joyfully as water burbling in a stream. Our voices sounded like the mighty sea. Our Torah: Our joy and our life.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sukkot
I was looking for a video to post for Sukkot. I found the one below. They were going to King David's Tomb last Sukkot.
It reminded me of this:
And David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him, from Baale-judah, to bring up from thence the ark of G-d, whereupon is called the Name, even the name of the LORD of hosts that sitteth upon the cherubim. 3 And they set the ark of G-d upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in the hill, with the ark of G-d, and Ahio went before the ark. 5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD with all manner of instruments made of cypress-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with sistra, and with cymbals.
It reminded me of this:
And David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him, from Baale-judah, to bring up from thence the ark of G-d, whereupon is called the Name, even the name of the LORD of hosts that sitteth upon the cherubim. 3 And they set the ark of G-d upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in the hill, with the ark of G-d, and Ahio went before the ark. 5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD with all manner of instruments made of cypress-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with sistra, and with cymbals.
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