When my husband, Dan, almost died 5 1/2 years ago, I discovered the Mi Sheberach prayer. Debbie Friedman's version is one of the most popular of her songs. The Mi Sheberach is one of the central Jewish prayers for those who are ill or recovering from illness or accidents, but I realized last night, that my family needs healing too. No one is sick, but we need healing, nevertheless. I believe God can heal, so please pray for us and say the Mi Shebeirach for us.
Mi Sebeirach - Lyrics and Song by Debbie Friedman
Mi shebeirach avoteinu
M'kor hab'racha l'imoteinu
May the source of strength,
Who blessed the ones before us,
Help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing,
and let us say, Amen.
Mi shebeirach imoteinu
M'kor habrachah l'avoteinu
Bless those in need of healing with r'fuah sh'leimah,
The renewal of body, the renewal of spirit,
And let us say, Amen
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
L'Chi Lach - You Shall Be a Blessing
During my spiritual journey, I listened and listened to songs by a Jewish singer and songwriter named Debbie Friedman. Sadly, she passed away in on January 9, 2011 at the age of 59. The song L'Chi Lach is one of my favorite Debbie Friedman songs.
L'Chi Lach - Lyrics by Debbie Friedman (based on Genesis 12:1-2)
Lechi lach to a land that I will show you
Lech li-cha to a place you do not know
Lechi lach on your journey I will bless you
And you shall be a blessing, you shall be a blessing
You shall be a blessing lechi lach
Lechi lach and I shall make your name great
Lech li-cha and all shall praise your name
Lechi lach to the place that I will show you
Li-simchat chayim, li-simchat chayim
Li-simchat chayim lechi lach.
And you shall be a blessing, you shall be a blessing
You shall be a blessing lechi lach.
L'Chi Lach - Lyrics by Debbie Friedman (based on Genesis 12:1-2)
Lechi lach to a land that I will show you
Lech li-cha to a place you do not know
Lechi lach on your journey I will bless you
And you shall be a blessing, you shall be a blessing
You shall be a blessing lechi lach
Lechi lach and I shall make your name great
Lech li-cha and all shall praise your name
Lechi lach to the place that I will show you
Li-simchat chayim, li-simchat chayim
Li-simchat chayim lechi lach.
And you shall be a blessing, you shall be a blessing
You shall be a blessing lechi lach.
A Bit About Me - Jo Ann Schneider Farris
I am Jewish, and I've explored many paths to God in my lifetime. I've even served as a missionary in a well-known religious organization and passed out religious pamphlets on the streets of New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
(Years later, I was sure that that organization was a cult or cult-like. For a time, I led a cause that tried to expose that organization's wrongs. I truly believed, at that time, that God wanted me to lead that cause. I felt like I had been called for that purpose, like Moses.)
I've studied for the past 8 years through a program called Partners In Torah. I find my Orthodox Jewish study partner's life fascinating, but I know I could never be an Orthodox Jew.
When my husband almost died 5 1/2 years ago, people from all religions were praying for him. I appreciate all of those prayers. Since Dan's living was a miracle, I do believe miracles can occur.
I met my husband Dan, at Calvary Chapel of Long Beach, on a youth camping trip to Catalina Island during the summer of 1978. That old (now non-existing) Calvary Chapel of Long Beach was filled with very loving people.
On April 7, 2011, Dan and I will celebrate our 32nd anniversary.
Dan and I also shared a house for 3 years when we were first married. It was sort of like a mini-commune.
I was born in Los Angeles and I grew up in southern California. My family lived in the San Fernando Valley, then Belair (next to Beverly Hills), and then Aracadia. In 1975, my parents moved to Illinois, but I never really lived there, but did visit.
"The Three Schneiders" were figure skaters. My brother, Billy, went to Colorado to train for skating when I was a teen. I am a graduate of Hollywood Professional School (a school in southern California that movie stars and kids in the arts and sports attended).
I went to Colorado for skating and college shortly after my brother, Billy, left for Colorado. I left competitive figure skating in 1977, but in early 1983, I began coaching skating.
I've been a skating director at two different rinks and also an ISI competition director. In addition to teaching figure skating, I've taught many hockey players to skate and gain power, and I've also taught in-line skating (rollerblading). I am proud to say that I've done sit spins in hockey skates and jumps and spins on inline skates!
Once I went to the top of Vail Mountain and tried to roller ski down in a pair of Trail Skates. (That venture didn't work.)
My life has links to skating everywhere. I am fascinated that figure skaters are linked in some way throughout life.
My three children have followed the Schneider family tradition and are competitive figure skaters. They skate six days a week and have competed and medaled at the national level. They are homeschooled, but attend a "school for homeschoolers" (now isn't that an oxymoron?) called Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy. We are so busy that I don't think anyone except other figure skaters could understand our life!
I love my job with About.com as About.com's Guide to Figure Skating since I like to write so much. A friend once told me that words just flow out of me. I am the author of 2 books that can be purchased on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Borders. (One of the books I wrote, Sentenced For Life, will be discussed a bit in this blog.)
(Years later, I was sure that that organization was a cult or cult-like. For a time, I led a cause that tried to expose that organization's wrongs. I truly believed, at that time, that God wanted me to lead that cause. I felt like I had been called for that purpose, like Moses.)
I've studied for the past 8 years through a program called Partners In Torah. I find my Orthodox Jewish study partner's life fascinating, but I know I could never be an Orthodox Jew.
When my husband almost died 5 1/2 years ago, people from all religions were praying for him. I appreciate all of those prayers. Since Dan's living was a miracle, I do believe miracles can occur.
I met my husband Dan, at Calvary Chapel of Long Beach, on a youth camping trip to Catalina Island during the summer of 1978. That old (now non-existing) Calvary Chapel of Long Beach was filled with very loving people.
On April 7, 2011, Dan and I will celebrate our 32nd anniversary.
Dan and I also shared a house for 3 years when we were first married. It was sort of like a mini-commune.
I was born in Los Angeles and I grew up in southern California. My family lived in the San Fernando Valley, then Belair (next to Beverly Hills), and then Aracadia. In 1975, my parents moved to Illinois, but I never really lived there, but did visit.
"The Three Schneiders" were figure skaters. My brother, Billy, went to Colorado to train for skating when I was a teen. I am a graduate of Hollywood Professional School (a school in southern California that movie stars and kids in the arts and sports attended).
I went to Colorado for skating and college shortly after my brother, Billy, left for Colorado. I left competitive figure skating in 1977, but in early 1983, I began coaching skating.
I've been a skating director at two different rinks and also an ISI competition director. In addition to teaching figure skating, I've taught many hockey players to skate and gain power, and I've also taught in-line skating (rollerblading). I am proud to say that I've done sit spins in hockey skates and jumps and spins on inline skates!
Once I went to the top of Vail Mountain and tried to roller ski down in a pair of Trail Skates. (That venture didn't work.)
My life has links to skating everywhere. I am fascinated that figure skaters are linked in some way throughout life.
My three children have followed the Schneider family tradition and are competitive figure skaters. They skate six days a week and have competed and medaled at the national level. They are homeschooled, but attend a "school for homeschoolers" (now isn't that an oxymoron?) called Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy. We are so busy that I don't think anyone except other figure skaters could understand our life!
I love my job with About.com as About.com's Guide to Figure Skating since I like to write so much. A friend once told me that words just flow out of me. I am the author of 2 books that can be purchased on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Borders. (One of the books I wrote, Sentenced For Life, will be discussed a bit in this blog.)