Rambling Thoughts: Holly Meyer and a certain website

Last week, I found out that Holly Meyer, who was only 54 years old, lost her battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and died on Thanksgiving eve. She left behind a her husband of over twenty years, Stan, and her adopted daughter, Carrie-Fu (who is only 7 years old).

I really didn't know Holly or Stan all that well. I just knew them because my husband and I once worked for the same religious organization that they worked for.

I don't like to bring up that organization in public. In fact, most of the time, especially in my hometown, I act like I am clueless about that organization. My "I'm just plain Jewish" personality pretends I don't know anything about that organization, but not only was that organization a part of my life, many of the people were once like family to me.

I once led a cause to expose the wrongs of that group. I even started a website that was meant to hurt that organization.

It's such a long story about how that cause ended. I apologized.

I moved on, but the website stayed. When no one wanted to pay the fees to maintain the site, the website left the internet, but the original website's information and links and stories was copied by someone I don't know the identity of.

At this time, the information that was on that "copy-cat web site" has been taken down. All that once was there and is now just a tribute and memory to Holly Meyer.

Right now, that website has nothing negative to say about the organization. Who cares about such trivial things when someone who spent all those years there dies of such an awful disease and leaves a young child behind?

I tried to comment on the blog part of that website, but the comment feature doesn't work, so I'm going to have to put my comment here.

This was what I was going to say in the comments section:

I don't believe anyone has ever commented on this blog without being anonymous. I am going to be the first.

I haven't visited this blog in a very long while, but last week, someone contacted me and asked if I knew who might be behind it.

I have no idea. For the record, I have nothing to do with this blog or the site. It's probably best I don't know who is behind this blog and the site.

Anyway...I keep a personal religious blog. I know Blogger has generic backgrounds, but last week, the background of this blog looked like my personal religious blog.

I changed the background right away on my personal blog. I do not want anyone to even think for a moment that I'm the person behind this blog.

Changing the subject, I am very sad to hear of Holly Meyer's passing. There is a beautiful video in her memory, that I believe is appropriate to share here:



Beautiful Holly video
November 28, 2011

Shalom Rav - Hebrew Prayer for Peace

Shalom rav al Yisrael am'cha tasim l'olam

Establish abundant peace upon Your people Yisrael forever,

ki atah hu Melech Adon l'chol ha-shalom

for You are King, Master of all peace.

V'tov b'einecha l'vareich et am'cha Yisrael b'chol et uv'chol sha'ah bish-lomecha

May it be good in Your eyes to bless Your people Yisrael at every time and every hour with Your shalom.

Baruch atah Hashem ham'varech et amo Yisrael ba-shalom

Blessed are You, Hashem, Who blesses His people Yisrael with peace.

• Shalom Rav - Sheet Music

Book and CD Recommendation: Chanukah Story Dramatized

I'm always looking for books that are dramatized on CD. We listened to The Chanukah Story Dramatized CD over the weekend. There is a book that goes with it, but the CD alone is enough, if you can't afford to get the book. Although it is geared for children, adults and teens will get a lot out of both the book and CD.

So much detail is covered about the history of Chanukah! It's fun too!

What's on my mind...

This very old video is on my mind.. It was made over twenty years ago. (Note: Another, similar and more modern video is also online.)

The part at the very, very end of the video below.....that's "where I'm AT." (The rest of the video takes the viewer into a world I once explored, but really don't want to explore again.)

Seeing the girl at the end smile after lighting Shabbat candles and seeing the Torah words and scroll being read gives me joy. I do love being Jewish.

I also just love the song, "Shalom Rav," that is played at the end of the video!

Remembering Beautiful People

Thanksgiving Thoughts 2011

I have always enjoyed Thanksgiving because I really do have many things to be thankful for.

I have a loving family, three beautiful children, we own our home, and we live a debt-free life. Although I'm not rich, I have a job and so does my husband and I've been blessed with so many things.

I also have wonderful memories.

My life has been touched by so much sadness too.

Two years ago, just before Thanksgiving, a dear skating friend, who was only fourteen years old, died tragically in a skiing accident. Just before Thanksgiving of this year, I heard that someone that was dear to some of the people I know, lost her battle with ALS and died on Thanksgiving eve. She was only 54 years old. She leaves behind a young daughter and loving husband.

My mother died earlier this year. My best friend's father-in-law died in August. Three years ago, one of my closest friends in the world's twenty-five year old daughter was murdered.

I believe in miracles since my husband, who was close to death, lived after an accident five and a half years ago. My family's story came out with a happy ending, but since then, so many people close to me have experienced sadness.

When I think about sad things, I ask G-d the following: "Why?"

I have read in The Family Midrash Says Shmuel 1 that Hashem puts sadness in our paths to bring us closer to Hashem. Yes, I do believe that is true.

• Haley Gans, a Talented Young Figure Skater, Dies Tragically
• Our Friend Valerie Gendernalik Is Dead
• A Miracle Did Occur! - October 16, 2005

Rainbows remind us of God's goodness and miracles - Photo Copyright © fay kelley photography 2011

Miracle Days

When my kids were little, I bought the video "Miracle Days - Musical Journey of the Jewish Holidays." It's still a favorite in our house. The video goes through the major Jewish holidays through music, drama, and dance. It really fun too!

Enjoy "Miracle Days" by clicking below!

A Former Pastor Converts To Judaism?

I stumbled on this interesting article tonight. The article is about a gentile who grew up in church and went to bible school, who eventually became a pastor. After a ten year journey, he converted to Judaism.

His interest in Judaism began after he read Christ in the Passover, a book published by Jews for Jesus!

• My Long Road Home - "My path to Judaism began with the question: What would Jesus do?" - By Yehudah Ilan

Why Should I Be Thankful and Grateful?

Jewish tradition says to make 100 blessings a day! This video explains why.

L'Chaim - To LIfe!

I'm sharing my kids' performance at the recent sectional ice skating event. I'm a very proud Jewish mother...

By the way, I just read about why we say "L'Chaim." We are thanking G-d for creating us and giving us life.

No matter what difficulty life brings, no matter how hard or painful or unfair life is, life is holy and worthy of celebration. Even the wine is sweet to remind us that life itself is a blessing.

May each one of us have the wisdom to bless our loved ones out loud and then to say to them: "L’chaim, to life!"

What I Believe

I love this song!

What I Believe - Music and Lyrics by Abie Rotenberg

Father please tell me, help me understand
Who made what surrounds us, the sky and the land
The water we drink, the air that we breathe
Father please tell me, what should I believe

Listen my child, put your trust in me
There is a creator that man cannot see
And we owe our existence to no one but him
Bereishes Barah Elokim

It’s not just a story, a tale that’s been told
A fable, a myth, or a legend of old
It’s not someone’s fantasy, theory, or wish
It’s what I believe, Ani Maamin

Father please tell me, I’m asking of you
Why am I different, what makes me a Jew
How am I to know, the right life to lead,
Father please tell me, what should I believe

Listen my child, it was long long ago
When we stood by the mountain, one nation one soul
What we received is our very life’s blood,
Naaseh V’nishma Umru Ke’echad

It’s not just a story, a tale that’s been told
A fable, a myth, or a legend of old
It’s not someone’s fantasy, theory, or wish
It’s what I believe, Ani Maamin

Father please tell me we, what does G-d intend
Will this long bitter exile soon come to an end
Or must we continue to suffer and grieve,
Father please tell me, what should I believe

Listen my child, the future will bring
A day when the world knows who’s king of all kings
Today or tomorrow, I don’t need to know
Achakeh Lo Bechol Yom Sheyovoh

It’s not just a story, a tale that’s been told
A fable, a myth, or a legend of old
It’s not someone’s fantasy, theory, or wish
It’s what I believe, Ani Maamin

And it’s what I believe
And it’s what we believe
Ani Maamin

Why Jews Don't Believe In Jesus

The Torah teacher at my daughter's Reform temple's religious school is sharing the information from this link with the kids.

The teacher made flash cards from the information from the AISH.com site. The kids review the flash cards each week.

Every Sunday after religious school, Annabelle shares with me more about what she learned. I don't recall having lessons like that when I was a child.

• Why Jews Don't Believe In Jesus - From Aish.com
  
  

Jacob Wrestles With Esau's Angel?

I read an interesting interpretation in The Little Midrash Says about Jacob's night of wrestling with an angel.

I was told that some have interpreted Jacob's wresting all night with wrestling with G-d, but the interpretation from the Midrash is that Jacob's brother Esau had an angel attached to him. They wrestled all night, but because Hashem protected Jacob, the angel could not win.

Finally the angel decided to go back to heaven, but first, Jacob insisted on the angel saying that Jacob deserved Isaac's blessing.

Not only did the angel admit it, but the angel explained to Jacob that he would now be called Israel because Jacob would be the father of a great nation!

Abraham Breaks the Idols

I learned this story when I was a little girl. I had no idea, until recently, that the story is not in the Torah, but is in the Midrash.

Visit Jewish.TV for more Jewish videos.

Who Is the Jewish God?

The words from this song (which is taught to Orthodox Jewish children) sums up what the Jewish God is all about:

"Hashem is here, Hashem is there, Hashem is truly everywhere.
Hashem is here, Hashem is there, Hashem is truly everywhere.
Up, up, down, down, right, left and all around, here, there and everywhere, that's where he can be found."

Further Reading:

• The Jewish God
• Names Of God In Judaism
  
• Everything you need to know about Orthodox Jews

TO LIFE!

I'm a "proud Jewish mother!" All three of my kids are competitive figure skaters.

Rebekah and Joel are ice dancers and Annabelle and Joel are pair skaters.

This past Friday night, before Shabbat, Rebekah and Joel performed their competition free dance at Broadmoor Skating Club's Fire and Ice exhibition. We then rushed over to the Temple Shalom for a Shabbat service and dinner.

This is last Friday's performance which they will perform at the Midwestern Sectional Figure Skating Championships in Fort Collins in the coming week.

They happen to skate to "Fiddler on the Roof," and I've been told that when they do this program, they "warm the Jewish soul!"

Enjoy and TO LIFE!

Sababa's "Beauty of the World" - Definitely "Cool Jewish Music!"

The Jewish musical group, Sababa, came to Colorado Springs last spring. I fell in love with their music and bought both of their albums. I wrote them and asked if I could put together a slide show to go with their song "Beauty of the World."

I am so excited about this video and song, that I MUST share it! Enjoy!

• "Beauty of the World" Video

"Beauty of the World"
©2010 Sababa (Steve Brodsky/Scott Leader/Robbi Sherwin)
www.SababaMusic.com
All rights reserved

More about Sababa and their "Cool Jewish Music" can be found at:
http://www.sababamusic.com/

Do You Believe in the Great Pumpkin?

Have you ever seen the Peanuts television show where Linus believes in the Great Pumpkin?

Linus’s belief in the Great Pumpkin is made fun of. He receives nonstop ridicule, in fact.

Despite the ridicule, Linus is sure that the Great Pumpkin will rise out of the pumpkin patch and bring gifts to the good boys and girls of the world.

He and Charlie Brown's little sister, Sally, don't go trick-or-treating. Instead they wait for the divine appearance of the Great Pumpkin.

When the Great Pumpkin doesn't come, Sally is furious. She missed out on a good night of parties and candy.

Sally abandons Linus and joins the "non-believers." Linus tells Sally that if the Great Pumpkin comes, he will put in a good word for her.

I realized today that the Great Pumpkin is the "messiah" of Linus’s Halloween!

Do you believe in the "Great Pumpkin?"

I Thank G-d For the Beauty of the World

Living in Colorado makes me appreciate the beautiful world I live in. G-d created this beautiful world!

Beauty of the World

Music & English Lyrics by: Sababa;
Hebrew Text: Traditional Blessing for rare beauty

Clouds lift, sun breaks through
A day of beauty, a gift from You
Mountains rise, wind calls my name
Each day renews creation - never quite the same
And I thank You for the
Beauty of the world

Baruch Ata Adonai Eloheynu
Melech Ha’olam
Shekacha lo, b’olamo (2x)

Sun sinks - darkness falls
As night descends, I hear You call
And I thank You for the Beauty of the world

Blessed are you, God, Creator of the Universe, Who has such beauty in the world.

There's No Place Like Home

Abie Rotenberg's "There's No Place Like Home" tells the story of a Jew's search for answers and truth. I imagine many Jews have been on searches like what is described in this song.

I wrote Abie Rotenberg and asked him what inspired this song. He wrote back the following:

"There's No Place Like Home was written in 1984. It was inspired by the nascent
Baal Teshuva movement of the time. Yes, the long white robes is a reference to the
Eastern religions. Of course what sealed the deal for the narrator in the song was
a trip to Israel. I hope you've had...or will one day have the opportunity to do so.
Best wishes and blessings.
AR "



There's No Place Like Home - Lyrics

You had searched so long, for the answers and the truth,
And they said you'll find it here, with promises of truth.
But the long white robes, and the chanting in the streets,
It left you cold, your soul still had to seek.

What you're looking for, is right there at your door,
Believe me when I tell you friend, you couldn't ask for more.
What your heart has known, is that there is no place like home,
So come on back, oh you'll never be alone.

And when the others came so gently, as peaceful as a dove,
They stirred inside something inside of you, they only spoke of love.
But what your mind cried out "What of history, the hatred to my race",
And you knew then, you still had not found your place.

What you're looking for, is right there at your door,
Believe me when I tell you friend, you couldn't ask for more.
What your heart has known, is that there is no place like home,
So come on back, oh you'll never be alone.

Despairing and confused, you traveled far and wide,
But you passed through one small country, where you started feeling pride.
So you found a place to study, what you thought was ancient law,
And you wished you learned about it all before.

Now you can stand up straight and tall, because you're where you want to be
No one had it, strong as steel, your faith has set you free.
And as you gaze up at that simple wall, your hand upon a stone,
You can say the journey's over, I am home.

What you're looking for, is right there at your door,
Believe me when I tell you friend, you couldn't ask for more.
What your heart has known, is that there is no place like home,
So come on back, oh you'll never be alone.

What you're looking for, is right there at your door,
Believe me when I tell you friend, you couldn't ask for more.
What your heart has known, is that there is no place like home,
So come on back, oh you'll never be alone.