Hanukkah poem 2011 by Russ ירחמיאל

(This is an original poem written by a fellow skating coach.  It is such a good poem, I'm passing it on!)

Hanukkah poem 2011 by Russ ירחמיאל

Twas the night before Hanukkah and we were prepared, with candles for lighting, singing, and prayers.

The menorah was placed on the table with care, a sign that the Festival of Lights was quite near.

My Zadie was dancing the Horah with glee and Bubbie fried Latkes especially for me.

The Dreidel was spinning again and again to see the letters nun, gimmel, hay, and shin.

When out in the kitchen there arose such a clatter, Oy vey, someone must have dropped the gefilte fish platter.

We laughed and we sang and we ate for 8 nights.

Happy Hanukkah to all and L’Chaim to Life.

Thoughts From a Local Rabbi

This post comes from Rabbi Mel Glazer in Colorado Springs. I think it's GREAT, so I'm passing it on!

"Do all my Christian FB friends realize that if Judah Maccabee and his family had not defeated the Syrian Greeks in 165 BCE, that there wouldn't BE a Judaism or a Christianity or an Islam?

This same battle for religious freedom, is still going on today, unfortunately. It's tough to live as a minority in a country which begins celebrating Christmas earlier and earlier every year. And, it is so tiring to be told that "unless you believe x,y and z, you're just going to Hell, and that's the end of it."

How sad, how arrogant and how unnecessary. What do you think God thinks of all this? God, who created each and every one of us in the Holy Image. Remember, Adam and Eve weren't Jewish or Christian ir Muslim or Buddhists, they were just Adam and Eve. If it was good enough for God, it should be good enough for us.

If you're Jewish, Happy Hanukkah.

If you're Christian, Merry Christmas ( I LOVE Christmas music and lights!).

May the coming secular year 2012 be blessed with shalom, God knows how much we need it!"

Rabbi Mel Glazer

Why Did G-d Not Want Us To Receive Scholarship Ice?

This is funny, but before Annabelle and Joel competed this past week, I closed my eyes and did a silent prayer asking G-d to grant scholarship ice time to the kids if they placed in the top six. I even said the Shema. I thought, "Why not?"

They were in 4th a long time and near the end, were in 5th. When we were down to the last skater, they kids were still in 6th. The competition was so close, but they finished less than a point in 7th. I said a prayer again as it got down to the wire.

In order to receive scholarship ice, they had to finish in 6th.

Why didn't G-d want us to receive scholarship ice? Is the answer to that question, God just wants us to fork out $300 a week for ice time?

How To Light the Chanukah Menorah

This video explains lighting the menorah perfectly!

My December Dilemma

I grew up in the 1960s. When I was little, my parents looked at Christmas and decided that Santa had nothing to do with Jesus, and so my siblings and I very much believed in Santa Claus.

Holiday cards were big then, and I will never forget my dad using his own printing press to print out photos of my brother, sister, and I holding skating trophies with the caption, "Greetings of the Season."

My dad explained that we were Jewish and Jewish people didn't send out cards that said Merry Christmas.

We celebrated both Christmas and Chanukah. I went to religious school and made a big deal about the holiday, so my parents made sure we did it "right."

Celebrating both holidays can be very expensive, so my parents came up with the idea that on most nights of Chanukah we would get little things like candy or comic books, but on the last night we would get one BIG present. Of course, we kids didn't care much about the rituals; we were really just interested in the presents, but did take the time to go through singing of songs and playing games and lighting the candles.

Christmas, for us, had nothing to do with religion or ceremonies: It was purely about GETTING, although as I grew older, I truly wanted to give presents to my family. My dad decided that we would each get three presents to represent that there were three children in our family. Sometimes we got a few extra things from friends or my dad's co-workers. We didn't open anything anyone gave us in advance: everything was opened on Christmas day. I remember my brother or sister saying things like, "I got more presents than you! Ha Ha!"

As we grew older, and stopped believing in Santa, we all still liked to look at the presents under the tree and decorate the tree and have a nice day together. It seemed like my parents' enthusiasm for the holiday dwindled though. They didn't have money to give us all that we really wanted and also, with no more Santa Claus, the holiday wasn't all that fun anymore.

Since we were Jewish, we also didn't make a big deal out of making it public that we even celebrated the holiday at all. To us it was like celebrating Thanksgiving with presents the primary focus rather than turkey.

When Dan and I first met 33 years ago, I was shocked when I first took part in my husband's family's rituals. There seemed to be unlimited presents, decorations, food, family being together, and joy. There wasn't much religion associated with the holiday. I felt that maybe I was now seeing a "Brady Bunch Type Christmas."

Then, when my children were young, we also saw no reason to not give our children a holiday with all that Santa could bring to it.

The problem I face, now that they are older, is that all I associate with this holiday is GREED. It's all about getting for my kids. So is Chanukah. It doesn't really matter to them that there is any religious significance to either holiday, although they think of Chanukah as THEIR holiday. I don't like it one bit that I am under pressure to spend money I really don't have on giving my children things just because everyone else is doing so.

That's "My December Dilemma."

Reconciliation

Part of this week's Parsha Vayishlach is about the reunion between Jacob and Esau.

One can only picture what it must have been like for the two twin brothers to embrace one another after so many years.

Time does heal differences and that is what Jacob was hoping for.

When I first read that passage years ago, I was leading a cause. The cause was about people that had been hurt by a religious organization I once worked for.

I truly believed God had called me to lead that cause. The personal pain each person felt after leaving that organization became my personal pain. I cried as I heard their stories and felt like I had been through each of the horrors they described.

My dream was reconciliation for everyone involved. I dreamed of a day when those who had been hurt would reunite with the people they believed had hurt them and that everyone would hug.

I wanted so much for what happened to Jacob and Esau to happen to the people involved! That story had a huge impact on what motivated my reason for leading that cause. Reconciliation was my goal for the group. I truly believed that would happen and I also truly believed that God had called me to lead the group towards that goal.

Something sort of like Jacob's and Esau's reconciliation happened to me, when the leader of that religious organization called me. I felt that his contact was making that move, but then was told by others that is was all a trick. I was confused, but as time has passed, I do believe that I personally have made some sort of peace with that group and also with certain individuals in that group.

Jacob and Esau went their separate ways. They did not come back together or live as a family really.

I realize now, I can never be part of the organization that I believed hurt me and others again, but if I saw someone in that group again, I could possibly hug them. We don't have to dwell together, but we can at least make peace.

------------------------------------------------

Note: Yesterday, I finally realized that those who are a part of the group that my cause was about hurting or exposing will never completely accept me back into their lives, but also, I realized I don't really want to be a part of that group again. I thought something was wrong because of this, but the way things are now is really the right place to be.

One other note: The information on the website I am now linking to was NOT created by me. In fact, I have no idea who maintains that website now, but it does look a lot like what was once online and what I had been a part of. The name of the website is slightly changed. I actually haven't decided one way or the other if I like seeing what I once was a part of still online. Even if I wanted the things I wrote off, I have no idea who maintains that website, so I can't ask such a question, so for now, what is online remains and there must be a reason for the information to remain available ...

What I Believe (12-7-2011)

I spent yesterday and today thinking about what I believe. Here's what I've come up with:

I believe in G-d. When I look at how complex life is, I know it was created by something or someone.

I believe that what is written in the Torah, the Tanach, and the Midrash could possibly have happened. (I also LOVE reading the Midrash even though I've been told that the stories have been changed and distorted.)

I believe that Jesus may have lived and died.

I believe that Jesus may have risen from the dead (since so many people believe he did and also because I believe in miracles).

However....

I believe that there is more than one way to God.

I also am not sure I agree that one can mix being Jewish with believing in Jesus even though some people I know say that you can.

My search for how to follow God continues, and my love of Judaism continues to grow. I have such a desire to learn all I can about G-d.

Twas the night before Hanukah

I love this!

Chanukah Jewish Rock of Ages Video

I think this may be the best Chanukah video I've seen yet!

Bubbe's Chanukah

I love puppet and this Chanukah puppet show is a Schneider-Farris family favorite!

Temple Beit Torah Kids Sing "Not By Might and Not By Power" - 12-2-2011

I love Debbie Friedman songs and to see my daughter and other Jewish kids singing together is so special!

Jesus Toast - A Very Funny Video!

This is so funny!



Now...my comments:

This is funny because one guy insists that he sees Jesus on his toast, while the other guy sees nothing, but a piece of toast.

The first guy says, "Well, you have to look at it from a different angle." Then, he shows his friend that Jesus is actually really sitting on the piece of toast. His friend still sees nothing.

That's what it's like when one person says the bible's prophecies clearly point to Jesus and the other person sees nothing but words that he believes talk about something else altogether.

Funny Chanukah Video!

I love this video!

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.

Blessing of the Jewish Pets 10-30-2011

This morning, we went to the most fun religious ceremony EVER! The ceremony was for all the Jewish pets out there. The main thing we did was hug our sweet little dog and tell her how much we love her. We love you Porcher!

I did some reading about this ritual. Here's a great explanation of the tradition:

“We celebrate the wonderful variety of animals in our lives.”

“The wonderful dogs and all their joy and energy, the amazing cats who rule us and are our masters, our gerbils and hamsters and bunny rabbits and fish, the birds that flap in the cages wishing they were free but loving to be with us, and from the ant farms and the earthworms to all of the animals that make our lives joyous, we celebrate them.

… We celebrate each of them and all the joy they bring to us and thank G-d for the blessing that they provide our lives."

• The Barking Blessed
  
• Jews Adopt Blessing of the Animals Ceremonies and Make Them Their Own
  
• Interview With a Vegetarian Who Attended a Jewish Blessing of the Animals Ceremony
  

Jewish Pets to Be Blessed - 10-30-2011

I'm so jazzed! On Sunday, October 30, 2011, at Temple Shalom in Colorado Springs, there will be a Blessing of the Pets!

I did some reading about this ritual. Here's a great explanation of the tradition:

“We celebrate the wonderful variety of animals in our lives,” said Rabbi Mark Kaiserman during the service, interspersing standard havdalah prayers with thanksgiving for animals.

“The wonderful dogs and all their joy and energy, the amazing cats who rule us and are our masters, our gerbils and hamsters and bunny rabbits and fish, the birds that flap in the cages wishing they were free but loving to be with us, and from the ant farms and the earthworms to all of the animals that make our lives joyous, we celebrate them.

… We celebrate each of them and all the joy they bring to us and thank G-d for the blessing that they provide our lives."

• The Barking Blessed
  
• Jews Adopt Blessing of the Animals Ceremonies and Make Them Their Own
  
• Interview With a Vegetarian Who Attended a Jewish Blessing of the Animals Ceremony
  

Shabbat Shalom!

It's Time to Say Good Shabbos is one of my favorite Abie Rotenberg songs.

I am going to "try" to celebrate Shabbos. Tonight our family will sit down together for a Shabbat dinner and light Shabbat candles. We will eat Challah and drink some grape juice. Tomorrow, I will "try" to not do too much work and think about G-d.

Shabbat Shalom!

What Jews Believe

I stumbled on this website today. I am posting the link here since I don't want to not be able to find it again. There's so much information there!

• What Jews Believe

Here's also a very good summary from Judaism.About.com:

• What Do Jews Believe?
  
  

Hike With Jewish Women's Social

My rock singer observant Jewish friend organized a hike for Jewish women this past Sunday into the mountains above Manitou Springs, Colorado. My daughter, Rebekah and I, went and it was a fabulous experience.

Being in the mountains and being with other Jewish women was a great way to connect with G-d on a Sunday! There's something about being outside that gives me so much joy. There really is something to "Hiney Matov Umah Nayim Chevet Ahim Gam Ya Had" (sorry about the spelling!)

Simcha Torah

Tonight, my family got to march around the synagogue with Torahs and wave flags! It was so cool. We also all got to go up to the bimah and do the Aliyah blessings. It is mind boggling to think that in synagogues all over the world people were celebrating! What a fun holiday!

• What Is Simchat Torah?
  

Quote about friends and enemies - My thoughts and rambles

I saw this quote yesterday:

It is better to have an ENEMY who honestly says they hate you than to have a FRIEND who's putting you down SECRETLY."

This thought made me think. I hope that I don't have any friends that put me down secretly. It hurts to even think about that.

What really bothers me is that I have a dear friend that I love so much, but she "drives me crazy" sometimes. The thing is, I tell another friend, who also loves her, that my friend "drives me crazy." Does that mean I'm putting her down?

Here's another thought: During the summer, I found out that one of my son's friends was making fun of me behind my back because of the things I post on Facebook. I was so, so hurt. I was given this information from the friend that "drives me crazy." She passed on information to me that hurt. Did I need to hear about someone wanting to make fun of me?

Changing my thoughts slightly:

Today, I remembered something that happened over 20 years ago. I was approached by a rabbi after I spoke about Passover in at church for JFJ. He said, "These people are not your friends; come back to Judaism."

His words are ones I will never forget. That's what I wanted to do. I wanted to be "just plain Jewish."

All these years, yes, I've tried so very hard to do just that: to be Jewish , but...I've hung on to all the people I knew from "before." Facebook made it worse. People that I forgot existed, who I once knew from my religious past, have become connected to me through the internet and Facebook.

I wondered when I first joined Facebook, if I should have opened myself up to people I knew from "then," but I decided to accept anyone who "friended me."

"Seeing" them again and hearing what they had to say, for awhile, made me think that maybe I was wrong to want to seek G-d as a Jew. I wanted to keep the "door" slightly open.

The only thing is, my desire to be Jewish means to some people that I'm not tolerant of those who seek God in a different way than I do. Some may even think that I am putting them down behind their backs. That is far from true.

I love and respect so many of the people that have loved me and been a part of my life. We may not agree on the what is the way to God, but I am so thankful for you. Although I may be keeping my distance lately, please know that I'm glad you are still there.

A Jewish Journey

Wow..what a wonderful story! It makes me cry tears of happiness!

Thanks

I saw this poem on Facebook, and I've decided to comment on it here.

The first line is:

"Thanks to those who hated me, you made me stronger."

Well, I'm not sure if anyone has ever hated me personally. How would I know? People don't usually approach you directly and say, "I hate you." They may not like what you are about or what you stand for, but hate is such a strong emotion.

Anyway...

I'll skip commenting on that line and comment on the rest of this poem.

• Thanks to those who loved me, you made my heart go fonder.
• Thanks to those who cared, you made me feel important.
• Thanks to those who entered into my life, you made who I am today.
• Thank to those who left, you showed me that nothing lasts forever.
• Thanks to those who stayed, you showed me true friendship.
• Thanks to those who listened, you made me like I was worth it.

These are really nice thoughts.

I hold on to friendships. I remember someone told me once that I hold on too long and too tight. Instead of "letting go," I hold on. I don't like good-byes.

I've been advised recently and I was advised long ago that I need to let go of certain people that think about God in a different way than I do. I keep thinking about that advice. I just can't do that...I just can't.

Since I can't let go...I keep trying to please those I care about. I don't want to disappoint those who care about me. It's hard to know which "road" to take.

What's happened in my spiritual search won't go away and I just want to say "Thanks" to everyone who has touch my life. I know you are there and I do appreciate you!

I'm Home! (Well, I think the journey is over...)

When I was a kid, I remember being part of a school play called The Bluebird of Happiness. It was about two children who searched and searched all over the world trying to find the Bluebird of Happiness. They went everywhere. Finally, they gave up and returned home. When they arrived home, the bluebird was in their own house all the time! What they had looked for was right at their door.

Tonight and last night, I attended Yom Kippur services. At the end of tonight's service, something told me that I was HOME. I don't need to search any further.

I realized that my search for answers and truth have been with me all along. Judaism is a part of me. My love and interest in God began as a child when my parents enrolled me in religious school at a reformed Jewish temple. I truly was excited about G-d then and I'm excited about G-d now!

I do not need to leave Judaism to find or relate to God. I know God is watching over me and my family. I do know now that what I've looked for is right at my door!

Yom Kippur

I've never really understood Yom Kippur.

I just read that all Jews are like angels for a day since the focus is on God. Just as angels stand upright, there is standing standing in the synagogue on Yom Kippur. We should wear white on Yom Kippur. Just like angels do not eat or drink, we fast on Yom Kippur.

This video below gives some interesting insights.

Further Reading:

• ABCs of Yom Kippur - From AISH.com
• Yom Kippur In 60 Minutes or Less - From Partners In Torah
  

Resistance Is Not Futile

This post will be short.

Resistance is NOT futile.

Those who know what I'm talking about will understand what I'm about to say:

I have decided that I WILL NOT be assimilated.....I AM Jewish and I like being Jewish.

Rosh Hashanah Reflections 2011

Every year, my family goes to the mountains to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and then we go to a park in Colorado Springs to throw bread in the water with our friends. This year's celebration was even more special since my dad joined us!

Fifteen years ago was the first time we went to this service. This year, more than ever, I realized how much Jews are connected to one another. I knew so many of the people that attended, and saw people that I met 15 years ago!

At the Tashlich service at the park, I felt that connection again. Rabbi Glazer welcomed and hugged each person that attended as they arrived. People took the time to say hello and wish one another a happy new year. My kids love this part of Rosh Hashanah!

I also remembered the first Rosh Hashanah Dan and I spent in Colorado Springs. We went to an evening service at Temple Shalom. I remember looking around and wondering if Dan and I would fit into the Jewish community in Colorado Springs. It's obvious, after living here for 20 years, that we do!

This morning, I did some thinking about what brings Jewish people together for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It's the sense of being family. That's IT! Being able to think about G-d and rejoice on Rosh Hashanah connects Jews all over the world. Today, being outside and with family made my connection to G-d so very special.