Miracle Days Purim Spiel

This is one of my favorite Purim videos!

Mi Ban Siach - A Jewish Wedding Song

I'm so excited!

I recently hooked up with a program called TorahMates. Today, my study partner, an Orthodox Jewish woman and mother of 10 children from Brooklyn, just told me all about Jewish weddings and showed me this video of her daughter-in-law circling with the two mothers seven times around her son in the Chuppah.

You know, just because I'm Jewish doesn't mean I knew anything about Orthodox Jewish weddings. I've never been to one. I had no idea what an Orthodox Jewish wedding was like until today.

Here's what the words Mi Ban Siach מי בן שיח, the song sung to a Jewish bride as she enters the chuppah) mean:

Mi bon siach shoshan chochim,
ahavas kallah, m'sos dodim,
hu yivarech es hechasan v'es hakallah
מִי בן שיח שושן חוחים,
אהבת כלה, משוש דודים,
הוא יברך את החתן ואת הכלה

Translation:

He who understan​​ds the speech of the rose among thorns, the love of a bride, who is the joy of the beloved ones, may He bless the groom and bride.

Alter​natively,​ the lyrics (based on middrash Shir HaShirim Rabba 2) may be rendered:​

One who knows how to say the Sheva Brachos, [and is thereby like a] rose amongst thorns, who understan​​ds the love of a bride and the joy of lovers, he will bless the groom and bride.

I Figured Out Who I Am - I'm a "Spiritual Jew"

I have been trying to figure out exactly who I am spiritually.  I have such a hunger for G-d, but yet, I know, deep down, I can not be and never will be an observant Jew.  Maybe if I had been born into that way of life, I would have flourished there, but the fact is, I grew up in a secular Jewish environment, and I have lived most of my life as a secular Jew.

However....from the time I was a little girl, I've had a hunger for G-d.  I love seeking G-d and learning all I can about God and about Judaism.  I love reading the Torah and the Midrash.  I love the stories about Moses, Joseph, and the patriarchs.  Seeking God from a Jewish perspective has been what I've been doing for years and years.

I know that I don't want to take part in that "other religion," but yet, I admire those who choose to follow G-d in that way; it works for "them."  Although I have memories from "that world" and once was part of that world, I know I don't belong "there."  It's just not for me.  In fact, there's only a few people in that world that I feel comfortable staying connected to.   

So who am I?  What have I been seeking?  What is my search for God really about?  What do I believe?

Today, I heard the term  "Spiritual Jew."  That describes me.

EIN KELOHEINU - There Is None Like Our God

I was just playing this on the piano today. Love it!

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EIN KELOHEINU - THERE IS NONE LIKE OUR GOD

There is none like our God, there is none like our lord,
There is none like our king, there is none like our saviour.

Who is like our God, who is like our lord,
Who is like our king, who is like our saviour.

Let us thank our God, let us thank our lord,
Let us thank our king, Let us thank our saviour.

Blessed be our God, blessed be our Lord,
Blessed be our king, blessed be our savior.

Thou art our God, thou art our Lord,
Thou art our king, thou art our savior.

Thou art the one before whom our fathers
offered the spice offering.

Ein ke-lo-hei-nu Ein Ka-do-nei-nu
Ein k'mal-kei-nu Ein k'mo-shi-ei-nu

Mi che-lo-hei-nu Mi cha-do-nei-nu
Mi che-mal-kei-nu Mi ch'mo-shi-ei-nu

No-deh le-lo-hei-nu No-deh la-do-nei-nu
No-deh l'mal-kei-nu No-deh l'mo-shi-ei-nu

Ba-ruch e-lo-hei-nu Ba-ruch a-do-nei-nu
Ba-ruch mal-kei-nu Ba-ruch mo-shi-ei-nu

A-tah hu e-lo-hei-nu A-tah hu a-do-nei-nu
A-ta hu mal-kei-nu A-tah hu mo-shi-ei-nu

A-tah hu she-hik-ti-ru a-vo-tei-nu
l'fa-nei-cha et kto-ret ha-sa mim.

Shema - Understanding Judaism's Most Important Prayer (From Aish.com)

Wow...this video explains why every time I say the Shema, I feel so amazingly happy and taken care of...

Chabad In Colorado Springs

Until I met this Chabad family, I had never really been exposed to Chabad. They have done a wonderful job in Colorado Springs. I saw Mendy grow up since we got involved with Chabad of Southern Colorado about 10 years ago. If Chabad had not come to Colorado Springs, there are so many things I would have never learned.

Very Cool Story!

Me and Jonah

I realized just a few nights ago that I may have something in common with Jonah.  Have I been trying to run away from G-d?

• Jonah and the Whale - From AISH.com