S'firat HaOmer Hesed Count Day 3 - A Good Cause

Today's S'firat HaOmer Hesed Challenge is tzedakah. 

There are many charities I love. How to pick just one?!

As a pre-teen, teen, and young adult I supported the North Shore Animal League, an animal rescue. Sean and I later adopted Aiko through them, and continued to support them when we lived in New York. 

USY and Ramah are very dear to me. My brother was a Ramahnik, as were my children. Sean and I spent over 20 years as Ramah staff at Ramah Canada and Ramah Poconos, and the kids are continuing the tradition. If I had to choose one Jewish experience for my children it would be Jewish summer camp. USY provides a similar experience year-round. Again, my brother and I were USYers, and my children followed. 

I appreciate and support the USO for all the support they provide to military personnel and their families. It's so much more than Bob Hope and celebrities entertaining the troops. We have benefited, and we give back regularly.

I am, of course partial to Canadian Foundation for Masorti Judaism. We work with FJMC in Canada and with Masorti in Israel to bring Jews closer to Judaism. It is something I think is vital to the continuation of Judaism in the greater community. Masorti teaches how halakhic Judaism can be about what we can do instead of stringencies on what we cannot. It brings the best of Judaism and of modernity together. I couldn't work for its growth unless I believed it in my heart. With so many Masorti rabbis in Israel at home without pay, they can use your help. Support the kehillah fund, write Covid support in the comment section. Check out www.masorti-mercaz.ca

S'firat HaOmer & Hesed

My friend Yacov Fruchter created this beautiful idea for S'firat HaOmer. 

Having missed the first two days, I will post them here. And I will try to post daily (except Yom Tov and Shabbat)

Day One - Someone I am proud of - I am particularly proud of my husband, Sean Gorman, who has told his US Navy Reserve command he's available for whatever they need, and who has spent these days of Yom Tov as his command's duty chaplain. Though Yom Tov and Shabbat for us, between isolation and holiday stress, there have been many people who needed to speak with their chaplain. Depression, custody issues, fear and more are pressing upon people. Knowing there's someone safe to speak with is vital to wellbeing and mental and spiritual health.

Day Two - Something I am thankful for - Most of you know that 2020 has not been good for my family, a continuation of a difficult 2019. Strangely, though we're all getting a bit (or more) stir crazy, the time at home has provided me with the downtime I needed to continue to mourn my mother and more. I've had time to be sad. Time to stay in bed and wallow, which everyone needs sometimes. It was time I didn't plan on taking, time forced upon me by Covid-19, but time I clearly needed, and for that I am thankful. I am appreciating the craziness of us being 5 people at home, even with the volume. I am thankful for the love and friendship I see among my children (who stay up to all hours talking with each other). They have grown up not only siblings, but friends. For all that I am observing while sheltering in place, I am thankful. 

https://www.beth-tzedec.org/…/m…/2174/sfirat-hesed-chart.pdf

Finishing Brachot Without Fanfare or Judging Myself

So it took me an extra month, but I finally did it. I finished Masechet Brachot. I should have realized I was finishing. I know the final sugya (paragraph). Yet, when it was upon me, sitting in bed at about 2:00 am, rather than stopping, and finishing with a siyyum, I moved on, and, suddenly, I was done.

After so much work, so much frustration when I couldn't learn, whether because I was mourning or because my mind wouldn't function, there it was, without fanfare or celebration. And then it was Yom Tov. And Shabbat. And my mind was still spinning, spinning with sheltering in place. And though I thought of starting Shabbat, I did not. And I am slowly but surely falling ever father behind.

I will not give up. Though the hour is late, I will begin Shabbat tonight. I am 37 pages behind, over a month. Perhaps someday I will catch up, but not likely in this masechet. I've studied Shabbat before. Pieces will go fast, but others will go slow.

Though the world may move on without me, I will proceed as I can. I will not judge myself by any others, but only by what I am able to do for me, for me alone.