The world of Jewish music lost a great today. I met Debbie Friedman at the University of Judaism in early 1991. She came to speak to the rabbinical students. While there she "taught" us her Oseh Shalom properly. She was a delightful person. Her talent shone through in everything she did. Our Jewish light is a little dimmer today.
Zichrona livracha.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Snow Musings
Snow makes me smile. I know that many of you think I am nuts on this point, but when I open my eyes to see snow outside I smile. I believe that if the weather must be cold then it should snow and be pretty. I want drifts, mounds, piles of snow.
Thursday night it was snowing as I went to bed. Friday morning I had to drive the kids to school. In good driving conditions the drive takes a half hour. I may have mentioned before that I am NOT a morning person. Most mornings a dear and wonderful friend drives the children for us. This is a godsend. So I was unhappy about having to be truly conscious to drive.
Okay, back to the snow. The alarm went off fifteen minutes early. I pulled the covers over my head. Then I remembered the snow. No snooze this morning, sad. Okay, driving children to school. Remember I mentioned snow. I drag my sorry self from bed; grab socks, a jacket, and boots, and step outside. (Yes, I am still wearing my pajamas.) It's still dark. I wonder why I'm awake. But as I look out at the peaceful, snow-covered world I smile. The snow is still falling. The streets are quiet. It's an amazing time to be outside.
On an aside- my father always liked to leave the car in the driveway when it snowed so he wouldn't have to shovel. I like my car in the garage. It's clean. It's warm-ish. I kinda like shoveling. It's a debate as to which method is better. As I begin shoveling a neighbor from across the street comes out to clean her car. In the time it took her to clear her car to passable I had shoveled my entire double driveway. My feelings about the garage are reinforced.
Snow fell throughout Shabbat eve. Saturday morning was even better than Friday. THe alarm goes off two hours later (smile). It was still snowing (smile). Keren and I went to shul. On the way home Keren climbed every snowdrift. It took us twice as look to get home, but we had lots of fun. Keren followed up the walk with forty minutes in the yard playing in the snow. Wonderful!
Skating motzi Shabbat.
Thursday night it was snowing as I went to bed. Friday morning I had to drive the kids to school. In good driving conditions the drive takes a half hour. I may have mentioned before that I am NOT a morning person. Most mornings a dear and wonderful friend drives the children for us. This is a godsend. So I was unhappy about having to be truly conscious to drive.
Okay, back to the snow. The alarm went off fifteen minutes early. I pulled the covers over my head. Then I remembered the snow. No snooze this morning, sad. Okay, driving children to school. Remember I mentioned snow. I drag my sorry self from bed; grab socks, a jacket, and boots, and step outside. (Yes, I am still wearing my pajamas.) It's still dark. I wonder why I'm awake. But as I look out at the peaceful, snow-covered world I smile. The snow is still falling. The streets are quiet. It's an amazing time to be outside.
On an aside- my father always liked to leave the car in the driveway when it snowed so he wouldn't have to shovel. I like my car in the garage. It's clean. It's warm-ish. I kinda like shoveling. It's a debate as to which method is better. As I begin shoveling a neighbor from across the street comes out to clean her car. In the time it took her to clear her car to passable I had shoveled my entire double driveway. My feelings about the garage are reinforced.
Snow fell throughout Shabbat eve. Saturday morning was even better than Friday. THe alarm goes off two hours later (smile). It was still snowing (smile). Keren and I went to shul. On the way home Keren climbed every snowdrift. It took us twice as look to get home, but we had lots of fun. Keren followed up the walk with forty minutes in the yard playing in the snow. Wonderful!
Skating motzi Shabbat.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Quiet Time
My last house guest left today. After six weeks, my parents left at 4:40 AM yesterday. Tonight, our feline house guest of two weeks left.
It was a pleasure having them all. My parents arrived and immediately found a project in my house. It's a family tradition. My grandfather did all sorts of things for my parents, and now they're paying it forward.
Having my parents here also allowed me to attend the USCJ International Youth Commission shabbaton on Orlando, a weekend away with a lot of friends at a great hotel in Florida. Unfortunately I didn't leave the hotel grounds, missing Harry Potter's Wizarding World, but a needed time away nonetheless.
Upon my return I discovered I had a terrible case of bronchitis, bordering on pneumonia. Four days in bed (again, thanks Mom & Dad), and a run of antibiotics, and I'm so much better, hopefully fully well, but a follow-up with the doctor will confirm.
It was quite a visit. There's a reason that kids move out when they grow up. Still, for the kids it added a level of stability. It allowed me time away to refresh, and time in bed to recover.
Today I had a wonderful lunch with good friends Judy & Dena Libman. Thanks! People have often asked what's really helpful. Of course with every person the needs are different, but for me it's been the supportive contact and the adult time I get with friends. Really, just knowing you're there if I need you is the biggest help of all.
For now, I'm looking forward to a quiet home tomorrow to get my house back in order, and a little work done.
It was a pleasure having them all. My parents arrived and immediately found a project in my house. It's a family tradition. My grandfather did all sorts of things for my parents, and now they're paying it forward.
Having my parents here also allowed me to attend the USCJ International Youth Commission shabbaton on Orlando, a weekend away with a lot of friends at a great hotel in Florida. Unfortunately I didn't leave the hotel grounds, missing Harry Potter's Wizarding World, but a needed time away nonetheless.
Upon my return I discovered I had a terrible case of bronchitis, bordering on pneumonia. Four days in bed (again, thanks Mom & Dad), and a run of antibiotics, and I'm so much better, hopefully fully well, but a follow-up with the doctor will confirm.
It was quite a visit. There's a reason that kids move out when they grow up. Still, for the kids it added a level of stability. It allowed me time away to refresh, and time in bed to recover.
Today I had a wonderful lunch with good friends Judy & Dena Libman. Thanks! People have often asked what's really helpful. Of course with every person the needs are different, but for me it's been the supportive contact and the adult time I get with friends. Really, just knowing you're there if I need you is the biggest help of all.
For now, I'm looking forward to a quiet home tomorrow to get my house back in order, and a little work done.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
In 1993, trying to create an environment in which all US citizens could serve their country, President Clinton enacted DADT. It was a means around the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice). Finally, DADT has been repealed. Finally, it has been recognized that preventing homosexuals from openly serving in the US Military is simply a rehashing of the same prejudices, the same arguments that were used to prevent blacks and women from serving, or were used against Jews, Hispanics, and other groups. How is it we continue to rehash the same ridiculous prejudices? Homosexuals have served with honor and distinction, albeit not openly, for as long as the US Military has been in existence. Homosexuality does not effect your ability to be loyal, honorable, or patriotic. The homophobic fears of a few has too long hijacked the rights of homosexuals to serve as citizens.
I do not care about the sexual preference of the sailor who serves as my husband's bodyguard. Thank you for protecting him so he too can support and defend the constitution. You're always welcome in my home.
Order and discipline were the same arguments that kept blacks as cooks or women out of regular service. How real can the arguments be if we use the same arguments that have been proven wrong time and time again.
As for sharing quarters- really? You've already been doing so. Oh, and by the way, you're not that hot.
Furthermore, religion may not be used as an argument for or against service. The oath of office is "to protect and defend the constitution." The oath does not mention the Bible, nor does it mention some groups interpretation of the Bible.
As a woman rabbi I understand how it feels to be judged based on criteria that in no way effect my ability to do my job. I have fulfilled all the requirements to be a "Rabbi, Teacher, & Preacher in (the community of) Israel" as Sean has. I do not care about the sexual preference of the Soldier, Airman, Sailor, or Marine protecting my rights as an American. I merely want to say,
I do not care about the sexual preference of the sailor who serves as my husband's bodyguard. Thank you for protecting him so he too can support and defend the constitution. You're always welcome in my home.
Order and discipline were the same arguments that kept blacks as cooks or women out of regular service. How real can the arguments be if we use the same arguments that have been proven wrong time and time again.
As for sharing quarters- really? You've already been doing so. Oh, and by the way, you're not that hot.
Furthermore, religion may not be used as an argument for or against service. The oath of office is "to protect and defend the constitution." The oath does not mention the Bible, nor does it mention some groups interpretation of the Bible.
As a woman rabbi I understand how it feels to be judged based on criteria that in no way effect my ability to do my job. I have fulfilled all the requirements to be a "Rabbi, Teacher, & Preacher in (the community of) Israel" as Sean has. I do not care about the sexual preference of the Soldier, Airman, Sailor, or Marine protecting my rights as an American. I merely want to say,
Thank you for your service.
Gam Zeh Ya'avor, Take Two
Okay, I lied, sort of. Sean outed me. When we began in the Navy 16 years ago Sean promised that if he ever deployed for real time he'd buy me a ring that said "Gam zeh ya'avor." Fast forward sixteen years, almost exactly. Sean was sworn in on October 31. He deployed on October 13. When we first found out about the pending deployment, Sean and I talked about the ring. Almost ten months later, as we were preparing for Sean's departure, lo and behold, Sean had forgotten to get the ring. Among all the changes, all the craziness, all the unknowns, the ring fell by the wayside. Not surprising really. This was the inspiration for the BOHICA inscription on the inside. Who knew it was prophetic.
Anyway, fed up with the changes, the craziness, and the unknowns that have continued throughout this deployment, I finally ordered the ring. I ordered it to wear on my right forefinger. That's this finger on which the groom places the ring in the Jewish ceremony. There's a myth that a vein runs from that finger straight to the heart. Nice. It's also the finger most easily seen by witnesses. I think it's an appropriate finger for this new ring.
Our wedding song was "You're My Home" by Billy Joel. It signifies the idea that as long as we have each other we are home. No matter what, gam zeh ya'avor. Throughout the moves (eight homes, plus interim residences, in six cities), financial ups and downs (I've lost count of how many times the Navy has screwed up our pay, and that's just this deployment), and family circus antics, as long as we have each other we know, gam zeh ya'avor.
Anyway, fed up with the changes, the craziness, and the unknowns that have continued throughout this deployment, I finally ordered the ring. I ordered it to wear on my right forefinger. That's this finger on which the groom places the ring in the Jewish ceremony. There's a myth that a vein runs from that finger straight to the heart. Nice. It's also the finger most easily seen by witnesses. I think it's an appropriate finger for this new ring.
Our wedding song was "You're My Home" by Billy Joel. It signifies the idea that as long as we have each other we are home. No matter what, gam zeh ya'avor. Throughout the moves (eight homes, plus interim residences, in six cities), financial ups and downs (I've lost count of how many times the Navy has screwed up our pay, and that's just this deployment), and family circus antics, as long as we have each other we know, gam zeh ya'avor.
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