Ruminations from the Temple

[Warning: Christmas Day Rant] I really try not to hate Christmas. Really, I do. I would never want to begrudge another's festivities, especially if it is a meaningful and purposeful religious holiday. Or even if it is just a nice tradition for a family get-together. Whatever. I truly want to live and let live, to not judge another's choices, and to embody sympathetic joy for their happiness. BUT, I cannot help hating this holiday. Not because it is a Christian holiday, but because it seeps into absolutely everything. It is not a day, or even two - it is at least a two month slog where every restaurant, business, and office building has to have its own Christmas tree and repetitive holiday music. Further, it bothers me that the religious festival that celebrates the birth of Christ has been co-opted for other purposes, namely marketing. Now, church attendance is just another thing to check off the do-list alongside the long list of presents to buy and wrap, pictures with...

Tuesday, December 25th. No, I don't celebrate this holiday. However, the rest of humanity that lives close to me does. To that end, 99% of business are closed. Traffic is sparse and vacant parking lots are a little on the eery side. Nevertheless, we decided to get out and see what there was to see. I thought you might enjoy the sights of Christmas Day in the Northwest. Mmmmm ...desserts at Shenanigan's on the waterfront along Schuster Parkway headed towards Vashon a holiday feast for the duckage still green even without the leaves perfect accompaniment drippy snowberries destination reached a holiday walk in the rain view through the fence what a wonderful turn of events... yep, it's drippy, alright! after Christmas morning... sunlight peeks at Steilacoom as we head for home to find a gift waiting - how sweet! Peace, love and joy; acceptance, understanding, and the sense of belonging... f...

the one and only pic from this year I love Shavuot ...it's my favorite festival in the cycle. Oh sure, I love Hanukkah, and Pesach is great after all the prep is done, but Shavuot is just plain-ole fun for me. All my faves in one holiday; friends, study, yummy food and staying up all night - who doesn't love all that?? This year we studied each other - ha! Actually, we busted out the personality profiles again and dug deeper, getting to know one another better. Then we moved on to discussion about keeping Torah, following HaShem and how important it is to study ancient culture in relation to the Apostolic Scripture (New Testament). Come morning, we read Scripture together, more discussion ensued and man, it was great...until folks passed out! This year it was a double Shabbat, so there was no guilt of being lazy all day after our all-nighter! Wish I would have gotten more pics - like one of Laura coercing everyone to taste Limon-flavored potato chips and Netanya snipi...

As the sun streamed through my bedroom window this beautiful, spring Mother's Day morning, I laid in bed and wrote a whole blog post in my head. When that happens, I struggle to retain it long enough to find my way to a keyboard to record those quickly fading sentences and magical paragraph flow. Ah, the mind of a writer (of sorts)...a sieve. The first thing I thought of, of course, was my own mother. (A bunny trail thought tried to distract, calling attention to the fact that my beloved hubby really needed to call his own mother, but I managed to set that aside for the moment.) My mother, of blessed memory, was the consummate mother in that she always gave her all to caring for others, especially her children. Forever concerned about whether everyone was getting enough to eat, she was a fabulous cook. She absolutely missed her calling as a nurse, but my brother and I certainly reaped the benefits of her natural tendencies to care for the sick and needy. She taught, and model...

One day I was telling my beloved on the telephone that I just couldn't take my little blondie to kindergarten registration, then the next day, she is done. A graduate. How is that even possible? No, it wasn't easy. And, no...I didn't do it perfect. But, we struggled through it together. Through the exhausting recording schedule of Bob Jones' satellite program, to hours of collecting just the right manipulatives for the 'school closet'. We endured the frustration of Switched On Schoolhouse computer courses until we finally gave up. Somewhere I found the courage to put together my own curriculum mix. Yes, she was the guinea pig for it all. But it wasn't all drudgery. Homeschoolers have this special bonus of deciding which days are school days and which are, well...not. (Shhhhh! don't tell!) So many times, especially days when the sun was making an appearance, we would forsake the books and pile into the vehicle to see how many parks we could c...

It's dusky, grey this morning, with the standard dreary accompaniment of rain. I wonder if, on the day my mother was born, what the weather looked like. She was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; back in 2008, the kids and I visited Sioux Falls in her stead. I wish she could have been there. It was rather funny when I told her during a travel-check-in call that we were there. She perkily stated, "that's where I was born!" Yeah, Mom...I know. That's why we're here.  *smile* Happy Birthday, Maggie! Mom would have been turning 68 today, the day after tax-day and twenty years my senior. In years past, her birthday would oftentimes fall during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. I would always feel bad that we couldn't share cake with her, although cake really wasn't her thing. She liked breakfast pastries like gooey bear claws and maple bars. On those years she was alright with no cake...as long as we could go out to eat. My foodie Mom enjoyed eating ...

Our celebration of Tu B'Shvat was, in a word, fabulous. Excellent company, lots of great things to eat, wine to toast with and the Scriptures - for me, it doesn't get any better than that! Tu B'Shvat , traditionally known as the birthday of the trees, is a time to think about relating to the natural world. This holiday can be celebrated by planting trees, eating fruits, and having a Tu B'Shvat Seder, a ritual that began with the kabbalistic masters of the 15th century. ~myjewishlearning.com While I don't have kabbalistic leanings, I have always loved this minor feast. Our halachah  (tradition) has always been to remember our beloved and abundant Land of Israel and our LORD who brought us to it so long ago. This year, I changed it up a bit and went for a more traditional presentation of all the elements of the seder. What an impressive spread! As we made our way through the Tu B'Shvat hagadah, similar to Pesach (Passover), we said blessings, tasted what t...

my favorite shot of the eight nights It was a beautiful Hanukkah this year. The weather was pretty agreeable and everyone was well, for the most part. We had eight crazy nights of taking photographs of the candles and enjoying each others company, whether it was the quiet family celebration here at home, the sweet erev Shabbat with the Chaverim or the wonderful seventh-night party filled with friends, laughter, latkes and champagne. Good times...great memories. Yes, it was a beautiful Hanukkah this year.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;  on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. ~Isaiah 9:2 May this Hanukkah be one of joy and laughter, the kindling of candles  and re-kindling of beloved friendships. May that which was lost be recovered, the one who is wounded be healed, and the servants of the Most High be favored  by the light of His face. May the Holy One, blessed be He,  extend to us His infinite love, understanding and grace  as we celebrate, remember and honor this Feast of Dedication. Blessed are You, Adonai our G-d, King of the Universe, Who gave us life, and sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season. Amein.

It's the day to give thanks...again.  I always say that I don't need a special day to give thanks, as I make it part of my everyday conversation with HaShem.  I don't ever want to take anything or anyone for granted, for I never know when things can change forever. One of my besties absolutely LOVES this day. She can tell me over and over how she loves to cook all the traditional food - in fact, I have her tell me why it excites her on purpose as a way to encourage me to get my attitude in the right place. I know it's not just the food for her, though; her family is very important to her and she loves to see them happy and gathered around. (Happy Thanksgiving, Netanya!  I love you!) On my social utility of choice, thanksgiving greetings are overflowing. Don't cynically tell me that people are just into the food and football on Thanksgiving, as I see otherwise online.  Greeting after greeting, care shown for those struggling with the holiday and narration of t...

Rejoice, art Monica Stewart re·joice , verb , 1. to be glad; take delight: to rejoice in the happiness of another; 2. to make joyful; gladden: a song to rejoice the heart. "You shall keep the Feast of Booths (Sukkot) seven days, when you have gathered in the produce from your threshing floor and your winepress. You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns. For seven days you shall keep the feast to the LORD your G-d at the place that the LORD will choose, because the LORD your G-d will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful ." ~Deuteronomy 16:13-15 So, since tonight is the first night of Sukkot , let us fulfill the command of rejoicing before our LORD!  What, you don't have much to rejoice about?  In this modern day, life can be hard.  Really hard. ...

Yom Kippur, 2011 (photo credit - Morgan Henderson ) The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand,  nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship;  it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one  when you discover that someone else believes in you  and is willing to trust you with a friendship. ~the famous Mr. Emerson

"All vows, prohibitions, oaths, consecrations, vows of korbon, or equivalent terms that we may vow. swear, consecrate, or prohibit upon ourselves, from the last Yom Kippur until this Yom Kippur , may it come upon us for good - regarding them all, we regret them henceforth .  They will be permitted, abandoned, cancelled, null and void, without power and without standing.  Our vows were not valid vows; our prohibitions were not valid prohibitions; and our oaths were not valid oaths." "Kol Nidrei is to be understood as seeking G-d's mercy for vows taken upon oneself which relate only to personal vows and oaths. Commitments and vows taken as obligations to others out to be kept even if the cost of such commitment is high." ~Kol Nidrei Service Siddur

Yamim Noraim , or the Days of Repentance are the days between Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).  It is traditionally a time for serious introspection, a time to consider the sins of the previous year and repent and seek reconciliation before the Almighty, as well as from those whom you have sinned against in the last year. The Talmud suggests that Yom Kippur atones only for sins between man and G-d; to atone for sins against another person, you must first seek reconciliation with that person, righting the wrongs you committed against them if possible. In keeping with the famous erev Yom Kippur synagogue service called Kol Nidrei ("all the vows"), the Days of Repentance (or more commonly known as the Days of Awe) is a time of taking inventory of all vows and promises we have made, and to seek forgiveness for any that have been broken or dishonored, either purposely or accidentally. Three central themes are emphasized during this import...

Listen for the shofar. Listen for it - it calls to us on a deep, spiritual level. As it resonates throughout your being; close your eyes and listen. Listen for it to herald things that are new. A new year. New friends. New commitments. New beginnings. Listen for the ancient sound, which calls us to lift our voices in praise and rejoicing before our LORD. Hear it's timeless voice as it calls us to repent and prepare ourselves for Yom Kippur. Listen as it calls you to repair that which is broken and strengthen that which is weak. Hear it echo through the ages, through our history, through your memories. Hear the blasts, different and distinct, calling us to pay heed, gather and feast. ADONAI said to Moshe, "Tell the people of Isra'el, 'In the seventh month, the first of the month is to be for you a day of complete rest for remembering, a holy convocation announced with blasts on the shofar .  Do not do any kind of ordinary work, and brin...

This year is my tenth year. Shavuot is my absolute favorite of the festival cycle. I enjoy hearing the shofar on Yom Teruah, and I wait all year to read Qohelet in the sukkah. Pesach is a lot of preparation, but oh, is it so worth it. Hanukkah's beautiful candlelight is definitely a bright spot in the dreariness of winter. But it's Shavuot that truly defines festivals for me. The giving of the Torah.  The ingathering of the Gentiles. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The all-night study.  The nosh, the sweet fellowship and meaningful worship. The memories. My tenth year.  The tenth time I've been privileged to celebrate Shavuot. I will remember.  And I pray that I have the honor of celebrating many more. I will remember you Will you remember me? Don’t let your life pass you by Weep not for the memories

flowers for my beloved Mom Dearest Mom, Words cannot express how much I miss you.   I thank G-d for you...every day. Thank you for all that you did and sacrificed for me. I love you more than words can say. your loving daughter, Elizabeth

Yes, I charged up my battery.  My camera was more than ready to snap pics of this years Passover celebration and seder.  But, did I get any pics?  Heck no!!  It was too crazy...too much to do, too much conversation and laughter to be had, too much food and the responsibility of making the celebration all that it is supposed to be for my guests.  It all came off wonderfully and everyone said they had a great time...but, alas - no pics. So, instead of pics, you will have to use your imagination! This first pic would be a wonderful shot of our set and ready Pesach tables, complete with the beautifully arranged seder plates and lovely white roses in bud vases. Gosh, when they get all set, it is quite impressive! This next pic would be one of Larry, Jim and Henry holding up the matzah prior to the blessing.  Jim was commenting on his thoughts on the piercing and striping that the makers put into the matzah...good pondering thoughts on our Messiah and His ...