It's over at Leora's place.
She did a great job! (And she included my Tu B'Shevat post...thanks!)
What's up for this week here at Ima on and off the Bima?
I'm looking forward to a food-related post for Wednesday to enter into the Kosher Cooking Carnival.
Hopefully I'll have a Hebrew-language related post for Thursday and some other fun stuff...
Oh, and Yael turns 2 so watch for some Dora-themed cupcakes.
Stay tuned!
Shavua tov, have a great week.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Winner of the Tu B'Shevat Giveaway
The winner of my Tu B'Shevat Giveaway is Sara, who said...."What a wonderful holiday to celebrate in February, especially in the Midwest! If it counts, I planted bulbs yesterday that I forgot to plant in the fall. Do you think they'll grow?"
YAY!
Stay tuned for a fun Purim Party....and plenty of other interesting stuff in between.
Maybe spring will come soon.....
YAY!
Stay tuned for a fun Purim Party....and plenty of other interesting stuff in between.
Maybe spring will come soon.....
Monday, February 9, 2009
Reminder of Blessings
On Sunday afternoon (yesterday), our backyard neighbors had a huge fire. (Everyone got out safely, thank God.) I could see flames shooting out of their back porch door and the fire fighters had to climb onto the roof to chop holes to ventilate. I watched the force of the water from the hoses break through their upstairs windows. And my driveway, separated from their yard with a tall fence, was close enough that when I went to my car I felt the misty cool spray from the hoses.
I'm not close or friendly with these neighbors. In fact, they are terribly noisy in the summertime, playing music at an unbelievably high volume (and most of us have called the police at least once) and they smoke in their backyard which, of course, abuts mine, and when the wind blows just right, the smoke finds its way into my own house through the open windows.
But until today, I never realized quite how close together our houses are. And it didn't stop me from feeling what I'm sure must be their total anguish at the loss of their home and all their possessions.
It also made me hug my children tighter, look more closely at my blessings, and bake a batch of cookies for the hard-working fire fighters who made sure that my nearby house was safe.
Today is the Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shevat. A full moon shined down last night on the wreckage of their home and on the peaceful quiet of mine.
It's a pretty incredible holiday, when you think about it, especially for those of us who live in what seems like the frozen tundra of the Midwest. Just when we're all really getting sick and tired of the cold and the snow and the ice...we are reminded that yes, in some places, spring is poking up. And yes, even here, where it seems that spring will never come again, we know it will. Planting a tree (planting anything!) is quite a leap of faith, an opportunity to put the seed or the seedling in the ground and believe that growth will come. Tu B'Shevat reminds us to continue to have hope and to continue to believe that what we plant now will bear fruit in the future. It reminds us to truly have faith.
For my neighbors (who aren't Jewish, but that's okay), I hope that the fullness of the moon will remind them that the moon waxes and wanes, always coming around again. They will rebuild and recoup and recover...
(Taken from inside my upstairs bedroom window)
Going back to Tu B'Shevat...
It doesn't seem to totally fit, but it's what I was planning to do anyway so here goes:
One of my favorite stories from the Talmud:
Honi sees an old man planting a carob tree at the side of the road. "What are you doing?" he asks the old man. "Don't you know that the carob tree takes 70 years to bear fruit?" The old man is undeterred by Honi's comment. "Of course I know," he says to Honi. "I'm not planting this tree for me. I'm planting it for my children and grandchildren. Just as trees were planted here in the world for me to enjoy, it is my responsibilty to plant for my future generations." (completely paraphrased from Babylonian Talmud, Taanit 23)
Perhaps we are not the ones planting the trees by the side of the road. But we are the ones making sure that we protect and preserve our earth for our future generations - our children, grand-children and great-grandchildren. What kind of world will we leave them? The future is entirely in our hands.
In honor of Tu B'Shevat (or Tu B'Shwatt as some are dubbing it this year), I am giving away some stuff to help you go green in your life.
Here's how to win:
Go Vegetarian and be green?
For the Love of the Trees
Waste Not...
Facts About Trees
Tu B'Shevat Haiku
I'm not close or friendly with these neighbors. In fact, they are terribly noisy in the summertime, playing music at an unbelievably high volume (and most of us have called the police at least once) and they smoke in their backyard which, of course, abuts mine, and when the wind blows just right, the smoke finds its way into my own house through the open windows.
But until today, I never realized quite how close together our houses are. And it didn't stop me from feeling what I'm sure must be their total anguish at the loss of their home and all their possessions.
It also made me hug my children tighter, look more closely at my blessings, and bake a batch of cookies for the hard-working fire fighters who made sure that my nearby house was safe.
Today is the Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shevat. A full moon shined down last night on the wreckage of their home and on the peaceful quiet of mine.
It's a pretty incredible holiday, when you think about it, especially for those of us who live in what seems like the frozen tundra of the Midwest. Just when we're all really getting sick and tired of the cold and the snow and the ice...we are reminded that yes, in some places, spring is poking up. And yes, even here, where it seems that spring will never come again, we know it will. Planting a tree (planting anything!) is quite a leap of faith, an opportunity to put the seed or the seedling in the ground and believe that growth will come. Tu B'Shevat reminds us to continue to have hope and to continue to believe that what we plant now will bear fruit in the future. It reminds us to truly have faith.
For my neighbors (who aren't Jewish, but that's okay), I hope that the fullness of the moon will remind them that the moon waxes and wanes, always coming around again. They will rebuild and recoup and recover...
(Taken from inside my upstairs bedroom window)
Watching out the window since the sirens woke them up from their naps
Like any good blogger, I took pictures of the experience....(go see Tracy's cool new site!)
Going back to Tu B'Shevat...
It doesn't seem to totally fit, but it's what I was planning to do anyway so here goes:
One of my favorite stories from the Talmud:
Honi sees an old man planting a carob tree at the side of the road. "What are you doing?" he asks the old man. "Don't you know that the carob tree takes 70 years to bear fruit?" The old man is undeterred by Honi's comment. "Of course I know," he says to Honi. "I'm not planting this tree for me. I'm planting it for my children and grandchildren. Just as trees were planted here in the world for me to enjoy, it is my responsibilty to plant for my future generations." (completely paraphrased from Babylonian Talmud, Taanit 23)
Perhaps we are not the ones planting the trees by the side of the road. But we are the ones making sure that we protect and preserve our earth for our future generations - our children, grand-children and great-grandchildren. What kind of world will we leave them? The future is entirely in our hands.
In honor of Tu B'Shevat (or Tu B'Shwatt as some are dubbing it this year), I am giving away some stuff to help you go green in your life.
- 2 Target Re-usable Bags (in handy zip up pouches, I love these and you can never have too many of these puppies)
- a re-usable coffee cozy, handmade by yours truly (see picture)
- my favorite water bottle, a Thermos Intak BPA-Free Bottle (with a cool flip-top cover, possibly my favorite part)
- and maybe some other fun surprises thrown in!!!
Here's how to win:
- Comment on this post with your favorite go-green activity or product, or how you celebrate Tu B'Shevat. Entries open until Wednesday, February 11th. (closing at 9pm)
- Make sure I know how to get in touch with you (email, blog or twitter work fine)
- Earn one extra entry by tweeting about it. Come back here and leave me another comment to let me know you did it.
Go Vegetarian and be green?
For the Love of the Trees
Waste Not...
Facts About Trees
Tu B'Shevat Haiku
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Why I Love Blogging
Mabel's Labels asks...
What have been the rewards and benefits of participating in the blogging community?
A list....
Sharing joys and sorrows
Making friends
Learning about different places and different people
Sharing my traditions with others
Feeling like Knowing I'm not alone
Getting encouragement
Giving encouragement
Worrying together
Celebrating together
and of course, The Giveaways (gotta love 'em!)
I muse...
When I tell people that I'm a "blogger" they often look at me funny. "Why do you do that?" or "What's the point?" are often the questions I get asked. I think it's hard for them to imagine that someone like me, surrounded all the time by friends and family and people, could really need a community in which to be myself. But that is truly one of the main reasons I blog and read other people's blogs. My friends who "live in the computer" are so very real to me, so very much a part of my life, even though I've never met some of them and others I only see very rarely. But to follow their antics or adventures or angsts...we become truly a community.
I was interviewed recently and asked what I felt the impact of the Internet was going to be long-term for the Jewish community, a group that has long-relied on face-to-face contact and interaction as its mainstay. My answer was something along the lines of....community is where we create it. For many people, face-to-face interaction is the only thing they trust, the only thing they believe in. And I love it - don't get me wrong. I'm an extrovert with a capital E, a people person all the way. Many people find it hard to believe that I can spend so much time online, then, imagining it to be the domain of introverts and social recluses. L'havdil - on the contrary! In fact, the blogging community is even more perfect for a socially-inclined person like myself. I don't have to wait around for folks to show up...they're already there, writing and putting themselves out there for me to read. My comments only make their writing more interactive, and theirs to mine. It is totally a two-way street, and I love every minute of it.
I learn about different ways of living, of being, of parenting, of celebrating, of grieving, of cooking, of not cooking, of cleaning, of not cleaning, of creating and doing ... what an incredible opening into so many different worlds. I, who truly exist in the bubble of my life, surrounded by my congregation and my family and friends who are, for the most part, similar...what a joy to be able to become a part of the lives of so many who are different....and then to discover how we're really all the same.
May the blessings of blogging continue to grow for me and for you, my dear readers.
What about you? Have there been benefits to you as well? Feel free to share in the comments.
What have been the rewards and benefits of participating in the blogging community?
A list....
Sharing joys and sorrows
Making friends
Learning about different places and different people
Sharing my traditions with others
Getting encouragement
Giving encouragement
Worrying together
Celebrating together
and of course, The Giveaways (gotta love 'em!)
I muse...
When I tell people that I'm a "blogger" they often look at me funny. "Why do you do that?" or "What's the point?" are often the questions I get asked. I think it's hard for them to imagine that someone like me, surrounded all the time by friends and family and people, could really need a community in which to be myself. But that is truly one of the main reasons I blog and read other people's blogs. My friends who "live in the computer" are so very real to me, so very much a part of my life, even though I've never met some of them and others I only see very rarely. But to follow their antics or adventures or angsts...we become truly a community.
I was interviewed recently and asked what I felt the impact of the Internet was going to be long-term for the Jewish community, a group that has long-relied on face-to-face contact and interaction as its mainstay. My answer was something along the lines of....community is where we create it. For many people, face-to-face interaction is the only thing they trust, the only thing they believe in. And I love it - don't get me wrong. I'm an extrovert with a capital E, a people person all the way. Many people find it hard to believe that I can spend so much time online, then, imagining it to be the domain of introverts and social recluses. L'havdil - on the contrary! In fact, the blogging community is even more perfect for a socially-inclined person like myself. I don't have to wait around for folks to show up...they're already there, writing and putting themselves out there for me to read. My comments only make their writing more interactive, and theirs to mine. It is totally a two-way street, and I love every minute of it.
I learn about different ways of living, of being, of parenting, of celebrating, of grieving, of cooking, of not cooking, of cleaning, of not cleaning, of creating and doing ... what an incredible opening into so many different worlds. I, who truly exist in the bubble of my life, surrounded by my congregation and my family and friends who are, for the most part, similar...what a joy to be able to become a part of the lives of so many who are different....and then to discover how we're really all the same.
May the blessings of blogging continue to grow for me and for you, my dear readers.
What about you? Have there been benefits to you as well? Feel free to share in the comments.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
I am most richly blessed
One of my favorite stories:
There once were two brothers who shared a farm. One was a single man, the other had a wife and family. These two loved each other dearly. They each had a house on either side of the farm. Every morning, they got up early and shared the hard work of farming their land.
At the time of the harvest, the grain was gathered and carefully divided into two identical piles. Each brother would receive an equal share in the fruit of their labors. One pile was carried to the single brother’s barn, the other to the brother with a family.
Later that night, the unmarried brother lay awake in bed, thinking, “I am most richly blessed. I have everything I could possibly need to supply for myself. My brother is a good man caring for a wife and family. It is better that he receive a bigger portion.” He filled his cart with the sheaves of grain and some vegetables for good measure and walked across the farm to his brother’s storage bin, where he deposited the food. Then he returned home and went to sleep.
Soon after, the married brother awoke. He said to himself, “I am most richly blessed. My home is filled with the love of my wife and children. My brother has none of this joy.” So he quietly went outside and filled his cart with grain and vegetables, and carried them across the farm to his brother’s home.
When daylight came, the brothers each went outside to begin the day. Upon approaching their respective storage bins, both brothers were amazed – the amount within was the same as it had been before! Confused, the brothers said nothing to each other about the matter. At the end of the day, the brothers went home, each determined to make sure that they shared their bounty with their brother. Each loaded his cart with the bountiful harvest and set out across the farm. At the top of the hill, in the middle point of their land, the two brothers came upon each other. In an instant, they both understood the other one’s intention. They embraced and kissed, proclaiming together, “I am most richly blessed!”
One of the reasons I love to tell this story is because it's got so many possible messages. Certainly, happiness is in the eyes of the beholder. Each brother has such an incredible outlook on life - each brother chooses his own happiness, and can see that happiness comes in different forms.
What an amazing way to live.
May we always be able to find and behold happiness, and may blessings abound.
Part of MamaBlogga's Group Writing Project. Why don't you join in?
There once were two brothers who shared a farm. One was a single man, the other had a wife and family. These two loved each other dearly. They each had a house on either side of the farm. Every morning, they got up early and shared the hard work of farming their land.
At the time of the harvest, the grain was gathered and carefully divided into two identical piles. Each brother would receive an equal share in the fruit of their labors. One pile was carried to the single brother’s barn, the other to the brother with a family.
Later that night, the unmarried brother lay awake in bed, thinking, “I am most richly blessed. I have everything I could possibly need to supply for myself. My brother is a good man caring for a wife and family. It is better that he receive a bigger portion.” He filled his cart with the sheaves of grain and some vegetables for good measure and walked across the farm to his brother’s storage bin, where he deposited the food. Then he returned home and went to sleep.
Soon after, the married brother awoke. He said to himself, “I am most richly blessed. My home is filled with the love of my wife and children. My brother has none of this joy.” So he quietly went outside and filled his cart with grain and vegetables, and carried them across the farm to his brother’s home.
When daylight came, the brothers each went outside to begin the day. Upon approaching their respective storage bins, both brothers were amazed – the amount within was the same as it had been before! Confused, the brothers said nothing to each other about the matter. At the end of the day, the brothers went home, each determined to make sure that they shared their bounty with their brother. Each loaded his cart with the bountiful harvest and set out across the farm. At the top of the hill, in the middle point of their land, the two brothers came upon each other. In an instant, they both understood the other one’s intention. They embraced and kissed, proclaiming together, “I am most richly blessed!”
One of the reasons I love to tell this story is because it's got so many possible messages. Certainly, happiness is in the eyes of the beholder. Each brother has such an incredible outlook on life - each brother chooses his own happiness, and can see that happiness comes in different forms.
What an amazing way to live.
May we always be able to find and behold happiness, and may blessings abound.
Part of MamaBlogga's Group Writing Project. Why don't you join in?
Monday, February 2, 2009
Sunny and Warm (comparatively)
We had the 10th coldest January on record here in Chicago. We've had a ton of snow but it's been too cold to play in it! This weekend, however, it warmed up a bit and we all headed outside. We even got enough sun for a nice dose of vitamin D. The kids had a blast, and so did the Abba (Dad) who helped make a snow-tiger (it didn't really look like a "man" and far more resembled Sam's favorite Kung Fu Panda character).
(Can you see how great our front yard/hill is for sledding?!)
That last one is my favorite. And it was totally shot from the hip, so to speak....
Now I'm just looking forward to spring! Happy Groundhog's Day everyone!
Now I'm just looking forward to spring! Happy Groundhog's Day everyone!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Haveil Havalim #203: Did You Love Leah?
Welcome to the Loving (or Not Loving) Leah Edition of Haveil Havalim....
What's going on here today?
Founded by Soccer Dad, Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs -- a weekly collection of Jewish & Israeli blog highlights, tidbits and points of interest collected from blogs all around the world. It's hosted by different bloggers each week and coordinated by Jack. The term 'Haveil Havalim,' which means "Vanity of Vanities," is from Qoheleth, (Ecclesiastes) which was written by King Solomon. King Solomon built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and later on got all bogged down in materialism and other 'excesses' and realized that it was nothing but 'hevel,' or in English, 'vanity.'
Please please please publicize HH on your own blog
and share the news about it!
What was really important in the J-blogosphere this week?
Loving...or not Loving....Leah, of course!
Yes, Sunday night's Hallmark movie was definitely a topic in the Jewish blogosphere this week.
Some of the posts I found:
Midianite Manna's Take
Frum Satire's Thoughts
Idol Chatter
#lovingleah on Twitter
Boston.com "Loving Leah is hard to do"
JewWishes has this to say
MyJewishLearning's blog thoughts
DovBear weighs in
BangItOut's thoughts
Mottel is Loving Lubavitchers in Hollywood.
(It's not available on DVD yet but I'm sure it will be...in case you missed it. Or, like me, only saw the last hour. Which, by the way, was enough to get the whole story!)
Okay, onto the submissions!
Israel....
The world is, of course, ignoring the ceasefire as Muqata puts it.Ricki's Mom shares her Journey from a Pacifist to the Mother of a Soldier. All mothers share her pain, I think. She also shares this story: Yalah, B’nee! (Oh G-d, My SON!) from her son's army induction.
Shiloh Musings shares Yes, Barack Hussein Obama is U.S. President, wondering what the impact will be on Israel. Also, Muse contemplates what might be a Fundamental Flaw in Israeli thinking. What do you think? It Had Seemed So Much Longer, And Very Forboding is more musing on life in Israel. Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome in the Negev is a guest post and looks at life in the South.
Israel Chronicles talks about Israeli/Hebrew names in A Rose By Any Other Name.
My Right Word thinks about Mitchell's idea to prevent Gaza smuggling: Tell Me This Isn't A Silly (Stupid?) Thought Process and also begs to differ with Israel's NY Consul General. He also explains what HAMAS really means.
Lady-Light presents From Time Immemorial, Part I and From Time Immemorial, Part II, planning a 6-part series featuring an interview of Joan Peters, author of From Time Immemorial.
Benji Lovitt always makes me laugh...this time it's with: Sorry If I Offended You, Nice Religious Lady and Take a Left at Beersheva and Walk Ten Paces.
Therapy Doc offers her thoughts on Gaza and Israel in the context of her own relation to her nephew, the IDF poster child.
Joel Katz gives his weekly overview of the state of Religion and State in Israel - January 26, 2009.
Ben-Yehudah offers this informational piece, Don't Know Where To Vote? and invites you to a Candle Light March: Don't Free Terrorists! - Free Gilad Schalit!
Elms in the Yard has pictures of her local Electronics Graveyard, which I think is pretty cool.
Soccer Dad, like so many, wonders how we're getting to "no" the new US Administration and what it will mean for Israel.
Judeopundit tells us that the Iranian audience is primed for war-crimes trials of Israeli officials. Hmm...
Robin has become quite a photo-blogger, check out this beautiful sunset over the Mediterranean (and her cool new design!).
Mah Rabu is hosting February Madness....who do you think will win the elections???
Judaism and Torah
Torat HaRav Aviner (shared by Dan Illouz) gives us More on Rachel Imenu. Did she reveal herself during the war? Shtetl Fabulous reminds us that every Jew is a Jew by Choice.
Ilana-Davita talks about a book that is Soon To Be Released.
The Real Shliach posted Asiri Yehieh Kadosh: The Schapiro Farbrengen.
A Simple Jew realizes that If You Have To Ask You Are Not Ready Yet.
Child Ish Behavior presents posted at Not Just Typical.
Frum Satire wonders about how people handle Coming out of the closet in the frum community.
Ahava Ariel, new and thoughtful on the Jblog scene, asks Does Pediatric Judaism Make Us An Orphan People?
muse presents Such Timing... posted at Shiloh Musings, saying, "actually, Haftara"
Rachel Barenblat presents This week's portion: offering posted at Velveteen Rabbi, saying, "This week's parsha poem delves into an intriguing line from parashat Bo, exploring the nature of service and sacrifice."
The Reform Shuckle is exploring some questions about Rethinking Reform. Read the comments, they're very interesting.
Jewish Life, Culture, and Everything Else...
me-ander offers this Sunday Update: Moshe Avitan (Moshe Rafael ben Aliza A'isha) and thinks about how she associates personal experiences with trauma. She also explains that It's Not The Season For Goat's Milk.The Rebbetzin's Husband muses on being Uncomfortably numb (this is a problem/issue that I think all rabbis face at times...) and Funeral Tchotchkes.
Not Just Typical tells us about God's Teffilin. I never really considered it before.... He also says that Sometimes the skeptics can get too skeptical.
Schvach Yid presents Madeline Kahn, Wo Bist Du? and responds to Nameless Faceless here.
Frum Satire makes fun of the Sephardim along with everyone else. That's what I like to see...equal opportunity fun-making!
Blog d'Elisson explains A Little Known Fact...Robbie Burns was Jewish.
Seraphic Secret considers how There Are Cults and There Are Cults.
Here in HP explains how there can be Healthy Anger. (She also posts fun challenges like this one.)
Abba's Rantings is ranting...Stupid Teachers in My Son's School.
SuperRaizy is asking about summer camp. Can ya help her out?
I am reminding you to double-check things.
That's all for this week!
Please send your posts for the next edition of the Haveil Havalim Blog Carnival via the Blog Carnival Submission Form. Dare I say it will probably be Tu B'Shevat-themed? Let's go GREEN!
If you're interested in hosting or receiving more information about the carnival,
please contact Jack at talktojacknow-at-sbcglobal-dot-net
(and please, for the sake of our hosts,
try not to submit more than 3 posts a week!)
Please please please publicize HH on
your own blog and share the news about it!
You can just copy and paste this nice little
sentence into your blog if you'd like:
A very nice edition of Haveil Havalim, the Jewish Blog Carnival,
is now up over at Ima on and off the Bima. Check it out!
If you're interested in hosting or receiving more information about the carnival,
please contact Jack at talktojacknow-at-sbcglobal-dot-net
(and please, for the sake of our hosts,
try not to submit more than 3 posts a week!)
Please please please publicize HH on
your own blog and share the news about it!
You can just copy and paste this nice little
sentence into your blog if you'd like:
A very nice edition of Haveil Havalim, the Jewish Blog Carnival,
is now up over at Ima on and off the Bima. Check it out!
(you might have to copy with properties. Some software just takes it all in...)
We now return to our regularly scheduled programming...
come back regularly to see what's cooking here!
There's a new group on Facebook for Jewish Twitter-ers...are you one? Join us!
(And feel free to follow me, too!)
And if you're not in the HH Facebook group, come and join that too!
We now return to our regularly scheduled programming...
come back regularly to see what's cooking here!
There's a new group on Facebook for Jewish Twitter-ers...are you one? Join us!
(And feel free to follow me, too!)
And if you're not in the HH Facebook group, come and join that too!
P.S. I know many of you have posted "best practices" for putting together Haveil Havalim. May I suggest Google Docs, which is very interchangeable with Blogger (for those who use it) and works very nicely. Plus it's accessible from all over town, and saves itself regularly.
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