7 Quick Takes Friday

--- 1 ---

This week some American Christian friends are visiting Israel, and we got to hang out a bit. Since their tour completely skips over Tzfat, we ended up taking them there. Tzfat (Safed) is one of the four holy cities of Judaism, home of Jewish mysticism, artists, and quite a bit of Jewish orthodoxy. 

--- 2 ---

One of the great things about Tzfat, for me, is that Tzfat was the city that gave us Lecha Dodi. See point 7 for it. Lecha Dodi is a song that we sing to welcome the Shabbat in. There are a million and one tunes for it, every chazzan (cantor) seems to have their own version. I have several well known ones that I love, including both versions by Aharon Razel, and this one by Six13.

--- 3 ---

Lecha Dodi, the lighting of the Shabbat candles, they all do the same: they usher in the Shabbat, that holy day that we were blessed with each week. Our candles--the Shabbat candles and the Havdalah candles--separate the divine from the mundane: and that is why G-d gave us the Shabbat, so we will have that one day each week set aside to experience the divine. 

--- 4 ---

Shabbat, while we don't strictly observe every ascpect of it, is full of the comfort of rituals and traditions for us. Blessing the challah and the wine, the family dinner, the special prayers... They just lift me up. 

--- 5 ---

While crocheting is not a Shabbat activity (far from it, really), I can't wait to finish the kipot I have been working on for the last week. I'Ll get the last piece I need to make them the way I want to, and then tomorrow morning we can wear them to synagogue. 

--- 6 ---

While in Tzfat I ran into an old rabbi I've known for a long time. We talked about what had happened since we last saw each other, and I told him that life forced me to drop out of rabbinical school--and I don't think I'll ever return. He was sad, and told me he wished I continued. That was rather odd, to be honest. 

--- 7 ---

Shabbat Shalom!
For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

7 Quick Takes Friday

--- 1 ---

I am reading and contemplating the Psalms this month. This Shabbat I might or might not attend my congergation's Shabbat for the Psalms event. This is a let's pray through all the Psalms activity we hold twice a year. 

--- 2 ---

This afternoon we are heading down to Jerusalem. We are going to see my rather religious brother for a little while. We won't be able to stay the night, but we will be able to make a quick stop at the West Wall. Some special prayers for some special people will be offered. Please pray for them as well.

--- 3 ---

The Shabbat is slmost here. It will be lovely to light the candles and say the blessings with my brother's family. We haven't seen them for a few months, and it will  be lovely to see them again... especially at Shabbat time. 

--- 4 ---

Ynet reports that 1 out of 3 religious (national religious and haredi) girls surf sex websites. Yet another sign that the leaders of the religious community have no idea how to address issues of sexuality. Ignoring the topic and leaving the Song of Songs as the only source for information is not a good way to handle sexuality. 

--- 5 ---

Dear American tourists,
Please do not confuse your vacation to Israel with a mission trip. We are quite fine with our own religion, and it's very disrespectful to proselytize at Jewish religious sites. Or Muslim ones, for that matter.

--- 6 ---

Do you have any thoughts on religious head covering? I'm doing a project on it. Any religion. Please leave a comment with what you'd like to share, and wether or not I can contact you with further questions. Thanks!

--- 7 ---

Shabbat Shalom!
 
For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

There's a season for everything

Chanukah was long ago. Pesach, Lag B'Omer and Shavuot all passed. I didn't acknowledge them here or on my main blog. This just wasn't the season (or rather half year) for me to focus on actually writing... And so I didn't. I think I'm going to stick to doing something liek 7 Quick Takes... or something. So I'll be updating here more.