“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”
Mark Twain
Forgiveness
A Sweet Year
Happy Hanukkah 2019
We have had a few nice Hanukkah celebrations this week. But it has been a little bittersweet. In recent years we, at least part of the time, had been focused on including Oma. This year she is gone and there is definitely a hole. Next post from Bend. With family photos.
Eva’s Story
For more than a year now I have been sorting, digitizing and restoring the photos of Eva Gold, my mother-in-law. I have learned a lot about her and her era. The resilience she showed was amazing. So watch the video and then click read more to see my notes on the process of making it.
Happy New Year
And if Not Now? When?
The Talmud
I wish for you a busy year making the world a better place.
Hanukkah (The Last Night)
Giving gifts at Hanukkah is a fairly new tradition. In the past small coins were given to children, they played dreidel with them and the winner was expected to give some of the money to Sedakah. This evolved over time into Hanukkah gelt. Almost certainly the gifts evolved to make this Jewish holiday that falls so close to Christmas a contender. Continue reading “Hanukkah (The Last Night)”
Hanukkah (Day Six)
On Hanukkah we eat fried food suvganyot, latkes etc to commemorate the miracle of the oil. One day’s oil lasted eight days. Continue reading “Hanukkah (Day Six)”
Happy Hanukkah (Day 5)
The story of Judas Maccabeus and the Maccabee Revolt in Judea was written about by the contemporary Roman historian Tacitus. Every time you wish someone a Happy Hanukkah you are acknowledging the historic Jewish claim on Jerusalem. Continue reading “Happy Hanukkah (Day 5)”
Rituals 2
Yesterday I asked “What is the difference between a habit and a ritual?” and I answered it: “About a hundred years.” Continue reading “Rituals 2”
Rituals
Question: What is the difference between a habit and a ritual?
Answer: About a hundred years.
Many things like fasting and feasting have become ritualized parts of religious practice. In Judaism we fast on Yom Kippur we feast on Rosh Hashanah. We wear clothes that suit particular holidays because they are part of the ritual. And they are part of the ritual because they have been followed by many people for hundreds of years. This makes no sense but I am willing to follow along. Rituals mean that the decisions have been made, we don’t have to think about it anymore. Life is good.