1 = The Source of Life
2 = The Tablets
3 = The Patriarchs
4 = The Matriarchs
The lives of the 3 and the 4 = The 5 books
The lives of the 3 times the 4 = The 12 tribes
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I know this has been said by others, but it bears repeating.
Archive for September, 2004
A quick post just before Yom Kippur eve. I’ve been asked what I’m doing for Yom Kippur this year. I know some were hoping I would lead a service of some kind. This year I am doing a solitary observance of the holiday. For the past couple of years, I have attended services at Capital Kehillah and Fabrangen. Both were nice, but neither was home.
For the curious, here is my plan for this year:
Kol Nidrei
I have both the Hebrew and English translation to read and study. I also have several audio versions including the phenomenal one by the Western Wind Ensemble.
Yom Kippur Day
I am planning to break the day in three segments. Replacing meals will be a little physical movement. Part of the meditations all day will be devoted to the name I inscribed at Rosh Hashanah. The names people inscribed were not their name, but rather a name by which they’d like to be known. One that symbolizes who they wish to be, what they want the world to be, how they’d like to be recorded in the Book of Life.
Morning
I’ll start the day with either my usual Yoga program or an extended one I’ve been meaning to try. The rest of the morning will be spent in prayer and meditation and reading the Torah passages.
Afternoon
A short meditative walk around the neighborhood, followed by meditation and reading “Man’s Search for God” by Abraham Heschel. Part of my meditation will involve the use of a singing bowl that I recently received as a gift. I also plan to do at least part of it outside in my circle space. Some of what I want to explore is a new ideas been rolling around in my mind which is “internal elemental personalities.” More on this later.
Evening
Another walk or more Yoga, followed by a little creative spiritual exploration. I know many interpret “complete rest” as “no creating,” but for me the creative endeavor is a spiritual one and there will be no personal profit in the end. I will be decorating journals that I plan to give as gifts at the holidays this year or donate to a charity auction. The theme of each will be based on my morning meditations and other inspiration from the day. The last piece of the day will be sealing the name I inscribed at Rosh Hashanah.
Breaking of Fast
I’m hoping my wonderful husband brings home Chinese food! Prior to breaking my fast, I plan on spending some time writing out my experiences of the day.
A good Yom Tov to all. May you all be inscribed in the book of life for another year. May this year be a prosperous and happy one for you and for all people. Shabbat Shalom. Good Yom Tov.
Next year may we celebrate in a world at peace.
Someone asked an interesting question about Sabbath. Is it important what day we celebrate, as long as we honor the creator?
We are told that the Sabbath is the seventh day in the Torah, but it does not say that the seventh day is Friday - our modern calendar does. The modern calendar goes from Sunday to Sunday, so sundown Friday is the beginning of the seventh day. Jewish days start at sundown, not midnight. Part of the power of using the same night as other Jews, is the connection to your tribe. You know that all over the world your extended tribe is stepping through many of the same ritual actions as you.
I think the answer is up to you. I think in our modern world Friday night as Sabbath makes a great deal of sense. We work, generally, Monday to Friday, so stopping on Friday night to breath, rest, and reconnect, resonates strongly for me. We also often need at least one day of the weekend to do work around the house, with charities, or at a side job. Claiming Friday night through Saturday night as Sabbath allows us to have Sunday for other work.
I think the important thing is taking the time to stop — and acknowledge how precious life is, how blessed you are, and that you are a part of a greater whole. The commandment says, “Honor the Sabbath and keep it holy.”
Becoming’s Jewitch Rosh Hashanah
Thursday, September 16, 2004
7:30 pm
Hyattsville, MD - Private Home
RSVP & Directions: carly @ becomingdc.org (no spaces)
More about Becoming: www.becomingdc.org
I am holding a Rosh Hashanah circle for Jews and Pagans alike. This circle was written to allow Jewitches of all flavors, to celebrate one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar in a manner that would have spiritual meaning for them.
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish holiday that celebrates the New Year ofthe soul. It is a celebration of beginnings, but it is also a time to look at the year that has passed and prepare for the year that is to come. Rosh Hashanah is the holiday that prepares Jews for Yom Kippur, the day of atonement and begins the “Days of Awe” leading up to YomKippur.
This ritual also can help to prepare Pagans for Samhain. Before the ritual there will be a brief discussion about Rosh Hashanah for those unfamiliar. After the ritual, sweets and desserts will be served - please feel free to bring something. For more information and directions, contact Carly at carly @ becomingdc.org (no spaces)
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