Thoughtful Thursdays, From the Depths on a New Moon, and self-Health Care

On the 14th (but starting last night, on the 13th at sundown), began the new month, and the month of Rosh Chodesh Sh’vat, on the Jewish calendar.  Months on the Hebrew calendar begin on the new moon, and this day is traditionally a women’s half-holiday, with no housework being done, in theory, by women on

Dinah

This week’s Parashah has been VaYishlach: And He Sent (messengers to his brother Esav…).   The 5th aliyah/reading of the Annual cycle makes up much of this year’s Triennial Cycle reading, and that is mostly the story of Dinah.  She went out to socialize with other girls, and got brutally assaulted.  I have one comment

And he left! -and why we sometimes must leave…

…because for safety’s sake, sometimes, one has to leave, well, almost everything… This week’s portion is Parashat Vayetzei / פרשת וַיֵּצֵא traditionally covering Genesis 28:10-32:3, and this year’s Triennial cycle covers readings Revi’i & Chamishi (4th and 5th readings of the Annual Cycle ). It’s the famous Stairway to Heaven parashah, but many of us

Sacred Study Saturdays, Adulting Ed., and parents?

Turns out that earlier in this week’s Torah portion is where the fateful dish of lentils is served up in payment of a birthright (Aliyah Rishon, Annual cycle). Did I mention that impulse control is a big part of ‘Adulting,’ and is a skill that helps to be taught from an early age? Is patience

Turkish Tuesday past was also Rosh Chodesh Kislev, and libraries

Happy month of Chanukah, now: — Ask your local reference librarian to give you her favorite resource to help you find a Hebrew calendar.     ! שָׁלוֹם Action Items in support of literacy and hope that you can take right now: 1.) Search for two different resources for Hebrew calendars online. 2.) Share them

Sacred Study Saturdays, going back to Parashat Noach, and language learning for Human Rights

…and worker’s rights, which are also Human Rights. (But why do I keep hearing Soon and Very Soon, from when I was in 3rd Grade?!!) — I wrote a story which seems to resonate now, given the passing of prop 22 in California, which I feel takes us further down the road of valuing money

Sacred Study Saturdays, Parashat VaEra comment, and language learning for empathy building

This week’s Torah portion has been the 4th portion, VaEra (and was seen). — A commentator points out (I think a modern commentator, as no one is cited specifically), that a literal translation of verse 18 gives the meaning of essentially making herself (Hagar) stronger by giving her hand to her son to help him. 

Sacred Study Saturdays, my first Biblical Hebrew via song lesson plan, and a story about the letter Aleph!

First, the lesson plan, then the story of Aleph… — A friend of mine, some years ago, asked me to put a lesson plan together for learning Hebrew in a novel way, as she didn’t like the traditional methods of learning Siddur (prayerbook) Hebrew, and wanted to be able to follow services anywhere. I tried

Sacred Study Saturdays

Since I foolishly agreed to read the 6th reading for this week, that is Genesis 10:15-20, I’m going to concentrate on just that bit for this week, and probably drop off in my posting of my Torah study until after December, when I expect to have my Rough Draft done for my WiP. Yassas,   γεια

Sacred Study Saturdays, flaming swords, and writing a novel

It’s still Preptober, with only 15 more days to go before the start of NaNoWriMo! — I’m not ready to write my novel! I need to finish researching, and this week’s portion has my favorite fantasy item that goes into my novel! It is the end of the first week of the new Torah study