Hamas/Gaza War Musings #30, Post Rosh Hashanah, Disturbing...

Here is another of Facebook my pre bedtime musings...

Before I sat down to write this one, I had totally different thoughts concerning what I'd write. But surprisingly different words began to appear on my screen. 

Please read it, and tell me what you think, thanks.

Gnite

Three days offline, no news, no travel, too much food...

Two days of Rosh Hashannah, shofar blasts, prayers...

Then a day of Shabbat...

Time and meals with friends, learning...

Almost half a week, we could almost pretend it was a regular year...

But we were on alert... could there be another massive attack?

What's going on in the rest of the country?

How are our children? Soldiers?

Will we be inundated with bad, tragic news once Shabbat ends?

When will we win this war? Destroy the enemies? See them surrender?

I feel more worried by the minute...

It's preposterous and dangerous to negotiate with someone who wants to destroy you

Get real!

On the Jewish calendar it's a new year. 5785 תשפ"ה

We must pray and fight and work hard to change things for the better. The world wants us destroyed. They are only concerned about the safety and health of Hamas, Hizbolla, Gaza and Lebanon. Do you hear condemnations of those who murdered, raped, captured innocent Israelis? We have no reliable allies. We must stop asking the USA, UN and others for help.

It's time to unify, pray to Gd and fight to win.

Shavua Tov

Gmar Chatimah Tovah

Parshat Shavua Thoughts, Is "Vayelech" Connected to "Lech Lecha?"

Genesis/Bereishit 12
לך לך Lech Lecha
1 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־אַבְרָ֔ם לֶךְ־לְךָ֛ מֵאַרְצְךָ֥ וּמִמּֽוֹלַדְתְּךָ֖ וּמִבֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יךָ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַרְאֶֽךָּ׃
The LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your native land and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
2 וְאֶֽעֶשְׂךָ֙ לְג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל וַאֲבָ֣רֶכְךָ֔ וַאֲגַדְּלָ֖ה שְׁמֶ֑ךָ וֶהְיֵ֖ה בְּרָכָֽה׃
I will make of you a great nation, And I will bless you; I will make your name great, And you shall be a blessing.

Dvarim 31
וילך Vayelech1 וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיְדַבֵּ֛ר אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה אֶל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Moses went and spoke these things to all Israel.
...
וַֽיהוָ֞ה ה֣וּא ׀ הַהֹלֵ֣ךְ לְפָנֶ֗יךָ ה֚וּא יִהְיֶ֣ה עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹ֥א יַרְפְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֣א יַֽעַזְבֶ֑ךָּ לֹ֥א תִירָ֖א וְלֹ֥א תֵחָֽת׃ 8
And the LORD Himself will go before you. He will be with you; He will not fail you or forsake you. Fear not and be not dismayed!”

Both Lech Lecha and Vayelech have the same linguistic root, (ה ל כ (ך heh, lamed, chof, to go.

In Bereishit, which is in the beginning of the Bible/Torah, Gd tells Abram (Abraham) to go to a land of Gd's choosing, and Gd will make him a great nation. Then in one of the very last lines in the Torah, Moshe went (past tense of "go") to the Jewish People, those descended from Abram and reminds them that Gd will always be with them, and they shouldn't lose confidence.

While the politicians here in Israel are fighting over positions and honors, we must never forget that our TRUE LEADER  is GD ALMIGHTY. It's Gd who protects us, not the IDF or Iron Dome. Last week we celebrated, Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Jewish Year, and this week we'll be praying and fasting on Yom Kippur, beseeching Gd to forgive our sins.

May all the Jewish People return to genuine Jewish Life, of Mitzvot and kindness to one another here in the Land Gd gave us.

גמר חתימה טובה

Gmar Chatimah Tovah

May Gd Accept Our Prayers 

Inspiring Evening of Song

Last night, after breaking the Tzom Gedalia fast, there was an evening of inspiring song and stories by the father-son duo Binyamin and Avraham Yitzchak Rosensweig, l'ilui nishmato shel Avihu Keinan, HaY"D, who grew up in Shiloh.

Avihu was killed in a badly planned army action against Arab terrorists. Immediately after Avihu's death, his father Moshe, announced that in protest, he'd be marching on Jerusalem to the President's Residence, and that's what we did. Later on until Avihu's tenth yartzeit, his father led hikes in the area.

I must admit that except for the prayers in their repertoire, none of the songs were familiar. My genre of inspiring Jewish Music is from a previous generation or two, such as The Rabbis' Sons, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and Diaspora Yeshiva Band. The most up-to-date are the songs sung by Yehuda Glanz.



It was a meaningful evening, just perfect, and wonderful to be with my Shiloh neighbors.

From the "Vineyards of the Mountains of Samaria," "כְרָמִ֔ים בְּהָרֵ֖י שֹֽׁמְר֑וֹן"

Jeremiah 31:

4Yet again shall you plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria, indeed planters shall plant [them] and redeem [them].

דעוֹד תִּטְּעִ֣י כְרָמִ֔ים בְּהָרֵ֖י שֹֽׁמְר֑וֹן נָטְע֥וּ נֹטְעִ֖ים וְחִלֵּֽלוּ:

It means a lot to me to have served grapes from our own Shiloh vineyard, a few grape vines growing near our house, on Rosh Hashana when we had just heard the above verse in the Haftara. It is clear to me that we are living in Messianic times. Things may not be perfect, but we are getting there, Gd willing speedily in our days...

"One Man's Ceiling is Another Man's Floor," Derech Eretz Lesson

This simple little tune, with an easily repeatable title/refrain, "One Man's Ceiling is Another Man's Floor," says so much in just a few words. It's funny that all my mind recalls from that song is the refrain. I've always considered it an important lesson.

To me "One Man's Ceiling is Another Man's Floor" shows how not only are we all connected, but the small, innocuous things we do can have major influences on others, for good and for bad.

Most people are almost exclusively tuned into themselves and are oblivious to the hurt or annoyance they cause others. It's worse in recent decades, since many people pay more attention to the smartphones and tablets they carry around, than to people. Earphones are almost permanently implanted in people, like hospital IVs and medical tubing in an ICU patient, but without any medical need.

Being that I've inherited Misophonia, I'm hypersensitive to certain sounds, vibrations, sudden disturbances etc. The positive, good aspect of this syndrome is that I'm a dancer by nature. Certain sounds inspire me to move. I'm also very sensitive to different genres of music, which means that while some music makes me soar, others make me sour, mean, miserable and irritable. When I once very politely asked someone not to clap loudly, her reaction was:

"Isn't there a pill you can take?"

I guess that was nicer than recommending a lobotomy. Even when in theory I can take the sound of light clapping, but if it's out of tune, it drives me nuts.

In synagogue during religious services/prayers, Misophonia can be most handicapping. Losing my "train of thought" when communicating with Gd is extremely problematic. I'm there to pray, not to make enemies and silently curse my neighbors.

In recent years there is a new and horrendously problematic phenomenon; some people have added loud clapping to the Silent Prayer aka the Amida. I'm sure you can guess that many people find themselves disturbed. Some are lucky enough to be able to easily and quickly get back into prayer mode, but others, like myself, are completely lost. It's like waking up suddenly because of a nightmare and not being able to relax back to sleep.

Apparently the clapping is from the Jews who follow the rather un-Jewish custom of solitary prayer, popular with the followers of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. Jewish Prayer ideally requires community, a minyan, quorum of at least ten men over the age of Bar Mitzvah. It seems that to compensate for the lack of community and prayer leader, the Rabbi Nachman followers have been instructed to clap at various times in prayers to keep themselves focused. That's fine alone out in the wilderness, but it's worse than rude when in a group, when everyone else is totally silent.

"Look at me! Look at me. Stop praying; look at me!" They seem to be saying.

We also need to remember that Gd isn't deaf. Gd knows what we're saying out loud and in our hearts, even our quietest whispers.

I also find it problematic when people bang and clap loudly when prayers are sung to catchy tunes, because in too many cases they are so busy making noise that they aren't saying the words of the prayers.

We're now in the midst of Elul, the Month of Teshuva, Repentance. Let us all try to be nicer to other people, Gd willing.

January 1st is Not My "New Year"

Honestly, I could never quite figure out or identify with the custom of drinking to a stupor to "celebrate" the change in number of the January First "New Year." Even though I like the taste of some wines, beers and cocktails, my socializing isn't around drinking them. It was never our thing.

Also, as I was reaching the age when drinking is more accepted and legally permitted in New York, way back when, I was also getting more involved and attracted to Jewish Life.

My husband and I married pretty young, and then two months later we were off on a boat to Israel. In 1970, such goyishe customs as December 31 as "New Year's Eve" was hard to come by, and we weren't looking for it. American holidays like Thanksgiving and New Year's on January first were totally off of our radar and calendars. We became totally immersed in the Jewish Calendar, holidays and Israeli special days. And to be perfectly frank, not only didn't we miss the American ones, we totally forgot they existed. The only reminders were the increase in tourists and visitors during those times, since family and friends could more easily take a vacation abroad.

Here in Israel celebrating Jewish Holidays is very easy. They are the national holidays when offices, businesses, stores etc are all closed. Torah observant Jews don't have to use up all of their permitted days off on the holidays and annoy their bosses by requesting to leave work early on holiday eves.

The Jewish New Year is Rosh Hashanah, and it's a two day holiday, three if you include the fact that it begins before nightfall the day before. Only workers in emergency services, like police, military and hospitals have to work, because saving a life overrides everything in Judaism.

We pray to Gd on Rosh Hashanah, and the prayers include the blowing of the shofar, a sound that wakes up our soul.

We eat four festive meals over Rosh Hashanah, two evening meals and two late lunches. The object isn't to drink, even though there is usually wine on the table. We celebrate and ask Gd for a wonderful new year full of blessings, health and joyous occasions. We ask Gd to defeat our enemies and make us strong. We ask Gd to make us a "head" not a "tail," which is why many people have the "head of a fish" or some kosher animal on the table. I've been making a "fruit head" for many years.

Every year for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, I make a "fruit head" for a healthy wonderful year for family and loved ones.

The only thing I wish for every year when it hits the first of January is that I'll remember to put down the correct year number when filling out forms and writing checks. I must admit that remembering to write "2017" has been an effort all year long, so remembering "2018" will be an even greater challenge. May that be my greatest difficulty. What's yours? And if you do celebrate January 1st as your New Year, may it be a good one.

Rosh Hashana Rant: Stop The Focus on Food

This morning, I posted the following on my facebook page:

Am I the only one who can't psyche myself into RH cooking mode? I hate the focus on food rather than רוח spirit.

None of the replies so far got the real gist of my rant. I'm tired of being expected to plan menus and cook. At least my husband is willing and enjoys a lot of the shopping. I guess if I was rich enough I'd just order food ready-cooked. I'm really grateful for the invitations we get. For decades we were the default home for Holiday meals. I guess I'm rather burnt out from it all.

One thing I've always done has been to do all the Holiday cooking in advance, even though according to Jewish Law, one can cook on a Holiday. The Halachot, Jewish Laws, aren't the same as for Shabbat. The last thing I'd like on my plate on an important Jewish Holiday like Rosh Hashanah is cooking chores. It's really not right that the wife frequently finds herself missing dovening, because she's stuck in the kitchen. Hmmm... maybe that's why Yom Kippur is a fast day. 

When my children were little, I'd pack up a bunch of nosh bags, and we'd all sit together on my seat. When we first came to Shiloh, there would be organized childcare for which we'd take turns watching the youngsters.

I don't consider myself a classic Feminist, but I don't like that in most families the men can expect to be undisturbed in shul, while their wives have kitchen and kiddie duty.

I've been married forty-seven years, and for decades I did manage to "do it all" and enjoy the Holidays.  But now, with an empty house, I guess I'm pretty burnt out.

I hope you don't mind that this is so short. It's time to run down and do some shopping. Maybe the selection at the local store will inspire me to create some new recipes that will stay fresh and tasty for Shabbat as well as Rosh Hashanah.

Cakes baked with my granddaughter. Now that's fun.

"Be strong and courageous!"

Today as I read through the Torah Portions, Nitzavim-Vayelech, in synagogue, I suddenly read:

Deuteronomy Chapter 31 6Be strong and courageous! Neither fear, nor be dismayed of them, for the Lord, your God He is the One Who goes with you. He will neither fail you, nor forsake you."

וחִזְק֣וּ וְאִמְצ֔וּ אַל־תִּֽירְא֥וּ וְאַל־תַּֽעַרְצ֖וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם כִּ֣י | יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ ה֚וּא הַֽהֹלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹ֥א יַרְפְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א יַֽעַזְבֶֽךָּ:

That is exactly what comes to my mind every time Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, other politicians, media, academics etc try to tell us that we can't institute the policies that would make the State of Israel stronger and safer. They use it as an excuse for not building the quantity of homes in Judea and Samaria that would lower prices all over.

We're back to the notorious "sin of the spies," which delayed the entrance to the Land of Israel by forty years. Ten out of twelve tribal chiefs insisted that the "giants" who occupied the Promised Land were too strong for the Jewish People. Those ten frightened the people, and only a tiny minority trusted that Gd would help.

As the Jewish Year 5777 is in its final days, and we are reading the very end of the final and fifth book of the Torah, the Chumash. The forty year delay is over, and the Jewish People are about to enter the Land led by Joshua. Moses is soon to die and not enter with his people. He led the Jewish People as they escaped from Pharaoh in Egypt, and he led them through the wilderness helping them prepare for the next stage, entering the Land of Israel.

A new generation is to enter the Holy Land, and they are reminded yet again that Gd will be with us, to help and not forsake us. Here we are thousands of years later. We read the Torah through every single year. And most of the Jewish People still need reminding and reassurance.

Gd willing in the upcoming year, 5778, the Jewish People and the Government of Israel will have the faith in Gd to think of what's best for the Jewish People and State of Israel, and not what "the world" may say or do. When we act assured with full confidence and sovereignty, like we did in those first few hours of the 1967 Six Days War, the world will accept and respect us. They will be in awe of our Gd given power. That is the "light" we must shine on the world.

Shana Tova One and All

Before Rosh Hashanah Tefilat Chana, תפילת חנה

The Jewish Month of Tishrei is the only month without a Rosh Chodesh, first day of the month holiday. That's because the first two days of Tishrei are Rosh Hashana. So obviously we don't have our monthly women's prayers at the site of the Biblical Tabernacle at Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh.

Instead of our simple Rosh Chodesh Prayers, I will join the thousands of women of all ages who come to Tefilat Chana, תפילת חנה to tour, listen to the Torah classes, enjoy the musical performances and, yes, pray, too.

It will be this Wednesday, September 13, the 22nd of Elul. It begins at 4pm with tours, music and prayers. At 8pm Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi will speak, and then Etti Ankori will sing spiritual songs, suited for the Eve of Rosh Hashanah. I hope to see you there, Gd willing.

You can order tickets, including for the buses to a from Shiloh by clicking here.

מכירות את זה שעוד רגע ראש-השנה אבל בלב אתן עדיין בתוך הבלאגן של סוף החופש? מכירות, בטח מכירות. אל תכחישו. ובכן, כנהוג אצלנו מדי שנה, הכנו לכן ערב שלם, מושקע ומהמם, שיכין אתכן טוב טוב לימים נוראים.

שריינו לכן: יום רביעי, כ"ב אלול // 13.9, אצלנו בשילה הקדומה.

בתכנית:

 16:00-18:00 סיור מודרך בשילה הקדומה, "מגדל הרואה" וסיור במוזאון 17:30-19:30 "בדרך אל המשכן" אתנחתא מוזיקלית ותפילה עם להקת "אחותי"

 וב-20:00 המופע המרכזי שבתוכו: הרבנית ימימה מזרחי, בשיחת לקראת הימים הנוראים ומעמד תפילת נשים מרוממת, אתי אנקרי בניגוני נשמה וניגוני תפילה, ואנסמבל "פעימה" במופע קצב סוחף.

המחיר: 30 ש"ח בלבד (הסיורים בתוספת תשלום של 15 ש"ח) ניתן להצטרף להסעות מירושלים ומתל אביב בעלות של 45 ש"ח (מומלץ להזמין כבר עכשיו מקום בהסעה, מספר המקומות מוגבל)

לינק לפרטים ולהזמנת כרטיסים  http://bit.ly/2vId3uN

Almost Elul, Time for Teshuva, #BlogElul

The imabima has been blogging her #BlogElul and #ElulGram for quite a few years now. She takes various aspects Teshuva and assigns them to a day of the month of Elul.

Teshuva is translated as "Repentance," but what it really means is more complex. A few years ago, I attended a course by Rabbi Reuven Grodner in Pardess which taught us about the concept, the act of repenting and what it is for Jews.

Teshuva is multi-dimensional. It's not just a simple act of being "sorry." We must reach the level that if/when we find ourselves in the same sort of position, we now act properly and don't sin. Proper Teshuva demands a lot of growth and change in ourselves.

Teshuva is a never-ending process. None of us will ever be perfect enough to say that we no longer have to "do Teshuva."  As high a level we achieve in our spiritual quests, there's always a new challenge.

We must also remember that Teshuva is not reserved only for the Jewish Month of Elul, it's a process that should fill every single day of the year, Gd willing.

Drunken New Year's Celebrations- What's The Point?

After over half a century living as a Torah observant aka Orthodox Jew, I'm having real problems understanding the way most of the world, meaning the Christian world/culture/societies all over "celebrates" its New Year.

What's the point of getting drunk?

photo of shofrot taken in Moriah Judaica store
 in the Old City, Jerusalem

The Jewish New Year aka Rosh Hashanah takes place at the very end of the summer and is a process that lasts forty days, from the Jewish Month of Elul until the 10th of Tishrei, Yom Kippur. During Ellul we're supposed to repent, reflect on our actions during that year and try to change our way of living to do it all much better according to Jewish Law. Then we have a two day holiday, Rosh Hashanah, 1st and 2nd of Tishrei, during which we pray and feast and let the sound of the Shofar, horn of the ram, shake us to our very soul.

As in all Jewish festive meals, there can be wine, but we're never supposed to drink enough to get out of control, ok except Purim when drinking is supposed to put us to sleep. And then on the 10th of Tishrei is Yom Kippur, when we don't eat or drink. We fast for twenty-five hours and spend most of the day in prayer beseeching Gd for forgiveness. And we don't just pray for ourselves; we pray for the entire Jewish People. Our prayers are in the plural. There's no such thing as saying:

"I don't need Yom Kippur prayers and fasting. I was just perfect this past year."

We can't be forgiven unless we pray for the entire Jewish People, because we're all in this together. We are one.

Our enjoyment and celebrations do not need liquor.

עבדו את ה' בשמחה
Ivdu et Hashem b'SimchaWorship Gd with Joy

ושמחת בחגך
Vi'Samachta b'ChagechaBe Joyful in Your Holiday

Our joy and celebrations come from worshipping Gd and keeping His Commandments, not drinking hard liquor and losing control.

Drinking too much causes more tragedy than joy. So, I hope you celebrated the New Year in a good healthy way.



Since it is forbidden to photograph on Rosh Hashanah, here's a shofar blast from Israeli Independence Day.

Is Yom Kippur Still a Big Draw for Assimilated Jews?

I know there still are Jews who show up to shul on Rosh Hashanah to hear the shofar and then again on Yom Kippur for a quick visit to ask Gd to give them "life," or whatever.

When I was growing up, my father was one of them. Besides a family Bar Mitzvah or something similar, he didn't consider it "going to shul" important to make time for. Many of those "twice a year shul goers," were young. Not only did shuls fill, but they had to rent larger places, erect tents and hire rabbi/cantors to lead services. There were different prices for the "regular cantor" and the "hired" one. And in many communities, they didn't have a regular synagogue, with a rabbi, but they'd hire someone. And lots of capable and not so capable rabbinic students or just anyone willing and able, make good money  for a few days' work.

nefesh

In all honesty, I'm curious, interested in knowing what the situation is today. Do synagogues that are empty most of the year suddenly get Jews anxious to pray?

I'd like to know, so please give reply in comments, thanks.

Gmar Chatima Tovah, Free Will and Gd's Hands...

Traditional Jewish New Year's Blessing:
"Be a head and not a tail."
This is my "head" for the Jewish Year of 5777.

There's a basic aspect of Jewish theology/philosophy that can get rather confusing. On one hand we credit Gd with having power over everything, including ourselves, but on the other hand we stress the fact that we have Free will and must take responsibilities for our decisions and sins. That is what repentance is all about.

The traditional greeting this time of the Jewish Year is "Gmar Chatima Tovah," which is explained to mean "May Gd seal you in the book of Life." This greeting/blessing refers to the Teshuva, Repentance we're supposed to have done and can also be explained as "I hope Gd gives you a good grade." Or "I hope you passed the test."

That's because Gd has the power over life and death. Now, if that's the case, is it Gd, murderers or illnesses or accidents that kill us? This can get very complicated to explain.

Is death a way of punishing us? If Gd is punishing us by killing us, then are murderers really guilty or are they tools of Gd? How does all this jive with Free Will?

With my Matan "Al Haperek" group, we've been learning Job, and Job struggles over these questions, because suddenly his family and wealth are gone, and he is angry with Gd. He wants to talk face-to-face with Gd to ask why, but instead of Gd he argues with his friends. Job doesn't accept the answers his friends give him, and his friends have lost sympathy urging Job to get on with his life.

Unlike pretty much all other religions, Jews argue and delve into Judaism relatively freely. And I'm talking about strictly Torah observant Jews, not just those who think many of the Mitzvot are optional and irrelevant for today's life. What do you think that all those tens of thousands or more students do day and night in yeshivot? They don't sit around trying to memorize more and more restrictions. The Batei Medrash, Study Halls are filled with noise as the students read and argue fine points of religious texts, philosophy and observance with their study partners. And these students aren't just teens and young people in their early twenties. They are adults, parents, grandparents. Some only have time a few hours a day or week, while others "learn" as a job, getting a stipend or once they've retired and can live on their pension.

In the Rosh Hashanah prayers, there is a very famous one called  Unetanneh Tokef Prayer and in it we recognize that only Gd has power over life and death:

But we're still left with questions:

Is death solely a punishment? And then is it punishment only for the one who died or for the ones who loved him/her?
And aren't there times when death is a "gift?"

Thoughts for this new year, 5777...

Teshuva, Tested at The Kotel

Yesterday I found myself walking through the Old City to the Kotel. I had a few hours in Jerusalem with nothing to do. And since I'm in the year of mourning for my father, even though the Jewish Holidays, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Succot are almost here, I didn't buy myself new clothes. Actually, I still haven't worn the new clothes I had bought for Passover, because my father passed away just a few days before the Holiday. Yes, I should get someone to wear them... then I can.

So, as I've done quite a few times before, I decided to "hangout" at the Kotel, especially the small room on the side of the Women's Section. The last times I had been there it was very comfortable and peaceful, with the air-conditioner going, and nobody to bother me.

I sat in the back for various reasons. One main reason is that I don't need or want to touch the wall, which isn't all as holy as some people think. And that's besides the fact that we do not need something so physical to touch/reach Gd. I've written many times that I do not get inspired by visits to graves and tombs, no matter who's buried there.

The truth is this "western wall" is not the Western Wall of the shechina, Gd's presence. This wall that is so worshipped is none other than the most outer wall of the compound, a retaining wall, which holds up the Temple Mount and keeps it from collapsing. The Holy Temple itself was quite a distance inwards, and its walls cannot be found or seen. If you read this sign, to the very end they do admit it. As I've said many times, I feel more Kedusha, holiness, in the area of Ancient Shiloh, which had been a place of Jewish Prayer for centuries.

This time, as I entered the room, I noticed that the airconditioner was not working. And even worse, the woman next to me smelled, and one is forbidden to pray by bad odors. It took awhile for my sense of smell to become oblivious to her. Then I said my usual Tehillim, Psalms. Just as I was about to pray the Afternoon Mincha Prayer, there was a commotion in the front, and a woman began talking out loud. She began shouting, saying names, praying for people in the "name/holiness of the Western Wall..." sounding like a chassidishe Billy Graham.

I was not amused, nor was I inspired, but let's call it my Elul Teshuva Test  I did not tell her to shut up. And as she got more "inspired" and enthusiastic as some other women shouted names for her to pray for, I quietly walked out.

 I found myself a quiet corner and prayed. And then I noticed that there were some Selichot books on the nearby shelves, and I took one. During the days before Rosh Hashanah, we are supposed to say these special penitential prayers. And since there aren't too many, if any, synagogues in downtown Jerusalem with open Ezrot Nashim, Women's Sections, I can sit and pray in, I made myself comfortable and prayed.

Shanah Tovah, Metukah, Bri'ah U'Maleh Smachot!

May the New Year be Good, Sweet, Healthy and Full of Joyful Events!

Chodesh Elul Tov! Rosh Hashanah Just a Month From Now!

We had a wonderful group of women of all ages from near and far at our Women's Rosh Chodesh Prayers at Tel Shiloh yesterday.

There were so many, I couldn't squeeze us all in the "eye" of my "selfie stick," or holding my camera as far as my arm could reach.

The month of Elul is an extremely important time in the Jewish Calendar. It's a time of Teshuvah, reflection. We are told to "wake up" and take a look at our lives, try to improve. This morning, before I got out of bed, I heard the shofar which is supposed to wake us from our spiritual slumber. Yes, it's the spiritual "bugle cry." No doubt that the historic bugel used as a rallying cry is based on the Jewish Biblical shofar, rams horn.

Phyllis, the Bima Ima, annually blogs a wonderful Elul challenge.

#BlogElul, #ElulGram

Elul is a very busy month, leading up to Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah, and I'm not talking about the cooking for the multiple holiday meals. We are supposed to prepare spiritually, recognizing our faults and trying to correct them. That is Teshuva, repentance.

And for those who would like to join our Women's Prayers, in which we pray individually and silently except for the Hallel Prayer which is sung together out loud, the next will be Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan. That is because the First of Tishrei is Rosh Hashanah and not celebrated as a Rosh Chodesh.

Women's Prayers at Shiloh Hakeduma, 

Tel Shiloh 

Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, 5777

Tuesday November 1, 2016

30th of Tishrei, 5777, 8:30am

Hallel and Musaf for Rosh Chodesh

Tour of Tel Shiloh

Dvar Torah, Short Torah Lesson

Please come and invite family, friends and neighbors.

תפילת נשים ראש חודש חשון

בשילה הקדומה, תל שילה

יום ג' 1-11-2016  ל' תשרי, תשע"ז 8:30

הלל ומוסף לראש חודש

יהיה דבר תורה קצר וסיור בתל

כדאי לבוא ולהזמין חברות, משפחה ושכנות

So, take out your new Jewish Calendar, 5777, and mark the day. If you have more questions about it, please contact me shilohmuse@gmail.com with "Rosh Chodesh" as subject.

There's lots more to do at Shiloh Hakeduma besides our monthly prayers, so I suggest that you contact them and visit. For more information call 02-994-4019.

PS If you'd like to organize transportation, then contact Ben Levine of Awesome Tours. He has a supersized van, a mini-bus that has room for fifteen 15 passengers comfortably. He'll help you arrange a truly inspiring Rosh Chodesh (or any day) in Shiloh.