Not much time before sundown. Rushing to get things done.
Want to get that Chanuka Hannukah Chanukah Hanuka etc feeling going.
Enjoy the holiday. Make your home smell like latkes and the light of the candles provide warmth.
Shalom to all.
Jeremy
Friday, December 11, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
live long and prosper
I have been advised that the priestly benediction was done, for many years, with two hands over the person with the fingers spaced with two fingers on one side and the other three (which includes the thumb) on the other side.
An orthodox Jew, by the name Leonard Nimoy, made the hand display well known to Jews and non-Jews alike by using it in original Star Trek. He then added the line LIVE LONG AND PROSPER as a vulcan salutation.
Was the salutation that much different from the intent and purpose of the priestly benediction? I think not. But, I am not a Rabbi, nor do I profess to have the knowledge and expertise of a Rabbi. Obviously, the "Vulcan" hand sign together with the saying "live long and prosper" has taken on its own life and longevity.
But, if we think about the "Vulcan" saying, it may have a value to Jews as we enter the New Year.
Live long certainly can imply that we are being inscribed in the book of life for another year and, hopefully, for many more. And to prosper should mean that we are good Jews and that whatever we do, we must pursue our hopes and dreams and at the same we must try and help others to live long and prosper.
Over the weekend (after going to visit a terminally ill cancer patient in NYC), we had the honor of per chance meeting with Leonard Nimoy a/k/a SPOCK on the street. He was very nice and it was, without doubt, a pleasure to meet him and briefly talk to him.
As we start the New Year we did a mitzvah of visiting a patient at Mt Sinai who is very ill. That mitzvah was apparently rewarded by the kismet visit with Leonard Nimoy.
To all of my FHC family, Star Trek fans, and others in general I wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year, and I wish you to Live long and Prosper.
Shalom.
Jeremy
An orthodox Jew, by the name Leonard Nimoy, made the hand display well known to Jews and non-Jews alike by using it in original Star Trek. He then added the line LIVE LONG AND PROSPER as a vulcan salutation.
Was the salutation that much different from the intent and purpose of the priestly benediction? I think not. But, I am not a Rabbi, nor do I profess to have the knowledge and expertise of a Rabbi. Obviously, the "Vulcan" hand sign together with the saying "live long and prosper" has taken on its own life and longevity.
But, if we think about the "Vulcan" saying, it may have a value to Jews as we enter the New Year.
Live long certainly can imply that we are being inscribed in the book of life for another year and, hopefully, for many more. And to prosper should mean that we are good Jews and that whatever we do, we must pursue our hopes and dreams and at the same we must try and help others to live long and prosper.
Over the weekend (after going to visit a terminally ill cancer patient in NYC), we had the honor of per chance meeting with Leonard Nimoy a/k/a SPOCK on the street. He was very nice and it was, without doubt, a pleasure to meet him and briefly talk to him.
As we start the New Year we did a mitzvah of visiting a patient at Mt Sinai who is very ill. That mitzvah was apparently rewarded by the kismet visit with Leonard Nimoy.
To all of my FHC family, Star Trek fans, and others in general I wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year, and I wish you to Live long and Prosper.
Shalom.
Jeremy
Monday, September 14, 2009
Jewish Death
While we should always remember the family members and friends who have passed away, this is again that special time of the year when we enter our family members into the Book of Remembrance, look to the memorial board to view the names, and make the obligatory and customary trip to place the stones on the graves of the departed. All of these things are very somber, sad and meant to evoke feelings of loss and emptiness that the person you cared for is no longer with us.
However, it would be nice if someone came up with a more upbeat method of remembering the departed. It would be nice if the rituals that conjure up our memories of the departed brought a smile to our face, made us happy. If the death and remembrance rituals that we do could somehow be made to evoke happiness and joy, maybe those rituals would be things that we could look forward to and not feel the heavy burden of sadness and remorse.
Do not misunderstand what I write. I am not suggesting that the loss of a loved one should be thought of as a joke. I am not suggesting that we should not say Kaddish or not do the traditional things we, as Jews have done for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
Now I know that when I pass, and I hope it will be a long time from now, there is not going to be a huge outpouring of sadness. (For some, that could be interpreted in several ways.) Hopefully, my contemporaries will not be there, for as Frank Sinatra once said to Dean Martin, "I hope you live to be a hundred and I am one of your pallbearers." But seriously, I would not want a huge outpouring of sadness. Rather, I would prefer a nice Jewish service, with a kosher casket (if possible, made by Rubbermaid so that my remains remain), and I would want a procession with all the music and trimmings of a New Orleans funeral.
Although it is unlikely, I would love joyous singing and dancing, food, wine and spirits to be served to all my survivors. I hope the joy would not be based upon my passing (although, if some people derive pleasure from that, so be it), but rather based upon my survivors recognizing my belief that my passing is merely another link in the chain of life and that the survivors should be steadfastly enjoying the time G-d has given each and every one of us on this place we call earth.
Am I making light of something somber? No, if anything, I am making light about by own demise. Could this philosophy be a defense mechanism to react to the concept of death. Certainly. However, as I get older, and presumably wiser, I have come to realize that being depressed, or sad or unhappy about loss is not anything better than flipping the concept on its head and making death a time to appreciate the life that has passed and the lives that still remain to carry on.
So I hope that we all live to be healthy and hundred and twenty and that if any of you survive me, you enjoy my demise. Not because you are glad to see me go, but because you enjoy my philosophy of trying to appreciate both life and death.
Shalom. Jeremy
However, it would be nice if someone came up with a more upbeat method of remembering the departed. It would be nice if the rituals that conjure up our memories of the departed brought a smile to our face, made us happy. If the death and remembrance rituals that we do could somehow be made to evoke happiness and joy, maybe those rituals would be things that we could look forward to and not feel the heavy burden of sadness and remorse.
Do not misunderstand what I write. I am not suggesting that the loss of a loved one should be thought of as a joke. I am not suggesting that we should not say Kaddish or not do the traditional things we, as Jews have done for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
Now I know that when I pass, and I hope it will be a long time from now, there is not going to be a huge outpouring of sadness. (For some, that could be interpreted in several ways.) Hopefully, my contemporaries will not be there, for as Frank Sinatra once said to Dean Martin, "I hope you live to be a hundred and I am one of your pallbearers." But seriously, I would not want a huge outpouring of sadness. Rather, I would prefer a nice Jewish service, with a kosher casket (if possible, made by Rubbermaid so that my remains remain), and I would want a procession with all the music and trimmings of a New Orleans funeral.
Although it is unlikely, I would love joyous singing and dancing, food, wine and spirits to be served to all my survivors. I hope the joy would not be based upon my passing (although, if some people derive pleasure from that, so be it), but rather based upon my survivors recognizing my belief that my passing is merely another link in the chain of life and that the survivors should be steadfastly enjoying the time G-d has given each and every one of us on this place we call earth.
Am I making light of something somber? No, if anything, I am making light about by own demise. Could this philosophy be a defense mechanism to react to the concept of death. Certainly. However, as I get older, and presumably wiser, I have come to realize that being depressed, or sad or unhappy about loss is not anything better than flipping the concept on its head and making death a time to appreciate the life that has passed and the lives that still remain to carry on.
So I hope that we all live to be healthy and hundred and twenty and that if any of you survive me, you enjoy my demise. Not because you are glad to see me go, but because you enjoy my philosophy of trying to appreciate both life and death.
Shalom. Jeremy
Monday, September 07, 2009
Judaica
When you look around your house do you see Mezuzahs on the doorposts? Do you see kiddush cups in the dining room cabinet? Do you see multiple menorahs? Is your library filled with books about Judaism, and/or by Jewish authors? Do your walls have Jewish artwork and pictures of Jewish events like your children's bar or bat mitzvah? If per chance you do not have this stuff in your house, you need to load up on your Judaica and make your "goyisha" home more Jewish. There is nothing to be afraid of and nothing to be ashamed of if your house lacks the Jewish touch. You can fix that problem by either visiting the Sisterhood Judaica shop, or alternatively, you can go online and "Jewup" your house. (My editor wanted me to add that the term "Jewup" is not meant in a derogatory manner and that it was only meant in jest. My editor also wanted me to add that your home should smell like brisket to help "it smell Jewish".)
I am pleased to say that unless you are completely oblivious to Judaica, you would know immediately that our home is a Jewish home. We have the mandatory Mezuzah at the door, the Judaica in the dining room and the Jewish artwork including Chagall lithographs and photos from bat mitzvahs. Even as I write this in bed on the laptop, I look across the room to a lithograph on the wall that states in Hebrew and in English "In pursuit of Justice".
That saying, I think, sums up one of my core beliefs about why we are here on this planet.
But, on another level, it is my belief that if you are Jewish, and your home does not feel Jewish, you are missing something. You are, in fact "not doing justice" to your home if it does not feel Jewish.
Look around your home. If it needs Jewish "chotkes", get them. Make your home feel and look like a Jewish home to do it justice.
Shalom.
Jeremy
I am pleased to say that unless you are completely oblivious to Judaica, you would know immediately that our home is a Jewish home. We have the mandatory Mezuzah at the door, the Judaica in the dining room and the Jewish artwork including Chagall lithographs and photos from bat mitzvahs. Even as I write this in bed on the laptop, I look across the room to a lithograph on the wall that states in Hebrew and in English "In pursuit of Justice".
That saying, I think, sums up one of my core beliefs about why we are here on this planet.
But, on another level, it is my belief that if you are Jewish, and your home does not feel Jewish, you are missing something. You are, in fact "not doing justice" to your home if it does not feel Jewish.
Look around your home. If it needs Jewish "chotkes", get them. Make your home feel and look like a Jewish home to do it justice.
Shalom.
Jeremy
Monday, August 31, 2009
Time and the grass
For many of us the this time of year, the month of August into September 2009 has brought several distinct changes. My oldest daughter Amanda is back at college. She will not be home for the High Holidays, but it is my hope that Hillel and the local Chabad will take care of her. In the next few days, my other three children will be returning to school. Emily will be a senior in HS getting ready for the big move next year to a college that remains unknown. Noah will be heading off to Walden HS as a freshman, and Ethan will be off to Middle School. Ethan will be two years from his Bar Mitzvah, and it seems like only yesterday we were celebrating Noah's achievement.
With Facebook, e-mails and the like I am able to vicariously experience all the activities of the various people that have become part of my network of friends. I read about people ending their summer jobs, and going back to work. I read about trips taken, friendships made and even today my wife was telling me about a Jewish couple that met on FB and were about to get married until the prospective wife discovered that the future husband had not gotten divorced yet. It all sounds so interesting, different and exciting.
My daughter Emily has a great summer job. She works as a lifeguard making very good money for a 16 year old. The hours are long, but the paycheck is commensurate with the hours expended. Recently, she complained that the job was boring and that she wanted something more stimulating. It was an ironic conversation we had since I was of the opinion that the job she had was extraordinary and that she should be thankful. She, on the other hand felt that there was something better out there for her. When I tried to explain to her that summer jobs are scarce and that the summer job she had allowed her to bank the money so she would not have to work during the school year, I was unable to persuade her of my position. I even tried to explain to her that with any job there would be times when the job would not be stimulating, including my own, and that for many people what she was doing was an incredible adn important job with great compensation. I was dejected since my profession, in large part, is to persuade and convince people that my position is correct.
However, about an hour later Emily came to me and on her own stated that she felt that one of her personal issues may be that there is a feeling of discontent ( I would call it for some people chronic discontent), and that she had a belief that the other person, the other job, the other opportunity was better than what she had. She stated to me that she understood what I was saying and that while there were times when her job was boring, she understood other jobs could also be boring.
Although I sometimes feel that the other person has had more fun, a better summer, a better experience and better memories (FB pictures of friends and family experiences past for example), I am reminded of that simple saying, the grass is not always greener on the other side. My friendships, memories, experiences, jobs, etc are mine and those experiences are unique and special for me. My experiences, my friendships my good times and bad times are mine.
So, as anyone who has seen my lawn will concede, my grass is almost all crabgrass. But it is lush, green and mine. There are no brown spots and it grows and grows and grows. I do not use chemicals and while it may not be Yankee Staduim quality bluegrass, and my lawn may not be the envy of anyone on the block, I know that it is a lawn that the children in the neighborhood play ball on and enjoy. It is my lawn with all of the unique memories that have happened on my little plot of G-d's green earth. And, while others have their own little plots of green and their own experiences and memories, I take stock of my lot in life, count my blessings and thank G-d for my little green patch of grass. Upon reflection, I would not trade my lot of land, or my lot in life with anyone.
Shalom. Jeremy
With Facebook, e-mails and the like I am able to vicariously experience all the activities of the various people that have become part of my network of friends. I read about people ending their summer jobs, and going back to work. I read about trips taken, friendships made and even today my wife was telling me about a Jewish couple that met on FB and were about to get married until the prospective wife discovered that the future husband had not gotten divorced yet. It all sounds so interesting, different and exciting.
My daughter Emily has a great summer job. She works as a lifeguard making very good money for a 16 year old. The hours are long, but the paycheck is commensurate with the hours expended. Recently, she complained that the job was boring and that she wanted something more stimulating. It was an ironic conversation we had since I was of the opinion that the job she had was extraordinary and that she should be thankful. She, on the other hand felt that there was something better out there for her. When I tried to explain to her that summer jobs are scarce and that the summer job she had allowed her to bank the money so she would not have to work during the school year, I was unable to persuade her of my position. I even tried to explain to her that with any job there would be times when the job would not be stimulating, including my own, and that for many people what she was doing was an incredible adn important job with great compensation. I was dejected since my profession, in large part, is to persuade and convince people that my position is correct.
However, about an hour later Emily came to me and on her own stated that she felt that one of her personal issues may be that there is a feeling of discontent ( I would call it for some people chronic discontent), and that she had a belief that the other person, the other job, the other opportunity was better than what she had. She stated to me that she understood what I was saying and that while there were times when her job was boring, she understood other jobs could also be boring.
Although I sometimes feel that the other person has had more fun, a better summer, a better experience and better memories (FB pictures of friends and family experiences past for example), I am reminded of that simple saying, the grass is not always greener on the other side. My friendships, memories, experiences, jobs, etc are mine and those experiences are unique and special for me. My experiences, my friendships my good times and bad times are mine.
So, as anyone who has seen my lawn will concede, my grass is almost all crabgrass. But it is lush, green and mine. There are no brown spots and it grows and grows and grows. I do not use chemicals and while it may not be Yankee Staduim quality bluegrass, and my lawn may not be the envy of anyone on the block, I know that it is a lawn that the children in the neighborhood play ball on and enjoy. It is my lawn with all of the unique memories that have happened on my little plot of G-d's green earth. And, while others have their own little plots of green and their own experiences and memories, I take stock of my lot in life, count my blessings and thank G-d for my little green patch of grass. Upon reflection, I would not trade my lot of land, or my lot in life with anyone.
Shalom. Jeremy
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
New Post for a New Year
It has been quite some time (March 09) to be exact since I last posted to the blog. I hope to resume blogging (or if I am advised that FHC's website is up and running, I will contribute there.
This is a test of my existing blog where I hope, back as a congregant, I can contribute commentary and photos the same way I have done since April 2005!
Shalom Jeremy
This is a test of my existing blog where I hope, back as a congregant, I can contribute commentary and photos the same way I have done since April 2005!
Shalom Jeremy
Monday, March 09, 2009
Monday, February 09, 2009
Men's CLub Breakfast 2-08-09
Here are some pictures from the Men's Club Breakfast downtown on 2-08-09. Thanks to all who attended. Thanks to all who prepared, cooked and cleaned up. We had a very nice turnout.
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