Sunday: A Day of Work and the First Day of the Week

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

Sunday--how to cope with "Closed on Sunday,"
Open a book and spend my time reading.
Better yet, open the Torah and comprehend
What it was like before "Closed on Sunday" existed.
All was gold, silver, copper, bronze, purple, blue and crimson--
This is how it was before we had Sundays.
It was a day of worship to the One and Only God.
Feel like reading Torah until my eyes close.
Good and better--it will be alright,
It will be "Open on Sundays,"
With the arrival of  the Messiach.

 ~Batyah Ginzberg 3/2/14

 

Sunday. Some Christians, not all, see it as a day of rest. But it is the first day of the week on our calendars and God rested on the last day of the week, not the first. We as Jews rest on Saturday, the 7th day of the week as God rested also after He created the world. God did not rest on Sunday. I see it as a falsehood, a rebellion against Judaism and therefore God, to rest on a Sunday. Some say since Jesus was resurrected on a Sunday--it is supposed to be a Christian day of rest to observe this. Whatever the reason they rest on Sundays; I do not. However I respect our differences.

 

What do I do on a Sunday? I work out heavily at a gym, work my body, to build my muscles. And I study Torah on Sundays. Sunday is a day of study and hard physical work for me. As a Jew I rest on Shabbat on Saturday and this gives me the stamina to work on Sunday. Sunday is a day to prepare for the week ahead. To do laundry, do shopping, do cooking, pay bills, exchange money (since this cannot be done on a Saturday)--Sunday is a day of great activity.

After resting on the Jewish Sabbath, Sunday comes as a day of great strength for me after my rest on Saturday, because I am regenerated in body, mind and spirit. I feel strong like a bull on Sunday. Just think how much one can accomplish on a Sunday after a Saturday of ultimate rest. My muscles feel like they grow overnight on a Sunday from heavy use. Sunday is a good day--it is a work day. It is a miracle how much Sunday is a day of accomplishment in my life. I thank Adonai for Sundays!

After a Total Complete Rest on Shabbat

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

Shabbat has ended, I did my Havdalah rituals and said good-bye to a wonderful restful Shabbat. I feel so rested, so completely at ease--this revitalization of my spirit, body, and mind is so incredible--it is like nothing else I have experienced.

 

I do yoga on Shabbat instead of working out at the gym, and this yoga I do with  my body relaxes all of my muscles--I sleep if I want to--do not get out of bed until later in the morning, and this also relaxes my body. I do not eat processed sugar on Shabbat--my body is a Temple to Adonai and so I really keenly watch my diet on Shabbat and my body, my liver and kidneys get a rest on Shabbat this way too. I do not cook on Shabbat and eat only kosher foods.

 

I read my Siddur and study Torah on Shabbat--reading in bed--and this reading does wonders to put me in a holy state of mind. Today I read about the Tabernacle--the first Synagogue built under the leadership of Moses, and the Parashat was beautiful. I imagined being in the Tabernacle and seeing the gold, silver, bronze and copper that was used to make the mishkan and other items in the Tabernacle and hence, I was in the richest state of mind one could imagine. And to think all those precious metals were donated by the Jews who were slaves and had just been freed from Egypt, and they were donated with good will--real love for the first Synagogue. I just love it.

 

This restful state of mind, body, and spirit is necessary for me to regenerate good positive energy, and to use my energy to do good. I try not to carry things on Shabbat, and try to limit my music to Classical relaxing music. This also helps to religiously respect Shabbat rules and to get the needed rest I have to have to function properly. I do not hurry anything on Shabbat. I take my time eating and digesting good kosher meals, never gulp down my food in a rush on Shabbat. This relaxes my digestive system, and my body feels better because of this modified slow eating behavior. I remove my eyeglasses and relax my eyes. When I relax my eyes and just use them for reading and studying, they do not hurt or get tired. I shower on Shabbat. The hot cleansing and purified water hits my sore muscles like a whirlpool bath and it is warm and soothing.

 

I always wear only white clothes on Shabbat. I feel this limit to pure colors--just the purest of whites--is a respectful way to dress when praising Adonai. It adds to my feeling of holiness to dress only in whites. I do not wear leather shoes on Shabbat--my feet are extra comfortable this way. I wear athletic shoes, they are white and do not disrespect animals because I am not stepping on leather. My feet get relaxed and never feel sore on Shabbat. I walk slowly, and in a meditative manner, looking in my environment for beauty, and this slow gait keeps me from feeling hurried or rushed, and adds to my Shabbat rest.

 

I limit my caffeine intake on Shabbat--it would just speed up my body and this would detract from the complete rest I could get. I drink plenty of pure cool water instead.

 

I do all this to chill out, to lounge, and to let my body, mind and spirit detox from all the weekdays' work. I do not create on Shabbat. I put my drawing art supplies in my closet and lock them up for the day. I also do not email or write on Shabbat. I communicate with God and the Jews I live with, and do not stress myself out with excessive communications. I turn off  my computer completely, and this relief is so good. I do not play at all with electronics on Shabbat. This relief I get when I turn my computer off is so restful.

 

Shabbat works for me to rest myself when I follow these rules of relaxation. I do everything in my power to de-stimulate, and do this ritually. I am so blessed to be able to rest on Shabbat as a Jew. I would never trade this rest for anything else in the whole wide world. To me resting on Shabbat makes me a millionaire and when I go to a Synagogue on Shabbat I am a minionaire--a Jew blessed to pray with 10 or more Jews in an egalitarian minion. I have my body, mind and spirit doing a complete turn around to being the best I can be. Thank you, to my Rabbi and my spiritual community for teaching me how to rest. And mostly, thank you to Adonai--I could never do it without You.

Obedience and Respect for My Rabbi

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

Peace and quiet. This is my new miracle that I am experiencing today. Why am I experiencing peace and quiet? It is because I have made up my mind to always obey my Rabbi and to always revere her and listen to her and always to defend her no matter what.

 

There are people who deny women the right to become Rabbis--still, even though we are living in a modern world. The reason I chose a woman to be my converting Rabbi is because I deeply, whole-heartedly believe women are equal to men and should have the same opportunities that men have, more so in the job market than anywhere else. It gives me peace and quiet to assert Women's Rights--and this is a miracle in my life.

 

I pray with my siddur (prayerbook) 3 services per day: The Shaharit, The Minchah, and The Ma'ariv services. Anytime I need lovingkindness or mercy--Adonai provides me with this by me reading about it in my siddur. My Executive Director of my Synagogue gave me 2 siddurim when I moved away from my home Synagogue, and these 2 books and my Chumash, the Torah, a version that was edited by my Rabbi, are a saving grace to me. I just love these books. I have one of them open at all times during the day and read them as if they are the only books left in the universe.

 

I also have a new membership at my YMCA and exercise everyday--I believe that exercising the body, as well as the spirit and mind, is essential to good overall health.

 

This peace of mind I have has become a direct result of listening to my Rabbi and showing her the most of utmost respect that she deserves. Some of the things she says urge me to become the best person, the best Jew I can be--and this is so important. I strive for excellence and always to find ways to improve--improvement of oneself being the essence of Judaism.

 

 

On Love and the 613 Commandments

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

Valentine's Day is tomorrow. "Valentine was a priest who was arrested by the Emperor Claudius. Following a theological debate about the merits of Christianity, Valentine was sentenced to live with a noble by the name of Asterius in a form of house arrest. With the help of God and true faith, Valentine miraculously restores the sight of his master's adopted daughter and, in doing so, converts Asterius and the 24 members of his house. When Emperor Claudius hears of this miracle and the subsequent conversions, he has Valentine killed." ~MyJewishLearning.com

This is a Catholic and not a Jewish holiday--however the concept of "love" itself is very Jewish in origins. My research led me to the following of the 613 Commandments from The Torah that discuss love. It is a miracle in my life to have righteous guidance on how to love--the Jewish way.

26.To love all human beings who are of the covenant (Lev. 19:18)
27.Not to stand by idly when a human life is in danger (Lev. 19:16)
28.Not to wrong any one in speech (Lev. 25:1...7)
29.Not to carry tales (Lev. 19:16)
30.Not to cherish hatred in one's heart (Lev. 19:17)
31.Not to take revenge (Lev. 19:18)
32.Not to bear a grudge (Lev. 19:18).
33.Not to put any Jew to shame (Lev. 19:17)
34.Not to curse any other Israelite (Lev. 19:14) (by implication: if you may not curse those who cannot hear, you certainly may not curse those who can)
35.Not to give occasion to the simple-minded to stumble on the road (Lev. 19:14) (this includes doing anything that will cause another to sin)
36.To rebuke the sinner (Lev. 19:17)
37.To relieve a neighbor of his burden and help to unload his beast (Ex. 23:5
38.To assist in replacing the load upon a neighbor's beast (Deut. 22:4)
39.Not to leave a beast, that has fallen down beneath its burden, unaided (Deut. 22:4)

There is a misnomer that Christians love God and Jews do not love God, rather we fear God. Jews are commanded to love God above all else and our fear of God comes from our awe of God's miracles--fear being a necessity to discourage sin. I love Adonai and often look for God in my environment and in people's eyes--their divine spark of life. Worshipping Adonai brings me into "the moment," the present, and when I am in the present looking for love, God always guides me to Judaism--I see Jewishness in my environment artistically and come into contact with God this way and then have gratitude: Thankfulness for seeing evidence of God. God is in everything good and bad. This is a miracle that I have been taught to experience Adonai everywhere. Even when I see something unpleasant--one can make lemonade out of lemons, so it is in our power given to us by Adonai to see good in everything and thereby we can experience Adonai's love for us everywhere. When I experience God with my senses, I am at peace. When I help another human being I am also at peace. "Love your neighbor," is the true bottom line and essence of Torah.

Icicles Are Miracles

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

Icicles are a great subject matter in conversations during wintertime because of their incredible beauty. As they are dripping and reflecting the sunlight like prisms and small rainbows, they are truly magnificent natural sculptures that are formed by Adonai as the artist.

 

They remind me of stalactites that form in caves--dripping salt formations that come from the ceilings in caves and form yet another type of natural sculptural artwork.

 

I watch the icicles out my window dripping drop after drop in the sunshine, or see a fast water flow from some that are in more direct warm sunlight--it is these drops of cold water that form yet ring after ring of ice that extend the icicles even further down to the ground.

 

What do they look like to me? Like shining silver daggers. Like teeth. Adonai puts a set of these teeth on rooftop over-hangings to show His smiles. He arms the people with silver daggers to fight off the evil impulse in one's mind and heart. Repetitive. Icicles are like piano keys--they form together in communities--like fish. Where you see one you are likely to see another. In cold weather, the icicles huddle together, and remind us of the need to spend time with our families, with our communities to keep warm and friendly.

 

They are here now, but with warmer weather they will disappear, they will melt. But we can count on them returning next year with the freezing temperatures. We will see these miracles again next year. But we will miss them and so they will return.

 

Yes, icicles are miracles of Adonai, miracles of nature. Enjoy them while they are here!

World Peace and Jewish Views of Justice

 "There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

I think it is a miracle how the Hebrew God Adonai, the Psalms, and The Torah protect the innocent and punish the guilty; and I see this miracle as a tool to keep world peace. There is a question that comes up frequently to my mind: the question whether or not to wish for revenge if you have been mistreated by an "evil-doer" (as is the wording in King David's Tehillim--The Hebrew Psalms.)

Maimonides does not see human revenge as being a peaceful answer to establishing justice; as an answer to one's problems. But in Exodus in the Torah, it is "...an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth... " That verse is not a prescription for revenge; instead the idea is to give fair punishment for a crime--a punishment that fits the crime; or a reward that fits a good deed; or to set a fair price for a saleable item. One of the 613 Commandments explicitly states "Do not to take revenge" and another says "Do not bear a grudge." These Commandments come from the Torah in Leviticus 19:18.

But do the Hebrew Psalms promote taking too passive of a role in punishing crimes by an evil-doer; encouraging the victim to be "letting go and letting God"?  In the Psalms the message is that if one is treated unfairly one can be sure that God will take care of the injustice His way: His way being to break the arms of the evil-doer. In Psalm 37:17 it says: "For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but Adonai upholds the righteous." This approach as I see it; takes away the human need for revenge--humans do not need to get revenge because God knows who is righteous and who is not and He will take care of the revenge Himself with Divine Intervention, (i.e. The Ten Plagues, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and The Great Flood). In Psalm 1:4-6 it says: "Not so the wicked, who are like chaff driven by the wind. ⁵ For this reason the wicked won’t stand up to the judgment, nor will sinners at the gathering of the righteous. ⁶ For Adonai watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked is doomed."

This afore-mentioned philosophy "God'll get ya" is the punishment for the crime and suggests that human revenge is not necessary. "Anger leads to evil." Of course there are courtrooms for more serious crimes, but here we are discussing the everyday mistreatment of the poor, the orphan and the widow; rudeness, verbal abuse, being insulting or bullying. What of these offenses? Is revenge necessary? Not according to the Tehellim Psalms. Psalm 37:32-33 says " The wicked keeps his eye on the righteous, seeking a chance to kill him. ³³ But Adonai will not leave him in his power or let him be condemned when judged."

 

I see this as a very peaceful approach to solving everyday small offenses. My daily prayerbook (siddur) has a nighttime prayer where we ask God "...to forgive anyone who angered annoyed or wronged me, myself, my possessions or my honor." We ask God to "Let no one be punished on my account." It is this peaceful way to forgive these oppressive actions, and not to seek revenge--that will repair the world's attitude towards holding a grudge--instead of forgiving--inappropriate  behavior and actions.

The Torah goes on to say that it is a crime to "...insult one's father or mother," and this crime is punishable by death. There are definite measurements of crimes as to their seriousness, and these offenses are addressed in the Torah, Talmud and Mishnah.

 

The bottom line as I see it, is "not to take the law into one's own hand." And to try to forgive an offender rather than seek revenge. The Divine Lawmaker, Judge and Executioner is Adonai; and He will protect the righteous, and condemn the guilty.