Friday, March 18, 2016

THE MIRACLE OF SHABBAT A DAY OF REST



A miracle, a flower budding. A miracle, a leaf on a tree sprouting. A miracle, to receive free internet access. A miracle, to write a Rabbi and to be in touch. A miracle, to eat all kosher foods. A miracle, to be invited to parties. A miracle, to be in a peaceful state of mind, to be welcoming the Shabbat on a Friday night, to lighten a flame to greet the Shabbat bride, to be in shelter not cold or not hot. To have a paycheck coming in regularly every month, to have all expenses paid, to have three regular meals per day all of kosher foods, to be a member of Jewish Temples and to receive the prayers from the Rabbis, to be blessed by a Rabbi, to be named by a Rabbi, to be able to go back to return to Judaism if ever tempted by another god, a true miracle.

A miracle to have a keyboard with a computer so to actually type with all fingers, to use a rubber ball in the palm to squeeze to build up hand muscles to type better, to be entertained twice a week in a Bingo game, to win a prize and to mail it to your family.

To have a holiday coming up, a Purim, a holiday that expresses anger towards a man named Haman who wanted to kill Jews and to express love for friends of Israel, a time to eat chocolate candy and to receive jewelry, a time to get coins, a time to chant Torah of The Book Of Esther.

The Book Of Esther, a Book in the Torah about a Jewish woman who with her bravery and chutzpah saves the lives of thousands of a community of Jews, and condemns a man of hatred to death. Not to be happy when an enemy dies, instead to be happy because thousands of Jews stay alive.

Dressing up in costume: dolls, wizards, dancers, cowboys, not scary costumes as on Halloween, not worshipping ghosts so there is no fear, costumes of good cheer, to disguise oneself to hide, and then to take off your mask and to be truthful, to be open, to live an honest life of disclosure, to have nothing to hide, nothing of which to be ashamed, "coming out" as a Jew.

Face paint coloring the faces of happy children, all the colors of the rainbow, not getting tattoos, skin as pure and blemish free as the sacrifices that were made to G-d, no rashes no spots, a face of a young child with young skin. A child held in the arms of her grandmother receiving nurturing from one who is wise in years.

Quietness with a contrast of lively Shabbat music, to pray with others, to pray alone. To always be in meditation to have peace in loud places where there are crowds.

To be grateful for another day, to praise and to thank G-d for all these attributes, to feel lucky as we feel blessed to be able to celebrate another Shabbat. Another day of rest.

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