tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71169988694032384062024-03-12T17:29:56.073-07:00In One EhrlichInoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-33562582213040071392023-11-22T09:53:00.000-08:002023-11-22T09:55:01.366-08:00Why are we feeling Sad and Happy Thanksgiving!<p><span style="font-size: medium;">I get many surveys to fill out being a Jewish educator. I just filled out one from <a href="https://www.tabletmag.com/">Tablet</a>, an online magazine and the last question was a one word fill in the blank how do you feel. I wrote in SAD. Since <b>October 7,</b> our world has changed. The destruction of that one day physically and spiritually to Am Yisrael, the Jewish people is incalculable. We will be trying to put back the pieces of the destrution for at least the rest of my life. The upsurge of antisemitism all over the world, especially in the US and on our college campuses is unbelievable and even sadder to witness. I did this article for my synagogue, <a href="https://www.mymakom.org/">Makom</a>. If you need some books to read, movies to watch take a look. Some of them are oldies but goodies and some of them are new. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I continue to find joy in my family, my children, grandchildren and husband. Thankful for my mom and my sister and her family for celebrating Thanksgiving with us. The one holiday I don't work, well not at the synagogue.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Thanksgiving 2014</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUIMAxjjz7K_0IA_ZJih1f4vmgZotOBlWJS3bRtiYFKpAXELzUGKVC-1lMHYMQY2Swqe9vgR-lqAJ1kpwwfSLrEgg6BlE9ycNT4r1rp_ynEUDRjq7wgcZFVkxefkIxeItHlmjd90f9BTAqELuGKmCkyWtfvDpQWxboR5q2ARxq3rwdjAmalwK5tm45qMA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1797" data-original-width="1962" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUIMAxjjz7K_0IA_ZJih1f4vmgZotOBlWJS3bRtiYFKpAXELzUGKVC-1lMHYMQY2Swqe9vgR-lqAJ1kpwwfSLrEgg6BlE9ycNT4r1rp_ynEUDRjq7wgcZFVkxefkIxeItHlmjd90f9BTAqELuGKmCkyWtfvDpQWxboR5q2ARxq3rwdjAmalwK5tm45qMA=w640-h586" title="Thanksgiving 2014" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Bulletin Article December 2023</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-68d30d97-7fff-943e-ba92-2dfa486b503c"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In a world dominated by 24-hour news cycles and the constant flow of information on social media platforms, it's easy to become overwhelmed, especially about the war in Israel. When it comes to understanding a complex and nuanced country like Israel, relying solely on TV news or social media does not provide the depth and context needed. I encourage you to look at vetted sources, articles, books and even videos, for a more comprehensive and informed perspective on current events in Israel.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Reading allows for a more in-depth exploration of Israel's history, culture, and politics. It is not always easy to find well-researched materials, but it will allow for a more comprehensive picture of the country. Israel has a rich and complex history that cannot be fully captured in brief news segments. The sound bites we see on television do not give us the insight into the roots of the Israeli-Arab conflict. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Reading also exposes individuals to a diverse range of perspectives and opinions. Unlike the often-polarized narratives presented in news broadcasts or on social media, books written by different authors provide a more balanced view, allowing readers to form their own informed opinions. TV news and social media are driven by the need for high ratings and engagement, as I mentioned, and this results in sensationalized reporting.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In a world where information is often reduced to soundbites and headlines, taking the time to read about Israel provides a valuable opportunity for a more nuanced and informed understanding. So, the next time you're tempted to rely solely on TV news or social media, consider picking up a book or find a well-researched article for a more comprehensive view on Israel. Also, novels about Israel give you a more nuanced view as well and maybe easier to digest. There are not books about this war but there are many books and novels about Israel.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Don’t know of any books to read about Israel? Here are just a few. I have also added some movies as well. Check out our library for many of these books and more. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Books</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">NON-FICTION</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">· </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Soldier of Peace: The Life of Yitzhak Rabin </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by Dan Kurzman</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">· </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> By Yossi Klein Halevi</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">· </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Israel </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by Noa Tishby</span><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">· </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> by Sandy Tolan</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>Like Dreamers: The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem and</u> <span> </span><span> </span><u>Divided a Nation</u></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">: Yossi Klein Halevi</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Story of Israel</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">: Sir Martin Gilbert</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Israel, a History: Martin Gilbert</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Letters to Auntie Fiori: The 5,000-Year History of the Jewish People and their Faith</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">: <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Martin Gilbert</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A History of Israel from the Rise of Zionism to Our Time</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">: Howard M. Sachar. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The People on the Street: A Writer's View of Israel</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> by Linda Grant. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">One Palestine Complete:</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Tom Segev</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>NOVELS:</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Exodus by Leon Uris</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Source by James Michener</span></p></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Family Orchard by Nomi Eve</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Exodus by Leon Uris</span><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hope Valley by Ner-David, Haviva </span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Man Who Sold Air in the Holy Land by Omer Friedlander</span><span><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Yellow Wind by David Grossman</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Seven Good Years by Etgar Keret</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jerusalem by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre. </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To the end of the Land by David Grossman</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Waking Lions by Ayalet Gundar Goshen</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Second Person Singular by Sayad Kashua</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Young Adult Novels</b></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A bottle in the Gaza Sea by Valérie Zenatti, </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">All the rivers by Dorit Rabinyan</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">•</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Next Year in Israel by Sarah Bridgeton</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Movies:</b></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Exodus with Paul Newman</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Golda with Helen Mirren</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Oslo, 2021</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Maktub, from 2017 dark humor</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><br /><br /></span></div>Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-8277919305486809642023-05-11T15:35:00.000-07:002023-05-11T15:40:28.647-07:00Sharsheret Honoree D'var<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1B8Sl1yAwKuJSYx-Al8BkZIo7wk1c4hbyschr-6b3LfPA4-WZMRSQ1w1j1tQmlcnUUMXMKx-_ScX3dbQrwMNCTPHn549kFI4mFkzpN3WTmgnzEAmV7YTvUTviR9OgKDES54ZJedQK-rzY_ex9X7VECBN1RN3P6k6c8oxmpJOR4Phb108tdpCQPcs/s4032/IMG_2169.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1B8Sl1yAwKuJSYx-Al8BkZIo7wk1c4hbyschr-6b3LfPA4-WZMRSQ1w1j1tQmlcnUUMXMKx-_ScX3dbQrwMNCTPHn549kFI4mFkzpN3WTmgnzEAmV7YTvUTviR9OgKDES54ZJedQK-rzY_ex9X7VECBN1RN3P6k6c8oxmpJOR4Phb108tdpCQPcs/s320/IMG_2169.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-9b1fc8ac-7fff-42e1-6c13-2c9aeef5861d"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This week I was honored as a Champion of Sharsheret. If you have never heard of <a href="https://sharsheret.org/" target="_blank">Sharsheret </a>take a read here. It was a wonderful evening for a fantastic cause. Thank you to everyone who donated and worked so hard on this evening. Here is my D'var Torah for the evening.</span></span> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sharsheret May 10, 2023 5783</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-554a20a1-7fff-135a-a7d0-8ece7f56142f"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This week’s Torah portions, Behar-Bechukotai (from the Mountain and by my decrees) are rich with lessons that you’ll notice if you’re paying attention, but for the d’var Torah I am sharing tonight -- I’d like to turn to a practice that I have thought of frequently in these last five years -- Sefrot Ha-Omer, the counting of the Omer. Tonight is the 35th day of the Omer, 5 weeks, --</span><span style="background-color: #f7f6f3; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">הַיּוֹם חֲמִשָּׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת לָעֹֽמֶר.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #f7f6f3; color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hayom chamishah ushloshim yom shehem chamishah shavuot la-omer.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I thought about being in Sefirot Ha-Omer I realized that cancer patients do quite a bit of counting. You can ask any survivor here and they will be able to tell you how many years/months/weeks or days they have been either in treatment or declared NED, No Evidence of disease. We count how many treatments we have yet to go and how many we have been through. We count the procedures we have had, the operations, infusions and other medical treatments. Our counting is medical, but also,</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">like the Omer, meditative as we walk this journey.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2018 and from that date I began counting -- that is</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 4 years 11 months and 2 weeks</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of living with cancer. That diagnosis changed many things in my life and in the lives of my family and friends. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For me, living out the winding journey of my cancer diagnosis, I recognize how precious each day, each season, each year can be. I count them with joy. While some journeys are about introspection, this one -- like the communal act of counting the Omer -- has focused my gaze on the power of those around me, and tonight I’d like to share how the power of community has come to life for me during the past few years.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I made a decision when I was first diagnosed to share my journey through a blog. Feel free to check out InoneEhrlich where you can read my whole story. Jewish practice, by tradition, is communal and it was on my blog that I first mentioned that beyond</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">good wishes, another way of supporting me, family, friends, and people who are going through cancer is through fulfilling the obligations from Eilu d’varim sh’ain l’hem shiru, which we say in our daily morning prayers. Unlike the Omer, and unlike the careful application of lifesaving drugs like tamoxafin, these are the things you can do </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WITHOUT</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> measure: going to services, studying, committing deeds of loving kindness and visiting the sick. This form of Tzedakah or gimilut chasadim brought comfort to my family and myself -- beyond measure and without count. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I always caution people NOT TO GOOGLE ovarian cancer, or any other cancer. The one place I ALWAYS tell everyone to google is Sharsheret. Sharsheret, Hebrew for "chain". We know that due to a higher prevalence of a BRCA mutation, Ashkenazi Jews have a higher risk of developing not just breast and ovarian cancer but also other cancers. Knowledge is power, especially when it means catching cancer early. I am so glad to thank Sharsheret for all their help and support over the past 4 and half years. They matched me with a mentor, sent information, scarves and makeup to me. This year I am proud to say I was asked to be on the long term strategic planning committee for Sharsheret and am able to give back with my time and energy.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the summer of 2019, after 7 months of treatment and 3 sessions of chemo, surgery, 5 more sessions of chemo, I was able to ring the bell and was pronounced NED. I was glad to have that part of the counting over -- and a new part of my counting began. Though luckily, I was able to kick off a new season of counting reunited with my annual 2 weeks of rejuvenation at the URJ Summer camp, Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute. As part of this new season of counting, I decided to do a personal mitzvah and went to the Mikveh, the Jewish ritual bath after getting the good news. The mikvah attendant prepared personal healing prayers for me and as the water washed over me, I cried. Like finishing counting the Omer, I felt a sense of completion -- and at the same time, I felt I had brushed up against my mortality and kept going -- all while counting.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fast forward to May 2023. We are here together to raise money for such a good cause. It has been 3 years, 11 months and 2 weeks in my journey since I rang the bell. Since I was diagnosed we have added two grandchildren to our family, both great additions and a wonderful way to keep counting in our family. My father also died last year of pancreatic cancer, which I believe will eventually be listed as a “Jewish cancer” the same as breast and ovarian cancer. While subtraction, his death is another soul we must count.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My family was with me for every counting and journey marker. Either Arthur, my husband, or my kids, Ethan and Lital, took me to my 8 hour chemo appointments. Jonathan made sure we had groceries and clean clothes. Thank you. I would be remiss if I did not thank Sharsheret for carefully planning tonight’s gala NOT to be on a night when the Boston Celtics are scheduled to play in the playoffs. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you to everyone who is here this evening. I want to especially thank All the Rabbis, Cantors and Educators who are here this evening from the Reform community who support me all year long. With your support and interest Sharsheret will continue to serve our community and grow from strength to strength.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And now for the part of the evening where we need to do MORE counting and not just the Omer. The Steinberg’s and I have laid out for you our connection to Sharsheret and we know many of you have made generous contributions in honor of us to Sharsheret and this evening. IF however you were looking for ONE MORE chance to donate, we have the opportunity for YOU. Please take out your phones, and text “CHAIN” to 50155 to send your donation. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Instructions are on the screens above!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sharsheret’s financial subsidies help cover the cost of life changing services – 3D nipple tattoos, cold caps, and human hair wigs, or cancer related life necessities, like mortgage or rent payments, car repairs, or groceries. Sharsheret has received "seed" money for these subsidies to help women who call, and now we are looking to raise another $25k to meet the demand. As a woman who called, I am happy to speak with you personally if you’d like to hear more about how meaningful that support is. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every bit helps, you can send 18 which is the numerical equivalent Chai or life, Double chai, 10 times Chai is also great --</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for those of you who's counting acumen skipped over multiplication, 10 TIMES Chai is 180, and to do 100 Times Chai, you just add a zero.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you do not want to donate via text, staff is walking up and down the aisles with pledge cards, just raise your hand!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(pause)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While you are pulling out your phones and I am sure SOME of you have checkbooks still I want to share where your dollars will go –</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The average subsidy that Sharsheret provides is $2,500. If we raise $25,000 tonight, we can help 10 women in need.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(pause)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last fall a woman called Sharsheret because her car had broken down and she could not pay the mechanic’s bill, and without a car she could not drive to and from chemotherapy. Through Sharsheret’s financial subsidies Sharsheret was able to directly pay the mechanic $2,000, and the next week she was able to drive to treatment. If you choose to donate $2,000 tonight, you can sponsor the next woman who is in need.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(pause)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every day new women call Sharsheret in need of a human hair wig during treatment. Each wig is valued at $750. If you choose to donate an additional $750 tonight, you will provide a wig to a woman in need.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(pause)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A quick note - if you’re having technical difficulties, don’t be shy! Raise your hand and a Sharsheret representative will come over and help you. This is too important to let technology get in the way!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want to tell you about a woman who called Sharsheret last month who was hitting hard financial times due to her diagnosis – Sharsheret was able to support her by sending $500 for groceries for her family. If you and the person next to you each donate the $250 tonight, you can be the sponsor for the next woman who is in need.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(pause)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last but not least – you may not know this but today is Eve’s birthday. She has spent the last 5 years dedicated to Sharsheret. For those of you who haven’t texted yet, let’s pledge $36 to celebrate Eve, our fearless leader in Chicago!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(pause)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have hit 9,000 already tonight!!!!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Right now we have a waiting list of 15 women in the queue to receive financial subsidies from Sharsheret.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If we can reach our $25,000 goal, we can help the first 10 women move off of the wait list.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sharsheret is an organization which was started by one woman connecting to another for support – 22 years later, how far we have come. The money we raise tonight will help each woman and in addition her family, when she picks up the phone to call Sharsheret, and will help us look into the future and as we learn more about cancer, who it affects and how we can help.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(If you got this far in my d'var and want to donate click <a href="https://sharsheret.org/donate-now/" target="_blank">here</a>.)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 17pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With your support, I know that support will be on the other end of that line when they call. Kein yehi ratzon. May it be God’s Will</span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-42432884383724653512022-05-25T08:45:00.003-07:002022-05-25T08:45:58.650-07:00Joke lists and this picture would have made it on!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-align: left;">My Dad, Jerry Michaels, Z'L had a great sense of humor. He sent out different curated lists of jokes to family and friends. Some of the grandkids were thrilled when they graduated to the more salacious jokes that Dad sent out. Arthur's friends were also surprised that he was on the "dirty Joke" list when he shared it out to his friends and family. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Dad loved sending out these jokes and was even happier when people would respond to his jokes. He would comment to me that he spent time and effort on these emails and didn't always hear back from some of the recipients. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Now I am not saying that Dad would have brought the paperclips shown below but I am Not saying he would Not have bought them. I know that he would have thought these were hilarious and he would have sent it out on one of his joke lists, or on more than one Joke list. Thanks to Shira for sending this on to us!</span></p></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTwJZxx2LjD4tcU88IQHKmDLNNipkjFiN8ISuAYvsx8SalCEIeF-UmkYqqdbg5Jeaq6RiOZHk5OsCF60S3qXNlsuM8RbkUKHPYso2XETIhPSCtUcYtXfDFVqdafml_eor1oYoRMZbiyaAgBluFniU1C-WrjJpI21FKl5r5irL8a4vP4NcJI_gSMb5/s680/3EB872BC-2967-48EC-8611-7194271D77C3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="680" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTwJZxx2LjD4tcU88IQHKmDLNNipkjFiN8ISuAYvsx8SalCEIeF-UmkYqqdbg5Jeaq6RiOZHk5OsCF60S3qXNlsuM8RbkUKHPYso2XETIhPSCtUcYtXfDFVqdafml_eor1oYoRMZbiyaAgBluFniU1C-WrjJpI21FKl5r5irL8a4vP4NcJI_gSMb5/s320/3EB872BC-2967-48EC-8611-7194271D77C3.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Sheloshim is the Hebrew word for 30 and it is also the first prescribed mourning time and to find out how we did sheloshim and what Wendy and I said please look below. We continue to miss Dad and as we tell stories and send jokes we keep his memory alive.</span></p></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">From Sheloshim - Words From Wendy and Vanessa</span></b></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a7d5b0a8-7fff-d4f2-2ef3-7ea9e2d08177"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: cyan; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wendy: </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It has been thirty days since our dad and Mom’s husband, Jerrold, Jerry Michaels died. Sheloshim,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the Hebrew word for thirty, commemorates the death of a loved one and the first stage of Jewish mourning. During Sheloshim you come across many firsts: the first Shabbat dinner without dad, the first Pesach, Passover seder, and even his birthday. On April 21, 15 days after he died, Jerry would have turned 89 years old. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vanessa:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This week’s Torah portion </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Emor</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vayikra</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Leviticus, teaches us about the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">laws regulating our lives and the way sacrifices by the priests should be presented. (21:1-22:33) Special dates within the Jewish calendar are also named and described: the Sabbath, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the Pilgrimage Festivals of Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot. (23:1-44)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vanessa:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We are in the time of Sefirot HaOmer, the counting of the Omer which is 49 days from Pesach to Shavuot, the giving of the Torah. The period of counting the Omer is a time of semi-mourning, during which traditional Jewish custom forbids haircuts, shaving and parties with dancing. So whether we were in Sheloshim or not, it is still a time of mourning. Tonight will be the 23rd day of counting the Omer, and we add the seven days prior from Dad’s funeral to get thirty for Sheloshim. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: cyan; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wendy:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The name of this week’s portion, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Emor,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> means speak, and we are here this evening to speak about, mourn, and celebrate our dad.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: cyan; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wendy:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In brief, Dad was born in 1933 on the south side of Chicago. He was confirmed at South Shore Temple, went to the University of Illinois for a BA in Psychology, received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and most importantly met and married our mom, Marian Lee. He then bought a veterinary practice in Crystal Lake, a small town of 5,000 people in Northern Illinois, when they moved there in 1959. But these are just the milestones you can see from the outside. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vanessa:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> He was a wonderful father and husband, worked round the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">clock at his veterinary practice where he began with visiting farms as well as pets. Fox Valley Animal Hospital is where he worked and mentored generations of Doctors and staff. Dad also loved reading and learning. He had a great sense of humor, well, most of his jokes were funny. He definitely would be tickled that this week’s Torah portion also covers the laws of profanity. And probably have more than a few questions about that for the Rabbi. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: cyan; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wendy:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We were lucky to have so much time with Dad. In the last three weeks of his life, the three of us, Mom, Vanessa and I, took care of Jerry. It was a gift of time. We were back together in the house where we grew up, and where Mom and Dad lived for over 55 years.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vanessa:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> During Sheloshim as we continue to incorporate grief into our daily lives, there are still memories and sadness for all of us. It is very difficult to do the last load of laundry with Dad’s clothes, to see his swim bag which he used daily until the very end, to view his messy desk filled with files and his notes on Shakespeare, and to wonder what to do with all of his many books and belongings. Dad went swimming every day, and I have just resumed my daily swim at our local JCC. At the pool, I am reminded of Dad.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: cyan; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wendy:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Dad was an avid stock trader and investor. I now have his all-important little black book of stock picks. Interestingly, when I looked at the first page of the book, it said, “Managing Atopica” 10-10-14. I thought this must be about some special investment portfolio. But as I read more closely, I realized they were pages of notes from a veterinary seminar he had attended. It was actually about managing different types of canine dermatitis. A perfect example of how we never questioned his very different interests that were a natural part of him. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: cyan; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wendy:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I’m amazed at how he stayed on top of everything. Just the week before he died, he was watching his treasured Jim Cramer stock market show and putting handwritten entries into his half-filled black book, researching his upcoming Great books session on Hamlet, and busy thinking about his grandkids and great-granddaughter’s legacies.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #ff9900; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope to complete many of the empty pages in his book with my own calculations, stock analysis, and thoughts on the world. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vanessa:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> There is something oddly comforting to doing things by the numbers. Our sadness is not mathematical, it comes in waves and we know it will ebb and flow as time goes by. But we are comforted by the ways Jewish mourning grounds us in time, and allows us to stay tethered to our lives even in death. We are also comforted and grateful for everyone who is with us here tonight. </span></p><br /><span style="background-color: cyan; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wendy:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thank you for coming here, especially those who took a plane flight here or</span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">drove down Highway 55. We also thank our zoomers too. We know today is Mother’s Day and we appreciate you sharing your time with all of us. We welcome all of you to stay and eat after our service and to share more memories about Jerry. And I really mean eat, we ordered enough to make Jerry proud, he would have wanted to treat all of you to dinner. Ok Maybe at Steak and Shake. (Sorry Zoomers, we will treat you when we see you in person.) Thank you everyone for all your love and support over the last few months. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></span></span></span></div>Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-48550396129153432232022-05-09T14:28:00.006-07:002022-05-09T14:28:44.540-07:00Sheloshim, 30 days after the Funeral, Dr. Jerrold "Jerry" Michaels Z"L<p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When you go into see your dentist and he says how are you doing do you respond, Oh my Dad died 30 days ago? It has been a hard few months? 30 is significant because Sheloshim, the Hebrew word for thirty, commemorates the death of a loved one and the first stage of Jewish mourning. Dad died right before Pesach, in fact we only did Shiva for 5 days since the next 2 nights were Seder. Dad is buried outside of Chicago and Shiva was in Crystal Lake, and at my house. Wendy had Sheloshim in St. Louis and her friends were there to comfort her and our family. Here are the words that Wendy and I spoke at the funeral. Our children wrote beautiful pieces to Dad and I will publish them later this week. I also have our words from Sheloshim. I KNOW you are not supposed to thank people around anything connected to the funeral. I can tell you that the outpouring of support from our friends, family and our different communities was overwhelming. We are so glad to be a part of so many caring and loving communities. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">(NOTE: Wendy and I read this together paragraph by paragraph at the funeral)</span></b></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If my dad walked into this room right now, I think he would look around and say, why is everyone here? Why did HE come? I don’t know everyone here. This is for me? Can’t be. We know there would have been some much saltier and humorous exclamations as well. Many people describe Dad as a real character. He was funny, appreciated a good joke, or a bad one, and no matter the situation, would tell you what was on his mind. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">The Early Years</span></b></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Jerry Michaels was born in 1933 on the south side of Chicago to Florence and Lee. He was a proud Alum of O’Keefe Grade School and Hyde Park High School. We know some of his school friends are even here with us today. Next on the educational journey was the University of Illinois where he earned a BA in psychology, enjoying philosophy classes on the side, and a BS in veterinary medicine, and finally a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The highlight of his University of Illinois career, however, was hardly in the classroom. Sophomore year of college, Jerry met our mom, Marian, or Marian Lee as we call her in the family. Dad was on the IC train back to Champaign from Chicago when a friend from Hyde Park High School, and Social Chair of the Ivria House where mom lived, asked him, “Would you go for a drink with Marian?” Little did he know, “one drink” would be multiple beers, all of which Marian downed with ease. My dad couldn't keep up. Dad was a hit at Ivria with his cashmere sweaters, his sharp wit and his piano playing of<i> Blue Moon</i>. It was because of Dad that I learned to play piano. Marian and Jerry continued the relationship. And on January 30, 1955 they were married. The rest as they say is history. 67 years of it. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Veterinary school and Fox Valley Animal Hospital</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After veterinary school Marian and Jerry moved to Homewood, Illinois for a year where he worked as a vet and welcomed their first daughter. Jerry then bought a Crystal Lake veterinary practice in May of 1959. Soon after, he welcomed his, admittedly less loud, second daughter. He was a large and small animal doctor for six years before deciding to move his practice exclusively to small animals, after thoughtful counsel with a client, a cow, who kicked him in the leg and broke his bone. He decided he would be sticking to dogs and cats and other small pets after that. We won’t mention the occasional snake, hamsters or birds.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Who knew that a city boy whose only interaction with animals was the book “Lad A Dog,” by Albert Payson Terhune, and whose only pet was a goldfish, would decide to go to veterinary school. He could never have imagined, growing up on the south shore of Chicago, that he would end up knee deep in muck vaccinating sheep and calving cows.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I don’t think we realized how hard our dad worked until we were able to look back at our childhood as adults. You hear so much today about work life balance. Our dad worked as a single practitioner for the first 25 years of his career. He had weekday, weeknight and weekend office hours. In my fourth grade essay, very clearly titled “I Want to be a Veterinarian,” I wrote, “Even on his day off he must feed and take out his animals.” A lot of wisdom there from a fourth grader who idolized her dad.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Over the years, he hired more veterinarians, vet techs, and caring office management. He retired only seven years ago at the age of 82. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Having a family in Crystal Lake</span></b></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our family always gets questions about living in Crystal Lake because we were one of just a few Jewish families who lived there. Mom and Dad made sure we attended synagogue in Elgin. Dad even learned Hebrew to have an aliyah at first Vanessa’s and then Wendy’s Bat Mitzvah Dad jumped in and became a very active participant in community life. During these years dad also served on the board of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce, was a member of Crystal Lake Kiwanis Club, and was a leading member of the Great Books Club. This group was his great love and he was scheduled to lead a session on Hamlet this Tuesday. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The Tornado</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Almost 57 years ago to the day, the four of us were sitting in our living room when the sky darkened. I called out to dad that our curtains were being sucked out of windows that had been painted shut, he dragged the whole family into the basement. Before we made it to the bottom of the stairs a tornado leveled our home. When Dad finally went back upstairs, all he saw was blue sky. Mom and Dad lost everything, but together, with Jerry’s tenacity, they remained resilient. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Athlete</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Athlete may not be the first word that comes to mind when you think of Jerry Michaels, but Dad swam <span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">every day</span>. He loved this routine, and as soon as the health club opened back up after being closed for the pandemic, he was the first one in the pool.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad loved to watch our family grow. He would be so proud to know that his five grandchildren are participating in today’s service. Esme, his exuberant great granddaughter, my granddaughter who he saw even through the pandemic, is nearby, and he loved watching videos and facetiming with her.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad was generous not just to the many organizations including political, Jewish, and of course his scholarship fund at the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine, but to his family. Education was very important to Dad. He was the first in his family to graduate from college and have an advanced degree. What a legacy of two daughters with advanced degrees and five grandchildren who have graduated college. Dad was also generous in making sure his grandchildren had no college debt. You will hear from them today. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our family trips were legendary, at least in our own minds. We laughed, toured and saw so many exciting places that opened our eyes to the world. There were also some less than perfect memories, like when all eleven of us had to put on wet suits for a boating excursion in Hawaii, and when we found ourselves in the midst of a high surf, all Dad could say was “get me out of this thing!” With him, all memories, no matter what, could be retold with humor. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Over the years when I would visit my parents, I would park myself at their house for the duration. Last Fall, my Dad, an avid film and TV show connoisseur, asked me if I had seen the series “After Life” by the British comic and actor Ricky Gervais. I said I hadn’t. My Dad had already watched two seasons, but liked it so much, wanted to re-watch with me. We both were spellbound by the clever dialogue, funny jokes, and heartbreaking scenes. The show is about a husband who loses his wife and has to go on living in the topsy turvy world her absence left for him. The last season began in January of this year. When I came up at the beginning of February, my dad said, in a somewhat annoyed tone, I’ve been waiting to start watching so let's go. We watched together with Mom as Ricky Gervais imperfectly navigated grief with humor. I feel very grateful that we watched to the last episode. I’m going to take the show, and our time spent watching it together, with me. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our mom’s mom, Grandma Hetty, used to tell everyone that you should have Mazel, luck, in life and Mazel in death. Dad was seriously ill for just a short time. We are blessed to have spent the last two weeks with him and mom. On his last morning we were able to read letters to him from all five grandchildren. He laughed, he commented, and of course, he critiqued. We couldn’t be more grateful. What a gift. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We want to thank our family, friends and all of our communities who have supported, cared and have been there for us. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This week as you go back to your families and your communities, take a minute to call your parents, read a little Shakespeare and kiss your spouse. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Think of Dad, we know he would be honored. Dad, we love you.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Than are dreamt of in our philosophy.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">(Hamlet, Act 1 Scene 5)</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLbflj5BPxQ9JVo1gABm0tI-w0mlvtzXdT3DMdSWjOJ5Oyt3n5NZVLy20dNsmUPal7UB-5vtHgfOKDbupJHBAfUxlBOtP1uB37PGGLQscjC18Me4PTH_T4SWeHDjc6NaZAh1vJhWukwnxh675XRAMAcedHA33M2LcYuGv3emeZLK1i0eHRO5IjCnr/s4032/4BCA4868-047C-4BF1-992E-DBAA3F13F66C.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLbflj5BPxQ9JVo1gABm0tI-w0mlvtzXdT3DMdSWjOJ5Oyt3n5NZVLy20dNsmUPal7UB-5vtHgfOKDbupJHBAfUxlBOtP1uB37PGGLQscjC18Me4PTH_T4SWeHDjc6NaZAh1vJhWukwnxh675XRAMAcedHA33M2LcYuGv3emeZLK1i0eHRO5IjCnr/w335-h343/4BCA4868-047C-4BF1-992E-DBAA3F13F66C.heic" width="335" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Jerry's Great Granddaughter, age 2 shoveling in his grave</span></div><p></p>Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-34288393788253399482022-01-23T18:43:00.005-08:002022-01-23T18:43:51.476-08:00Series Finale Season 2 In Two Ehrlich's and 2 Leiters<p> It has been a fun week with my granddaughter and I loved every minute. Well, the Big Poop Savta moments will be certainly be memorable. I introduced Elmo in a no screen household. Then 3 rI got caught when the refrain for MORE ELMO, MORE ELMO didn't stop.</p><p>We are hoping for a Season 3 renewal, and will keep you posted. Enjoy:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="356" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gXbAQx0rOH0" width="419" youtube-src-id="gXbAQx0rOH0"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-2439191054577064332022-01-21T06:04:00.000-08:002022-01-21T06:04:26.379-08:00In 1 Ehrlich and 2 Leiters<p> We continue to have a wonderful week in DC and are looking forward to Shabbat. We were not able to go to the zoo as it was closed. I have the email to prove it as you need reservations and they let me know it was closed. Can't wait to see what is in store for us this weekend. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G7l5688YWFo" width="383" youtube-src-id="G7l5688YWFo"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-43188729485032440332022-01-20T06:02:00.000-08:002022-01-20T06:02:27.035-08:00In 2 Ehrlich's and One little Leiter Part Deux or Shteim<p> I am back to help babysit my wonderful granddaughter. Her class was closed done to a Covid exposure and I got on the next plane to be here with her! Lucky for me I can do my job remotely and I have not missed a meeting. Unfortunately, Saba, known as Arthur had to stay home as he does his job in person. </p><p>I love being with family and have had a great week so far. Special shout to the Drazner family, Melissa, Abigail and Jeremy who encouraged me to Vlog again this week. You always need an appreciative audience. I feel even more appreciated since Jeremy is a stand up comic and I will be sure to list where you can see his upcoming shows.</p><p>Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments. This is the best job in the world.</p><p>Enjoy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LAKlvSpS6Tg" width="484" youtube-src-id="LAKlvSpS6Tg"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-24595426875865054002021-12-26T18:05:00.003-08:002021-12-26T18:05:56.309-08:00Last Babysitting Adventure for In 2 Ehrlichs and one Little Leiter<p> What a wonderful week we had with our Little Leiter. We thank our kids for given this golden ticket to babysit and bond with our granddaughter for a week. We are tired and at home already missing our Little Leiter. </p><p>By the way, the glasses we toast with at the end of the Vlog are a gift from our kids and were hand blown in Colorado. And yes, I was beginning to cry at the end of the Vlog.</p><p>Happy Secular New Year and you will hear from me soon. </p><p>Watch here:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GiTB24Xn_uk" width="472" youtube-src-id="GiTB24Xn_uk"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-53175982142978655142021-12-24T10:51:00.003-08:002021-12-24T10:51:45.843-08:00In 2 Ehrlichs and One Little Leiter<p> It has been a week since we got to DC and we wish we could stay a week more, well there's not daycare next week so perhaps this is for the better. What a wonderful time we had and we are grateful to be able to spend so much time with our granddaughter. We like her parents too and can't wait to hear about their travels.</p><p>Special thanks to Xani and Marc who procured those free Washington DC rapid covid tests and we are NEGATIVE. Covid vs preschool bug and preschool bug for the win. </p><p>This morning we went to Kingman Island near RFK Stadium. The stadium may be empty but the playground was great.</p><p>Shabbat Shalom and I am sure we have a few more vlogs for you.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1uG8MzQwyjw" width="468" youtube-src-id="1uG8MzQwyjw"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-65508654776553358092021-12-23T09:11:00.004-08:002021-12-23T09:11:47.794-08:00Day 5 in Two Ehrlichs and one Little Leiter<p>It has been an eventful 24 hours. We have had some type of bug. Since I worked with pre-school kids lo, these many years I didn't get it as bad as Arthur. We are still here to tell the story. Just tomorrow and then the kids come home. I think our granddaughter is having great time with us. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7sKkLXMOhM4" width="488" youtube-src-id="7sKkLXMOhM4"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-82527057981441700312021-12-22T06:38:00.005-08:002021-12-22T06:38:35.823-08:00<p> It's Day 4 with our Granddaughter but only day 3 on our own. We are having a good time and fall into bed every night exhausted. Here is last night's vblog:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Ui7GOEPxEU" width="560" youtube-src-id="4Ui7GOEPxEU"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-22613949687884571862021-12-21T06:19:00.001-08:002021-12-21T06:21:34.576-08:00In 2 Ehrlichs and one Little Leiter<p>From Monday December 20, 2021</p><p>Another successful day of staying with our granddaughter. We continue with pre-potty training and working our general magic. </p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="313" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YYkpcGweoOw" width="480" youtube-src-id="YYkpcGweoOw"></iframe></div><p></p>Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-70866785860819735112021-12-20T10:37:00.007-08:002021-12-20T10:48:41.350-08:00In Two Ehrlichs and One Little Leiter<p> It has been a long time since I posted. I guess 2020 and most of 2021 has been taken up with COVID19. The absolute BRIGHT LINING is our granddaughter born in March 2020. She is cute, precocious and we love her. She is also VERY active, walking 10 months and running soon after. </p><p>Why tell you about these details? Arthur and I are staying with her for a WHOLE week while Mom and Dad are on a fun camping trip in Rocky National Park. FUN, if you like to hike in semi-cold weather with spikes on your boots, but that is another blog. We thought we would do a V Blog, Video blog, and let you know how we are doing. </p><p>Here is our first entry:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jnBkXosKFIo" width="449" youtube-src-id="jnBkXosKFIo"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p>And because it took me a hot minute to figure this all out, here is the 2nd entry, enjoy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aIr80ThjWOA" width="485" youtube-src-id="aIr80ThjWOA"></iframe></div><br /><p>Enjoy. </p><p><br /></p>Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-12219669752719322482020-05-22T10:30:00.000-07:002020-05-22T10:30:00.928-07:00One year is a long time: May 20, 2019 my last Chemo, Anniversary of my Last Chemo<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Fw6oKf09-Q/XsXj8ObJaAI/AAAAAAAAD4o/fwHflM-vRHwidlMcN-xMr10jiXFrruLYQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/65256CC3-0D94-4B06-B9D2-35B8D8A981A2_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1499" data-original-width="1600" height="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Fw6oKf09-Q/XsXj8ObJaAI/AAAAAAAAD4o/fwHflM-vRHwidlMcN-xMr10jiXFrruLYQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/65256CC3-0D94-4B06-B9D2-35B8D8A981A2_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last Chemo May 20, 2019</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The minhag (custom) in the Infusion unit is to ring a large bell three times when you complete your last chemotherapy cancer treatment. During this time, I had to practice social distancing, avoiding hugs and close contact with others. Who knew I would have to engage in social distancing and self quarantining all over again one year later due to COVID19? </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most of us have now had some type of experience with sheltering in place, which allows people to have empathy for the type of anxiety those of us who are immunosuppressed feel when going into crowds. All of us are now on alert in case we get too close to other people when we are doing even the most mundane tasks and errands, including going to the grocery store, getting gas for our car or going to work. Think about doing these same errands when you are immunosuppressed and your senses go on red alert when someone gets too close to you, and without a mask. It is not an easy task.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GgP1_66rW4/XsXlVTh2Q4I/AAAAAAAAD44/oTUPg8x6OqEj-jkW-iu1KqqYo55mfx4qwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/B623D1B3-053D-475A-84EE-3650B4380441_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1433" data-original-width="1600" height="286" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GgP1_66rW4/XsXlVTh2Q4I/AAAAAAAAD44/oTUPg8x6OqEj-jkW-iu1KqqYo55mfx4qwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/B623D1B3-053D-475A-84EE-3650B4380441_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Spertus Leadership Certificate Program in Jan 2020</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As for me here is my current health update, I have received an infusion of Avastin every 3 weeks for the past year with very little side effects. I do feel tired but that could be chalked up to many different things. These infusions seem to be working and I will take them for the time being. I am carefully monitored and although they are not chemo, Avastin is still very toxic and my blood levels are checked every time I have an infusion. But it is now been 12 months to the day with No Evidence of Disease. My doctor told me that is the platinum standard for those who had ovarian cancer!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9mJz2VCA2j4/XsgJO5Y-qYI/AAAAAAAAD5c/PWf13-q-6TYSKU1QKZ9AcuqYCVBeMxl8gCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-10%2Bat%2B2.04.38%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9mJz2VCA2j4/XsgJO5Y-qYI/AAAAAAAAD5c/PWf13-q-6TYSKU1QKZ9AcuqYCVBeMxl8gCK4BGAYYCw/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-10%2Bat%2B2.04.38%2BPM.png" width="298" /></a></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was so happy to be able to visit my granddaughter, Esme, in Washington DC, when she was born. I hope to drive back to DC this summer as our summer camp, <a href="https://osrui.org/">OSRUI</a> will not be open due to COVID19. At least last year after months of being in seclusion I looked forward to being at camp for 2 weeks. I can only begin to imagine how our campers and madrichim must be feeling at this time with no summer camp this year.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we look to the 2020 Summer of Covid19, rest assured that I will not be physically attending any crowded venues, including Religious events, but that is a topic for my next blog. Thank you to everyone who has continued to check in on me and for all of your thoughtful words. We know the Jewish value of Pikuah Nefesh, saving a soul, is like saving the world. Thank you for staying inside and stopping the spread and saving the world. It is so important to not infect those in our high risk communities of which I am a part. I hope to “see” you soon on zoom, facetime or from at least 6 feet away.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Update: My family surprised me with a beautiful powerpoint and filmed skit for my CancerFreeversary. It was beautiful, moving and filled with humor. I am truly blessed.</span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-67075604846708501372020-04-12T12:47:00.001-07:002020-04-12T12:49:27.053-07:00Dear Granddaughter: First Letter to my first grandchild March 2020/Adar 5780<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Grandbaby,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The day you were born was a day I’ll never forget, and I want to tell you about it through my eyes, your Savta. I stayed at your house the night you were born. When you are old enough to read this by yourself I pray that this world will not be as frightening as it is right now. No one will ever forget that you came into the world during the COVID19 pandemic. What is a pandemic? I don’t think you will be using wikipedia as your textbook, but by 2025 who knows what the current best practices of education will be. Here we go:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.884; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A pandemic is a disease epidemic that has spread across a large region, for instance multiple continents, or worldwide. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1a0dab; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wikipedia</span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.884; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am sure you will have heard the stories from Saba and I, your parents and your whole family about your birth and about this time in history. I will tell my story. I drove over 700 miles with your Uncle Ethan from Chicago to make sure I would be here for your first day in this world. Cities, and even whole states throughout the country, including Chicago had asked everyone to shelter in their homes. We stayed at your house, not just to be close to you, your Mom and Dad, but we were afraid to stay in a hotel because it might expose us to the insidious germs of this terrifying disease. We were so glad to be in your house. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your Mom, as you know, was very determined to be at home for as long as she could until she had to go to the hospital. Your Dad, as always, helped to coach, partner and be there for her. She was also lucky to have a wonderful friend and doula who took her step by step to help you be born. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.884; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When your mom and dad went to the hospital, Uncle Ethan and I went back to sleep. Actually, Uncle Ethan was in the basement and didn’t hear your Mom going through labor and never woke up. During this time of Covid19 we were so blessed to have our doula in the room as well as your Dad. Right after you were born the rules changed and only Dads were allowed in the Labor room. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.884; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Tuesday morning, March 24 we waited to hear any news and at 5:34 am you were born. You were 7lb 3oz and 19 inches and came home on Thursday.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.884; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Things were not normal in Washington DC nor anywhere in this country. Your Doctor told us Friday that your Saba and Uncle Jonathan could not join us for the Pesach Seder which was in 2 weeks. You could not see any of your friends for at least ONE MONTH. We sent your dad out for grocery shopping and he wore gloves, a mask that Grandma Carrie made and we tried to cut down our shopping to only a few times a week. We even ordered your diapers online. Yes really.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.884; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We told everyone that we were so happy you were born and we welcomed you into the world and I sent this email out:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Friends and Family,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With great joy and gratitude we want to let you know that we have a new addition to our a family, a Baby Girl. Baby Girl was born March 24 corresponding to the 28th of Adar at 5:34 am She weighs in at 7lbs 3oz and stands 19 inches tall. Lital and Cole are still in the hospital with baby. Ethan Ron and I have been hunkered down at the house with Maggie (the dog) and Klaus (the cat.) Arthur and Jonathan will join us before Pesach for Seder. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lital and Cole are choosing to reveal her name in the near future. As soon as WE know the name we will let YOU know the name. Lital and Cole also ask you </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">please</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">do not post on any social media</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. We will of course be sending more pictures and news as soon as we can. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are all happy for this exciting and positive moment at a much needed time.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With Love and wishes for a sweet, SAFE Pesach and Shabbat Shalom!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Savta Vanessa, Saba Arthur, Jonathan and Ethan Ron Ehrlich</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you came home from the hospital you were the bright spot not just in our day but for all of your friends and relatives from all over the world, from Belgium to Israel and right here in the United States. Everyone was so happy to hear about your birth in such a dark time. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We didn’t tell the world your name until the 8th day when Jewish boys and girls get their names. Here is what your Mom and Dad announced about your name. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Friends and Family,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are so excited to introduce you to this young one in person, and in more normal times we would have invited you into our home for a baby naming. In a traditional Jewish family this is when the new baby receives their Hebrew name and it is announced publicly for the first time. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, as the times go, this baby naming is going to be virtual for now!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Watch this to see us walk you through some of the thought behind this baby's names. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://youtu.be/ZVZGX3U-VME" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WATCH HERE</span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then, if you're still looking for more, you can read the explanations below that include details we forgot to include in our slick, highly produced video.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Esme [Ez-May] </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is a name with origins in Old French, meaning "to esteem" or "to love." We chose this name to honor Lital's grandparents (also known as Bubbie and Zaydie), Evelyn and Eli. Just like this name, we think that this moment in time is one where we need love more than ever.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vajPoMBWbtc/XpNtbaYDSDI/AAAAAAAADy0/peWvqNl5aswEWzugt8AyZF8rs8r0JlbXwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_6008%2B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vajPoMBWbtc/XpNtbaYDSDI/AAAAAAAADy0/peWvqNl5aswEWzugt8AyZF8rs8r0JlbXwCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_6008%2B2.jpeg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lital’s Grandparents Evelyn and Eli, Arthur's parents</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hPhydH6Fars/XpNwtfs6RhI/AAAAAAAAD0w/v633XPbuEzk1hKhbOpo89TDj3iH_qlkZwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Resized_20200328_160144%2B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hPhydH6Fars/XpNwtfs6RhI/AAAAAAAAD0w/v633XPbuEzk1hKhbOpo89TDj3iH_qlkZwCK4BGAYYCw/s320/Resized_20200328_160144%2B2.jpeg" width="240" /></a><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fv0MbQPXXno/XpNtqClw-0I/AAAAAAAADzE/J4wp2LGdtDkvfeCEzviHLL-sliB_yX_5ACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Resized_20200328_160114.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fv0MbQPXXno/XpNtqClw-0I/AAAAAAAADzE/J4wp2LGdtDkvfeCEzviHLL-sliB_yX_5ACK4BGAYYCw/s320/Resized_20200328_160114.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harel [Har-El] </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is a name with Hebrew origins meaning "mountain of God." We chose this name to honor our great grandmothers, who were named Hedy and Hedwig. Harel also has significance for us in our shared love for nature. Nature, and particularly mountains, are a place we often go to escape. Coincidentally, the month after we found out we were expecting Esme we went on an incredible backpacking trip in the North Cascades, hiking up and down some of the most breathtaking mountains we have ever experienced. We hope to be able to share future adventures like that with Esme someday soon. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RAaXc8B2gAA/XpNt2jRuxzI/AAAAAAAADzQ/oGFFgAGzvxspjDA2-hhJEucHjry3cDFcACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/60718964467__65CCEF76-2BA6-428C-B8F8-DA800D9A3A18.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RAaXc8B2gAA/XpNt2jRuxzI/AAAAAAAADzQ/oGFFgAGzvxspjDA2-hhJEucHjry3cDFcACK4BGAYYCw/s320/60718964467__65CCEF76-2BA6-428C-B8F8-DA800D9A3A18.jpeg" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="266" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ShP25o77Ovo/XpNt5cOlEpI/AAAAAAAADzY/F-CnFR37jpcg_o7ERrz77oafGhbYScO_ACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/60718944686__6101EA47-8D35-4169-A01C-FCB423545661%2B3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ShP25o77Ovo/XpNt5cOlEpI/AAAAAAAADzY/F-CnFR37jpcg_o7ERrz77oafGhbYScO_ACK4BGAYYCw/s320/60718944686__6101EA47-8D35-4169-A01C-FCB423545661%2B3.jpeg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lital’s Great Grandmother Hetty, Vanessa's Grandmother</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z48j7SDzxro/XpNt-X5ZyFI/AAAAAAAADzk/tUP4P3MMgJsVIdRd9UD08kZSnj4125grACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Hedwig%2BScheuer%2BOppenheimer.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z48j7SDzxro/XpNt-X5ZyFI/AAAAAAAADzk/tUP4P3MMgJsVIdRd9UD08kZSnj4125grACK4BGAYYCw/s320/Hedwig%2BScheuer%2BOppenheimer.jpeg" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cole’s Great Grandmother Hedwig</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We will keep sharing updates and pictures along her journey. Until you get to meet her in person, stay safe and keep in touch.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lital, Cole and Esme </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During Covid19 we have also resorted to using zoom for EVERYTHING, talking to friends and our work meetings. Zoom is a video conferencing platform we have all managed to learn in 2020. At your first Pesach seder, our Zeder, we zoomed with Saba and Uncle Jonathan in Deerfield and Grandma and Grandpa in Ohio. We can’t wait for your next Seder which we hope will be in person and you can run around and actually find the afikomen.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The rest of your grandparents, Aunt and Uncles, cousins, and all of our friends are now waiting to meet you. We hope all this will pass soon, but will be patient until we know it is safe for you to venture fully into this beautiful world. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I write this I want you to know your mom and dad would love to edit this piece and they are great editors. I think this will have to go without their touch but you know it is from my full heart and I love you with all my might. Although maybe Uncle Ethan helped to clean up some of these sentences. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please know I am a cryer, so this blog post/letter comes with tears, tears of joy. I hope to write more letters to your cousins, whenever they appear.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I just can’t leave this without something from our Jewish heritage. There is a traditional parental blessing which wishes girls to be like Sarah, Rebecca, Leah and Rachel. I found this blessing from the Jewish Reconstructionist tradition </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c1d07; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Marcia Falk, a contemporary feminist liturgist offers her own version of this blessing. Instead of wishing that the child be like someone else, this blessing asks that the child be as she is.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c1d07; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To our girl:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c1d07; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> הֲיִי אֲשֶׁר תִּהְיִיEsme</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c1d07; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> וַהֲיִי בְּרוּכָה</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c1d07; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> בַּאֲשֶׁר תִּהְיִי</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c1d07; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Esme Harel, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c1d07; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hayi asher tih'yi </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c1d07; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c1d07; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">vahayi b'rukhah ba'asher tih'yi.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c1d07; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Be who you are — and may you be blessed in all that you are.</b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c1d07; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We all love you so much, Your Savta, Vanessa</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2c1d07; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SbrTqvaLP-A/XpNvULazWMI/AAAAAAAAD0M/ij-uxnDU_HIAWw8iw93mbQ9GSFXfNcMPgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Esme%2Bfeet.png" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u-avmfZk5jw/XpNvZ3TICMI/AAAAAAAAD0c/NeTO_3__RfQnbq5PW2Feuh_WFV90CSolwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_5940.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u-avmfZk5jw/XpNvZ3TICMI/AAAAAAAAD0c/NeTO_3__RfQnbq5PW2Feuh_WFV90CSolwCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_5940.jpeg" width="240" /></a><img height="16" id="lusd3gr6m82w" src="data:image/gif;base64,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" width="16" /><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SbrTqvaLP-A/XpNvULazWMI/AAAAAAAAD0M/ij-uxnDU_HIAWw8iw93mbQ9GSFXfNcMPgCK4BGAYYCw/s320/Esme%2Bfeet.png" width="238" /></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-2e07eae0-7fff-d21d-bbfe-1cd3c0cdc434"><br /></span>Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-70013078085547614572019-10-15T17:33:00.000-07:002019-10-15T18:01:36.391-07:00Cancer Awareness Shabbat Ha-azeinu October 11, 2019 <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kls9aqQsb_8/XaZhnqcgOkI/AAAAAAAADgU/NA1c-cDKDH03rf3HVgPPKSnJonfGTjIaQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_0770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kls9aqQsb_8/XaZhnqcgOkI/AAAAAAAADgU/NA1c-cDKDH03rf3HVgPPKSnJonfGTjIaQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_0770.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Shabbat Shalom. Thank you, <a href="https://www.mymakom.org/"><span style="color: #dca10d;">Makom Solel Lakeside</span></a>, Rabbi Serotta, Rabbi Moffic, Cantor O’brien for having this first Cancer Awareness Shabbat and for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts.</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">These past 2 weeks, on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, when we recited Unetanah Tokef, which translates to “We shall ascribe holiness to </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">this day” it was not easy for me. Here are </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">some verses which I am sure you will </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">recognize:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <b><i>On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed - how many shall pass away and how many shall be born, who shall live and who shall die, who in good time, and who by an untimely death, who by water and who by fire, and so on.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have always thought about this prayer as my empty stomach begins to </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">grumble. But this year it was different. It was difficult for me to recite this </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">central prayer.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In fact, I couldn’t get the words out despite being very familiar with it. </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 11 months ago. That diagnoses changed more than a few things in my life, and, this Yom Kippur, the changes in my mindset really came into focus. </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unetanah Tokef is an uncharacteristically literal piyut, poem in our liturgy. It </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">was composed during the Byzantine period about 330 to 1453 CE. There </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">were hundreds of these piyutim from this time but this is the one which </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">survived and made it into our High Holy Day Machzor. (thank you, Cantor </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jay, for this input)</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Putting myself in their shoes, I wonder how the community of that time period felt reciting Unetanah Tokef. “Who by famine and who by thirst? Who by earthquake and who by famine” are literal questions that may seem distant for us, as we worry about being “that guy who <span style="text-decoration: underline;">replies-all</span> to an email thread,” (full </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">transparency, that’s me!) but for our ancestors these were real concerns. </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unfortunately, the climate crisis is bringing back some of these concerns, but that is another sermon for another day.</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For me, living out my cancer diagnosis, I felt for the first time like I got it: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Death, and the struggle to avert it, isn’t theoretical for any of us. It’s our reality.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But the High Holy Days are not days of suffering or reality without healthy </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">doses of hope. No matter what you have done, the poet tells us, the severe </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">decree‑-the penalty of death‑can be averted. We can follow the advice of the sages, “Three things cancel the decree, . . . prayer, tzedakah and repentance” </span></div>
<div style="color: #dca10d; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">(<a href="https://www.sefaria.org/Bereishit_Rabbah.44.12?lang=he-en">Genesis Rabba 44:12</a>) </span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trust me, I know that my cancer is a journey. As I stand here today, I know </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">that the power of prayer and the power of community continues to be a </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">source of my hope. I’d like to take to share how the power of this</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> community has come to life for me during the past year.</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I stated in my first blog post, (if you don’t have it you can find it at:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In One </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ehrlich),</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I mentioned that beyond your good wishes another way of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">supporting me and other friends, congregants and people who are going </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">through cancer is through fulfilling the obligations outlined in the prayer we </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">say in morning services: <i>Eilu d'varim sh’ain l'hem shiur</i>, these are the things </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">you can do without </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">measure: going to services, studying, and committing deeds of loving kindness. Experiencing this community coming together to </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">add to all of our Jewish journeys has brought me incredible happiness and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">gives me another form of hope, so please be sure to continue to let me know what mitzvot you have been doing and which mitzvot when you did it </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">surprised you the most!</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And that’s not the only place my community has come together to help us on this journey. My family joins me in thanking everyone who donated, brought meals, ran errands for us, visited, sent beautifully written cards and emails </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">with words of hope and encouragement, gift cards for meals and the list goes on. This form of Tzedakah, while I cannot medically <span style="text-decoration: underline;">prove it helped</span> put my </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">cancer in remission, it certainly did bring comfort to my family, knowing that </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">we had all of your support. The response to my news was and continues to </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">be overwhelming. </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And through it all, last week I was able to give my own form of Tzedakah in </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">the form of a visit to a Makom Solel Lakeside member when I delivered a </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Shabbat meal. It felt so good to give back after so many who have supported me, and I even felt like myself again when preparing and delivering this meal. </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I always caution people NOT TO GOOGLE this disease, or any other cancer. The one place I CAN tell you to google is <a href="https://sharsheret.org/"><span style="color: #dca10d;">Sharsheret</span></a>. Sharsheret, Hebrew </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">for "chain," is an American not-for-profit organization intended to support </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jewish women with breast or ovarian cancer, or a genetic predisposition to it, and their families. I am not sure if you know, but due to a higher prevalence </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">of a BRCA mutation, Ashkenazi Jews have a higher risk of developing not </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">just breast and ovarian cancer but also pancreatic cancer.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Knowledge is </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">power, especially when it means catching cancer early, I am so glad to thank Sharsheret for all their help and support. Tonight, at the Oneg you will see information from Sharsheret, you can see the spelling of the organization to better google it. </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This summer I was so happy to spend my annual 2 weeks of rejuvenation at our Summer camp, Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute. I was able to participate </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">in Face Paint Friday by painting my bald head.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pictures in my blog. I also </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">decided to do a personal mitzvah and went to the Mikveh, the Jewish ritual </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">bath after getting the news that there was no evidence of disease in my body. Many people go to the Mikveh before they convert, or before their wedding, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">like my daughter Lital. There are other reasons to go to the Mikveh, including when you are transforming from one phase of life to another. When I went to the Mikveh it was a very emotional moment for me. The mikveh attendant had prepared personal healing prayers for me and as the water washed over me, I cried. </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now as many of you know I am a public crier. I readily admit this. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I cry when I introduce a Holocaust survivor to speak to our community, I cried when I charged our confirmation students. But I do not usually cry about </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">myself. This time it was very cleansing both inside and out to go to the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mikveh. Like hearing Unetakah tokef earlier this week, I felt the reality of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">mortality at the Mikveh.</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can’t miss an opportunity to talk Torah. Our parasha, portion this week is </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Haazeinu, meaning to listen. The passage from this parasha is commonly </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">known as Shirat HaMosheh, the song of Moses.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cantor Elizabeth Sacks points out to us: </span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We discover that Moses uses musical repetition here as a purposeful tool to deepen and accentuate the profundity of this moment. As he </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">prepares to depart from their presence, Moses employs a haunting, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">recurrent chant to ensure that the Israelites will understand, feel </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">connected to, recognize the contours of, and eternally remember the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">wisdom he has gleaned from his life’s work. In this instance, simplicity itself is what breeds strength and staying power.</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We all know there is much to be done in the area of cancer research. I believe that we must keep repeating ourselves to get the message out, join groups like Sharsheret, have a Friday night service about cancer awareness and reach out to our community to those still going through treatment and their families. Just like when you hear Shabbat, High Holy day or our weekend day nusach, melodies, remind yourself to help someone who doesn’t feel well, donate to Sharsheret, investigate getting genetic testing, or just come to services and sing the Mishaberach prayer.</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you all for being here tonight and those of you who are with us by streaming our service. Please know that being part of a caring community is what helps me and many of us survivors get through the rough times and celebrate the good times. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kein Yehi Ratzone,</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">May it be God’s will </span></div>
<br />
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Amen</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7jX1kvEXHM/XaZi5_ycT1I/AAAAAAAADgg/fSF4rPXgeJ8hgQyoUEduuOCkNSDDSZVzQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/fullsizeoutput_11564.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1495" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7jX1kvEXHM/XaZi5_ycT1I/AAAAAAAADgg/fSF4rPXgeJ8hgQyoUEduuOCkNSDDSZVzQCPcBGAYYCw/s640/fullsizeoutput_11564.jpeg" width="598" /></a></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-19398752450284054812019-06-05T19:49:00.000-07:002019-08-20T14:36:02.778-07:00ScanAnxiety, how to bench Gomel (Prayer said after recovering from a serious situation) and IN REMISSION<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2llVeCHSW3g/XPh7QmkMlqI/AAAAAAAADa0/2Jy7HOJqa6Q2U1bYCJ7Vxr7pj3elcVmNACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_3363.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2llVeCHSW3g/XPh7QmkMlqI/AAAAAAAADa0/2Jy7HOJqa6Q2U1bYCJ7Vxr7pj3elcVmNACK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_3363.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last Chemo on May 20</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ever since my surgery, I have had Scan Anxiety. I keep hearing the theme song from Mel Brooks’ High Anxiety movie play in my head for the last two weeks. For my younger chevre here is the link to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHrQC67aPBU">High Anxiety</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and yes it is an earworm. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fair warning, it is even catchier than Old Town Road and no it is not about getting HIGH either. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-0e436d59-7fff-386b-78d6-ecdaa6a049a7" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had my last scheduled chemo 2 weeks ago and during those weeks all I could focus on, besides the song, was the next step, the CT scan. That scan would let us know whether the cancer was still present in my body.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My scan Anxiety was at an all time high over the past two weeks. I know many cancer survivors (and I will be part of this group) continue to have CT scans for months, years, and possible decades after their initial diagnoses. I can only imagine how many times those people would have played that song in their head if they had read my blog. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just change the word high to scan because scan anxiety works.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well it's the high anxiety</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm a victim of society, It's my high anxiety</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Getting to the best of me, Sometimes I feel like I'm gonna explode</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I'm approaching total overload, I know that when I'm having a panic attack</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To duck and cover cuz I can feel it coming, You know I wish that this was over and done</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Heart pounds I can feel it escalating, Well it's the high anxiety</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While waiting for the phone call from my doctor </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was discussing what to write for a positive scan and/or a negative scan, Arthur said, "negative scan? We are only writing the Victory Speech!"</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This morning when my phone rang and it was my doctor, the theme song was blasting at full volume. I heard the words “you are in remission and NED, “No evidence of disease”, I cried. Those who know me, may not think this is surprising. I cry when I speak about the Holocaust, I cry when I send my students off to <a href="https://osrui.org/">OSRUI</a> for a summer of Jewish camping, and I may have cried once watching “Long Island Medium” with my daughter. The strange part is that through this journey, I have not really cried about having cancer. Anxiety impacts your body in various ways, and perhaps my Scan Anxiety was acting as a gate. But when I heard the words “You are in remission”, the Scan Anxiety gate broke and I cried.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BSRERLiH3Q/XPh8-YHFOhI/AAAAAAAADbM/AF-3GBvnz6o2E931YxccBO35-Sn4PVaCwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_3418.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BSRERLiH3Q/XPh8-YHFOhI/AAAAAAAADbM/AF-3GBvnz6o2E931YxccBO35-Sn4PVaCwCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_3418.jpeg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in the wig</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What’s next you may ask? I will be receiving monthly transfusions of Avastin, which is a b</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lood vessel growth inhibitor. I do not expect there to be MANY side effects, but I will not know for sure until my first transfusion after June 10th. I hope my hair will grow back. I cannot say that my Scan Anxiety has disappeared completely, as this disease is notorious for recurring, there will be more CT scans in my future, but for now I can turn High Anxiety down to a 6 or more likely a 7. I will also continue to consult with <a href="https://sharsheret.org/">Sharsheret</a>, the Jewish organization which has provided me with information, a mentor and just kept my head on through this whole process. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you read the title to this blog post, you should be asking, what is Benching </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Gomel</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? What situation would be "serious"?</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Birkat Hagomel</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (pronounced beer-KHAT hah-GOH-mel),” is commonly said after recovering from serious illness, but can also be recited in gratitude for completing a dangerous journey.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This blessing for deliverance is typically recited in the presence of a minyan, or prayer quorum, often in the synagogue following the reading of the Torah.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Birkat Hagomel in Hebrew (courtesy of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sefaria</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעולָם. הַגּומֵל לְחַיָּבִים טובות. שֶׁגְּמָלַנִי כָּל טוב</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Birkat Hagomel in Transliteration and English Translation</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, ha-gomel t’chayavim tovim she-g’malani kol tuv.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blessed are You, Sovereign of the universe, our God, ruler of the world, who rewards the undeserving with goodness, and who has rewarded me with goodness.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the recitation of this blessing, the congregation responds:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mi she-g’malcha kol tuv, hu yi-g’malcha kol tuv selah.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May God who rewarded you with all goodness reward you with all goodness for ever.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My plan is to bench Gomel this weekend. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to reach this day.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For now, my physical road to remission has reached a place where I can take a breath. The work I’m looking to start on now will involve some spiritual healing. Sometimes that can be a longer road, but I know that benching gomel is the first step I want to take. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x5VwH7yvAl4/XPh8B8FpavI/AAAAAAAADbA/e5Ox1m0EwIgOGbo8nztiyKNlpeZAeQ2PQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_3188.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x5VwH7yvAl4/XPh8B8FpavI/AAAAAAAADbA/e5Ox1m0EwIgOGbo8nztiyKNlpeZAeQ2PQCK4BGAYYCw/s640/IMG_3188.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Passover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-13539212707628212502019-05-11T16:15:00.000-07:002019-05-12T07:52:46.133-07:00Counting it’s that time of year <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-udTQmAjY1Vc/XNdQpBzrYTI/AAAAAAAADZw/u8bI8poOdR8_dMawxJTVgjJNh8meqo2MwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_1588%2B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-udTQmAjY1Vc/XNdQpBzrYTI/AAAAAAAADZw/u8bI8poOdR8_dMawxJTVgjJNh8meqo2MwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/IMG_1588%2B2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My actual sheets I used at camp 50 years ago, iron on Labels!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>My last chemo is currently scheduled for Monday, July 1! </b>I can finally start my countdown. With any luck, by the time I arrive at my ‘camp home,’ <a href="https://osrui.org/">Olin Sang Ruby Institute,</a> on Monday July 15, I will be done with this course of treatment. Well, “done” is a figure of speech, I will continue to get a year of monthly infusions of avastin, an immunotherapy drug that helps prevent new tumor growth. </span><br />
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And what timing! This is also the time of the year when we count the Omer:</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The period between </span><a href="http://www.reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/passover" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Passover</span></a><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><a href="http://www.reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/shavuot" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shavuot</span></a><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is called the “Counting of the Omer” (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sefirat Ha'omer</span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Omer </span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">means "barley sheaf" and refers to the offering brought to the Temple on the second day of Passover. Starting from that day, the Torah also instructs that “you shall count off seven weeks. They must be complete: you must count until the day after the seventh week — 50 days” (Leviticus 23:15-16).</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For years at my synagogue, <a href="https://lakesidecongregation.org/">Lakeside</a>, we have counted the Omer with cereal boxes which are eventually donated to local food banks. We put up one box of cereal for each day of the Omer: on the first day one box; the second day 2 boxes; and so on through 49 days.Not only did our cereal box counting method create a great visual of the Omer’s journey, it presented a real challenge to keep the whole thing upright. Journeys, as I’ve experienced recently, are all the more rewarding when they’re filled with challenges. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Shavuot, when we celebrate receiving the 10 commandments, we had 1225 boxes. And let me tell you, our area food banks are very happy to watch that mountain of cereal come in the door. All of us parents know how expensive cereal is and it’s one thing food banks always need. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were not able to have our cereal drive this year, so if it moves you please think of buying some cereal, (the good cereal, that YOU like to eat, nothing generic, unless you eat generic cereal) and donating it to your local food bank. If every person who reads my blog bought 2 boxes of cereal we would almost make 1225. Some of you *more frequent readers* could buy 3 boxes and we would be on our way.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FWvi0EztWAg/XNdMqmnL0OI/AAAAAAAADZU/KdffSyWRpdYmDuowLDygkIYoMPg2h8uyQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_0874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FWvi0EztWAg/XNdMqmnL0OI/AAAAAAAADZU/KdffSyWRpdYmDuowLDygkIYoMPg2h8uyQCK4BGAYYCw/s640/IMG_0874.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cereal boxes from 2018 and the magic door which brought different characters to our school!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just as constructing our cereal pyramid was sometimes a challenge, as I begin my countdown, I have realized that there will probably be *stacking challenges* in my journey. Those challenges could come in the CT scan before I go to camp, or they could come in the scans that are going to be a regular part of my life from now on. Don’t worry, I will keep everyone posted. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am sure that I could do some gematria here. </span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In gematria (a form of </span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jewish numerology</span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">), for instance the number 18 stands for "life". THIS is the reason why you give denominations of $18 at B’nai Mitzvah, Wedding and other simcha recipients to stand for life! I have never been much of a numbers person; in fact I hate math and even sudoku. All I know is that I have 3 chemo sessions left, for a total of who knows how many hours of treatment. And… That’s enough gematria.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I do, however, love midrashim (stories about Torah) and here is one for you as we wait for Shavuot on June 8-9, 2019. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When God was looking at different nations of the world to give the Torah, they all wanted to know what was in the Torah before they accepted the law. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was only when God offered the Torah to the Jewish People that they realized its potential by saying to God, “Na’aseh V’nishma, “We will first obey and do, and then understand and listen,” (Shemot 23:7). I have always said that Na’aseh V’nishma is the Ehrlich family motto. I am usually referring to myself as God and my law should be obeyed and then understood, obviously. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I realize now these words from the bible have become my personal motto. I’m not a doctor, but I trust my doctor’s and his team’s guidance and follow the regimen they have prescribed. And like the Jewish People receiving the Torah, I have first “done,” while I work to understand everything my body is going through. We talk about faith in an abstract sense frequently, but this is faith in its most concrete. I can’t say it’s been fun, but it’s added a layer to my relationship with Judaism. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e5hE5-w0GwU/XNdMgJkob-I/AAAAAAAADZM/wXHHS_TobSUPwDUp9XjetldUwUqI18Q2gCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/DSC03532.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e5hE5-w0GwU/XNdMgJkob-I/AAAAAAAADZM/wXHHS_TobSUPwDUp9XjetldUwUqI18Q2gCK4BGAYYCw/s640/DSC03532.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ehrlich's and one Leiter who Na'aseh V'Nishamah</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I look forward to seeing many people over the summer. Lakeside will soon be transitioning to Makom Solel-Lakeside over the summer and by the Fall our offices will be at the new campus. See you at OSRUI, Lakeside or Makom Solel Lakeside! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now back to the rest of the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ehrlich’s and one Leiter obeying me, then figuring out why...</span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-31122854983697302252019-04-01T18:05:00.000-07:002019-04-01T18:05:37.254-07:00 Slogging through the Chemotherapy: It’s like enduring and then SUCCEEDING in Hebrew school<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday March 12 was the first day of my new chemo regimen. In this new regimen, I receive two types of chemo at once, including IP chemo which goes straight into my abdomen. This chemo is 2 weeks in a row and includes an extra day of IV hydration. I have not written a blog because, as the youths would say, this new chemo is “WOOF.” and has knocked me off my feet. Last night, as I lay awake, I couldn’t stop thinking and then it dawned on me: it is like Hebrew school.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-it3Um1ungqg/XKKuRnVva1I/AAAAAAAADWY/WoxOB3tPj7cRRvZUrqCUxgGSR_HJYv3QwCLcBGAs/s1600/%252Bv85YqkrSW2IihIz8BYGEA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-it3Um1ungqg/XKKuRnVva1I/AAAAAAAADWY/WoxOB3tPj7cRRvZUrqCUxgGSR_HJYv3QwCLcBGAs/s320/%252Bv85YqkrSW2IihIz8BYGEA.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day of Chemo<img height="16" id="oukojeh8d6wv" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhEAAQAOUdAOvr69HR0cHBwby8vOzs7PHx8ff397W1tbOzs+Xl5ebm5vDw8PPz88PDw7e3t+3t7dvb2+7u7vX19eTk5OPj4+rq6tbW1unp6bu7u+fn5+jo6N/f3+/v7/7+/ra2ttXV1f39/fz8/Li4uMXFxfb29vLy8vr6+sLCwtPT0/j4+PT09MDAwL+/v7m5ubS0tM7OzsrKytra2tTU1MfHx+Li4tDQ0M/Pz9nZ2b6+vgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACH/C05FVFNDQVBFMi4wAwEAAAAh+QQFMAA5ACwAAAAAEAAQAAAGg8CcMAcICAY5QsEwHBYPCMQhl6guGM5GNOqgVhMPbA6y5Xq/kZwkN3Fsu98EJcdYKCo5i7kKwCorVRd4GAg5GVgAfBpxaRtsZwkaiwpfD0NxkYl8QngARF8AdhmeDwl4pngUCQsVHDl2m2iveDkXcZ6YTgS3kAS0RKWxVQ+/TqydrE1BACH5BAkwADkALAAAAAAQABAAAAZ+wJwwJ1kQIgNBgDMcdh6KRILgQSAOn46TIJVSrdZGSMjpeqtgREAoYWi6BFF6xCAJS6ZyYhEIUwxNQgYkFxwBByh2gU0kKRVHi4sgOQuRTRJtJgwSBJElihwMQioqGmw5gEMLKk2AEkSBq4ElQmNNoYG2OVpDuE6Lrzmfp0NBACH5BAUwADkALAAAAAAQABAAAAaFwJwwJ1kQCDlCwTAcMh6KhDQnVSwYTkJ1un1gc5wtdxsh5iqaLbVKyVEWigq4ugZgTyiA9CK/JHIZWCsICCxpVWV/EzkHhAgth1UPQ4OOLXpScmebFA6ELHAZclBycXIULi8VZXCZawplFG05flWlakIVWravCgSaZ1CuksBDFQsAcsfFQQAh+QQJMAA5ACwAAAAAEAAQAAAGQcCccEgsGo/IpHLJzDGaOcKCCUgkAEuFNaFRbq1dJCxX2WKRCFdMmJiiEQjRp1BJwu8y5R3RWNsRBx9+SSsxgzlBACH5BAkwADkALAAAAAAQABAAAAaJwJwwJ1kQCDlCwTAcMh6KhDQnVSwYTkJ1un1gc5wtdxsh5iqaLbVKyTEWigq4ugZglRXpRX5J5DJYAFIAaVVlfhNrURqFVQ9DYhqCgzkzCGdnVQBwGRU0LQiXCRUAORQJCwAcOTChoYplBXIKLq6vUXRCCQ22olUEcroJB66KD8FNCjUrlxWpTUEAIfkEBTAAOQAsAAAAABAAEAAABobAnDAnWRAIOULBMBwyHoqENCdVLBhOQnW6fWBznC13G8nZchXNllql5Bg2xA1cZQOwShwCMdDkLgk5GVgAUgAie3syVDkTbFIaiIkIJ0NiGnp7HiNonRVVAHEuFjlQFVQVAI0JCzYjrKCPZQWnf1unYkMVWrFbBLVoUIaPD8C6CwCnAMhNQQA7" width="16" /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">YES, HEBREW SCHOOL. My first chemo was not unlike my Kitah Aleph class. I was full of anticipation: nervous about what would happen; how long would it take: and if would it hurt me. After my Hebrew School class, I mean chemo session, I I was like “YES, I can do this.” It was a whirlwind, but I survived it… Not unlike Kitah Aleph, where in the span of one year my students learned to read Hebrew, understand over 100 words, and learn to sing our basic prayers. I hope too that my Kitah Aleph students felt like they could do anything after their first year of Hebrew School.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qpgHF16AE54/XKKvrNdsjoI/AAAAAAAADWo/IYcAZO1UZqEetkrT-_U-aRfKjIsw7FfwwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_7337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qpgHF16AE54/XKKvrNdsjoI/AAAAAAAADWo/IYcAZO1UZqEetkrT-_U-aRfKjIsw7FfwwCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_7337.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day of Hebrew School 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I continued on with my treatments, just as my students continue to Kitah Bet and Gimmel classes. We all had a better idea this time around of what to expect, but both me and my students wonder when we would see the end. I knew I was getting better and some results were showing progress. There were times, however, where I couldn’t see any real results and I was also wearing down with every new treatment. Like my students, if we want to see results we need to complete the assignments. For me, that means attending all chemotherapy sessions. I must keep up my health and these appointments help me do that. My family (or the editors of my blog) would certainly not allow me to miss an appointment just because I just didn’t feel like going. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-68i_403nX_o/XKKwh_0Yi0I/AAAAAAAADW4/fQgbHF1Prrg_91jEDDarnsw9o_-LvW9XwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_7336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-68i_403nX_o/XKKwh_0Yi0I/AAAAAAAADW4/fQgbHF1Prrg_91jEDDarnsw9o_-LvW9XwCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_7336.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day of Hebrew school 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Bet and Gimmel, differences between students become more apparent. Some students want to speed up the learning, while others are just trying to hang on. They know they are making progress, but don’t always like coming to school on a regular basis. Like mine, I know that their families’ play a huge role in keeping them on track, especially their parents, or perhaps an influential sibling, encourage, cajole, and make sure they get to school on time every week. I hope these families have made the pledge that Hebrew school is just as essential to their families’ spiritual health as chemo is essential to my health as a cancer patient. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, when you reach Dalet, you can see where you are going: you have a B’nai Mitzvah date, you might be planning on taking Hebrew in one of our nearby public High Schools, or you might just be happy to know the date of Hebrew school Convocation. We always used the name CONVOCATION, to make sure our students KNOW they weren’t GRADUATING, from Hebrew school, but we hoped they would go on to Confirmation and maybe continue using Hebrew, at least at synagogue and of course camp. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mkdx9VMpe_0/XKKy0M2JwlI/AAAAAAAADXM/B1kuSDMwmC0NyIlBvw6TLeDaZfZg0LV9wCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_8723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mkdx9VMpe_0/XKKy0M2JwlI/AAAAAAAADXM/B1kuSDMwmC0NyIlBvw6TLeDaZfZg0LV9wCK4BGAYYCw/s400/IMG_8723.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confirmation 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would say that I am in the Bet and Gimmel of chemotherapy. I don’t have my end date and I know I have to get through about 8 more hard chemo appointments scattered over 9 -12 weeks. Monday of this week my chemo was canceled due to a slight infection. Nothing is guaranteed. Just like a snow day, I was happy not to have chemo today, but know that I will DEFINITELY have to make it up and set up new calendar dates. Because I am no longer in Chemo Aleph, I have a little more working knowledge to handle these ups and downs. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As always the whole family thanks everyone for their day to day kindnesses of bringing us meals, checking in on us, sending cards, and doing mitzvot in my honor. There are lots of chances to do mitzvot and, as we get closer to Pesach, if you are in Chicago check out Maot Chittim. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><br /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xgWtprXAnGU/XKKtWV_QR4I/AAAAAAAADWQ/7qYymIWzbnwuLvFolb3sw6Dn7WPg6dc-ACLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_108f9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1600" height="231" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xgWtprXAnGU/XKKtWV_QR4I/AAAAAAAADWQ/7qYymIWzbnwuLvFolb3sw6Dn7WPg6dc-ACLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_108f9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Need more info:<a href="https://calendly.com/jstoliar/driverpassover19?month=2019-04&date=2019-04-14">Click here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hebrew school and Chemotherapy are not unlike a marathon; you need training and must stick with it until you have completed the task. To that end, I am trying to stay healthy, but make it into work at Lakeside as often as I can, especially for Adult Enrichment on Sunday mornings! Hope to see you there!</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3gGM1tgyMH8/XKK05OTKNWI/AAAAAAAADXY/uqQTFyr1dm8mRE0ixwPUCmjN_Q9m3IdYACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_3045.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3gGM1tgyMH8/XKK05OTKNWI/AAAAAAAADXY/uqQTFyr1dm8mRE0ixwPUCmjN_Q9m3IdYACK4BGAYYCw/s400/IMG_3045.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last Chemo, representing <a href="https://osrui.org/">OSRUI</a> and reading book for book group!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-47708118810751321202019-03-04T08:24:00.000-08:002019-03-04T08:25:50.350-08:00Do I love you? Do I WHAT?<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xYVr_D7bMdw/XH1NkqNBwOI/AAAAAAAADUM/PRg4luvJJKQDBg3747GvU6TMPI8BgnD3gCLcBGAs/s1600/B9OaYLS0QHGzKvDrlgKlGQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xYVr_D7bMdw/XH1NkqNBwOI/AAAAAAAADUM/PRg4luvJJKQDBg3747GvU6TMPI8BgnD3gCLcBGAs/s320/B9OaYLS0QHGzKvDrlgKlGQ.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Junior Year Abroad 1979 Hebrew University</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-b94e74ec-7fff-8cc4-a17d-5e5197904ec7" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love watching musicals! I have watched them on broadway, at our local High School, middle school, camp; you name it. The quintessential musical, Fiddler on the Roof, I have probably seen over 50 times. It was one of the first musicals my parents took us to see and Tevye was played by </span><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: black; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Herschel Bernardi</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All the songs in this production are very recognizable including the dubious love duet song by Tevye and Golde:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 39.25pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>Tevye: Do you love me?</b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>Golde: Do I what?</b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>Tevye: Do you love me?</b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>Golde: Do I love you?</b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>With our daughters getting married and this trouble in the town,You're upset. You want out. Go inside. Go lie down.Maybe it's indigestion.</b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>Tevye: Golde, I'm asking you a question. Do you love me?</b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>Golde: You're a fool!</b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>Tevye: I know. But do you love me?</b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>Golde: Do I love you? For twenty-five years, I've washed your clothes,Cooked your meals, cleaned your house, Given you children, milked the cow. After twenty-five years, why talk about love right now?</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On March 4th I will turn 60, I have been married 34 and ½ years to Arthur, who will also turn 60 at the end of the month (on March 29). When you get married at age 25 you don’t really think about what will happen at age 59 if you are diagnosed with cancer. Arthur and I met Junior year abroad of college at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He moved to Chicago so I could be near my family and I have to say now, I could not ask for a better partner, husband, father, and friend as we face this next chapter together. Arthur has rearranged his schedule numerous times to be with me at most of my chemo appointments, doctor appointments, procedure appointments and whatever has needed to be done.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He has told me I look good in all my new styles: my new wig, my new scarves, and even with my shaved head. I will say that he has been appreciative of all the food you have provided for us whether it came fr, or made sure we could we can eat from a lovely local restaurant. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLDswRsVr2A/XH1N_hZjxfI/AAAAAAAADUU/Qnx7PiwRJfQeMR2rxb3fO8fw8W0M6mBkQCLcBGAs/s1600/57237245455__6EE3A35F-0DE3-49FC-A814-A28E730F9C71.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLDswRsVr2A/XH1N_hZjxfI/AAAAAAAADUU/Qnx7PiwRJfQeMR2rxb3fO8fw8W0M6mBkQCLcBGAs/s320/57237245455__6EE3A35F-0DE3-49FC-A814-A28E730F9C71.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now I can’t say that every day is argument free or without our disagreements, we are married after all. In fact you can tell how things are going in our family by how many times I am forced to “google” the answer to one of our disagreements. Occasionally, Arthur will admit he is just trying to make me google answers to our discussions at least once a day. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I think back my our wedding on September 2nd, 1984, I remember how my professor/Rabbi Nathaniel Stampfer married us in a very traditional service. I was actually surprised when only Arthur said the Jewish formula of: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harei at mekudeshet li b’taba’at zo k’dat Moshe v’Yisrael</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ("Behold, you are consecrated to me with this ring, according to the law of Moses and Israel"). When the bride consents, through her silent acceptance of the gift, a marriage has taken place, even if all other familiar aspects of the wedding are missing.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fj6qUbuyPAU/XH1OV9It_oI/AAAAAAAADUc/3VztPzZven4m7u0K2qz98nmF-5yPGpVwQCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_10876.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fj6qUbuyPAU/XH1OV9It_oI/AAAAAAAADUc/3VztPzZven4m7u0K2qz98nmF-5yPGpVwQCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_10876.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanessa and Arthur September 1984</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was taken off guard when I did not say that exact sentence back to Arthur but instead, Ani L’Dodi V’dodi Li, I am my beloved and beloved is mine. I am still trying to remember if Rabbi Stampfer asked us if we would love each other through sickness and health. I am pretty sure he said these words to us and I can tell you that if he did not, we have lived out this truth for the past 6 months and feel confident and lucky as we look toward our future. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 39.25pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tevye</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Then you love me?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 39.25pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Golde</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: I suppose I do.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 39.25pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tevye</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: And I suppose I love you, too.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 39.25pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Together</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: It doesn't change a thing, but even so,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 39.25pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">thirty five </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">years, it's nice to know</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CC8EBCIzVew/XH1PhxQ2lsI/AAAAAAAADUs/_5jVkQEJos8pTNuI4mXaSXa3wYXAtTEVgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-04-02%2Bat%2B2.42.55%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CC8EBCIzVew/XH1PhxQ2lsI/AAAAAAAADUs/_5jVkQEJos8pTNuI4mXaSXa3wYXAtTEVgCK4BGAYYCw/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-04-02%2Bat%2B2.42.55%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lital and Cole August 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After almost 35 years of marriage, 4 children (one son in law) a fulfilling job and a wonderful life I find myself a very lucky women. A Jewish greeting to someone who is having a birthday is: Ad Meah V’esrim, (May you live until 120, (the age of Moses) ). I think it is very significant that, for this birthday, if you add Arthur and my age together you get: Meah V’esrim, 120!</span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-19403581556689241392019-02-17T17:04:00.000-08:002019-02-17T17:04:10.995-08:00HGTV and Cancer <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8NgkI_0TpBs/XGoCvlHj39I/AAAAAAAADTA/6kdyKb_9tHElqIWsEZbijw6OkvoyBeVLQCLcBGAs/s1600/57136644343__C0B2C342-F12F-4103-BE68-CC2A1C0C2982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8NgkI_0TpBs/XGoCvlHj39I/AAAAAAAADTA/6kdyKb_9tHElqIWsEZbijw6OkvoyBeVLQCLcBGAs/s320/57136644343__C0B2C342-F12F-4103-BE68-CC2A1C0C2982.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ethan home for Shabbat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have been watching many different HGTV (Home and Garden TV) shows these past 3 weeks since my surgery. You might ask… What is the attraction of these shows and why were they so soothing as I recuperate? I think the answer lies in the reality that at the end of the 30 or 60 minute show, whatever started as a mess, or the participants not having a home, ends with a conclusion: a beautiful new home or a new home in a new place that fits the protagonists’ needs perfectly. They call in specialists like plumbers and electricians, and no one can stump them; they always fix the problem before the end of the show. At the end of every episode, everyone is happy, in a new place and ready to move on with life. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5647e235-7fff-ea92-8205-468296985e3b" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><br /><b id="docs-internal-guid-5647e235-7fff-ea92-8205-468296985e3b" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wCzr7UdBOSg/XGoDDrVQ7wI/AAAAAAAADTI/i2w9KDv-Yf8cg7tzn5TpqGUP_xA2yZI4wCLcBGAs/s1600/yxP42tzcRIKepDiBkR6zaA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wCzr7UdBOSg/XGoDDrVQ7wI/AAAAAAAADTI/i2w9KDv-Yf8cg7tzn5TpqGUP_xA2yZI4wCLcBGAs/s320/yxP42tzcRIKepDiBkR6zaA.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lital helping me to Marie Kondo my closet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you have cancer, if only everything could be “fixed” in 30, or 60 minutes. If only all your specialists and doctors had the definitive answers for you, and if only shiplap and exposed brick kept your white blood count steady. I have all the faith in the world in my doctor, who is also my surgeon. We have discussed the options that I can take and here is what my show will have in store for the next month or so:</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday, February 20th I will have chemo again, just like the 3 chemotherapy sessions I had in December. I have elected to not use the digni cold cap anymore and, like the Property Brothers knocking out non-structural walls, the top of my head will be more “open-concept” as I lose the hair that I have left in the next month, never mind my eyelashes and eyebrows. After this week I will have another port put in my abdomen and I will begin a regimen of IP chemotherapy. I’ll spare you the details, but in HGTV terms… We’re eliminating some unnecessary pipes, as we update this house’s plumbing.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e1e23; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy (from The American Cancer Society)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 23pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e1e23; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.499999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In IP chemotherapy, the drugs cisplatin and paclitaxel are injected into the abdominal cavity through a catheter (thin tube). Giving chemo this way gives the most concentrated dose of the drugs directly to the cancer cells in the abdominal cavity. This chemo also gets absorbed into the bloodstream and so can reach cancer cells outside the abdominal cavity. IP chemotherapy seems to help some women live longer than IV chemo alone, but the side effects are often more severe. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 23pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e1e23; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.499999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even after research and talking with my Doctor I am not sure how I will react to this new protocol. Hopefully my “house” will be fixed and everyone will love it (not list it)! Yes, I know people think this house has good bones and a good heart. That’ll stay the same while , we get rid of the danged asbestos... If I need a specialist or 2 I will not hesitate to call them and make sure to make some adjustments. And if the general contractor can’t get his plumber and inspector here on time there’s gonna be hell to pay. I will go into this next stage with strength, your good wishes, and Chip Gaines’ toolbelt/my usual optimistic outlook on life. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AB3nFNHlBy8/XGoDh6o5BKI/AAAAAAAADTU/Ia48Wo3q00sFm9VLJEJNpuAk84O7AXpRQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AB3nFNHlBy8/XGoDh6o5BKI/AAAAAAAADTU/Ia48Wo3q00sFm9VLJEJNpuAk84O7AXpRQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3864.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">February 10</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 23pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e1e23; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.499999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you want to visit just give me a call. Please remember that this form of chemo compromises my immune system, so I appreciate phone calls, and if you want to visit, please call before you get in your car. We’ve all loved all the meals you have sent, along with the flowers and well-wishes. All of us can’t thank you enough; your care has really increased our curb appeal (that’s an HGTV joke, really not sure if it makes sense) I will not be out in big crowds, but feel free to call me. Stay warm and hopefully the snow will stop soon!</span></div>
<br />Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-61165277269946872452019-01-23T18:47:00.001-08:002019-01-23T18:47:48.166-08:00What a long strange trip it has been. Jerry Garcia<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-e06a5d65-7fff-6587-6917-1a60a01cb61e" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uwILWoIOPIM/XEioHk5DqeI/AAAAAAAADRM/f67KnpCa_bwQ5f5yttVdWeUWQwik_QMhACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/DSC06890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uwILWoIOPIM/XEioHk5DqeI/AAAAAAAADRM/f67KnpCa_bwQ5f5yttVdWeUWQwik_QMhACK4BGAYYCw/s320/DSC06890.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Devil's Lake, Wisconsin at the top!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rvm93smEI_I/XEioA1j19sI/AAAAAAAADRE/3v0vtqQS55EHU-cBm-RhRT6HauNEtRX1wCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_1697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rvm93smEI_I/XEioA1j19sI/AAAAAAAADRE/3v0vtqQS55EHU-cBm-RhRT6HauNEtRX1wCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_1697.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mosh Bet 18</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last summer when I spent 2 weeks at <a href="http://osrui.urjcamps.org/">OSRUI</a> my unit took tiyulim, trips, every other week. These are not trips to the museum, these are rock climbing, hiking, biking, and canoeing trips. I went on the rock climbing trip with more than a dozen high school aged chanichim, or campers. These trips take a lot of preparation and planning, which falls on the shoulders of our madrichim, or counselors. Everyone must work together to make it a successful tiyul. We cook together, hike together and of course hang out together. I had a good time. I especially enjoyed hanging with all the campers. We talked about the books they are reading, games they are playing, and how they can get cool stickers for your water bottle. In hindsight, I was pretty anxious for this trip, but in the end, everything turned out great. Without the support of the madrichim and even the chanichim, I am not so sure I would have such a positive outlook on this journey.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I get ready for the next part in my cancer treatment, I realize there is connection between my camp journey and this new, slightly more medical, journey. Next Tuesday, January 29th I will have surgery. This comes at the halfway point (as best we have planned) of my cancer journey, following 3 rounds of chemotherapy. There’s not a bone in my body that would claim this journey has been easy, but with the support of many people working together, these past few months have been a little more bearable. Just like our madrichim took on the responsibility of planning, many of you, reading this blog today, have taken on the task of cooking meals, sending thoughtful cards, and making sure I get in my walking. In this next, surgical, stage I will have a full hysterectomy and perhaps a bit more. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Someone asked me if I was afraid of what I’m about to go through and the answer is “no.” I am, however, anxious as I look into the future. I am a person who is used to planning, controlling, and then doing some more planning. But as I prepare to let go of some of that, I know, once again, that I will have the support of those who have helped take on various responsibilities over the course of this journey. It will not be easy to just let go, but after talking and conferring with other people who have had this surgery I know that is what I need to do.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> What I now know is that I will be in the hospital for 3-7 days and that I will be recovering at home for well, let’s just say, a while. I have known since the beginning that there would be more chemo in my future, but I’m working to accept that I cannot control the chemo plan will take shape. I am planning, however, to be at camp this coming summer, and with the support of my various teams I know I will make a recovery to work with my madrichim, chanichim, and faculty in Kallah Gimmel 2019! </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are some other things I do know (I have to be in control somehow!):</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_KUxsPSuFa4/XEiogFUiIUI/AAAAAAAADRo/_sjGS6u4qJgjGGj-NeVfsMKjyt3KNso_QCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_2787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_KUxsPSuFa4/XEiogFUiIUI/AAAAAAAADRo/_sjGS6u4qJgjGGj-NeVfsMKjyt3KNso_QCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_2787.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in the wig</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have a wig now and wear it for special occasions, including leading t’filot, services, or going to parties. I can’t imagine it will be that comfortable in the summer in the “natural air conditioning" of 600 Lac La Belle Drive we all love.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I still have some hair, but I am not sure the cold cap is in my future. Even with all the support, it still does not change the fact my head is set to a temperature of 32 degrees for about 7 hours! I will keep you posted. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I continue to work at Lakeside and volunteer for both OSRUI and <a href="https://reformeducators.org/">ARJE </a>and thank everyone who has been so supportive as I make my way through this cancer journey. Not only do I love the work I do, it has been the distraction I need so that my life is more than doctors appointments, tests, and time in that cap.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Tuesday we will post on our<a href="https://my.lotsahelpinghands.com/community/inoneehrlich/home"> Lotsa helping hands site</a> and will give updates. My whole family thanks everyone for their support and will let you know when I am home and seeing visitors. I know that I have your prayers and good wishes as I go into surgery. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To bring this full circle… When I went rock climbing in the summer I was very happy to get to the summit and even happier to get back to the campsite. Just like I was ready to be off the mountain and back in camp, I will be happy to have the surgery behind me next week and look forward to saying Birkat HaGomel as I enter my journey of recovery. To this, you may ask, ‘what is benching Gomel?</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2936; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Birkat Hagomel (pronounced beer-KHAT hah-GOH-mel), sometimes known as “benching gomel,” is commonly said after recovering from serious illness but can also be recited in gratitude for completing a dangerous journey.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2936; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This blessing for deliverance is typically recited in the presence of a minyan, or prayer quorum, often in the synagogue following the reading of the Torah.</span></div>
<h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.344; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2936; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Birkat Hagomel in Hebrew (courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.sefaria.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #3fc6f3; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sefaria</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2936; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></h2>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2936; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעולָם. הַגּומֵל לְחַיָּבִים טובות. שֶׁגְּמָלַנִי כָּל טוב</span></div>
<h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.344; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2936; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Birkat Hagomel in Transliteration and English Translation</span></h2>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2936; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, ha-gomel t’chayavim tovim she-g’malani kol tuv.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2936; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blessed are You, Sovereign of the universe, our God, ruler of the world, who rewards the undeserving with goodness, and who has rewarded me with goodness.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2936; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the recitation of this blessing, the congregation responds:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2936; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mi she-g’malcha kol tuv, hu yi-g’malcha kol tuv selah.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2936; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May God who rewarded you with all goodness reward you with all goodness for ever.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We will let you know when we are benching Gomel. Just as your assistance along this medical journey has been indispensable, your prayers along this recovery journey will be just as important.</span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rt3JBaWZAsM/XEin9o25UhI/AAAAAAAADQ8/qiI9p9mkdnkQAfLpCOKdaBs-WRpp4C54ACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_1697.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rvm93smEI_I/XEioA1j19sI/AAAAAAAADRE/3v0vtqQS55EHU-cBm-RhRT6HauNEtRX1wCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_1697.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a></span></div>
<br />Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-84184156870851936272018-12-21T09:11:00.002-08:002018-12-21T09:48:38.876-08:00Gratitude and Privilege and in Hebrew Hakarat Hatov and Z’chut<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RwNeWC3fNqQ/XB0baALg4PI/AAAAAAAADOI/HRdKRmtXm4867e5P2Uei98B6OMHH0UCVACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_2645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RwNeWC3fNqQ/XB0baALg4PI/AAAAAAAADOI/HRdKRmtXm4867e5P2Uei98B6OMHH0UCVACK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_2645.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ethan's graduation University of Wisconsin, Madison 2018</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday, December 19th was my 2nd round of Chemo. All went well. I am still wearing the <a href="https://dignicap.com/">Digni Cap</a> during chemo, which freezes my head to 32 Degrees. It is not comfortable to say the least, but at the same time I am grateful for this new cooling technology, which helps to save your hair. My goal was to have hair for Ethan’s graduation and I did. At my hospital I was able to participate and use this machine because a donor gave money for women to participate without having to pay out of pocket. I know that otherwise it would have been a very costly proposition. That’s a privilege I am benefiting from. For many other women, that kind of privilege would just be a dream.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Auovs62my08/XB0bmTy6DsI/AAAAAAAADOQ/mMYXynYA6kgkdL7g3irqG7lS5-d7r6WxwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_2775%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Auovs62my08/XB0bmTy6DsI/AAAAAAAADOQ/mMYXynYA6kgkdL7g3irqG7lS5-d7r6WxwCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_2775%2B2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how I feel all day during Chemo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-99d4eee6-7fff-8013-2b21-49a31bc8d85c" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><br />
<b id="docs-internal-guid-99d4eee6-7fff-8013-2b21-49a31bc8d85c" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have become so much more aware of my privilege, my Z'chut in other ways throughout my cancer journey. I live close to a wonderful hospital which I can access, due to my health insurance. As I read in different online groups, I have realized that other women with cancer can not always afford their treatments, or pay their doctors’ bills. It is a terrible feeling to read these stories and recognize that a twist here, or a twist there and I could be in those women’s position. I don’t believe that in American, in 2018, that this should be a reality, but it is. What these same people must have gone through before the Affordable Care Act, I can’t even imagine. Thanks, Obama.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through this all, I have worked to avoid acknowledging privilege as an exercise in guilt. Instead, I would rather express how grateful, Hakarat Hatov, I am for everyone and everything around me. I am grateful for all the support I have gotten from my family, friends and extended communities. I had a delicious hot meal on Wednesday night, given by Denise and Jeff Goldberg, and Michelle Mutter and Rich Leonard after a long day spent with Arthur in the hospital. Wednesday morning my book club was graciously led by Lori Sagarin. I only hope they will still like me after being with such a professional. This Shabbat we look forward to a dinner from Cantor Arik Luck, Rachel Greenberg-Luck and their family! (to Sign up to help us out check out: <a href="https://my.lotsahelpinghands.com/community/inoneehrlich">https://my.lotsahelpinghands.com/community/inoneehrlich</a>)</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Special thanks to my sister, Wendy Shanker for coming in from St. Louis to make sure my parents and I are doing OK. This blog would not be as well edited without Lital and Cole and this week they do their editing from Europe: Paris and Brussels. Friends and family from far and near have checked in on me with a regularity which makes me feel so loved and cared for. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XyUvz1YQpf0/XB0b_OavkwI/AAAAAAAADOo/Mnmlz2oaPBIkQwQXoHbkh8V3-177zNnNwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_2561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XyUvz1YQpf0/XB0b_OavkwI/AAAAAAAADOo/Mnmlz2oaPBIkQwQXoHbkh8V3-177zNnNwCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_2561.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun weekend!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cancer is not something anyone wants to hear or have as a diagnosis. It is not a club you want an invite to, but it has been a reminder of what we too often take for granted. And even more importantly, it has shown me in real time that my family extends far beyond our Shabbat table. I am grateful to live among such family. Shabbat Shalom!</span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-25502300582419721462018-12-14T09:43:00.004-08:002018-12-14T11:36:22.517-08:00There are many types of medicine!<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ucrpx96Pq1c/XBPm5CKyKHI/AAAAAAAADMc/WwtO_-36WTc8vEGsxFsyrIb4U-M435C8wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/lCSS%252BvoOTqymJJCaQKsfgw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ucrpx96Pq1c/XBPm5CKyKHI/AAAAAAAADMc/WwtO_-36WTc8vEGsxFsyrIb4U-M435C8wCPcBGAYYCw/s320/lCSS%252BvoOTqymJJCaQKsfgw.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">The doctors have prescribed me various
medications to help with the side effects usually associated with
chemotherapy. Despite the miracles of modern medicine, I have found over
the last few weeks that sometimes it’s the things OTHER than what is prescribed
by the doctor which have helped ease my symptoms. These types of medicine
for me include teaching 9th grade students Hebrew for the summer,
participating in our weekly Adult Enrichment Sunday sessions at Lakeside and
going to professional learning sessions with my local </span><span style="color: #222222;">colleague</span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ruIpPigK7Ys/XBPnlRGNCJI/AAAAAAAADMk/SHQv4zgc3tkJJ7MfS6QgmOTOsgNwkEV5wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/56633543475__2FCB1BE4-AA69-4C6F-84CE-6FFBDB2B9B63.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ruIpPigK7Ys/XBPnlRGNCJI/AAAAAAAADMk/SHQv4zgc3tkJJ7MfS6QgmOTOsgNwkEV5wCPcBGAYYCw/s320/56633543475__2FCB1BE4-AA69-4C6F-84CE-6FFBDB2B9B63.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At our CFJE-JUF Professional Learning Session</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Two weeks out from my
first chemo session, it feels like Hanukkah has been extra long this year.
I cannot thank everyone enough for their caring, generous, and thoughtful
gifts. I enjoy reading all of the mitzvot my communities are doing:
from delivering food to the hungry; to volunteering in the community; to
donating money to <a href="https://osrui.org/"><span style="color: blue;">OSRUI</span></a>,
and other tzedakah organizations. These small acts feel much larger for me
when they take my mind off of what is happening inside my body. Even
something as simple as teaching a Hebrew preparation class for my campers
attending OSRUI’s 7 week Hebrew immersion program, Chalutzim, has
been a boost that reminds me of the way being with students has always
energized me.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />My colleagues have been
able to provide yet a different medicine. By saying Hineni, I am here and I
am here for you, they have fed my soul. When my colleagues asked
what they can do to support me, my first, very quick response, was help
with teaching my Chalutzim Prep course. Beyond simply lending a hand,
my colleagues, Rabbi Simcha Bob who will teach the Chalutzim class and Rabbi Lisa Bellows wrote me a
beautiful prayer that I will use next week when I am in my
second round of chemo. It’s more than a small gesture, this prayer
was the kind of giving that cannot be assigned value.I knew last week when I
posted </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shehecheyanu
that it was not exactly the right prayer for that time. Now I have
something that fits the situation and again provides me with a different
type of medicine.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SsghJgtUu1k/XBPmL6ZS1PI/AAAAAAAADMU/jSDJn7UtyqYLxx-qWjDG-Y60sz6IerQQQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_2688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SsghJgtUu1k/XBPmL6ZS1PI/AAAAAAAADMU/jSDJn7UtyqYLxx-qWjDG-Y60sz6IerQQQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_2688.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Cantor Arik Luck and Rabbi Lisa Bellows<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Author of the Prayer below</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So many of my communities
have come together to </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">provide support and
comfort, not only for me, but for my </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">whole family as well.
Some days this type of medicine </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">works even better than
what the doctors prescribe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Please feel free to share
the beautiful prayer below! I </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">know that I have found
solace in reading these words.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulukERrYnaA/XBPpZF965vI/AAAAAAAADM8/GibzEvvsM40gLetPwKkPDx3h4EaWcQ3EgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_2534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulukERrYnaA/XBPpZF965vI/AAAAAAAADM8/GibzEvvsM40gLetPwKkPDx3h4EaWcQ3EgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_2534.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The graduate from a few years ago</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This weekend we are so
happy to celebrate Ethan as he graduates from the University of Wisconsin.
</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So far I still have
my hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. Can’t
wait to post some pictures of the weekend.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Enjoy your week and Shabbat Shalom!</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "arial" "" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">A
prayer said during chemo and other lousy times</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">God of
my Mothers and Fathers,</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">As I
take this course of treatment, please stay close to me when I want to escape:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Escape
from the pain</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">the side effects </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">the
weakness of body and of spirit. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Escape
from the fear that grips me tightly sometimes.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">I give
my desire to escape to You.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">God,
there are things I think I can’t handle. But there is nothing that You can’t
handle.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">O
Merciful One, to You I give the (expected and the unexpected) effects from
medication designed to save my life.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">When I
want to give in to despair, I turn that over to You, too. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Bless
me with calm during the storm of treatment and its aftershock. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Send me
Your warm embrace when the coldness of fear strikes.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Give me
courage to tolerate what I think I can’t.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">And
when I think I can’t take it for one more minute, send me a smile and the
ability to laugh at life’s absurdities </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">and
all.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">God, they say you are as far as the most
distant star, but please, stay as close to me as my breath.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #222222;">B'yado afkid ruchi</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #222222;">b'et ishan v'a'irah.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #222222;">V'im ruchi g'viyati,</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #222222;">Adonai li v'lo ira.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">בְּיָדוֹ אַפְקִיד רוּחִי,
בְּעֵת אִישַׁן וְאָעִֽירָה.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "" "verdana" "" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">וְעִם רוּחִי גְּוִיָּתִי,
יְיָ לִי וְלֹא אִירָא.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">In Your
hand, I place my spirit,</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">When I
sleep and when I wake</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">With my
spirit, my body too.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You are
mine. You are near; I need not fear.</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Challah bake done in my honor: Thank you Patti Nisenholz!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I7JB1WfFJvk/XBP2y3aROqI/AAAAAAAADNI/PAQjv7ivVPoyl-vukUosZven6qCMakMSwCLcBGAs/s1600/43WvJw2bTzegh6E0shomRg.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I7JB1WfFJvk/XBP2y3aROqI/AAAAAAAADNI/PAQjv7ivVPoyl-vukUosZven6qCMakMSwCLcBGAs/s320/43WvJw2bTzegh6E0shomRg.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gzznr9GTq0E/XBP2y4cfQWI/AAAAAAAADNE/zRs3WhcqLF8Z--vn8VheIzO0pJc7pHebgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_7570.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gzznr9GTq0E/XBP2y4cfQWI/AAAAAAAADNE/zRs3WhcqLF8Z--vn8VheIzO0pJc7pHebgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_7570.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116998869403238406.post-11872454637041943622018-12-03T07:54:00.003-08:002018-12-03T09:08:24.617-08:00The Journey begins<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It has been a whirlwind week, so I thought I would bring everyone up to date. First chemo was Wednesday and it went well. I don’t have enough praise for all the nurses, CNAs and other hospital staff who helped me through this first day of firsts. I wonder, is that a Shehecheyanu moment? I will add some prayers next time I am in the chemo chair. We certainly add Shehecheyanu to the first night of Hanukkah which was Sunday December 2!</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-b77691b9-7fff-1b15-4101-65810dd59d85" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1672df; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shehecheyanu: Blessing for Beginnings</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This blessing expresses gratitude for experiencing a new or special occasion, and is said whenever we do something for the first time in a calendar year. It can be recited on calendar milestones (for example: a birthday, the first night of each Jewish holiday) and other “firsts” (for example: tasting a new fruit, eating vegetables from your summer garden, wearing a new item of clothing, starting a new job, and dropping your children off for a new school year). (And I guess at your first CHEMO?)</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #222222; float: right; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, shehecheyanu, v'kiy'manu, v'higianu laz'man hazeh." height="77" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/8fkioPZYvQRH9NSbCKiw3nTbc6Xtm9j-3Pkk86ahxmLnFgvSDy67w3xWoGBp1o6IXA2dkquVtc3MuIhq7lAD3O0yBnCyqn2OtpPUTFPiypr20ri11cW4DXc5ghZtLKJ9M-hrqQ4D" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" title="Hebrew text of Shehechiyanu" width="624" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, shehecheyanu, v’kiy’manu, v’higiyanu laz’man hazeh.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most challenging part of chemo for me, so far, is the Digni Cap. It is a new technology I am trying out. Here is how it works: </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scalp cooling is a proven approach to reduce chemotherapy-induced hair loss that has been used successfully by thousands of patients worldwide. They cool my scalp to a freezing 32 degrees. There is a built-in security sensor to ensure my scalp temperature always remains above 32° F/0° C. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-opEESN22F80/XAVOzT5_6TI/AAAAAAAADK0/cPVpB-z0780E4zqNLDbf0Ck-QAYAcNHAQCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_104ec.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-opEESN22F80/XAVOzT5_6TI/AAAAAAAADK0/cPVpB-z0780E4zqNLDbf0Ck-QAYAcNHAQCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_104ec.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freezing in in my Digni Cap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The cap was donated to the hospital by a former cancer patient. Putting on the cap lengthens my chemo by about 2-3 hours. My motivation for trying this is for my youngest son, Ethan’s, graduation. He is graduating December 16th from the University of Wisconsin with a B.S. in computer engineering and computer science. Hopefully, the Digni cap will allow me to still have hair for this special (shehechiyanu) moment and will be sure to share pictures! If after graduation I find the digni hat a little TOO challenging I may go without out next time. For now it’s on!</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is still business as usual outside the hospital. I am working at </span><a href="https://lakesidecongregation.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lakeside</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, doing a little walking to keep up my strength and taking care of myself. Next chemo is after graduation and we will see if the steroids will again course through me like they did last week. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The response to my blog and my news has been overwhelming. I am so thankful for all of my communities and of course my family as it will take a village to shepherd us through this journey. Our </span><a href="https://my.lotsahelpinghands.com/community/inoneehrlich" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lotsahelpinghands</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> site has already brought us dinners which are not only helpful, but delicious.. There will be more dates added as time goes on. If you have trouble with this site you can email </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lital </span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">directly and she will help you out.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many of you have asked for my Hebrew name to add to your </span><a href="https://reformjudaism.org/practice/prayers-blessings/mi-shebeirach-prayer-healing" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mishaberach</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> lists. Here it is:</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="rtl" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ונסה בּת משה לאה ויהושע</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9nCK_kMur58/XAVPW6XrHbI/AAAAAAAADK8/ViA1t9B254UORnT2Wrjd1-Zu155E6wMwwCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_104c8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9nCK_kMur58/XAVPW6XrHbI/AAAAAAAADK8/ViA1t9B254UORnT2Wrjd1-Zu155E6wMwwCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_104c8.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12-2 at Lakeside with Cantor Katzman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vanessa Bat Masha Leah V’Yoshua. It’s a long story on why Vanessa but that is for another post. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want to thank everyone who has reached out to me and I hope to get back to you over time. I love reading your beautifully written messages and it certainly raises my spirits. Ok, sometimes if I read too many I cry, but it’s still so beautiful to read. I look forward to seeing you, running into you and hearing from you. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chag Urim Samaech</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have a wonderful Hanukkah!</span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MJjPurBkGCc/XAVRG0f3yTI/AAAAAAAADLI/QcFM2PfsPO8TY-1exCcno7zh-3mUj7izgCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_104ee.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MJjPurBkGCc/XAVRG0f3yTI/AAAAAAAADLI/QcFM2PfsPO8TY-1exCcno7zh-3mUj7izgCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_104ee.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't love Radio Hanukkah?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Inoneehrlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12612871794829268574noreply@blogger.com0