#BlogElul 16 Pray

I do believe that there is no wrong place to pray and this summer I did a blog post about just that when I was at OSRUI. You can in a small community, in a large community just by yourself,  If you are not feeling well in mind or body you can ask other people to pray with you of for you.  You can sing, play an instrument or listen to other singing.  I know I always feel calmer and happier after praying.  There are many studies which tell us that if you pray regularly it will improve your health.

Being in the month of Elul as we are to prepare for the High Holy Days what a great time to start praying with Religious and Hebrew school beginning this week.  Come and try out our Tfilah, service at the beginning of Religious school and don't forget our Friday night services.  We also have Torah study and t'filah on Shabbat morning!

Praying at camp and getting ready

I love praying with my community whether that be at Lakeside or camp.  I love singing the old tunes I know and more importantly learning new tunes that keep me and I believe everyone on their toes.  I hope to see my Lakeside chevre this week either Friday Night at Pot-Luck Shabbat, Sunday morning at the opening of Religious School or Tuesday for Hebrew school.







We are also praying this week for the safety of our friends in Florida and hope they will be kept out of harms way. As we gathered supplies for Hurricane Harvey I hope we will not have to do the same for Irma but we are prepared.

Photo Credit: Rabbi Phyllis Sommer

#BlogElul 3 Prepare: #whatjewisheducatorsdo

Prepare is really my theme for the whole summer!  I am preparing for the first day of school, first teachers' meeting, ordering supplies, making lists and trying to make sure everything is ready for the new year. If you have not registered for school or even High Holy Day tickets at Lakeside not to worry.  I can always order more books for new students and you can still order your High Holy tickets! There are many details and I do have help, thank goodness, in this area.

Special Todah Rabah to Margaux Friend, our office administrator who keeps our office running and me as well.  My admin, JoAnne is fantastic and school, flyers and so much more would not be ready if not for her.

I know that Rabbi Serotta is preparing for the High Holy days and sermon writing is just a part of what he does.  Getting the year going again takes many different steps.  When the High Holy days and Labor day align as they did this year it gives us a few more days to keep preparing.

I am looking forward to a wonderful year and I hope to re-connect with everyone as the school year starts and we begin again.

(I know that I am behind in blogging but I hope to blog most of Elul!)

#BlogElul 2: Search

Every year I join with Rabbi Phyllis Sommer and try to blog Elul.  Elul is the month that proceeds the High Holy Days and it is a time we prepare for them.  (Tomorrow's cue is Prepare...more on prepare later).

Blogging Elul helps me to write more, blog more and just put my thoughts together during a busy time of year.  It is also a chance to participate in a project which links me to an even larger community.  It is a daunting task and this year I want to try and do this in smaller pieces.

Today's word Search makes me imagine searching for peace.  In our world filled with hate  and sometimes it takes searching for your own peace and where to find peace.  I know that this summer I have found peace as I always do at OSRUI and I think the place that is most peaceful at camp are the Beitei T'filah, where we pray.  Being able to pray twice a day is a gift when I am at camp.  It is right there, I don't even have to search it out.

I also find peace on vacation especially when we go to the ocean. This summer we were at Cape Cod went to the beach every day for a week.  I loved listening to the sound that the waves made as they crashed on the beach.  It is a soothing sound and a great place to take a nap.  It reminds me of the words of poem/song Eli, Eli:

This is my first blog Elul for 5777, Looking forward to a good month!

#Blogelul 26 Create (the State of Israel)

Shimon Peres, Z"L (Zikron L'vracha, may his memory be a blessing) died this week in Israel.  He was instrumental in creating the state of Israel, preserving it and making sure it exists through 5777.  With his death we witness the end of an era which includes the founding generation of chalutzim, pioneers in Israel.  He was a warrior for peace and served his county selflessly.  It is to his credit that President Obama, former President Clinton, Secretary of State John Kerry are traveling to his funeral in Jerusalem on Har Herzl, Friday September 30, the 27th of Elul.  Also in attendance they have announced President Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority will be in attendance as well.  President Obama has also ordered that flags fly at half mast at government buildings this week in the United States.  That is quite a statement.  It shows us not just the importance of Shimon Peres on the world stage but also that he was very well liked.

Here is a very short bio:

Born Szymon Perski; (August 2, 1923 – September 28, 2016) was an Israeli statesman and the 9th President of Israel, serving from 2007 to 2014. Peres served twice as the Prime Minister of Israel and twice as Interim Prime Minister, and he was a member of twelve cabinets in a political career spanning nearly 70 years. Peres was elected to the Knesset in November 1959 and, except for a three-month-long hiatus in early 2006, served continuously until 2007, when he became President, serving in the role for another seven years. At the time of his retirement in 2014, he was the world's oldest head of state. He was considered the last link to Israel's founding generation.
 
This is a youtube video made only 2 years ago after Peres retired from the Presidency, which is mostly ceremonial as opposed to being the Prime Minister who runs the government.  It is Peres retiring and then looking for a job.  It is very funny and there are sub titles and if you think of all the peace conferences and all of the government jobs Peres has done over the years it makes it even funnier.  

There are many articles, pictures and quotes on line about Peres and I am sure there will be more this weekend.  Take a read, pick just one.  I admire Peres' generation for what they did for the Jewish people in Israel and all over the world.  He will be missed.  Shana Tova.  

#Blogelul 14 Remember, not so easy on the first day of Hebrew school

Today was the first day of Hebrew school.  All of the teachers were ready to go back as were the students.  I think though for some students trying to remember where they left off on the last day of school back in May 3 and half months ago it was not easy.  

We assign summer packets which we hope that our students will complete so they can practice over the long months and our students practice at camp, come to t'filot over the summer, and even do their practice packages.  The first day isn't easy but our students will be remembering more and more as they gear up and begin their Hebrew studies.

Songs, practicing, drilling and just coming to class will help everyone to remember.  I tell parents who have not read Hebrew since they were in school that it is like riding a bicycle.  You never forget how to ride a bicycle and you never forget Hebrew:  you have to remember!

#BlogElul 9 Hear where were you when you heard...

Joan Rivers Z"L

Joan Rivers Z"L died today. Baruch Dayen Emet (words you traditionally say when you hear someone has died meaning: Blessed is the Judge of truth) I heard the news when I was in the car, by myself.  I wanted to call someone and talk about it.  I think you remember very vividly where you were and what you were doing when you hear good news, bad news or a world event happens.  

I am too young to remember hearing about JFK being assassinated, I was only 4.  I remember that when Yitzhak Rabin Z"L was assassinated I was at OSRUI on a 5th-6th grade retreat and I had to decide what to do at my Sunday morning T'filah back at Lakeside.  On 9/11 I was first at home with my kids before school and then  at Lakeside congregation working with a professional fundraiser (who knew that was the beginning of a recession) and watched the rest of the day on unfold on television.

I remember hearing good news as well although I think with good news be it a birth, a wedding announcement or a graduation you are expecting the news and it is just not as shocking as unexpected bad news.  

To really hear what is going on you have to be present in the moment for good news of bad news.  Hearing bad news or good news is not always easy.  You must be in the present and listen.  This is not something easy and certainly not always easy for me.  I try to work on hearing what people say to me every day.  

There are many things to read about Joan Rivers today and I think she would be surprised by the  outpouring of love and support from all corners of the world.  She had tragedy in her life and never gave up.  I admire her chutzpah and her unabashed take on the world including her unapologetic take on life from her support of Israel this summer to her lifestyle.  May God comfort her family among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem