Counting it’s that time of year

My actual sheets I used at camp 50 years ago, iron on Labels!

My last chemo is currently scheduled for Monday, July 1! I can finally start my countdown. With any luck, by the time I arrive at my ‘camp home,’ Olin Sang Ruby Institute, 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.

And what timing! This is also the time of the year when we count the Omer:

The period between Passover and Shavuot is called the “Counting of the Omer” (Sefirat Ha'omer). Omer 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).

For years at my synagogue, Lakeside, 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.

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.  

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.

Cereal boxes from 2018 and the magic door which brought different characters to our school!

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.  

I am sure that I could do some gematria here.  In gematria (a form of Jewish numerology), 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.

I do, however, love midrashim (stories about Torah) and here is one for you as we wait for Shavuot on June 8-9, 2019.

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.  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.

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.

Ehrlich's and one Leiter who Na'aseh V'Nishamah

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! Now back to the rest of the Ehrlich’s and one Leiter obeying me, then figuring out why...

Recount #BlogExodus 7th of Nisan

I am late coming to the blogging Exodus party but I started on the right day.  RECOUNT  is today's topic and let me tell you how we count the Omer at Lakeside Congregation.  First what is the Omer and why do we count in the first place and if you google you will find:

Counting of the Omer (Hebrew: ספירת העומר, Sefirat HaOmer, sometimes abbreviated as Sefira or the Omer) is an important verbal counting of each of the forty-nine days between the Jewish holidays of Passover and Shavuot as stated in the Hebrew Bible: Leviticus 23:15–16.

We count and RECOUNT from Pesach to Shavuot and at Lakeside we do this not with wheat but with products made from wheat, rice and other grains:  CEREAL boxes.   On every day of the Omer we put on our bimah the number of cereal boxes that correspond to that day.  By the end of the 49 days we have 1225 boxes of cereal which we donate to local food banks.

For the first time this year one of the food banks actually contacted me wondering if they could receive our cereal boxes.  They let me know how much they appreciate getting all of the cereal boxes for their clients. Cereal is not inexpensive and they thank us and I thank all of the families at Lakeside for bringing boxes of cereal all through the end of April, May and the beginning of June.  We appreciate all of the cereal boxes that congregants bring in and if you are in the neighborhood drop off a cereal box or two.