Today's theme is Count, so I want to look at the traditional concept of cheshbon nefesh - literally, mathematics of the soul. It looks like I only wrote about this theme in 2013 and 2014 - I guess Rabbi Sommer does mix things up! When we are engaged in cheshbon nefesh, we are adding up … Continue reading #BlogElul 10 – Count
Tag: blog
#BlogElul 8 – Hear
Today's word is Hear. I just went back and read the other three Hear posts, one about the still small voice, one about finding the writer's voice, and one about hearing voices of panic in my head when September hits ... that was last year. What do I want to write about this year? Maybe … Continue reading #BlogElul 8 – Hear
#BlogElul 7 – Be
I'm always curious about the methods that Rabbi Sommer uses to decide which word goes on which day. Some of it I'm sure is deliberately random, but on the other hand, if Be ended up on Shabbat just randomly, it was a very serendipitous chance. Shabbat, like no other day of the week, is a … Continue reading #BlogElul 7 – Be
#BlogElul 5 – Accept
As many of you know, I've been living with a chronic disease since 1987. It has waxed and waned over the years, but it is not likely ever to be "cured". The best I can aim for is extended periods of remission, punctuated by uncomfortable flareups. The reason I am telling you this is not … Continue reading #BlogElul 5 – Accept
#BlogElul 4 – Understand
We think we understand things, but very often we are wrong. Reality is like the skins of an onion, there are always more layers underneath. Physical scientists understand this, they make models and theories but never (if they are wise) expect them to be perfect descriptions and explanations of what is really going on. The … Continue reading #BlogElul 4 – Understand
#BlogElul 3 – Search
Searching is something I've been doing my whole life. What do I want to be when I grow up? Where do I want to live? What kind of meaning do I want to give my life? Lots of searching. Some of these questions have been answered in ways that surprised me. I've been living in … Continue reading #BlogElul 3 – Search
#BlogElul 2 – Act
I've been procrastinating on writing this blog post, but now it is getting late, and if I'm not going to kill my series when it has barely started, it's time to act. I know why I've been procrastinating - I checked the last two blog posts (here and here) that I wrote on this subject, … Continue reading #BlogElul 2 – Act
Surviving the Bread of Affliction
Passover has been and gone. It's always been one of my favourite holidays, largely because of the amount of baking I do with my kids. But this year it's taken a twist that made it considerably harder than usual, and I'm still recovering. I've had at least one person say to me in the past, … Continue reading Surviving the Bread of Affliction
Why I Don’t Sell Nail Wraps or Scented Candles or …
I have lots of friends who sell things like nail wraps or scented candles or jewelry or skin care products that claim to make you look younger. Heck, I myself still love BlackBox Cosmetics products, but I don't actively sell them anymore. So, why don't I sell those things? When I was young (around 20 … Continue reading Why I Don’t Sell Nail Wraps or Scented Candles or …
Twelve Years an Orphan
Today is my mother's yahrzeit, the anniversary of her death in the Hebrew calendar. In the common calendar it won't be for another couple of weeks, but I like to observe it the traditional way. My children were very young when they lost their grandmother - my eldest had just turned seven, my second son … Continue reading Twelve Years an Orphan