Oy. I made it halfway through Elul without missing a day, and I was so proud of myself, I promptly missed Thursday. That'll larn me to get too pleased with myself. So the theme for Elul 16 was Pray. Maybe that's why I missed it - it can be such a personal topic, and yet … Continue reading #BlogElul 16: Pray
Tag: community
#BlogElul 15: Intend (video)
I am so thrilled that Rabbi Sommer has given us this theme for today, halfway through Elul. Thinking about intentionality is one of my favourite things to do these days. I recorded this Facebook Live video in my van this morning, all sweaty and hot (and with blinding sunlight on half of my face), with … Continue reading #BlogElul 15: Intend (video)
#BlogElul 14: Learn
Do you like to learn? If not, what do you think the consequences of that might be? The brain, while technically not a muscle, is similar to our muscles in many ways - in particular, it's got this "use it or lose it" aspect to it, that becomes increasingly important as we age. If we … Continue reading #BlogElul 14: Learn
#BlogElul 13: Remember
Wow, we are almost halfway through Elul. Time is moving swiftly, and Rosh HaShanah will be here before we know it. School is starting again this week. What do we need to remember? I remember bringing each of my three children to school, as a tiny kindergartner. I remember hanging out by the school fence, … Continue reading #BlogElul 13: Remember
#BlogElul 12: Count
This morning I had a humbling experience of the power of community, and the importance of making each person count. It's a long weekend here in Manitoba, and indeed in most of North America. It's been an amazing summer, warm, sunny, just enough rain to keep things green, and NO MOSQUITOES. That's probably a first … Continue reading #BlogElul 12: Count
#BlogElul 11: Trust
Trust is a fascinating concept - hard to get, easy to lose. As babies, we start off trusting everyone - what choice do you have, when you are completely helpless and can't walk or talk? You are entirely in the hands of the adults around you, which is why babies are so incredibly cute, to … Continue reading #BlogElul 11: Trust
#BlogElul 10: Forgive
Wow, Rabbi Sommer, that's a hefty theme to put on a Friday, when I'm busy getting ready for Shabbat! Forgiveness is an interesting topic, because it is presented as a sign of ultimate altruism - this person must be a super nice and evolved person, because she forgave the person who did this dreadful thing … Continue reading #BlogElul 10: Forgive
#BlogElul 8: Hear
Today I had the privilege of shadowing our cantor as she conducted a funeral, and I learned something about hearing. Our congregation currently does not have a rabbi, so some of the lay people, such as myself, are pitching in to help lessen our cantor's load. She is a huge asset to our community, and … Continue reading #BlogElul 8: Hear
#BlogElul 7: Understand
As a scientist, I have often thought that my job was to try and understand the world. I've now come to the conclusion that my understanding of "understand" was flawed. Understanding is a funny thing. When we use it with regards to the words of another, we mean that we have comprehended their meaning - … Continue reading #BlogElul 7: Understand
#BlogElul 6: Want
This evening I was on an amazing call with my coach, Karen Fagan, and a group of other women. Among other things, we discussed the importance of deciding what you want. It seems pretty obvious, doesn't it? And yet, a remarkable number of people don't know what they want. They might be very clear on … Continue reading #BlogElul 6: Want