Passover, as such, is not particularly associated with learning. The next Pilgrimage Holiday in the calendar, Shavu'ot, commemorates the giving of the Torah and is celebrated by learning, traditionally all night. But on Passover we are primarily occupied with doing and telling, not so much by learning. Still, there is no question that a lot … Continue reading #blogExodus – Learning
Tag: Judaism
#blogExodus – Blessing
This prompt is interesting to me because it is actually quite difficult. While Passover has the usual blessings for a holiday (on candles, wine, handwashing, bread or Matzah in this case, the Shehechiyanu for a new experience), I can't, offhand, think of any particular blessing that is special to Passover. The entire holiday is one … Continue reading #blogExodus – Blessing
#blogExodus – Chametz
There are so many layers to the idea of Chametz, the forbidden food of Passover, that I barely know where to begin. Let's start with one of the many, many times this commandment is given in the Torah: ื ืึทืฆึผืึนืช, ืึตืึธืึตื, ืึตืช, ืฉืึดืึฐืขึทืช ืึทืึผึธืึดืื; ืึฐืึนื-ืึตืจึธืึถื ืึฐืึธ ืึธืึตืฅ, ืึฐืึนื-ืึตืจึธืึถื ืึฐืึธ ืฉืึฐืึนืจ--ืึผึฐืึธื-ืึผึฐืึปืึถืึธ 7 Unleavened bread shall be … Continue reading #blogExodus – Chametz
The Evolution of My Virtual Communities
The heart of being a Professional Enabler is to have a community to enable. I've been thinking about how my online community has evolved over the years, as my interests and enthusiasms have waxed and waned. Some people have stuck even though my participation in the community where I met them has become sporadic at … Continue reading The Evolution of My Virtual Communities
Explaining Shabbat
So my friend Anna, who is an indefatigable organiser and promoter, keeps sending me kind invitations to wonderful events that I would just love to attend. Unfortunately, I keep turning her down because I have this thing about this one day of the week. I don't drive, work or use electronics or money on Shabbat, … Continue reading Explaining Shabbat
On Fasting, Remembrance and the Future
I just broke my fast.Yes, it's only four p.m. in Winnipeg. The sun is still shining brightly. My Orthodox brothers and sisters are all still fasting, and will continue to do so until nearly 10 p.m. I am quite stringent in my observance of the Yom Kippur fast, so why have I broken this one, … Continue reading On Fasting, Remembrance and the Future
Wearing tefillin while female
When I was growing up in Israel, my father went to the local (Orthodox - there was nothing else at the time) synagogue on a regular basis. My mother, sister and I only went on the High Holy Days because we were not welcome at other times - the women's balcony was uncomfortable, the sight … Continue reading Wearing tefillin while female