Manicures and Tefillin

Got my nails done the other day. It was the beginning of The 3 weeks. That period that begins the 3 weeks before Tisha B’Av, the day when we commemorate the destruction of the Temple and attribute all the other bad things in history that have happened to the Jewish people. 

Technically, the 3 weeks begins on the 17^th day of Tammuz and is observed by fasting. It marks the day the Romans breached the walls of Jerusalem in 69 CE. This day begins the saddest period of the Jewish calendar and culminates on Tisha B’Av, 3 weeks later. 

While I do not fast, I thought I’d mark the day by taking off the bright pink nail polish I was wearing and changing it to something less garish and bright. So I found a nail place and in the best Hebrew I could muster explained what I was looking for. What followed was an arduous exercise wherein I had to convince the young woman manicurist that I did not want another loud bright color (even though I secretly really did) but required something quite muted. Finally I outed myself by identifying myself as a Rabbah, explaining that the 3 weeks were starting and that I wanted my nails to be appropriate. How ridiculous does that sound?! But she bought it. 

And all was right with my world. Until the next question… 

"!את רבה? אך זה? אי אפשר? יש תפילין? אסור!"

“You are a Rabbi? How is that possible? No way? Do you have/use Tefillin/phylacteries? It’s forbidden!!”

And so it began. She wanted to know how I could possibly wear tefillin. Where was it written that it was allowed? I countered with asking where was it written that it was forbidden. In the end, as my nail polish was setting, we agreed that the Jewish world was better off for having lots of different types and opinions and the key was everyone respecting everyone else. Pluralism at the nail salon. She agreed, a bit skeptically. 

All I wanted was to have my nails done in peace to commemorate the upcoming commemoration of the destruction of the Temple(s). But I suppose, if at least one of the Temples was destroyed because of Sinat Chinam, baseless hatred, then this conversation was a good start toward repairing the world. At least I hope it was. And the nails came out looking okay.  

NOTE: The prayer the Siddur is open to in the picture below is Baruch She'amar - Blessed is the One Who Spoke and the World Was... Our world, our very existence is fueled by words. Seemed only appropriate to chose this page.  

The Conservative Yeshiva visits Ezrat Yisrael (Egalitarian part of Kotel)

Me

The Conservative Yeshiva has been davenning Shacharit on Sunday mornings at Ezrat Yisrael as often as possible this summer. Here are some pictures of the chevre davenning there. It's lovely to see men and women praying together; women and men leading services; and everyone wearing varying forms of ritual garb - various headcoverings (kippah, hat, scarf or bare head), tallit, tefillin.

SESSION ONE

A group of students walked to the Kotel VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING with
CY teacher Esther Israel and learned local history on the way. 

Rabbi Joel Levy, Director of the CY, preparing to start davenning.

JTS student Louis Polisson leading Shacharit.

It was a lovely prayer service. Folks were comfortable
just being who they were, as they were,  and praying together. 

SESSION TWO

This session is a quite a bit larger than last session. Not only do we have a large complement of summer students from all over the world, we also have a group of 30 students specifically from France! Makes for interesting and varied conversations - truly enriches and deepens our learning on all levels. 

Rabbi Joel giving a brief history of Robinson's Arch. 

We had so many people we had to share Siddurim!

My summer of R&R&R - Day 1

Welcome to My Summer of R (Rest) & R (Relaxation) & R (Reflection)

Day 1 – Wednesday June 22, 2011  London Town Musings

    There is something so uniquely British feeling about a rainy day – especially a cold, grey rainy day in summer.  People should be shivering and staying indoors, instead there is a riot of colour out on the street as people go about their business under a canopy of umbrellas – solid colored, striped, patchwork, polka dotted, plaid, paneled, bannered, with or without words or medallions, with decorative edging, extremely large or so small one cannot figure out why they are being used at all. It’s totally cool!

I spent a period of time in a pub off Tottenham Court Road as I finished up a strange lunch that included minty mushy peas. As much as I enjoy peas, I deeply regret that I cannot recommend minty mushy peas to anyone. Even to people that I do not like. Enough said.  The waiter at the restaurant was very nice to me, noticed how exhausted I was from traveling so many hours (nearly 20 at that point), brought me countless refills of Coke and encouraged me to stay for as long as I wanted. So I did. I stared out the window, sipped my Coke, stared at the rain, and watched the parade of umbrellas pass by.


I also occupied myself with interesting reading – articles on the concept of devekut in Hassidut.
The readings don’t necessarily match the surroundings except that devekut (clinging or cleaving to Gd) is all about determination  and if going about in this chilly, icky, wet weather in not all about determination, then I do not know what is!


 Of course, I’m hard put to find a parallel between the plethora of umbrellas and ecstatic elevation of spirituality and devotion to the Kudsha Brich Hu – unless one really wants to stretch and reference Mary Poppins and her flights into the air of the Supernal Realm with her umbrella. I am in England, after all!
Interfaith Experience #1
    I did manage to daven (pray) Ma’ariv as we waited to take off last night and Shacharit this morning. Davened in the back of the plane (British Air) after having a chat with the 2 Irish flight attendants and explained what tefillin were. One of them had seen tefillin before, one hadn’t - both knew they were not bombs, B"H. They both had many questions including what are they for, what is in the boxes, what do the straps represent, why do you wear them, and of course the biggie – (no, not are they used for S&M but) we didn’t  know women could be rabbis.  Both were Irish Catholic and didn’t know of any female Catholic priests, so a woman clergy figure was outside of their experience. They were quite pleased.  I got out my handy dandy Tanach, showed them where in Deuteronomy the Shma can be found, showed the passages from Hosea 2:20-21 that we say as we wrap the straps around the middle finger and what that symbolizes. Discussed the marriage metaphor of Gd/Israel and man/woman and all in-between. Was fascinating. Only got a few strange looks from other passengers on their way to the bathroom (asher yatzar…).  Interesting way to pass the time before breakfast.

 

 

Interfaith Experience #2
    At British Museum, while waiting to meet my wonderful friends Sara Bucciarelli and her adorable son Dov (3 yrs, 4 mos old), I was asked to take the picture of a couple that was sitting on the steps of the museum. As we began to talk (because of course we had to begin to talk) I learned that the woman had just been ordained from the Fuller Theological Seminary in California and was about to being a Hospital Chaplaincy Program (yea CPE).  We seminarians are all over the place. She and I exchanged stories and email addresses and plan to keep in touch. Mazal tov to Karen Bolte! I wish you blessings and much luck as you find your way through your calling and do Gd’s work in the world. 

The day ended with a wonderful conversation with Sara about head versus hair coverings for liberal Jewish women – how we make these decisions and how other people view the decisions we make. 
    We also talked about how people with different religious practices interface. Life is different for those of us who live in the grey spaces as opposed to those who are able to see things quite concretely or are comfortable with black and white. I am very happy to have Sara back in my life
    I land in Israel at 5:30 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday) morning. Zari will pick me up and take me to Marissa and Barbara’s apartment. Where would be without friends in our lives?

Wall in Tube station at Tottingham Court Road Station. Cool, huh?

Look! They still have phone booths. And ones with style!

Okay, so maybe there not too much style or class on the inside but the outside looks good.

The British Museum. It was pouring!

Don't think I'll get to Afghanistan in real life so....

Jennie, this shoe is for you!

Soho - Gotta love it!

I love London! 

I'm writing again... random thoughts... and some Zohar

Shalom Y'all -

I wonder if I should say the beracha "m'chayei ha'meitim" which you are supposed to say when you see someone you haven't seen in so long it's as if they've been dead and it's as if they are ressurrected, you are seeing them come back to life!

I haven’t written in this blog for over a year and I realize that I missed it.  The noun itinerant means “a person who travels from place to place.” Though I am no longer in Israel I still fit that definition to a tee.  Home in Maryland, school in Philly, pulpit in Ottawa, family in New England, friends all over (not that I ever see them), heart in Israel… I think that qualifies.

My thoughts are itinerant as well – they travel (bounce really )from place to place – are rarely confined to the small interior space of my brain –  head out to the stratosphere – pop back for a quick check in – go bug someone else for a while – come to me with an update – then begin the pattern all over again. Keeps me busy, especially when I have insomnia, which is all too often. So I thought I’d start writing again. People will read or not. And that’s okay.  I just figured I’d write – who knows what wisdom might find its way from my fingers to the page and surprise all of us?

Things of importance that happened today:

1) Today I learned how to open a wine bottle for the first time.  I am nearly 50 years old and this is, I am sort of but not really embarrassed to say, the first time I have ever successfully opened a bottle of wine. Didn’t split the cork, no little pieces floating around or anything. The wine is decent but not great – a kosher Baron Herzog Chenin Blanc Clarksburg 2008 – a good year I’m sure:) It goes well with my French bread pizza, vanilla scented candle, and hole in my living room ceiling that has water dripping down through the tiles that fell off due to the weight of the snow on the roof of the old house that houses my dismal apartment in Philly. I needed fortification to finish up some of last semester’s work. So far so good.

2) Today I was reminded that even though I am adamant that I am not a very spiritual or mystical person (in fact I don’t even know the definition of a “spiritual” person) I totally dig the Zohar. Am taking a course called the Mystical traditions of Sabbath with a fantastic Rabbi, teacher, and friend Mira Regev and it Rocks!               Spent some time today pondering the real differences between Avodah (commonly thought of as regular, everyday work) and Melachah (creative work that Jews are not allowed to do on Shabbat, the kind of work that G-d, the Awesome One, did to create the world). Are they really different? What are the differences? Definitionally we are led to believe they are very different but if you look closely at the text, you (or at least I) begin to question…
      And then, of course, I began reading the Zohar and read something about G-d’s work. And what is G-d’s work? Coupling with the Shechina (on Shabbos of course when all good Jewish men and woman enjoy double mitzvah night and thereby ensure the production of future generations of righteous children.) (source: Zohar 2:89b).  Being Jewish is a very cool thing to be, one must admit. Even the learning is fun, and practical too.

3) I also was reminded today, well this week really, how lovely it is to see one’s chevre when one hasn’t seen them for a while. Good friends are never to be taken for granted. Ever.

4) And my Philly flatmate D. is back from her sojourn in the Holy Land so I am no longer alone. Yea! This is our 3rd year sharing  a flat. A good flatmate is more precious than diamonds (or is it rubies – that’s Eshet Chayil anyways but you get the point). Welcome home D!

Back to the school work. A Rabbit’s work is never done, even an Itinerant one’s.

The task tonight – writing a lesson plan on how to teach the Hebrew language poem Tefillin by Yona Wallach. Have you read it yet? If not, give it a read and tell me what you think. It is a bit controversial (ok, more than a bit). But if you look below the surface, I promise you, there is much there.

Kol tuv, be well.. more to come…

rabba arlene