There's this great union at work in this week's Parshah, Yitro.
Before this point, Eretz Yisrael never really said "Baruch Hashem" (Praise G-d) in the same way we do today. They had not been given Torah and while the prophets certainly knew and practiced the mitzvot in advance,the general population, not so much.
So here in Yitro, Moshe's father-in-law (Jethro, or Yitro) comes to the Israelites camped at Har Tzinai (Mount Sinai), and has Moshe come down to him. Later, Moshe himself is the vehicle for Hashem coming down to the Jewish people.
So before this point, the Jewish people are not able to bring Hashem down to their place, but afterwards, through the peformance of Mitzvot, they can do so! This is why places like Har Tzinai and other sites beforehand are not holy sites in the same sense as the Temple Mount, where mitzvot of all forms were performed, and thus embuing the site with Hashem's holiness.
And what is amazing about this is the role Yitro, a non-Jewish priest, has in all this! Yitro had studied and prayed before all the pagan idols and found them lacking.
When word spread of Hashem's deeds against Pharaoh, most of the ancient world trembled in fear. The exceptiosn were the Amalekites, which believed that Hashem was not really with the Jewish people, and their victory was a fluke, and Yitro, who understood the lesson here, that the Egyptians had sought to end the Jewish people through water (by drowning the first born) and how were then they themselves drowned pursuing the Jewish people. Yitro understood that Hashem is a just god, sought out his son-in-law Moshe, and joined with the Jewish people.
Shabbat Shalom!
Friday, January 25, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
What's the difference....
....between a garment district worker and an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court?
"One Generation" -- Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court and daughter of a garment district worker, Ruth Bader-Ginsburg
"One Generation" -- Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court and daughter of a garment district worker, Ruth Bader-Ginsburg
Monday, January 7, 2008
Rivkah Naveh bat Rochel Leah -- 11 Tevet 5768
Today I learned of the passing of a friend of mine -- Sylvia (Rivkah) Wonzer Holan. She was my own age -- 47 (~Oct 1960 to 20 Dec 2007)
I only know bits and pieces of her life. She was born and raised in the area around Barstow, CA, the daughter of a dairy rancher. It is from this background that she drew her online names -- LadyHills and TevyesDaughter (although I have no idea where she got Gefiltefish Assassin from!) At some point in her life, she moved to North Carolina and then Alaska where she raised a family. She divorced, moved to Indiana and worked for a time as a nanny, before finally settling in New Rochelle, NY.
She wrote the following of herself:
How aptly named the female child, Rivkah; of the earth and bound to the earth. Her very beginnings like the microorganisms that inhabited the very ground upon which she first took breath;
She too populated the hearts, minds and souls of all who knew her. Comely and fair of face, tresses aflame as the desert sunsets which marked her waking hours, gracefully awkward, elegant, refined. Fragile, delicate, gossamer winged, fleet of mind and foot a contemplative conundrum this decendant of Sarah, Rachel and Leah.
Innocuous, ingenuous, inoffensive, vulnerable, tranquil, contemplative conundrum. Rubics cube awaiting to be defragmented. Defenses guarded, certain, yet not. Absolved of care, youthfully charging ahead heedless of the abyss, and the craggy bottom below. Over and under, around and about, to and fro, discovering the woman, clinging to the child.
Back forty needs tending, the meadow of her soul is at rest. Silted and fertile her mind is tilled, nurtured with the written word, fact filled fertilization, old soul, wise beyond her years. Like those before her, she awaits, anticipating the freedom, caged bird, so bound to the earth, escape is futile.
Fences in constant need of repair, mending, renovating, making do, use it until you cannot use it anymore. Frugal of all but heart, smile that challenges the sun, lighting the hearts of foreigners, visitors and those familiar.
Head bent, heart full, words of Mothers in unfamiliar language, acrid smoke, graceful hands circling, two candles, two hundred forty eight, two hundred fifty two. Man and Woman, Groom and Bride, five hundred parts combined. Head now erect, eyes that shine, welcoming, serene, solace.
Obedient daughter, mitzvot and serene. Almah, na’arah, quiet, familial.
And this:
Everyone who knows me will tell you, "With Syl, what you see is what you get. Good of heart, compassionate, caring, intelligent, and always with a smile on her face." As for my opinion, I tend to think we can be our own worst critic, but I will give it a shot. I am witty, charming, creative, a bit of a perfectionist, forgiving, devout, honest and forthright. When I am passionate about a cause I can go for the jugular, but I do not fight, I speak softly and listen intently. With that said, I believe in respect, honesty and integrity. I enjoy trying new things, be it new ways of looking at life or new ways of enjoying it. I am a country girl at heart, a farmers daughter, clinging to my ways, a barrel racer, a bull rider. I have mucked stalls, bucked hay, driven combines, sometimes, I like horses better than people. If you look under that auburn hair, you will see a bit of a red neck, however, I do clean up very nicely. Sixteen years of Ballet have served me well as have deportment lessons. I have been a debutante and have lived a bit of a Jungian life. I have been told that my photographs show "the many sides of Syl" perhaps that is true. I look at them and I just see, Syl. I have been single for 9+ years and during that period I have given much thought concerning what I truly am seeking. I made a list and then I threw that list away a long time ago, realizing that everyone is different, and that I can learn and appreciate everyone for different reasons. However, I would like someone who is respectful, not only of himself, but of me and our relationship. Intelligence, honesty, compassion for others and always a gentleman. Someone who enjoys good conversation, dancing, music, travel and puts the toilet seat down. If you are looking for me you will find me where there is really good, live Blues. You may also have seen me at the local bookstore sitting on the floor with my nose in a book as you walked by...I am a voracious consumer of books, the sound of the initial crack of the spine, the smell of the ink on the page, what a delicious part of life that is...are you sitting there as well? We live in a time when it is not fashionable to worship, some consider the spiritual arrogance of contemporary man to be a stumbling block. Yet being Jewish allows the capacity to be in awe, to feel thankful, to know from where I come and define who I have become. To remain ever mindful that being Jewish is not just a faith, but a culture as well. I have realized that the words gratitude and humility go hand in hand with who I am, a descendant of a noble people.
Rest in Peace.
I only know bits and pieces of her life. She was born and raised in the area around Barstow, CA, the daughter of a dairy rancher. It is from this background that she drew her online names -- LadyHills and TevyesDaughter (although I have no idea where she got Gefiltefish Assassin from!) At some point in her life, she moved to North Carolina and then Alaska where she raised a family. She divorced, moved to Indiana and worked for a time as a nanny, before finally settling in New Rochelle, NY.
She wrote the following of herself:
How aptly named the female child, Rivkah; of the earth and bound to the earth. Her very beginnings like the microorganisms that inhabited the very ground upon which she first took breath;
She too populated the hearts, minds and souls of all who knew her. Comely and fair of face, tresses aflame as the desert sunsets which marked her waking hours, gracefully awkward, elegant, refined. Fragile, delicate, gossamer winged, fleet of mind and foot a contemplative conundrum this decendant of Sarah, Rachel and Leah.
Innocuous, ingenuous, inoffensive, vulnerable, tranquil, contemplative conundrum. Rubics cube awaiting to be defragmented. Defenses guarded, certain, yet not. Absolved of care, youthfully charging ahead heedless of the abyss, and the craggy bottom below. Over and under, around and about, to and fro, discovering the woman, clinging to the child.
Back forty needs tending, the meadow of her soul is at rest. Silted and fertile her mind is tilled, nurtured with the written word, fact filled fertilization, old soul, wise beyond her years. Like those before her, she awaits, anticipating the freedom, caged bird, so bound to the earth, escape is futile.
Fences in constant need of repair, mending, renovating, making do, use it until you cannot use it anymore. Frugal of all but heart, smile that challenges the sun, lighting the hearts of foreigners, visitors and those familiar.
Head bent, heart full, words of Mothers in unfamiliar language, acrid smoke, graceful hands circling, two candles, two hundred forty eight, two hundred fifty two. Man and Woman, Groom and Bride, five hundred parts combined. Head now erect, eyes that shine, welcoming, serene, solace.
Obedient daughter, mitzvot and serene. Almah, na’arah, quiet, familial.
And this:
Everyone who knows me will tell you, "With Syl, what you see is what you get. Good of heart, compassionate, caring, intelligent, and always with a smile on her face." As for my opinion, I tend to think we can be our own worst critic, but I will give it a shot. I am witty, charming, creative, a bit of a perfectionist, forgiving, devout, honest and forthright. When I am passionate about a cause I can go for the jugular, but I do not fight, I speak softly and listen intently. With that said, I believe in respect, honesty and integrity. I enjoy trying new things, be it new ways of looking at life or new ways of enjoying it. I am a country girl at heart, a farmers daughter, clinging to my ways, a barrel racer, a bull rider. I have mucked stalls, bucked hay, driven combines, sometimes, I like horses better than people. If you look under that auburn hair, you will see a bit of a red neck, however, I do clean up very nicely. Sixteen years of Ballet have served me well as have deportment lessons. I have been a debutante and have lived a bit of a Jungian life. I have been told that my photographs show "the many sides of Syl" perhaps that is true. I look at them and I just see, Syl. I have been single for 9+ years and during that period I have given much thought concerning what I truly am seeking. I made a list and then I threw that list away a long time ago, realizing that everyone is different, and that I can learn and appreciate everyone for different reasons. However, I would like someone who is respectful, not only of himself, but of me and our relationship. Intelligence, honesty, compassion for others and always a gentleman. Someone who enjoys good conversation, dancing, music, travel and puts the toilet seat down. If you are looking for me you will find me where there is really good, live Blues. You may also have seen me at the local bookstore sitting on the floor with my nose in a book as you walked by...I am a voracious consumer of books, the sound of the initial crack of the spine, the smell of the ink on the page, what a delicious part of life that is...are you sitting there as well? We live in a time when it is not fashionable to worship, some consider the spiritual arrogance of contemporary man to be a stumbling block. Yet being Jewish allows the capacity to be in awe, to feel thankful, to know from where I come and define who I have become. To remain ever mindful that being Jewish is not just a faith, but a culture as well. I have realized that the words gratitude and humility go hand in hand with who I am, a descendant of a noble people.
Rest in Peace.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Teriyaki Marinade
So when I was at the market the other day to get the ingredients for the broth mentioned below, I also picked up a steak for dinner on Erev Shabbat. I have a homemade teriyaki marinade I use for the meat:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup dry red wine
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon honey
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Soup is good food. Or at least broth.
So let's review. I am single. If I want to eat, I have to cook for myself. I like to eat well -- boring, tasteless food doesn't do anything for me, so I try to find ways to incorporate ingredients in an atypical manner. So this is the first in a set of occasional notes about what I've done in the kitchen.
Today's entry is Citrus-infused Chicken Broth, (ingredients -- Chicken, a carrot, an onion, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and either a Seville orange or a combination of OJ and Lime Juice)
Today's entry is Citrus-infused Chicken Broth, (ingredients -- Chicken, a carrot, an onion, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and either a Seville orange or a combination of OJ and Lime Juice)
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