The world we live in seems to made up of many alternate realities - people's perceptions of reality vary greatly, to the extent that they perceive the world in completely different ways. What one might consider "unrealistic" can be the reality in which another person lives.
Each person, by how they choose to perceive their surroundings and circumstances (much of which are the result of their own choices), chooses and creates their version of reality.
According to Judaism, we are partners in the world's creation. After the creation of the world, it is written that G-d completed the heaven and earth and rested on Shabbat from all of the work he created to do:
"(1) Now the heavens and the earth were completed and all their host. (2) And G-d completed on the seventh day His work that He did, and He abstained on the seventh day from all His work that He did. (3) And G-d blessed the seventh day and He hallowed it, for thereon He abstained from all His work that God created to do." (Breishit 2:1-3)
The creation of the heaven and earth was completed, but it then says that God rested from his work, not that he stopped or finished, which seems to indicate resuming it after the Shabbat, indicating ongoing creation on G'd's part. And we in our actions are partners in that ongoing creation, by having children, by refining and protecting the word around us and ourselves - and I would say also by our perception and beliefs which direct our actions, through which we create our realities, and through which various cultures create their realities. What world and what reality do we want to create - and what do we actually create?
6/29/18
What a week!
I had a very full week, the fullest since my family visited last summer: on top of working 4 out of 5 days, I had 3 evening events - including a wonderful performance by stand-up-comedian Chana Cohen Eloro, spent a day at the Kinneret, and following the third event, a Bar Mitzva, went into Jerusalem to go to the Light Festival in the Old City with friends.
The day at the Kinneret was great, we were a group of women ranging from 1 to mid 60's - me, two friends, the baby of one of them, and my 6-year-old granddaughter - and all greatly enjoyed the beach (Chokok - חוקוק) and each other's company. We capped the day off with dinner at a Chinese restaurant in Tiberius, a new discovery with good reviews that exceeded our expectations, checking off every box - good food, good service, pleasant atmosphere, and very reasonable prices - Sin Chan (סין צ'אן). My only regret for that day is that I forgot to take any pictures ;-(
Last night, the final day of the marathon, included a co-worker's son's Bar Mitzva - very nice event, and as expected he gave a great speech with his own uniques perspective, throwing in a twist: how to learn the importance of this period in life - following the Bar Mitzva and before becoming fully independent - from the case of the rebellious son. And he also managed to sneak a twist into his son's speech that had us laughing. I then went into Jerusalem and spent a couple hours walking around and through the Old City, seeing light shows and hearing music - and considering the long day, and long week, I was quite pleased I only began to run out of steam after 11:00 p.m. On the way out of the Old City we came across a couple interesting sites, a section of a Roman road, and an arch that served as an entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre - the arch was blocked off at some point and another arch was built overlaying part of it:
And now I'm off to go swimming. Shabbat shalom!
The day at the Kinneret was great, we were a group of women ranging from 1 to mid 60's - me, two friends, the baby of one of them, and my 6-year-old granddaughter - and all greatly enjoyed the beach (Chokok - חוקוק) and each other's company. We capped the day off with dinner at a Chinese restaurant in Tiberius, a new discovery with good reviews that exceeded our expectations, checking off every box - good food, good service, pleasant atmosphere, and very reasonable prices - Sin Chan (סין צ'אן). My only regret for that day is that I forgot to take any pictures ;-(
Last night, the final day of the marathon, included a co-worker's son's Bar Mitzva - very nice event, and as expected he gave a great speech with his own uniques perspective, throwing in a twist: how to learn the importance of this period in life - following the Bar Mitzva and before becoming fully independent - from the case of the rebellious son. And he also managed to sneak a twist into his son's speech that had us laughing. I then went into Jerusalem and spent a couple hours walking around and through the Old City, seeing light shows and hearing music - and considering the long day, and long week, I was quite pleased I only began to run out of steam after 11:00 p.m. On the way out of the Old City we came across a couple interesting sites, a section of a Roman road, and an arch that served as an entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre - the arch was blocked off at some point and another arch was built overlaying part of it:
And now I'm off to go swimming. Shabbat shalom!
6/27/18
A wonderful day at the Kinneret
Had a great day at the Kinneret - one of my favorite places. I went with a lovely group of women, ranging from 1 to mid 60s: 2 friends, the baby daughter of one of them, and my 6-year-old granddaughter, and we greatly enjoyed each other's company. We found a nice beach and spent most of the time in the water, and then ended the day at a Chinese restaurant in Tiberius, Sin Chan (סין צ'או), that was great and ticked off every single box - good food, good service, pleasant atmosphere, and very reasonable prices. I had seen good reviews for it, and it exceeded my expectations.
6/26/18
Cool, high, or typical American?
When I approached the cashier a few nights ago at our local grocery store, a friend of his was standing next to him puzzling over something. The cashier saw me and immediately said "She knows what it is." After he said that, I of course had to take a look and see what it was - and it was an empty package of pure natural papers for rolling... whatever your heart desires - and it was clear what the cashier's heart leaned towards to. So - A. Can I take it as a compliment that a young hip guy who was clearly into "the keta," as we say in Hebrew, thought I was also into it; or did he think I was into it because he thought I looked like a hippie and/or high; or does he think that all Americans are into it?
And B. Did I manage to retain any slight street cred possibly credited to me when I said I wasn't really into it (primarily because on the occasions I have partaken I haven't really noticed any effect - but I didn't get into that), but did immediately recognize it for what it was and was cool about it?
And B. Did I manage to retain any slight street cred possibly credited to me when I said I wasn't really into it (primarily because on the occasions I have partaken I haven't really noticed any effect - but I didn't get into that), but did immediately recognize it for what it was and was cool about it?
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