I've had a long hiatus from my blogging world.
Some of my fellow bloggers have been blogging, but I haven't had much to blog about.
I haven't had much to blog about. My life is pretty boring. Jewishly, and as a normal teenager.
Let's see. I'm an almost done high school senior battling out these next few weeks.
I recently purchased at WOMEN's art scroll as my quest for Judiasm keeps on coming.
I'm still waiting for some kind of messiah...just kidding!
I am working at the URJ Newman Camp. I'm excited. I'm going to blog about my adventures, don't you worry. This is my blog and I am not going to change it anymore. Alrighty.
I am struggling to find Judiasm in my life. Praying doesn't seem to happen anymore and I dont get that good feeling anymore. A new struggle has hit me, and now I have to do something about it.
June 12th opens a new door, an airplane door actually to the Oakland Airport to Santa Rosa, CA for my summer as a conuselor/songleader.
:] Excitment is all over me.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
417 NFTYites in one region....
This past weekend I attended my first NFTY-MAR event in the year 5768. Oh what an event.
Friday night we all got there on the buses, had some mixers and dressed our best for Shabbat. As a songleader, I had the honor of helping out in services Friday night in the Washington DC shul. I got to stand up there with my guitar side by side with fellow Rabbis, songleaders, and others who were on that stage. Whoops, I mean beema...or is it really that?
Instead of a sermon we had a special presentation. None of us had any idea what was going to happen, but there was a huge projector in the middle of this area, or rather I mean synangogue. [Keep in mind there was probably around 600 people here on this very Shabbat] During the time of this all the sudden the lights dimmed down and a huge HUGE projector came from the sky, or rather top of the synagogue coming down.
The Rabbi held a remote and pressed play. We started to watch a newscast from ABC about a young woman who was a high school teacher teaching 150 students in an inner city in Long Beach California. She had to deal with kids in gangs as parts of the bloods and crips and whatnot. Yes we saw the newstory of "Freedom Writers" the incredible story of the one woman who changed lives of many teenagers by having them read books and learn about the Holocaust and teaching them in such styles that they would actually go to school. Truely, an extremely touching and fantastic story.
After the [at least] 20 mintue news story, the actual teacher got to speak to us. All 600 of us. She had an amazing speech, extremely moving in that black microphone. No notes or nothing.
It may seem as though I'm getting off track, but I'm not.
My parents attended the service and couldnt believe what they just saw. A projector RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of a service!? RIGHT BEFORE the aleniu!? WHAT!?
I was at shock also. I feel they could of presented this a lot better. What do you think? A projector in the middle of services...?
Friday night we all got there on the buses, had some mixers and dressed our best for Shabbat. As a songleader, I had the honor of helping out in services Friday night in the Washington DC shul. I got to stand up there with my guitar side by side with fellow Rabbis, songleaders, and others who were on that stage. Whoops, I mean beema...or is it really that?
Instead of a sermon we had a special presentation. None of us had any idea what was going to happen, but there was a huge projector in the middle of this area, or rather I mean synangogue. [Keep in mind there was probably around 600 people here on this very Shabbat] During the time of this all the sudden the lights dimmed down and a huge HUGE projector came from the sky, or rather top of the synagogue coming down.
The Rabbi held a remote and pressed play. We started to watch a newscast from ABC about a young woman who was a high school teacher teaching 150 students in an inner city in Long Beach California. She had to deal with kids in gangs as parts of the bloods and crips and whatnot. Yes we saw the newstory of "Freedom Writers" the incredible story of the one woman who changed lives of many teenagers by having them read books and learn about the Holocaust and teaching them in such styles that they would actually go to school. Truely, an extremely touching and fantastic story.
After the [at least] 20 mintue news story, the actual teacher got to speak to us. All 600 of us. She had an amazing speech, extremely moving in that black microphone. No notes or nothing.
It may seem as though I'm getting off track, but I'm not.
My parents attended the service and couldnt believe what they just saw. A projector RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of a service!? RIGHT BEFORE the aleniu!? WHAT!?
I was at shock also. I feel they could of presented this a lot better. What do you think? A projector in the middle of services...?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Jewish Ethics
I am currently enrolled in a philosphy course they offer at my high school with a teacher who loves to jab away at whatever is on his mind. Don't get me wrong, he's a great guy, a nice teacher, and knows his stuff, I just find some ways of what he teaches entertaining.
On the third day of class we started talking about ethics and how philosphy plays a big part in ethics. That reminded me of one of the electives I took this past summer at the URJ Kutz Campus for Reform Jewish Teen Life. Jewish Ethics with Rabbi Elisa Koppel (one of my FAVORTIE Rabbi's) where we talked about different dilemma's and problems we had to work out. I remember the first day I was in her class we played board games. I was playing Monopoly with some of my peers. Rabbi Koppel told us not to cheat, but on the side she told me to cheat. She said to do it secretly. Of course I cheated, I took some of the money from the banker when he wasn't looking. My partner was very amused and confused as to why I was cheating. It wasn't even like we were behind.
After the games, we talked about our "ethical descions" that we made throughout the games. How some people weren't lucky enough or didn't really know how to win at their games. I told everyone that I cheated, and one girl was in such shock. She didn't understand why. When Rabbi Koppel explained why, she was still confused and telling us that I didn't have to cheat. It's true. I could of gone agaisnt what Rabbi Koppel wanted, but I did what she told me to do.
What if I was in real life and had to make an ethical descion, let alone a Jewish one?
I just had one of the bigger moments in my life tonight. The Reform Judaism magazine e-mailed me. They sent me a message asking if they could use some of my published writing for their next issue about the way Reform Jews pratice their Judaism and how they struggle at home and whatnot. They wanted to use a part of my old iTorah about how I wear a tallit katan. But the problem is I use to wear a tallit katan.
Having no idea what to do I ran downstairs to my parents as they were talking to my older sister about her day at school. I told them my dilemma. My mother looked at me with her motherly like looks and said, "What are you going to do?" I looked at her and said, "I don't know!" And became even more flustered. That's when she pulled it out. The E word. She said, "Well Rachel, it looks like you've got an ethical problem on your hand."
Right in that moment, it was like my high school class came to me and my Jewish Ethics elective came back to me too. I have to make the right ethical choice.
As I went back upstairs to my laptop, I was thinking why couldn't they ask me about Mark Bloom or something!?
I sent Reform Judaism magazine an e-mail explaining how I don't wear a tallit katan anymore, and how I was extremely honored they would want my writing in their magazine. And if they still wanted to use it, I would be more then happy to let them use it.
I guess we will have to wait and see Reform Judaism Magazine, but here's a question for you.
What would you have done in my situation?
On the third day of class we started talking about ethics and how philosphy plays a big part in ethics. That reminded me of one of the electives I took this past summer at the URJ Kutz Campus for Reform Jewish Teen Life. Jewish Ethics with Rabbi Elisa Koppel (one of my FAVORTIE Rabbi's) where we talked about different dilemma's and problems we had to work out. I remember the first day I was in her class we played board games. I was playing Monopoly with some of my peers. Rabbi Koppel told us not to cheat, but on the side she told me to cheat. She said to do it secretly. Of course I cheated, I took some of the money from the banker when he wasn't looking. My partner was very amused and confused as to why I was cheating. It wasn't even like we were behind.
After the games, we talked about our "ethical descions" that we made throughout the games. How some people weren't lucky enough or didn't really know how to win at their games. I told everyone that I cheated, and one girl was in such shock. She didn't understand why. When Rabbi Koppel explained why, she was still confused and telling us that I didn't have to cheat. It's true. I could of gone agaisnt what Rabbi Koppel wanted, but I did what she told me to do.
What if I was in real life and had to make an ethical descion, let alone a Jewish one?
I just had one of the bigger moments in my life tonight. The Reform Judaism magazine e-mailed me. They sent me a message asking if they could use some of my published writing for their next issue about the way Reform Jews pratice their Judaism and how they struggle at home and whatnot. They wanted to use a part of my old iTorah about how I wear a tallit katan. But the problem is I use to wear a tallit katan.
Having no idea what to do I ran downstairs to my parents as they were talking to my older sister about her day at school. I told them my dilemma. My mother looked at me with her motherly like looks and said, "What are you going to do?" I looked at her and said, "I don't know!" And became even more flustered. That's when she pulled it out. The E word. She said, "Well Rachel, it looks like you've got an ethical problem on your hand."
Right in that moment, it was like my high school class came to me and my Jewish Ethics elective came back to me too. I have to make the right ethical choice.
As I went back upstairs to my laptop, I was thinking why couldn't they ask me about Mark Bloom or something!?
I sent Reform Judaism magazine an e-mail explaining how I don't wear a tallit katan anymore, and how I was extremely honored they would want my writing in their magazine. And if they still wanted to use it, I would be more then happy to let them use it.
I guess we will have to wait and see Reform Judaism Magazine, but here's a question for you.
What would you have done in my situation?
Thursday, January 31, 2008
1492, the JEWS sailed the ocean blue!
Since being back from being nestled in the Judean Hills, climbing the academic ladder (as Paul Reinbach [sp?] would say), I have not all that much to do with all this new knowledge inside of my head. Going to my shul just makes me angry...and well now I'm going to be working there which I'm actually pretty exciting. Although it might be hard trying to save the world as an office assistant, filing papers, passing out pizza, putting out the challah, pouring the grape juice...Hey! But it's a start!...right?
The fact that I know that in 1492 was the Spanish Inquisition and all the Jewish people left Spain, is something that if I were to tell a friend at school would look at me and probably call me, "Crazy Jew!" and walk away.
It's frustrating being a Jewish girl in a Christian world. We are apparently part of American the "Mixing Pot" which doesn't make sense when most of our holiday breaks are on CHRISTAN holidays, and revovle around their calenders. Another example is my own high school track and field team.
My track coach is a very religous man making his kids go to church on sundays. And he even says that Family comes first, then religon, then school, then track. I could say that I keep the Sabbath, but then I would have to miss every single track meet. It sucks. I want to be able to keep the Sabbath, but it's hard to do it in a Christan world.
When I was in Israel, I kept the Sabbath, didn't spend money, travel, or work on anything really. I would take a nice walk to the Tel at Tzuba and just sleep a lot. But now, I have to go to track. In a sense, throwing the shotput and discus isn't really "work" because I enjoy it, but I'm not so sure if is considered work in the eyes of Judaism. It's a struggle that a lot of Jews face in America. I know it was one of those main topics of Rabbi Eric Yoffe at the URJ Biennal, but I was in Israel so I didnt get to hear that first hand.
I have stopped using money and doing any kind of school related school work on Shabbat. I know its a step in the right direction, but I guess I'm just longing for the homeland to be honest.
This post has kind of a lot of ramblings, but it's my mind kind of splatered on my computer screen. I haven't blogged in a while, so it's all coming back to me. And its frustrating for sure.
My current struggle (besides all of those other things) is how I'm going to make that difference. Sure, I may only be 18, but there's one thing that I know. I want to make a difference in Judaism someway some how. Whether it be in Israel or America.
Question of the moment...would you call America the Galut? Or the Diaspora. It's what I'm wondering at the moment.
<3
The fact that I know that in 1492 was the Spanish Inquisition and all the Jewish people left Spain, is something that if I were to tell a friend at school would look at me and probably call me, "Crazy Jew!" and walk away.
It's frustrating being a Jewish girl in a Christian world. We are apparently part of American the "Mixing Pot" which doesn't make sense when most of our holiday breaks are on CHRISTAN holidays, and revovle around their calenders. Another example is my own high school track and field team.
My track coach is a very religous man making his kids go to church on sundays. And he even says that Family comes first, then religon, then school, then track. I could say that I keep the Sabbath, but then I would have to miss every single track meet. It sucks. I want to be able to keep the Sabbath, but it's hard to do it in a Christan world.
When I was in Israel, I kept the Sabbath, didn't spend money, travel, or work on anything really. I would take a nice walk to the Tel at Tzuba and just sleep a lot. But now, I have to go to track. In a sense, throwing the shotput and discus isn't really "work" because I enjoy it, but I'm not so sure if is considered work in the eyes of Judaism. It's a struggle that a lot of Jews face in America. I know it was one of those main topics of Rabbi Eric Yoffe at the URJ Biennal, but I was in Israel so I didnt get to hear that first hand.
I have stopped using money and doing any kind of school related school work on Shabbat. I know its a step in the right direction, but I guess I'm just longing for the homeland to be honest.
This post has kind of a lot of ramblings, but it's my mind kind of splatered on my computer screen. I haven't blogged in a while, so it's all coming back to me. And its frustrating for sure.
My current struggle (besides all of those other things) is how I'm going to make that difference. Sure, I may only be 18, but there's one thing that I know. I want to make a difference in Judaism someway some how. Whether it be in Israel or America.
Question of the moment...would you call America the Galut? Or the Diaspora. It's what I'm wondering at the moment.
<3
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The Amidah
I know it's been a while, but here it goes again.
I went to shul this past friday for the first time in America in 2008. And for that matter for 5768.
That night was the first night that we were using the Miskan T'Fillah, the newest reform siddur. Our synagogue is starting to use it, but rather slowly to make the transition easier from Gates of Gray to Miskan T'Fillah.
Our clergy has come up with a system of at the end of every month we shall use this siddur and then by June 2, we will start using it for good on Friday nights and then by August using it good for Shabbat Shacharit. I was thinking that this past Friday night was going to be radiclly different and maybe we would try some new things.
Boy was I wrong.
We basiclly did the same thing with a new siddur, just because there aren't any places where it says "Please rise" "Please sit" doesn't stop them from putting in their own ideas. Okay, so I know I am being a bit ridiculous with the whole CTK Reform Judaism, but sometimes I would like to actually have that CTK!! No at my synagogue.
This past summer I was told numerous times to change the world. Friday night I thought I might give it a shot, right?
At the oneg filled with chocolate top cookies and cakes of all sorts, I marched up to our head Rabbi. I asked her, "Why don't we stand for the entire Amidah? Isn't that what we are suppose to do? Imitate the angels?" She responded, "Where does it say in the Torah that you are suppose to stand for the Amidah, why can't you sit for the Amidah?" Hmm...at that point I was confused but couldn't stand up for myself. I was defeated. At least I tried.
After explaining this to my mother, she told me it's not easy to argue with a Rabbi, but it got me thinking. Since when does MY synagogue follow all the laws of Torah and Halacha?! That would of been a good argument. But the point is, we sit down in the middle of the Amidah. It doesn't make sense to me. The Amidah means standing, I know in Israel they sometimes call it shmone׳esrei, even though there could be 19 prayers in the Amidah, but that's a whole different story.
If the same thing happend to you at your shul, how would you go about it?
I went to shul this past friday for the first time in America in 2008. And for that matter for 5768.
That night was the first night that we were using the Miskan T'Fillah, the newest reform siddur. Our synagogue is starting to use it, but rather slowly to make the transition easier from Gates of Gray to Miskan T'Fillah.
Our clergy has come up with a system of at the end of every month we shall use this siddur and then by June 2, we will start using it for good on Friday nights and then by August using it good for Shabbat Shacharit. I was thinking that this past Friday night was going to be radiclly different and maybe we would try some new things.
Boy was I wrong.
We basiclly did the same thing with a new siddur, just because there aren't any places where it says "Please rise" "Please sit" doesn't stop them from putting in their own ideas. Okay, so I know I am being a bit ridiculous with the whole CTK Reform Judaism, but sometimes I would like to actually have that CTK!! No at my synagogue.
This past summer I was told numerous times to change the world. Friday night I thought I might give it a shot, right?
At the oneg filled with chocolate top cookies and cakes of all sorts, I marched up to our head Rabbi. I asked her, "Why don't we stand for the entire Amidah? Isn't that what we are suppose to do? Imitate the angels?" She responded, "Where does it say in the Torah that you are suppose to stand for the Amidah, why can't you sit for the Amidah?" Hmm...at that point I was confused but couldn't stand up for myself. I was defeated. At least I tried.
After explaining this to my mother, she told me it's not easy to argue with a Rabbi, but it got me thinking. Since when does MY synagogue follow all the laws of Torah and Halacha?! That would of been a good argument. But the point is, we sit down in the middle of the Amidah. It doesn't make sense to me. The Amidah means standing, I know in Israel they sometimes call it shmone׳esrei, even though there could be 19 prayers in the Amidah, but that's a whole different story.
If the same thing happend to you at your shul, how would you go about it?
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Gesher Kallah 2007
I just got back from the NFTY-MAR and PAR's Gesher's Kallah
The theme? Pluralism.
The programs? Fantastic.
We talked a lot about different ideas of Judiasm and what would you do and that whole thing. The RCVPs of both regions are very good friends of mine who have the same idea on pluralism and refrom Judiasm, just one of them wants to make a change and one of them just isn't in the mood to care.
I led a bunch of different services at Gesh.
The first service I led was an optional shacharit service on Wednesday morning with NFTY-MAR's RCVP. We had more than a minyan which was really nice. What surprised me more though, was the fact that we didn't do weekday nusach. Especially with a smaller group of people that came because they wanted to have a service, you would think that they would know it, but we didn't do it. And I was upset by it, and wanted to make a change, which I did later that night. I was stuck with the women's service. When we got to the Amidah section of the ma'ariv, I decided to go on an adventure and do weekday nusach. Even though that should not be an adventure. Soon as we dove into the G'vurot, I soon realized that my praying was a solo thing, and no one was probably connecting. I was in a pickle, should I keep on doing weekday nusach even though no one is chanting along with me, or should I do the shabbat nusach because thats what everyone knows and can connect to? And even though it hurt me, I went with Shabbat nusach only because I feel is better to have more then just one person connecting to a service.
Even though I went agasnt my own ideas of a great service, I still found a way to connect to it. But what does that tell us about pluralism and the reform movement? That we don't pray enough? That we should know weekday nusach?
I'm not sure, but maybe you will know.
Shavua Tov
The theme? Pluralism.
The programs? Fantastic.
We talked a lot about different ideas of Judiasm and what would you do and that whole thing. The RCVPs of both regions are very good friends of mine who have the same idea on pluralism and refrom Judiasm, just one of them wants to make a change and one of them just isn't in the mood to care.
I led a bunch of different services at Gesh.
The first service I led was an optional shacharit service on Wednesday morning with NFTY-MAR's RCVP. We had more than a minyan which was really nice. What surprised me more though, was the fact that we didn't do weekday nusach. Especially with a smaller group of people that came because they wanted to have a service, you would think that they would know it, but we didn't do it. And I was upset by it, and wanted to make a change, which I did later that night. I was stuck with the women's service. When we got to the Amidah section of the ma'ariv, I decided to go on an adventure and do weekday nusach. Even though that should not be an adventure. Soon as we dove into the G'vurot, I soon realized that my praying was a solo thing, and no one was probably connecting. I was in a pickle, should I keep on doing weekday nusach even though no one is chanting along with me, or should I do the shabbat nusach because thats what everyone knows and can connect to? And even though it hurt me, I went with Shabbat nusach only because I feel is better to have more then just one person connecting to a service.
Even though I went agasnt my own ideas of a great service, I still found a way to connect to it. But what does that tell us about pluralism and the reform movement? That we don't pray enough? That we should know weekday nusach?
I'm not sure, but maybe you will know.
Shavua Tov
Monday, August 20, 2007
A different look on things
Tzzit Tzzit.
Tzit Tzit
Tsit Tsit
Well, however you spell it, it's one of those things that you might see some Jewish people wearing.
I wrote an iTorah about it. If you want to read it for yourself, go here
The mitzvah of tzit tzit wearing, is something that means a lot to me. I wore my tzit tzit all year during junior year. The only times I would not have it on my body was while I was playing sports (because it gets in the way of goalie pads) and would wear dresses or things that would not work well with tzit tzit underneath. I felt a lot more connected to Hashem and Judiasm while I wore them.
This summer at Kutz I stopped wearing them. I gave them to another girl to wear them because she wanted to try it. Before I did, I asked her, "Do you understand why people wear tzit tzit, and why do you want to wear them?" She kind of shook her head and didn't really know. She thought that it would be "cool" to wear them. I made her read my iTorah for starters.
It just makes me upset sometimes. How can someone be ignorant but want to do the mitzvah. Alright, good do the mitzvah but at least know why you are doing it and what it means.
I got over it. She wore tzit tzit. She gave it back to me after I week. Then I got my new tzit tzit in the mail. It was too big. I started getting frustrated with Judiasm. And then I just stopped wearing tzit tzit.
At first I just stopped because the tzit tzit would not work well underneath my cute clothes. But then I realized how different everything was. I use to be that girl who wore tzit tzit. I was one of the first ones. Not having that anymore kind of made me upset. But I didnt wear tzit tzit to claim fame. I'm not that girl. I wore it because I wanted that connection with Hashem, the Torah, but once again I didnt really know as much as I do now.
So I havent worn my tzit tzit since Kutz, and actually I gave them away to a girl who wanted to try them. I plan on buying a new pair once I get to Israel.
But what are your ideas on tzit tzit.
Here's his idea on this mitzvah
Tzit Tzit
Tsit Tsit
Well, however you spell it, it's one of those things that you might see some Jewish people wearing.
I wrote an iTorah about it. If you want to read it for yourself, go here
The mitzvah of tzit tzit wearing, is something that means a lot to me. I wore my tzit tzit all year during junior year. The only times I would not have it on my body was while I was playing sports (because it gets in the way of goalie pads) and would wear dresses or things that would not work well with tzit tzit underneath. I felt a lot more connected to Hashem and Judiasm while I wore them.
This summer at Kutz I stopped wearing them. I gave them to another girl to wear them because she wanted to try it. Before I did, I asked her, "Do you understand why people wear tzit tzit, and why do you want to wear them?" She kind of shook her head and didn't really know. She thought that it would be "cool" to wear them. I made her read my iTorah for starters.
It just makes me upset sometimes. How can someone be ignorant but want to do the mitzvah. Alright, good do the mitzvah but at least know why you are doing it and what it means.
I got over it. She wore tzit tzit. She gave it back to me after I week. Then I got my new tzit tzit in the mail. It was too big. I started getting frustrated with Judiasm. And then I just stopped wearing tzit tzit.
At first I just stopped because the tzit tzit would not work well underneath my cute clothes. But then I realized how different everything was. I use to be that girl who wore tzit tzit. I was one of the first ones. Not having that anymore kind of made me upset. But I didnt wear tzit tzit to claim fame. I'm not that girl. I wore it because I wanted that connection with Hashem, the Torah, but once again I didnt really know as much as I do now.
So I havent worn my tzit tzit since Kutz, and actually I gave them away to a girl who wanted to try them. I plan on buying a new pair once I get to Israel.
But what are your ideas on tzit tzit.
Here's his idea on this mitzvah
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