The Fantastic Az Nashir Haggadah-- Read All About It

I blogged about the Az Nashir Haggadah on Shiloh Musings. Maybe I should have blogged about it here. Click on the link. Many of my friends and teachers in Matan contributed to it. 

Now's the time to order so you have it early enough for next year. I suggest using the articles to prepare for the holiday, either reading on your own or with a group of friends. It's a joint project of lots of brilliant women, Matan and Shvilli.

Listen to Rachel Sharansky Danziger talk about the Haggadah.

Life Unplanned-- VICTORY Prayer Haikus #5

I've been writing haikus on Facebook every morning for years and have posted a variety on both my blogs, Shiloh Musings and this one. I label my haikus Morning Coffee Haikus, and you can use that title for searching. 

IMHO haikus are a fantastic writing medium, because of its restricting the writer to express a thought in just seventeen 17 syllables. Enjoy my haikus and try writing your own. Which is your favorite? Please let me know in the comments, thanks.

Passover countdown

adds to pressure during war

trying to stay sane

strange... seasons confused

raindrops greeted me at door

blessings, Gd willing

rainy dark morning

strange, cold pre-Pesach weather

still rain prayers, OK

Gd only saves us

when we follow His commands

We're not just puppets

can't lie, yes, worried

no peace without victory

next battles much worse

optimistic dawn

but sans VICTORY no peace

deals don't bring true PEACE

evil enemies

must be totally destroyed

deals total farces

war's far from over

Iran's a lot better armed

last spring we were conned

can't fall back to sleep

Iran bombed long before dawn

but thank Gd unharmed

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True, I Haven't Been Posting Much

Have you noticed that I haven't posted much? It's ironic that until a couple of years ago I posted daily on both my blogs. Now I can skip a week or two and not even realize it.

What have I been doing?

I've been crocheting as much as I can. I've discovered something fantastic. People will buy my crocheted hats when I offer to donate the money to a charity, tzedakah. I'm going to try that with some of the bags I've crocheted.

I've also crocheted a few "bowls" to use for mishloach manot for Purim. On the Purim holiday we give food gifts, so my bags and bowls are very useful. I've been packing them in my crafts for the past few years.

A friend had suggested hats for tzedakah, and that's another reason I crochet a lot. I've bought some yarn for winter hats on sale recently. You can see me in the picture below wearing one of the hats. I bought more of the same yarn, because a friend wants one just like it.

To be honest I've found it easier to find topics for Shiloh Musings. That's because the politics here is so upsetting, I've had to write about it. Not that post all that frequently there either.

Don't get me wrong. I do stay busy besides crocheting and Facebook etc. I study Tanach/Bible and do mosaics once a week in the program here for senior citizens. 

My Tanach/Bible studies are online, Google Meet and also in Jerusalem. I've been in a study group for about ten years. We used to meet once a week, and now, ever since the COVID lockdown we've been meeting almost every day, though not in person. We used to use Zoom, but now it's Google Meet. I'm also in a monthly Book Club. And I take a short walk at least once a day.

What keeps you busy? Have you missed my blog posts?

Taught a Totally Original Torah Class

Last week I blogged on Shiloh Musings asking for some "research help" for a Shabbat Torah Class I had committed to give at our Shiur Nashim, Women's Class.

This class I go to every Shabbat I'm home is the most veteran, longest lasting in Shiloh. It began over thirty-eight 38 years ago. We've had the same regulars now for quite awhile and can't manage to attract more women. Most who teach are men, even two generations of the same families, who are much more scholarly than we are. On occasion some of us even try our hand at it. A few months ago, we decided to give the neighbor who recruits speakers a monthly break. A few of us volunteered to give (or bring someone) the shiur, class so she won't have to make the calls. I had plenty of warning that my turn was coming up.

Due to the fact that I did not grow up in a religious home, going to a Jewish school and hearing all sorts of Torah stories from the youngest age, I generally read and learn with a fresh eye. That means I come up with some unique interpretations. Luckily I've found teachers in Matan and Shiloh who don't mind my rather unconventional ideas.

Sefaria

For this talk I had been inspired by the opening words of Parshat Shavua, Weekly Torah Portion Yitro, which was the week before. Since we're not restricted to the weekly parsha, that wasn't a problem.

I managed to get everyone talking and participating, which was quite an accomplishment. Sorry, but I'm not giving more details than you can get in the Shiloh Musings post. Maybe I should "market" myself?

I have another unique shiur cooking in my head...

Real Life, Never Dull

Rather than duplicate what I wrote on Shiloh Musings, or rewriting it in another way, I suggest that you just read "Learning to be Late and Accepting Blessings."

Shabbat Shalom uMevorach

Have a Wonderful and Blessed Shabbat

#morningcoffeehaiku Continues

In recent months, I no longer blog daily, though I still blog very frequently. For quite a few years I was blogging daily on both of my blogs, except for Jewish Holidays that lasted more than a day. I can say that, because on the "regular" calendar, there'd be a new post each day, even though nothing was blogged on "Jewish day" which doesn't overlap. Jewish days start at nightfall and end at dusk. Even when I wasn't near a computer, I'd preblog, having the publication timed for the next day, sometimes even more. I did that both on this blog and Shiloh Musings.

I don't remember when or why I started my #morningcoffeehaiku routine, but besides Shabbat, Jewish holidays and fast days I update it on facebook daily. I can easily do it from my phone, too, so I don't need a computer. Besides the simple 5-7-5 haiku, I post a picture of my coffee and sometimes the morning sky.

Following are a few recent ones.

super full day planned
tomorrow busier too
winter sunshine cheers
#morningcoffeehaiku

thankful for the rain
cleanses, hydrates, gives us life
need for coffee, too
#morningcoffeehaiku

grey winter morning
coffee, hot, strong and cheery
many plans today
#morningcoffeehaiku

In Jerusalem
After night living it up
Exagerating
#morningcoffeehaiku

perfect sunrise view
blends perfectly with coffee
wonderful day all
#morningcoffeehaiku

warm winter morning
must decide how to fill day
shop for Chanuka?
#morningcoffeehaiku

bright winter morning
planning wash, mosaics, plus
enjoying Gd's gifts
#morningcoffeehaiku

sky prettier from south
What happened to the sunrise?
coffee's still perfect
#morningcoffeehaiku

only in Israel 
hot war, theatre and coffee
may Gd protect us
#morningcoffeehaiku

sunshine broke through clouds
heralding amazing day
coffee cup-by-cup
#morningcoffeehaiku

very early morn
traveling to do errands
no sign of the sun
#morningcoffeehaiku

Coffee company
Nice Jerusalem morning
Family visit
#morningcoffeehaiku

mysterious sky
won't tell us if it will rain
coffee's always good
#morningcoffeehaiku

strong coffee needed
woke up feeling very tired
not rested at all
#morningcoffeehaiku

Coffee so welcome
Energizes completely
Blessings, good health, all
#morningcoffeehaiku

freezing cold morning
hot coffee and golden sunrise
winter has begun
#morningcoffeehaiku

B"H, I'm Back

Some of you, especially those who follow me on Instagram, 365 Project, Facebook and my blogs may have noticed that I have/had been pretty silent the few days. The blog posts that went up here and on Shiloh Musings Wednesday morning had been written and programmed to post on Tuesday before I left home. Yesterday I returned to Facebook, and last night I looked at Instagram and liked some photos, but that's it.

I'm human. I was sick.

The realization that something was wrong hit me while I was with my kids, and I ended up spending two nights with one of them, getting lots of loving care. So I didn't make it to Matan on Wednesday or any of my other plans. And now, even though now I'm safely home and much improved, I reduced various social commitments until I'm completely better.

Baruch Hashem, Thank Gd, I didn't have anything serious and I was in a place and with people who could help. All I needed was rest, liquids and some time.

In a few hours it's Shabbat and then after Shabbat a new week begins. May it be a good one for all.

Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach

May You Have a Peaceful and Blessed Shabbat

Another New Voice

I'm very pleased to announce that artist and writer, Ellen Horowitz, from the Golan Heights, has agreed to post on Shiloh Musings.

As I hope you know, my blogs aren't to just "toot my own horn." They're an opportunity to give people all over the world the chance to read what the mainstream press isn't prepared to publish.

Shiloh Musings is more political than this blog. Because of the wide range of my interests, I run the blogs separately. You're invited to visit.

Ellen, thanks!

I just noticed something

When beta rejected Shiloh Musings, it claimed the reason was the over one thousand (1,000) posts filed away. But just now, when I looked at me-ander's dashboard, I saw that there were already over one thousand eight hundred (1,800) posts, unless I was hallucinating.

Hmmmmmmmmm

Makes you sort of wonder, doesn't it?

They lobbied and nudged so hard, made it impossible for me to blog, when they wanted me-ander. It seems like they don't want Shiloh Musings. At least not yet.

Besides the spellcheck, I've discovered something else good in beta. When you change the template, it's enough to save your changes, you don't have to republish for them to show. That's a big time-saver.

Is there anything extremely good or bad I haven't noticed yet?

Rejected!

Beta has rejected Shiloh Musings. After all of my refusals and rants, as you know I finally had to sign up this blog.

And now I'm embarrassed to admit that my fears were for nought. There's even one thing which is very different, and I love it! It's the spellcheck.

Nu? What's the problem you ask? You do, don't you?

Beta can't handle the larger blogs, those with over 1,000 posts. When they can, they'll call.