and more on t'hilim and kohelet

We're on Kohelet, Ecclesiastes, already. The last sentence in chapter 4, which should be with chapter 5, see previous for explantion.

Look at the First Samuel 13, 18 (I think)
The biblical commentators claim that Shmuel was against sacrifices, but that isn't true at all. He just chastized Saul for changing G-d's instructions. G-d didn't want Saul to make a fancy sacrifice, He wanted him to destroy Amalek's cattle etc. (Every time I learn about this, I think of reform and conservative Jews who both delete and embellish G-d's commandments instead of just obeying them.)

In general, sacrifices will only atone for unintentional sins, not intentional. You can't rationalize sin by planning to sacrifice afterwards.

Back to Kohelet, we must first make sure our body is ready before praying to G-d. One also must be properly dressed, as if visiting someone very important.

Sorry, but this is short, I have lots to do in the house. Friday morning.

more T'hilim and Kohelet

I was feeling lazy about transcribing it, but then I took a look at the next line, and I figured that I shouldn't delay another minute! I'll muse later.

T'hilim, Psalms, 33, 16
"A king is not saved by a great army, nor is a hero rescued by great strength." Wow! Just what the doctor (the true one) ordered. David was constantly persued by King Saul. King Saul was supposed to be going after the Philinstines who were trying to distroy us/the People of Israel. Instead he spent his time trying to destroy David on his hill tops. "Nothing's new." Today we see the same miss-placed priorities.
Physical strength doesn't garrantee anything.
We must stop thinking that the body is everything. Like the Greeks vs the Macabees. There's more than physical strength.
17 The power of the horse doesn't give victory. The horse would be the weapons, tanks, money etc. You should check the sites that shows the soldiers trying to get the Jews out of that little neighborhood in Yitzhar. So many soldiers after a few civilians and trailers. Why aren't they after the terrorists?
gibor and koach sus are not the same, that's heroism and horse power.
In Pirkei Avot Ethics of the Fathers, a gibor is considered one who can control his desires. That's heroism and courage. We have to use the strength on ourselves and not be a bully and not control others.
18 G-d will be with us if we follow him.
19 depressing, Nissan said that it's like those who are very sick, or so badly injured their lives are very difficult.. Starving but not dead.
G-d doesn't do "revealed miracles." That's what nature's for. Earthquakes, evil people, defects. Our job is to correct the defect. We shouldn't accpte it. G-d won't correct it.
Even when G-d interferes it must look like nature, like how people try the prove that the splitting of the Red Sea must have had been an act of nature, should be able to explain it.
People prefer lying to themselves rather than admitting G-d's power.
Shmuel 1, 5, 7 When the Holy Ark was captured, it seemed to have a "life of its own." Since it wasn't with the right people, they couldn't hold it. They kept trying all sorts of tricks, techniques, hoping against all logic that they'd find a way to keep it.
Our Land was desolate until the Jews returned.
The end of the chapter repeats a frequent theme, that David hopes that there will be joy in exchange for the suffering endured. Like we suffered, we should celebrate.

Kohelet, Eccleliastes
The last line of chapter 4 really goes with the next few lines. The chapter divisions were done by the Christians, and don't always make sense. Nissan, whose own story is no secret, claims that some of these bad divisions were on purpose so people wouldn't understand the message.
4, 17 Watch yourself, check yourself before approaching G-d, praying. According to Jewish law, one can't pray if one needs to "eliminate." Must go to the toilet first. Prepare the physical for the spiritual. Yes, for and before.

******
My husband just asked for the computer, so I'll have to take a break.

pictures from afar

pictures from afar
on the screen
of my trekking son
and his old buddy
friends since birth

at the far reaches
of the earth

I chose Shiloh
because
felt more spacious
than other yishuvim

not strangled by fences
seemed so large

but compared to
the wilderness
they're wandering through

dwarfs
Shiloh
Shomron
and all of Israel

we have such
a small land

why do
our enemies
and our "friends"
insist
we give it away?

remember
our test--
to pass
is to ignore
bad advice
and only do
what will make us
strong, secure
and with G-d

used to

used to
bake for my students
on days of
big tests

now
stocked up
on goodies
junk food

my students
used to
appreciate
that I taught them
specially
so for the first time
they passed tests
never missed lessons

so how could I not
bake
like for my own kids

but
the younger generation
thinks
"magui'ah li"
my right, no efforts needed
--they expect
to pass
as if teacher's responsibility

so
purchased some
junk food
for mock and real exams
to keep their energy up
since sleeping's not on their schedule
along with studying

they're not as tough
as their predecessors

my students
used to
work harder
used to appreciate

so
I used to bake

not even a snore

slept through the night
not disturbed
not even
a snore
broke in

surprised
by
the jingle
of the alarm
rarely heard
usually
up long before

between pelvic floor
and snore
full nights
rare

like being young again
when children beckoned
now
the empty nest
no nightly silence

but nice to know
that a lovely day
better than
all the concoctions
whipped up
by pharmacists

T'hilim, Psalms, Kohelet, Ecclesiastes, 3-01-05

not much tonight, turned on my timer, since I'm exhausted. Sorry about tall the typos, can't catch them all.

T'hilim 33, 13
Nissan referred us to Job. Job complained that G-d doesn't pay attention to what he does. There was no reason for all the punishment. He denied that he sinned. "It's not fair!" Friends tell him that he's wrong.
33, 14 G-d does see everththing that happens on the earth. Why should G-d pay attention to what's behind man's action? G-d pays attention to every little thing. because he created us; he cares; it's important to him, like to any parent.
Thoughts are stronger than action. Intention's important. also thoughts have strength.l Linguistically in Hebrew lachshov, to think and chashuv, important are teh same roots.
14, 15 Rosh Hashana, can't figure out what I wrote
not that everyne's the same. means that G-d simultaneously sees and understand everything. We should thnk of every day as Rosh Hashanah and repent. always stay up to date. That way we'll sin less.
But G-d decided that we're i a world of "nisayon" (experiment, trial) We have to try to do it on our own.

alarm went off
G-d willing continued tomorrow.

another lovely day

not being facetious
really was
first
because it rained

here
in the Holy Land
rain's a blessing from G-d

swam
not in a puddle
in the Neve Yaakov pool
saunaed and steamed, too

and then a neighbor
dropped me off
in front of a store
that had the cutest clothes
so
I called my daughter
to ask
what to buy
for Hallelie

then
met a couple of friends
for lunch
and chat
must do it
much more often

then
sopping wet
picked Hallelie up
luckily
ride arranged
but she still got soaked
sitting on my wet coat

read and played and danced
and cooked and served
just like a grandmother should

and then
home
here
eyes on the screen

but
it is time
to zzzzzzzzzzzz

nominations for the best blogs

I just read that another blog is having nominations for the best Israeli and Jewish blogs. So if you want to nominate someone, here are the details.

http://www.israellycool.com/blog/_archives/2005/1/2/218616.html

05

three days
into 05
barely adjusted to 04
time flies

glad
I no longer
work in a store
so many mistakes

contstantly
putting on my specs
to see
six or five
eight or nine

not getting
any younger

bet 06 will arrive
before
05 gets easy

People Agree

I've been getting two sets of approval/agreement letters.
One, the Egged Ezrat Nashim. Apparently, there's really a need, and we have to get together to request formally.
Two, my "complaints" about that ten day demonstration, http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2005/01/demonstrating-disengagement.html
Since some of you actually agree with me, we must not be silent. If it gets on the arutz 7 site, I'll let you know, so more comments can be put up.

I don't have much time, since the boker limud is here this morning, and I must make the house look respetable.

You're not going to believe this!

update on boot saga

I should have kept you in suspense.
I schlepped the two pairs of leaky boots to Jerusalem. And I was all prepared for a fight, two fights. And anyone who knows me well, knows what that means.

Let's start with the "rediculous boots" which I only bought because all the salesmen, in two branches of the chain insisted that they were the most waterproof and warmest boots, of specially invented material, etc. I mean, you have to see these boots. You'd plotz to think I'd wear them, fake moccasins with pompons, don't ask. And when they leaked yesterday, forget it, five minutes and my socks were soaking wet.

Ok, miraculously I found the bag with the name and address of the store. It's not one of my regular spots to spend in. I really didn't plan what to say, but when I saw a clone of my boots, right here on display I couldn't keep quiet and said: "Those boots aren't waterproof." Why pussyfoot around? The staff was in shock.
"Lady, what are you talking about?"
"You told me that these boots are waterproof, and they're not, and I had to call the secretaries at work to bring me something dry to wear yesterday."
"They're waterproof if you spray them."
"Spray them? You never mentioned spray" in a tone that made it clear that I never would have bought them under such conditions.

Well, bottom line. They gave me a free bottle of spray, which must be applied every couple of weeks, my contribution to the ozone layer. Sorry.

Second pair of boots, bought on sale at the end of last winter and worn only on Shabbat to go to shul or in the neighborhood. You should know that the shul is only a block, or less away, sort of via a path past our backyard.
The store I bought it from is a veteran Jerusalem store, where I've bought many shoes over the decades and they used to have a cute place for the kids to sit.
Lucky for them, I was much calmer, after getting my spray. I opened the bag and explained that I hardly wore them, obvious to anyone looking at the almost unmarked sole. The manager calmly took them to send to the manufacturer and gave me a card, took my name and number.

Customer service has arrived.

the boots

my veteran fans
would remember
that my two feet
own six boots

all bought
to protect them
from the blessings
that rain from
the heavens above

however
two thirds
proved shams

no better
than lace

so today
on my way
to monstrous waste
of public funds

I will attempt
to get compensation
for soggy feet

Demonstrating

rather ambivalent
about this demonstration

ten days
in front of the Kenesset

each day
different locality
locals
of different communities

starts with Mateh Benyamin
Benjamin County
Shiloh
first Jewish capital
three hundred and sixty nine years

tons of money
we don't have spare
poured into
tents
where we hide from
the rain
and passers by

what's the point?

politicians
will pass
in their cars
eyes on their seats

what's the point?
travelers
will pass
on their way

what's the point?
not a pedestrian neighborhood

two main objections
that was the first
isolated off a thoroughfare
no chance to interact
with others

looking scraggly
unkempt
like the relative
not invited
we can't influence

and second point
mockery
of refugees

why choose
to be homeless
even one night, day, hour

in Oslo times
when predicted
that I'd be banished from my home
G-d forbid!

pictured myself
in a tent
in Independence Park
downtown Jerusalem

I have one home
if it's
G-d forbid taken
no joke

but
despite my opposition
I'll pay a quick visit
like to a sick relative

demonstrating
against destruction

baruch Hashem, thank G-d, it's raining

after a few
over warm
over dry days

we were promised rain
but all the world
jokes about
the weatherman

so
just to be safe
I pulled out
the computer plugs
before going to work

and
at the very last minute
changed into boots
sworn as
warm and waterproof
just to be safe

didn't even realize
it was raining
so silent and gentle
dripped from the heavens

only a five minute walk
to the bus stop
and half way there
felt funny
moistness
on my feet

but my boots were
waterproof
swore the salesmen

two minutes later
no doubt
toes squishy
in the socks
under the stockings

and my jacket
that had kept me
warm and dry
for the past few years
sprang a leak
or two or three

cuffs
dripping
and wetness
creeping into
the strangest places

sheltered
I pulled out
my cellphone
called the
secretaries at school

SOS
SOcks and dry Shoes

thought I was joking
totally serious
no way
I'd survive
wet feet
until night

and one
with
miraculously
the same size feet

greeted me
with dry supplies

Baruch Hashem,
yored geshem
thank G-d
it's raining

how else
would we know
we can wear
each other's shoes

and traveling home
back in the wet boots
protected by dry socks
and miracle rides home

can't complain
Baruch Hashem
it's raining

grey

pale grey
not rich like pearls
the sky
depresses

new week
promises of rain
gifts from G-d

waiting

but we must
earn the gifts

and maybe
we've failed

but Scarlet was right
"tomorrow's another day,"
and we must repent
this minute
there's always a chance

never give up

now, finally to Kohelet, Ecclesiastes

Kohelet 4, 7
all the problems, tachat hashemesh, under the sun
tired of living, tired of suffering, working for others,
8 why work hard, when there's no one to inherit? What's the point when nobody, even one's kids, appreciate all your labors and suffering? No one's dependent and still he works hard. Solomon saw his father's life and so much waste. Solomon's brothers rebelled against David and did forbidden things. Bad priorities. Solomon, as the youngest (?) was traumatized from all his older brothers did. He, like his father, wasn't accepted by the brothers. So they had similar childhoods in that sense.
The yesh echad, "there's one" the one is G-d. It can be seen in a larger context as people sinning against G-d, so why has G-d done so much for us?
Like today, G-d helped us liberate our Biblical Homeland in 1967, and we (as a nation, not individuals) have not appreciated it, accepted it. Too many Israelis and Jews prefer being victims, more comfortable being murdered in the holocaust, than building a full nation/state. They're trying to postpone the Geula/Redemption, so why does G-d bother?
I use Artscroll translation with lots of commentary, and while reading the commentary, mostly from Rashi, I saw something else. V'ain kaitz l'chol amlo, "Yet there is no end to his toil," according to Rashi's alternative interperation, there's no one to recieve the scholar's knowledge. This reminds me of the chareidim, how they keep their knowledge in the ivory tower of the beit medrash, talmudic study halls, instead of using their knowledge in the real world, the market place. Instead of applying their knowledge, "six days shall you work" as we are commanded. Judaism differs from all other religions, in that it combines kodesh and chol, the holy and the profane, the spiritual and the material/physical. The chareidim have imitated other religions by isolating the spiritual, the Torah scholar and even the Jew of ordinary intelligence, and claiming that they must "labor" in the study hall, consider that a profession, forbid them to enter the army and fulfill the mitzvot of defending Jews and the land.
What's the point of learning Torah Laws of business, if you don't use it in business? Our Laws are meant to be used, obeyed, daily. It's hevel, vanities to learn and then hide and leave the real world to the ignorant.
9, 10, 11 (remember that verse and chapter divisions aren't from the Jewish scholars)
12 Unity, more than one, working together, keeping each other warm, best
Yarn, thread, rope braided, at least three-ply, much stronger than singles. same with people. Also chazaka considered as doing something three times, to establish strong precedent that can be continued. More power.
13, go back to 4 as reference,
"Better a poor but wise youth, than an old foolish king," and so I must link the arutz 7 piece about the thousands of kids in gush katif this Shabbat. http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=74502 If the link doesn't work, then go into arutz 7, via google if necessary, and then search arutz 7 for "gush katif youth"
There is a vast differnce in the economic status between the pro-settlement and anti. Money does not mean wisdom, and in our situation age doesn't bring it either. those too tired, should resign.
King Solomon said it all. The old, senile King has lost it and counts on his opposition to collapse, but he's wrong; they get stronger, b'ezrat Hashem. then comes the poor, wise boy who gets the people together and rebels against the senile king.
and there's another factor that somehow ruling itself causes a good man to become a despot.
14-5-6 We saw that with Menachem Begin, who as prime minister left his principles and tried to please people who hated him, instead of those who supported him through his most difficult days. "b'malchuto nolad rash" in his kingship he became poor, couldn't overcome the damage of the days of poverty, tried to prove to his enemies that he was really one fo them. Begin was too sensitive to all the decades of slights and tried to show himself a "peace-maker." That was his downfall and we're still suffering for his fatal mistake. He gave the Sinai away, even though it was a gift from G-d. That precedent and the destruction of the Jewish communities there have to be properly attoned for.
15 and the next generation takes over, like Solomon from David, and no'ar g'vahot, the hilltop youth, from Gush Emunim.
16 same, not the solution, power corrupts, a cycle of new blood, new leaders, must wipe out the corrupt. just putting out fires, not the permanent leaders,
17 Watch where you're going. It's a mine field when in power. One must remember G-d every minute to lead properly. Stop, dress, act properly in the place where
G-d is, which is every where.
Must find better solutions.
Shmuel alef, first Samuel 8? different chapter can't find it--if anyone can, please give info in comment, thanks, 22
When Shmuel told Shaul, Saul, that he'd be punished for what he had done, shouldn't think that it's easy. G-d doesn't want a fancy sacrifice for sins. One has to make up for the sin, which Shaul never understood.

to be continued after next session, this Tuesday

finally continued again Psalms Ecclesiastes

I can't believe that I'm still on my first page of notes.

T'hilim, psalms 33, 7 some progress
like creation, G-d moves the water to the "side" so there will be land. water makes a wall, same word used when describing the dividing, opening of the Red Sea.
Water circulates arouond the world, interdependence.

Traditional debate between the wise men, Rabbi Yehoshua and Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Chanina:
a-G-d gives according to our efforts
b-not according to efforts
c-according to need

8 fear G-d
There's a description of an earthquake in Shmot 19, 18 and in T'hilim

Shmot 20, 17, Moshe tells people don't be afraid to die. It's because G-d wants you to fear him if you don't behave. We need the fear for respect. Popular trend in psychology to say that fear and guilt are bad, but they're not.
In Hebrew, the root of to see is resh, alef and the root of to fear is yud, resh, alef
If one doesn't see, one doesn't fear, and I guees the opposite is true, too.
9-11 There are people who think they can outwit G-d
9 G-d decides and that's it, man can't change anything.
that's why the contant bombardment of Gush Katif hasn't driven the people away

Chapter 2 The aim of the goyim is to destroy the Geula, redemption.
Hitler couldn't destroy us. It gets on their nerves that there's a nation that follows G-d, in spite of all they do against us. Again, thek politicians, the left, the media can't understand what's going on. Arik Sharon hasn't really done anything serious against the Arabs bombing the south: Sderot and Gush Katif, daily, nightly all the time. He keeps thinking that the residents will abandon it and run away and then accept any hovel any place, among the whores and drug dealers. and they can't understand how the people stay. It's making the left very angry and they have volunteered to serve in the army to pull people out of their homes. Because of that I told one of the "organizers" here not to tell people to refuse to serve. Better to be there in uniform and then disobey orders. Otherwise there will be evil people just waiting to try and, G-d forbid, kill innocent people.

Shmuel Bet, Samuel 2, chapter 17. King David flees his rebellious son Avshalom, leaves a spy, the overseer, Achitofel gives avshalom ideas of how to capture/defeat David. Avshalom isn't sure so asks Chushai, who says that he shouldn't listen, needs more than 12,000 men. Needs that everyone will attack David. Avshalom accepted idea, but it didn't work, and he was punished.

Kohelet tomorrow. Sorry for the spelling mistakes, but I don't have the energy to go over it.

weighty question

from what I hear
and see
obesity
number one
danger to health

and
I must admit
I'm endangered

yes
there's more of me
than there should be

and
just the
thought of a diet
and I'm starving

and
even though
pictures show things
differently
I've always believed
myself
much too fat

like self-fulfilling prophesy
now I'm what
I thought I was

so
I try
to bring
quality to the quantity

a few walks a week
well-planned spashes
to tone muscles
an exercise class

but I'm still
the same
all of me

and don't forget
that
another danger to health
is stress
and what causes stress?

DIETING

a place to pray, Ezrat Nashim in Egged

Now, before I get started, I'll just translate for those who are confused, trying to figure out what this is about. An "Ezrat Nashim" is the room, or curtained off area of a synagogue, where women can pray. According to Jewish Law, men and women must pray separately. Prayer is not a social time, and it's much easier to pray without the distractions of the opposite sex.

Egged is the name of the Israeli bus company that transports to most of the country, including Jerusalem. The newly built Central Bus Station in Jerusalem has a synagogue, but there isn't any Ezrat Nashim. Females of all ages, who need to pray (there are set times during the day for the three prayers) are forced to find corners and walls to face, not very dignified, and excruciatingly distracting.

I recently discovered that I wasn't alone with this problem. More information can be found on: http://elmsintheyard.blogspot.com/
If anyone else has been looking for the Ezrat Nashim in Egged Jerusalem, please contact us with your story.

Shavua Tov
Have a Good Week

just like..... Shmot, during the Holocaust

One of my early Hebrew courses started with a saying, "ain chadash tachat hashemesh," "nothing's new under the sun." At the time I knew little of King Solomon and had never heard of Kohelet, Ecclesiastes. I had no idea where the phrase was from , just thought of it as "folk wisdom."

Today, with friends, learning Parshat Shavua, the Torah Portion of the week, we spoke of how Bnai Yisrael, the children of Israel, passively, uncomplainingly, followed orders that enslaved them, made their lives more and more difficult. they were afraid to complain, afraid that their protests would only make things worse. It was so much like thek German Jews during the early, middle, late and all Nazi years. The same fear.

Also similar to how the "zionists" were hounded by their fellow Jews throughout Europe, when they dared to say that it would be better to leave and start new lives in the Holy Land.

"ain chadash tachat hashemesh," "nothing's new under the sun"

Shavua Tov