The day before the Eve of Chag Succot, I was notified of two deaths.  One was my uncle, Gershon ben Tzvi Hersh, and my neighbor, Yehudit bat Shmuel.  I first posted this on Shiloh Musings.  Please read this l'ilui nishmatam, so "their souls will be elevated."

Jewish Mourning

We've just finished a very intense 40 day period of introspection, reflection, t'shuva, repentance.  The last ten days of it included a two-day Holiday, with extra-long prayers, and it culminated with a twenty-five hour fast, Sabbath restrictions and even more prayers.  Those prayers even listed a great variety of our possible sins, just in case we had blanked them from our minds.

Now, what is next?

Is it back to our everyday business, or will there be some improvement?  Many people start building their succot immediately after Yom Kippur, to make sure that the first thing on their "cleaned slate" will be a mitzvah.

Gmar Chatima Tova, Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!

ps Thanks to my neighbor HL for poiniting out typos.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has hired an international pr firm to rebrand Israel. That's a euphemism for changing Israel's image. In principle it's a good idea, but like good intentions, the results may be the road to Hell.
...ordinary Americans think of Israel as an unfriendly armed camp


When I was at the International Jewish Bloggers Conference, not very long ago, we heard Foreign Ministry official explain all about Israel's terrible world image.

Let's say, "agreed," we need an image change, but it should be done well. Israel isn't just toothpaste or cream rinse. The usual pr and advertising tactics won't make Israel a more popular place. It's not a matter of changing the packaging or color scheme.

First diagnose the problem. What are the symptoms? In the study described at the conference we discovered that ordinary Americans think of Israel as an unfriendly armed camp. They think we live in fear.

The cure has to counteract that. Bragging about our technological feats and strutting bikini-clad beauties won't do the trick.

Research should be done to discover when Israel was most popular. You can save your money. Israel was most popular just after the 1967 Six Days War. The world, Jewish and non-Jews, were in awe of the tiny state, who without a single ally, defeated three enemy armies in six days. Israel was proud and safe. Dangers came with each "peace" treaty.

I wish I could market myself as a public relations consultant. Think of all the money these pr experts are getting...

No, I'm not a member of a Conservative, Reconstructionist, Reform, Nouveau, Post or one of those Modern Orthodox shuls which stretch Halacha, Jewish Law, into yoga-like positions.
Think of it as a jam session dedicated to G-d

In our small neighborhood shul, in Ramat Shmuel, Shiloh, neighbors lead the prayers and we all join in. Yes, even the women from our perches in the balcony sing along. Our prayers aren't performances. We all participate; that's why I said that I was in the choir.

Those who lead the prayers aren't supposed to wow us into awed silence. They're supposed to enthuse us into joining.

And that's what happens most of the time. Don't think of it as anarchy. Think of it as a jam session dedicated to G-d. There was nothing boring about it. If I had more space, I probably would have danced a bit. Some people clap and tap, a spiritual percussion. I like to move, since standing and sitting for long aren't comfortable.

My neighbors understand the prayers, and that adds to the spirit of the Holiday. Sometimes that can cause difficulties, as when the man reading the Torah portion about Abraham taking his only son, Issac to be sacrificed was a bereaved father, and it was hard for him to get the words out.

I have no doubt that prayers are supposed to be participatory and not a performance. Baruch Hashem, Thank G-d, it was a good way to start the year.

Gmar Chatimah Tovah May You Be Sealed in the Book of Life

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach

From Mutt and Mathilda aka Mottel and Mottek

And all of us in the Eye of the Storm

A Wonderful, Safe, Healthy and Blessed Year

Gmar Chatimah Tovah!