Musings
This past Friday and Saturday, I made an effort to start incorporating the Sabbath into my life. I did not light the candles nor say the prayers. I did slow things down in my life. From what I've read, the Sabbath is a time to be free of work and the daily concerns of your life. In effect, it's a way to step out of the world for awhile. It's a day of freedom.
Like all aspects of a Jewish life, the Sabbath makes you think about your actions. When I first started delving into Judaism, I was surprised that theology didn't crop up very often. But the more I learn, the more I realize why. I've always known that to be Jewish affects every aspect of your life. I am learning why. I spent this past Sabbath reading To Life by Rabbi Kushner.
To be Jewish means that you strive to sanctify the everyday things in your life, from the words you speak to being conscience of the food you eat. One of the things that struck me most in Kushner's book was prayer. The 73rd Psalm is used to illustrate Jewish prayer. He writes, " We don't ask G-d to change the world to make it easier for us. We ask Him only to assure us that He will be with us as we try to do something hard".
There's much to reflect on and much more to learn. I'll be going back to Kushner's book and have started another. The most surprising thing about the Sabbath was how invigorating it felt. It may have been Kushner's book but I believe it was just turning my mind and actions away from the worries and cares of daily life. Truly a day of freedom!
posted by SEAWITCH at
8:42:00 PM
6 Comments:
mark,
:o)>
Perhaps C-Mom doesn't know that
1. If you ask three Jews for an opinion, you'll get four answers,
2. It was traditional for synagogues to hire non-Jews to come in on the Sabbath and light candles for services and
3. As Tevye said to G-d, it's not a shame to be poor, but it's no great honor either. Likewise, I say to G-d, you want I should respect the Sabbath, make me a rich man so I can hire non-Jews to work on my house on one of only two days I have to do so. Perhaps C-Mom is not familiar with the Jewish custom of arguing with G-d, either.
I fail to see how I was being a jerk, but what do I know? I'm just a poor schmuck who is breaking the Sabbath as we speak by tyoing on this computer and turning on the lights and stove.
Shabbat Shalom, Seawitch and C-Mom.
c-mom,
Mark is just wishing me in his unique way to have a good Shabbat. He is mostly harmless.
mark,
Shabbat Shalom!
Good for you seawitch. To thine own self be true.
"He is mostly harmless."
"Mostly" being the operative word.
It depends on whether someone deserves a good fisking or not.
;o)>
dd,
Thank you!
mark,
:o)>
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