L'Shana Tovah 5781

 

 Greetings, Gail-Friends, and Happy New Year!  Where did 5780 go???  

We celebrated Rosh Hashanah yesterday at the synagogue with reflection, contemplation, prayer, and praise.  Oh, yes, and lots of shofar blasts and good food!  

Here are a few photos:

Rabbi Jem did the 100 shofar blasts, and this young man, eight-year-old Abram, joined in.  He is quite the shofar player.  His six-year-old sister can blow it, too, but she was a bit shy about it yesterday.  Abram likes to sit in the front row, and amazes us all with his knowledge of the Bible.  Rabbi asks questions about the parsha, and Abram often pipes up with the correct answer.

His father, Aaron, carried the Torah.  It was his first time to receive this honor, and he was deeply moved.  He also made the beautiful round challah above.

 

After the service, we had food, of course. Lots of it!

These two little girls wanted sit next to Rabbi Jem.

I told you we had lots of food!

We were so blessed to have this service in the midst of the pandemic.  This was our first feast day since Purim and it was good to spend time and eat with one another.  We're still providing plenty of hand sanitizer, masks if someone wants one, and taking cleaning precautions.  We are blessed that no one in our congregation has come down with the virus.  We'll all be glad when this virus is OVER. 

We're looking forward to Yom Kippur.  

Blessings to you all, dear Gail-Friends. 
 

Common Sense

I saw this on the social media everybody loves, but which is LIBERAL AND BIASED AGAINST ANYONE WHO DOESN'T AGREE WITH THEIR NARRATIVE.  I didn't write it -- but I agree with it.  And, I don't know why it would harm anyone - especially THEIR COMMUNITY STANDARDS.  And, let me tell you, friends, their standards are evil, twisted, demented, and demonic.  I'm moving to MeWe.

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Please leave the politics out of this and read it with an open mind using common sense.

COPIED FROM A FRIEND: 

"I have done my best to respect the diverse opinions regarding COVID-19 over these past few months, but I have these nagging questions about it... A friend posted this and it brilliantly sums up my train of thought:

Anyone out there who can tell me what our end game is with the covid 19? 

What is the magic formula that is going to allow us to sound the all clear? 

Is it zero cases?

The only way that will happen is if we just stop testing and stop reporting. 

Is it a vaccine? 

It took 25 years for a chicken pox vaccine to be developed. 

The smallpox inoculation was discovered in 1796 the last known natural case was in 1977. 

We have a flu vaccine that is only 40 to 60% effective and less than half of the US population choose to get one, and roughly 20,000 Americans will die of the flu or flu complications. 

Oh, you'll mandate it, like other vaccines are mandated in order to attend school, travel to some foreign countries, etc. 

We already have a growing number of anti vaxxers refusing proven, tested, well known vaccines that have been administered for decades but aren’t necessarily safe! 

Do you really think people will flock to get a fast tracked, quickly tested vaccine, whose long term side effects and overall efficacy are anyone's best guess? 

How long are we going to cancel and postpone and reconsider? 

You aren't doing in person school until second quarter? 

What if October's numbers are the same as August's? 

You moved football to spring? 

What if next March is worse than this one was? 

When do we decide quality of life outweighs the risks? 

I understand Covid can be deadly or very dangerous for SOME people, but so are strawberries and so is shellfish. 

We take risks multiple times a day without a second thought. 

We know driving a car can be dangerous, we don't leave it in the garage. 

We know the dangers of smoking, drinking and eating fried foods, we do it anyway. 

We speed, we don't buckle our seat-belts, we take more than directed.

Quite a few people don't think twice about unprotected sex, they just hop right to it.

Is hugging Grandma really more dangerous than rush hour on the freeway? 

Is going out with friends after work more risky than 4 day old gas station sushi? 

Or operating a chainsaw? 

When and how did we so quickly lose our free will? 

Is there a waiver somewhere I can sign that says, "I understand the risks, but I choose a life with Hugs and Smiles, and the State Fair and Concerts and Homecoming." 

I understand that there is a minuscule possibility I could die, but I will most likely end up feeling like crap for a few days. 

I understand I could possibly pass it to someone else, if I'm not careful, but I can pass any virus onto someone else. 

I'm struggling to see where or how this ends.

We either get busy living or we get busy dying. 

When God decides it's your time, you don't get any mulligans, so I guess I would rather spend my time enjoying it and living in the moment and not worrying about what ifs and maybes, and I bet I'm not the only one."

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Best Independence Day EVER!

Independence Day, 2020 will always live in my memory as the best of my life.  On July 3, we watched President Trump give the most wonderful presidential speech I've ever heard.  His love and devotion to our beloved country brought tears to my eyes. He fanned the flames of my patriotism and they are burning brighter than ever.  His words inspired me to do everything I can to protect and preserve our history, our monuments, our flag, our Constitution, and the ideals upon which our country was founded.  Here's a video link to that great patriotic speech - President Trump at Mount Rushmore.

 

I think this speech should be seen by every American, and especially by children.  President Trump shares the amazing history of the four presidents whose faces are carved into the mountain.  I learned a great deal from his history lesson.  Here is a link to the transcript of President Trump's speech.  I encourage you to print it and share it far and wide.

 

This inspiring, patriotic speech was especially meaningful when you remember that Independence Day, 2020 was shrouded in anarchistic violence in the previous weeks.  Statues and monuments had been burned, defaced, and some completely destroyed.  Churches were even set on fire.  I was so proud of President Trump when he left the White House and walked to St. Johns Church (which was set on fire), stood in front of it, and held up God's Holy Word.  It's shameful to see the vulgar curse words spray-painted on the building across from the church.  Click on the link to see another example of the horrible damage: George Washington statue defaced.

 

All of this was done in response to the death of a black man in Minneapolis.  He was killed by a policeman.  It is tragic what happened to that man and I pray it never happens again.  But the conclusions some people have come to are equally tragic. Policemen have been killed in revenge.  Calls are now being made to defund the police.  Parts of cities are being taken over and held hostage by anarchistic terrorists.  It's all wrong and it's not going to solve the "problem". 

 

What is the problem, anyway?  The problem is that our country has turned its back on God and His Holy Word.  We have left behind the Judeo-Christian principles upon which this country was founded.  My prayer is for a revival of those ideals.  God shed His grace on us because of that obedience to His Word.

 

I thank God for a president (who is under constant threat of harm and death) that has the courage and boldness to do what he did.  Think about it -- he had the courage to spontaneously walk out, in public, in the heat of this shameful period in our history, and stand in front of a church while holding a Bible.  What a statement.  That statement is clear:  GOD WINS!!!

 

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On July 4, we met with our mishpocha at synagogue for our weekly Shabbat service. In addition to our normal music and worship, liturgy, and Torah study,  Rabbi asked the question, "What do you remember as the best Independence Day in your life?"  It was interesting to listen to the different memories shared by the congregation. 

 

My turn came, and I said, "I think the best was when Rabbi Jem and I got married.  He put out flags, flags, and more flags!  Big ones, little ones -- all over our yard."  Like this:

 

 

Every year, the number of flags increases.  I joke that when Jem gets a little bit of money, he buys flags.  He puts them out for Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day.  Plus, we have a tall flag pole that flies the American Flag all year long.  We want everyone who passes by to know we love our country and our flag.   

 

Speaking of love of the flag, one day a neighbor was walking by with her five-year old on his bike.  Jem was in the yard working with his flags.  The little boy stopped and said, "Mom.  Can I salute that flag?"  Both Jem and his Mom assured him he could.  That patriotic little boy put his hand on his heart and said the pledge of allegiance.  They joined in with him.  It warmed our heart to see a mother who is teaching her child to love his country.  Jem was so impressed that he gave him his own flag to put in his yard.

 

So, while our first Independence Day together was a good one, I think Independence Day, 2020 has become my favorite July 4 holiday memory.

 

I'd love to hear about your best Independence Day memory or your love for the USA!

 

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