The Belated Shabbat Purim Card

PS Reilly is going to be four years old on the Hebrew calendar either tomorrow or Monday at sunset! "Momma's" verklempt—and still an alteh moid waiting for an answer from a certain person¹ for her and Reilly's sakes (¡Pobrecita Reisilacita! And yes, "Reisilacita" is one of "Momma's" nicknames for Reilly!).

¹¡Para ¨Mamᨠestar la ¨Mamᨠde Reily sin un esposo para sí misma y un ¨Papᨠpara Reily es muy dfiícil y desgarrador—o como ella dice en Yídish, ¨a leyd un an agmes nefesh¨!

The Belated Purim Card Photoshoot So Far Can Be Described By Reilly's Initial Reaction To It...

It is not going well.

Getting Reilly's Purim Costume Made Last Night, And High Wind Gusts That "Momma" Understands Scared Reilly For Good Reason

Getting the costume made for the card was hard last night. Trying to sew the patch for the costume on it and failing in her efforts, accidentally dropping the needle by accident and getting berated by "Mom-Mom" for it when she couldn't find it and "Mom-Mom" ended up finding it herself, not exactly getting "Auntie Michelle"s help to sew on the patch, having to cut fabric to readjust its size and fit Reilly for it (although at least Camille's smug look was funny to "Auntie Nicole" albe not exactly nice to her cousin), and having to adjust one of the straps for Reilly before going "night nights" was not fun fo "Momma". Having Reilly called "poor baby" and otherwise getting nonsupport from "Auntie Michelle" throughout pre-"night nights" time after having already gotten nonsupport from "Mom-Mom" was also not fun.

As for the high wind gusts, Reilly was understandably scared. So "Momma" stayed with her throughout the night instead of getting up to "go potty", despite that she really had to go—and she had to keep explaining that she wasn't going anywhere as she lifted up the "blankies" for Reilly to be able to get them on her, reached "Teddy" for Reilly when he had fallen off of the bed (and she does love snuggling with her teddy bear!), and moved to get comfortable on the bed

As for this morning, both Reilly's and Camille's tails are going to the left as they are presently watch and hear the wind gusts blowing everything that they can blow ☹. Reilly and Camille followed "Momma"/"Auntie Nicole" to the kitchen when she went to get coffee and came over to snuggle with her when she came back into the family room. Meanwhile, "Momma" was to use some of the spare fabric to prepare to make a second tallit for Reilly and fit Reilly for it as she laid next to her and at least didn't growl and whimper at this time notwithstanding some noncooperation.

#WednesdayWisdom: Making A Purim Card With Reilly This Year, As "Momma" Should Have Done Last Year!

Since Purim isn't until Friday and Shabbat is a Shabbat Purim this year, "Momma" at least has time to make the card. She also was able to have costume materials for Reilly procured this year and will actually be able to try to make the costume (which is simple one and one that she can make this year). As for "Momma", she has a puppy mask that she actually was able to cut out of an Amazon box, and she'll wear that even if she won't appear in the card with Reilly.

לשבת שלום מראילי לכולם!

PS Reilly received pumpkin as a treat for letting "Momma" take photos of her in her tallit and with her wearing her kippah!

Belated Shabbat Sukkot 5777 Card

L'Shabbat Sukkot Shalom u'Mevorakh. Shabbat Sukkot, 16 Tishrei 5777.

For some reason, by the way, Powerpoint did not save the background to the card as part of the picture. Reilly and Camille had their picture taken for the card after their grooming appointment, meanwhile.

What A Prize Candle Can Teach One About Shabbat, Humanity, Etc.; And...

Yes, I put a link to Prize Candle's website in the title on my own volition, unbeknownst to Prize Candle until they read this blog entry. Speaking of unbeknownst matters, that my sister had the "brill" idea of digging out the Prize Candle before it was naturally ready to come out is her schtick—she dug hers out and got the "brill" idea to dig out the ring (and she hates that I use the slang for "brilliant" to annoy her!)—in other words, Mom won't know that Michelle had the idea until I either squeal, let Michelle confess, or share this blog entry.

Here are just a few of the lessons (There are many more that I'll probably even think of as I type or that you could add as you read this, for example.):

1. A Prize Candle can be a great Shabbat candle. It has eco-friendly soy wax, a manifestation of tikun ha'olam v'tzedek—and soy wax is kosher. It also saves the work of having to hold a Havdalah candle, since it comes in a glass container—which can be recycled and/or reused later—tada! Another manifestation of tikun ha'olam v'tzedek.
2. Like Shabbat, the Prize Candle (at least if you get it for a gift and/or join the Candle of the Month Club like I did) gives you things to which to look forward—lighting the fragrency candle itself (like sanctifying Shabbat) and waiting for the ring (like waiting to find discovered treasures within kiddush Shabbat).
3. The wax can remind of you of the following verse: "I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me." Just as when wax melts when a candle is lit, so we can feel "like wax" when we're put under pressure.
4. Each of us, like a candle has a wick, is called to be a light. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
5. Israel is called to be a light to the nations and has treasure within her.
6. Our days are like wax, melting away. After those days end or earlier, in time either way, our treasure might be revealed.
7. Sometimes (like Michelle dug out the candle and Mom actually even used a knife to see if she could get through the wax that was holding the ring in and down), God digs through our days with pain to reveal our treasure.
8. Like only Prize Candle ultimately knows the value of the ring within the candle, only God ultimately knows what our treasure is worth.
9. Sometimes (and see Lesson 7 above), God uses other people to reveal our treasure.

I think that the most-important lessons have to be Lessons 3-8. So, Jesus; bring the fire; melt me like wax in a Prize Candle, and reveal my treasure which You have created.

PS Mom came home as I typed...and yes, I squealed before I could get into trouble (and Michelle told me that I should've seen the look that Mom gave her).

Speaking Of Shabbat...

If I already posted this from Yahoo! Answers before, please let me know. Nonetheless, a refresher always helps. On Shabbat especially, to talk about the different forms of Judaism would begin to give others—including Jews who don't know what the heck their own people do, and those who suspect that they are Jewish and would like to have an idea of what Jews do—an idea of what Jews do on Shabbat. Granted that this is basic, modified from the original Yahoo! post, and more for reference than anything else; but it should still give you an idea of what Jews do on Shabbat.

Conservative Judaism is the closest form of Judaism to Orthodox (really, Orthodox Pharisaic) Judaism. Conservative (Masorti) Judaism broke away from Reform Judaism in order to maintain Matrilineal Descent as the rue for "Who is a Jew?" and other traditions, although they do not believe in the inerrancy of Tanakh or the Talmud. The hierarchy is something along the lines of: 

1) Haredi ("Hasidi", "Chabad") Judaism (including Kabbalah) 2) Orthodox Judaism 3) Conservadox Judaism 4) Reformodox Judaism 5) Conservative (Masorti) Judaism 6) Reform (Liberal, "Progressive") Judaism 7) Reconstructionist Judaism 8) Renewal Judaism or Alternative Judaism 9) Humanistic Judaism 10) Atheistic Judaism 


There's also Karaite (Mikra'iti, Scripturalist) Judaism and Messianic (Christian) Judaism, neither of which are accepted by Pharisaic (Mainstream) Judaism.

Now that you have an idea of each of the forms of Judaism, you can pretty much guess what a Jew who affiliates with a given denomination of Judaism does on Shabbat. If you can't, keep reading...

1) Haredi ("Hasidi", "Chabad") Judaism (including Kabbalah)—will not work on Shabbat. "Work" certainly includes even writing, and may even include walking for the extremely-haredi Jew. For the Jew who does not even walk on Shabbat, he or she may sit in his or her home and privately worship (He or she would certainly not walk to shul.). If he or she has any light on in his or her dwelling, the light will come only from the Shabbat candles, as "work" includes turning on a light switch!
2) Orthodox Judaism—will not work on Shabbat. "Work" may include even writing for the more-Orthodox Jew (as opposed to the Modern Orthodox Jew, depending on what he or she is writing). He or she will usually walk to shul, and drive only if tikun ha'olam v'piku'ach nefesh (e.g., getting a disabled family member to shul) requires him or her to do so (He or she may hire a shabbos goy to drive the family member, however.). If he or she has any light on in his or her dwelling, the light will come only from the Shabbat candles, as "work" includes turning on a light switch!
3) Conservadox Judaism—will mix Conservative and Orthodox practices.
4) Reformodox Judaism—will mix Reform and Orthodox practices. 
5) Conservative (Masorti) Judaism—may or may not work on Shabbat, depending on whether he or she leans toward being Orthodox or Reform. "Work" may include even writing for the more-Orthodox Conservative Jew (as opposed to the more-Modern-Orthodox Jew, depending on what he or she is writing). He or she will usually walk to shul, and drive only if tikun ha'olam v'piku'ach nefesh (e.g., getting a disabled family member to shul) requires him or her to do so (He or she may hire a shabbos goy to drive the family member, however.). If he or she has any light on in his or her dwelling, the light may come only from the Shabbat candles, as "work" may include turning on a light switch! 
6) Reform (Liberal, "Progressive") Judaism—may or may not work on Shabbat, depending on whether he or she leans toward being more traditional or more liberal. "Work" may include even writing for the more-Orthodox Reform Jew (as opposed to the less-Orthodox Reform Jew, depending on what he or she is writing). He or she will usually drive to shul—if he or she attends shul at all.  He or she will also likely turn on light switches.
7) Reconstructionist Judaism—may or may not work on Shabbat, depending on whether he or she leans toward being more traditional or more liberal. He or she will write, usually drive to shul—if he or she attends shul at all—, and likely turn on light switches. 
8) Renewal Judaism or Alternative Judaism—may or may not work on Shabbat, depending on whether he or she leans toward being more traditional or more liberal. He or she will write, drive to shul—if he or she attends shul at all—, and turn on light switches.  
9) Humanistic Judaism—would not be opposed to working on Shabbat. He or she will write, drive to shul—if he or she attends shul at all—, and turn on light switches.  
10) Atheistic Judaism—would not be opposed to working on Shabbat. He or she will write, drive to shul—if he or she attends shul at all—, and turn on light switches. 


Karaite Judaism and Messianic (Christian) Judaism, meanwhile, accept few to no Orthodox practices as authoritative. Karaite and Messianic Jews, therefore, usually work on Shabbat except for in the ways which are prohibited by TaNaKh—for Messianics, TaNaKH ("H" stands for "[B'rit] Hadashah", or "New [Covenant] [or "New Testament"]"). Both Karaites and Messianics usually write, drive to shul, and turn on light switches.

Is There Actually a Beauty In Marrying On Shabbat (Originally On Twitter)?

To get married on Shabbat is actually a nice idea. Marriage represent G-d's covenant with Israel. So does Shabbat--e.g., the day of rest. As someone who married on a Yom Shabbat opined, "I was married on a Saturday evening in summer, just at the beginning of sunset. We wanted to honor Shabbat, and so we did Havdalah first. Our officiant was very traditional and expressed his qualms about starting before sundown. Ultimately, we did the cocktail hour first and pushed the ceremony back as late as we could, and he acquiesced. It wasn't fully dark yet, but it felt like a respectful, if not fully halachic, compromise on both sides. I think that for less observant (or non-observant Jews), that kind of conversation and creativity is more important than observing strict halachic rules and missing the beauty and richness of the tradition, but then again, I'm not frum. For what it's worth, it was the most "Jewish" wedding that I or any of my guests had ever attended. Everyone told me how beautiful and moving it was, and many of our guests asked numerous questions about the traditions, rituals, and prayers they had encountered."

Besides, where in Tanakh can one read that one can't marry on Shabbat--let alone enter into marital contracts on Shabbat or write on Shabbat? Furthermore, the Bride of Yeshua, Heaven as Eternal Shabbat...shalom!

What Is Working On Shabbat? Does Driving Count?

Working on Shabbat is not any of the following, which needs to be addressed in order to understand what working on Shabbat is:

1. Playing on the computer or any other device.
2. Driving or walking to Shabbat services at your local synagogue or church (To the brats--and I address you later as well--, you ought to get some fresh air and realize that there are Jews and Israelophilic gentiles who observe Shabbat services in churches.).
3. Preparing your food (which is specifically in Tanakh).
4. Kindling fire for non-work purposes (which is implied in Tanakh).
5. Bathing (unless you're bathing after you've engaged in certain activities; which, under the Old Covenant, you're arguably not supposed to be doing on Shabbat).
6. Anything else that isn't intended as work (e.g., flushing a toilet).

Firstly, "[I]t is not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." If it is not intended as work, it is not work. Secondly, "no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you." The first day of Pesach is like Shabbat--you cannot work except for what you need to eat. Some will ask, "Well, what about as gathering the manna was or the Jubilee Year is? Shouldn't you prepare your food the day [or year] before, and double what you would prepare on every other day?" That may not work for everybody. For example, the composition of a food can change even in an hour depending on that which the food is exposed to; and that may not work for someone whose system is intolerant of even the slightest--v.g.--fermentation or temperature change in food, and they may need to eat only fresh foods. So, leaving out that challah for an hour or refrigerating that wine may be breaking piku'ach nefesh--saving a life (e.g., choosing life in the first place)--anyway, and piku'ach nefesh comes first. 

Besides (though this is another discussion), making Shabbat the Queen, the challah, the candle lighting, and the wine were all practices to Sikkut and Kiy'un (like the Star of David was a pagan symbol)--and Messianics can redeem those practices; Non Messianics (arguably) can not. That's part of why at least some Karaites don't follow those practices, and they look for "Rabbi"nical ways to be cleansed from Israel. 

As for the man who was gathering wood on Shabbat--since he needs to be addressed and was going to be brought up, anyway--was intending to work. Again, God looks at intent. As one woman stated (with my emphasis put on her words), "But what constitutes "for real" [Shabbatnikery]? Not using electricity? Not using money? Not watering the crops? Going to synagogue? I think it's clear that one can choose to observe a sabbath in many ways - from spending time with friends and family to not doing job-related work to having people over for a Friday night meal - any statistics will be self-reported and most likely not well-defined here." (Also, to be fair and for example, watering your gluten-free crops for your gluten-intolerant family member or your beloved flowers in your gadren is not work.).

Also, if you can't figure out why I'm linking to certain books in the JPS Tanakh, then you go look up the specific verses on BibleGateway yourself--I don't want to use the New King James Version and get accused of proselytizing by certain brats (and you know who you are; and that's the nicest way that I can describe you, since you are--and I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt by stating that you are--acting like petulant children). 

This Is My Night, Or...

At least it's an example of one of my nights--at least one of my Shabbatot (viz., tonight).

1. Observing Shabbat (if I'm lucky or blessed)
2. Watching "Fridays With Geraldo" on "The O'Reilly Factor" (and any other part of "The O'Reilly Factor" if I feel like it)
3. Eating dinner
4. Getting a shower
5. Playing on the computer (e.g., watching YouTube clips, being on Twitter, talking with friends on Facebook)
6. Getting to bed late again, knowing damned well that I should be in bed because I have a counseling appointment in the morning.

This is partly why (and as much as I love talking to my friends on Facebook, this is party why) I need a big break or miracle in life--mundane, monotonous, lonely nights won't always cut it.

Another Blog Shabbat Yesterday...

It was semi unintentional (I ran out of time.). Nonetheless, I must be (so to speak) racking up Shabbatot this week (Sunday and Wednesday) for some reason--maybe something big in which I can't take Blog Shabbatot must be about to happen. Incidentally, Chodesh Elul is supposed to happen on the 19th (and rekeeping track of the date, it is the 26 of Av, 27th tonight); so that could have something to do with it--though the summer's been quite eventful! 

Maybe From Now On, I'll Take More Computer Shabbats...

To have the day off from the computer, blogging, etc. was kind of nice since (so to speak) the Facebook, YouTube, Blogger, and other fields were allowed to fallow out and regrow some relevancy and view counts. Besides, I had a cough yesterday; so I napped in between finishing part of my reading for this weekend. I also did watch the Nevada Caucus results; and I turned off the coverage the moment that I couldn't stand Newt Gingrich's divisiveness and arrogance, since he started personally attacking Romney instead of going after Obama's even-deliberately-failed policies.

Meanwhile, I'm voting for the Giants because of Tiki Barber's arrogance toward Joe Coughlin and because of Tom Brady-- no me gusta Tiki Barber o Tomas Brady.