I want to be in a place where they paint their roofs and doors and graves the blue of sky. Though it may be to confuse the evil eye, it helps me feel at one with the stars in the heavens above. There is such effortless beauty to be found in that expanse. If my soul is like fire, if I thrive near the palace of sacrifice, then maybe my spirit is like wind, for I need it to breathe, to live. Without wind, there is no fire. To return to such a place brings me back to the beginning, back ...
Judaism
Remember the Light, Find the Hope
Tonight, as we all prepare to celebrate and light our Chanukkiyot, my husband and I have an extra reason to celebrate; our own Chanukkah miracle you might say. One year ago on the 25th of Kislev, we married. By the graciousness of our rabbi, he let us get married on the first night of Chanukkah! He even suggested instead of a unity candle to light the Chanukkah menorah as our first act together as man and wife. This year—for many, for all—we have endured unprecedented challenges. For ...
One Day
Right now, I should be preparing for Shabbat or Yom Kippur, finalising the service outlines; not that it changes much, if at all, year to year. Technically, I should be working on this info-graphic or running reports for work. Instead, I'm sitting here at work trying not to burst into tears because of the recent news regarding these two poor Jewish boys who were bullied at school for their Jewishness and the man on the subway in NYC. Seeing such blatant hate is disturbing and ...
Eternity’s Reminder
Where was I last week? What's going on with me? What happened to those WOMS I promised? Let's see... Last week I was sick. This week, I'm feeling better, but I woke up dizzy today, so I'm not certain my mind is functioning at full capacity. I'm in the middle of revisions and going cross-eyed from it, but I think it's one of the best decisions I've made (or rather, one of the best responses an agent has ever given me). The vast majority of my energy is being spent on those, which leaves ...
A Jerusalem Vignette
We had just finished saying our goodbyes to my visiting aunts. I sauntered out of the hotel, and as I exited, watched a couple emptying out of their vehicle. The man's back faced me as he assisted his, I assumed, wife from the back seat, and upon his silver hair sat an obvious black kippah. Observing more closely, I saw they were dressed in their Shabbas clothes -- he in a suit of black with a white shirt and black tie; she in an elegant, floral pencil skirt with a long-sleeved blouse and ...
