It's Time To Say Good Shabbos, Let Go, Let G-d
Five minutes, max that's how long I'm allowing myself here - that's what we're looking at. Shabbos hovering, stress running away - hopefully. If only. It is. Kinda sorta. Teaching was good today; I gave a test, the students took it. Sounds right. Felt right. I am grateful to be a teacher.
I am grateful to feel generally safe. Shabbos is a safety zone. But I'm also thinking about not only the holy time of Shabbos, but of space. I generally feel safe and comfortable in the space I'm in, with the people I'm around. And for this I say, thank you G-d, Almighty.
Someone I know once advised a parent, "Never criticize your adult child - and when they're on the cusp - be careful." I'd just add the word very. I like to add the word very, in general. I'm a cautious guy - maybe too cautious much of the time.
One more minute in my time limit. May G-d bless us all to get wiser as we age, more patient, and softer, and also harder - all in the right proportions and contexts.
"I'm afraid our time is just about up? Do we have time for one -"
"Go ahead."
Good Shabbos, G-d Bless
me to slow down my sighing
you to gentler
him to be a bit kinder
and her to find her way home
k
We're over time and we're out of here.
posted by rabbi neil fleischmann @ 7:01 PM
2 Comments:
lovely. i hope that your shabbos was peaceful, grateful cautious and safe. p.s. where-oh-where should i add the "very?!" :)
Thanks. It was nice. (How's that for a guarded answer? Nice has become a meaningless word in our world. A great poet once put it like this, "Nice is warm ice."
Real answer:
Last night I ate with my neighbors, perhaps for the last time before they move. Deep sigh. He's becoming an assistant rabbi at a prominent Shul. They're young, with three young daughters (a two year old, and two infant twins).
They had over four young friends - two guys and two girls, all in college. One of the girls made a comment about two friends of hers being the stupidest smart people she knows - how she learned that the hard way, travelling with them. Brilliant.
After the meal we payed Bananagrams. The other girl commented that it's fascinating how others make words you'd never think of. Yes it is.
Today I had over a student of mine - cooked enough food for many more people. Cooking small amounts is hard. I made chicken on a brown rice bed with mint and ginger, and chicken with mojo sauce, and chicken with bbq sauce, and a cholent with a lot of meat, and macaroni salad, and tabouli salad (last two were bought), also bought whole wheat onion rolls, pickles, and and and. It was this students last Shabbos in YU.
Why does it seem like endings are all around?
I have gotten close to the end of the book Devotion and would like it to go on. It makes me sad that the author, Dani Shapiro, seems closed to Orthodox Judaism big time. Although she has a bit of a soft spot for her frum Aunt Shirley (thought no-where near the love she has for her Jewish yogis).
Had Shaloshudis with same dear neighbors and issue cam up about Sotah. An interesting talk ensued about culture and changes and how things might or might not be complex in knowing that you are right.
Answer to P.S.Q: When they're on the cusp - be very careful. Be very careful to not criticize children and other living people or things in general. Very careful. One can, maybe, never be careful - or kind - enough.
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