Category Archives: Jewish Life

Yom Kippur Reflections

Being in the military means that I don’t always get a choice about where I am when the High Holidays hit. I have spent more than one away from home. Bosnia (with services at Tuzla Main) and Kuwait with services … Continue reading

Posted in Jewish Life, Military, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

waiting for sunset

I have been here for a lifetime – or four days as of this evening. It seems about the same to me. I watched this week’s rotation pack and load all their gear this morning – they are contracted flights … Continue reading

Posted in Jewish Life, Military, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Rosh Hashanah

doesn’t feel quite right this year. Perhaps it feels other than the end of a year, although since I have just finished the assignment in the UK – that fits for year end. I will be heading off to something … Continue reading

Posted in Jewish Life, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

#21 + Food for the Mind

On this, the last night of Hanukkah which just happens to fall on the 18th this year, I found food for thought provided in dialog about the difference between spirituality and religion. Although this particular discussion is Judaic in its … Continue reading

Posted in family, Jewish Life, Knitting, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Ice Fern

Beautiful to see, even displaying its art on my car windshield and on the sides, rear windows and body of the car Yes, it was cold. Below freezing for more than a few minutes with patches of ice  on the … Continue reading

Posted in Home, Jewish Life, Knitting, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Sixth Night

Another candle supplying a glow of light while snow continues to drift down outside. Not much snow, but the reaction here to the faintest breath of snow is similar to what one sees in many of the warm weather locations.  … Continue reading

Posted in Jewish Life, Knitting, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Fourth Night

Not being on line, I am seeing if the scheduling function works. A much more realistic discussion of the “real world history” behind Hanukah can be found here in a great NYTtime Op-Ed. It is worth while reading and quite … Continue reading

Posted in Jewish Life, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Third Night

My windowsills in this house are all wooden and too narrow on which to balance a menorah. I am settling for lighting in a safe place and visible at least through the kitchen window. I am off in a few … Continue reading

Posted in Jewish Life, Knitting, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Second Night

I never did find the Bookcrossing meet-up in Fleet which leads me to suspect that the auto notice has been forgotten by one and all. Contact person who was supposed to have the details never did get back to me. … Continue reading

Posted in Jewish Life, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

First Night

Posted in Jewish Life, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Heading home

It is early in the morning, the girls are asleep while most of the ship seems to be stirring. Not surprisingly, I was the only person in the fitness room for the first 30 minutes. The guy who then came … Continue reading

Posted in Jewish Life, Travel, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Kol Nidre

I spent a quiet day while accomplishing a bit on several knitting projects.Four ridges to go on the body of Pagode, the second sleeve on Faery Ring now only lacking the cap. It feels funny, somehow to be sitting here … Continue reading

Posted in Jewish Life, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Tashlich

Standing quietly at the fence looking down at the small stream exiting the lake, I had little to say. The birds were not quiet; I could hear children and dogs in the distance. I was by myself. The Mole out … Continue reading

Posted in Home, Jewish Life, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Elul

אֱלוּלI The twelfth month of the Jewish Calender. A time to finish the year, prepare for Rosh Hashanah. It is a time to look back and ask forgiveness from anyone who one might have offended or hurt. Cleaning the slate … Continue reading

Posted in Jewish Life, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A funeral

Paul Daniel Mervis, 27, was buried today at the Aldershot Military Cemetery. A British Army LT he was with The 2nd Battalion the Rifles (2 RIFLES). He was killed 12 June 2009 while on patrol in Helmand Province. (notes also … Continue reading

Posted in Jewish Life, Military, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Nice is not important

I never claimed to be nice. I can be kind, but I detest niceness—it is pretending to be someone you aren’t in order to gain social approval. I’m not looking for anyone else’s approval. I already have my own. -Holly … Continue reading

Posted in Jewish Life, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Jüdisches Friedhof, Heidelberg

About the time you see this, I will be on a plane headed back to the UK. With Worms just up the road, it seems kind of logical that there have been Jews in Heidelberg for a significant number of … Continue reading

Posted in Jewish Life, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Check that block

According to the blurb – Part II of this module was only supposed to take 90 minutes. Right, and which genius figured that out? By 1600 I was seeing more grey hair every time I looked in the mirror and … Continue reading

Posted in computers, Jewish Life, Knitting, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Light a Candle

The short bits – I managed to finish off Part I/II on my re-cert. According to the tutorial, Part II, the patient simulation, is supposed to take 1-2 hours. Right. Tomorrow. Last year at this time I was out on … Continue reading

Posted in Books & Tapes, Home, Jewish Life, Knitting, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Yom Kippur

The gates are closed, the day is past. Will I do better next year? Perhaps the words of Joseph Teluskin (A Code of Jewish Ethics: Volume 1—You Shall Be Holy) should be how we view things – to be happy with … Continue reading

Posted in Home, Jewish Life, Knitting, Uncategorized | 1 Comment