Counting the Omer: Special Needs and A Different Place

Welcome to Holland

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability to try and help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel.  It’s like this…..

When you are going to have a baby it’s like planning a fabulous vacation trip-to Italy. You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make your wonderful plans. The coliseum the Michelangelo David, the gondolas etc. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It’s all exciting. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later the plane lands and the stewardess comes in and says, “Welcome to Holland.” “Holland?” you say, “what do you mean Holland?” I signed up for Italy I’m supposed to be in Italy! All my life I’ve dreamed of going to Italy.” But there has been a change of flight plan and you’ve landed in Holland and there you must stay. The important thing is that they haven’t taken you to a horrible, disgusting place full of pestilence, famine and disease. It’s just a different place. So you must go out and buy different guide books and learn a new language. You will meet a whole bunch of people you never would have met. It’s just a different place, slower pace than Italy, less flashy than Italy. After a while you catch your breath and look around you and you begin to notice that Holland has Tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts. But everyone you know is busy coming and going from ItalyContinue reading

Counting the Omer: Happiness Is…

Today, as you count the Omer, understand Jewish wisdom about the source of our happiness.

Baruch Ata Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha-olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al s’firat ha’omer.  Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with sacred actions and enjoins us to count the omer.

Hayom tishah v’esrim yom, shehem arbah-ah shavuot v’yom echad la-omer. Today is 29 days which are 4 weeks and 1 day of the Omer.

Counting the Omer: 2 Impact Opportunities For Marriage Equality

There are 2 opportunities to act for LGBT civil rights this week, so in today’s count, we focus on social change!  FIRST: FOR THE RIGHT TO HAVE A MARRIAGE RECOGNIZED STATE TO STATE, JOIN US THIS THURS–US District Judge Mary McLaughlin has scheduled the oral arguments for Cara Palladino & Isabelle Barker v. Governor Thomas Corbett for Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 9:30 am in Courtroom 13-A, US Courthouse, 6th & Market Street, Philadelphia. Supporters of marriage equality are encouraged to be present at this historic case.

SECOND: SIGN-UP TO STAND TOGETHER WHEN THE MARRIAGE EQUALITY JUDGMENT COMES IN–If you would like to be on “stand-by” to gather for a rally on the evening of the decision of the Whitewood case which seeks to open the door to marriage equality in PA, please add your name by emailing edu@rodephshalom.org.

This week of Omer counting focuses on Hod, glory, and the glory of just decisions is exactly what we are praying for.  Inspired by the Torah’s teaching that human beings are created in God’s image, our congregation affirms the worth and dignity of all God’s children and is proud to support Why Marriage Matters Pennsylvania and the movement to bring the freedom to marry to loving same-sex couples in Pennsylvania. For some time, the Why Marriage Matters PA campaign has known that our congregations and clergy stand with Marriage Equality. Now, we literally have the opportunity stand with the movement and to show up. Sometime in the next weeks, the judge in Whitewood v. Wolf, the case that seeks to strike down Pennsylvania’s law denying same-sex couples marriage equality, will decide in a summary judgment.

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Counting the Omer: Sad Desk Lunch

Sad desk lunch and social isolation– another angle on our community conversations about the role of food in our lives.  Consider in today’s counting of the Omer: Have you recently connected with someone as you broke bread together?Continue reading

Counting the Omer: For the Love of Math

Can you find meaning in numbers?  Reformjudaism.org explores the inspiration in math in this article.

Baruch Ata Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha-olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al s’firat ha’omer.  Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with sacred actions and enjoins us to count the omer.

Hayom shishah v’esrim yom, shehem shloshah shavuot vachamishah yamim la-omer. Today is 26 days which are three weeks and 4 days of the Omer.Continue reading

Counting the Omer: My Cup Overflows

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Gevurah sh’b netzach – strength within endurance – my cup overflows- (Psalm 23:5).  With discipline, right intention, and compassion, I may dwell the divine and share/spread the abundance. (Thank you to our congregant Elise Luce Kraemer for sharing your inspirational Omer art!).

In what way does your cup overflow this Shabbat?

Baruch Ata Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha-olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al s’firat ha’omer.  Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with sacred actions and enjoins us to count the omer.

Hayom chamishah v’esrim yom, shehem shloshah shavuot v’arba-ah yamim la-omer. Today is 25 days which are three weeks and 4 days of the Omer.

Wishing you a meaningful omer– Your RS Clergy

 

Counting the Omer: Faith in Animation

What is faith to you?

Baruch Ata Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha-olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al s’firat ha’omer.  Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with sacred actions and enjoins us to count the omer.

Hayom arba-ah v’esrim yom, shehem shloshah shavuot ushloshah yamim la-omer. Today is 24 days which are three weeks and 3 days of the Omer.

Wishing you a meaningful omer– Your RS Clergy

 

Counting the Omer: When You Think No One Is Listening

Last week Secretary of State John Kerry was taped while speaking to a meeting of the Trilateral Commission in which he was complaining about the failure to make any progress in the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

During his comments, Kerry warned that Israel risks becoming “an apartheid state” if they cannot reach a two-state solution.

His remarks were widely condemned from across the political spectrum, both Democrats and Republicans, so much so that Kerry later back pedaled, saying “If I could rewind the tape, I would have chosen a different word (than “Apartheid”) to describe my beliefs…”

Donald Sterling, the owner of the LA Clippers Professional Basketball Team, was banned for life from the NBA for making deeply offensive racist remarks, which were caught on tape and released to the public last week.Continue reading

Screening and Panel about Your Jewish Genes: Important Health Info If You’re Getting Pregnant

logoBefore you have kids, learn about your genes! Thurs., May 8, 6-9pm: If you are a young adult (or know one): RS invites anyone who is considering getting pregnant in the next couple of years to come learn about and be screened for Jewish genetic diseases. Enjoy a free dinner, learn about genetic diseases from a doctor and a personal story, watch the Phillies game while you wait your turn to get screened.  Max out of pocket for screening: $99.   Register here or just show up.  Thank you to the Victor Center at Einstein and to our partners: The Collaborative/Tribe 12, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, and Interfaith Family.

 

Counting the Omer: Yom Hazikaron

On this daily count of the Omer, as Yom HaZikaron (Israel Memorial Day) begins, we honor the memories of Israel’s fallen soldiers.

Baruch Ata Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha-olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al s’firat ha’omer.  Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with sacred actions and enjoins us to count the omer.

Hayom esrim yom, shehem shnei shavuot v’shishah yamim la-omer. Today is 20 days which are two weeks and 6 days of the Omer.

Wishing you a meaningful omer– Your RS Clergy