Not too badly slammed, it turns out...

9/30
Update: Actually, the discussion is getting fairly interesting, stay tuned!

9/27
Well, that whole Blog comment string turned out well enough in the end. It's worth checking out, especially as one example of how a blog discussion unfolds.
Here's the link:

comments, Netivat Sofrut

Otherwise, go to Soferet.blogspot.com
August 2005 Archives
What Sort of Animal.......?
Comments



Blessings!

My first Web Slam!

WoW! I took a real beating on the web ysterday-- my first slam on the internet! Some people just don't give you a chance, you know? They so want to be angry, that they look for situations to be angry about. Anyway, I tried linking the comment string here:

comments, Netivot Sofrut

Blessings!

Current Events, Ethiopian Jewry

Found recently in HaAretz:

Falashmura pledge to renew hunger strike demanding airlift
By DPA

"ADDIS ABABA - Members of the Falashmura community in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia complained Friday that police had prevented them from continuing a hunger strike to press their demand that they be taken to Israel.

Members of the Falashmura community, whose ancestors converted from Judaism to Christianity, had been on hunger strike for three days to publicize a promise they claim Israel made to airlift them to the Holy Land when police told them to disperse."

I remember back in the 80's when it was so cool to support the Falashmura.

SAVE ETHIOPIAN JEWRY! (NOW!)

Well, I'm not sure that our collective conscience lived up to the sentiment of those times. Maybe it's time for the Falashmura to come in Vogue again. I'm wondering what the haftarah for YK has to say about all of that? Thanks R.M. for re-introducing that text to me.

Blessings, Shanah tova!

Published on Sunday, September 25, 2005 by The Independent/UK



US Forced to Import Bullets from Israel as Troops Use 250,000 for Every Rebel Killed

There's something obscene about this statement.

Actually, many somethings.

Dangers of Catsitting!

60. Other Sources of Impurity - She'ar Avos ha-Tumos

The corpse or severed limb of an animal make a person who moves or touches
it or a utensil that touches it impure, as it says "[One who touches their
corpses shall be impure until evening...]

Gevalt!! Today I found myself doing CPR on a chipmunk. Er... that's right, mouth to nose resucitation and everything. It died, of course. Before you think this maneuver totally absurd on my part, I successfully resucitated the cat's previous victim two days earlier (cardiac massage only, no nose kisses that time). Clearly, Elijah I am not, but you know, often the little beasts are basically unharmed and die from shock, so it is possible sometimes to revive them.

Good thing I'm going to the Mikveh tomorrow!!

My new favorite artist

My new favorite artist, Shoshannah Brombacher. This piece is titled "The Berdichever and the Shechinah." Please support her work-- not only is she an awesome artist, she is a beautiful soul as well. Here is a link to her art on the web:

Shoshannah B. portfolio

Highlight from last year

As we approach the new year, here's a great highpoint from last year's B'nai Mitzvah season-- Student Josh Melander is totally at ease with the Torah. Josh recently moved to Portland, I wonder how he's doing? Good luck Josh! Don't forget your hippie roots!

Sukkot Workshop

One workshop that I began developing for next year, but that seems
relevant right now, is a Sukkot class/workshop which explores the Sukkah
as an exercise in remembering our state of being refugees.  What does it
mean to be a refugee?  How would we build a temporary shelter if we were
forced to leave our homes and everything we own and had to make do with
what we could find or salvage?  What are some alternative building
techniques for building Sukkot that reflect this aspect of our very
human history?  How does Sukkot, as a festival, help us understand the
experience of the millions of refugees around the world (and here at
home)?  And how, really, does this relate to our lives?  What does Torah
teach us about all of this?

ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEAS?