So it's technically past a week... by a few hours.  But here's my response to the challenge:

  Something that made me pause. This Shabbos, there was a farbrengen (a gathering of souls).  One of the things said there struck me.  Within Judaism, there does exist the concept of asceticism, of self-abnegation.  There is that which is inherently holy (required), that which is inherently unholy (prohibited), and then there is that which is inherently neither.  These last are things like the internet, that are permitted, and one can choose to use them for either holy or unholy purposes. 

 There is a certain, optional, high level of service in Judaism in which people deny themselves (or greatly reduce the amount of use of) that which is permitted.  In some yeshivas (Jewish learning schools), it is in vogue to practice this.  For instance, to not use condiments on food, such that the sole purpose of the food is its nutrition, and not its taste.

However, one of the people at the farbrengen said in the name of one of his teachers (note that I'm paraphrasing) , that while not putting condiments on your food is fine and all, the real self-abnegation is going to bed on time so you can be well-rested for classes.

I'm in the grocery store, wandering through the aisles, looking for a potholder.  It's the last thing on my list, and it's proving elusive.  Dinner is waiting on it.  I eventually decide to go ask a clerk where they might be located.

As I'm walking to the information desk, I think to ask for some heavenly assistance: "Please, G-d, let me find some potholders so I can make dinner soon."  My next thought is what I could do for Him.  I realize that before I went to the store, I had been eating, and had forgotten to say an after-blessing.  The proper, specific, after-blessing, I don't have memorized.  The general one, however, I do.  I start reciting it quietly to myself as I'm walking.  I finish the blessing, and I look up.

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I was inspired to write a series of blogs about the view of women in Judiasm after studying Judaics for five weeks in NY. It really peaked my interest...

A couple of months ago an acquaintance of mine mentioned that he thought the morning blessing which states "Thank you G-d for not making me a woman." was chauvinistic. My reply to his statement was that this translation alone with out interpretation can be misleading. I told him that to most people who have not had the opportunity to learn about the morning blessings will more then likely take it the wrong way, but in reality there are a few ways of explaining this blessing that are not so un-P.C.

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I awoke to the sound of whale song in the street

It wafted through my window and ensnared my senses with its musical banter.

I followed it out my door, unaware of the bustle and meaningless banter of the city crowds,

Spindly legged women who did not appreciate or even sense the melodious speech of whales

It bubbled, gurgling thickly out of dancing fountains

It seeped, ringing, out of puddles in the street.

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Okay, so apparently they liked my blog and they've asked me to write another one.  This was a little scary for me cause it was my first ever "deadline" for a blog, and I kinda made it one day.  So, yeah, scary.  And this one was less inspired and more just hardcore sitting down and forcing myself to write.  So, I'm really interested in what you guys have to say. 

Thanks!

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I recently wrote a blog submission for Chabad.org, hoping to become a regular blogger on there. Since I feel so comfortable with you guys, I've decided to post it here, as well. I'd love to hear what your thoughts are on it. Also, if you are not completely well versed on Judaism, you might have some questions about terms and stuff. Feel free to ask. Enjoy!

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A child, two years old, will start a trek from the living room to outside, upon seeing an open door.

A parent, upon seeing this, will pick up the child and redirect them, causing the child to now sojourn in the safety of the house.

G-d seems to do this to me sometimes when I'm just about to say something.  The person I'm about to speak to will come up with some other topic, and before I know it I'm swept away from the direction I was going.

Yet, sometiems I do find my way outside.  And sometimes it is indeed scary.

 

Far underwater

in the dankest deep

inside an oyster

is where we find our pearls

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Note: I originally wrote this about a year ago.  Now, with Our Open mic, it has a home.

So it's Friday afternoon, I'd just put some meatloaf in the oven for Shabbos dinner (not a particularly traditional meal for Shabbos, but it was something I knew how to make), and I was cleaning up the kitchen.  I had some leftover breadcrumbs, and I wasn't sure what to do with them.  I asked my dad if he wanted to use them for anything, or if I should throw them away (I didn't really want to waste them, though).  He suggested I put them outside so birds could eat them.
 

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Okay, so earlier, I posted a bunch of videos at once. but I don't think that's gonna go over well with internet readers, so here's just one I really liked. Hopefully I'll end up doing this kinda regularly. Hope you enjoy.

How long does it take for a bee to die after it stings someone? I heard that once, that a bee dies after it stings someone. Or maybe I read it. I've had a lot of time for reading lately. Does the bee know? Does he know that he's got one shot and that's it for him? Ah, no, I heard it. That's right, I heard it. Somebody got stung. What was his name? Jeff? Jeff. And then Benny says, he says "That's alright Jeff. You know that bee's gonna die real soon. See, they got one stinger. They got one sting and that's it. It's dead." Course, then Jeff went into anaphylactic shock and he was dead. Allergic. I don't think there's any way that bee could have known that Jeff was going to die. See now that -- that would be murder. But supposing the bee did know, that might make it worth it. As it stands, that bee's got to be thinking "I've got one shot. Can't waste it." What made him choose Jeff the Junky? That's why I'm thinking that maybe bees don't know stinging means dying, and that's why I'm wondering how long it takes for a bee to die after it stings someone. If he could have only lived long enough to see the doc call it, it might've been worth it to him. And Jeff was dead inside ten minutes, so it's not impossible. Nobody kills for nothing, so I guess by that logic, nobody gets killed for nothing either.

 

-o-

 

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