A Ray of Hope

היום ששה ושלשים יום, שהם חמשה שבועות ויום אחד, בעמר
Today is thirty-six days, which is five weeks and one day, of the omer
חסד שביסוד
A day of loving-kindness in a week of foundation

As we start this week of foundation, it feels like the foundation of this country is crumbling. Will the checks and balances built into our government system work, serve to support our democracy? Hard to say. Today's appointment of Robert Mueller as special counsel for the investigation into Russian influence on the 2016 presidential election and possible ties to the Trump campaign brings some hope.

As the saying goes....time will tell.....

Practicing Prayer, Voicing Fears

היום  אחד עשר יום שהם שבוע אחד וארבעה ימים בעמר
Today is eleven days--that is one week and four days--of the omer
נצח שבגבורה
A day of perseverance in a week of strength

The practice of prayer is often hard to connect with, especially when the words are in a language you can neither read nor understand. That is the challenge of Jewish prayer, which has been an integral part of my spiritual practice for more than 15 years. It is a process that involves work, continual work, navigating through the different layers at different moments. That is what makes it a lifetime practice, for it's a ever changing relationship.

Part of the liturgy of the Jewish morning prayer service is the psalm of the day--one more way we, as Jews, measure time. Each psalm can give an intention for each day as we move through the week. What that intention is, like many of our rituals, open to interpretation.

The psalms for Tuesday and Wednesday have spoken to me these past years, giving a voice to my fears for the world:

"How long will you judge unjustly, giving face to the wicked!"Psalm 82:2  

"How long, Adonai, will the wicked - the wicked exhalt!"Psalm 94:3

This year, those fears are intensified for this country, and remaining silent is not an option--we must all raise our voices with these words, or those of our own, to truly live the words that I grew up hearing, that I saw on the wall at Yad Vashem:

Donald Trump CANNOT be elected President of the United States

היום עשרה ימים שהם שבוע אחד ושלשה ימים בעמר
Today is ten days--that is one week and three days--of the omer
תפארת שבגבורה
A day of compassion in a week of strength

I'm not ready to spill it all out here, now. I have kept this blog clear so far of the election process--that will not last long. This is what I posted on Facebook today, to be heeded by anyone who comes by here as well.

Donald Trump CANNOT be elected President of the United States. Wherever you stand, please remember where you live. Keep working for your ideals, find ways to take a stand--that is the true American way, born out of revolution. There is a reason we have a three-pronged system, let's not lose site of needing the other legs as well. Because, above all---
Donald Trump CANNOT be elected President of the United States.


Yes....I'm very scared.........