Did You Look at the Sky Today?

Based on Rabbi Pape

Clouds over Highway 100

Sh'ma. It's just a small word, nothing special. We say it everyday 'when we wake up and when we lay down' with out fail, but do any of us truly know what it is, what these three little letters really mean?

Typically translated as 'hear', the more archaic 'hark' rings closer to the truth. Soo Maaraya Aynaichem. Three letters, three words. Lift up your eyes. The word itself holds so much meaning just on it's own, but when put in context, we see much more.

Sh'ma Yisroel, Hashem Elokainu, Hashem Echad. Lift up your eyes, Isreal, Hashem is G-d, Hashem is one.

On the surface the words tell us the same as they do if translated the traditional way. But if we looking deeper there is a stronger message. Lift up your eyes, Israel. See the wonders of the world, the sun, the moon the clouds. Be awed by the beauty that is contained with in them, but know Hashem is G-d. Hashem is One, it is His greatness you are seeing. He alone has the power to create such things, and with out Him and His infinite kindness none of it(including us) would exist.

Hypothetically...

May one go back in time and kill Hitler before the war?

If we were to throw out all SpaceTime Continuum issues, the question is doubly potent.

What is This Thing?

There is this amazing thing they have here in New York. There is a period of a few months where, for some reason, the weather takes a turn for the unexpected and pops out the most peculiar temperatures. These temperatures range anywhere from Winter to Construction When It's Really Warm, to Construction of Wow That's Hot. I'm told this is called 'Spring'. It's rather fascinating.

Don't cross in the middle, in the middle in the middle of the street.

Well, there I was, standing on the corner waiting for the light to change when someone walking past told me I could cross.
A gesture at the red LED hand on the monster, if you could call it that.
"Oh, they don't enforce that here in New York City, go ahead."
Stares I, aghast at the man. "But, you're a cop!"
A slight shrug.
"That's just wrong. On so many levels. Oh that is just wrong."
He shrugged again and continued on his way as I stood and waited for the light. When the light changed, I crossed and continued on my way, looking every so often across the street at Officer Paccolli with a shocked expression. About half way down the block, I just couldn't help it.
"Let me ask you something." I called over to him.
He walked over. "Yeah?"
"If they didn't enforce murder in New York City, could I go around killing people?"

The conversation continued, and in the end he wondered if I was a lawyer of some sort.

The Journey is a Destination

It is interesting to watch people on the subway. Rushing to be sure not to miss the train and then standing impatiently on the side of the track as they wait for it to finally come. And then, when it does there is the mad pushing to get on and grab a seat. Fast as can be the eyes glaze over and the world is tuned out either through headphones, sleep or just drifting off. I'll admit I do it myself sometimes, listing to my headphones, sometimes you just crave music.

I can't help but wonder what these people are thinking as the sit there on the train, rushing from Point A to Point B. It's not only on the trains though, it's everywhere. When people walk, drive and fly. All of it, it seems so much of the time that there is a sense of Null Time when one travels from A to B.

But that is not the case. There is Time. More then Time there is Beauty, People, Things. Riding on the bus does not have to be time used to study, but one can look out the window, or at the people and see the wonder of the world, and He that created it. Just going somewhere is a destination of it's own.

A Knittyish Post

Last night during Intermission of the production, whilst scrambling around to change I discovered, much to my annoyance, one of my purple paper clips had fallen off my needle. Well, everyone of course thought I was crazy as I went off searching for a purple paper clip. They did not understand, all but one women who was part of an event in the next room. She understood my plight of having to use a blue paper clip.

You see, rather then buy spendy stitch markers, I opt for the equally pretty multicoloured paper clips, which work just as well if not better, Not only are they less expensive, but they are disposable as well. Well, I hear you say, if they are so disposable, what was with the fretting? I'll tell you. I was at production, and only on stage for a short period of time, which means, KNITTING! That and I was to knit in one of the scenes, anyway. Now, I could just go and grab a new purple paper clip from my iPod Case-O-Knitting, however, there were none. I used the blue one, but as soon as I got home switched it for a purple one. All is right with the world again.

Back to the women who didn't think I was crazy. A fellow knitter! Usernames were exchanged, and I am now in touch with her, and hopefully through here some other locals. Wooo.

And now! What you have all been waiting for! ...Yeah, not feeling *that* dramatic, it's really not that exciting. Let me tell you about the Candle Flame Shawl.

I started over again. Now, before y'all gasp and flail, breath. It's no big, really. I know you probably don't believe me, due to my last post on the subject, but it's the truth. I think the reason I was so frustrated before was not the fact of my work being for naught, because really, I don't feel that it was, rather it was that I was attempting to learn all the new stitches, the maths of them and could not get it to work. However, now that I understand it and it works, It doesn't bother me that I need to go back. I was only one and a half repeats in anyway. As well, I wasn't so happy with the whole border thing, it looked odd to me, so I edited it a bit. Much happier now.

We Raise Up Our Voices, the Whole World Rejoices

There is an amazing thing about Shabbos that really can not be defined. They day has a peaceful presents to it which seems to penetrate to the core of being. It is more than just a day of rest, of not doing anything. There is a healing and restorative power to this great day.

Often the week leaves a person stressed and altogether not themselves, and up until the moment of licht the feelings remain, but once it is licht, Peace and another unnamed thing wash over leaving one clear and whole again. By the time the day is over, there is nothing left of that harshness that was. Sometimes, it only lasts for the day and once havdala is said the feelings are back, but more often the calmness and clarity last.

It does not always work this way, but when it does, it is truly amazing, the best gift of all.