Reminder: next book club meeting on 12/19 to discuss Miriam’s Kitchen

Reminder: next book club meeting on 12/19 to discuss Miriam’s Kitchen

Spa Day-Making it Jewish – Part 1.

A couple of Sundays ago, Or Ahavah indulged in Spa and Schmooze Day.  Our very own Dr. Phil  talked about skin care and answed our many questions.  Two masseuses and a facialist offered spa treatments that were awesome and reasonably priced.  As we were waiting our turn on the spa table and chair, many of us gathered around a table filled with healthy but tasty food and drink offerings.  “What makes this Jewish,” I asked, and someone quipped “eating good food!”  I agree that enjoying and sharing Jewish-style food with others is a way of experiencing Jewish identity, but I wanted something more Read more →

Our next three Book Club meetings

Our next three Book Club meetings are:

1. Thursday, 12/19 to discuss “Miriam’s Kitchen” by Elizabeth Ehrlich
2. Thursday, 1/30 — to discuss “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak, Reading Guide available at: http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides_b/book_thief1.asp
3. Thursday, 2/20 — to discuss “In the Garden of the Beast” by Erik Larsen

There is a great resource for selecting books for our club. Go to:
http://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/bookclub

All meetings are free and open to the public. You do not have to be a member of Or Ahavah to join the Book Club!

For further information, contact Bonnie at 813.374.0833.

Chayeh Sarah

Chayeh Sarah, The Lifeeath of Sarah, is the name of an entire Parsha of Torah, yet the summary of her life span is captured in only two lines. “Sarah died….” we are told, written like a press release of the who and where, but without any mention as to from what. Rabbi Jose picks up a hint from the order of information, and says that Sarah “died from grief” thinking that her son Isaac had been sacrificed.*

Was Sarah alone in her suffering that was so debilitating that it took her life? Abraham came to mourn for Sarah says the Torah. From where? ask the rabbis, and again Rabbi Jose answers saying that Abraham came from Mount Moriah, where the binding of Isaac took place In the rabbi’s imagination, not only did Sarah’s grief drain her life, she endured it without her spouse and the father of her child. Perhaps, she was entirely alone. Read more →

Reflection on Yom Kippur

For Or Ahavah, Yom Kippur is a time to retreat from the noise and demands of our everyday lives. We immerse ourselves in a place of nature and quiet where we do the deep spiritual work of the holiday. We observe the five fasts, abstaining from nourishment, leather shoes, sexual relations, bathing and anointing to the extent that each of us is able.

And for all of this, our withdrawal and our fasts, we receive a sacred gift on Yom Kippur. Our fasting does not take anything away from us. We, in a sense, loosen from our bodies and from the world of physicality and become very very sensitive to the movement and callings from our hearts and our souls. Read more →