Happy New Year VR
It's difficult to write about the festivals of the Jewish calendar in the English language. None of the available words seem to capture the mood of these landmarks in Jewish time. Holiday? Too frivolous. Holy Day? Too somber. Festival? Better, but still not quite the right word. The Hebrew phrase Yom Tov literally and blandly translates as "good day." How, indeed, to describe the blend of reverence and revelry, seriousness and exuberance, liturgy and lokshen kugel that is the Jewish festival?
In particular, the first festival of the year, Rosh Hashanah, seems to fit no familiar mold. It is the day on which we tremulously submit to the divine sovereignty and crown G-d as our king, but as the Chassidic masters point out, a coronation is always a festive event, with bands playing in the streets and crowds picnicking in the parks and fields. It is the day on which we stand in judgment before G-d, the day on which the Heavenly Court rules "who shall live and who shall die...who shall be impoverished and who shall be enriched... who shall fall and who shall rise"; but also the day on which we "eat lush foods and drink sweets... for the joy of the Eternal is your strength." The Talmud offers the image of a person coming to court where a life-or-death verdict will be handed down on him, but he is dressed in white and has a feast awaiting him at home, confident that he will triumph in his trial.
With all the changes that VR has undergone of late there is a positive buzz about the place. Members are actively playing with their profiles and incorporating the new skins etc which is a pleasure to see.
I am pleased for this distraction as I personally felt it needed an airing, I thought the site was becoming a little too dark and not from its nature but instead by the doom and gloom that I was seeing and reading about in the journals.
I love reading journals as I do feel you make a better contact with the writer through their words, it’s personal and a great way to bond.
Life is not always a bed of roses but I do hope it stays a little more positive.
COMMENTS
I agree. This has been a wonderful change!
Look, I have'nt moaned about Slick for a few days...what more do ya want, a fluffy bunny and a chuffing rainbow ???
Amen!
Croatia, the brats of Europe who were earmarked to do well in the world cup were put in their place by what I thought was a very average performance from England.
Qualifying made easy!!
England 5 Croatia 1
Not content with the spectrum of the rainbow we do like to come up with weird and wonderful colours for things.... todays colour is plum.
Changing the subject somewhat. A friend of mine is going through a rough patch with his home life.
She gets all 'historical' he tells me. I of course correct him by saying ''you mean hysterical''..
no, 'historical' he'll retort ... she keeps bringing up the past. I had to giggle.
COMMENTS
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Xzavier
10:53 Sep 19 2009
I know this isn't exactly related to the holiday exactly but I actually do wish Christians still followed the rules when it comes to the name, mentioning, writing of God..well G-d. Yeah I know (for us at least) he's a very personal being, one whom we respect but at the same time wouldn't mind going to a football game with (minus the flesh melting light n all) but still something just seems *right* about keeping his name from such flawed and worldly words.
Thanks for the info :)