Weirdness

At 1:38 this morning there was a random down pour. It lasted for about 6 minutes. And then it was done.

That is about half the time it takes to get from P'Ro to Westwood at night.

I questioned whether it was the twilight zone.

then i realized it was just LA

Fascinating

Someone was on the Columbia U server and did a google search on "helping a friend get over a break up"...it connected the person to my dvar torah. Who are you?
I love technology and how I can see how people get to my blog etc. I
can even tell what type of web browser is being used and what your
screen size is. Intense, huh? Any questions?
Right - so that means I know that Rachel has checked my blog some dozen times since Saturday because she desperately wants me to talk about her in my blog.
Alexandria, VA. You know I know it's you. Rye NY is my mom. Alicia is
White Plains NY. Emily is New York on the rr.com server. I think HUC Emily is my Cincinnati hit - and the brooklyn apartment comes up at Jamaica, NY. Once Hadassah came up - I dont know who knows the blog from there. And randomly other countries come up when people randomly end up at the blog when I've just updated.

Go to the bottom of my blog - click on sitemeter. i think you guys can all see it too. It's amazing.

I wish...

Sometimes I wish that people could get a day, or even just an hour, to feel what it's like to have my brain and its over-activity.
That would be amazing. Because then maybe people would get me just a little bit more. Just a little bit.

Parsha Yitro

I have the (un)fortunate privilege of having my HUC obligations in back to back weeks. Today I get to read Torah (if you recall last Monday I gave my Dvar Torah)

The parsha is a pretty exciting one - it's where we receive the 10 Commandments. Fortunately, no one bothered to deal with that this week at HUC. Instead I am reading from the end of the parsha. The sermon is being given by a 4th year - I'm not sure what exactly she is talking about.

I've decided not to chant on account of my lack of desire to do the mating call of a dying cow. Regardless, I'm excited. I like reading Torah. In theory, it's an honor. But when you're assigned to it, it loses that excitement. And of course it means I have a reason to wear my tallis from Israel (i no longer wear a tallis or kippah - i think they are generally a load of shit but I know I have to play the part sometimes). I asked my gabbai (the person who makes sure I get my words and vowels right) if i really had to "parade around with the Torah so everyone can worship and kiss it like the idol it is." He laughed. And said I did. Thursday is usually a big service - all the faculty make their way in - the 4th and 5th year sermons are the biggies. Dammit. I have to behave. I even have to bow with the Torah toward the ark. Hmph. Monotheism my ASS.

Anyway. This is the Hebrew and English of what I'm reading - for your own edumacation and entertainment.

translation from Aryeh Kaplan bible.ort.org
Exodus
18:21 'But you must [also] seek out from among all the people capable, God-fearing men - men of truth, who hate injustice. You must then appoint them over [the people] as leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, and leaders of tens.
18:22 'Let them administer justice for the people on a regular basis. Of course, they will have to bring every major case to you, but they can judge the minor cases by themselves. They will then share the burden, making things easier for you.
18:23 If you agree to this, and God concurs, you will be able to survive. This entire nation will then also be able to attain its goal of peace.'
18:24 Moses took his father-in-law's advice, and did all that he said.
18:25 He chose capable men from all Israel, and he appointed them as administrators over the people, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, and leaders of tens.
18:26 They administered justice on a regular basis, bringing the difficult cases to Moses, and judging the simple cases by themselves.
18:27 Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his homeland.

ואתה תחזה מכל העם אנשי חיל יראי אלהים אנשי אמת שנאי בצע ושמת עלהם שרי אלפים שרי מאות שרי חמשים ושרי עשרת׃ושפטו את העם בכל עת והיה כל הדבר הגדל יביאו אליך וכל הדבר הקטן ישפטו הם והקל מעליך ונשאו אתך׃אם את הדבר הזה תעשה וצוך אלהים ויכלת עמד וגם כל העם הזה על מקמו יבא בשלום׃וישמע משה לקול חתנו ויעש כל אשר אמר׃ויבחר משה אנשי חיל מכל ישראל ויתן אתם ראשים על העם שרי אלפים שרי מאות שרי חמשים ושרי עשרת׃ושפטו את העם בכל עת את הדבר הקשה יביאון אל משה וכל הדבר הקטן ישפוטו הם׃וישלח משה את חתנו וילך לו אל ארצו׃

hahahaha

For your entertainment...

Speaking of the car wash

apropos asher's experience... i finally took Pepe to get a cleaning. He was dirty - I hadnt cleaned him since Yom Kippur (what I had extra time before I had to be at the synagogue, figured i would cleanse the car along with my blah blah blah)

i went to one of those do it yourself places like in carlisle. they are my favorite. i had fun.
it meant i got to see how banged up my car is. very. i think it's been more abused in LA than it had been in the first 3 years of its life.

Praying

I went to services last night at Ikar. I had been hearing about it since I got here. It's a small community that was created a few years ago. The rabbi worked at BJ in NY for a few years. They are very liberal, use the conservative prayerbook and are very into social issues.
The service reminded me of BJ and Shira Chadash (israel). The space was really awkward, but I enjoyed it at the same time. There were people from all sorts of parts of my life. A variety of HUC people, someone from work, and someone who i knew through other people. Such a strange Jewish community that exists here.

I really liked the extensive Hebrew usage - as would a conservative synagogue have. They did Psalm 29 so I smiled. and we sang. the little kids danced.


it was interesting, to say the least. times like those remind me why i hate the reform service. but then i remember that most people dont know what they are saying in the hebrew, so i get frustrated.


For dinner we celebrated some Tu Bshvat. And i got v. drunk. And today for lunch I'm celebrating with another group of people. I dont expect to get drunk there. mmm alcohol. it makes the world go round.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach :)