Finding My Place

I am happy that I am slowly finding my place in the world -- 

I am finding that there are many individual groups and people all concerned and trying to help the communities in Africa who are interested in Judaism.  Somehow I feel like that is my "work."

I used to do more, but since my own family life fell apart, I kind of slithered into oblivion; shutting down my blog as you probably saw and not being very active in social media.  Not even being very active in real life.

L'ag b'omer two years ago will always be a memorable time.  It was the time when everything that was hanging precariously all fell apart.  Social workers, police, all kinds of everything was involved that day. One minute it was a regular day, we had guests coming for Shabbat, we were preparing the house, cleaning, I had just come back from picking up some of the kids from their school and the next minute.....

Next thing I knew the kids and I were on a bus heading for Jerusalem by order of the social welfare department.  It was never the same after that.

One day, I'll be more able to talk about it. But now I am glad to slowly make friends with others who are interested in helping all the various communities in Africa out.  

This is majorly exciting for me!!

The downside is that sometimes they have to go into unchartered territory. Our dear Harry Rosenberg is going to be pitted against Brother Polight, a conscious "brother" in a debate this coming Monday night.

Not sure the purpose of the debate except maybe to bring attention to Harry for the AFr. Amer. community.  And the purpose of that, I think?? is in case there are those who are interested in Judaism but don't know where to go, Harry will be a beacon perhaps.

Anyway, it's all nervewrecking lol.

My Song for Today...(And Days to Come...)

No, i'm not walking away from Judaism. I trust Hashem and the Torah is true.  But socially speaking... I want to think on it...

Over Coming Insecurity

From wikipedia: Emotional insecurity is a feeling of general unease or nervousness that may be triggered by perceiving of oneself to be vulnerable in some way, or a sense of vulnerability or instability which threatens one's self-image or ego.

I think one big stumbling block for many Black Jews and others as well, is the insecurity factor.  The fear that people will out them and treat them badly because they are different when in a mostly (and sometimes only) white Jewish setting. White Jews have insecurities as well -y'all can't hide it neither! lol.

But how do we overcome this? Particularly for Black Jews, because very often their worries are valid. 

I remember once my guard was down and I was speaking with a friend.  Because I couldn't think of a more appropriate word, I used the word, "obfuscate".   Ohh! Everything changed! He looked at me and made a big noise, "oooh! you know that word! three syllables!" and on and on he went. It was as if I was not suppose to know this word and if I did it was a big surprise (disturbance?). Such a big deal was made to last the next time I venture out of my "lowliness" to dare use such multisyllablic word.

If using such words causes such a ruckus, if using such words rocks the boat so much, how can a Black Jew even venture into discussing topics which require such words for convenience? Why is it seen as such a bad thing for a black person to sound.... intelligent?


to be continued...

Picture of the Day

A big burly scholar in the making?

too sweet!!!

He reminds me of  Reish Lakish.  A talmid Chacham (Torah scholar) back during the times of the Roman rule in Israel.  He used to be a gladiator before he became a Talmid Chacham.

Picture of the Day

Oprah prepares to make a show about Judaism.

Some Words of Torah by Black Mayor of NJ

Presenting Mayor Cory Booker

Star NFLer considering Judaism - Israel Culture, Ynetnews

Star NFLer considering Judaism - Israel Culture, Ynetnews

ooooh nice!

I hope this is not to crass to say, but based only on the hip hop cultures that I've seen, I hope someone is helping all the incoming BM into Judaism and teaching them the importance of guarding the brit.

Another Jewish Blog

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I discovered another interesting Jewish blog. The blogger has a Jewish mother and Muslim father.

The Arms of Moses

Its definitely about diversity and inclusion. Yay!

(((A business man comes home. A days work behind him. He quietly closes his doors and sits on his bed. Unveiling his day's profit, he lays them out on his bed and begins to count them anew...)))

If you love your blessings you count them and recount them. That which you love, you reflect upon. That said, let me re-count, anew, all these blogs. LOL!

So there's Hochma and Mussar, This is Babylon, Arms of Moses, and my own blog!

Praying to the She-God

I am so excited that I just got corrected and informed by a friend, Sephardi Sephari so I am rewritting this post a bit. Although God has no gender, when we pray we usually refer to Him as a He. In certain kabbalah prayers, God is referred to as Ima (which means "mother").

Why is He mostly referred to as male?

I can't answer for all religions, but from various tidbit facts that I know I suspect this: Male is usually connected to provider, giver, kindness. (Sort of like the traditional picture of the man providing for his family). Female is usually connected to receiver, defender, judge. Most times we don't want to appeal to the "judge" part of God, but rather the "provider" side.

Arousal from Below to Arousal from Above.

This is an interesting concept of praying -also known as the 'female waters' in kabbalah and getting a response: i.e. the masculine waters from Above.

Kind of like a girl who either cries (tears), kisses, or arouses other waters of appealing and the man responding. At times, the women is so beautiful (in deeds) that just her very presence 'arouses' the man to give.

Alot of kabbalah, I notice, have a lot of association to sexuality. I think that's what makes it not to proper for those who can't keep their pants up. lol

(Question to all readers: should I not post interesting stuff about Judaism? Does it make you uncomfortable? If so, please let me know and I'll leave it over at my other blog. Thanks.)