Making A Way

Interest in Judaism has been growing in the African continent for a while now.  There are those who want it and there are those who just want to want it.  Either way, many are thinking about it.

For those who seem decidedly interested, I have created a magazine called Making A Way.

This publication will serve many purposes: 

1.) It will keep all the communities aware of the other one. Bringing them closer.

2.) Help them to exchange ideas and resources.

3.) Bring an awareness and exposure of the African communities to the greater mainstream Jewish communities.

4.) Show the fascinating and creative ways the African communities manage in order to do mitzvoth.

In addition, sadly, many other groups will come an try to dissuade these communities from their goal. As they wait the long wait for the Rabbanut to actually have a functioning branch that will deal with their cases and/or as they wait for an orthodox rabbi who will be interested in helping them, some get discouraged.  Since Judaism is not a "prosyletizing religion" there is not much we can do for them --and they were probably meant to go in the path that they chose. 

But for those who want to hold on, hopefully this magazine will give them a handle in which to hold on to, and hopefully the exposure will bring about more help for them.

Please join me and support this cause.  To donate for this magazine and /or to receive a copy please email me at nevemiriam@yahoo.com.

Thank you & Shana tova!

Pieces and Parts

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There is a very interesting phenomenon that goes on in my life. Whenever I work on my book, or whenever I am trying to achieve something, I get this major depression that sets in. Its as if I have to cut through very thick air to accomplish something, or like I am going against something to accomplish what G-d willing, needs accomplishing.

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I try not to get too angry, but when I unfortunately do, its interesting to note how I see things. I don't see the person I'm upset at, I don't even see a whole room. Somehow, my vision gets skewed and I only see parts. For example, if I'm really upset at someone, then I'll only see part of his lips, or a quarter of his face or something.

When I walk away from an argument, I see a piece of the doorway or part of a furniture. Its really strange. Its like if my vision has become really really narrow!!

Does anyone else go through that?

Why can't I handle seeing a whole thing?
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When I get depressed, I see things in an even more narrow way. Any stimulation is too much stimulation. I don't want to see, I don't want to hear; my senses get deadened and all I want to do is hide under the covers and block out the world.

It gets to be too much to handle.


But why is it so hard to accomplish things? Why do I have to slice and dice thick air, lift up some heavy burden, why do all the stimuli become overwhelming?

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There is a teaching in Breslov Judaism that when someone is depressed, their soul got attached to souls in hell. Its as if the person becomes a navy seal sent down to hell. Her mission: to rescue souls. There, souls are attracted to this person and attach themselves to her. She then has the task of lifting whoever can be lifted out of their misery. As she goes upwards and out of hell (i.e. as she struggles through her depression to accomplish things anyway), she is carrying a really heavy burden spiritually. No one wants to be left behind.

Eventually, she makes it out and the freed souls are disbursed. She is out of the depression.

If this is the case, then I wonder if I free some of those who wanted to do good but was too afraid -and died still afraid; some of those who wanted to create good, diverse, kosher childrens' books but didn't have the means. or the boldness; some of those who wanted to do good for humanity but was cut short, and/or whoever else meant to be freed....