I just watched this movie. Its a pretty standard movie. A young Irish woman immigrates the the United States in the 1950's. Family tragedy has her return home and at some point she has to decide where her home really is. It really made me think. When a person grows up somewhere it is one's home. One can leave and make another home but when does it become one's true home? I suppose for most its when one finds love and makes a family in that new home that that new home becomes home. What else can make the new home one's real home? This of course is the question I grapple with on a daily basis. I guess my struggle becomes the answer to the question.
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Yichus
Facebook stalking old acquaintances is always fun but often disappointing. Or as Forrest Gump would say its like a box of chocolates, you never know what you will get. This round of Facebook stalking was not different.
I recently stalked a previous teacher/rabbi in my old community. Or more correctly I stalked his children. After my stalking I came up with this. The rabbi has recently passed away and only one of his children is as frum as she was brought up to be as often this happens in families. Its just more stark when it happens to a rabbi's family. And not only are some of the children not frum they are not necessarily such great people either .
I come from a lovely family. We are not rich, but we are good people. (I am totally unbiased of course). My point is no matter how well connected a head start one has it does not always predict the future. As the Yiddish saying goes (in my English translation) man plans and G-d laughs. We do the best we can and though some people have clear advantages in life , it does not mean that these advantages will be taken advantage of. I always thought this without being able to cite people that I know as visual aids, but sometimes it helps me feel more smug as I should not feel. No one asks for the family one grows up in . Usually what one sees from the outside is very different from what goes on in reality. The other thing is we all have personal choices to make and even if our parents are wonderful and show us the best way to be and give us the best feeling about yiddishkeit anyone could. Kids are people and they make their own choices and have their own personalities.
Everybody had to find their place in life no matter what yichus one may or may not have. One should be proud and grateful for one's family no matter how average or typical they are. As it turns out being of "average " stock might be the best thing ever. It does not make you cocky or make you feel like you have too many unrealistic expectations to live up to. Turns out many who grew up with "yichus" might really have preferred not too have so much yichus.
I recently stalked a previous teacher/rabbi in my old community. Or more correctly I stalked his children. After my stalking I came up with this. The rabbi has recently passed away and only one of his children is as frum as she was brought up to be as often this happens in families. Its just more stark when it happens to a rabbi's family. And not only are some of the children not frum they are not necessarily such great people either .
I come from a lovely family. We are not rich, but we are good people. (I am totally unbiased of course). My point is no matter how well connected a head start one has it does not always predict the future. As the Yiddish saying goes (in my English translation) man plans and G-d laughs. We do the best we can and though some people have clear advantages in life , it does not mean that these advantages will be taken advantage of. I always thought this without being able to cite people that I know as visual aids, but sometimes it helps me feel more smug as I should not feel. No one asks for the family one grows up in . Usually what one sees from the outside is very different from what goes on in reality. The other thing is we all have personal choices to make and even if our parents are wonderful and show us the best way to be and give us the best feeling about yiddishkeit anyone could. Kids are people and they make their own choices and have their own personalities.
Everybody had to find their place in life no matter what yichus one may or may not have. One should be proud and grateful for one's family no matter how average or typical they are. As it turns out being of "average " stock might be the best thing ever. It does not make you cocky or make you feel like you have too many unrealistic expectations to live up to. Turns out many who grew up with "yichus" might really have preferred not too have so much yichus.
Friday, October 21, 2016
Yonina - Modé ani (live)
This is another adorable video from my favorite Israeli couple. Enjoy. Have a great Shabbos.
BAD HOMBRES, NASTY WOMEN (ft. "Weird Al" Yankovic)- Songify 2016!
The only positive part of this election cycle are the parodies. I have always loved Weird Al's parodies and this one is no exception. I think that no matter which candidate you prefer, Weird Al's spoof hits the mark. Enjoy!
יונינה- אין עוד מלבדו ~ Yonina- Ein Od Milvado
This is the sweetest couple. I really enjoy their videos. I know there is the question about kol isha, issue, but I hope they aren't hassled too much about it because their videos are so cute and so inspiring. They are such a beautiful Jewish family and their music is so special. I am looking forward to hearing more from them.
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Lama Suka Zu?
I remember singing this song in school but I did not remember the words . I think that I was taught a slightly different version than this. No matter, this is still good for nostalgia. If you haven't heard it before, enjoy! Chag sameach!!
Monday, October 10, 2016
Trump Clinton singing Time of my life (LuckyTV)
This is just the most amazing video. Its genius. Trump and Clinton are having the time of their lives mud slinging at the presidential debates. To call it dirty dancing would not be a stretch. I love the soundtrack from DIRTY DANCING and I wish that the debates and this whole election would be as much fun. I thank the person who put together this video. They get my vote.
Historic Mayhem
I only watched the last question of the presidential debate tonight. It is a question that I would not expect to be asked of candidates in an American election. The question being "After all the mud slinging this evening, is there anything nice either of you can say about your opponent? " What a sad state of affairs when we have two candidates for commander in chief of the United States and it has come down to this. There is a book called I LEARNED EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW IN KINDERGARTEN. Well, I think that the future president of the United States needs to read that book stat.
I admit that I haven't watched a presidential debate since I was in high school and that the only breaking news story that I wasn't pissed about interrupting a soap opera was the Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill hearings. This is a close second. I would enjoy it more if it really was a soap opera.
When I am not putting my head in the sand when the November elections are mentioned I think about how every presidential election since the Gore - Bush election has been bizarre and I wonder in what way the election could be any odder than the current one. Each presidential election over the past 15 years I have thought this and unfortunately each election surpassed my imagination for being more preposterous than the last.
In November 2001 I went to sleep election night after it was announced that Gore was declared president. When I got up in the morning the newscasters announced that it was still too close to call. Say what? That NEVER had happened before. Okay, I wasn't surprised that Bush made a second term after stealing the 2000 election.
In 2008 Obama came out of nowhere and beat Hilary Clinton for the nomination of President . In 2012 he got a second term .
And that brings us to today. I may have preferred Hilary Clinton as a candidate in 2008, but a lot has happened between now and then. Donald Trump became the Republican candidate which has made this campaign seem more and more like high school student council elections. Ronald Reagan was an actor, but Donald Trump is a reality tv star. What I would like to know is whose reality is he living ?
As Yom Kippur is coming closer I think that there has never been more incentive to pray for our future. I ask you Hashem why is it that people always seem to need to have such strong incentive before we realize that the future really is in Your hands? We need to do our best but we are not in control, You are.
I admit that I haven't watched a presidential debate since I was in high school and that the only breaking news story that I wasn't pissed about interrupting a soap opera was the Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill hearings. This is a close second. I would enjoy it more if it really was a soap opera.
When I am not putting my head in the sand when the November elections are mentioned I think about how every presidential election since the Gore - Bush election has been bizarre and I wonder in what way the election could be any odder than the current one. Each presidential election over the past 15 years I have thought this and unfortunately each election surpassed my imagination for being more preposterous than the last.
In November 2001 I went to sleep election night after it was announced that Gore was declared president. When I got up in the morning the newscasters announced that it was still too close to call. Say what? That NEVER had happened before. Okay, I wasn't surprised that Bush made a second term after stealing the 2000 election.
In 2008 Obama came out of nowhere and beat Hilary Clinton for the nomination of President . In 2012 he got a second term .
And that brings us to today. I may have preferred Hilary Clinton as a candidate in 2008, but a lot has happened between now and then. Donald Trump became the Republican candidate which has made this campaign seem more and more like high school student council elections. Ronald Reagan was an actor, but Donald Trump is a reality tv star. What I would like to know is whose reality is he living ?
As Yom Kippur is coming closer I think that there has never been more incentive to pray for our future. I ask you Hashem why is it that people always seem to need to have such strong incentive before we realize that the future really is in Your hands? We need to do our best but we are not in control, You are.
Sunday, October 9, 2016
THE CAMPAIGN CONTINUES
Every presidential election seems like the craziest election ever. This election cycle is no exception. Some people are going overboard with their candidate support. Some aren't talking to people that they used to be good friends with just because they do not support their favorite candidate. This is utterly ridiculous. Support whoever you prefer but none of these candidates are worth losing one's friends over.
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