As the Fish Turns

Services were almost bearable today. Long, of course, but that's to be expected. The sermon was good, for once, talking about how to cope in times of crisis. The rabbi told a Talmudic story to set the sermon up that actually made sense: a ship has been lost at sea for many days, and they are about to give up hope when they see what looks like an barren island; they land on it, thankful to be on dry land, and light a fire, planning to stay for a day and then leave; suddenly, the island shifts, tossing all and sundry into the water; the land was actually a giant fish, which had been resting at the surface but was disturbed by the fire on its back; the crew survives because they were able to reach their ship in time. The rabbi went on to explain that the turning fish is a metaphor for life's unexpected challenges: natural disasters, loss of jobs, deaths of loved ones, etc, and then went on to get religious on it. The basic message was to prepare for disaster in three ways: put your faith in God, allow others to help you, and help others so you are seen as a person worth helping. Minus the God message a generally good plan.

Continuing on a Jewish vein, I'm going to have a moment of religious thought: to all who read this, please forgive me for any cruel/thoughtless/rude I have done to you during the past year. According to Jewish law, the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are to be spent in reflection over the past year, including tying up any loose ends and making amends for mistakes made. We're supposed to ask people for forgivness for anything we might have done to them and if they refuse three times, we are forgiven by God because we've made an effort. I don't really believe that God is sitting up there keeping track, but I'd like to know that I've been forgiven for stupid things I've done, rather than letting them fester. I'd like to know if you have forgiven me, but it's not a huge deal, as long as you have.

( Quizlet )

As the Fish Turns

Services were almost bearable today. Long, of course, but that's to be expected. The sermon was good, for once, talking about how to cope in times of crisis. The rabbi told a Talmudic story to set the sermon up that actually made sense: a ship has been lost at sea for many days, and they are about to give up hope when they see what looks like an barren island; they land on it, thankful to be on dry land, and light a fire, planning to stay for a day and then leave; suddenly, the island shifts, tossing all and sundry into the water; the land was actually a giant fish, which had been resting at the surface but was disturbed by the fire on its back; the crew survives because they were able to reach their ship in time. The rabbi went on to explain that the turning fish is a metaphor for life's unexpected challenges: natural disasters, loss of jobs, deaths of loved ones, etc, and then went on to get religious on it. The basic message was to prepare for disaster in three ways: put your faith in God, allow others to help you, and help others so you are seen as a person worth helping. Minus the God message a generally good plan.

Continuing on a Jewish vein, I'm going to have a moment of religious thought: to all who read this, please forgive me for any cruel/thoughtless/rude I have done to you during the past year. According to Jewish law, the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are to be spent in reflection over the past year, including tying up any loose ends and making amends for mistakes made. We're supposed to ask people for forgivness for anything we might have done to them and if they refuse three times, we are forgiven by God because we've made an effort. I don't really believe that God is sitting up there keeping track, but I'd like to know that I've been forgiven for stupid things I've done, rather than letting them fester. I'd like to know if you have forgiven me, but it's not a huge deal, as long as you have.

( Quizlet )