Penguin Girl

First: I hope to next post on Sunday night.
Second: I just upgraded to wordpress 2.5. It’s different and I’ve not thoroughly tested everything.
Third: This will be brief, which makes me sad because there are things I’d like to explain. I have a scary large list to accomplish today.

This shabbat is Pesach. There is a special Torah reading, but we break from the normal weekly reading schedule and read a different selection for the holiday. Next week we will return to the order and read Parshat Kedoshim. My pesach is pretty enjoyable considering the other stresses I have experienced this week. I was a little over ambitious about what I thought I’d make to eat all week (considering I wasn’t home two nights), but it hasn’t been too bad.

On the seventh day of pesach we read Shir HaShirim, “Song of Songs”, which is very emotional and allegorical.

From the second night of Pesach we count the omer. We count until we reach forty-night which leads to Shavuot and the giving of the Torah on Har [mount] Sinai.

I’ll try to be back Sunday night with even more completed books. Then I hope to be back on the “normal” schedule until Shavuot (which is a Monday and Tuesday).

שׁבּת שׁלום and chag sameach.

[Next post will be, bli neder, the evening of Monday the 21st, otherwise I’ll be next posting on Thursday the 24th.]

This shabbat we read Vayikra (Leviticus) 16:1-18:30

Though I’m sure most (myself included) are more focused on what commences immediately following this Shabbat (aka Shabbat hagadol, the “big shabbat before passover). I’ve been very concerned about editing, cleaning, and buying of food (and honestly knitting of new shawl) that haven’t haven’t yet found much time for this week’s parshah.

Here are some links to help out with either this parshah or other things:

- parshah in a nutshell
- Death of a Salesman
- What’s Bothering Rashi?

May you have a safe and happy & healthy & kosher pesach.

I leave you with this.

שׁבּת שׁלום

This week we read Parshah Metzora, found in Vayikra (Leviticus) 14:1-15:33. The haftorah portion is II Kings 7:3-20.

Both texts this week concern those (people or things) in ritual impurity. The Torah describes how purification can be achieved while the haftorah looks into how four lepers reacted and the consequences to their actions.

For more information

.. on the Torah reading:
- full text
- nutshell
- commentaries: aishdas compilation (pdf)

.. on the haftorah:
- full text
- commentary: better than a donkey’s head
- commentary: Virtually There: Thoughts on the Haftarah for Tazria-Metzora: II Kings 7:3-20

.. Of shoes–and ships–and sealing-wax—Of cabbages–and kings–*:
- walk on the wild side
- passover and great story telling
- the wine collection
- dirt is not chometz.

* full text available here (and elsewhere)

שׁבּת שׁלום

Today is Purim. Yay! This morning we read Megillah Esther again and also partake of a festive meal before mid-day (which isn’t necessarily the same as noon) as it’s erev shabbat and that makes things a little more complicated than “normal” (an opinion, [doesn’t play nice in firefox]). In lieu of Mishloach Manot, I am donating additional tzeddekah this year. I will fulfil the mishloach manot obligation but I’m not sending out trillions of packages. It’s silly and since most of us have more than enough, a waste.

This week we learn Parshah Tzav, Vayikra (Leviticus) 6:1-8:36. As we’re still in learning all of the things a Cohen must do, in this parshah we continue to learn about the korbanot and that the fire (aish) must always be kept burning. After spending seven days in the sanctuary, Moses annoints Aaron and his sons into the priesthood.

Don’t hurt me, but Pesach is coming. Starting 30 days before Pesach we start to review the laws regarding this holiday. A schedule from 2005 may be found here and here.

A Freilechen Purim!

שׁבּת שׁלום

I’m still low on the word (and spoon) count.

This week we learn Parshah Pekudei, Sh’mot (Exodus) 38:21-40:38.

I don’t have much more than that for you at the moment. I think I’ve linked to enough places in the past that if you wish to delve deeper, you know where to look.

I’ve recently begun listening to a podcast based on a lecture series, Afterwords out of the Skirball Center. The few I’ve listened to so far are quite interesting and enjoyable. I hope one day soon to be able to attend in person.

This is the month of Adar and it is supposed to be one of joy and simchas and general merry making. I think the only way I can succeed in that task is if I ignore what is going on in the world beyond me (and ignore a large portion of myself). To this I have no real answers, but if you find my reading list suddenly jumps back into the world of fantasy and make believe, that is why.

I am, however, about to curl up with Me’Am Loez, the Book of Ester in preparation for Purim. It is an English translation by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan zt’l and the copy I borrowed from my Uni library was published by the Maznaim Publishing Corporation. I must express general unfamiliarity with this commentary, but have found a few articles (and read the introduction to my volume) which have further raised my curiosity. One such article may be found here.

שׁבּת שׁלום

This week we read parshat Vayakhel, found at Shm’ot (Exodus) 35:1-38:20. In this parshah we are reminded of the commandment to observe Shabbat and are given the instructions to build the mishkan. Because so much is donated, Moses must tell people to stop. (summary, text with Rashi.)

Hmm… sounds a bit like knitters …

I am mostly caught up on Nach Yomi. Why do I say mostly? I have learned on my own the Nach, and am very slowly catching up on the podcasts. I’ve listened through the shiurim on Shmuel that i successfully downloaded and am about to commence on Melachim. Wow. I’ve missed a good deal learning on my own and studying with the little bit of the commentators I can. I’ve greatly enjoyed the ‘lecturers’ I’ve learned from and am very pleased to have this opportunity to delve into Nach. I asked E if he had ever done this sort of learning for Nach and he replied that he hadn’t. I continue to have iTunes download issues, but I think it’s me (they download eventually).

Purim is coming! [chabad, ou, aish]

Which also means that Pesach is coming (and the stores will be stocked with foods I can easily eat!)

שׁבּת שׁלום