Hi Gang,
Sorry I'm a bit late.
In keeping with our decision last shabbat, we are going to leap to the readings that were intended for August 25 and do them NOW, to discuss them on at the synagogue on the 18th. Here they are:
SOS - Chapter 8 (Shabbat); O and J - Chapter 4 (Entering Shabbat); Wolfson Chapter 11-12; Donin - Chapter 5.
Also, be reviewing the Kinzer CD on Shabbat liturgy between now and then. Our next session together will be all about Shabbat observance, and we will be doing at least as much practicing as discussing.
Also, between now and then, let's continue interacting on the previous blog post page about the readings of last week. I will be commenting there later today, and regularly until we meet.
Shalom.
Stuart
About Me
- Stuart Dauermann
- Brooklyn born, I have four degrees: two in music and two in Intercultural Studies. These areas of education correspond to my vocational history. I started out as a professional musician, then became a Jr. HS music teacher in the Holy Land [Brooklyn, NY], before becoming music director of a religious organization in the context of devoting myself to the task of interpreting Yeshua of Nazareth to the American Jewish context. I am known as "The Father of Messianic Jewish Music." I pursued an MA and PhD in Intercultural Studies, and am focused on developing credible Jewish communities that honor and embody Yeshua the Messiah in the context of covenant faithfulness, and to developing a mature Messianic Judaism. I have been married since 1975 to Naomi. We are parents of three children and the servants of too many pets. My dissertation, "The Rabbi as a Surrogate Priest," explores how the role of the congregational rabbi developed in Jewish life, incorporating functions formerly performed by priests and levites.
14 comments:
Thanks. I was reminded anew how valuable each of are to the Shabbat experience. A new friend, Ari Noonan, invited me to his Shabbes Mincha.
This was a kind gesture. Then he says, knowing I live out east, that the Rabbi would most certainly put me and my entire family up for the night so I could attend their minyan.
Now, I have known this man for just a few months on a professional level and I have never met the Rabbi. Even as I write this I am astounded at the level of courtesy and hospitality extended to Rachael and I.
Thanks to my involvement in this class, I am becoming better equipped to someday join Mr. Noonan's minyan someday.
Just a note to say the Glory of Shabbat grows as each of us fully participates.
I've just read Chapter 8 in SOS. The thing I find difficult in trying to observe Sabbat is to stop the planning and problem solving I do in my mind. It takes willpower to stop these thoughts and focus only on the things of God. I've been much more successful accomplishing this in the last few weeks and I find that it brings me to a place of peace that I don't want to leave. It's been taking me most of Sunday to emerge back into the "real world" and by Monday I'm back to my mental machinations.
Kathleen,
I can really relate to your comment. Sometimes I wake up in the morning on Shabbat and find myself thinking about work or some problem. Trying to train your mind to be shomer shabbat (guard the Sabbath)I think is the hardest part - far harder than simply not working or shopping,etc.
My word for the week is [i]mezuman[/i], the quorum of three during the Zimmun, in Wolfson.
I'm trying to make sense out of O&J emphasizing the double instruction to remember and guard the Sabbath, while simultaneously giving the example of someone who's sabbath "observance" of going to the gym and visiting a bookstore sounds like what I do on memorial day vacation. Major disconnect.
In Donin, he gives the source of "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath" as MELKHILTA, KI TISA;5. What is this?
I was also reading the Siddur, and found a part (Mishnah 1) that discusses Shabbat, and what things are and are not appropriate to use for wicks and fuels for the Sabbath light. My most specific question is, why is wax forbidden, and if wax is forbidden, why do we light wax candles? However, this whole section is confusing, because even though it starts off pretty simple, it grows increasingly confusing and contradictory. HELP!
Glad other people are posting again. It was echoing badly in here. LOL
I, too, found the example of the trip to the gym and bookstore as a very bizarre example of observing Shabbat. Rabbi, please comment on this one.
I just finished the Donin chapter on Shabbat and it explained everything very succinctly and answered all my questions. See you all tomorrow.
Tyler wrote to say he had to take his fiance to the hospital on Shabbat. Let's keep her in our prayers.
Is anyone else besides me feeling demoralized by the lack of participation in the blog?
This quote is from "Settings of Silver:"
"Shabbat is the most sacred of all holy days in the Jewish calander.
...only Shabbat is included in the ten commandments...it influences all of western culture...the seven-day week was established by Shabbat." Also, Muslims and Christians have patterned their sacred days after Shabbat, proving what an impact it has had on world culture and religions.
Considering Shabbat's worldwide influence and its steadfast endurance through thousands of years, what kind of implications could we draw from a spiritual symbolism of Shabbat regarding our Messiah?
I'll do more research and maybe be able to come up with an answer. However, if anyone else has any ideas, I'd love to hear them.
September 17, 2007
Hi Rabbi,
This is Marsha.
When Jewish people travel in outer space, how will they be able to calculate the time for Shabat and the other Jewish holy days?
Is the Birkat Hamazon said after each of the three meals of Shabbat?
My older sister taught me the blessing over the Shabbat candles when I was five years old. That was the first connection I had with Judaism. She taught it to me when we were walking down the street and, I never forgot it.
Shalom Rabbi,
This is Richard. Marsha's comment about her sister teaching Marsha the blessings over the Shabbat candles reminded when first observed Shabbat.
When I was 10 years old going on 11, my parents sent me to the Shlomo Bardeen-Brandeis Camp for the Summer in 1954. On Friday nights we would put on our suits and go to the dining, chant the blessing over the shabbat candles, the kiddush and the motzi and then eat the special shabbat meal.
Then on Saturday, we would wear our finest clothes, go to the dining hall, say the appropriate blessings eat a special meal and then attend Shabbat services.
All of the normal activities that campers usually pariticipate in at camp ceased. There was no horseback riding, sports, swimming, arts and crafts, going to the canteen, movies and etc. even Hebrew classes were not held.
We just rested on Shabbat. As far as I can remember, I was disoriented for the first two or three Shabbats at Brandeis. Things were just the opposite at home and at the non-Jewish cammp I stayed at before I went to Brandeis. Saturday was a normal day and Sunday was the rest day.
In the evening Ma'ariv services were conducted. Then Avdalah services were conducted. When we sang Eliahu Hanavi and Shavuah Tov to conclude Shabbat, there was a sweet but sad atmosphere as Shabbat ended.
My first observance of Shabbat was a completely new experience form me. I felt that I was in a different place and time. To me Shabbat at Brandeis exuded an unsual peaceful atmosphere.
Hello Rabbi,
This Marsha,
How would Jewish people who travel in outer space observe Shabbat and other Jewish holy days?
Should the birkat Ha Mazon be prayed after each of the three Shabbat meals?
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