New Cycle, New Year

The Jewish year ends and begins again with the festival of Simchat Torah - rejoicing in the Torah, which took place at the beginning of the week. I didn't manage to get round to posting anything for the High Holidays of Rosh haShanah, Yom Kippur or Sukkot, as we were moving house. But a new …

Choices, Changes

Over the last few years, I have moved from a Paleo type of diet to Vegan and back again several times. This blog had 'From Paleo to Vegan in one easy midlife crisis' as its subtitle at one stage. The truth is, though, that it hasn't been 'one easy midlife crisis' at all of course, …

No More Grumbling!

As I have told you, times are challenging at the moment for us, and I have been feeling very discouraged. But this week's Torah portion, Beshalach, features the topic of grumbling quite prominently, and so I am encouraged to put a guard over my mouth and my virtual pen, to only 'speak life'; in other …

Parsha: Beshalach

Torah: Exodus 13:17-17:16 Haftarah: Judges 4:4-5:31 Brit Chadashah: John 6:15-71, 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 Summary This is really the final chapter of the Exodus from Egypt, and where the Wilderness journey begins. 'Beshalach' means roughly 'When let go' or  'Upon being sent away'. In last week's portion, the Pharaoh finally consents to letting the Israelites go …

Wilderness Experience

I have a confession to make. I try not to let this blog get too personal - I prefer to keep it 'on topic', just talking mainly about cooking and housework and crafts. But here is the thing. I am really, really struggling. I know that we are blessed in many ways. After our landlord …

Pesach Cleaning

I learn something new every Pesach - about myself, about housework, about the nature of sin and cleanliness, and this year has been no different. I am sure I have mentioned before that I felt that one of the lessons of Passover is that, no matter how hard we try, we can't get rid of …

New Year

As I write, it is the start of the Jewish festival of Rosh haShanah, Jewish new year, and so I thought that now would be a good time to write an update on the new education year. In the end, we took 8 weeks off over the summer, the longest we have ever taken, I …

Cleaning Deadlines

We have a property inspection tomorrow morning. It's one of the many down sides to renting. But as much as I'm dreading it, there is nothing like an externally imposed deadline for motivating you to get things done. So although there is still work to do today, the house is looking tidier and cleaner and …

Lenctentid

I don't generally observe 'Lent', the fast in the month of March (which in Anglo-Saxon is Lenctentid, meaning the month in which the days start to get longer, that is, Spring). I have never done so before. It isn't part of the traditions that I have been a part of. In fact, I had been …

Church Questions

I wanted to share this post because Les asks some very worthy questions and I think his answers are good. http://lesfergusonjr.com/2014/02/06/church-questions/ I also think that questioning in general - and even being angry with God while desperately wanting to believe and to love Him - is good and healthy. The stifling of questioning, and the …