Friday, 16 May 2014

Oy, Oy, pre-Shabbat cleaning Coffee break & prayer

"I ,to the Lord  will sing;
With song I will give praise 
to the Lord, the God of Israel"

Judges 5, 3

Tonight is going to be the start of the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat or Shabbos- Jewish days start & end sunset to sunset), so I've been buzzing around like a blue-arsed fly busily scooting around the house getting things clean & tidy, preparing the food for later on (it helps being self-employed sometimes, if not monetary wise!!).  Oy, I got slightly delayed with the usual knock at the door from the  Jehavoah's Witness's, who, by now, should surely realise that I'm not interested in their cause OR at least got the hint with my lovely mezuzah (?). The answer is, I think, that they like my selection of herbal tea and strong Turkish coffee, which they get for free after having doors slammed in their faces around the rest of the village. I'm too kind, especially as they like to entreat me to a dialogue about religion, although I think they realised I wouldn't have to get out of neutral to swot that one aside.

So now you are doubtless feeling sympathetic for me but, I have to say,  I'm looking forward to Shabbat  as always . Shabbat is an amazing gift that G-d gave us; divine legislation which tell us (rather than permits us) to rest &  be encouraged as well  as, among other things , to be with family, friends, share in meals, study & debate our faith,  worship, rest, sleep & have lots of sex with your better half .

The sun is up. I'm looking forward to Shabbat. I cannot solve all of the world's problems. But I am allowed to have a brief period of rest, before I try and tackle them. So next week, we are hoping to start our 'let's get biblical' series, which will be a frank (sometimes sweary & honest ) discussion on the weeks Torah study as well as the Torah portion for that week.  Moronic fundamentalist loons DO NOT own  holy writ & in our case the  Bible, but twist and distort it, whatever shit they come out with about being 'True Torah Jews', 'Bible believing Christians' or whatever other God bothering  hypocritical label they wish to give themselves . So we'll take it back.  But until then, we'll be thinking about Shabbos.

I'm going to  end with a prayer (or is it a faint hope/plea?), as it is the countdown to Shabbat and for a brief period a time to rest, relax and rejoice.

Sooooo-

May God protect those who are ill ,suffering, unsure, afraid today. May he bless those who are happy to bless others with that happiness. May we be more Shalom  in the name of  the God of peace,  show compassion in the name of the God of love and celebrate in the name of the God of life. May our actions & deeds be greater than our words, may we bring honour to faith and show by example the name of God. Ahmen (or Amen).

Shabbat Shalom to everyone who reads this blog, whoever & wherever you are.