My first Tishah B’Av as a Jew

Tehilim 137:5-6 has been in my heart over a month now. –If I forget you O, Yerushalayim……If I do not set Yerushalayim above my highest joy…….
Spending this Tishah B’Av in a hotel has really put things, for me in a different perspective. I watched the news last week and saw how much hate is in the world and how we, as Jews, have allowed our differences; which should have brought us closer, to separate us. We can not depend on the world to accept us, love us, or want us. We must do these things for ourselves.
I don’t think there is a Jew alive today that does not want to stand before the Beit HaMikdash. We must see and understand different as to what we should or should not do in prayer, eating, or dressing but we all agree on returning home and Hashem is Echad
My heart is heavy and my mind is filled with sadness but it more about us as a people and the division that we have allowed the world/diaspora to create. I pray that we, today can just think on Tehillim 137. As we perform the service of Tikkun Chatzot, we recite Eichah and Kinnot after reciting the Kinnot following Eichah we recite the passage of Ve’atah Kaddish, ‘and You are the Holy One” and the full Kaddish without Tiskabeil until minhah, we will also have in our hearts to end the division that separates us all.
Before the onset of Tishah B’Av, we enter the synagogue and remove our shoes. We pray Maariv slowly and tearfully, as mourners would pray.
My mind was filled with many thoughts and feelings.
For everyone who is fasting today, I wonder if we, as a people, would accept Moshiach today? Each group has its own idea of who this is and what will happen. Who’s group would he side with, if you please. Any group that is not upheld as “right” would reject him as the Moshiach. Sadly, if it is the group of the majority that is rejected……….
I’ve felt deep sadness over the loss of the Beis HaMikadash my whole life. It has never been a day thing for me in which I turn on my sadness as soon as sun set and then turn it off at sunset. It has never left me. I am in no way judging those who mourn and cry today. I just could not feel that way when the sun set last night. I tried, I really did but it was not real. It was forced and I could not, in good faith, continue. As I said, I’ve felt it all my life.
So today, like any day, I morn the lost of our Temple and look forward to the day it will be rebuild.
May we all have an easy fast. (For those fasting)
I pray I have not offended anyone. These are just my thoughts.

My very first Passover

As I set here I am taken back to the day when I first dreamed of spending Passover as a Jew. I would always say, maybe next year….well, next year has come for me. I will spend my very first Passover as a Jew this year. I am filled with all types of emotions and fears.

I don’t think there is a greater feeling than knowing you have come home. Not like any home I’ve ever known before. I will be a part of a people, a nation of Hashem. Erev Pesach will mean something different to me. When I sit at the Seder and recount the Exodus story, it will not be as a spectator but as a participant. My 4 cups of wine, my matzah, maror, and all the songs will be done as a Jew. Hallel HaGadol will fill my soul. The beautiful Nishmas prayer which follows the Song at the Sea in the morning prayers on Sabbath will mean more to me than ever before. This year I will recount the details of the Exodus knowing I was there……

You may not understand the joy I’m filled with now but someday, someday you may. Someday you will come understand that I’ve come HOME!

Rocking my right to vote

Two looks of the same wrap

I started out with one wrap and found my head starting to hurt. I loved the colors and the look but I did not want to have a headache all day. I changed the look to give me a little less bulk on the top but retaining the beauty of the color combination. Which do you like best.

My first look this morning:

I love this slash from #Wrapunzel. I’m always looking for ways to incorporate it into my wrap. It is so lovely and full of life. I love the way the sun hits it.

Look number two: This is a 4 braided (challah).