Reflections Around Recent Events

Yom chamishi, 11 Adar bet 5771.

I fall asleep to the BBC.

I assume this sounds a bit strange to people who prefer falling asleep to silence, or to soothing music, or at least to radio programs with which they agree occasionally.  Silence is a bit rough, after recent events, with a graphic imagination like mine; so it's better to fill my brain with someone else's word pictures.  The spoken word has always been my comfort music.  And English is my mamaloshen, whether I like it or not.  That pretty much leaves the BBC, in my current neighborhood's airwaves.

So last night, I'm listening to the news through BBC's eyes -- and I am swept away with how every nation on the planet seems to be in some sort of crisis.  If it's not natural disaster, it's political upheaval or horrific crime. I am sure the world was not like this -- at least not all at once -- when I was a girl.

Horror and rage aside, which are too fresh and painful just now for me to speak about, I find myself working very hard to avoid a great overwhelming sadness for all of the loss of life all over the globe.

The best way for me to do that is to remember that there is a Plan, and that Hashem runs the world.  And that He made certain promises; and that He never lies.  In their sweet, uncomplicated way of putting things, the Israelis are right.  Yihi'yeh b'seder.  It will be okay.

I have to leave deeper analyses to people who are more qualified, whether they are pundits of politics, or of religion, or of rage.

Now I will focus on Hashem's many beauties, with which He gives us solace when we would otherwise focus on our fears.

A last pomegranate of winter.

Look closely: you can see one of the first almond blossoms heralding spring.

The Kinneret is rising, post-season.  Winter is gradually becoming spring.

Photo credit: Dovid "Sage" Eastman

This photo was taken a few weeks ago; but the joyfulness of young women together lifts my spirits now.

Jews are fighting to find joy in an Adar stressed by sadness.  One Jew has promised to feed a family of orphans until they are grown.

Rami Levy -- photo credit: Flash 90

Yosef Karduner's new Kumzits CD is musically inspiring, and allows us a rare glimpse of the man behind the song.

There is still so much to rejoice over!  May we share more joy than sorrow.  May we merit to see the coming of the Geula shelaima, bimheira viyameinu!

My hero takes me shopping.

Evil shall be vanquished!

"For the Jews, there was light, honor, joy and gladness.  So may it be for us."

Have an easy and meaningful fast.  May we all be comforted among the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim.