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Judaism

L’Shana Tovah – Rosh Hashanah 5777

Blowing the Shofar – The Nahmias Cipher Report | Africa | Art | Geopolitics | Music | Poetry| True Stories

Painting of Hasidic Jews performing tashlikh on Rosh Hashanah the: Feast of Trumpets (Polish: Święto trąbek), Aleksander Gierymski, 1884

During the afternoon of the first day occurs the practice of tashlikh, in which prayers are recited near natural flowing water, and one’s sins are symbolically cast into the water. Many also have the custom to throw bread or pebbles into the water, to symbolize the “casting off” of sins. In some communities, if the first day of Rosh Hashanah occurs on Shabbat, tashlikh is postponed until the second day.  – Wikipedia

Sephardic Cemetery – Corporation of Spanish & Portuguese Jews – Montreal, QC

Shearith Israel - Founded 1768 © Frank H. Jump

L’Shana Tovah – Rosh Hashanah 5771

Blowing the Shofar – The Nahmias Cipher Report | Africa | Art | Geopolitics | Music | Poetry| True Stories

Painting of Hasidic Jews performing tashlikh on Rosh Hashanah the: Feast of Trumpets (Polish: Święto trąbek), Aleksander Gierymski, 1884

During the afternoon of the first day occurs the practice of tashlikh, in which prayers are recited near natural flowing water, and one’s sins are symbolically cast into the water. Many also have the custom to throw bread or pebbles into the water, to symbolize the “casting off” of sins. In some communities, if the first day of Rosh Hashanah occurs on Shabbat, tashlikh is postponed until the second day.  – Wikipedia

Featured Synagogue – Adath Jeshurun of Jassy – 58 Rivington Street – Happy Pesach!

© Vincenzo Aiosa

© Vincenzo Aiosa

© Vincenzo Aiosa

© Vincenzo Aiosa

© Vincenzo Aiosa

Synagogues of Savannah – Shalom Y'all! – Richard McBee

Congregation Mickve Israel

Congregation Mickve Israel, Savannah GA - © Richard McBee

Congregation Mickve Israel, Savannah GA - © Richard McBee

Bnai Brith Jacob Synagogue

Congregation Mickve Israel - © Richard McBee

Congregation Mickve Israel - © Richard McBee

Check out Rantourage’s posting on the art and life of Richard McBee

World AIDS Day MITZVAH = A not-so-random act of kindness

© Frank H. Jump

December 1st is World AIDS Day. As always, I post on this day thoughtfully. I’ve lived more than half my life with HIV. I will be fifty in March. A small miracle.

In Hebrew, the term mitzvah “has also come to express an act of human kindness. According to the teachings of Judaism, all moral laws are, or are derived from, divine commandments. – Wikipedia

If you haven’t planned one today, perform a mitzvah for someone you know who has been affected by HIV/AIDS.

To further quote Wikipedia:

The opinions of the Talmudic rabbis are divided between those who seek the purpose of the mitzvot and those who do not question them. The latter argue that if the reason for each mitzvah could be determined, people might try to achieve what they see as the purpose of the mitzvah, without actually performing the mitzvah itself.

Don’t overthink the mitzvah! Just do it!

Waiting for the big miracle. In the meantime, a mitzvah would be divine!

In memory of Wayne Fischer- a NYC school teacher & friend dedicated to AIDS awareness.