Tradition!!!! Yes, Andrei was really raised Jewish
Here are some true Jewish traditions. Ones that I took part in are in italics.:
Birth When a child is born, parents choose a name, which is inscribed on the birth certificate. They also choose a Hebrew name but do not give it officially until the brit milah or simchat bat. In Jewish families of European origin (Ashkenazic), a child usually is named after a deceased relative. In families of Mediterranean origin (Sephardic), a child is usually named after a living relative the parents wish to honor.
Brit Milah/Circumcision Circumcision, or brit milah, is performed to symbolize the covenant between God and Israel. A healthy baby boy is circumcised on the eighth day of life. The ceremony includes giving the child his Hebrew name. Traditionally, circumcision is done by a mohel (a person ritually trained to perform circumcisions). When done by a physician who is not a mohel, circumcision may not meet the requirements of Jewish law.
Simchat Bat Ceremony on the birth of a girl The birth of a baby girl traditionally is marked in the synagogue, when her parents are called to the Torah on the Sabbath to give the newborn girl her Hebrew name. Baby-naming ceremonies are also held at home or in a synagogue. There is a growing liturgy of rituals surrounding the simchat bat.
Pidyon Ha-Ben Redemption of first born The pidyon ha-ben ceremony takes place on the 30th day after the birth of a first-born son. The tradition is based on the biblical understanding that first-born sons were dedicated to serve God in the temple. In order to redeem them from that obligation, five shekels were exchanged with the temple priests, who then served in the temple instead of the first-born. The ceremony today involves a symbolic exchange of five silver coins with a descendant of the Kohen family of temple priests. The coins then may be donated to a Jewish charity.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah At age 13 for a boy, and 12 or 13 for a girl, a child reaches adulthood and becomes a bar or bat mitzvah, a son or daughter of the commandments. The ceremony is a public declaration of the child's acceptance of the obligations to fully observe the commandments and to participate in the Jewish community. This adult status occurs automatically whether or not a ceremony takes place. When there is a ceremony, it generally is celebrated in the synagogue. The child is called upon to recite the Torah blessings and to read a Torah portion. Friends and family attend the service and generally celebrate afterward with a festive meal. Although most ceremonies occur on Saturdays, they also can take place on Monday, Thursday or on holidays - the other days when Torah is read publicly in the synagogue. Though in the past girls were not called to the Torah, today, in most Conservative, Reform and Renewal synagogues, the ceremonies are the same regardless of gender. The tradition originated with the Reconstructionist movement. In some contemporary Orthodox congregations, the bat mitzvah is marked by a festive meal during which the young woman presents a Torah lesson. For adults who missed the opportunity to have a bar or bat mitzvah, there are study programs available throughout the community.
Confirmation For Reform and some Conservative Jews, the confirmation year, 10th or 11th grade, represents a special time of celebration and commitment. Typically, the year includes study and meetings with the rabbi, culminating in a special service, often during Shavuot, since that holiday commemorates the receiving of the Torah by the Jewish people.
Conversion Conversion to Judaism is a path that requires both personal commitment and an extended period of study. Most rabbis are available to counsel and/or teach potential converts. Because programs and procedures vary, anyone thinking of converting should contact a rabbi and evaluate the programs offered.
Marriage Judaism views marriage as a sacred act, essential not only for procreation but also for self-fulfillment. Historically, according to the Talmud, marriage was established in three ways: 1) with money; 2) through a written document presented by the groom to the bride; and 3) through sexual relations. The present-day wedding ceremony incorporates all three symbolically. The presentation of a ring takes the place of exchanging money. The ketubah (marriage contract) is equivalent to the earlier written documents. Among Orthodox and some Conservative Jews, the third custom is represented symbolically by yihud (seclusion) - immediately following the ceremony the couple retire to a private room.
The marriage takes place under a chuppah (marriage canopy), symbolizing the home that the couple will make together as well as God's presence. The chuppah may be a highly decorated fabric canopy or a simple tallit (prayer shawl), supported by four poles. The main elements of the ceremony are: 1) Kiddush erusin, (sanctification of betrothal), 2) betrothal blessing, 3) presentation of the ring, 4) reading of the ketubah and its presentation to the bride, 5) recitation of sheva brachot (seven marriage blessings), 6) nissuin (drinking of the wine to sanctify the marriage) and 7) breaking the glass (to remember the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem even at joyous occasions). Additional traditions that may occur in a wedding ceremony are the bedeken, in which the groom places the veil over his bride's face; encircling of the groom by the bride; recitation of a portion of Psalm 118 and a sermon by the officiant. Rejoicing continues during a festive meal. No weddings occur between Passover and Shavuot because they are days of mourning.
Divorce According to Jewish law, a couple is considered legally married, even after a civil divorce, until the wife obtains a get (religious divorce document) from the husband. Reform Judaism generally does not require a get, but Conservative and Orthodox Jews consider remarriage without a get to be adultery. Israeli law requires a get before remarriage. A Jewish divorce does not require establishment of fault. There must instead be mutual agreement to dissolution of the marriage and the written document (get) of dissolution handed to the wife.
Death The Jewish traditions related to death and mourning are intended to recognize death as a part of life. The traditions of preparing the body, sitting Shiva (a seven-day period of mourning immediately following a funeral), saying Kaddish (prayer for the dead), and observing Yahrzeit (anniversary of a death), all guide Jews through a difficult period. These familiar customs and rituals provide for mourning, grief and re-emphasizing the true nature of life. The body of the deceased is treated with respect, ritually washed, wrapped in a plain white shroud and placed in a plain pine coffin before burial. During Shiva, the departed is remembered with tears and reverence. Mourning is restricted to a maximum period of one year. The Kaddish prayer is said by the mourners for this period of time, on the anniversary of the death and at Yizkor services in the synagogue. A Yahrzeit candle is lit for the seven days of mourning as well as on the anniversary of the death and at Yizkor services (held on Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Passover and Shavuot).
Chanukat Habayit Dedicating a home Within 30 days of moving into a new house or apartment, mezuzot must be put up. In Israel this is done immediately. A mezuzah is a small container that holds a handwritten scroll of parchment with Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21 on the front and the word Shaddai (Almighty), on the back. These verses remind the residents and visitors of the home of God as they pass through the door. A mezuzah is placed on every door except the bathroom, on the upper third of the doorpost, on the right side as one enters the room.
I have not performed Chanukat Habayit for quite some time. Though... I have tried to always have my elemental masks up within a year of moving into a place. My Pidyon Ha-Ben was done by my father paying 5 shekels to my great uncle Ben Conn (Kohen)
I used to have memorized a list of major city area codes. It was easy because they were all clumped with similar numbers
212-NYC
312 Chicago
412 Pgh
512-Austin
213-LA
313 Detroit
413 W.Mass
214-Dallas
314 St.L.
215-Phila
Coming across a page in wikipedia... I now understand why the big cities were all clumped.
The Area Code system started back in the days of Rotary Dial.
Instead of pressing a button to create a combination of two notes to identify a number, you turned a dial which would click the line for a count equal to the number. Thus "212" sounded like: "Fwip-click-click, fwip-click, fwip-click-click"
As a result, the original area codes were passed out to cities based on population to minimize the amount of clicks you had to dial to get thru the the city.
So by clicks:
5
6
7
8
212 NYC
213 LA
214 Dallas
215 Phila
312 Chicago
313 Detroit
314 St. L.
412 Pgh.
413 W. Mass
512 Austin
In the initial plan, 605 (SD), 704 (NC), 803(SC) were the original losers with 21 clicks to dial (0 was 10 clicks).
With the advent of tone dialing, the reason an area code is assigned now is to reduce confusion among customers. This is why you get areas with 206, 425, and 360.
I was a professional DJ. I'd say I paid my way thru college but to be honest... we're talking minimum wage and part time hours.
It was enjoyable. I pulled several stunts. One favourite got me temporarily fired by the Station Manager. Now to be honest... this pr*#k was looking for any reason to fire me... because he was sleeping with a 20 yr old girl that he wanted to give my job to. None-the-less this was a temporary firing because I had the Asst. SM's permission while the SM was out of town.
It was DST overnight. My 7 hour shift. Midnight - 6 am. I took requests from midnight to 2am. Any request we'd not only play... but when the clocks turned at 2:59 to 2:00 am ... we'd play the whole hour again. Breaking only for updates in news and weather. Which overnight... really only changed insofar as the temperature.
So I played an hour of requests... recording my hour... and after an hour... I played it back. The listeners were amused. The Station Manager... not so much. He demanded that the ASM fire me. The ASM told him that he'd blessed the stunt and wasn't about to fire me.
A few months later the bas&%#d would frame me for theft and I'd be quietly released. Four months later he tried the stunt on another DJ and got caught. I got my job back with a raise at the cost of his... (and promising not to sue)... but by then.. the light of Top-40 professional radio... just didn't burn as brightly.
I am reminded of this.. partially because dear faerievixen2 wished me a happy DST tonight. (REMEMBER... NOT ALL YOUR CLOCKS HAVE COMPUTERS THAT UNDERSTAND THE NEW DATES!!!!)
But also because I've managed to unpack something that I didn't unpack in Sno'mish. And let me tell you... Vinyl in good condition can still sound better than anything you might buy on iTunes or Amazon's download service.
When princekermit gets back.. I have a certain London cast album to play for him ;)
Tags:history, music Current Mood: pleased Current Music: bloc bloc bloc - "Crush" - OMD
This was posted to me a few years ago... I posted it a little over 3 years ago. I felt like reposting it while I'm working on a more 'researched' post.
You know you're living in the modern age when:
1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You go home after a long day at work you still answer the phone in a business manner.
7. You make phone calls from home, you accidentally dial "8" to get an outside line.
8. You've sat at the same desk for four years and worked for three Different companies.
10. You learn about your redundancy on the 11 o'clock news.
11. Your boss doesn't have the ability to do your job.
12. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home.
13. Every commercial on television has a website at the bottom of the screen.
14. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
15. You get up in the morning and go online before getting your coffee.
16. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. :)
17. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
18. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
19. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
20. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list AND NOW YOU ARE LAUGHING at yourself.
First off, thanks to all the well wishers and dinner participants (and those that supped with us in spirit due to very heavy conflicts)
For the record, due to moving and 13 x 3 wobbles, shifts, and tilts... I am not solar conjunct until 2pm(P)/5pm(E). This is amusing since I was born at 5:16 am (E).
What did I post today? 1998: A back dated entry that is now private for administrivia. (Journal started 2001.10.18) 2002: I note that 33 are down and X remain. Then I comment that I am a yoink for pulling an all-nighter. 2003: I take an astrological approach to the day (and currently note broken image links) and comment that more automated services have mailed me than I'd prefer. 2004: jnanacandra is sick, the story of Benihana and Poker. 2005: The amazing paradox. I don't get to age in 2005. 2006: Be careful what you wish for in 2003. MANY regards this day. :) 2007: Well besides this... we shall see.
Tags:history, meme, meta, solar return Current Mood: nostalgic Current Music: Theme from "Days of our lives"
I was prompted to post this morning, not because of the video but because of a comment associated with it:
For a little history, this Sesame Street segment dates back to about 1971. It ran until about 1974. It features a character now lost to history: Roosevelt Franklin. The character and his mother perform an R&B recitation of the alphabet.
One user posted: I don't think you could get away today with depicting black people as puppets in a stereotypical way. Not pc. But I meant crazy in an over the top effort kind of way to be funny - crazy is a funny way ... I'm not so into this stuff, my 36 yr old sister sent this to me - this stuff cracks her up
Sadly, one of the things that Sesame Street seems to have lost is non-monster muppets. The sound effects man with the Derby, Prairie Dawn, and the Roosevelt Franklin kids did more for the show and culture than people gave them credit for. Franklin and family were lavender. The Sound effects man (and one of Roosevelt's friends) were royal blue. When put along the already multi-racial human cast... who had time to organize characters by colour. It was simply another distinguishing feature. Personally, I think the show did wonders to reduce the concept of racism in a very subtle and downright-subversive manner.
The video does admittedly show puppets 'of colour' performing what is pretty much contemporary 'new york urban' music of the early 70's. Schoolhouse rock also utilized this technique in the video's for six, nine, and verb. Personally, I don't find this "stereotyping" anymore than showing anything appreciated by any subset of society. You might as well outlaw "Villa Alegra", "Happy Days", and "You Can't Do That On Television" because they are aimed at cultural subsets.
Here's the snippet. You decide:
If you want to see the horrid underbelly of edumacation sic. Here's a treat in appreciation of irony and satire.
Today I bought the new release of the old Star Wars trilogy.
I'd been joking for a while that I was looking forwards to the class action suit of geeks around the world.
I went to see Star Wars on opening weekend. I was 9 years old. Yes, kids.. I am that old.
I saw it on Twentieth Century Fox's (few at the time remaining) silver screens in Los Angeles. (The family had taken a vacation there from where we were living in suburban eastern PA)
I remember the movie as if it were 29 days ago let alone 29 years. There was one thing I remember above all else. And it isn't ingrained because of that watching but because of Empire three years later.
I remember going to see empire and seeing, "Part V, The Empire Strikes Back." My friends and I sat there thinking, "5? What happened to 2, 3, and 4" We got a copy of the Betamax tape (Yes, kids...I am that old) of Star Wars and watched it. "Chapter IV... A New Hope." New Hope? What the hell was New Hope? My friends and I knew damned well, that it wasn't called New Hope when we first saw it. Hell, we lived in a town in Pennsylvania called "Yardley" which was the next town south of "New Hope"... We would've noticed.
But 25 years later... I've been told be mannnnny people... that it's always said "Chapter IV"
Well, I'm here to tell you.. if you want to see the REAL "Star Wars"... The original... Without Chapter IV... Without Jabba... and there is no question of "Who Shot First"... Because only one person shot... And that Scoundrel was Han...
The trilogy is worth it. The original is unedited as I remember it. (Well, the scenes I watched)... There is one whole in my memory which I still debate... but since the film is "Star Wars" I'm going to have guess my memory on the other issue... may have been wrong.
Star Wars is in the original Dolby 2.0 (No... they didn't have 5.x back then)
But it's the movie from my youth and makes me happy.
The commentary on the main disc even starts with Lucas explaining about why IV was added.
So... to me... the new trilogy are the Star Wars discs I've wanted. Lucas' new flashy versions complete with my treasured memories.
Wooot!
Tags:history, nostalgia, star wars Current Mood: pleased Current Music: Something John William-esque
You say LJ is only for Teen Angst... An article from the heart
Many people complain that LJ is "Bad"
It is a place where the average person forgets that there is any form of social procedure and drops anything from personal tragedy to rumour mongering to unsupported character assassination.
But it's also a place where friends separated by thousands of miles can share the birth of a child. It's a place where a new job after a year of searching can be happily proclaimed. It's a place where the answer to your long sought question can be answered.
LJ is a tool. No more and no less. How each person chooses to use that tool separates the man that builds a log cabin from Tobe Hooper.
Today I read a piece of stirring commentary. It is very well written. It has a strong political bias... but the bias is not from rote as so many people suffer it today. This bias is based in the person's experience. The experience is captivating and justifies the opinion. (At least in my own). It's a long and at times difficult read... but worth it.
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lordandrei's journal
pleased
