Start of a New Week.
It's Yom Rishon (Sunday). For a Jewish family, this is the first day of a new week. You say goodbye to the relaxation and seclusion of Shabbat with Havdalah as you smell the fragrance of spices, say the blessings and extinguish the flame of a braided three wick candle in wine.
Here in the UK, where Sunday still manages to retain some of it's Christian Sabbath, Yom Rishon takes on a peculiar status. Christians faithfully attend church and take a blissful day of rest. Meanwhile the secular world heads for the DIY stores and Garden Centres. What does a Jewish girl do? The country has 'sort of' pressed pause and you're already to go and do.
The problem is similar to that of Christmas. Unless you're also celebrating Chanukah. What do you do with a free gratis religiously related 'day off' that isn't part of your faith tradition? Most families go out for a walk in the park or countryside, relax like everyone else or maybe begin a little half hearted work. Very occasionally I've even been to a Christian church! It is good to educate yourself about the treasured faith traditions of others, it helps us to see similarities between faiths, playing down the worldly focus of maintaining boundaries and its emphasis on differences.
Today, as it happens, I'll take the first step in putting together the Jewish Community Magazine I edit as a volunteer for my synagogue community. Formerly simply a short monthly newsletter, it has grown to become a 35 page full colour magazine. I took it on three years ago, feeling that our small community needed a strong apolitical, faith based voice in an increasingly hateful world. I focus on pulling together heartwarming articles and stories from our varied congregation; emphasising hope and love as well as interfaith dialogue. Some of my own articles are also reprinted here on my blog.
So how do I fit it in with being a busy Jewish tradwife, homemaker and Mum? Practice I suppose and a carefully nurtured feminine ability to spin plates, multi task and stretch time. Maybe it's a superpower. My husband has always come first (of course) so this is where this post ends as I head down to set the breakfast table (unless he keeps me in bed!).
Enjoy your Sunday, whatever you're doing today.
Jane (Chana bat Shoshana) xx
