mamadeb: Writing MamaDeb (Default)
[personal profile] mamadeb
Live Journal is also for bragging, right?

:)

Every Sabbath I participate in a weekly parashah group. The parashah is the Torah portion assigned to that Shabbat so that we read the entire Torah in order throughout the year. Ths is Orthodox custom. Other groups divide the parashah into three - reading the first third of each parashah one year, the second the next and final third of each parashah the third.

We take it in turn to give a talk. Yesterday was my turn. The parashah was "Mishpatim", which some people consider very difficult because it's basically a list of laws. I found it wonderful, and my husband insists that I write my talk up, so I probably will.

The talk went well, I have to say. I started talking at 4:10, and finished after 6PM, and there was a lot of focused discussion and it was amazing and energizing and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

I finished with an announcement and a bit more discussion. I've mentioned before that I was learning a seder of mishnah - One of the six sections of the Mishnah, the codification of Jewish law. In TRANSLATION, I have to add.

I'm about finished. I have two mishnyot to go, and that will take me a half hour.

When someone finishes a course of study such as this, it's appropriate to have a celebration called a "siyyum." Even if women aren't required to learn Torah, it is still worthy of siyyum when we do.

We're having this siyyum next Saturday afternoon in our synagogue at the ritual third meal.

I told the ladies of my group this - why I wouldn't be there next week. What was their response?

"Okay, instead of meeting here like we always do, we'll meet at *my* house, which is closer to Yavneh, and we'll meet *on time* at 4 and then we'll maybe even go to mincha."

And that was that. I can't tell you how overwhelmed I was. I've been meeting with these ladies for two years now. They're friends. But I in no way expected this. It didn't occur to me that anyone would be there but the normal bunch of men and two or three women who normally go to mincha.

(no subject)

Date: 2004-02-22 08:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rusty76.livejournal.com
How wonderful for you! {{hugs}}

(no subject)

Date: 2004-02-22 09:06 am (UTC)
ext_2233: Writing MamaDeb (Default)
From: [identity profile] mamadeb.livejournal.com
[[hugs]]


It was.

(no subject)

Date: 2004-02-22 08:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gittygiggles.livejournal.com
wow! you're the woman!

Re:

Date: 2004-02-22 09:49 am (UTC)
azurelunatic: Vivid pink Alaskan wild rose. (Default)
From: [personal profile] azurelunatic
...oh, dear. This made me giggle so hard...

(no subject)

Date: 2004-02-22 08:56 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ohevet-likro.livejournal.com
That's great that so many people will be at your siyum. How long did it take you to finish Mishnayot? Which translation did you use? (one of these days I will actually buy a Kehati and sit down with it...) Did you speak about one specific mitzvah yesterday, or a whole bunch of them? Enough questions, I have to get back to studying. If I don't get a chance to tell you beforehand, congrats on finishing Mishnayot!

(no subject)

Date: 2004-02-22 09:10 am (UTC)
ext_2233: Writing MamaDeb (Default)
From: [identity profile] mamadeb.livejournal.com
I started the seder in December. I've been reading a perek a night, unless I was very tired or at a con or not feeling up to it. We saw no reason to *push*.

I used Kehati. I like Kehati.

I spoke about pretty much all of them. Because I found it so utterly amazing and I couldn't just talk about one.

Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2004-02-22 09:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] umbo.livejournal.com
Congratulations, Deb--definitely sounds worthy of celebration!

(no subject)

Date: 2004-02-22 09:17 am (UTC)
ext_2233: Writing MamaDeb (Default)
From: [identity profile] mamadeb.livejournal.com
Thank you!

What's great is that my rather traditional rabbi is all excited about it.

(no subject)

Date: 2004-02-22 09:19 am (UTC)
ext_8883: jasmine:  a temple would be nice (Default)
From: [identity profile] naomichana.livejournal.com
I'd love to see your d'var on Mishpatim -- the one I heard yesterday was good for provoking discussion but not terribly developed.

Be sure to brag once you're actually done with the seder (which one?) so we can congratulate you then. Also, which translation/edition of Mishnah are you using?

(no subject)

Date: 2004-02-22 11:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] otherdeb.livejournal.com
Congrats from both of us, Debbie. I may not be observant, but I have done some study, and know the amount of work it takes to really understand this stuff!

You go, girl!

(no subject)

Date: 2004-02-22 02:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] villeinage.livejournal.com
Congratulations--you've definitely earned the bragging rights.

I'd love to read a copy of your talk, if you're so inclined.

(no subject)

Date: 2004-02-22 05:39 pm (UTC)
vass: Small turtle with green leaf in its mouth (Default)
From: [personal profile] vass
Mazel tov! (if still appropriate if it's something great you've accomplished, not just something great that happened to you)

(no subject)

Date: 2004-02-23 10:49 am (UTC)
cellio: (Default)
From: [personal profile] cellio
That's great! It's so nice when you get unexpected support from your community!

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