The Dark Side of the Moon

I remember vividly watching Apollo 13 for the first time, particularly the nervous part where the endangered astronauts pass to the dark side of the moon.  Because the moon is between them and earth, there is radio silence.  They're unable to communicate with the world outside and are left in an anxious state of separation, …

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The Deepest, Darkest Winter

All things must live in darkness before they are born.  Seeds sprout underground, hidden in the dirt and animals live either in their mother's wombs or in eggs until they are ready for the world.  Today, the sun doesn't rise until 9:12am and it will set at 4:16.  Candle lighting time is earlier than that, …

The Simchas Torah that Stole Our Simchas

It's often when everything seems to be going along just fine with everything coming together when the unexpected happens.  This time, the kids and I were in our truck, waiting for Mr. Safek and Sam the dog to arrive at the Synagogue with the Shabbat RV 2.0.  All our meals were carefully packed up, our …

Trust, Sukkos, and Snow

It's there, lurking in the forecast for this week and the weekend with cute little gradeschool snowflakes to denote the days it might happen.  Those innocent looking little snowflakes belie the fact that we don't yet have studded tires on the truck and that we'll be spending 3 days this week in the Shabbat RV …

3 Day Yom Tovs!

I'm not sure, but I think my first year observing Jewish holidays was one that had several 3 day Yom Tovs in it.  If not, then it was at least when I was still very shaky in observing them.  This oddity happens when a 2 day Yom Tov (holiday) falls either right before or right …

When Darkness Comes, Light a Candle

If there is one thing I have learned from our long, dark nights up here it is that it does no good to dwell on the darkness.  The more you focus on how short the sun is up here in winter and the more you restrict yourself in what you do while it is dark, …

Forward Progress and How Faith Makes Me a Better Engineer

First of all, for those who follow my blog, I have a tiny seed of hope I've begun carefully nurturing that our long conversion journey may have a end in sight.  Not now, not soon, but that there is a clearer path forward for us.  I go between being very excited about it and not …

Shabbat RV Time

The hours stretch and it seems we've always been there.  A two day Yom Tov, but it seems like that's just what has always been, that there is no other life or world beyond.  We go to shul, we eat, we go to the park, and I read to the kids because they asked.  That …

The Painting Cabinets and Hisbodedut

Painting cabinets takes patience.  I know this because this is my first week trying it.  First, there's the preparation, which I probably should have paid more attention to.  I didn't sand, but instead went all in with gripper primer.  Quickly, the cabinets that I'd chosen to start with in the Shabbat RV 2.0 began to …

Menuchah and Watts

Every moment is precious and is the only thing we really have in this life. I've been enjoying my Menuchas Hanefesh studies immensely.  The mindfulness that observance brings to everyday life was a big part of what initially drew me to Judaism and this study only digs deeper into that idea. Interestingly enough, it also …

Reframing Double Standards and Painting Cabinets

Without a doubt, one of the most difficult things about conversion that I've had to work on and help my children with is the reality of double standards.  It's one of those things that I think every Orthodox conversion candidate has to come to a place of acceptance with because it's not something we can …

Further Adventures In the Shabbat RV 2.0

So...the new Shabbat RV, version 2.0 is...BIG. We're talking, airhorns and air brakes big.  The thing is probably larger than many Israeli apartments.  Mr. Safek hunted down our new Shabbos abode in between the Pesach Yom Tovim and then purchased it the day after Passover, just in time for Shabbos. In retrospect, this may not …