The Bat Mitzvah of Willow

There are some who say that the congregation of Jewish souls from the original exodus period is always being retrieved, reestablished in every generation. Thus, when a bat / bar mitzvah event occurs, we can celebrate that fact. Such was the beautiful event today when my 13 year old friend Willow demonstrated her capacity to undertake the ritual life of a Jewish woman through the public ritual of bat mitzvah.

Reading from the last chapter of Vayikra, she explained to us about the jubilee year, that 50th year, after the seven times seven years, when the land must be returned to the original owner. It mirrors the day that the Torah itself was received by the first Jewish people some 50 days after their journey of exodus from slavery into a cohesive people hood. And, of course, the seventh day of the week, which we observed on her behalf and honor, as a day appointed in time for intimate connection with the source of all.

Listening to this young woman, I began to be more appreciative of being laid off from work, since December 1, 2008, and to recognize that perhaps this is my jubilee year (actually my 40th year after graduating from college and beginning what I have hoped to be an interesting, mutually beneficial, professional career of a lifes length.

Maybe this is yet another Sabbatical year; I've lost my job before, mostly with great disappointment. Certainly, I have been saving money (for that official "retirement" time of 50 years of work. In effect, providing extra in the latter time so that I would have "enough" resources to survive without working. And, in fact, that's somewhat happening. I definitely have "enough" for now and have never been privy to my future, and thus, have no idea whether what I am doing will ultimately serve me in the long run.

With this greater wisdom from a sweet young woman, I hope I can fulfill the blessing that comes from it.

Yasher Koah! Mazel Tov! Willow

Welcome to Trads in Contempo Life: New vs Now

Nadam spectators, Mongolia 2006 L.W. Deutsch

Those Oldies but Goodies ...

We are not so "new" as we are "now". I believe in "progress", the same progress that GE claimed as its "most important product!"

Traditions we commonly think of as being an artifact from back "then". But I have had the pleasure of studying first hand these oldies but goodies that are still effective today, practiced by modern, talented people. These folks are Korean shamans and Japanese tea ritual masters. Their accomplishments carry the legacies of having been deep rooted in the "past". At the same time, they are continuing that root, today. I hope to expand this blog occasionally.

In the meantime, please visit www.kyotojournal.org to see some of my writing on these subjects and more.