Friday, 21 August 2015

I got up a little late this morning, so I took a shorter walk (only about 38 minutes). Later, though, I did walk down to recycle cardboard and buy challah for Shabbat.

I was scheduled to teach two 2-unit Berlitz lessons today, but the first was a late cancellation: 9:00-10:30 and 11:30-1:00.

I had my traditional lunch of whole-wheat spaghetti with Palermo sauce at Il Pentolino today.

As the light was about to fade from our peaceful valley, I lit candles, drank a little sweet red wine, and ate a bite of challah to welcome another Shabbat, the first in the month of Elul. This is the month of turning back towards the Divine and preparing ourselves mentally and spiritually for the new year and the Day of Atonement. Here's a verse of Psalm 27 (verse 4), a psalm that is recited this month:

אַחַת שָׁאַֽלְתִּי מֵאֵת יְיָ, אוֹתָהּ אֲבַקֵּשׁ

שִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית יְיָ כָּל יְמֵי חַיַּי
לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹֽעַם יְיָ וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ

One thing have I asked of the Eternal, this will I request:

To dwell in the house of the Eternal all the days of my life,

To envision the pleasantness of the Divine One and to visit God's temple.

     [my own translation]