Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Freedom from insanity

It is really possible to live a sane life.  If you are Jewish. It starts with a true Orthodox Shabbas.  Dont light a fire. Don't work for material gain.  If you are a doctor or health care worker, minimize your shabbas duties but still do your work.  Its a blessing to care for the weak and sick.  
That said, the rest is still prescribed, though I will not criticize anyone who violates the shabbas on somthing such as accidentally lighting a lamp or the like. 
I must say, never drive on shabbas.  Forget going to services on shabbas if you want a true shabbas, that is if you can not walk.
I like to play the radio which I turn on in 2 rooms on shabbas.  I also like to play musical intruments on the shabbas day.  Tonight I just bought a small 20 dollar desk chime :).   I might accidentally turn a lamp on, thought I even have a shabbas lamp which I bought on artscroll that twists on and off to let light in or not.  I do not watch television or use my computer.  That said, if someone turns the tv on, ill watch.   If somthing is really making me feel ill such as a radio station that turns out to be advertising in the morning, i will turn the station.  Cooking is prohibited.  We make a crock pot of some stew each week, either chicken or beef, sometimes a soup.  I usually make 2 cans of tuna ahead of time and hard boiled eggs. Its pretty routine.  And the rest is what I just do during the day.  Reading books is great. Of course sleep is precious.
There are many other details, but this is the most of it.
I must report that since beginning to keep shabbas last year, I feel a true day of rest is acheived. I have noticed that I am increasingly creative, although that may in fact be due to aging too.   But not to say that shabbas observance is not rewarded.  One must believe it is.

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