Emily's Bat Mitzvah!

Here's a taste of Emily's Bat Mitzvah! It was a super day. Emily is an amazing daughter of Torah! She did all her readings (some in Hebrew and some in English) with ease and chanted from the Torah so beautifully. In her discussion of her Torah portion, she explained some of the story of Joseph and the jealousy his brothers felt for him. Her insight was like a breath of fresh air; the gist of her message was basically that everybody gets jealous feelings sometimes, but you can deal with it in one of two ways: 1. Let it get to you and seep into your life or 2. Consider what it would be like to have all that you ever wanted... would you really need all that? Would it make you happy? Instead think of all that you have to be thankful for already and try to be content with that because it is probably more than enough. (I am paraphrasing... her message was much more eloquent!)

Emily displayed such a confident style and a lovely voice, and it all came shining through in her terrific smile! I only wish I had more photos and video clips to share. There's a video clip of The Von Shore Family Singers (or are we the Shornblairbitskys?) in this smilebox that features our family's blessing in song, Modim ah Nach Nu Loch, which we were honored to sing during the service.

Photo album made with Smilebox

This next smilebox is just for fun. It has a little video clip of our little buddy Jack from the "Bat Nitz-bah" party, and it includes a bunch of random photos, some of which made the Big Bat Mitzvah Scrapbook!! Also, there's a video clip of Uncle Monkey Squared singing "The Jewtheran Blues" at the after-party!

A free digital scrapbooking design by Smilebox

I hope you enjoy these snippets of this wonderful day! Emily's mitvah (service) project was to set up the temple to be a more ecofriendly place, so she has already purchased recycling bins and made signs for the building and she is covering the cost of the pickup of recycled items for the next four years. Emily, you are awesome! I love you!

p.s. To Mary, Brian, and Rachel -- you were stupendous hosts this weekend! You showed us all so much love and generosity and you arranged for several miraculous spreads of delicious food and drink and happiness! Thank you!!!

Quirky-Corky Creative Outlet

My sister Mary inspired me to learn how to make these cute little guys using yarn, knitting needles, and a wine cork. Oh yeah, and a lot of time! Aren't they cute? They are called Korknisse (cork - niss - ah). I believe the plural form is Korknissa-nissa-nissa-nissa-nissa. Lots of knitters think they are way too fun to make, as evidenced here.

It has taken me many attempts to perfect the technique, and I am still not very good at making them. Although they do still look adorable, if I do say so myself, even with the many mistakes and the shortcuts on the true pattern that I take on each one.

The tall blue one turned out the funniest because I really went off the book while knitting that one during the Bears game last Sunday. Instead of watching the game or concentrating on the pattern, I couldn't stop thinking about and praying for my book club friend Christa, who recently discovered that she has a brain tumor and will be undergoing surgery this Tuesday. So I have dubbed this blue guy my first "prayer korknisse" and I plan to give it to Christa as a gift. (I only wish that it fit the cork better! I might need to send it out for alterations first.)

Thank you, Mary, for your patience with me while I have been trying to learn to make these guys! Every time I get close to finishing one of their hats, I say to myself and anyone around who's listening, "This is the last Korknisse I'm ever going to make." But then after some time has passed, my fingers grab another ball of yarn and four of those crazy chopstick needles, and I start casting on to make another. That sort of crazy must make me an official knitter, finally!!!