Tag: summer

9 Days.

That is what remains between reading this post, and the start of another year of Religious School. Just a few weeks ago when were at a luxurious 44 days, I urged you all to see the midpoint of the summer as a call to action. A reminder to get those lists of “Things I’m going to accomplish this Summer,” accomplished.

But we are way past the midpoint folks. We are at the bitter end of what may or have not seemed like a long summer to you. But make no mistake, the fat lady has sung and it is OVER.

So with the few precious days you have left I am going to remind you to consciously, intentionally, deliberately take in those last few wisps of summer. Breathe in the sunshine. Take mental snapshots – or real ones – of your beautiful garden or the green grass. Go indulge in the tastes of summer – get a double scoop ice-cream cone and lick up every sticky drop. Lay on a hammock, a park bench, or a beach blanket and look up at the sky. Allow yourself one more lazy afternoon filled with the sweetness of doing nothing.

And then find your own way – privately or with a family member or friend – to bless the moment. This can be the words of blessings you know like the Shehechyanu or words made up entirely of your own heart. Judaism has a long tradition of marking important moments in our lives. We not only mark special occasions, but each week we mark the moment of transition from Shabbat and its holiness, to the rest of the regular week .  The transition from summer to fall, from no school to school, from relaxed to hectic, is certainly an occasion worth marking in some concrete way. Take 60 seconds and make up your very own prayer to do so.

I hope you spend the next 9 days relishing in the last bits of summer!

Pamela Barkley, Director of Education

44.

That’s how many days there are between this moment and the opening day of Sunday school in the fall. (We begin September 9^th for those of you who would like to double-check my math!).  I suppose I could now continue with all the usual reminders like, “If you haven’t registered your kids for school, do so asap” (which of course you should) or “Don’t forget to have your kids look at some Hebrew this summer!” (which of course they should).

But actually, I am looking at the 44 days in a different way. I see it as a midpoint.

There are approximately as many days of summer behind us as there are ahead of us. So I invite you all to take a moment, as I have done, to ask yourselves “What was it I said I was going to do this summer?” Was this the summer you were going to organize that pesky linen closet? Start exercising? Finally get to the dentist? Learn to play tennis? Clean out the garage? Read? What was it that you set as your goals for the summer of 2012?

As someone who works 6 days a week the rest of the year, I can tell you for certain that this summer, like all the others, came with a long list of things I wanted to accomplish: Read the stack of books that have accumulated on my nightstand; overhaul my ridiculously messy office; Go for my checkups at the doctor and dentist; learn to play the guitar sitting in my attic; Sew the pile of clothes that have tears and missing buttons. The list goes on. And so being at the midway point does make me a little nervous because summer is flying by and although I have (check!) read most of the books and (check!) sewed all the clothing, I am still only halfway through the office overhaul, nowhere with my guitar, and haven’t even made appointments with the doctor or dentist.  So I now realize that I have 44 days to get my act in gear. It feels like a lot of days but we all know that labor day will be here in a moment.

I hope all of you have been able to check off some of the items on your summertime checklist. And if you haven’t, then use this as your reminder to get started.

We’re halfway there. 44 days to go. Make each one count!