Candlelighters
a place for women who cherish the TorahArchive for Gregory Bartos
Here Comes the “Kallah”
August 16, 2010 at 10:50 am · Filed under Instruction/Torah, Lifestyle/Halachah, News and tagged: Anita Diamant, Fiddler on the Roof, Gregory Bartos, Hebrew Roots movement, Jewish weddings, knit chuppah, sheva berachot
by torahgirl
Practically the only Jewish wedding I’ve ever seen is in Fiddler on the Roof, when Motel and Tzeitel get married. When people talk about a Jewish wedding, I think of solemnity, the groom in a top hat standing awkwardly alone, the encircling bride heavily veiled, and the sound of a wine glass being smashed. Well, that’s what I used to think. When we first got into the Hebrew Roots movement many years ago, my dad made a few comments about having a chuppah at my wedding and I discouraged that idea whenever I could. It bothered me that just because our religious beliefs had changed, all the sudden I had to have some kind of foreign wedding filled with traditions that meant nothing to me. I was influenced, as almost all girls are, by typical “American” weddings: a beautiful bride sailing down the aisle on her father’s arm, surrounded by lovely attendants, meeting her handsome groom at the altar to exchange sparkly rings and repeat their vows line by line, then leaving the church in a limo for their exotic honeymoon. This was the kind of wedding I pictured, although I never spent a lot of time dreaming about the details.
inspire: to fill/affect/guide
March 1, 2010 at 3:11 pm · Filed under General, Lifestyle/Halachah and tagged: Adrian Monk, Bereans Online, Deuteronomy 30, Gregory Bartos, hermits, Joshua Radin, Kimberly Wilson, Simple Times, Torah-keepers, Tranquilista, what inspires me
by torahgirl
I’ve been thinking recently about inspirations in my life, both conscious and subconscious, which have an effect on my mindset, behavior, and emotions. I want to surround myself with influences that will nourish me and keep me healthy – physically, mentally, and spiritually – don’t you? It goes without saying that the Torah should be our biggest inspiration, for it is “life and prosperity” to us (Deuteronomy 30), but we can hardly avoid being affected by other voices unless we’re living as hermits on a mountain top. So… it’s time to take a look at what’s around you right now.
Here are a few of my current inspirations… what are yours?
The Unseen Hand
February 10, 2010 at 2:31 pm · Filed under General, News and tagged: Bella Torah Fellowship, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, divine intervention, Gregory Bartos, Jeremy Gimpel, Jerusalem, Julianna Squicciarini, lost baggage, Morgan Squicciarini, Squicciarini Residence, The Land of Israel, Tuesday Night Live
by torahgirl
We don’t think along the same wavelength as HaShem, it goes without saying. I had the experience yesterday of planning a day and then being swept in a completely different direction by circumstances that can only be attributed to divine intervention.