Challah
Last week, Phantom Scribbler asked me to post a bit about how I’m keeping shabbat.
The short answer is "inconsistently." But that’s actually a step toward observing it, not away. In the past, I’ve let perfectionism get in the way — which means that I’ve been least likely to celebrate shabbat those weeks when I’m stressed and overwhelmed, most in need of a step back.
So two weeks ago, we lit candles and said motzi over sliced wheat bread because we hadn’t bought any challah and said p’ree hagafen over apple juice, rather than grape juice. (I know, it should be p’ree ha-etz, fruit of the tree, not fruit of the vine, but we were pretending it was grape juice.) And we went to tot shabbat services the next morning. Last week, D had a sleepover with a friend, and I went out to dinner with my friends, so we didn’t really do anything. It varies.
I’m actually baking challah this week. Or rather, I left it to rise in the fridge this morning, and T should have put it in the oven sometime this afternoon. I know, it sounds very Martha Stewartish, but it’s really not any more of a hassle than making a separate trip to the bakery. But D loves challah — it will probably be all he eats for dinner tonight — and I love the feel of kneeding dough.
As I said last week, I’m trying to cut back on my computer time. I should probably just turn it off, and not turn it on until Sunday. I’m encouraging board games, but not banning television. I’m willing to drive to services or the library, but trying not to run a million errands.
And tomorrow I’m spending all day in my training class. Oh well.
September 30th, 2005 at 10:04 pm
Interesting, Elizabeth. We’re doing something similar. I bake challah and we light candles and do ha motzi on Friday night. My husband sometimes goes to Friday evening services before dinner.
Saturday is pretty much a free-for-all, though. Now that my oldest is on the school-schedule merry-go-round, I’m starting to feel like a more strictly observed Shabbat Saturday might do us all some good, though.
October 1st, 2005 at 11:30 pm
Elizabeth, we manage it by a) going to Conservative services Saturday morning (nearly 1:30 by the time we get home, conversation’s usually pretty good at the kiddush); b) not handling money or talking business (I can still go out for coffee; I just brew it at home & bring it); c) not bringing in Saturday’s mail till after havdalah; d) not checking email. By the time you get all that, plus maybe a couple hours’ reading in the afternoon and a walk to the park, there’s actual meaning to the hamavdil bain kodesh l’chol business at havdalah. Doesn’t seem to much matter what you read, either. Today I was revisiting John Gardner’s _Art of Fiction_, & napping-musing about some Bellow/Malamud/Singer stories for a proposed class, all of which is technically work.