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For this months Havurah meeting someone in our group beautifully led us in a deep centering meditation based on the 48 Mussar Middot (virtues based on Jewish ethics as I understand it) from the Mussar Center. Links to learn more are below. Because we were able to choose from the 48 Middot, we all had a customized mantra. For example, my experience was choosing to meditate on the virtue of courage or ometz lev. Aspects include strength, boldness, audacity, softness and sensitivity of heart. Before looking at the list of virtues or middot, individuals in our group looked through prayer books to choose a phrase. We meditated on the prayer phrase then the middot. My chosen phrase "holy shechinah" and middot word (courage) expressed strength and boldness with heart. The Mussar Center explains this type of meditation as a combination of inner work and character growth. After the Havurah members meditated together, we had a lively discussion while simultaneously learning the joy of peeling delicious clementines in a spiral. Good snacks are always included in our meetings. All Havurah meetings will begin with a meditation/chant/mindfulness practice. We will then focus on a theme. Upcoming meetings and events. All are welcome: Please register here if you are interested in attending any of the upcoming meetings. Most meetings and events are in the home of a Havurah member. February 14, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Havurah Meeting: Creativity and Spirituality. Please email Micah Bernat micahbernat@gmail.com for questions and directions. New Havurah members please register through Ohavi Zedek Synagogue. March 20, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Havurah Meeting, Topic TBA April 17, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Havurah Meeting, Topic TBA April 26 Event: Shabbat dinner, 6 p.m. beginning with a Kabbalat Shabbat service led by Yitzi Gittelsohn. Hineni, Jewish Mindfulness Practice: This event will be at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue and will include guided chanting, meditation and text based discussion. How exciting to have events that enrich our home based Havurah experience with expanded connections and education. The first date will be in February and I will be in touch when the date is announced. This is a continuation of Hineni meetings beginning in 2023 that included a wonderful Hineni Jewish Mindfulness and Meditation Weekend. Links to learn more: The Mussar Center: If you could trade 5 or 10 minutes for a really good day, would you? That's Mussar! This ancient path is rooted in the Bible, works for everyone, and will make your day better and more beautiful. --from the Mussar Center website 48 Mussar Middot Or HaLev Jewish Spirituality & Meditation: Or HaLev is a Jewish Path to a more vibrant, whole and awakened life through mindfulness and innovative Jewish practice.

Shabbat and the second night of Hanukkah were joyfully celebrated as an addition to our regular Havurah meetings that will be on the third Wednesday of every month. Seven of us lit candles, said the blessings, sang songs, ate a scrumptious cooperative meal then played Rummy Cue. Non-Havurah members are always welcome to special events. A spouse and two friends attended this one. Also, our Havurah is still open to new members! I hope to see you at our next meetings Wednesday, Dec. 20 and Wednesday January 17, 7-8:30 p.m. on both days. New members please register here.

One of our group members began the Havurah meeting with a chant. The melody is composed by Rabbi Shefa Gold. The chant is from Psalm 51:12: During our discussion following chanting and meditation, we spoke about how the experience of meditating together as a group is different than meditating alone. We wondered if we should begin every Jewish Spirituality Havurah meeting with chanting and meditation to create the feeling of being present. We are still welcoming new members to our Jewish Spirituality Havurah! We will meet on the third Wednesday of each month. Our next meeting will be Wed., Dec. 20 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. If you are saying Kaddish or would like to attend the Ohavi Zedek online minyan at 7:00 p.m. you can! Just come to the Havurah meeting at 7:00 p.m., go to the Ohavi Zedek online minyan on your phone (lasts 20-30 min.), then join our Havurah meeting a little late. In addition to our next meeting on Wed., Dec. 20, there will be a Shabbat dinner hosted by one of our Havurah members. The Shabbat dinner will be on the second night of Hanukkah, Dec. 8. Meditation events that may be of interest: Hineni Jewish Mindfulness and Meditation Weekend, Dec. 1-Dec. at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue. 2023 Adamah Meditation Retreat, Dec. 24-29, at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center, Falls Village, CT

The Jewish Spirituality Havurah had an inspiring beginning last Wednesday, Oct. 18 and we are still open for new members! My aha moment is that shared responsibility for a spiritually driven Havurah allows us to share our true selves. The article What is Jewish Spirituality by Jay Michaelson was our springboard that led to introductions and discussion about themes for future meetings as we relaxed in a home environment with herbal tea and cookies. Six of us (three over age 60 and three under age 30), came up with a number of good ideas: Jewish spirituality through integrating nature into a Jewish framework, exploring why there seems to be a large percentage of Jews drawn to Buddhism and yoga, Jewish community and joy, singing, meditation, miracles, hunger for spirituality, a cooperative and themed Shabbat dinner. Jewish chanting and meditation will be the focus of our next meeting on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at a co-leaders home in South Burlington. If you would like to attend the Ohavi Zedek Synagogue online minyan, you are welcome to arrive at 7:00 p.m. If you are excited to explore different channels for Jewish Spirituality in a small supportive home environment please click here to register, if you are not already registered. You do not have to be affiliated with a Jewish organization to join.

This month's cooperative dinner was burritos made with fresh peach salsa. I was able to use tomatoes from our garden but, alas, our peach tree did not produce peaches after the harsh winter so I bought peaches shipped from somewhere else in the U.S. I provided tortillas and others thankfully contributed fillings of vegetables, rice and beans. Here's the recipe from one of my favorite food blogs, Feasting at Home: Peach Salsa AUTHOR: SYLVIA FOUNTAINE | FEASTING AT HOME PREP TIME: 20 TOTAL TIME: 15 YIELD: 3-4 CUPS 1X DESCRIPTION This Fresh Peach Salsa recipe is bursting with summer flavor! Delicious on its own with chips or serve over grilled fish or chicken. Simple and easy, make this when peaches are at their peak of flavor -fresh, juicy and ripe. INGREDIENTS 3 large peaches- ripe (but not overly soft) diced into 1/2 inch dice, skins ok 1/2 a medium red onion, very finely diced ( about 3/4 cup) 1/2 a red bell pepper, finely diced ( for color and texture) 1 medium tomato, finely diced 1 jalapeno, very finely diced 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, tender stems ok 1/4 cup fresh lime juice ( 1-2 limes) 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper more to taste 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder – optional, more to taste ( will add a pleasantly smoky heat) INSTRUCTIONS Gently rub peaches with a terry cloth towel to help remove peach fuzz, then rinse under cold water. Dice peaches, tomato, onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, and cilantro and add to a medium bowl. Add lemon juice juice, salt and pepper, gently toss to combine. Adjust lime and salt. Add optional chipotle powder, starting conservatively with a ¼ teaspoon. Taste, and and adjust according to preferences. You want a delicious balance between sweet, salt, lime and heat. Serve with chips, in tacos, or over fish or grilled chicken. This Peach Salsa would be a nice addition to Burrito bowls too. Or you could even make bruschetta out of it! NOTES If you are not a cilantro fan- feel free to use less. If you love cilantro, add more! Peach salsa is best served right away or within a few hours of making. Find it online: https://www.feastingathome.com/fresh-peach-salsa/

My roots as a Jersey girl often bring me and some portion of my family "down the shore" in the summer. This year we followed up on Yitzi's idea to visit with NJ family the week before Paul, Yitzi and I attended a wedding in Purchase, NY. Our first stop was in northern NJ to see my lifelong dear friend and second cousin Lynne and her fiancé Daniel. We also saw Lynne's daughter Leah and fiancé Chris on Friday night when we don't take photos. I really enjoyed seeing all of them, taking a walk by the Delaware and eating super delish food that happened to be vegan. We followed recipes from Clean Food Dirty Girl (food blog) and went out to The Baklava Lady. It's also great to spend time at Lynne and Daniel's with their lovely kitty, Lily, whose overt friendliness and sweetness puts her in the angel category of pets, similar to our last pet named Sweet Georgia Brown. Paul and Yitzi drove to Philadelphia to see Elliott and Vinni while I spent a couple more days with Lynne and Daniel. The photos below show a combination of urban landscape and dog walk worthy parks. Next we enjoyed the lovely island of Brigantine off the Atlantic City coast. Atlantic City and Brigantine are two different worlds. Brigantine has become much more populated since visiting my grandparents there in the 1970s yet somehow still peaceful. Everyone I pass says good morning or hello. We also took a walk with Aunt Barbara and Uncle Murray on the family friendly Ocean City Boardwalk where we thoroughly enjoyed a game of skeeball. Paul, Yitzi and I bravely rode bikes to the same bird sanctuary that we used to stay away from because of vicious green flies. I have a memory of my grandfather swatting us with his jacket as we passed him on the merry-go-round. Was that because of vicious green flies or some other insect like mosquitoes invading freely during the more primitive 1970s? Coincidentally Yitzi's friends Jonah and Adira (met at school in Jerusalem and now going to the same rabbinical school as Yitzi in Boston) just happened to be visiting with their relatives during the same week in Ventnor, adjacent to Brigantine. Joined by Adira's parents, we spent the afternoon in Brigantine enjoying the best acai bowls and enjoying the beach of course. Aunt Lisa and Uncle Joel have lived in Brigantine for a long time during the summer. First Joel's parents (my grandparents), then Joel and Lisa and now their daughter and her family live in Brigantine. We really enjoyed our visit with Aunt Lisa, Uncle Joel, Aunt Barbara and Uncle Murray. Next year we are hoping for an even bigger family reunion at the Jersey Shore. Fun in New Jersey preceded going to the wedding of Helaine and Jamie in Purchase, New York. A lovely walk by the Hudson was followed by fun in formal attire. Helaine and her husband Jamie had a beautiful and meaningful wedding. Reid Castle provided the backdrop for imagination, dancing, and love. I'm looking forward to more photos and time with our dear friends. Below is a pre-wedding photo. Driving home after the wedding we stopped at a stunning Japanese botanical garden. Innisfree Garden gently enhances and augments the natural landscape. Wondrous eye candy was revealed in all directions. Near the Innisfree Garden we stopped at the lovely Hudson Valley home of Don Lewis. Don is a master gardener, ancient seed expert, owner of two adorable dogs and musician. Paul and Don met during a 1990s Ukulele festival and have been friends ever since. Although we love to travel... ...we are also so appreciative of our beautiful Vermont home. After returning, Yitzi, Claire and I took a beautiful Shelburne Farms walk with Yitzi's grade school friend, Gunther. Gunther flew to Boston from California so his girlfriend could attend a conference and he could take the heroic opportunity to bike a couple hundred miles to see his dad and friends in Vermont.

This months cooperative dinner used a special homemade hummus as the sauce, Sami's Bakery awesome Millet and Flax Pita Pockets for the base. Five more people contributed a single cut up (ready to serve) vegetable such as cucumber, tomato, sprouts, greens etc. It was a delish hit! The hummus recipe is from the book Tahini & Turmeric: 101 Middle Eastern Classics--Made Irresistibly Vegan by Vicky Cohen and Ruth Fox. Don't forget to save the chickpea water. It makes a difference: Enjoy!

I've decided to start posting about cooperative dinners because they have been a success! What is a cooperative dinner? I make a sauce and a base. You bring one ingredient. It's reminiscent of the children's book Stone Soup which takes place in a town where everyone is feeling a bit stingy until they discover that each person only needs to contribute something small and simple to collectively create a delicious soup. Cooperative dinners that have worked beautifully have been burritos, spring rolls, nori rolls and grain bowls. Last week I provided forbidden rice (also known as black rice) and a sauce. Six people contributed cucumbers, sprouts, carrots, radishes, greens, and tempeh. The sauce recipe came from the book East by Meera Sodha. The vegetables can easily be changed to anything:)

This video shows you the value of a rain gauge and soaker hose. It's best to water from the bottom, in the morning and not to over water.

Here's the most helpful article read so far: https://www.almanac.com/plant/sweet-peas Lot's of peas came back from last year and they are getting taller. So far I've learned that it's a good idea to snip the flowers and make a teepee with the bamboo poles we already have. Gently tie the plant to the pole and the rest will follow or climb up the teepee. I'm looking forward to trying this tomorrow.

In this video I learned that it's better to cut and eat the leaves from the lettuce type plants rather than thin. The plants with large root balls that need space are another story.

Paul just finished editing this video that causes me to feel the bittersweet nature of traveling and saying farewell to the people, music, outdoor markets, mural art, biking and embracing the experience of living and working in another country for two months. I'm still practicing a little Spanish everyday.