אני קושית יפה/I’m a Cute Black Girl pg 3
Often my mother and my family and friends would tell me how I behaved when I woke up from my coma, after the accident. I will never forget how she told me that I would sing this song all the time.
Every Shabbat we would sing this song…we would gather around the dinner table and we would sing .
I never understood the meaning behind it, but last night while studying about Shabbat I learnt that it is a song sung while coming home from Shul, when you welcome Shabbat.
Peace be unto you,
ye ministering angels,
angels of the most High,
ye that come from the Supreme King of Kings,
the Holy One, Blessed be He.
Last night I thought that since it was a lesson about Shabbat I would know it all and be able to pretty much just sit out and do my own thing… but boy was I wrong…
I learnt that I am now embracing the Progressive Shul and its ways…so I do need to let go with some of my Orthodox knowledge and customs.
I grew up believing that it was the Women’s duty to light the candles but in Progressive Judaism, a man can light them.
My father would recite the blessing on the Wine and Challah…but in Progressive Judaism the woman can do it.
The Kos was always a silver engraved wine glass that we used for Shabbat, but last night the Rabbi told us that as long as it isn’t a glass that we normally use everyday then it didn’t matter that it wasn’t a silver engraved wine glass.
This morning I woke up prepared to be ready for Shabbat. I cleaned up my Silver Candle Sticks…they do need to still be polished up and the old wax needs to removed… I set out my Wooden Chopping Board for the Callah…I went to the shop and got my fish and Challah so tonight I wouldn’t have to rush.
Even though in Progressive Judaism a women doesn’t need to wear a skirt/dress everyday and to Shul, I don’t think that is something that I can let go of. Even though I never dressed religious…I did wear pants and sleeveless tops, but when I went to Shul I would wear a dress/skirt. Today I put on 1 of the very few dresses that I have…I wore it to work today, as I know I won’t have time to be ready for Shul after work…depending on traffic I could get home at about 6pm and Shul starts at 6:15pm, so right now I am sitting at work, ready to bring in Shabbat.
May your coming be in peace
ye ministering angels,
angels of the most High,
ye that come from the Supreme King of Kings,
the Holy One, Blessed be He.
The Rabbi ended the lesson telling us how it is a custom to bring in Shabbat with family and friends. I look back to when I was living at home, and how Shabbat Dinners were always something big for us. We were always surrounded my family and friends and it was really important for my father to have his daughters home together as a family…and together we brought in Shabbat.
I know my husband is not Jewish, not does he ever intend to become Jewish. I respect that. I still love him, but while learning all this I feel like I am getting closer to my true calling and I am feeling closer to my mother. Even though she is no longer with me, and she will not get to rejoice in my journey and new identity, I know that through this I will create a home like the one she raised me in. One day I too will have a Shabbat Dinner at my house…and I look forward to having my fellow Students over and bringing in the Shabbat with my new extended family.
May your departure be to Peace,
ye ministering angels,
angels of the most High,
ye that come from the Supreme King of Kings,
the Holy One, Blessed be He.