CHANALE LIVE !

So I got to hear Chanale Fellig live in concert for the first time last night. It was a very special treat for me, because, like Matisyahu's music (I love this video by the way, check it out when you have time), I was already listening to Chanale's music while I was still in Singapore, getting excited about Yiddishkeit and looking forward to coming to Crown Heights. The event was held at the beautiful Razag Hall in Crown Heights.

What made last night's event even more special is that I had the opportunity to meet Chanale and her husband personally the previous night by a Shabbos table, where I made sure to tell her what a big fan I was of her music ! Personally, I don't think she ever expected her music to reach Singapore's shores. More pix from the event here.

Shabbos was amazing as usual, I keep meeting people whom I haven't seen the whole summer / Tishrei and its almost December ! Amazing. Meanwhile the weather is just awful. Its raining and cold. At least when it rains in Singapore, it stops after a while and you move on with your day. Here, it just ruins your mood. I can't wait for the weather to make up its mind and start with winter already. I am looking forward to the snow !!

And now, lehavdil, the thought for the day, taken from (part of) the Hayom Yom of 14 Cheshvan :

" "From G-d are man's steps established." Every one of Israel has a spiritual mission in life - which is to occupy himself with the work of construction, to make a "dwelling-place for G-d". Every one, regardless of his station or location, must, through an exhaustive search, seek out a spiritual livelihood with all the intensity of his strength, just as he seeks a material livelihood."

Have you done a mitzvah today?

More frustrations in halacha class.... We are learning the halachos of sharp foods, and I preface this entry by emphasising that this is a Intermediate/Advanced Level class.

The question was a classic : "What happens if I cut an onion with a fleishig (meat) knife and cook it in a milchig (milk) pot ?"

I squinted my eyes with suspicion. Was she kidding ? Too little sleep maybe ? Why would you cut anything with a fleishig knife and cook it in a milchig pot, let alone an onion !? Have you been listening to what Rabbi Hanoka (of the "OK" Hechsher fame) has been telling us in the last few weeks???

Don't get me wrong, I think no question is a silly question, I just feel that as mature young ladies, we need to be able to draw distinctions between : -

(a) learning the Halachas (laws)
(b) asking a shiloh (a question arising in Halacha, which should be asked of your Local Orthodox Rabbi)
(c) showing off knowledge (very annoying)
(d) asking abstract, theoratical questions which in all probability will never even arise and in the unlikely event that they do, they are meant for your Rabbi. That's what he is there for.
(e) harassing the teacher

In my humble opinion (ok maybe sometimes not so humble), its really not fair to the rest of the class who actually want to hear what the Rabbi has to say. Currently, we spend about 10-15 minutes learning the halachos and the remaning half an hour entertaining questions. Its ridiculous and I feel very strongly about it. I didn't come to school to waste my time listening to other people's shilohs.

BUUUUUUT that being said I realise I have to be more patient. Yes, yes I am not utterly devoid of feeling you know. Hmph. There are also some lighter moments in class, like when the Rabbi gave this response to a comment that was made in class :

"We don't need to be *frummer than the **Shulchan Aruch."

*more religious or observant
*Code of Jewish Law

Talk about nipping that baal teshuva zeal right in the bud. I could not stop laughing.....

and now, lehavdil, the quote of the day, which I decided to take from the Hayom Yom of 15 Cheshvan :

"The soul above awaits the time it will be privileged to descend into a body. For the soul senses how much it can accomplish here below - it can attain the level of "delighting with G-d". So what is everyone waiting for?"

Have a good one, folks. Remember, it could be your one more mitzvah that's going to bring Moshiach now!

MATISYAHU LIVE (finally)

Its been a year since I have lived in Crown Heights and 2 days ago was the first time I saw Matisyahu live in concert (I actually met him at the pizza store a few weeks after arriving last year - but that's a separate story for another time).

As I stood in front of the stage, I reached for my cell phone and called Tova and Shayna - no doubt his biggest fans on the West Coast - so that they could hear him live. Shayna was asleep but Tova got an earful and was bubbling over with excitement.

Matisyahu's performance was the surprise guest appearance at the melave malka (post Shabbos party/meal) on Motzei Shabbos. 2 friends and I helped with registration of over 500 college students that evening, and by 11pm, I was all people-ed out. I did not want to look at another registration form, security gaurd or tagged wrist.

But it was all good, especially the cheese blintzes, eggplant parmesan and lasagna. (and I always puzzle over why my weight-loss efforts are unsuccessful).

And on a completely different note, I was leafing through the calender today and realised that my Hebrew birthday coincides with my English birthday this year (5767). And the icing on the cake is that it falls out on Shabbos. Talk about a triple bracha (blessing) !