The Winner Is: Michele P., Philadelphia
"The mainstream New Year is often about resolutions and I no longer 'just resolve' to do anything. It sounds passive and gives me a feeling of a last ditch attempt, like I've let something go horridly wrong in the past. The shofar, and the Jewish New Year, is empowering, it is about opening one's eyes.
So, my wake up call is to be more aware every day. Be aware of my temple needs, as membership chair, be aware of the Jewish community and, the mainstream, to help all not just a group. To be aware of my role as a mother and wife. To be aware of my own needs and desires, to be the best person I can be. To network more to help raise others up to their aspirations. So, the shofar call is my awareness call, and it isn't even sounding yet, and I can see more clearly and hear it echo through me - I am honestly blessed."
Congratulations Michele!
Rosh Hashanah begins the eve of Friday, September 18th, this year. The Jewish New Year is a time for contemplation: reflecting on the past year and planning for the new. The shofar (ram's horn) is blown, calling people to wake up from their moral sleep, think about their behavior, and become better people.
"The mainstream New Year is often about resolutions and I no longer 'just resolve' to do anything. It sounds passive and gives me a feeling of a last ditch attempt, like I've let something go horridly wrong in the past. The shofar, and the Jewish New Year, is empowering, it is about opening one's eyes.
So, my wake up call is to be more aware every day. Be aware of my temple needs, as membership chair, be aware of the Jewish community and, the mainstream, to help all not just a group. To be aware of my role as a mother and wife. To be aware of my own needs and desires, to be the best person I can be. To network more to help raise others up to their aspirations. So, the shofar call is my awareness call, and it isn't even sounding yet, and I can see more clearly and hear it echo through me - I am honestly blessed."
Congratulations Michele!
Rosh Hashanah begins the eve of Friday, September 18th, this year. The Jewish New Year is a time for contemplation: reflecting on the past year and planning for the new. The shofar (ram's horn) is blown, calling people to wake up from their moral sleep, think about their behavior, and become better people.
In what ways are you "casting off" and starting new this year?
This is our question for the Cool Jew New You Giveaway, happening in conjunction with the Cool Jew Artist Showcase on Sunday, September 13th at the JCC of Manhattan. Many of the contributors to the giveaway will be performing at the event. Learn more about the JCC event.
click pic to enlarge
click pic to enlarge
One lucky winner will receive the following gifts:
- Ladino chanteuse Sarah Aroeste's Puertas CD ($15)
- Stand-up comedian Yisrael Campbell's Circumcise Me DVD ($20)
- Eprhyme’s debut CD WAYWORDWONDERWILL ($15) and 7-inch vinyl single, Punklezmerap, on K Records as part of its International Pop Underground Series ($5)
- Jewcy.com’s “Table Topics: Spirit Box” discussion cards ($25)
- Author Lisa Alcalay Klug's book Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe ($13)
- Living Tree Community Foods’ organic Snugglespoon honey, raw almond butter and raw tahini ($47 total)
- Rachel and Matti’s CD sampler Your Kindness ($5)
- Jennie Rivlin Roberts' "No Limit Texas Dreidel" game from ModernTribe.com ($20)
- Jean Roth’s Rotem Gear What Would Maimonides Do? t-shirt ($24)
- Author Matthue Roth’s books, Never Mind the Goldbergs ($8) and Yom Kippur A Go-Go ($15)
- Musician/composer Elie Massias’ Brooklyn Days CD ($10)
- Singer/Songwriter Rav Shmuel's "Protocols" and "B'yameinu" music CDs ($18 each) and two t-shirts ($15 each)
Comment to Enter:
"In what ways are you "casting off" and starting new this year?"
Important Information:
- Please make sure your email is available to us, either through your Blogger profile, post or otherwise. If we can't reach you, you can't win.
- Check back here or sign up for our Newsletter (sign up box is on top right) to be notified of the winner on September 17.
- How we pick the winners -- We use a random number generator and if it matches (a) a real attempt at an answer (which all of them usually are) and (b) we can contact the person (we will go searching for your contact on your blog, Twitter, website), then that person is the winner. If either (a) or (b) isn't true, we generate another random number and start over.
- No purchase is required to enter. This contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada 18 years old and older. Void where prohibited. Your comments will be displayed without further approval or compensation.
27 comments:
I'm hoping this year to "cast off" my shyness. I'm a 24 year old mother and I still get nervous when making a phone call, meeting new people or even seeing people that I haven't seen in a while. For the sake of my son, I am going to try to be more outgoing and to leave my nervous hang ups in the past.
K'siva v'chasima tova!
This year I'm casting off the need to be right all the time...or to get angry with people when they are hateful etc...it's not making my life a positive experience and it needs to go.
This goes especially for my board (I'm Temple president)and I do get frustrated. I need to do better about mindful listening and careful answering.
I am casting off my need for validation and approval from others, pursuing false highs, and distractions which steal me away from what is really important in my life.
This year I am casting off arguments and debates with those who have opposing political views. I will no longer allow myself to be "bated" into these discussions. It is such a waste of energy (and venom) to try to change what is essentially in peoples hearts. I will let the votes decide, and keep my politically opposing friendships on a friendlier level, by refusing to debate with the ones I like!
The mainstream New year is often about resolutions and I no longer "just resolve" to do anything. It sounds passive and gives me a feeling of a last ditch attempt, like I've let something go horridly wrong in the past. The shofar, and the Jewish New Year, is empowering, it is about opening one's eyes.
So, my wake up call is to be more aware every day. Be aware of my temple needs, as membership chair, be aware of the Jewish community and, the mainstream, to help all not just a group. To be aware of my role as a mother and wife. To be aware of my own needs and desires, to be the best person I can be. To network more to help raise others up to their aspirations. So, the shofar call is my awareness call, and it isn't even sounding yet, and I can see more clearly and hear it echo through me - I am honestly blessed.
I am casting off my fear of change! I am proactively making amends to those people and areas in my life that have been damaged or stagnated as a result of this fear. I am opening up my life to embrace the uncomfortable in realization that every challenge gives me an opportunity to remove chaos from my life and reveal the true me!
This Rosh HaShana I will do my best to cease judging and condemning myself for being imperfect. My effort will be to do my best to be a good person and a good Jew, and to look at others with the same merciful eye that I am determined to see myself.
Shulamit Rosner
Renewal is such a beautiful part of Judaism, and this year, I've renewed everything! New job, new city, and a new outlook on life: I'm going to "cast off" my obsession with future successes and learn how to make every moment joyous and meaningful.
I am starting the new year by moving from Vilnius to Krakow. For five years I have worked to create a new Jewish library in the Jerusalem of Lithuania. Sadly things did not work out. However, instead of giving up I am now working with Poland's Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich to help create a beautiful new library. My new year and every new year for the rest of my life will be spent promoting Jewish culture and fighting anti-Semitism.
Wyman Brent
jewishlibrary on Twitter
I could not walk for 18 months and have relearned how albeit with a limp. I will try to cast out the thoughts in my mind that I am disabled/challenged/old. This is holding me back from many activities and events. I hope that my spirit will exude health and well being and that no one will be able to note that I am challenged. I will try to lift the spirits and cast away my shyness and try to eliminate the doubt of others who think they can not do something in life.
As a mom to a two-year old who is increasingly interested and engaged in the world, I will cast off less important activities to focus on enriching him Jewishly, at synagogue and elsewhere, and make sure he gains a sense of joy, belonging and comfort in Judaism.
Dana Reichman
dreichman on Twitter
In the new year, I'm giving up plastic. I've given it a test run and yes, it's impossible. For the new year though, I'm gonna do my best to avoid all things plastic. Sure it won't change the world, but it might change the way I see the world.
J. Culp
jaculp@ncat.edu
I'm casting off my big mouth! It's one thing to be opinionated but it's quite another to find myself drifting into criticism- of myself, my circumstances, or those around me. I want this year to truly be one of sweetness, and my mission is to cast off all the bitterness and irritation that comes from being a grown-up in the world today. Buh-bye "wouldashouldacouldas", hello mindful gratitude (or at the very least...duct tape!)
This year, I'm casting off negativity. After what was the worst 18 months of my life to date, I've decided to keep as much negative crap out of my life as possible. It'll involve frightening things to be sure, like not staying in a horrible work environment just because the economy is crappy and I'm glad to have a job. I'm also looking for a job with a purpose; something that isn't just bottom line and end product, but puts some good back into the world (or at least tries with all it's might to). I'm already volunteering for a couple groups like that and I'm hoping to channel that experience into a job that will let me do the same.
This year I'm casting off procrastination and pick up my guitar. Music is such a big part of the tribe, and I'd like to bring it to my family and friends. Yeah, I know that David played a harp, but I bet if he had a Gibson Les Paul, he'd have rocked out!
This year, I'm going to cast off my laziness and get involved in the local Jewish community!
I think ... the only thing I'm doing new this year is not trying to do anything new, the only change I'm making is I'm not making any purposeful change. I'm being myself, as I am. That's it. :-)
No more silly facebook memes that eat up all available time.
I'm expecting a baby on the second day of R.H. -- doesn't get any more symbolic than that, does it?
I always make a Rosh Hashana Resolution. This year it's to be true to myself. Evey month this next year I want to try something new-- life is for living. This month it's glass blowing. I hope to expand my cultural boundaries and maybe inspire others to do the same. I don't want to wale up one day and realize I have said "no" to living. I can't wait to stumble onto these new experiences and let them open my eyes to a world fully experienced.
I am going to cast off my impatience, shortness, and snappiness by taking in the lessons HHD always remind me of each year. It's a work in progress, a process.
I can be contacted at carrieplant AT gmail
I am going to cast off my unhealthy habits. I will create an exercise program and stick with it and not eat foods I shouldn't be eating.
I can be contacted at my email address which is abeauparlant AT gmail
Shanah Tovah
I'm casting off to the max.
I'll be starting 5770 shomer negiah, on Weight Watchers (again), living out my Jewishness to the max, and trying to regulate my calendar better.
Here's hoping when the Gregorian New Year comes I have something to prove for it :)
"In what ways are you "casting off" and starting new this year?"
1) by identifying, admitting & "owning" past actions by the method of personal self responsibilty for the past years activities that need change for the better.
2) by "separating" from these past actions, thus returning (teshuvah) to "original self" as a totally new person free of any past attachments to that energy.
3)by "sweetening" the past actions in time when i'm feeling strengthened by incorporationg these aspects of self or soul that had made mistakes in the past and forging a new path utilizing the energy of the past in new healthy and kosher ways.
remember... just because we make mistakes doesn't mean that we are mistakes!
also... g-d doesn't do things to us g-d does things for us!
Casting off old junk. Dirty, dusty, broken things (some fixable). I'm purging my junk while refreshing my soul. Giving to charities, free lists, and friends. It's like spring cleaning, only it's fall, ya know?
Let me know if I won at flowerj5 (AT) yahoo
Shalom
I am casting off negative influences and people. My soul needs to thrive and I need nourishment with people of worth.
i am casting aside the religion i was raised in & am converting in the new year. i have been filled w/ trepidation about this step, feeling that it wasn't my place to decide to be Jewish, or that i would be unwelcome. i am scared but excited to face the challenges & learning experiences ahead.
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