Contents:
• The week in review; My yom huledes, or, In pursuit of becoming the "Possible Man."
• MLK day in the virtual classroom
• New Q&A feature with Mayim Bialik, PhD
• New feature - Room613 photo section!
• 4th Torah Home Education Conference
• New cd, "The Four Worlds," from homeschooling dad/musician/composer/producer Daniel Gil - - a must hear!
• Essay - Applying the principles of Martin Luther King to resolve conflict in the Jewish family homeschool, or "I have a dream!"
• The weekly parsha - Va'eira
• Other announcements; weekly davening circle, blogs.
• "The Doctor is In," a new blog from Dr. Nicole Brackman.
__
I hope you had a good week. In Room613, we did. We had a large group gather in the virtual classroom on Monday to mark Dr. Martin Luther King day. We watched a video of an excerpt of his most famous speech, “I have a dream,” and we discussed another speech he gave at Temple Israel of Hollywood, where he discussed some concepts that happen to be in our parsha. We also looked at six important principles achieving of change through non-violence. (See the essay below).
We also marked my yom huledes/b-day on Wednesday with a virtual party. We earned about some Jewish birthday customs, made a sh'hechyanu on a new fruit, and enjoyed some snacks, while we showered each other with brachos. One student remarked that I am "twice as old as his father." While his math was off, (thank G-d!), it was a somewhat sobering reminder that I am not getting any younger. (I am still trying to pinpoint just exactly when did I become older than the parents of my students?)
This year, as I moved through that day with a very conscious awareness of it, I reflected on the import of my yom huledes, and I was filled with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. It's hard to put into words, but I found myself becoming quite emotional over the 24 hour period, as I considered the friends, and experiences, that collectively make up my life, but mainly the past 25 years. As I made a blessing of sh'hechyanu on a mango with the class, I felt supremely grateful to haKadosh Baruch Hu (G-d) for bringing me to this point. "Thank You, G-d, for allowing me to reach this moment!" And boy, did I mean it.
Part of this feeling is due to the amazing journey I have been on over the past 25 years. You see, I have been on a quest for self-actualization and self-discovery, a journey of healing, from both acute and chronic illness, of both the body and soul. (In the process, I believe I may have stumbled upon the secret to reversing the aging process. More on that in another post.)
For the past 25 years, I have experimented - conscientiously, passionately, and with almost scientific rigor - with food as a powerful healing agent. Macrobiotics, vegetarianism, non-inflammatory diets and other variations, and now a very-close-to-vegan-whole-food diet. I am currently seeing an amazing naturopathic doctor, and I have never felt better. The epiphanies I am gaining, almost daily, never cease to amaze me. I have seen incredible results, both in the physical and spiritual realms, from this very disciplined and conscious method of eating. (I am in the process of writing about this for a new blog for Natural Jewish Parenting. Look for it soon.)
In thinking about this - the connection of a birthday, the past, the future, and health, it occurred to me that I am actually considering the confluence of memory and health, the intersection of the mind with the body, the physical with the spiritual. The body itself, the muscles and organs, are said to have a certain capacity for memory. I am reminded of a beautiful passage from "The Possible Man," a book I am currently reading. It is a very special book, written by Meir Michel Abehsera (Swan House, 1992, pg. 96), one of the early catalysts for my own journey.
"There is no limit to what memory can achieve. It is the source, the common font which, when tapped, can resolve all contradictions, and remind all people that they are at once equal and unique. Bound to our past, assured of our future, we are freed to become ourselves. One who remembers his origin in dust and ashes, and his end as a nest for worms, becomes humble enough to be crowned a king. Memory is the medium of a settled mind. It is the best medicine, too; for no matter who or what the agent or healing may be, real cure is effected by the strength that is found within. It is a process of reawakening to the model of health that is stored within our genes."
I look forward to sharing what I have learned with anyone who cares to hear. Let's start a dialogue. How do you factor in health and food issues to your family homeschool? I am happy to host a forum in the virtual classroom.
Suffice it to say that this week, it all added up to an overwhelming feeling of hakaras hatov, a feeling of great thankfulness. (And a theme of the parsha, as well.)
So thank you to all of you, and to HaShem, for being my companions on this amazing journey.
__
New Q&A feature with Mayim Bialik
I am excited to announce that Room613 and its sister site, Natural Jewish Parenting, will be hosting a new feature with actress, neuroscientist, and homeschooling mom Mayim Bialik, PhD. Mayim will be answering questions from readers about Jewish parenting and Jewish homeschooling. Submit your questions now!
http://www.room613.net/members/room613/blog/VIEW/00000015/00000202/New-QA-feature-with-Mayim-Bialik .html
___
New feature - Room613 photo section!
We now have photos of many of our events, available for your enjoyment. They can be accessed from the home page (towards the bottom) or here:
http://www.room613.net/members/room613/gallery/AA
___
From the sponsors of the 4th Torah Home Education Conference:
“Please mark your calendar to visit Baltimore on Sunday May 6th and plan to attend this marvelous event. Make the Torah Home Education Conference a "must" on your homeschooling agenda.
The conference is a fabulous source of support, inspiration and camaraderie for all. Look for more information regarding this special event as the program develops.
Also, we want to know what you want to see in YOUR homeschooling conference. Please take time to complete the following survey” -
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/29MSH87
For more info, please contact Yael@aldrich613@hotmail.com.
___
*The Four Worlds* - new cd from composer/musician Daniel Gil
Daniel Gil has been a good friend of mine for the past twenty years. Two of his daughters take classes at Room613. A gifted musician and composer, he has just released a new cd, entitled “The Four Worlds.” Rich, varied, captivating, and sonically diverse, this cd is a treasure. I highly recommend it. It is available from cdbaby or Amazon as a download. (The short song samples there do not do it justice.)
I am totally taken with this new cd. Daniel wrote it, arranged it, engineered and produced it. I play guitar on one song. It even has a symphony orchestra on it. Support a talented Jewish musician and homeschooler, and buy this fantastic cd. It is a must-hear.
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/DanielGil1
http://www.amazon.com/The-Four-Worlds/dp/B006XDTP9A/ref=sr_shvl_album_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1326830369& amp;sr=301-3
___
Davening Circle
Every morning, from 9:30 - 9:45 AM, homeschooling children from around the country gather to daven together. This is a free, open group, to any type of member, and any age children. We would love for you to join us! See our homepage for more info.
__
(To read the following essay in its entirety - and I hope you will! - follow the link below. I hope you will read it, and let me know your thoughts.)
Essay - Applying the Principles of Dr. Martin Luther King to resolve conflict in the Jewish family homeschool, or "I have a dream!"
Many of us had off from work this Monday, due to the observance of MLK day. I wrestled with the question of whether or not to cancel classes - most schools are closed. But Room613 is not a “S-chool.” (Perhaps a “s-chool.”) But I do follow the general calendar of other Jewish day schools. Umm, usually. Sort of.
Partly inspired by the idea that MLK day should be a day of action, and not rest, I decided to have...
http://tinyurl.com/84enyhh
_____
*The Weekly Parsha* - Va'eira
Rebbe Shimon teaches in the Zohar connected with this week's Torah reading that the deepest exile is not to know of the existence of G-d - in general or in particular. Egypt was the essence of all exiles and this lack of knowledge of G-d was the darkest aspect of that exile. We constantly remember coming out of Egypt because that is the essence of the struggle in our own lives - to leave the darkness and to know G-d.
From the teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, translation & commentary by Simcha-Shmuel Treister
www.kabbalaonline.org/
__
Our Facebook pages turn out to be where we are posting a lot of info. and pictures, too. Please visit us there (and why not “friend us” while you’re at it?) -
Room613
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Room613/181973811814410
Mercaz Machshava Tova
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mercaz-Machshava-Tova/246783082038915
___
Blogs Not to Miss!
Yael's Blogs
For my wife Yael's unique take on homeschooling and parenting, please visit her blogs:
Leia's Laboratory
http://tinyurl.com/7ucetz2
Morah Miriam Shapiro
http://tinyurl.com/79fzklm
NEW BLOG! Dr. Nicole Brackman - "The Doctor is In"
http://tinyurl.com/72o8x69
___
