On Friday night I was asked to speak about the freedom to marry at Congregation Kol Ami. My sermon can be found here.
I hope others will speak on similar themes in the coming weeks as our nation prepares for oral arguments on Prop 8 and DOMA at the Supreme Court on the first two days of Passover! In my capacity as executive director of California Faith for Equality, I’m happy to speak with you!
I am thrilled to share California Faith for Equality’s CF4E Passover Reading with you. Please share it with your family and friends AND remember to include it in your seder!
Passover Seder Reading
Tonight we read, “in every generation each individual is obligated to see him/herself as though s/he went forth from Egypt.” While we are gathered around our seder table we experience the bitterness of slavery, the maror (bitter herb) and the sadness of injustice even as we delight in the coming spring, the karpas (fresh greens). While we recall our experiences of old we are aware of the injustices of our own time. Our hearts and thoughts turn to those who do not yet experience freedom because of discrimination. Tonight we think of our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and colleagues whose freedom is undermined. We pray that when we gather around the seder table next Passover, the freedom to marry will return to California and the Defense of Marriage Act will no longer be law in our land.
May the One who delivered our people from Egypt enable the justices of the Supreme Court to hear the turning tide and embrace the freedom to marry and the end of DOMA so that all of those who are oppressed may be free!
Written by Rabbi Eleanor Steinman
Executive Director
I wrote about having it all, here. Check it out! Thanks Busy Since Birth for the opportunity.
A few weeks ago I wrote about having trouble reading. One of my awesome classmates and colleagues wisely suggested I get my eyes checked.
Since I couldn’t exactly remember the last time I had my eyes checked this seemed like a brilliant suggestion. (It was definitely when I lived in the T-Dot).
I made an appointment from a recommended ophthalmologist. I packed up my pairs of glasses (I have 2 pair) ready to have my eyes checked and anticipating some change in my prescription (and spending money on a new lenses). All the usual eye doctor things happened. I read the eye chart with each eye covered (not at the same time!). I told him of my troubles with reading of late (also acknowledging that I spend a lot of time looking at screens of various sizes) and I have dry eyes generally.
Then he shocked me.
“You don’t need glasses. At least not for distance.”
What?? I have been wearing glasses for distance since I was a senior in high school. I have taken to wearing glasses most of the time (including prescription sunglasses) and see glasses as helpful but also a fun accessory. Being me I say, “You mean I don’t have to splurge on prescription sunglasses anymore and I could just go pick up a pair anywhere?”
“Sometimes this happens with people your age,” he said.
I think he might have been able to pick my chin up off the floor.
HOWEVER (you know that was coming) he then checked my vision for reading. I need READING glasses. Of course, cheaters won’t work exactly but me and your grandma both need glasses to see best for reading. (Until they’re ready I’ve been increasing the font size on my various devices).
“It is pretty uncommon for someone your age. You might have ___________________, but it just means that you need reading glasses prematurely. Come back in a year and I will check your eyes again,” he said.
The rest of the visit was routine. My eyes were dilated and everything looks healthy.
It’s been about 5 days since the big no glasses move. It still seems like I am missing something or forgetting to put something on when I’m working. I have to say that my eyes feel better.
Awhile ago I posted about having difficulty reading. Well I’m happy to say something changed! I recently read The Invisible Bridge, Gone Girl and The Art of Fielding. I loved them all and would recommend them.
Do you have anything that you’ve read and loved? (Thanks to those of you who commented previously).
You can see what I’ve read in the past here.
Welcome to my new office! That’s right I’m working from home and I need your best practices. I have already figured out that it is important to get outside during the day (no different from an office in a building). Fortunately, my office is in a room that I don’t tend to spend time in outside of the workday. How do you fit in exercise? What do you do for lunch? Fortunately I can also take my personal laptop and work from local coffee shops sometimes, too.
I built this standing desk to sit on top of an old kitchen tablet that was serving as a makeshift desk. The total for the parts was less than $25. So far it is working great. You can make your own by following these instructions. I quickly realized that I needed a gel mat to stand on, the wood floor is quite hard. That should arrive today.
(Yes I know CF4E has a beautiful iMac and there are cords running from the keyboard and mouse. If you would like to make a contribution or purchase a bluetooth keyboard and trackpad, this organization would be delighted to receive your contribution).
Is there anything that I’m missing? What are some of the things you do to make sure you have as productive a workday as possible?
I’m not sure what it is exactly but I just don’t seem to be reading as many books as I once did.
I remember right after MY MOM died I definitely wasn’t reading. My eyes were tired from crying and I was emotionally and physically exhausted most of the time.
Last year while I was in school I was reading a lot but it was mostly for coursework and not for pleasure. What have you noticed in your own reading patterns? Are you reading more or less these days?
My own unprofessional diagnosis is that it has something to do with my eyes being tired from looking at screens (computer, iPad, iPhone, etc.) all day. Thoughts on that?
It’s been almost six months since I started working for California Faith for Equality and while I’ve read a few things, it is nothing like the quantity I used to read. I’ve determined that 2013 will be a year I read more. I will, of course, continue to update this page where I keep track of what I’ve read.
Have you read anything fabulous lately?
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 7,800 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 13 years to get that many views.
2012 has been an outstanding year for movies. With Golden Globes nominations out and Oscar buzz all around this town, I thought I’d give you some of my completely biased reviews.
Some Favorites
Argo – I think this is one of the best films of the year.
Zero Dark Thirty – Jessica Chastain was fantastic. Another best of the year (and I don’t really care if the story is true or not)
Robot & Frank – Probably not going to get much attention but this lovely little film features great acting, a story that reminds humanity of the importance of connection and asks the pertinent question of the role of technology in our lives.
Hitchcock – Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren shine. Are either of them ever not good in a movie?
Cloud Atlas – I loved this film. How the story is constructed, the actors’ talents, loved it.
Flight – ever wonder what addiction really might be like? See this movie. Perhaps one of Denzel Washington’s greatest performances. I think the direction in this was also spot-on and am a bit disappointed there doesn’t seem to be recognition…
Silver Linings Playbook – good acting, important story.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi – technically this came out in 2011 but I didn’t see it until 2012 so I’m putting it here. MY DAD was right. this film is great. And you’re going to want to eat some sushi and/or go to Japan.
Skyfall – Perhaps one of the best Bond films. Worth seeing on the big screen.
The Hunger Games – I liked it. Don’t judge.
You Can Wait on These and Watch Them at Home, They’re Worth It
Lincoln – Yes Daniel Day Lewis is incredible but overall I found the movie slow and at times, tedious.
Moonrise Kingdom – Really good. Would probably be in the category above if it wasn’t this year with so many great films.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – Again, really good.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen – Loved the story. A little quirky. My kind of movie.
Amour – A beautiful foreign film about love, aging, and dignity.
The Dark Knight Rises – Enjoyable though VERY dark
Trouble With the Curve – a very good baseball movie
Les Miserables – I thought it was Les Miserable. Russell Crowe was awful, the singing was sub-par and I thought the camera work was weird.
Movies I Still Want to See and/or Missed in Theaters
The Guilt Trip – hopefully seeing Barbra on screen won’t make me cold like it did at her concert at the Hollywood Bowl
Life of Pi – loved the book
Django Unchained (though I might not see it because it seems so violent)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Last Quartet – Rabbi T said I should add this
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Did I miss anything? What’s on your list for 2012?
Rabbi Eleanor Steinman 