Rabbi Eleanor Steinman

The past two years have been filled with lots of changes.  One of the most significant is that I now work out with a trainer which has propelled me into a major lifestyle change, lots more working out.  I find that working out more often has really affected lots of things in positive ways.  In addition to being in better shape which is sort of obvious, I also find that I am making healthier choices in lots of ways.  A surprising benefit is that I find that when I concentrate on something during the day after working out I am much more capable of focusing.

The real surprise is when I also take the opportunity to pray on a workout day I am able to connect more deeply with the experience itself.  This might seem contradictory to my post of last week, I am not only introducing in sharing my challenges but also the ways I overcome them, or at least attempt to.

Do you workout?  Do you pray?  Do you find a connection between the two?

It took me awhile and finally I saw Avatar.  I saw it in 3-d and it was well worth it (though wearing the 3-d glasses over my glasses was quite uncomfortable).  The plot of the story wasn’t so unique (yes I do think it was just like Fern Gully).  I do think that visually it was incredibly rich.  I could not take my eyes off the screen or take a bathroom break which was somewhat needed though not at an emergency level.

I do not think that the film will win best picture, though it surely shall win for special effects and probably some other awards, too.

What I don’t entirely understand is, how can a movie that is visually so amazing be so lacking in story line.  It was completely predictable.  The relationships were completely obvious.  I don’t want to give anything away in case someone hasn’t seen anything I guess I just expected a little bit more.

I’ve seen a lot of things online that look at the symbolism in the film and explain it and I just don’t think that is entirely necessary.  It is just a movie.  I don’t expect that Avatar 2 will be make an appearance.  How will the special effects that are so captivating make their way into another film?

Also, with such a dig against big corporations and their means of plundering the world, even other worlds, how can James Cameron, who spent millions of dollars justify this movie?  It all seems a little contradictory to me.

Did anyone else find that it was as though James Cameron knew that the iPad was going to be introduced a short time after the release of Avatar?

It is here.  The day that most sports fans have waited for, Superbowl Sunday!

Or, if that doesn’t make you excited…

It is here.  The day that most sports fans have waited for, the commercials on Superbowl Sunday!

Since the Vikings are out, I don’t really care that much who wins (though I’ll be rooting for New Orleans).  Who are you rooting for?

Or…

Are they having a Bud Bowl this year?  Who do you think will win and just how many commercials with Clydesdales do you think there will be?

And here is some serious proof.

Ketchup will never be the same.

This week in the Torah we read Parshat Yitro, the story of Revelation.  Just forty-nine days after the crossing of the Sea of Reeds and Redemption, this emerging community is made into a covenantal community.  No longer will the Israelite people be connected by individuals with Divine experience (like Moses).  Now we’re a unified community with rules, laws and consequences.  Every time we read of the Sinai experience we’re reminded that every Jewish soul that ever will exist was present.  Do you remember what it was like?  I hope to spend Shabbat this week trying to do just that.

And because I try to have a sense of humor sometimes, for your viewing pleasure…

Even more on DADT.

Take a look here.  Did you write to Congress yet?  I did yesterday and it was so easy.  Remember, faxes and emails are most effective!  Calls are great, too.  Here is a list of contact information for the Senate.  Here is a way to find your representative in the House and how to contact them.  There’s work to be done.

This is from HRC.

In just a few hours, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen will be meeting with senators about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Have military leaders heeded the growing call to end discrimination in the military? Not necessarily. A Pentagon spokesman said, “The Joint Chiefs have been thinking through how they would go about offering their best advice on this issue.”

Don’t you just love Washington double-speak?

We need Congress to know there’s immense public pressure on this issue. As they decide how to respond to today’s hearing – whether to push this repeal forward or push it aside – they need to hear from you immediately.

Tell your representative and senators to repeal this discriminatory law NOW.

In case you missed it, I’m forwarding the email I sent after President Obama’s State of the Union speech, announcing our $2+ million campaign to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Please join us in this crucial effort.

I admit it.  Prayer is not easy and sometimes, it is downright hard.  This morning I led minyan, I was fortunate to be able to attend yesterday, too.  I have to say that I am in the midst of a struggle.  From time to time this happens to me.  Whether it is my emotional state, my busy mind that sometimes struggles to achieve quiet, whatever it is, prayer is hard. I find when this happens to me the best thing for me to do is to keep praying.  It seems almost counter intuitive.  When something is difficult why does it makes sense to do it more often?  I am not entirely certain of the reason, I just know from experience this is what works for me. Let me be clear.  Challenges with prayer don’t indicate a void in my spirituality.  I actually find naming the struggle deepens my spiritual experience.

I read Vanity Fair.  Sometimes it takes me a little longer than I might like to get through an issue.  This isn’t to say I am not always reading.  I am.  This month’s issue, or shall I say, the February 2010 issue has Tiger Woods on the cover.  I need to be honest.  I think one of the reasons I haven’t read the issue is because I don’t really care very much about this Tiger Woods story.  I know it has taken up much of the news since American Thanksgiving and I know he is a great golfer but I don’t really like golf very much and I feel badly for the Woods family but that is about it.  Why is it still a story?  What is it about celebrity’s lives that is so fascinating?  If anyone has some suggestions, I’m interested.