My dear Friends
I arrived on the other side of the pond, as we were landing I lifted my arms and sang Summertime-everyone enjoyed it, a lady said-'Are you a nervous flyer??' but they clapped as we landed which I have only ever seen before coming to the airport in Tel Aviv.
But to me I am on holy ground. today I went to a new neighbourhood, called Eglinton, the whole world was there. First I saw a beautiful Synagogue, founded in 194o's, and they seem friendly, although I was not able to see the actual place of prayer as a wedding was in progress. but I caught sight of the bride!
Then I came across a Catholic Church where Mass was proceeding-as i was not too late, i went in and joined them. In Spanish-and full of Joy, perhaps even a potential for worship and work in the future. Further on the retired members of the community were sitting side by side enjoying the sun and helping each other, Jamaicans, Algerians Jews, goodness who all else. Then I sat in macdonalds and at last my mind was blank after months and years of hopefully fruitful creativity and I felt happy and it was all different but wonderful at the same time.
Now in Dufferin - the first neighbourhood I stayed in when I returned after 20 years, but here is a bit hype and I preferred the more 'ordinary' place of Eglinton, with the Chinese supermarket and the lovely fruit, and the wonderful people.Still-first chance of an internet cafe, and tonight I go to Pyhllis to chill some more, put my feet up and confide how happy i am to a close friend.
Love you all! As I am sure they say in florida...wonder what tha's like??
Bye for now and shalom
Sister Gila
Sunday, 31 August 2008
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Rainbow bridge
My dear Friends
Life is never dull and every day there links with Canada. I spend time occasionally in a cafe on the other side of town, and a little while ago I met a young woman serving there from Montreal. Montreal is one of my favourite cities in the world, it is incredibly diverse, perhaps more so than Toronto, but it is 20 years since I have been there.
I remember going into a restaurant alone, and being given the best table by the head waiter-this custom of honouring single women who dine was new to me. At the end of the evening I asked the waitress for directions and when she spoke in her lovely French-Canadian style I was very touched. More than all that, it was the place where I went into the Cathedral and was struck by the beauty of the liturgical language of the Mass.
A Jewish friend of Beningna's lent me her apartment in Montreal in that summer of '88, and I used to go down to a cafe by the water for breakfast: halycon days, and I long to 'go home.'
One week from now, I go to my sister-in-law's house near Gatwick, to spend a couple of days with my family. then, on 29 August, I will be in the air and winging my way to Toronto. On Sep 11th, very symbolic, I will flying again, this time to Calgary and my cousins out West. On both journeys I will spend time in prayer, thanking God for all He has brought to me and the wonderful life I have.
Be well! And I will try to do the same!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
Life is never dull and every day there links with Canada. I spend time occasionally in a cafe on the other side of town, and a little while ago I met a young woman serving there from Montreal. Montreal is one of my favourite cities in the world, it is incredibly diverse, perhaps more so than Toronto, but it is 20 years since I have been there.
I remember going into a restaurant alone, and being given the best table by the head waiter-this custom of honouring single women who dine was new to me. At the end of the evening I asked the waitress for directions and when she spoke in her lovely French-Canadian style I was very touched. More than all that, it was the place where I went into the Cathedral and was struck by the beauty of the liturgical language of the Mass.
A Jewish friend of Beningna's lent me her apartment in Montreal in that summer of '88, and I used to go down to a cafe by the water for breakfast: halycon days, and I long to 'go home.'
One week from now, I go to my sister-in-law's house near Gatwick, to spend a couple of days with my family. then, on 29 August, I will be in the air and winging my way to Toronto. On Sep 11th, very symbolic, I will flying again, this time to Calgary and my cousins out West. On both journeys I will spend time in prayer, thanking God for all He has brought to me and the wonderful life I have.
Be well! And I will try to do the same!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
Sunday, 10 August 2008
Charitable status
My dear Friends
I am delighted to tell you that The Little Sisters of Joy, as an international Foundation for Prayer, Peace and Reconciliation, will one day become a registered charity, based in the UK. The process has begun, with the help of an accountant, and once all the required conditions are in place should reach its goal. My intention is to proceed slowly and carefully, but it would be wonderful if this could be achieved by the time my papers to emigrate to Canada (still some way off) have come through.
The Religious Community of women, living and praying together is taking shape and we will one day live together in Toronto.
What are the advantages of making the Foundation into a registered charity? There are several, and they work together on different dimensions. The Little Sisters of Joy will become an organisation with a proper structure, organised under a recognised body-The Charities Commission-and people will feel that they can make contributions which will allow for tax relief.
Perhaps, just as important, the Foundation will acquire a depth, meaning and purpose, hard to put into words, but which by its very nature, will contribute to Universal Peace.
I invite you to offer your prayers, goodwill and benevolent wishes for the success of the venture.
Love and Shalom
Sister Gila
I am delighted to tell you that The Little Sisters of Joy, as an international Foundation for Prayer, Peace and Reconciliation, will one day become a registered charity, based in the UK. The process has begun, with the help of an accountant, and once all the required conditions are in place should reach its goal. My intention is to proceed slowly and carefully, but it would be wonderful if this could be achieved by the time my papers to emigrate to Canada (still some way off) have come through.
The Religious Community of women, living and praying together is taking shape and we will one day live together in Toronto.
What are the advantages of making the Foundation into a registered charity? There are several, and they work together on different dimensions. The Little Sisters of Joy will become an organisation with a proper structure, organised under a recognised body-The Charities Commission-and people will feel that they can make contributions which will allow for tax relief.
Perhaps, just as important, the Foundation will acquire a depth, meaning and purpose, hard to put into words, but which by its very nature, will contribute to Universal Peace.
I invite you to offer your prayers, goodwill and benevolent wishes for the success of the venture.
Love and Shalom
Sister Gila
Sunday, 3 August 2008
War and Peace
My dear Friends
You may not know that I have Russian blood - my grandparents on my father's side came from Minsk, now Belarus, white Russia, but I consider it Russia nonetheless. I have never discovered if they actually spoke Russian or just Yiddish; certainly my father, who was the first of the ten children to be born in England after they came over (he was born in Leeds in 1897) was a fluent Yiddish speaker. But I have large, expansive emotions, and have always thought that this was 'in the genes.'
One of my 2 favourite books listed on my blog profile is Dr Zhivago by Pasternak, a poet as well as a writer. He came from a Jewish family. In one of the translations of this book, the translators actually state that they don't feel that they have done it justice; precisely because Pasternak was such a beautiful poet, this imbues Dr Zhivago, a novel, as well, so it is so difficult to capture the poetic rhythms of the book in places.
Anna Karenina is a different book, filled with Tolstoy's reflections and theories about how to solve the question of land and the peasants, who of course did not own the land and were subject to their masters. It is also the story of the passionate love affair between Anna Karenina, a woman married to a high-ranking Government official, and Vronsky, a handsome but unscrupulous Captain in the army, who deserts her and treats her so badly that she throws herself under a train.
It is a noble and sweeping book, dealing with important moral questions of exploitation, infidelity and passion to the point of extreme suffering.In some ways it is a deeply religious book, as religious as his 'Resurrection' which was not well acclaimed by the public of the day.
War and Peace...Benigna has just given me both volumes as a present for my new life. In a world where we seem to hover more and more between these two extremes, we must try to find the via media, the middle way, the balance. Only then can we arrive at real peace.
Have a good and peaceful week
Shalom from Sister Gila
You may not know that I have Russian blood - my grandparents on my father's side came from Minsk, now Belarus, white Russia, but I consider it Russia nonetheless. I have never discovered if they actually spoke Russian or just Yiddish; certainly my father, who was the first of the ten children to be born in England after they came over (he was born in Leeds in 1897) was a fluent Yiddish speaker. But I have large, expansive emotions, and have always thought that this was 'in the genes.'
One of my 2 favourite books listed on my blog profile is Dr Zhivago by Pasternak, a poet as well as a writer. He came from a Jewish family. In one of the translations of this book, the translators actually state that they don't feel that they have done it justice; precisely because Pasternak was such a beautiful poet, this imbues Dr Zhivago, a novel, as well, so it is so difficult to capture the poetic rhythms of the book in places.
Anna Karenina is a different book, filled with Tolstoy's reflections and theories about how to solve the question of land and the peasants, who of course did not own the land and were subject to their masters. It is also the story of the passionate love affair between Anna Karenina, a woman married to a high-ranking Government official, and Vronsky, a handsome but unscrupulous Captain in the army, who deserts her and treats her so badly that she throws herself under a train.
It is a noble and sweeping book, dealing with important moral questions of exploitation, infidelity and passion to the point of extreme suffering.In some ways it is a deeply religious book, as religious as his 'Resurrection' which was not well acclaimed by the public of the day.
War and Peace...Benigna has just given me both volumes as a present for my new life. In a world where we seem to hover more and more between these two extremes, we must try to find the via media, the middle way, the balance. Only then can we arrive at real peace.
Have a good and peaceful week
Shalom from Sister Gila
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