My dear Friends
Last Wednesday evening, Thursday and Friday was the Jewish New year, known as Rosh Hashanah. I celebrated it by saying some prayers , lighting the festival candles, drinking some kosher wine and eating apples and honey. This is a tradition to ensure you have a sweet New Year.
Rosh Hashanah is a penitential time, when the Jewish people ask for the forgiveness of their sins. It leads into the ten days of Penitence and then into Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.Yom Kipppur is a fast day, with strictly no food and no water.People spend all day in the Synagogue, fasting and praying.White is traditionally worn, as a sign of purity.There is a great feeling of grace working. There are several services, culminating in the Neilah service-Closure-the closing of the gates of repentance.
One tradition on Rosh Hashanah is to throw your sins in the river, in a symbolic gesture. The ceremony is called Tashlich and I always remember enjoying this as a child, when we would celebrate Rosh Hashanah in a Jewish hotel by the seaside.
Shana tova!
Happy New Year!
Sister Gila
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Thursday, 9 September 2010
9/11
My dear Friends
I am writing this 2 days ahead of time as I may not get to a computer on the actual day. Who can forget 9/11? It is embedded in our memories. I was still living with Benigna at the time, at Newton Road in Cambridge, where I lived for 16 years. It was hard to believe the reports as they came in. Thaat eveing a friend of ours, Natania came by. She was weeping as she gave me a bear hig at the door.She was concerned about the Jewish people in the twin towers but was really weeping in solidarity with the whole world. Afterwards we held a little service upstairs.
Benigna's daughter, Ruth was also with us.'There's always redemption,' she said wisely. As I knelt down to say my night prayer beside my bed that evening I suddenly remembered my friend Irene who was in New York. Something made me dial her number in Cambrdge and, miraculously, Irene answered. 'I got back from New York last night 'she said-a miracle indeed.
Retribution is never the answer. We are all thinking how misguided and utterly wrong for the pastor in America to even think of burning copies of the Koran, which can only be an incendiary gesture in so many ways. We must fuel the flames of peace, not hate.
On the Sunday after 9/11 our Parish priest preached a sermon. In it he said that there was a group of people at the foot of the twin towers and they were doing something but othere could not discern what. Going closer, they realised they were dancing.FOR THE PURE JOY OF LIVING.
Let us remember that as we commemorate this 9/11.
Shalom from
Sister Gila
I am writing this 2 days ahead of time as I may not get to a computer on the actual day. Who can forget 9/11? It is embedded in our memories. I was still living with Benigna at the time, at Newton Road in Cambridge, where I lived for 16 years. It was hard to believe the reports as they came in. Thaat eveing a friend of ours, Natania came by. She was weeping as she gave me a bear hig at the door.She was concerned about the Jewish people in the twin towers but was really weeping in solidarity with the whole world. Afterwards we held a little service upstairs.
Benigna's daughter, Ruth was also with us.'There's always redemption,' she said wisely. As I knelt down to say my night prayer beside my bed that evening I suddenly remembered my friend Irene who was in New York. Something made me dial her number in Cambrdge and, miraculously, Irene answered. 'I got back from New York last night 'she said-a miracle indeed.
Retribution is never the answer. We are all thinking how misguided and utterly wrong for the pastor in America to even think of burning copies of the Koran, which can only be an incendiary gesture in so many ways. We must fuel the flames of peace, not hate.
On the Sunday after 9/11 our Parish priest preached a sermon. In it he said that there was a group of people at the foot of the twin towers and they were doing something but othere could not discern what. Going closer, they realised they were dancing.FOR THE PURE JOY OF LIVING.
Let us remember that as we commemorate this 9/11.
Shalom from
Sister Gila
Thursday, 2 September 2010
The Cevennes
My dear Friends
On the next day my friends Andre and Marie Odile took me to the mountains where they have a lovely house. The house is situated in a village one hour's drive from NImes, also through lots of villages with the lovely plane trees.We arrived in the early afternoon. The mountains were tall and covered with trees. The village itself dates back to the 12th Century and there was a portico to prove it. The house nestles above a river, now sadly lacking in water because of the summer heat. There are several beautiful houses facing the one of Andre. This house belonged to his parents and he was raised there, so lots of happy memories. There is even a vine overshadowing the terrace and giving some badly wanted shade from the blistering sun.
That evening we dined on the terrace and a full moon rose above the mountains, making a really beautiful sight. We had walked a little way round the village and discovered it was on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella in spain-the famous shell of St James was embedded into one of the buildings. The steets were narrow, emerging into little squares now and then.
The next day we drove into the mountains, high up into a village where there was a 12th Century church. The stone was immaculate in this rounded building and we were able to discover a little of the history of the church from a tape playing inside. Services are still held there. The villages are mainly Catholic but in Andres village there is also a Protestant temple.
On our return to Nimes Andre took me to the coliseum, a very ancient building where they stilll have bullfights! And we made a brief tour of the city although there will be much to see when I hopefully make another trip next Spring.
So-lots of happy memories!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
On the next day my friends Andre and Marie Odile took me to the mountains where they have a lovely house. The house is situated in a village one hour's drive from NImes, also through lots of villages with the lovely plane trees.We arrived in the early afternoon. The mountains were tall and covered with trees. The village itself dates back to the 12th Century and there was a portico to prove it. The house nestles above a river, now sadly lacking in water because of the summer heat. There are several beautiful houses facing the one of Andre. This house belonged to his parents and he was raised there, so lots of happy memories. There is even a vine overshadowing the terrace and giving some badly wanted shade from the blistering sun.
That evening we dined on the terrace and a full moon rose above the mountains, making a really beautiful sight. We had walked a little way round the village and discovered it was on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella in spain-the famous shell of St James was embedded into one of the buildings. The steets were narrow, emerging into little squares now and then.
The next day we drove into the mountains, high up into a village where there was a 12th Century church. The stone was immaculate in this rounded building and we were able to discover a little of the history of the church from a tape playing inside. Services are still held there. The villages are mainly Catholic but in Andres village there is also a Protestant temple.
On our return to Nimes Andre took me to the coliseum, a very ancient building where they stilll have bullfights! And we made a brief tour of the city although there will be much to see when I hopefully make another trip next Spring.
So-lots of happy memories!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Provence
My dear Friends
Unfortunately I didn't stay in France as long as I had hoped but I still had a wonderful time. Iarrived to slightly cloudy skies but the air was still warm. After having lunch with my friends in their lovely house in Nimes, they suggested a drive to the village of St-Etienne-du-Gres.It was nearby, in the community of The Sisters of Pomeyrol ,that the foundation of The Little Sisters of Joy took place in 1998.
So many happy memories-we sat in a cafe and watched the world go by as I reminisced. I remembered every detail of the village, especially the plane trees which are incredibly beautiful. And the lovely little shops all along the main street, as well as the Church on the corner.Then Andre suggested we drive to a rather grand Abbey, called Saint Michel de Frigolet. where several monks still live and work. The towers and stonework were rather fine, as were the two Churches in the grounds. They were rather austere, but with some lovely stained glass and of course deeply quiet. I lit a large candle and prayed. Afterwards we walked gently up and down the grounds, taking it all in.
To be continued!
Shalom
Sister Gila
Unfortunately I didn't stay in France as long as I had hoped but I still had a wonderful time. Iarrived to slightly cloudy skies but the air was still warm. After having lunch with my friends in their lovely house in Nimes, they suggested a drive to the village of St-Etienne-du-Gres.It was nearby, in the community of The Sisters of Pomeyrol ,that the foundation of The Little Sisters of Joy took place in 1998.
So many happy memories-we sat in a cafe and watched the world go by as I reminisced. I remembered every detail of the village, especially the plane trees which are incredibly beautiful. And the lovely little shops all along the main street, as well as the Church on the corner.Then Andre suggested we drive to a rather grand Abbey, called Saint Michel de Frigolet. where several monks still live and work. The towers and stonework were rather fine, as were the two Churches in the grounds. They were rather austere, but with some lovely stained glass and of course deeply quiet. I lit a large candle and prayed. Afterwards we walked gently up and down the grounds, taking it all in.
To be continued!
Shalom
Sister Gila
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Holiday
My dear Friends
I hope to be away from Monday 23rd August until Wednesday 1st September on my little holiday in Provence. See you on my return.
Shalom from
Sister Gila
I hope to be away from Monday 23rd August until Wednesday 1st September on my little holiday in Provence. See you on my return.
Shalom from
Sister Gila
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
a future holiday
My dear Friends
I met Andre at the Catholic church one Sunday after the service. He told me that was 63 and had come over to CAmbridge from France to study English at a language school. Very brave, as he hardly knew a word before he arrived!
In the course of our friendship I took him to Ely for the day and we sauntered round and looked at the Cathedral twice-he was very struck with it. We were having coffee afterwards when he issued an invitation to come to France to visit him and his family.
I knew nothing about Nimes, the town in Provence from which he comes. It was where denims originated-de Nimes-and is a beautiful town with Roman remains. Andre has a little summer house about an hour's drive from there which for sure he will take me too.
Beyond that I remain ignorant until 23rd August when I fly from Luton to Nimes to visit Andre. All I know is that the weather will be hot 35 -40 degrees and I must buy some summer clothes. The rest remains a lovely hidden experience and what I am sure will be an intersting holiday.
Catch you later!
shalom from
Sister Gila
I met Andre at the Catholic church one Sunday after the service. He told me that was 63 and had come over to CAmbridge from France to study English at a language school. Very brave, as he hardly knew a word before he arrived!
In the course of our friendship I took him to Ely for the day and we sauntered round and looked at the Cathedral twice-he was very struck with it. We were having coffee afterwards when he issued an invitation to come to France to visit him and his family.
I knew nothing about Nimes, the town in Provence from which he comes. It was where denims originated-de Nimes-and is a beautiful town with Roman remains. Andre has a little summer house about an hour's drive from there which for sure he will take me too.
Beyond that I remain ignorant until 23rd August when I fly from Luton to Nimes to visit Andre. All I know is that the weather will be hot 35 -40 degrees and I must buy some summer clothes. The rest remains a lovely hidden experience and what I am sure will be an intersting holiday.
Catch you later!
shalom from
Sister Gila
Monday, 2 August 2010
A trip to the sea
My dear Friends
In the height of summer I had the chance to go on a coach trip to Great Yarmouth. It was run by Lifecraft, a place for people who have suffered from mental health problems. They normally run all sorts of activites, from a singing group to an art group to a women's group, which is the one I normally go to on a thursday afternoon.
It was raining on saturday but that didn't deter us as we piled onto the coach. It was a fairly long journey-2 hours-but we chatted happily and ate lots of sweets. We arived in Yarmouth about 1pm.
First we ate delicious fish and chips in a little restaurant and then basically strolled round for the afternoon, some of us looking at the shops for sandals and bags. I felt it was a pity we could not go on the horse and cart but it really was too expensive.
We split into 2 groups and I went with the group who wanted to see Seaworld, a huge attraction with all kinds of fish large and small and a group of delightful penguins who were having their feeding time which was amusing. It was quite surreal to see the sword fish, very beautiful, swimming round in their little tanks-apparently they are faithful creatures who mate for life. And they do a kind of dance in the water. big fish too - almost the size of sharks - swimming around. It was very instructive as well as entertaining.
Afterwards we wwent down to the sea and I paddle in the cold water- a very spiritual moment, as I remember praying by the sea in 1988 for my mother when I was on my way to becoming a Christian. Lovely to have the sand between my toes.
Then more coffee and a chat to a lady called Sue whom I had remet after meeting her some months ago when we were both in the hospital.the others had apparently gone to the Pleasure Beach and gone on some of the rides but I was not sorry to have missed out as the last time I got really dizzy on a ride called the Waltzer.
So home after another pleasurable day!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
In the height of summer I had the chance to go on a coach trip to Great Yarmouth. It was run by Lifecraft, a place for people who have suffered from mental health problems. They normally run all sorts of activites, from a singing group to an art group to a women's group, which is the one I normally go to on a thursday afternoon.
It was raining on saturday but that didn't deter us as we piled onto the coach. It was a fairly long journey-2 hours-but we chatted happily and ate lots of sweets. We arived in Yarmouth about 1pm.
First we ate delicious fish and chips in a little restaurant and then basically strolled round for the afternoon, some of us looking at the shops for sandals and bags. I felt it was a pity we could not go on the horse and cart but it really was too expensive.
We split into 2 groups and I went with the group who wanted to see Seaworld, a huge attraction with all kinds of fish large and small and a group of delightful penguins who were having their feeding time which was amusing. It was quite surreal to see the sword fish, very beautiful, swimming round in their little tanks-apparently they are faithful creatures who mate for life. And they do a kind of dance in the water. big fish too - almost the size of sharks - swimming around. It was very instructive as well as entertaining.
Afterwards we wwent down to the sea and I paddle in the cold water- a very spiritual moment, as I remember praying by the sea in 1988 for my mother when I was on my way to becoming a Christian. Lovely to have the sand between my toes.
Then more coffee and a chat to a lady called Sue whom I had remet after meeting her some months ago when we were both in the hospital.the others had apparently gone to the Pleasure Beach and gone on some of the rides but I was not sorry to have missed out as the last time I got really dizzy on a ride called the Waltzer.
So home after another pleasurable day!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
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