Spiritual Awakenings and Safety Concerns

“The correct response to antisemitism is Jewish pride,” Brett Stephens, American journalist.

“Be 10% Jew-ier in whatever way you want,” Rabbi Craig Axler said during this year’s Rosh Hashanah service at Temple Isaiah.

The author standing by a canal in Venice, Italy wearing a blue dress, red foldie, and her hamsa necklaceBefore leaving for my vacation in Italy last month, I called my best friends, Craig and Pam, and asked them a question I usually don’t have to ask anyone.

“Is it safe to wear my Jewish star necklace when I travel?”

It was the first time I asked this out loud to anyone. Of course, this isn’t the first time I’ve thought about it. Far from it.

When I go food shopping for the Jewish holidays, there is one local supermarket where I order my Break the Fast trays for Yom Kippur, my latkes on Hanukkah, and the gefilte fish to serve at the Passover Seder; I often wonder if it is safe to go in there. There isn’t a regular police presence outside the store to protect us like at most synagogues. Why would there be? It’s your typical supermarket whose deli counter is quite popular with the Jewish community during the holidays. But where else would we go for the best chopped liver? Side note: I’m told it tastes incredible, but I’ve never touched the stuff.

It’s not just my safety that concerns me. I worry about my family and friends as well, particularly my children. They are coming home this weekend for a post-Rosh Hashanah dinner. Andrew is a student at Drexel University in Philadelphia. When he comes home on weekends, he often takes the train back to his apartment on Monday mornings. But this Monday morning is October 7thโ€”the first anniversary of the brutal attacks by Hamas terrorists on innocent Israelis attending the Nova music festival. A day that resulted in 1200 Jews murdered and over 200 were taken hostage. A hundred of them are still being held in captivity today. This weekend, Andrew wants to go back to his apartment on Sunday night to avoid the Pro-Hamas rallies that are planned this Monday on the streets of Philadelphia. He is concerned about his safety while walking home from the train station. And frankly, so am I.

Jenna currently works for the University of Maryland Hillel in College Park. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you about the anti-Semitic rhetoric and encampments happening on many college campuses all over the country today. This Monday, October 7, the Students’ Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter is hosting an event on the University’s largest public convening space to mark the largest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. Understandably, the Jewish community is incredibly upset about such a public display of hate, but Maryland Hillel will have educational and awareness events during the day.

October 7 will be a tough day for our community everywhere. But it is also an opportunity to share our Jewish pride, stand with Israel, and build an even more robust, resilient presence. I pray for the safety of everyone at universities and in major cities around the country as we all mark this difficult anniversary. Side note: I’m all for free speech, but never, ever, hate speech.ย 

Back in Italy, my friends advised me to do what I felt was most comfortable, and I should be fine. I opted to wear my less obvious Hamsa necklace that my daughter bought for me in Jerusalem instead of my Jewish star. I didn’t run into any problems, but I did feel a pang in my heart as I saw others wear their crosses and other religious symbols freely while I had to question my choice of jewelry. This feeling, while overwhelming, was also inspiring.

I agree with the quote above by Bret Stephens that Jewish pride is the correct response to antisemitism. I have never hidden my identity or how proud I am to be Jewish. My love of Israel is steadfast, and being an active member of my local Jewish community brings me great joy. I will never stop worrying about the safety of my family and our community, but I will continue to take the advice of my spiritual leaders and friends and work harder to be 10% Jew-ier this year.

Maybe I’ll write a few more Jewish-themed blogs than I usually do.

Maybe I’ll attend an extra Shabbat service per month

Maybe I’ll even try the chopped liver! (or maybe not ๐Ÿ˜)

If not now, when?

XO,

Elisa

It’s Rosh Hashanah!

apples and honeyToday is the first day of Rosh Hashanah, which literally translates as “Head of the Year.” For those who have lost track or didn’t know, it is the year 5785 on the Hebrew calendar.

Why 5785? Our calendar is based on the story of Genesis’ creation and attempts to calculate the number of years since the creation of the world. Of course, we follow the secular calendar on most days, like everyone else, but today, in celebration of the Jewish New Year, we celebrate another year gone by. Instead of champagne and fireworks, we blow the shofar (a ram’s horn) and dip apples into honey for a good and sweet New Year.

And we aren’t pressured to stay up until midnight to enjoy our festivities. Our family goes to synagogue for a morning service and listens to the rabbi give a meaningful sermon that sets the tone for the holiday. During this difficult year, when people still remain in captivity in Gaza, anti-Semitism is on the rise worldwide, and Israel is fighting for its survival; going to synagogue is an act of community and shows a commitment to our faith. While the security guards and police officers are stationed outside the synagogue for our safety, inside the sanctuary, we see friends, feel inspired by our community, and pray for a good year ahead.

Then, we spend time quality family time around the dinner table. For this meal, we love our brisket and share a round challah. This challah is special because, typically, our challahs are braided. It tastes the same, but the round challah represents the cycle of the year and a desire for a full year ahead.

And while Hanukkah still has a ways to go regarding songs to sing, Rosh Hashanah has beautiful music and fun ditties to enjoy in services, Sunday school, and on the car ride to dinner if you are so inclined. Here are a few of my all-time favorites.

Barbra Streisand

A cappella

Family friendly

To all of my friends celebrating this beautiful holiday today and tomorrow, I wish you a L’Shana Tovah u’metukah, a good and sweet new year! To everyone else, thank you for taking the time to learn about our holiday and traditions.

XO,
Elisa

 

The Cult of Self-Employment

Red Pen, pad of paper and a cup of coffeeHappy October! I’m excited to be taking on another Ultimate Blog Challenge, UBC, for short. This challenge encourages bloggers like me to post for 31 days straight and post them on social media. I prefer posting and sharing my blogs over Facebook rather than Twitter/X because I do not like that platform. I also ask that people not share my posts on LinkedIn because some things I write about are not for that audience.

Another essential part of the challenge is commenting on at least two other blogs that other UBC participants wrote. You can find them by searching for #UBC or #blogboost on Facebook, Twitter, or sometimes Instagram. This online writing community is friendly and supportive, and I love being a part of our quarterly writing adventure. I also encourage you to comment on my posts. It helps to know that someone out there is reading them, and I’m not just writing to myself! ๐Ÿ˜†

I will do my best to post daily, but as a card-carrying member of The Cult of Self-Employment, I may occasionally stray from the challenge.

What is the Cult of Self-Employment? I’m so glad you asked! I signed up back in March after launching my own digital marketing business called Red Pen Resources. I was initially lured into this cult by the promise of casual Mondays through Fridays. I was also provided with an incredible community of talented people who want to focus on their clients’ goals rather than office drama and politics. And when I learned about the freedom to follow my own creative instincts instead of sitting in endless meetings, I memorized the secret handshake, gave blood and urine, and here I am!

Upon initiation, I received a welcome swag bag, which included a ring light, a portable phone charger, a gift card to a local coffee shop, and my choice of fuzzy socks or slippers.

From the moment I joined the Cult of Self-Employment, I felt enlightened, empowered, and enthralled with this new way of life. You could say that I saw the light, and it wasn’t fluorescent.

I traded hanging out aimlessly by the water cooler for standing with purpose at networking events. With a coffee cup in hand, business cards in my pocket, and a 30-second commercial ready to go, I immediately fit right in. The other “cult members” are extremely generous with their time and resources. We cheer each other on and offer excellent advice. The occasional venting session takes place only in small groups and is permitted, but not required. We refer each other to members and non-members who need our talents and skills. In essence, the Cult of Self-Employment embraces a “go-giver/go-getter” personality and treasures business relationships that often turn into friendships.

Another benefit is a flexible schedule that allows me to go food shopping on a Tuesday afternoon or rearrange appointments to deal with the occasional family emergency. I also make time for professional development that doesn’t need prior approval. I place a high value on learning from others through webinars and conferences or just over breakfast and exchanging shared experiences.

The best part of my schedule is never having to justify taking off for a mental health day or a Jewish holiday.

There are a few downsides. Cabin fever and loneliness are occupational hazards, but I surround myself with others who work from home and get together for lunch or over Zoom. The only negative I’ve experienced so far is achieving that elusive work/life balance. I thought self-employment would be the solution to finding those moments of Zen. Alas, my home office beckons me to sit down and keep working, and she can be insistent about it! I have faced this challenge by prioritizing the projects that need immediate attention so I can complete them and feel accomplished. But, sometimes it doesn’t work and I miss out on a TV show or a blog post.

And yes, there are times when I need to work nights, but I am passionate about what I do and helping my clients succeed, so it really doesn’t feel like work at all.

All in all, joining the Cult of Self-Employment has been a game-changer, and I’ve never been happier. No need to save me now, I’m all in!

Are you a member of this cult? What do you love about running your own business, and what do you find most challenging? Let me know in the comments.

XO,

Elisa

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