Shanah Tovah (Happy New Year)

This past weekend was the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Happy 5770! Next Monday will be Yom Kippur, the Day of Attonement, in which Jews repent for sins they have committed against God during the previous year. Jews are supposed to settle sins committed against others with those people. The point is to get yourself inscribed in the Book of Life for another year - Stephen Colbert actually covered this on his show last night. (http://www.hulu.com/watch/97278/the-colbert-report-tue-sep-22-2009).

The ten day period between the two holidays is known as the Days of Awe. The Days of Awe are sort of the personal introspection and reflection period leading up to Yom Kippur. We Jews are supposed to think about the past year, what we've done wrong and right, what we have to attone for on Yom Kippur, and what we want to change for next year. These 10 days can determine whether or not God inscribes us in the Book of Life.

As Stephen Colbert demonstrates on his show, Jews are supposed to hear the blowing of the shofar in synagogue on these two high holidays. There are a number of other somewhat archaic customs associated with this period, most of which only Hassidic and other similarly Orthodox Jews practice. There is one custom, however, which I know my conservative synagogue practices - it involves throwing bread crusts into a moving body of water. Called taschlich, this represents the tossing away of one's sins. I have never participated in it but I can see why it is an attractive practice. I can imagine that it might be quite cleansing.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are completely opposite in spirt. Rosh Hashanah is a big festive affair that one celebrates by eating disgusting quantities of delicious food with a large group of happy people. Yom Kippur is solemn, quiet, and introspective, and it is observed by fasting from sundown the evening before to sundown the day of and praying in synagogue. I've always associated these two holidays with the beginning of fall. When I was still in school, this meant the beginning of a new school year, a time to renew my scholarly commitments and make a fresh start if I so chose.

I never really think of myself as a particularly religious or spiritual person, but this time of year seems to consistently bring out the religion in me. Going to synagogue, the one to which my family has belonged for at least 15 years, and in which I was bat-mitzvahed, is beautiful, familiar, and filled with memories. Attending services on the high holidays causes me to reflect upon my religiousness, as I'm sure is intended, and to consider wrongs I may have committed during 5769. So, I apologize if I've offended anyone out there. In terms of my goals for the new year: I hope to continue the gym/weight loss/fitness trend, and not be defeated by the holiday season in December. I look forward to enjoying my job, whatever it is. I would like to know what I'm going to do with my life, or at least what I want to study in grad school. By this time next year, I will have taken the GRE.

Being Jewish becomes increasingly personal, as I grow up and no longer live at home. What I once did because my parents said so, I now question and consider for myself. This is not something I would ever have imagined I would do as a child in Hebrew School, but I've recently done a lot of things I never thought I would do, such as taking trapeze class and eating almost healthily. I hope this trend of trying new things and making myself leave my comfort zone every once in a while continues as well.

There's a little lesson and introspection for you.

Shanah Tovah!

Kate's in the Real World Again

After being unemployed for about a month in May, I decided to join a gym as a sort of early birthday present to myself. I think it's one of the best "real world" purchases I've ever made. I've been working out pretty regularly, usually 3 times a week, since then. I never used to feel so committed to exercise, but after doing so regularly for several months, (starting when I still worked at Troutman and used that building's gym 3 or 4 times a week), I feel like a slob when I've gone too long without exercise. I had a personal training session at the gym today, and my legs currently despise me as a result, but I look forward to doing some of the exercises on my own.

I've also been to two Flying Trapeze Classes (http://washingtondc.trapezeschool.com/about/index.php), one in July and one on Sunday. It's not something I would ever have thought that I would do, but it is so much fun! Flying through the air (connected to a harness with a net below you) and doing a "trick" is pretty thrilling. I'm looking forward to going again. Maybe I'll figure out how to post pictures on here, otherwise they'll eventually be on facebook.

I began working again a little over a month ago, a litigation paralegal job that I obtained through a temp agency. Currently it's a temporary position. It is really nice to have a routine again - something to do every day - as well as having a paycheck. The job does require a car because it's in Rockville, MD, and if I take public transportation it takes me about 1.5 hours to get there using a bus, 2 metro lines, and another bus. I'm borrowing my dad's car for the time being, which is great, but if I decide to keep the job, I'll probably eventually have to get my own car. Right now, the cons are outweighing the pros regarding car ownership.

I'm really excited for fall - I'm still in love with the beautiful and vibrant range of colors that we have in Virginia. They are especially striking in comparison to Chicago/Evanston's mostly yellow-leaved fall. Pumpkins, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin bread, apple cider, crisp cool weather, beautiful blue skies...maybe it's my favorite season.