52 Weeks=52 Actions: Week 9, 10, 11 & 12

Here are the 3rd set of four weeks. Websites and contact information are here for where I volunteer or donate in case you are interested.

Week 9/March 20, 2013

 Research/Monetary contributions

On Sunday of this week I returned home from my Inter-faith trip to Israel in which I met with Palestinians and toured in the West Bank. In addition to doing research I wanted to make a contribution to someone working on peace relations in Israel. Rabbis for Human Rights I have known about for some time and when I received the recent email about Palestinian farmers having problems accessing their lands it hit a nerve. I could hear the Palestinian in Faqu'a talking about how the security fence had divided his farm land and how he was no longer able to cultivate a great part of it. I am not naive and read an email from someone in my group,  a note that  he had a Jewish friend who had lived in Israel on the other side of the same land and told simiIar stories but from another point of view. We need to listen to both stories and then somehow move on. I decided to send RHR a $36.00 contribution.

Rabbis for Human Rights

Rehov HaRekhavim 9
Jerusalem, Israel 93462
Tel: +972.2.648.2757 | Fax: +972.2.678.3611
e-mail: info@rhr.israel.net

http://rhr.org.il/eng/

Week 10/March 27, 2013

 Monetary contributions

I wasn't gone for Pesach/Passover this year so I needed to sell my chametz to someone. Well of course I didn't NEED to sell it I can hear some of my friends saying so perhaps I choose to do so. I could have sold it to my shul or to many other places however Chabad happens to be right down the street from my house and I have gone to their services once in a while and their events so I let them take care of this issue this year. The custom is to then contribute a small sum for getting this service and even if they are not where I go all the time I was happy to contribute. It was in honor of all the outreach they do bringing many Jews back into Judaism because of their approach.

American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad)

2110 Leroy Place Northwest
Washington, DC 20008 USA

202-332-5600

http://www..afldc.org

 Week 11/April 3, 2013

 Hands On/Monetary contributions

The Adas Israel monthly email arrived in my inbox as a reminder to make food for the homeless shelter Luther Place:

We need food for 25-30 people.   Due to Passover, you may not want to bring certain items.  That's fine.  Only offer to bring whatever you are comfortable doing. 

I was one of those who didn't want to buy any chametz (grains) so instead of offering to get rolls I looked for something else in the email to get/make.

Here is what we need this month: Entree – 3 people to bring an entree for 8-10. 

Salad and dressing  or veggie (broccoli, green beans, etc.) for 25-30

Macaroni/potatoes – offer to make part or all!

Bread – whole grain rolls or loaf of french/italian-type bread 

Fruit – e.g., 30 clementines, melon, berries, or another fruit

Dessert – 2 cakes, 30 brownies, 60 cookies, etc. 

 

I decided to offer to make the salad and dressing. I offered, got it and after inquiring about more detail found out that several containers of pre-washed lettuce was desired along with several bottles of salad dressing. This is such an easy way to contribute that I am really going to try and give something each month. We shall see. 

N Street Village

1333 N Street, NW, Washington, DC

Tel: 202-939-2076    Fax: 202-319-1508

http://www.lutherplace.org/ministries/social-justice/n-street-village

Week 12/April 10, 2013

 Monetary contributions

I was reading the Facebook message of a rabbi friend of mine visiting in Israel with her family. She was planning on going into the West Bank with a group I had never heard of. Immediately I went to the website and read about them. In their mission statement it said "Encounter is dedicated to strengthening the capacity of the Jewish people to be constructive agents of change in transforming the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." That was great and hooked me in and so I continued to read about what they see as the problem and how they are going about trying to solve or perhaps help. I liked everything I read and while I can't take part in any of their trips for the moment who knows about the future. In any case I can certainly contribute and so I did.

Encounter
25 Broadway, Suite 1700
New York, NY 10004

http://www.encounterprograms.org/donate

52 Weeks=52 Actions: Week 5, 6, 7 & 8

My blog post for the 2nd set of four weeks of my 52 Weeks=52 Actions year . Websites and contact information are here for where I volunteer or donate in case you are interested.

Week 5 /February 20, 2013

Research/Monetary contributions

If I sort my helping weeks into series of four I now see the first week as a planning, research and re-focusing week. It is important not just to look forward but also to look back at what I have done. I want to think about the help I am providing in my volunteering and see where my help seems to do the most good. I continue to look around at websites as well as ask friends for ideas for helping. 


The Jewish holiday of Purim was this week so I looked to see how I could find a way to give within the holiday. There are two customs which fall right into what I am doing. One custom is to give tzedakah or money to the poor. The other custom is to give gifts of food to friends. it is traditional at our synagogue for some people to stand at the main entrance and ask people to make contributions. One table sells boxes of macaroni that you purchase, use for the evening as a noisemaker and then give to the food bank. The other table was for regular monetary contributions. I decided to give to both. In Jewish tradition monetary contributions are often given in amounts of 18 as this number symbolizes life so that is the minimum amount I have decided to use as my contribution number. I bought three boxes of macaroni and then what was left of my $18 I gave to the second table. Later when the evening was done I went into the coat room where shelves are provided for people to leave food contributions to the Ezra pantry which then gives what it gets to the Capitol Food Bank.


Instead of receiving a food gift from one friend I got an email telling me that this friend had made a contribution to Leket Israel which is Israel's National Food Bank. I am providing their web site in case you want to contribute money but also consider if you are planning a trip to Israel to volunteer for one of their many projects such as gleaning in the fields, making sandwiches for school children or even helping to deliver meals. 

Leket Israel, Israel's National Food Bank 

In the United States contributions in U.S. dollars should be made payable to American Friends of Leket Israel and the contribution mailed to:

American Friends of Leket Israel

P.O. Box 2090

Teaneck, NJ 07666-1490

For questions please contact elena @leket.us or (201)331-0070

http://leket.org.il/English/

Week 6 /February 27, 2013

Hands On

One of my friends sent me an email about the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS). They do all kinds of great work with and for immigrants and in my neighborhood have partnered up with the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN). HIAS was looking for english speakers to volunteer an hour of their time to help out Spanish speakers who come on Wednesday evenings to CARECEN for a class on passing the U.S. citizenship test. We would work, one on one, with the students, helping them with their English written and speaking skills. I immediately sent an email to volunteer. 


On Wednesday I walked up to CARECEN and met with the HIAS people in charge. There was about 15 people who came to volunteer their time and some had been doing this for several years. Most of the people were in their twenties and it was suggested that if anyone wanted to go for a meal or drink afterwards we could meet back at this spot to do so. Then it was time to go into the classroom. I was partnered up with a woman from El Salvador I would say in her sixties. Her English was very poor but she was very enthusiastic. During the class the students were given a list of fill in the blank questions about U.S. civics. I had her read the questions out loud for me, correcting her when necessary. She would have me say those words slowly right into her ear about 5 times. Then she would look in her workbook for the right answers to fill in the blanks. Most of these questions involved usage of "in" and "on". At the end of the hour we were both tired but I really felt like I had been useful and told the HIAS people I would certainly sign up again for this task.


Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society

Tel: (212) 967-4100   

http://www.hias.org

Central American Resource Center (CARECEN)

1460 Columbia Road NW, Suite C-1, Washington, D.C.  20009 

Tel: (202) 328-9799   

http://www.carecendc.org/

Week 7 /March 6, 2013

Hands On/Monetary contributions

One of my friends let me know about our synagogue's monthly meal contribution to feed 25-30 people at Luther Place, a local homeless shelter. Each month an email is sent out to anyone who signs up. The email has a list of food needed, the date it needs to be supplied and where it should be delivered. If you are able to contribute you send a reply email with a note about which item you want to supply. The food is supposed to be delivered in disposable containers because no one gets them back. You have the choice to make homemade items if you want or to purchase the food however if you purchase food it is supposed to be the quality of what you would serve in your own home.

Here the last list that went out: Entree-3 people to bring an entree for 8-10. Salad and dressing or veggie (broccoli, beans, etc) for 25-30. Macaroni/potatoes-offer to make part or all. Bread-whole grain rolls or loaf of french/italian type bread. Fruit-e.g. 30 clementines, melon, berries, or another fruit. Dessert-2 cakes, 30 brownies, 60 cookies, etc. I sent an email to supply the clementines but someone had already signed up for those so instead I signed up for the bread. I went up to the local Safeway to purchase the rolls and then next day delivered them. Once before I helped a meal at Luther Place which requires a contribution of time. Being on this list requires a contribution of money and time to buy the food and/or cook up something. It was such an easy thing to do to help feed the hungry that I am planning on supplying something every month unless I am away.

N Street Village 

1333 N Street, NW Washington, DC

Tel: (202) 939-2076  Fax: (202) 319-1508  

http://www.lutherplace.org/ministries/social-justice/n-street-village

Week 8 /March 13, 2013

Monetary contributions

Before leaving on my trip to Israel I asked friends if they wanted to give me money for tzedakah to take to the Holy Land. There is a custom to give someone going to Israel a dollar or more to make them a messenger of  a mitzvah or commandment and thus ensuring their safe travel. My school director, my class of children, some of the other teachers and some members of the morning minyan gave me money. I put each contribution into a plastic bag with a 3x5 card intending to write on the card where I gave the contribution. During my trip i freely gave out the money to different places. Some went to help sick children, some for upkeep of synagogues, mosques and churches, some to help Waldorf schools, some for upkeep of Yad VaShem the holocaust memorial in Jerusalem and some for the Patriarchs & Matriarchs tomb memorial in Hebron.

During our visit to the Jewish/Arab kindergarten of Ein Bustan, hilf, near Kiryat Tivon we had a listening circle with all the grown-ups. When the listening stick came into my hands I spoke briefly about the money I had brought with me and in particular the money from my class of four and five year olds and how I had decided to give this portion to the school. It seemed right to give the money from the children of a Jewish school in the United States to a  children's school in Israel trying to bridge together Jewish and Arab children.

reGeneration

an interfaith non-profit seeding the Middle East with an educational philosophy that embraces life, learning, the arts, the earth and all the children.


http://regenerationeducation.org/get-involved/donate

52 Weeks=52 Actions: Week 1, 2, 3 & 4

As I said previously I plan on writing a blog post after each four weeks of my 52 Weeks=52 Actions year to report on what I have done so here is Week 1, 2, 3 and 4. In addition I am going to give the website and contact information either for where I volunteer or where I might volunteer in the future.

Week 1/January 23, 2013

Research

My first week and my first action. I am a big believer in preparation so I figured this should be a research and planning week. I took all the information sheets  collected at the synagogue talk, spread them out on the floor, read through them and looked for email addresses. At the web sites I clicked on the “volunteer” tab to see what kind of help was requested. Different amounts of time are required for volunteering depending on the task. For some you have to commit to only one time while other volunteer tasks may require a multiple week commitment. Due to my schedule I am looking for volunteer opportunities requiring only a single commitment so I eliminated mentoring or teaching children after school which asked for a multiple weeks.  

Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place

4713 Wisconsin Ave., NW Washington, DC 20016

(202)-364-1419      www.cchfp.org

Week 2/January 30, 2013

Hands On

This second week I spent several hours making and baking spinach lasagnas along with two of my favorite children, Talia and Nathan, and their nanny. A mutual friend’s child was diagnosed with cancer and the community has pulled together to make dinners for the family. Talia and Nathan’s mother, Pam, asked if I might want to cook some dinners with her kids and of course I said yes. Pam bought the supplies for the lasagnas including tomato sauce, cheeses, eggs, spinach and pans. Then after Talia and Nathan got out of school their nanny brought them to my school. Together we mixed eggs with ricotta and cottage cheese, poured spaghetti sauce into a large bowl and rinsed spinach leaves. In baking pans we layered sauce, noodles, cheese mixture and spinach making four lasagnas. The very last layer was shredded mozzarella cheese. Pam came and picked up the children while I waited for the lasagnas to bake. Several days earlier the father of another friend died and I was going that same evening to his house for shiva so I took one of the lasagnas for the family to have for Shabbat.

S.O.M.E. So Others Might Eat

71 O Street NW Washington, DC 20001

(202)-787-8806     www.some.org

Week 3/February 6, 2013

Advocacy

In addition to just increasing my social actions I am determined to get out of my comfort box for the 52 weeks and one of the things I tend to avoid is going to meetings and advocacy work. One reason I don’t do this is that I am shy and uncomfortable networking in groups of people I don’t know. So this week I picked to go to the Jews United for Justice Community Meeting. The email notice I received said the night would be filled with campaign and program updates, vegan fried chicken, a wonderful host Mitch Crispell and discussion on where participants would like to see JUFJ in the future. I went and there were lots of people mostly younger than myself but no one I knew. There were ice breakers so people would get to know each other and then some presentations on what had been accomplished in the past year, what the costs are for the organization and what special cause was being focused on right now. I really enjoyed learning about where the donations are spent and how much is needed to get things done. I also was interesting in learning about getting paid sick leave for everyone especially for restaurant workers who mostly don’t have it. I left when the time came for us to break up into small groups to talk about what we wanted JUFJ to focus on. I debated about staying but just wasn’t ready or comfortable to do so. Maybe next time.

Jews United for Justice

1633 Connecticut Ave NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20009

(202)-408-1423     http://www.jufj.org/

Week 4/February 13, 2013

Monetary Contributions

This week many friends got ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day. I decided I would look at the requests I had received for monetary help, open my heart and contribute to two. I don’t know about you but daily I have organizations asking for money. Some are for local causes, some are for causes in Israel and some are more global. Usually I try to give half of my contributions to local organizations and the other half to some place that extends outside of local. The first cause that caught my eye was JWI (Jewish Women International) ‘s National Library Initiative (NLI). For every $7 donated in February JWI will send a new book to a child in one of JWI’s 43 libraries at domestic abuse shelters across the country. It takes two, one to give and one to receive, in a Valentine’s expression so I decided to give $14 and give 2 books. The second cause was mentioned to me by two friends concerning an acquaintance, Adina Shapiro, who has been struggling with an undiagnosed illness that has left her exhausted and unable to work. To make it easier for friends to help Adina a third friend created a weekly goggle list with specific tasks friends could sign up to do such as shopping as well as a site where you could contribute money to give Adina financial assistance for medical or other bills. Using the same “it takes two” approach I gave the Jewish double chai amount of $36. I am hoping that in the future I can take on a task for Adina.

JWI (Jewish Women International)

1129 20^th Street, NW Suite 801, Washington, DC 20036

(800)-343-2823   (202)-857-1300   www.jwi.org

Helping Adina Shapiro

www.gofundme.com

48 Weeks left.

MLK & Tu BiShvat or 52 Weeks=52 Actions

In honor or Dr. Martin Luther King my synagogue holds a Tikkun Olam (repair the world) weekend in which an important social justice issue in our society is highlighted. This year "Crisis in Homelessness and the Lack of Affordable Housing" in our community was the theme. On Shabbat (Saturday) there was a program after services and I went over to listen. I sat on the floor and heard suggestions of what needs to be done, what is being done and ways to get involved. I thought about how little I do in the area of social justice other than giving money and wondered what I could take on that wouldn't be overwhelming. Then I turned my attention to who else had come over to listen and wondered why there weren't more people. A friend sat on the floor with me suggesting we take charge of the weekend next year and get more young people involved. I don't know about you but this is one of my normal responses to anything that doesn't quite suit me. I agree to then take on way more then I can handle. I decided to just think about it for the week, make a plan but not do the overload thing which is guaranteed to fail.

Here is part of the article in the Adas Israel Chronicle

First I reflected on how my days were being spent and how much time I could dedicate to social justice. Except for teaching in the pre-school and leading tot services I haven't taken on ownership of a shul project so agreeing to help lead next year's program wasn't totally out of line. After all I would have 52 weeks to work on it. 52 weeks to think and plan what actions to take. I rolled the phrase around on my tongue realized I was having one of those ah-ha moments. 52 weeks and 52 actions. How about I take one of my seven days per week and dedicate it to social action. I wouldn't have to do the same thing each week. I could divide my time between going to meetings (planning) as well as making sandwiches or such (actions). I could even document everything I did to show what a simple single person was capable of doing as a part of the rest of your regular life. Yes it would be 52 Weeks=52 Actions. In this heat of creativity I sent an email to my friend suggesting how we do it together and involve his kids as well. Maybe they could be the ones to search out meetings to go to or look over the activities my synagogue was already involved in that I/we could volunteer for before looking for anything new.

The trees you see from the Quebec St. entrance of our synagogue

The Jewish holiday approaching the next Saturday was Tu BiShvat, an agricultural holiday which has developed into focusing on trees and environment. It was a perfect image for me. I was imaging and developing the roots of my project. My 52 Weeks=52 Actions would become my trunk, branches and who can say what fruit might develop. I had taken whatever printed information from the speakers the previous week and using that as my  jumping off point starting going to the websites of their organizations. I also went to the section of my synagogue's website that showed the different programs we are part of. I was filling my head with ideas and realized I would need a notebook to keep track of what I found. So let's consider this the introduction or the preface. I intend to blog after each four weeks and report on what I do. Who knows but that others will be encouraged by me.

Tai Chi, Tai ME

Stand. Breathe. Relax. These are the words my tai chi teacher says to our class during the sixth lesson. Stand. Breathe. Relax. Even writing these words I can feel the tenseness in my body depart. So much noise and static that it is often hard to let the body be open to what is possible, to the divine. So, let me tell you a story.  In September of this year I signed up for twelve lessons of tai chi ch’uan. I wanted to add this spiritual practice to my chanting, prayer and yoga. Chi or qi in the Mandarin dialect of Chinese literally means “air” or “breath”. The art of tai chi is said to improve the flow of Chi (Qi), the traditional Chinese concept of energy or life force. Who wouldn’t want to do that?! 

Stand. Breathe. Relax.

Taking tai chi wasn’t a whim but something I had been thinking about for a long time. In 1985 during a visit with my friend Elisabeth Frolet at her parents home in Seillans, France I had my first glimpse of the practice. Her mom, Jacqueline, was taking tai chi lessons and asked me if I wanted to come along. My French wasn’t good enough to understand the instructor’s words but I could follow the movements. When I left Seillans it was with a book on tai chi and a desire to learn more. Much in life though is dependent not just on desire but on discipline and devotion. What path would this journey take?

Stand. Breathe. Relax.

Back home I searched but couldn’t find anyone teaching near me. Could it be I wasn’t ready yet? Years went by. As one of my sister-in-laws, a friend and an acquaintance began learning tai chi I was reminded it was still on my “things to do” list. In July 2011 my friend Debra Kolodny wrote about her tai chi practice on Facebook. There is something special about obtaining a teacher who has inspired someone you know. I asked who her teacher was and she told me about Mike Ward. There is an old adage, perhaps of Buddhist origin, that says “when the student is ready is the master will appear”. I felt I was getting closer.

Stand. Breathe. Relax.

It would take another year but at last I was on the path, enrolled and on my way to my first class. One last test. I thought I knew where the class was but when I showed up that turned out to not be the case. I called the instructor but got his answering machine. I emailed my friend in Portland on Facebook to no avail. I walked the streets asking anyone I saw but no luck. I decided to give up but still I kept walking. A car drove by and stopped. It was the mother of a student from six years ago and she wanted to say “hi” and wish me a happy Jewish new year. On a whim I asked if she knew where the class location of my class was. She drove me there. Luck? Fate? Kismet? In giving up had I relaxed and become open to the possible? Who can say.

 Stand. Breathe. Relax.

I am learning now with a formal once a week lesson and practice on my own. There are the principles of relax, body upright, separate the weight, flexible waist and fair lady’s wrist/beautiful lady’s hand to absorb. Each new posture taught builds on the previous one. I am learning just like the young children I work with. After the first lesson I wanted to run home and write a blog but I didn’t. I decided to wait. Now I have just finished lesson ten and it is right to post some words. For me I have found tai chi is prayer that moves the body, it is yoga dancing, it is a moving meditation and it is chanting without words. I am only beginning and yet that is enough. I have practiced at home and at my work. I have practiced in the midst of trees and leaves. I even practiced while waiting to vote in the presidential election. The week of Thanksgiving there was no class so no new posture. Instead we took a break to give thanks. Amen.

Elul Cleansing

The month of Elul has now passed and the new Jewish year is here. The time before a new year, a new job, or a new week is a perfect time to reflect, to search our soul, to look back and to cleanse. How have we strayed away from the path? What behaviors do we want to rid ourselves of? What are the positive things we want to nurture? One Jewish tradition is to really focus on this cleansing during the month of Elul. Here is a window on my journey.

Sun and Water

My Elul cleansing this year began in the swimming pool of a friend. I lay on my back in the waters and watched the sun go down. Back and forth, back and forth, the waters held and supported me as I asked myself the questions mentioned above and did a review. It felt right. It felt good. It was a beginning but I knew there was more. It was going to be a process. My job was just to let it happen.

Moon and Death

Then a young friend died. It was unexpected and a bit shocking. I discovered death too can assist in the cleansing process. At night I looked as the moon shone white in the sky. I saw the moon as life and the blackness around it as death. While the waters had been warm this felt sharp. While the waters had enveloped me safely this was piercing and lonely. If I was to die right now what would people say and remember about me? How was I using my gift of life? What did I need to change?

Clouds and Mountain

I needed to go where the land would hold me. I would go up into the mountains. I walked through the forest of trees examining their roots as well as my own. I saw turtle, deer and bear trying to decide if this too had some lesson for me. Some things seem like they can’t be changed. Perhaps, but other times it just takes more work. As I came to this conclusion after a hike and sitting on boulders overlooking a vast plain I was promptly surrounded by a cloud, a blanket of many tiny water droplets. Safe but still not finished.

Full Circle

Up to the mountains and now the strong pull was to go to the ocean. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. I once more was laying on my back in the waters only instead of chlorine the were full of salt. I realized I had come full circle. In this place was the water, the land, the sun, the moon and the clouds. The assistance of the elements was complete. Dolphins swimming in the nearby waves and gulls flying overhead confirmed it was time to move on. The process wasn't over and never would be but now it was time to enter the new year. L'shanah tovah tikvatenu. Always the hope for a good year. 

Eating Vegan for the Nine Days

Tisha b'Av,  the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av,  is a day of mourning that commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples and other calamities in Jewish history. Tisha b'Av is one of the fast days in the Jewish calendar and the nine days that precede it are days of mourning and preparation. There are restrictions about activities of pleasure, laundering your clothes, and it is traditional to not eat meat nor drink wine. This year for the nine days leading up to Tisha b'Av I decided to go on a strictly vegan diet. 

Part of preparation this year was shopping for the 9 days on Rosh Chodesh Av.

The nine days are all about preparation and mine is to do research, read text and then meditate. Whatever day I am observing may be the same each year but I am not. I have changed and so each time I observe I need to see how it fits in with where I am now. One phrase that struck me this year in my reading was that Tisha b'Av is not known about nor observed by many Jews. I wondered if, for those who are aware and yet not observing, is it the mourning part that is not meaningful or interesting? Tisha b'Av comes in the summer after all and who wants to focus on sadness and destruction when for many it is their time for vacation, go to the beach or just relax.  Or maybe it is the destruction of the Temples that is hard to relate to either because it is seems so long ago and too far away? 

During the 9 days I learned how to make no vinegar lacto-fermented pickles.

I let all my info and thoughts just sit and mentally ferment. Tick, tock, I was awaiting a revelation or insight on another way to see the Temple. "Turn it, and turn it, for everything is in it. Reflect on it and grow old and gray with it" Rabbi Ben Bag Bag is quoted in Pirke Avot 5:22. That is just what I did here and then came the light. Of course I could balance the Temples built in Jerusalem of stone with my own personal temple of blood, muscle and bone. I would mourn the destruction of the Temple that has happened in the past with the destruction of my own personal temple happening in the present. Plus instead of just mourning my own temple's neglect I would use the nine days to cleanse it as in the Hanukkah story. Now where would I take my inspiration or direction for cleansing? 

Once during the nine days I was served a delicious vegan Indian style tofu at Kayam Farms.

I continued to channel Rabbi Ben Bag-Bag. What about if I used the very first chapter of the first book of the Torah where in B'reishet (Genesis) it says: 

²⁹ God said, "See, I give you every seed-bearing plant that is upon all the earth, and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit; they shall be yours for food. ³⁰ And to all the animals on land, to all the birds of the sky, and to everything that creeps on earth, in which there is the breath of life, [I give] all the green plants for food." And it was so. 

This text would be my kavanah, my intention or direction of the heart. For the nine days I would cleanse my body temple by not only eliminating meat and wine per tradition from my meals but also any animal products or food containing animal products. Yes for the nine days I would observe a strictly vegan diet as it seems to be what was originally intended at least according to the Torah. As I observed this diet and dealt with changes in meal planning, shopping and eating out I would use it as sparks to reflect on how I could better treat this body temple. 

I baked these vegan challah rolls using flax meal instead of eggs as a binder.

At the end of each day I reflected and wrote about the experience posting those thoughts on Facebook. I am not going to reproduce everything but here are a few observations. The experience seemed to be one of those where you think "why haven't I done this before. It seems so obvious?!" My usual diet is a lacto-ovo pesco vegetarian diet of dairy, eggs, fish etc. with some "happy" or free-range kosher meat thrown in here and there. Now it is clear how much I depend on dairy and eggs for the large part of my meals. I need to work on making each meal more about the vegetables. Those nine days were the hardest when I wasn't making my own meals. When I have traveled to Asian countries vegetables really take center stage even in the morning but that isn't true here. As with my own meals meatless meals may have veggies but most also have cheese, eggs or both as well.  I am going to try and be more diligent about providing vegetables for myself when I eat and getting veggies into the main ring for others too. 

The land of milk and honey? Here are some of the milk replacements I tried.

Eating vegan for the nine days didn't make me a vegan for life however it certainly gave me something to thing about. Who knows but that I may incorporate eating vegan if not totally then perhaps now and then. We shall see.