In Jewish tradition we say life expectancy is 3 score years and 10 or by reason of strength 4 score years. So at age 83 it is time for a second bar mitzvah.

I have consulted the Rabbi and the Temple B’rith Kodesh Calendar and we have agreed that Parashat Bereshit is the ideal time for me to do that. A quick translation: Parashat is the weekly reading from the Torah that enables us to read the entire Five Books of Moses each year; Bereshit is the very first portion of Genesis and the word is most commonly translated as “In the Beginning” although a wonderful friend who is no longer living insisted it be read as “In the Big Inning”. This year that reading falls on October 18 a mere one day after my actual birthday. 

The event will probably include a small celebration on the preceding Friday night with some fun treats for attendees – this is called an Oneg Shabbat – Oneg for Joy. Saturday morning during the Torah service, I will be called to come up to read from the Torah. This requires some practice since only the consonants are written. It is assumed tht is sffcnt t knw wht th wrds r, in a language that I am not fluent in. After the service we will have an extended Kiddush (read that as grazing food and spirits and wine). 

The entire service will be available on zoom for those of you unable to make it to Rochester NY. Sorry, we will not arrange to provide remote Kiddush, maybe when we get together at another time and place.

In other news the motorhome remains unsold. I have lowered the asking price – $79,900. We have a “Rochester car” a Hyundai Hybrid that should not have to experience winter driving for many years. 

Missing from this blog – Jazz Fest 🙁 The extensive walking and large crowds are daunting. The festival has started and we took time today to drive to Canandaigua to see a performance by the Garth Fagan Dance Company. If you have forgotten, Garth received many awards for his choreography of Lion King. It was a wonderful performance.

Next Friday we will be attending the opening of the Fingerlakes Art Show. A Juried show and Rohma, our grandson’s partner, got a water color in. Hers was one of 90 accepted out of over 2000 submissions. We will be there to cheer her on when the Juror’s awards are announced. We will also get to vote in the Member’s Choice award. Here is a link to her web site and some of her work.

We are not sitting back and watching the world go by.