Melissa, Macy and I had an unusual treat yesterday. We got to attend a bar mitzvah ceremony at Temple Emanu-El here in Dallas. Temple Emanu-El is a Reform Jewish community. I won’t pretend to know all the ins and outs of what that means, but suffice it to say, three gentiles felt both very welcomed and very comfortable being there.
This was Nick’s bar mitzvah. We got to know Nick and his family through a twisted web of circumstances. Nick is a friend of Macy’s that she met through the brother of her friend Casey. Casey’s parents have both worked with and been friends with Nick’s family for many years. A couple of years ago, after Casey’s family moved to our street, they started having semi-regular poker parties and it was at these parties that we first met Nick’s family.
Don’t ask me to think through that again!
Back to the bar mitzvah.
I wrote before about an interfaith worship service that Melissa and I attended at Temple Emanu-El here. It was at that service that I first encountered Rabbi David Stern. Rabbi Stern is truly an incredible person. (You can read about him here.) He is very personable, very friendly and very open-minded. Nothing like the picture of Rabbis that was painted in my mind by years of Southern Baptist Sunday school lessons.
What I was able to conclude was that this bar mitzvah was a special Shabbat Shalom service in which Nick, after much training, was able to help lead. Much of the service was in Hebrew, which I do not speak. However, using the prayer book, I was able to either follow along in English, or I could simply listen to and meditate on the Hebrew.
I don’t mind telling you that I found the whole service incredibly worshipful. Enough so, that I’m thinking about going back from time to time just to sit through a Shabbat Shalom service. I may even try to take Gordon next time he’s in Dallas.
Wouldn’t that be a kick!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Hugh-Go Boss
My father-in-law is the manager of two Ebby Haliday offices here in Dallas. One of his offices moved into a new office space just off McKinney Ave. in the Up-Town area of Dallas. The new office is gorgeous and has quickly become Ebby’s new signature office.
A couple of weeks ago they had a grand opening party, and being family, we scored an invitation. I wrote about my father-in-law and his “magnetic” personality here. However, what I possibly failed to mention was the fact that the man can throw a serious party.
All the “movers and shakers,” of Dallas, both young and old, were there…along with me. Now I’ve been known, on occasion to move, and when it gets cold I tend to shake, but baby, this wasn’t my normal crowd.
Melissa and I were excited to go, if for nothing else the people watching. We got a glass of wine, sat back and enjoyed the view. It was really a lot of fun.
We were on our way out the door when we noticed there was a small auction. You buy a ticket for ten bucks and you have the chance to win one of about 15 different things. The money all went to a Dallas area shelter of some sort, and the top item was a Hugo Boss suit. It was a good cause, so I bought two tickets.
We’re driving home when we get the call that I won the 800 dollar, Hugo Boss Suit!
The suit I ended getting is basic black with three-buttons. I picked it up last Saturday, and baby, it is sweeeeet! I’ve only owned a few suits in my life, but up until now the most I’ve paid for a suit has been about $300. My thinking was always, “How different can they be?” However, I must admit…I can feel a difference. Maybe it’s the thread count, maybe it’s the weight of the material, and maybe it’s just the way I feel when I have it on. Whatever the reason, I just can’t wait to wear it.
After much thinking and shopping I ended up getting a white, French cuff shirt, that I can wear with most any tie I have, and a light teal green shirt with a mostly green tie.
I wore it for the first time when I took my wife to the Turtle Creek Mansion for dinner and on our anniversary. We also spent the night there. If you ever have the chance to dine or stay there we both highly recommend it.
If I get a chance I’ll post a picture…we’ll see.
A couple of weeks ago they had a grand opening party, and being family, we scored an invitation. I wrote about my father-in-law and his “magnetic” personality here. However, what I possibly failed to mention was the fact that the man can throw a serious party.
All the “movers and shakers,” of Dallas, both young and old, were there…along with me. Now I’ve been known, on occasion to move, and when it gets cold I tend to shake, but baby, this wasn’t my normal crowd.
Melissa and I were excited to go, if for nothing else the people watching. We got a glass of wine, sat back and enjoyed the view. It was really a lot of fun.
We were on our way out the door when we noticed there was a small auction. You buy a ticket for ten bucks and you have the chance to win one of about 15 different things. The money all went to a Dallas area shelter of some sort, and the top item was a Hugo Boss suit. It was a good cause, so I bought two tickets.
We’re driving home when we get the call that I won the 800 dollar, Hugo Boss Suit!
The suit I ended getting is basic black with three-buttons. I picked it up last Saturday, and baby, it is sweeeeet! I’ve only owned a few suits in my life, but up until now the most I’ve paid for a suit has been about $300. My thinking was always, “How different can they be?” However, I must admit…I can feel a difference. Maybe it’s the thread count, maybe it’s the weight of the material, and maybe it’s just the way I feel when I have it on. Whatever the reason, I just can’t wait to wear it.
After much thinking and shopping I ended up getting a white, French cuff shirt, that I can wear with most any tie I have, and a light teal green shirt with a mostly green tie.
I wore it for the first time when I took my wife to the Turtle Creek Mansion for dinner and on our anniversary. We also spent the night there. If you ever have the chance to dine or stay there we both highly recommend it.
If I get a chance I’ll post a picture…we’ll see.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Hey, hey, we're the Monkees!
I need some help…For an end of the year cheer, I’m rewriting the words of the Monkees TV show theme song.
“Hey, hey we’re the Monkees,
People say we monkey around…”
That one…
I realize that none of my students will have any idea what they’re singing, but it’s really more for the parents.
Anyway, what I would like to have is a copy of the music, (mp3 or whatever) with and without the words. That way I could let the class hear the real song, then give them the new words, but still be able to use the music to sing with.
We could do it A cappella, but having the music keeps us from singing it at double, or even triple the intended speed.
I’ve found the mp3 on the web, but I haven’t been able to find it without the words.
The link below is one site where you can download the mp3. If you, or anyone you know has the ability to somehow remove the voices from the song and send it back to me that would be great.
Just send it to: thirdgrademind@kinson.ws
A link is: http://www.mp3raid.com/search/mp3/monkees.html
Thanks, from my whole class…
“Hey, hey we’re the Monkees,
People say we monkey around…”
That one…
I realize that none of my students will have any idea what they’re singing, but it’s really more for the parents.
Anyway, what I would like to have is a copy of the music, (mp3 or whatever) with and without the words. That way I could let the class hear the real song, then give them the new words, but still be able to use the music to sing with.
We could do it A cappella, but having the music keeps us from singing it at double, or even triple the intended speed.
I’ve found the mp3 on the web, but I haven’t been able to find it without the words.
The link below is one site where you can download the mp3. If you, or anyone you know has the ability to somehow remove the voices from the song and send it back to me that would be great.
Just send it to: thirdgrademind@kinson.ws
A link is: http://www.mp3raid.com/search/mp3/monkees.html
Thanks, from my whole class…
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