As you look out your window, what do you see?
I look out of my window and see some differences in the world outside. All cars are parked, in their driveways, or on the street. There is very little traffic. Nature, however, seems to be doing what it is supposed to do at this time of the year. Bunnies hop, squirrels rush to and from, and birds are flying and nesting. Leaves are sprouting back on trees, flowers are blooming, and grass should be cut. Nowadays, when I step onto my porch, I get to say hi to my neighbors, catch up on what is happening in their lives, and marvel at the children who are changing and growing every day. At home, I talk to people, I write, learn, and teach, I daven, meditate, prepare for services in the same way I always did, yet I cook and I clean like never before.

This is my new routine. Like many of you, I have changed some of my habits and daily schedules. And there is a lot that remains the same. Other than cooking and cleaning without a break, a lot of my activities did not change. They take a different format yet, fundamentally, I am as busy as I have always been. I suspect that for many of you, the same is true – lots of work, lots of rushing around, and trying to keep sane as days pass and we try to adapt our old routines to these new times.

I am also getting a lot of recommendations for books, TV series, and movies. As I said to you before, our member Laura Hill recommended a beautiful Italian movie called Facing Windows. In Italian, the name of the movie is La Finestra di Fronte. Since we are spending so much time in our homes and seeing the world from our windows right now, I thought this would be a great movie for us to discuss together. On May 20, at 8:00pm, bring your favorite drink to our zoom conversation, and let’s unpack the many themes of this movie. By the way, the movie is not suitable for children. The explorations of loyalty, love, sexuality, and purpose in life are beautiful, and I look forward to exploring some of the Jewish themes in this movie. I hope you will join me!

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83210703260
Meeting ID: 832 1070 3260

Rabbi Lia Bass