RE: Absolutely Off Topic: Jewish Guide to Shoveling Snow

[Ari Davidow <ari...>]

Accidentally hit reply instead of forward?

At 08:26 PM 1/29/2004, Mel Korn wrote:
>Fern,
>
>I thought you would get a kick out of this.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From:
>Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 1:27 PM
>To:
>Subject: Re: Absolutely Off Topic: Jewish Guide to Shoveling Snow
>
> >
> >  Jewish Guide to Shoveling Snow
> >
> > Ariel Sharon - "The important thing is to shovel the entire width and
> > breadth of the driveway, regardless of what anyone else thinks."
> >
> > Ehud Barak - "You must shovel most of the driveway, but the exact
> > dimensions of shoveling will be determined in discussions with our
> > neighbors. No wait, you can shovel only in places where snow had
> > previously fallen, but you cannot shovel in places where no snow had
> > fallen - wait, don't do any shoveling until you hear from me!"
> >
> > Yossi Sarid - "You should not shovel any part of the driveway, since you
> > really do not have any valid historical or legal claim to the driveway,
> > and it will soon be given back to its rightful owners."
> >
> > Artscroll Hilchos Sheleg ("Laws Regarding! Snow; Ashkenaz version,
> > chapter 5) - "First approach the snow with the proper kavanah, meditating
> > on the concept of snow removal. Recite the "...Who commanded us
> > concerning the shoveling of snow" benediction," then take three steps
> > back, bend the knees slightly with feet together, then look at the snow,
> > lift shovel and dig, turning right and then left, bend knees fully, take
> > three steps forward and deposit snow deliberately. Repeat until done,
> > then recite the Sheheheyanu benediction, go indoors and have a hot drink,
> > remembering to say the
> > Shehakol brocha (see Artscroll Hilchos on Drinking Hot Liquids)..."
> >
> > Tikkun Magazine - "What right do we have to violently take snow from its
> > rightful resting place? Snow has rights: each snowflake is a unique
> > individual, and we have absolutely no right to do anything with it. Let
> > the snow decide for itself what it wishes to do, and then if it wishes to
> > be shoveled, do so humanely."
> >
> > Rashi - "Snow, this is a form of solid precipitation that cling s to
> > one's beard if you remain outside too long in the winter season. (Old
> > French: neige). Shoveling is a Rabbinic precept, based on the verse in
> > Isaiah 1:18 - "If your sins be like scarlet, they will turn as white as
> > snows."
> >
> > Birthright Israel - "It does not matter how the shoveling is done, but
> > the very act of a young Jew shoveling snow for ten consecutive days,
> > under proper supervision will have a lifelong impact on Jewish identity."
> >
> > Meir Ben-Meir (Israeli Water Commissioner) - "Just shovel the snow as
> > fast as you can, and ship it here. We are running out of water fast! Is
> > anyone listening to me?"
> >
> > Judith Plaskow: Whether shoveling snow is an issue of concern to Jewish
> > feminists, or feminist Jews, is a question we are not yet ready to ask.
> > Who is to say that once we create a memory of Sinai that includes the
> > voice of women, whether shoveling will even be the remedy for snow that
> > we shall seek?
> >
> > E M Broner: The women sit in the snow and chant. They face East, knowing
> > that the Holy of Holies was never theirs, yet knowing too that it always
> > will be theirs. They become wet and cold, sitting in the snow, but as
> > they imagine the Old Stone House in Jerusalem that contained heat and
> > cold, gold and ash, darkness and light all at once and in the proper
> > proportions, they felt neither wet nor cold. The women stand in a circle
> > and sing. They grab shovels and as their voices rise and fall, the
> > shovels rise and fall, and the piles of snow rise and fall, and then
> > Shelegit the Lesbian for Places North says, "Enough with the rising and
> > falling! It is too male! It is not mine!" The other women embrace her,
> > sighing, except for the Bad Girl who likes the rising and the falling.
> > She alone continues to shovel.
> >
> > Debbie Friedman:
> > The snow blesses us/
> > so we greet her flakes the snow purifies us/
> > so we greet his strength/
> > the snow is cold/so we seek what is warm/
> > the snow is harsh/
> > but we fear no harm.
> >
> > Marge Piercy:
> > I am glad to know
> > That snow is suddenly of my People,
> > My People always knew snow, first in Michigan in gritty Detroit and
> >  now in New England
> > And I have written of snow in the many many many pages
> > Of poetry and prose
> > But when I started writing Jewish poems and prayers
> >  about the sweet challah and the odd sounds of the Amidah
> > Did I know
> > That even snow
> > Could be viewed through the lens of my People
> > Part of our history
> > Cold and wet and familiar as my cat's tongue?
> >
> >   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
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> >            Encoding: base64
>
>

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