VISITATION OF THE DIVINE CHARIOT

בס"ד


Tamuz 26

First Day of class with my new group went very well indeed. It's a smaller crowd, which is good, because we can all move through the Alefbet easier that way & I'm able to give my students more personal attention to their letter forms. I have a professional visual artist as well as a fabric artist in my class this time, who are very exciting to work with as they have specific goals for incorporation of what I teach them in their work life. Hidur Mitzvah (beautifying mitzvot) is an important occupation, so I'm only too happy to help...

Of course, this is Elat Chayyim, so I realised once we had learned the necessary otiyot that some of my talmidim were happily writing G@d's name on their practice sheets. This inspired my friendly yet firm talk on when & where & how we write G@d's name & just who is allowed to do that. They listened, but I'm not sure they all heard.

I walked to Accord in my flip-flops (don't try this at home, kids), which took an hour in the boiling afternoon - & another hour on the way back. I'd underestimated the distance, the temperature & the humidity outside, so it was more than I'd bargained for. The cool, dark river with its waterfall just along the road by Elat Chayyim looked & smelled so inviting in this summer heat, but I resisted as there were several young men by the bridge.

I saw a huge, silver merkavah suspended from the branch of a tree in the front yard of a 19th century church. Quite a thing to meditate on.