Money and Shabbat

It's so tempting when you have money (or in my case, are gonna have money) to spend it. I have so many things I want. And they are just so damn legitimate!

Clothes so I look presentable for work (see? I didn't say, amazing, just presentable). I'm really thinking of looking into subletting a place for the month because I can't see myself living in my sister's place for that long. It's squishy. I don't really have my space. And most importantly, I'm trying to figure out the religious thing, without feeling like I have to do anything I don't want to do. But at my sister's I have no choice but to keep Shabbat and all its laws. It's not easy. I don't enjoy Shabbat. It's the hardest day of the week for me. Everyone else is always saying how much they appreciate it and I dread it. Pretty sad.

Anyway, I'd also like to exercise so that costs. I'm sure there are other things but I can't think of them off the top of my head. But really moving into an apartment is what would be more expensive than anything. It might actually finish all the money I'm making because I'd also have to buy food and I'm sure there are other expenses that go along living alone.

My memory is so bad. I can never remember what I wrote and what I didn't write.

Did I mention that I'd promised myself that when I get a job, I'm gonna buy myself a pair of shoes? : ) Again, I'm almost never, ever totally frivilous. This was legit for me because I do need an appropriate pair of summer shoes to wear with my "work" clothes. Seriously!

You've gotta understand that in Jerusalem things are so much more casual. I wore jeans and jean skirts to work as a dietitian. I wore casual sandles. Here, especially in this fancy shmansy place, you can't do that.

Blah blah blah. So much about money.

I'm at my aunt's for Shabbat. She has 6 kids. The dad was stabbed in the back, to death, a few years ago. Sick. I used to spend weeks here every summer when we visited from Israel. Since my uncle was killed, I haven't. And the truth is that I think it's the 1st time I'm here for Shabbat since he was killed. The 1st time I'm sleeping over.

It's a little spooky because one of my cousins looks so much more like my uncle than he did when I saw him last year. He sounds so much more like him too. How in the world does that happen? It's seriously a little scary. I'm staring at him thinking, "You look exactly, sound exactly and act exactly like your dad." I'm sure people tell him that.

They are a totally unbelievable family. So special. A person or family either gets stronger or falls apart from something like this and you wouldn't believe how they are. All such good people. My aunt is such a leader. The whole Jewish community here is in awe from her. But not only Jews realize how special she is. And even before the world got to see how special she is, right after he was killed, so many people from all over the country (world?) sent her letters and some people sent money (!!!) to support her through her difficult times.

It makes me cry. Such a horrible thing and such amazing things because of it.

So, that's where I am for Shabbat. I'm so lucky I get the opportunity to be with them.

QE