t hugs the Nillyness

Sleep well.

Nilly, are you still here? I have a quick question, if you are, but it will hold, if you are too tired.

Cindy, do you want the truth, or the answer I would like to give? (I just spell-edited the post above, so the geeky truth is both, I guess). But, yup, still here, though not for much longer.

[Edit: while I'm here: Daniel! I hadn't posted with you in foreve! I have been following your trip reports, though, and glad of the good ending - and the ewonderful beginning]

[OK, anything more off-topic I can post about?]

Hee!

I saw this blog [link] and was wondering about this:

On Wednesday, August 3, 2005 (erev 28 Tammuz), when it's exactly 9pm at The Western Wall, the Kotel, in Jerusalem, join every Jew around the world in the most central phrase said in Judaism: the Shema prayer.

I was unclear as to whether this is always prayed at 9:00 (or 9, Jerusalem time), or if this was a special event, or what. I did pray it, although sadly, I prayed in English.

Hi yourself, Nilly!

Andi and I are watching Firefly one at a time, and she's enjoying your commentary after each ep.

I did pray it, although sadly, I prayed in English.

That's not sad, that's beautiful.

What's sad is that I'm only hearing about this now, 6 hours too late. Oh well.

I would like to be able to pray it in Hebrew. I *think* I can approximate a bad American rendering of the first line, in Hebrew, because I've watched a lot of TV.

Cindy, the "Shema" prayer (from the word "hear") is said twice a day, every day (by practicing orthodox Jews, that is). Once in the morning prayer, once in the evening prayer (in a usual day, there are 3 prayers. More in holidays and special dates. Oh, and women usually pray only once a day, usually only the morning prayer - that's what I do, as well). The texts for the prayers are in prayer books, and you pretty much don't deviate from them.

The verse of "Shema", and several more verses from the "torah" (one about the acceptance of the belief in G-d, one about the acceptance of G-d's orders, and one about remembering the exodus through one specific order) are combined together in both the morning and the evening prayers under the name "kriat shema" (the reading/saying of "shema"). But that first phrase pretty much heads the whole thing, and it's its heart, in a way.

There are spans of times in which every prayer can be said - the morning one, between the sun rise and mid-day; the afternoon one, since a bit after the middle of the day and until the sun sets; and the evening one, after the sun sets and through most of the night. So there are times in which saying the "shema" verse is more special than "merely" reading verses from the bible, being part of the prayer, said on its time. So, yeah, 9pm could definitely be the time for the evening prayer. During the summer, it may be started a bit earlier than that, but not by much (around 8:15, I'd say, this week, give or take - it changes according to the timing of the setting of the sun).

Then there is the "shema on bed", which is being said right before going to sleep, and, again, contains those paragraphs. It's definitely one of the first - if not really the first - prayers a child learns to say. But it goes beyond that. It's the declaration of belief in G-d and accepting all that comes along with it. People try to pronounce it when they are very scared or in trouble or trying to pray and don't know the words. People say it on their deathbeds (there are chilling and heartbreaking stories about that).

The thing I think the link refers to is the very difficult political situation in Israel in the past months, and in the few weeks to come. Without entering any political discussion right now, people are heartbroken. Is there anything else I can help you with?

In case you answer after I leave, could you please e-mail me, if there's anything else my not-world-saving Hebrew can do for you?

[Edit:

I would like to be able to pray it in Hebrew.

Which parts? There are the first two short verses, and then 3 longer paragraphs.]

The thing I think the link refers to is the very difficult political situation in Israel in the past months, and in the few weeks to come. Without entering any political discussion right now, people are heartbroken. Is there anything else I can help you with?

Okay. I understand. I couldn't tell from the first link if this was a special event Shema. Now that I've clicked the link at the link, I have the smallest of ideas about the political situation. I didn't realize there was a political connection to that particular link, when I asked. I was thinking in more strictly religious terms. Thank you for all the information.

In case you answer after I leave, could you please e-mail me, if there's anything else my not-world-saving Hebrew can do for you?

Yes, sweetie. Sleep tight.

Speaking of Global Frequency (weren't we), who, having watched the show or read the comic felt that the Frequency was something any of us could be a part of? John has said as much in interview, but I thought it was an elite panel of specialists, and as unattainable as being Jack Bauer or a Bristow.

Hrm. Well, I think both are sorta true. Not everyone is an expert at something, but expertise is something achievable; it's not an superpower. They certainly are an elite group, but they're not an elite group of fantastic action heroes; they're hackers and linguists and magicians and engineers. It's a meritocracy, basically.