Torah Study resumed at Shir Hadash today – we will be using A Year with Martin Buber: Wisdom on the Weekly Torah Portion to guide our study for the first half of 2022 (replacing Mussar, which wasn’t terribly popular amongst the group). Today, we were joined by the book’s author, Rabbi Dennis Ross – the discussions were lively, and Rabbi Ross summed things up at the end.

This week’s Torah portion is Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16), and the book and our discussion focused on one phrase in Exodus 12:38: “And there was also a mixed multitude who went up with them.” Was the “mixed multitude” just a random bunch of people following along, or was it a group of people who wanted freedom badly enough to convert to Judaism? And what is a “mixed multitude” today, and how would we view it through Buber’s “I-Thou” lens?

Yesterday, I’d listened to the first episode of Chutzpod!, a new podcast from Joshua Malina and Rabbi Shira Stuntman; it, too, focused on the “mixed multitude” in Parasha Bo, looking at how we can deal with the various beliefs in today’s society.

And Diane had chosen that section of the portion to chant today, too.

Much to think about, but I have no conclusions to offer.

No new developments on the FedEx shipment front, but Costco has shipped the replacement order – by FedEx. And they claim it’ll be delivered tomorrow. I can hope, right?

When I had problems with my Mac Mini last Wednesday, I realized that life would be better if I cleaned up the area around the computer and got the cables under better control. I was too tired to do it that day, though, so I said I’d do it “tomorrow”. I didn’t.

Today, I realized that I had a Best Buy coupon for $25 that was going to expire tomorrow. I’d been thinking about the setup in the office for a while, and I realized that a display riser would be a big help in clearing up the space around the computer. Best Buy had this one for $24.99 – and it was available for immediate pickup. I tried to order it, but the system wouldn’t accept my coupon because the item cost less than the coupon value!

So we drove to Best Buy – I was sure I could find something to buy there along with the riser. I mentioned my problem to the employee who showed me where the display risers were stocked. He mentioned that they sold candy next to the checkout – problem solved! We left the store with the riser and a KitKat bar and no coupon.

It took me a while to sort everything out – among other discoveries, I found a power brick for a USB hub plugged into the wall, but not plugged into its hub. And I found at least one cable that was only plugged in at one end. It’s all cleaned up now, and I have lots more room around the computer. The next step is to order some shorter Ethernet and USB-C cables to replace some overly-long ones I’m using, but that almost certainly won’t happen tomorrow.

My FedEx package didn’t show up today (no surprise). And Costco has run out of the paper towels I ordered, so they cancelled that part of the replacement order. Someday….

Shabbat Shalom!