the new year. i should say something profound. well, maybe it's not necessary: maybe the only thing profound about these holidays is returning to the same spot, year after year, seeing the same people, making the same small talk, remarking quietly about their outfits, and praying the same prayers. and reacting to the same stimuli differently. this year, the story of hannah, who couldn't conceive, for which her husband's more fruitful second wife teased her mercilessly, left a knot in my throat. not the story in general, though it's lovely, but her husband's comment to her: "am i not worth more to you than ten sons?" the bible is sparse and very often it skips over the fact that one person loves another, implies it or perhaps doesn't state it because it isn't true. but the narrator is explict here in how much hannah's husband cares for her.

for whatever reason, it doesn't say she loves him back. when he poses that question, she doesn't answer. i'd never noticed that before.

my house is about to swell with hungry guests. another tradition: lunch after services at our house. between 60 and 100 people show up every year. for the first time i won't even be able to eat the fish. we'll see how that goes.
happy new year, to my yiddim and beloved Others alike. may it be sweet and healthy and peaceful. and calm.