God Things

*There could have been a more "flowery" title for this post, but I think this one is most starkly effective.*

I have a couple of arrangements going on in my life right now that I could never have arranged on my own; it's all God.  It has to be.  They're working so perfectly, there's no other possible explanation.

One is where I am career wise right now.  There are so many careers that are closed to me, simply because I could not complete the schooling while getting enough sleep to stay mentally well.  Medical school, law school, Rabbinical school: no way. And yet, I have found a career that brings me joy, and whose schooling I can complete.  I am capable of being a teacher, and getting my Master's in the field.  This cannot be coincidence; it's God.

The other is about my special kippah.  You may recall that if I wear my gold silk kippah I have an extra shot at getting close to God.  I plan to wear it tomorrow just for that.  I really cannot wear it on a Sabbath or holiday, just in case; but on an ordinary weekday I can and will.

I love my God, and all S/He does for me; I really do want to "pay back" with my end of the connection.

That is all.

52!

I know I haven't been blogging as well as I hoped to/indicated I would back in June.  That's because a lot of what's been going on with me has been health related, and I'm much more private about that than I used to be.  Suffice to say it's amazing news, and I'm looking at no longer being in pain AT ALL very soon.  But anyway.  This post is not about that.

This post is about my new kippah, number 52! It is the one I ordered off the Yair Emanuel site that never came.  Just a few weeks ago, I found it on a different site (shout out for Ben's Tallit Shop!) and my parents gave me the money to get it.  I have since discovered that between Ben's Tallit Shop and Judaica Place, the full line of Emanuel kippot is available, and I can go back to collecting them.

This kippah is, bar none, the most beautiful kippah I have ever seen and my new favorite of my whole collection.  The colors are much more rich and vibrant than they were in the website picture: There is a purple, a blue, and an aqua so deep it is almost green.  There are also silver threads throughout; in my opinion, just the right amount of silver, rich accents without being overwhelming.

The kippah has a stylized Jerusalem scene using all the colors on top, with a border around it with flowers (or maybe pomegranates) in all the colors, on a white background.  Along the sides that come vertically down are more stylized Jerusalem buildings; the amazing thing, which I did not know until I opened and examined the kippah last night, is that none of these buildings repeat! That's right--the entire border is made up of unique buildings.

I am saving this kippah to wear the second night of Rosh HaShanah, the New Year.  There is a lovely tradition of having something new, such as a clothing item or a fruit, for the second night.  It's an Orthodox tradition that I "stole" from my college friends.  I try to do this every year, but the last time I managed was 2015, when I had a new caramel "suede" skirt.  The second night of Rosh HaShanah this year is September 10th; I am already counting down.

And here are the pictures I took of my new kippah.

The top: the scene in the middle, and the white border with flowers/pomegranates.

Going around the sides...the back seam...

The next building...

Next...

This one has a silver top.  It shows up as white on the camera.

Continuing around...

More...

And more...

Another building with a silver top.  It's a hard line to toe, putting in the silver threads without the kippah being totally sparkly.  Emanuel did a good job with the design.