Appeal

Please can lots of my Jewish friends help me answer this question of pw201's? I have some ideas, but I think it would be better if he got a range of different views rather than just my own opinion.

It occurs to me actually that my flist does a rather good job of covering most of the spectrum of positions under the umbrella of 'Jewish'. Which is quite cool, in itself. It's probably useful to explain to pw201 where you're coming from, if you don't mind doing so.

( random thoughts about how define 'where you're coming from' Jewishly )

Plus, I think the question of what do modern Jewish people think is the purpose of the Law? is an interesting question generally, so I thought I'd bring it to wider attention.

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In other news, I'm catching up gradually with back reviews. So here are my thoughts on Jane Gardam's The Flight of the Maidens.

Cherry blossom

I was browsing through your online photo album the other day, and I saw a picture that reminded me of a picture I once took. It's not closely similar, just a nuance and some cherry blossom.

A decade ago, in the autumn, we sat under the copper beech and talked about the Meaning of Life and whether beech mast is good to eat. I didn't know the meaning of the word online then. A decade ago, in the winter, you tried to teach me to rollerskate. The disco played too loudly to hear what you were saying, and I didn't know the meaning of the word grace then. And a decade ago, in the spring, I took your photo under a flowering cherry tree, the luminous black of your hair framed by the luminous white of the blossom. I didn't know the meaning of the word desire then. I said something crass, and your irritation shattered the tableau.

Now I'm responding to your photo as I would have done then, mannered like an adolescent obsessed with language but ignorant of reality. Even then I used to envy you the clarity of your writing, when mine was obscure, précieuse. Now you are creating beautiful things, and I'm half ashamed of wanting to answer that by creating something of my own. I find again I have nothing to give worthy of the impulse.