Welcome to Taf Shin Ayin Jewish Mamas!

[imnottelling]

I didn't see a thread started, so here is one...

How did Rosh Hashana go, everyone?

[SaraFR]

subbing

[Faliciagayle]

Originally Posted by imnottelling

How did Rosh Hashana go, everyone?

the whole holiday was a marathon of eating. Oof.

DDs 2nd (american) birthday was on Saturday - it was a great day - shul and davening and the rabbi's house and eating, and cake. So much cake.
I'm still full.

[smeisnotapirate]

I survived!

L'shanah tovah, all! May this be a sweet and blessed year for all of us.

ETA: What's Taf Shin Ayin? Tishrei is taf shin resh yud, right?

[Magelet]

subbing.

shannah tovah.

[me&3]

/delurking... I hope you ladies don't mind me asking here for advice about the upcoming fast...! I'm only 4.5 weeks preggo, but I get really really naseous when I don't eat - I'm constantly munching crackers to keep it at bay! WWYD?

Normally, I'd just stay in bed on YK, no biggie, but my dh is taking my eldest with him away for the whole weekend (davening with his father who's not well - long story) - anway, I'll have the other 2 with me, and not being in shul all day isn't really an option.

Would you ask your rav? The main reason I'm hesitating is 'cause I'm SO early on and don't really want to talk about it...

[smeisnotapirate]

me&3, I'm in about the same position, but I'll be about 10w. I'd ask your rav, and make sure he knows that this is on the DL. Not that he'd say anything, right?

[imnottelling]

Originally Posted by smeisnotapirate

ETA: What's Taf Shin Ayin? Tishrei is taf shin resh yud, right?

Right. Taf Shin Ayin is this year's Hebrew numerical equivalent.
5770 -- for short we skip the 5000. taf = 400, shin = 300 so that's 700 and ayin=70 == 770.
I was welcoming us all to the new year, not just the new month

[imnottelling]

Originally Posted by me&3

/delurking... I hope you ladies don't mind me asking here for advice about the upcoming fast...! I'm only 4.5 weeks preggo, but I get really really naseous when I don't eat - I'm constantly munching crackers to keep it at bay! WWYD?

Normally, I'd just stay in bed on YK, no biggie, but my dh is taking my eldest with him away for the whole weekend (davening with his father who's not well - long story) - anway, I'll have the other 2 with me, and not being in shul all day isn't really an option.

Would you ask your rav? The main reason I'm hesitating is 'cause I'm SO early on and don't really want to talk about it...

FIrstly, start drinking as much water as you can...like 10 cups a day. This has been my lifesaver for pregnancy, pregnancy and nursing, nursing exclusively, etc and it really, really, really works.
I'd also ask your rav at what point it's considered too ill to fast, and what should be done if you reach that point. I think rabbis are used to these questions and do keep this stuff confidential as a member of the clergy. I don't know your background, etc but many women ask questions of family purity to their rabbi and don't worry that those issues will be brought up again Or to give another example, many go to their doctor/midwife this early -- a rabbi is there for a purpose, and even if you're not telling anyone else, I don't see a problem asking a rabbi confidential questions like this.

[smeisnotapirate]

Originally Posted by imnottelling

Right. Taf Shin Ayin is this year's Hebrew numerical equivalent.
5770 -- for short we skip the 5000. taf = 400, shin = 300 so that's 700 and ayin=70 == 770.
I was welcoming us all to the new year, not just the new month

That's really cool! Thanks! Any words that are related? I know words are a big thing with numerical equivalents.

[me&3]

thanks for the advice; I'm off to go get a big water bottle!! I'll consider talking to my rav... I'm afraid I'll just burst into tears, though because I'm SO hormonal these days, and everything sets me off. And I'm really upset that DH is leaving... irrationally angry at him about it, b/c it's not like he knew I was expecting when he made his plans...

[imnottelling]

Originally Posted by smeisnotapirate

That's really cool! Thanks! Any words that are related? I know words are a big thing with numerical equivalents.

I don't know, but every year is written like that -- last year was Taf Shin Samach Tes, and some people make up acronyms for it.
One I heard this year was Taf = Tehei (it should be) Shin = Shnas (year of) Ayin = Ayin (eye -- ayin tova == good eye, that things will be looked on favorably)

[imnottelling]

Originally Posted by me&3

thanks for the advice; I'm off to go get a big water bottle!! I'll consider talking to my rav... I'm afraid I'll just burst into tears, though because I'm SO hormonal these days, and everything sets me off. And I'm really upset that DH is leaving... irrationally angry at him about it, b/c it's not like he knew I was expecting when he made his plans...

Can your husband call the rav, seeing as it's his fault and everything?

[merpk]

Hey, me&3 ... long time no see ...

[Ruthla]

I was wondering why nobody was posting to the Jewish Mamas thread, when I realized "wait a minute, it's not Elul anymore!"

Next time you start a new thread, please post a link from the old thread to the new one! I might have found you a few days earlier!

Me&3- go ahead and ask the rav. You can trust him to NOT spill the beans about the pg, and he needs all the information if he's going to give you a halachic ruling.

You also might want to see if you can get anybody to help you with the kids on YK- a teenaged babysitter or a 9-12yo "mother's helper" can be extremely helpful. Or can you stay with another family so it's two adults and a pile of children and you can take turns napping?

[me&3]

imnottelling - that's a really great idea , but unfortunately, not going to happen. (sigh)

Amy, yeah, been forever and a day.

Ruthla - actually, my kids aren't so young! One is 8, other is 10 - but they can't stay at shul by themselves. I was thinking about seeing how long I can last and anyway, I'll have to take my youngest home for lunch. And then maybe I can ask a neighbor to bring home ds.

Nothing like waiting until the last minute - I'm planning on calling my rabbi tomorrow (although... technically the last minute would be Sunday).

[Faliciagayle]

Does the term baalei teshuva refer specifically to those who chose to follow Hassidism? Or any Jew who becomes Orthodox from a non O. beginning?

I just finished Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers which was an interesting read. Anyone else?

it's not about BTs, per se, rather about Hassidic girls, some of whom have BT parents.

[imnottelling]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

I was wondering why nobody was posting to the Jewish Mamas thread, when I realized "wait a minute, it's not Elul anymore!"

Sorry 'bout that!

[me&3]

ugh, bit the bullet and called. I do like and respect my rabbi a lot! Anyway, he first said to just stay at home and stay in bed. When I explained I couldn't because dh isn't around, he made me feel so good by saying, "how could he leave you while you're pregnant!" hee hee.

The bottom line is that he said to eat watermelon before the fast (ick, the thought of it turns my stomach), and then on Monday, I should try as much as I could, and then have a shot glass of whatever, solid or liquid (hmm, I wonder if I should have some white wine - jK!!) every 9 minutes. Now how am I going to keep that from my dd? (I assume ds will be @shul the whole day). I mean, I guess I could keep it in the bathroom and tell dd that I have shilshul... hmmm.

sigh.

[npl]

I had to eat shiurim (shot glass of food and drink) when my ds1 was a newborn (day of his bris was Yom Kippur). I didn't have to explain it to dd, because she wasn't even 2yo yet, but I did have to explain to my mil. I just explained that sometimes the Torah says that one must not fast, like if you get very ill from fasting, and then it is a mitzva to eat, but we do it in tiny bits, just enough to keep going. (Don't be afraid to really break your fast if it doesn't help, and you feel worse, btw).
Now, my kids know we don't go to shul on YK, despite what they learn in school, because Imma's mitzva is to stay lying down, and resting, all day long so she can fast, and they also know that I have to eat shiurim if I get too sick, even lying down. Even my 4yo gets that concept.
Other things that have helped me: Powerade (if you have blood sugar swings, try the zero, with no sugar) drunk for a few days beforehand. Fruit with lots of juice, eg grapes, oranges, etc (especially if watermelon isn't appealing). Making sure you go into the fast with decent stores of energy (don't overdo it the day before the fast, and eat complex carbs and proteins if you can). Also, prepare for the day so that you can do as little moving around as possible while fasting. Create a base, with a sofa for lying down, toys/books for dd, books and machzor for you, etc.
Tzom Kal - it should be an avoda that isn't too taxing on your body, and help you to have a meaningful day.