BS"D

BUBBLES OF JUDGEMENT!

Friday, August 6th
Froze out in the tent. A rather large furred creature was creeping into the shadows as I approached the main building in the middle of the night. I found it difficult to sleep in on the ground after so many whip lashes & so much bending over the Sefer. I woke to the powerful hypnotic chant of Shefa Gold leading Shachrit. We had blintzes for breakfast - I thought of Mum & how much she would enjoy these - I remained sitting alone. Charna introduced herself to me - it was she & her shulkids who raised over $200 for the Womens' Torah Project. People are starting to realize who I am & strangers are approaching to welcome me into Elat Chayyim & wish me shalom. I washed & davenned again. I tried to call Bena & Gustavo in NYC. There is something unnatural going on with that pay phone by the dining hall. I set up in the small dining room & worked on the Sefer - I missed writing SO much over the last several days of endless driving across the continent. There were bubbles in the d'yo (ink) I'd never encountered, & when they hang under the tip of my kulmus they pop at contact with the qlaf & smudge the letters. This must be from being sealed for so long & getting jostled around in the car. It was a hard re-beginning today, that's for sure. Rayzl with intense brown eyes, sable hair & a velvet voice came to me. She asked about my work, the Project, this journey. She was enormously gracious & kind & made me feel very warmly welcomed. She made signs for the doors of the room so I would not be disturbed & invitations were exchanged. I appreciated this, as I didn't want to take up anyone else's space, since I was paying only to stay there & eat & was not part of any program. I continued working with my difficult ink, thinking, "every letter I write today is one I do not have to write tomorrow..."