Dropping a Line

[Demetrius Hy'rona]

Hey all, I've been wondering how everyone is doing, new and old, and wanted to know the updates for people, in and out of game. I read the site when I can remember to, but I haven't honestly been on the computer much...at all, period. Heck, I am forced to check my email at school, which I have to sneak around to do.

If any of you are curious or what not, I'm about to graduate (May 25th) from Highschool. Which is part of why I've not been able to get on at all. The other reason is...my 20 yr old brother (who I know I've complained about before lol) is now totally addicted to IMing people, so he is always on...which means I cannot get on and say hello. However, I skipped school today due to Passover (jewish holiday) cleaning which starts Saturday night, and he is resting, and I snuck on

Gymnastics is going well, I'll be working in Pennsylvania as a coach at a camp for the majority of the summer (June 12-Aug 20) then the 22nd of Aug I start college and I don't know how my schedule is going to be then either. Prom is coming up...Yes, I've got a date and I'm going to her prom too in 2 weekends from now.

Lot's of things have been happening here, and I apologize for losing touch with people. I'd love to hear from all of you, I miss ya guys (and gals). No doubt everyone is keeping Atheena busy huh? lol. And no doubt she is working her tail off to please people Well, I best be going, made this long enough I'm sure. Just miss ya guys. If I know you, you can leave email addies here too, since I can do email at school (but not ICQ and such) so I'll try to write back soon.

Best Wishes,
Demetrius Hy'rona

[Hera]

It is very good to hear from you, Shame you can not join us on POM. It is coming along and the new Samurai Empire lands are open, people are moving in and things are prospering along. Good luck to you in your future endevours. Glad to hear things are going well for you.

Hera

[Atheena]

HOWDY DEME, good to hear from you as always... glad to hear you are so close to graduations... as well as being smart enough to date a gal from another highschool so you get two proms... My daughter did the same... her boyfriend will graduate this year as her bf last year graduated too... but at least this year... she got two proms...

Next year she will graduate... so while I am gleeful for you... I feel for your mama ehehehe... while you are off to college do lots of weight lifting so you can beat up your big brother (heeheh j/k) he should give you some pc time...

I wish you the best and hope that we will get to see you when you are free )

*hugs and best wishes*

[Demetrius Hy'rona]

lol thnx, I hope to see you all sometime too. and weight lifting Ath? Gymnastics does more than I need lol. I just play nicely I'm glad things are going well for you all. I've gotta get going so I'll have to talk to you all later. Goodluck

Dem,

P.S. Sat night starts Passover, so happy Pesach (Passover)

[Helia Hawke]

Hi there Dem! It is good to here from you. You know I still start out each warrior character like you first taught me and BAM...even a cyclops drops like a ton of bricks without putting up much of a fight. I hope you will one day soon be able to join us all on POM.

Say, since you brought up the subject of passover...would you mind edifying those of us (like me) who would like to know more about it...what it means to you...what it means to others...what happens in the celebration of it (if that is the proper word...I apologize if it is not)

Juliemarie aka Helia aka Tatsumi (RIP)

[Demetrius Hy'rona]

uhh sure lol well it fully depends on how religious you are. Personally, I'm orthodox, so here is my point of view...

Passover, as most people know, is about the Jews leaving Egypt and the 10 plagues that occured. Remember, the Jews didn't encounter the plagues (obviously) and neither did the Pharoah, so that he could witness the disasters it shook on his city. As well, that is one reason he kept not letting the Jews go, as it "didn't affect him". As a quick note also, in some books, one of the plagues is marked as "vermin". I don't know what people hear, but that plague is where the grains of sand actually turned into lice. (yes, they walked on lice), and the 10th plague, all the first borns were killed at once, leaving behind one long agonizing cry through Egypt, unlike the TV story where it happens one house at a time or whatever through some mist thing.

anyways, moving on, for the first 2 days and the last 2 days, they are marked as "Yom Tuv" meaning days of relaxing, aka no computers, driving, electricity changing, etc, but unlike the sabbath, you CAN carry things around outside your house limits and you CAN cook. on the sabbath you have to prepare ALL before sundown.

If you happen to go to Israel for some odd reason, you'll find out that they only do one Seder (pronounced Say-der) the first night instead of 2, which is what most Americans do (or people not in Israel actually). There is a simple reason for this, being that back in the day, Passover was not exactly marked on a calender then, and with a time different etc, we try to keep up with Israel, which can't really be done. Sooooo we do it 2 nights, and Israel only does it once since they basically "set the trend". There are opinions on that too though I believe.

A little interesting fact during the Seders though, is that you are supposed to ask questions (lots) to better understand and to recline to the left side, as the richer people, nobler and slave masters did, because we are now free like they were.

Any other questions, I'll try to answer umm, ask if you can go to a Friday night, or Sat morning or night service to better understand the religion, as it kinda is a big thing in most religions here isnt it? Sat morning we had a lot of guys from some seminary nearby come to learn about our faith to better understand theirs. Go to an orthodox one, they tend to speak hebrew and like to sing. Obviously in my opinion it's better, and if you want a detailed reason why, I can explain that too.

Sorry for the long post. I'm gone to catch my breath

Dem

[Helia Hawke]

Thanks Dem...and actually...all I knew about passover was that it was about the time that the Lord Passed Over the Israelites....

There are many things which you related which I found fascinating. For instance, I didn't know that the pharoh did not suffer the plagues as well. I didn't know that the SAND actually turned to lice. I also didn't know that the firstborn of the Eygptians all died AT ONCE...en masse.

I come from an ecumenical convent and we try our best to learn about all religions. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to learn about another one. Being Buddhist (as well as Christian), one of the principles of the founders of our order was Shoju...embracement...as embracing all religions. That is why I wanted to learn from someone who truly cares about their religion and faith.

As to the singing...I can certainly relate on the importance. The chanting we do is in the language called "Pali"...the language Shakyamuni Buddha spoke. My Lakota elder and teacher taught me about the sacredness of language. I would be very interested in hearing your views on the subject as far as the singing in your temple is concerned. I know literally nothing about cantors and singing, but would like to learn.

Thank you so much for being willing to share.

[Demetrius Hy'rona]

meh it's np lol. I'm tryin to think what it is exactly you are specifically looking for me to post... in my orthodox synagogue, we have it set up like this:

long benches rowed (from the door to the window, all the way to the back of the room about) the last bench has a wall thing that can be raised (see through because it is sorta like thatched work) and behind that is a long table with some chairs against the wall. in the front of the room (in front of all the benches) going into the wall (center) is the Ark, holding the Torahs. To the left of that is where the Cantor stands, little table against the wall (and next to the bookcase with the prayer books), he sets his book on the little table and reads, in hebrew (whole time). between the ark and first bench in the center is a table again that is also where the Cantor sometimes prays (they usually pray aloud as they are leading the entire congregation, but some prayers are silent). We also clear off this table to set the Torah on top of it and read from it. To the right of the ark are 2 chairs for the rabbi, facing the congregation. The whole congregation faces East, especially during certain prayers the Rabbi is forced to turn around. East because it is in the direction of Israel.

As this is orthodox, women and men are seperated, and inside the shul - pronounced shool - (synagogue) the women sit in the back at the table and the men sit on the benches. This is because men are not supposed to be able to see the women (doesn't matter about women seeing men) because we can't keep our minds clean or something around that affect. Basically, you all distract us

Only men are allowed to lead the service or do anything special. They aren't even allowed up there to talk to the Rabbi (they have to wait). The only time I've seen a woman up there, is because of a wedding (them being the bride). Women are not forced to go to shul, but in the Torah or somewhere, men are supposed to go whenever they can. Women take care of the house lol and sometimes the men like to pretend they run the household...but yeah, whatever. The women do lol. There is a larger shul (much larger) for Saturday mornings and special High Holidays etc. It's a much larger version, women on right, men left, wall down middle. Cantor on dais, etc. any more questions?

Dem

[Helia Hawke]

Hi Dem,

Thank you for sharing all this. It is informative and enjoyable...I wondered more about the cantor. What exactly does a cantor do? What is the difference between a cantor and a Rabbi? What is it that is being sung?

Thanks

Juliemarie

[Demetrius Hy'rona]

Think of the Cantor as the connection between the people that are praying, and G-d. The Cantor sings hebrew prayers, and the good ones, put feeling into the words (you can tell who they are). Rabbi means teacher, basically. You have to earn the title Rabbi through schooling and such. Cantor is just whoever is leading the prayers etc. The Rabbi can choose to be he Cantor if he wishes.

[Helia Hawke]

Thank you very much for sharing your faith with us Dem. It has made my world and my understanding of it just a bit bigger. That was very kind of you. I hope to see you back again soon.

[Demetrius Hy'rona]

where the heck is zoso? I need to hear from that man

[anakage]

Whats up dem.. its Scribbles Zos is normally in game most evenings. We miss you

[Demetrius Hy'rona]

yo buddy! you and Zo need to email me. [e-mail] make sure to tell him that!!!