Haftorah Beam - vZot haBracha

This parsha is read, not on Shabbat, but on Simchat Torah -- the "Great Rewind".  We finish reading the five books of Moses, and immediately cycle back to the beginning of Genesis.

The Torah reading ends with the death of Moses, as the people are about to enter the Promised Land. The Haftorah completes this theme with the beginning of the book of Joshua, as the people enter Israel and prepare to conquer and inhabit it.  On the brink of a new endeavor, full of risk and promise, these words resonate for us:

ט  הֲלוֹא צִוִּיתִיךָ חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ, אַל-תַּעֲרֹץ וְאַל-תֵּחָת:  כִּי עִמְּךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר תֵּלֵךְ.

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.'

31 for 21 - Sukkot

Well, Sukkot is half-over, but here is our new Sukkah for this year:

31 for 21 - Power Cafe at the Buddy Walk

Just a heads up to local peeps -- come check out the Power Cafe's table at the Down Syndrome Buddy Walk in Wakefield, MA this Sunday 11-3!

31 for 21 - siblings

This is a blog I don't usually read, but this time I did, and I thought it was very nicely done.  Enjoy!

31 for 21 - discrimination

Looks like this year, my participation in 31 for 21 will mostly be limited to linking to other bloggers....  Here is a piece by my friend Jisun, examining the real-life consequences -- in some cases, life-and-death consequences -- of "othering" people with disabilities.  In any situation where we try to justify treating people with disabilities differently, would we use the same logic to justify racial or gender discrimination?

31 for 21 - high expectations

Through the blog linkup, I came across this blog, of the parents of an adorable 2-year-old with T21 (aka Trisomy 21 aka Down syndrome).  His parents refuse to limit him based on any preconceptions.  As a result, although he certainly has delays in some areas, in other areas he is at -- or even above! -- his age-level peers.

Did I mention he's cute?

31 for 21

I don't expect to be able to participate in the full month for Down Syndrome Awareness Month, but do check out Big Blueberry Eyes for lots of cool DS bloggers!