Yom Tov can feel like a test of endurance. How to run the best race possible
Hundreds of thousands of people have participated in physically grueling obstacle courses “just for fun.” These people pay money for the privilege of being pushed beyond their human limits forced to use every last ounce of physical and mental strength to run the course. Most are pleased to also be part of a worthwhile cause — one organization for example raises millions of dollars for a charity that helps injured soldiers — but that’s not why they are signing up for the ten-mile obstacle course (they could easily write a check from the comfort of home). What they’re looking for is the challenge itself. Some people enjoy being pushed to their limits!
All they really have to do is become a Jewish homemaker. Between the annual marathons of Tishrei and Pesach they’ll find no shortage of mind-stretching body-pushing limit-testing challenges.
On the Last Stretch
Take Succos for example. Following on the heels of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur this eight day festival involves cooking setting entertaining cleaning (cooking setting entertaining cleaning — repeat 22 times) while taking care of the children (who are off from school) and dealing with the usual demands of the household as well as finding extra time for davening and tending to the spiritual aspects of the holiday. This will be true for a woman even if she is pregnant under the weather struggling with an intense life challenge or otherwise not in top form. By the time Simchas Torah arrives the Jewish homemaker is limping to the finish line having extended herself far beyond her limitations for an entire month.
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