Shana Tov! (Read only)

[TA Paisley Gregg]

that david played and it pleased the lord

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but you don’t really care for music do you
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(Paisley's Rosh Hashanah day)

Paisley sat in the last seat of the last pew of the last row of her Temple. There were two reasons for this-the first, and biggest, being that she was still uncomfortable with faith, in general. But Judiasm had been the only constant in her life, and, now, the only thing left that tied her to her parents. She had been making an effort to give it a REAL try, and to dress up for Temple when she went. She had chosen a more progressive church, even though she'd been raised in the Reform sect, anyway. That was more Paisley's style-new, different, accepting. She liked the Rabbi, and his wife and family, and the other members of the congregation, as well. They were fast becoming peers-equals, people she could turn to when the dark of the night took a firm hold on her soul, as it sometimes did in the midst of a difficult case.

Finally, she stood, as the Shofar was blown, and said the final prayer. She was praying for a happier New Year than the one that had lapsed-maybe she'd meet someone nice, and be able to settle down, start a family. Even lesbian Jews wanted those things. Her sexuality was another thing...she had begun to feel the guilt that Maria, Peter's mother, heaped on her. It wasn't "normal", but then Paisley never HAD been normal. She had discussed it with the Rabbi. He took a personal "don't ask, don't tell" policy, but reminded her that God made no mistakes. If she was this way, she was this way for a reason. She smiled at the man as he did his final exit through the door, and followed the procession out to the reception room.

On a table, she deposited an offering-alms, as the Christians called it-and some Challah bread brought from a Jewish bakery that Clark, of all people, had introduced her to. Clark. Crap. She was going to be late to work. She hurriedly said her good-byes and dashed out the door. She was going to catch all kinds of hell for her getup today, but she didn't have time to go home and change. She had gotten some things ready at work the night before, and so she could fudge a little Rosh Hashanah ceremony at lunch, when she'd do her Tashlikh, and cast off her sins. Ok, so it wasn't a moving body of water, but the sink in the breakroom would just have to do.

She made her way across DC, being careful not to swear, given that it was a High Holy Day, a feat which proved more difficult than it sounded, given that it was also the first day of school for a lot of children. Traffic was bad. She was late. She hurried into the Bureau, and smoothed the skirt on the dress she wore. She carried some potluck dishes. The traditional foods of Rosh Hashanah were black-eyed peas and leek soup, Challah bread, some fritters, and apples with honey, to ensure the sweet new year. She arranged it in the breakroom, then hurried to her office, where she sent a mass e-mail, alerting the team to "ethnic goodies in the breakroom." She had forgone the fish heads-best not to freak people out.

SHe got to work, and it proved to be a nice, slow start to what she hoped would be a blessed and happy year. At her lunch time, she did the usual casting of sins ceremony, with Reid staring at her, and ate some apples. Later, she'd go to a Temple service, and then to her neighbor's home, Hannah Gold, for dinner. Then, of course, she would get ready for the next holiday.

Mazel Tov!

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Creditz:Lyrics are Hallelujah-Leonard Cohen. Template is by MONICA. DON’T BE STEALIN’, YA HEAR?
Notez: Ugh, not my best. I just can't get it to flow this time. Sorry.