Shabbat Shalom

Rebecca Ann Sasdlk;jfa (again, not her last name; we are just avoiding her dad getting a Google Alert) is going through a conversion to Orthodox Judaism.  

Rebecca's faith and her religious practices are of great interest to me and to the other researchers, and she is always willing and happy to share with us.  

Orthodox Jews observe the Jewish Sabbath, or "Shabbat" from sundown on Friday evening to sundown on Saturday evening.  During that time, they do not perform tasks that are associated with the construction of the Tabernacle (e.g. starting a fire (using electricity)).  

On two occasions, Rebecca has hosted the researchers in her home for Friday night Shabbat dinner.  Those two nights have been some of the most fun and fulfilling evenings of my time here in New York so far.  She prepares a wonderful meal, and we all eat and have a great time of fellowship, playing games and visiting about the week.  

The phrase "Shabbat Shalom" is customary to say as a greeting once Shabbat has come.  I usually say it way more frequently than is probably appropriate (the first time I usually say it is on Friday morning, about nine hours before Shabbat.  But it's always respectful and in the "spirit of Shabbat."  

From all the researchers, we thank you, Rebecca, for inviting us into your home, into your life, and into your faith.  

I'm a REE-surch-er

Since I introduced two of my researcher colleagues in July, four other researchers have started in the professional practice group at Ernst & Young.

Mary Katharine Farnell works on the income statement matters team, is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and attended the University of Florida.  Oh, and she was a Florida Tri Delt.  

Jessica Marek works on the audit team, is from Valparaiso, Indiana, and attended the University of Indiana.  

Lawrence Lin works on the financial instruments team, is from Seattle, Washington, and attended the University of Washington for undergraduate school and the University of Notre Dame for graduate school.  

Finally, Rebecca Anne Sasdlk;jfa works on the financial services industry team, is from Short Hills, New Jersey, and attended Boston University.

Rebecca's last name isn't really "Sasdlk;fja".  But her dad created a "Google Alert" that notifies him every time her full name is published on the Internet.  So she asked me not to type her last name.  Did you know there was such a thing as a "Google Alert"?  

The four of them plus Caitlin Kirio, Will Geeslin (whom I already introduced to you), and I make up the group of eight professional practice researchers.  It's a great group, and I really enjoying working with them.  We sometimes joke about calling ourselves ri-surch-ers instead of ree-surch-ers.  But I promise it's only a joke.  We all say "ree-surch".  We don't take ourselves seriously enough to say "ri-surch", and I'm not sure I ever want to take myself seriously enough to say it that way.