Challah Diary---David Dancing, Raisin Cakes

David whirled with all his might before the LORD; David was girt with a linen ephod.  Thus David and all the House of Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with blasts and shouts of the horn.                  ---2Samuel 6:15

I read there is a Jewish tradition to make a challah in the shape of a key for the first Shabbat after Passover.  I considered it,  but didn`t make a key shape this time.

I made challah cakes with raisins instead.

It was an inspiration from the Haftarah readings for this past week, where King David gave raisin cakes and bread to all of Israel, after he rejoiced and danced with all His might for the Ark of the Covenant was returned safely to the City of David, amid rejoicing.

They brought in the Ark of the LORD and set it up in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts.  And he distributed among all the people---the entire multitude of Israel, man and woman alike --- to each a loaf of bread, a cake made in a pan, and a raisin cake.  Then all the people left for their homes.    ---2Samuel 6:17~19

That verse spoke to my challah-making heart when I read it in the week`s readings.  Plus I love that passage about King David dancing with all his might, in unashamed rejoicing of the LORD God of Israel! It spoke to my worshiping heart.  This is  one of my favorite Haftarah portions. 

I made extra portions of raisin challah and gave them to friends and neighbors.
It was a way to rejoice and share the joy of the LORD with others. 
Celebrating with sharing Challah is a great way to enter into a new season and to praise God for the Bread of Life that He has given us in Yeshua, our Salvation.  May we dance and rejoice in our Maker and in wonderful plan for Salvation!! In un-abashed praise!

The Torah reading and this part in 2 Samuel also talk about obedience, dis-obedience, and the laws of cleanliness and of kahrut (kosher).  We see where both of Aaron's sons were struck down in the reading in this week in Leviticus for their "unauthorized fire";  and we also read in the Haftarah portion where one of the ark carriers was struck down by the LORD for his discretions.  Surely obedience to the LORD is "key".

Blessings and Shalom! Shabbat Shalom!

Love,

Shayndel

PS while I am making the challah for today's Shabbat, writing this post inspired me to search for some fun songs related to David Dancing, and I found some fun ones here (an Israeli dance flash mob) and here (Dance like David Danced, somthing I "stumbled upon" by Duke Ellington  , here (David Danced by Joshua Aaron) and if you got this far,  here (me , like Miriam danced!), if you have your dancing shoes ready, or not, enjoy!