Aaron’s Blossoming Staff Challah! A Challah-cast!

An intimate moment with Yeshua!! Taste and See that the LORD is good!

And behold, Aaron`s staff, from the house of Levi, had sprouted, blossomed, and produced almonds!
Numbers 17:8

You`ll find the story of Aaron`s blossoming rod in the Book of Numbers chapter 17 verse 8.   The blossoming rod of Aaron has intrigued me for the blossoms and the life and the supernatural qualities that God reveals of Himself as He reveals the staff of Aaron blossoming, and shows that is only God alone who chooses.

Once I started making challah and celebrating and observing the Shabbat a few years ago, there were certain Parsha (Torah portions) that inspired me to make a special Challah to pertain to that portion.  The first time I made the `Aaron`s Blossoming Rod Challah` was 3 years ago, the challah `came to life` in my spirit  and I have been making it ever since , a once a year special challah at the Shabbat of this Parsha, Parsha Korah!!

It has become a celebration here at  Challah and Cherry blossoms to make the Aaron`s Blossoming Staff Challah, and remember the blossoming of Aaron`s staff as well as learn new things in each reading.  May we draw nearer to the LORD through His living Word!! 

When the parsha came around this year I was  excited to make it again, and this time will share how to make it on a Challah-cast `tutorial` of how to make an Aaron`s Blossoming Rod Challah!!
Thank you for being along on the Torah and Challah journey with me over these years, I am thankful for this `space` and for you to share the challah and the  journey with!!! 

For the first time ever here on Challah and Cherry Blossoms! Enjoy!! (note* part 1 below, and link to part 2 after that!)

Part 2:



Oh how I love your Torah!
Psalm 119:97

If you would like to read where we find the Blossoming Rod of Aaron, as well as the rebellion of Korach which is much of the parsha  and related to the staff incident, the readings for Parsha Korah are here:

Numbers 16:1 ~18:32
1Samuel 11:14~12:22
2Timothy 2:14~25

I love reading on the Torah cycle and engaging with the Holy Spirit to bring parts of what we read to life through the Challah or through drawing or dancing or other creative ways!!
How does the Word come alive for you? How can we bring the word of God into our lives and invite others to hunger for the Word of God ?

For related posts on the Aaron`s Blossoming rod challah as well as a tutorial on the blog of how to make it, please see the previous years posts for Parsha Korach Here , Here, and Here! 
For the list of where we are each week in the Torah readings for this 2019~2020 year 5780, please click HERE, as well as you can always find it on the sidebar at the right, it is there under *Pages*!

Blessings and Love!

Shayndel

Beha'alotcha, Menorah and cloud-like Challah!

a little souvenir menorah from Israel!

♥cloudy and fluffy Challah.♥

One challah for flowers!!

The challah this week came out looking  a little like clouds!!

Reading in the book of Numbers, can you see even on my mini Torah scroll how the Torah is getting thicker on the right which means we are getting nearer to the end of this cycle and already nearer to the Fall Feasts!!

cloud motif on the challah cover !

Shabbat continues into the week with challah for breakfast and a peace that endures:))

 The steadfast Love of the LORD never ceases.  His mercies never come to an end.  They are new every morning.  

Great is Your faithfulness.  

Lamentations 3:22~23

In this weeks parsha Beha'alotcha we read about the cloud of God's presence that signaled the Children of Israel to move or stay. 

The Challah this week came out looking a little like clouds.  I learned recently if you knead the dough longer it makes the challah come out more fluffy!! So my challah do have a slightly more fluffy look and taste!!  Fitting I thought for the reading about the Cloud of Glory this week!.

On Friday morning  I ran into one of my neighbors in the building outside at our bicycles and said I`d be making challah and asked to give her a challah and she said she'd be glad to receive it, and we set a time in the evening that I would give it to her.  When I stopped by just before sunset on the evening, and gave her the challah, she gave me these beautiful hydrangeas!!

In the opening of the parsha we read about keeping the menorah lit, and how it was actively kept lit and set up by Aaron the High Priest.  Interestingly, the Jewish sages tell us that the continuation of this service thru the generations of Kohen (of the tribe of Levi who are the *Kohanim*, or high priests) goes forward to the Hasmoneans (Maccabees, led by Judah Maccabee) who you may recall fought and won the victory against  Greeks in the story of Hannukah.  As we all know the story, they got back the Menorah and re-dedicated the Temple after the Greeks desecration and attempt to take it.   I found that  illuminating to the Hannukah story, not having realized that connection of the Maccabees to the descendants of Aaron and His service to the LORD  in keeping the Menorah lit!!  They had this in their  history to be in charge of menorah and that sheds light on their zeal when they saw the temple being desecrated and that the Menorah was threatened to go out.  

So even today the Menorah is always lit and we see it connecting back to the commandment given to Aaron that we read in this parsha.   Through Yeshua we are commanded to be the Light of the World!! To me it is meaningful to know how the spiritual light has been lit all these thousands of years and how we connect to the whole of God`s plan for worship and for keeping Him at the center of our lives and being responsible to dispel the darkness and keep the light kindled continually!!  The symbolism is so beautiful as even in the description of the Menorah the lamps are all pointing in towards the center.

Like Aaron who prepared the lamps of the Menorah and did His service with a passion for serving the LORD, we too have to keep the light of God shining in this world, focused on Him,  and to be zealous in our keeping it shine.  Reading about Aaron  reminded me that the command to us to be the light of the world comes with generations before us who were keeping the literal and spiritual light lit and keeping the world going through that spiritual light in ways we probably  don't even know!!   Shining our light can be a very `humble` gesture but the acts of kindness make a spark that makes the light increase!!  It reminds me in our parsha too how Moshe is described as the most humble of all people!  And of course Yeshua tells us that it is in our service to others that we shine.

Just some Shabbat thoughts to leave you with! Have a blessed week!! Let your light shine!  

♡♡

Bamidbar- Wilderness and Clouds

  וַעֲנַן יְהוָה עֲלֵיהֶם, יוֹמָם, בְּנָסְעָם, מִן-הַמַּחֲנֶה

And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day, when they set forward from the camp.   Numbers 10:34

And sometimes the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed.
כא  וְיֵשׁ אֲשֶׁר-יִהְיֶה הֶעָנָן, מֵעֶרֶב עַד-בֹּקֶר, וְנַעֲלָה הֶעָנָן בַּבֹּקֶר, וְנָסָעוּ; אוֹ יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה, וְנַעֲלָה הֶעָנָן וְנָסָעוּ.	9:21 And sometimes the cloud was from evening until morning; and when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they journeyed; or if it continued by day and by night, when the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.
כב  אוֹ-יֹמַיִם אוֹ-חֹדֶשׁ אוֹ-יָמִים, בְּהַאֲרִיךְ הֶעָנָן עַל-הַמִּשְׁכָּן לִשְׁכֹּן עָלָיו, יַחֲנוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְלֹא יִסָּעוּ; וּבְהֵעָלֹתוֹ, יִסָּעוּ.	9:22 Whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, abiding thereon, the children of Israel remained encamped, and journeyed not; but when it was taken up, they journeyed.

In the wilderness, the Children of Israel were guided by the cloud by day and a fire by night.  The menorah in the tabernacle was kept lit diligently and continually by Aaron.  It was his continuous service throughout the generations.  
 In the wilderness time we all have gone through, perfectly between Purim and Shavuot, and are coming out of--and there are and will be wilderness times time and again until we reach the promised land--- may we be reminded of God`s presence so close to us.  He tells us when to move and when to stay.  We  had a period of 3 months when He told us to stay.  I find it wonder-ous to see that cloud, smiling down on us, and to know that the One who created the world with His word is very much taking us through.  May we listen and watch for when to move.  May His glorious Name fill the earth.  

The sky looks clearer than ever before.  LORD, You fill our screens (!)  and our hearts with hope.  May we keep our lamps continually lit as we are commanded to be the light of the world.   Help us LORD  to be more kind and loving as You are.  Thank you LORD for guiding us and for shining Your face upon us 
and for giving us peace.

♡

In progress on a Torah class for kids!! And kids at heart!!

This week`s Torah readings were in the Book of Numbers,
 in Parsha Beha’alotcha
(or for those in Israel, one Parsha ahead, Shelach Lecha)

Challah Diary--Two Loaves for Shavuot, Part 3!

It was so special to make the two loaves this Shavuot with my friend and prayer partner.
This is part 3 of 3 of the series.  I hope you can also find it a helpful "tutorial" to make challah for your next Shabbat or feast!  Enjoy!  ♡ Love, Shayndel (dba Joanne`s Challah Cast!)

See Part 1, making the dough,
and Part 2, behind the scenes and some on-the-spot making and tips,
in the posts below!

Challah Diary--Two Loaves for Shavuot Part 2 !

Behind the scenes and some Challah tips!!

Enjoy Part 2 of making the Two loaves for Shavuot!!

Trying out filming from `Zoom`, and some "on the spot Challah making" together!!
Thank you to my collaborator on the two loaves!

Part 1, how to make the dough, can be seen Here or in Post below! Enjoy!♡

Challah Diary--Two Loaves for Shavuot! Part 1!

we each made two loaves, so actually there were 4 loaves in all!!

You are to bring out of your houses two loaves of bread for a wave offering, made of two tenths of an ephah of fine flour.  They are to be baked with hametz as first fruits to ADONAI.   

                                                  Leviticus 23:17 TLV

Its always exciting to get to that day after the 49 days of counting and be ready for the holiday of Shavuot!!

I was preparing to make two loaves of Challah for Shavuot that morning, and had an unexpected surprise, which was that I had the chance to make the loaves together with a friend!

It was an extra blessing of having the chance to make the two loaves for Shavuot challah with my *AHAVA* prayer partner.  We had been praying together the morning before Shavuot, and both said almost at the same time that after our prayer time we were going to make challah, two loaves, for Shavout!! So we decided on the spot to do it together.  It was a wonderful time to make challah together and to meditate on the feast of Shavuot.  As one of the significances of the two loaves is that they can be said to represent Jew and Gentile together in Yeshua, we felt that making the challah together brought in that special meaning and it became a special time to make the loaves!!

I also made it *with you* as a way to share in the making and also that it could be my first "tutorial" on the whole process of making the challah from start to finish!! Some parts are more detailed than others, and some are just *tips* for how to make it, but overall I think it can give you a spring-board (seasonal pun intended!) to make challah for those who have always wanted to try it!!

I know we are already heading into weeks after the Feast of Weeks, hope you all had a blessed time for the Feast of Shavuot!!

There is also an exciting aspect of the spring feasts as a `challah maker` in that bread is featured so prominently in both Passover -- the unleavened bread, or Matzah--, and then Shavuot where two leavened loaves are waved as an offering. 
 
Blessings and stay tuned for parts 2&3!!  

Part 1 : making the dough from the start, including laying out the ingredients and getting started
Part 2 :  some behind the scenes and challah tips, showing the process as two of us did it together via `Zoom`!!
Part 3:  Finishing the loaves together,  our challah offering to the LORD 

Love (heart!)
Shayndel

PS I am on a new computer and this is embarassing to show my technical skills, I can`t find how to make my `heart`!! Should get it back soon, meanwhile sending extra Love!!

Banner of Love!

 HIS BANNER


Over Me

Over YOU

Over US

can you see the Hebrew letters, AHAVA, they spell *love*

 IS

LOVE!!!!

וְדִגְלוֹ עָלַי אַהֲבָה

song of songs 2:4  His Banner over me is LOVE

In Hebrew *LOVE* is AHAVA
I received this banner on the morning of Shavout, a Shavuot gift from Heaven.

brought forth from a creative collaboration on earth!
I had drawn a drawing of an AHAVA banner inspired from a photo I took in Israel least year, and have always wanted to make it into an actual banner.  During this season I remembered it as I was preparing for something I will be participating in with the theme *His Banner over me is Love* and sent my drawing to a worship sister who makes banners.   She took on the challenge and made it so beautiful with the hand-painted Hebrew letters!!

I am happy to return after a few weeks away from the blog with the Banner!! I started to post the two Shavuot loaves first, but The Holy Spirit reminds me that the last postings I did were of the message, His Banner over *us* is Love, and that this post comes first!!

When the banner arrived, the first thing I did on Shavuot morning was to take it out for a spin(click for view)!!!

Thank you to ALL FOR HIS GLORY Ministries!!

And now, stay tuned after all the unleavened posts, for the two LEAVENED Shavuot loaves!!

Blessings and Love!
AHAVA!!

SHayndel