Psalm 91 & Parsha Ekev ! Behold Yeshua

 

Can you see the number on the scale? It is `91`! which led me to Psalm 91 for the `Word` in Challah!

Raah, Behold!

Yeshua

Man cannot live by bread alone! But from every word from the mouth of God!

“Because he has devoted his love to Me,
    I will deliver him.
I will set him securely on high,
    because he knows My Name. When he calls on Me, I will answer him.
I will be with him in trouble, rescue him, and honor him. 

With long life will I satisfy him
and show him My salvation.”

 

Psalm 91:14~16

 

Dear Beloved blog friends, Shabbat Shalom! Sorry I haven`t written for sooooo long!  I hope you are all well.  

 

This Shabbat I was moved by the verse in our Torah portion,

 

"Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God"

 

To come back to make a post!

Because

it is the parsha EKEV which means `because`

and because

this verse is a theme verse at Challah and Cherry Blossoms.

Because  bread (challah), and the word of God and bringing them together, are the topics of my blog!!

 

So I asked the Holy Spirit for a word to make in Challah, to share with you, and He led me to 

 

`Behold Yeshua`!!

 In Hebrew, the root words are

RA`AH רָאָה 

which means to See, or Behold,

and Yeshua, יְשׁוּעָה

which means Salvation and is the name of Yeshua

 

You can see the verse in Psalm 91 above, where these two words are found, literally `show him My Salvation`,

 

With long life will I satisfy him
and show him My salvation.”

אֹרֶךְ יָמִים, אַשְׂבִּיעֵהוּ;    וְאַרְאֵהוּ, בִּישׁוּעָתִי

 

I hope you were able to follow that! One more piece is that the word actually came about as I was measuring the challah dough to divide it in strands.  At that time I still didn`t know what word I would make in challah, but when I broke off a piece of dough to measure it, the scale said `91`! and the Holy Spirit spoke to me!!

 

I usually divide the pieces in either 100 grams each for 12 strands which generally works out well, as the dough generally comes to about 1200 grams.  Or sometimes I do 80 grams each for several smaller challah.

 

So when I saw 91, it stood out and I thought right away of Psalm 91!!! 

 I read through the Psalm asking the Holy Spirit to Highlight a verse or a word(s), and when I got to the last verse I saw it all came together in `Yeshua`, and even `MY Salvation!`.

 

As the Parsha is all about God`s LOVE and the `conditional` aspect, of `Because` or `IF` we show our loving devotion to God, He will do all these things and show us His Salvation.   

 

It just seemed so perfect as remember the verse we started from was `Man does not live by bread alone but by everything that comes from the mouth of God` (Deuteronomy 8:3).  That "everything" includes every decree, every statute, every word, every declaration.  So here it was,

 

With long life I will satisfy those who LOVE me and Devote their LOVE to Me!!

That is exactly what our Parsha Ekev and all of the Torah is about! IF you love me, you will obey and guard my commandments and statutes.

 

Don`t you just love that, and above you can see the Shabbat Table and how it came out!

 

Another interesting thing is that the verse that I was led to has `Because` in it twice.  Even though the Hebrew is not the same as `EKEV`, the meaning is similar, as it is "as a result of , a reward for, because of," our devotion to  Him that He gives us this wonderful promise of a long life and His Salvation!

 

Thank you for coming this far.  As we partake of the words of Life` the bread of Life , and drink the cup of Salvation  let us say together.  

Le chay-im! To LIFE!!

 

Good to see you all again!

Hope to be back sooner rather than later this time.

To Life and Salvation in Yeshua! 

Much Love,❤️

Shayndel

“Then it will happen, as a result of your listening to these ordinances, when you keep and do them, that Adonai your God will keep with you the covenant kindness that He swore to your fathers.

He will love you, bless you and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the produce of your soil, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock, in the land that He swore to your fathers to give you. 

Deuteronomy  7:12~13 (first lines of Parsha EKEV)　

PS　You may have noticed if you are following the weekly Torah portions, that RE`EH , the word I spelled out in Challah, is the name of next week`s Parsha!

 

AHAVA NOTE. 

Please feel free to find my AHAVA prayer sheets which give a family friendly summary of the weekly Torah portions as well as verses to pray for your loved ones, communities, and Israel each week to go with the parsha! 

AHAVA Parsha Ekev Prayer Sheet HERE(this week)

AHAVE Parsha Re`eh Prayer Sheet HERE  (coming week)

Reading this week in EKEV, the Torah is A love letter from Abba 💌 

❤️

 

Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you. 

Abide in My love!

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be full. 

John 15:9~11

Multiplying `Chai` ~ Challah of Life

 

Multpiplying the word `CHAI`   חַי which means Life, on a heart-shaped challah

A new inspiration to make smaller `Chai` חַי Heart Challah, and multiply the `Chai` which means `LIFE`. First make the heart shape, and then roll out a thin strand to make the word `

חַי

 

I am the bread of life.

 אָנֹכִי הוּא לֶחֶם הַחַיִּים

Anochi Hu Lechem Ha-Chay-im 

John 6:35

`Chai` or חַי in Hebrew means `Life`.  

If you read the scriptures in Hebrew, you will recognize this word in the Bread of Life, Lechem Ha-chay-im (above)~ Yeshua is the Bread of Life.

Or in another life-giving verse,

I am the way, the Truth, and the Life.  John 14:6

אָנֹכִי הַדֶּרֶךְ וְהָאֱמֶת וְהַחַיִּים

Anochi ha-derech v`ha-emet v`ha-chayim

 And if you are following the Torah portions, you will surely recognize it as the root word from the last Torah portion in the book of Genesis, Vayechi, which we just read this past Shabbat.  It means, `And He lived`,  which refers to our patriarch Jacob at the end of his life.  Always in the Torah, `Life` is highlighted as the Torah is a Torah of Life! So even as Jacob is on his last days and blessing his sons and grandsons just before his passing on, the name of the Parsha (Torah Portion) emphasizes that He lived.  

 A few years ago I had the idea of this `Chai` Challah, a Challah of Life, to make for the Shabbat of `Vayechi`.  I started noticing in the last two Torah portions, even as the tribes were about to begin the Exodus in Egypt and a time of darkness, the word `life` is often used in the story of Joseph. Jacob`s favored son, Joseph tells his brothers that God sent him there to save `life` (lives) in an extraordinary deliverance.

But God sent me ahead of you to ensure a remnant in the land and to keep you alive for an extraordinary deliverance.  Genesis 45:7

 Even though they tried to kill him and threw him in a pit, he rose up to be the viceroy second to Pharoah and he became the saviour for the land of Egypt and for his family from Israel (Canaan at the time), and for all who lived in that time and who came to him for bread.  We see a picture of the Saviour, Yeshua, who like the Joseph we see in these readings, is still yet to reveal himself to his brothers.  LIke the story of Joseph, his Jewish bretheren do not any longer recognize him, and yet its happening before our eyes in this exciting time, that He is revealing Himself to them, and, like me, many are beginning to know our Messiah Lives!!

When I had the idea of `Chai` on a Challah, it seemed very fitting as Yeshua is the Bread of Life, and in this portion, Joseph at the time saved his brothers in a great deliverance through his storing up of grain. Bread features prominently in the salvations so what better way to express this life giving bread, then in a blossoming `Chai` Challah!  The variation this time is that I `multiplied` them and made several small Chai in the hearts challah.  Like the loaves that were multiplied by Yeshua, I pray that this bread will feed many and many will be nourished by the Word of God and find life in the Bread of Life, Yeshua!

`Chai` necklace, on Shayndel`s wishlist!

You may recognize this word from the celebratory toast at weddings or bar mitzvahs or other occasion, To Life,  which is `Le-chay-im`.  You may recognize it from the song of the same name in the musical, Fiddler on the Roof.  Or you may recognize it from the חַי chai neckaces that you can find in a Judaica shop. 

If you might like to try making a Chai Challah, I will direct you to my Challah-cast archives HERE , where you can find related posts and uploads that will show you how to make it!!

Let`s make a toast together for the New Year 2023, 

Le-chayim, To Life!

Love and blessings,

❤️

Shayndel

PS Notes*

*For more on Parsha Vayechi, Please find my AHAVA Weekly Prayer Sheet HERE to pray from your loved ones and for Israel with verses based on this parsha and themes of `LIFE` and blessing!

**Have you signed up yet for my weekly Parsha Newsletter?

Please let me know if you would like to receive my weekly `Parsha Newsletter`! Every week receive a weekly prayer sheet and Shayndel`s (Joanne!) insights on the weekly Torah portion, with a word of encouragement or blessing or other sharing! You can let me know in the comments, or send an e-mail to:

ahavaprayerandmovement@gmail.com

or sign up on our contact form here:

Ahava prayer and movement Contact

I hope it is a blessing to you.  Please feel free to let me know your thoughts comments, insights, d`var torah (word of Torah), or what else you might like to see in the weekly letters.

Vayechi Shabbat Shalom!

 

Simple Simcha Challah

Roll out 8 strands, separate into 5 and 3

For the 5 Strand Challah, Start with 3 on one side and 2 on the other

Always bring the outside strand over from the 3 to the the inside of the 2, then there is a new `3`

The 3-strand challah (top in picture) is a basic 3-strand simple braid

Flatten out the center of the `5 strand challah` and you will put the `3 strand` on top of it

Like this! Now you are ready to add `volume` by putting the `3` on top of the `5`

Voila! Simcha!

 Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the Kingdom of God.

Luke 14:15

 

DId you know there is a challah called a Simcha Challah?

Simcha means Joy, in Hebrew. This challah is to mark joyous occasions such as a wedding or a special celebration.  Of course, you can make a Simcha Challah for Shabbat too, as Shabbat is a time of `oneg` or `delight`.   You often will see a Shabbat Challah is made with 3, 4, 5, or even 6 strands, and often made as 2 Challah loaves to remember the double portion that God provided in the wilderness and continues to provide on Shabbat as we trust in Him.  The Simcha Challah is  8 strands in one challah!

Traditionally because of the festive nature of the Simcha, you would often see that the Simcha Challah is large and voluminous! to be able to be served at a gala party!!  I had the idea on a recent Shabbat to make a smaller sized Simcha Challah. 

I call it a Simple Simcha Challah because it is a little `scaled down` from a regular Simcha Challah, so it becomes more simple.  To represent the joy and gladness and yet a family size that can be served modestly.  My idea for this was to make the strands smaller and thinner so it could be beautifully appropriate and a little more humble for your Shabbat table.

The parsha I made it for was the week of `Chayei Sarah` (note: On the posting of this post we are already moving along and are in Parsha Vayishlach, where the promised generations have come forth and now Jacob`s name is changed to Israel!) where Abraham sends his servant to find a bride for Isaac, so it had a wedding theme in the Torah portion and it seemed fitting to have a Simcha Shabbat!!  Shabbat is also a `preparation` for the wedding feast that we will have when Messiah Yeshua returns, so I like to think of Shabbat as a `practice` for that time when we will be feasting in the Kingdom of God and eating the bread and drinking the cup of wine with Yeshua Himself.

I am thinking back to our fore-mothers like Sarah whose challah was said to stay fresh all week and her home had a divine light and stayed lit through the week.  She is the matriarch of the family of God going all the way back in the generations.  When we make challah it is also a good time to pray and as you are kneading the dough you can give praise to the LORD and pray for your loved ones and for Israel.  We pray for God to choose a God-ly spouse for our children, and trust in Him for all things.  

 I am also thinking forward to the future banquet and that Shabbat of the Messianic Kingdom!!  

I always love both the scene where the servant of Abraham goes to find the bride, and Rebecca answers his prayer and draws water for both him and his camels!! This is a drawing that I probably post every year on this parsha.  And exemplifies the Bride of Messiah who has the quality of chesed, loving kindness, and pours out her love in abundance and heart of willingness to serve, as we see she gave the water to both the servant and all those camels!!!

So she said, “Drink, my lord,” and she quickly lowered her jar onto her hand and gave him a drink. ¹⁹ Now when she finished giving him a drink, she said, “I’ll also draw water for your camels until they’ve finished drinking.”   Genesis 24:18~19

Hallelu-Yah! 

Shavu`a Tov! Have a good week to all!

 Love,

 ❤️

Shayndel

Go out, daughters of Zion,
    and gaze upon King Solomon,
with a wreath his mother placed on him
    on the day of his marriage—
    on the day of his heart’s joy.

                         Song of Songs 3:11 💖 

 

PS This is an upload I did which has a little more about the Simcha Challah! It is from Parsha Yitro, which comes a little later in our reading, but it does contain a mini-tutorial (from about 4 minutes into the video), and the verse above from Song of Songs.   If you are moved to try making this challah or just to enjoy it as the message continues the theme of Simcha, may you you be filled with the joy of the anticipation of the wedding and `Gazing on the King`, our King and Messiah Yeshua!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTZKu_8qjDk&t=316s

A Torah for Japan! Part 1: Torah of Life!

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree.
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.  Psalm 92:13

 

Florida Palm trees remind me of Shabbat Psalm, Psalm 92!

The Hebrew word `CHAI` from the Parsha Prayer Sheet in Vayechi

A Torah for Japan!

The island nations wait for Your Torah!   Isaiah 42:4

A Torah Scroll for Japan!! A Story in a few Parts and continuing...

I went back to the US for a visit in December to visit my Dad and celebrate his 90th Birthday.

On the way I attended a conference in Florida, where little unbeknownst to me I would be going back to Japan with a Torah Scroll!!

On my way to see my Dad I made a stop in Florida to attend a Messianic conference that was being held on my birthday! It seemed like a miracle that it was still in the middle of the pandemic and tough restrictions were in place, and yet the LORD opened up the door for me to go on this trip to see my Dad and have this stopover,  a gift from heaven in itself! 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.   Jacob (James) 1:17

The day I received the Torah was on the day of my birthday.  It was the Shabbat Parsha Vayechi.

The Parsha was significant because  this year Vayechi was on my birthday, Dec. 18.  Vayechi contains the Hebrew word `Chai` (חי‎) which means life, and is expressed in the  number 18.  Seeing this parsha for life on the 18th and it also being my birthday I knew there was something special on this day.  I felt in my spirit that `this Torah portion is for me`, like  a `Bat Mitzvah`portion!! As I never sensed that before, I was expectant, though not knowing just in what way!

The Torah will go forth from Zion and the word of God from Jerusalem＊

The Torah scroll came to Florida all the way from Jerusalem, with a young man named Israel and his family, who are active in ministry for the restoration of Israel.  I told a dear new friend who I had just met at the conference that when I saw the Torah, the LORD put it in my heart to bring the scroll back to Japan!  She was 100 percent in agreement, and even offered to co-partner with me in getting the Torah.  She wanted to bless the LORD in sending His word forth, and to bless Japan!!  It was decided that afternoon before the end of the Shabbat, that after Shabbat we would purchase the scroll together!! Israel wrapped it carefully as I would be on my journey to NY for the next part of my trip to see my Dad the next day!

I didn`t know how I was going to carry the scroll and my big suitcase that I had with me for a month-long trip!!  Even the suitcase alone was a challenge when making the various international and domestic transfers.  And yet I went forward in faith and knew that the LORD would carry it, and so He did!

HalleluYah! To be continued...

＊from verse Micah 4:2, Isaiah 2:3 

Love, 

Shayndel

 

 

 

 

 

 

This photo is from a divine moment when someone unexpectedly jumped into the photo!! A moment itself can be a gift from heaven! If you do not recognize who it is, or even if you do, please enjoy and be blessed by this song below!!!

❤️❤️❤️

How majestic is Your Name

 

Chorus

There is none like You

There is none like You

Together we proclaim

The power of Your Name

There is none like You

https://lyricstranslate.com/ja/joshua-aaron-none-you-lyrics.html

 Song: There is None like You, by Joshua Aaron

(Thanks to Yeshua, it was a blessing to be able to hear live, as it is one of the songs he played at the conference)

How Majestic is Your Name in all the Earth!

 Chorus lyrics:

There is none like You

Together we proclaim

The power of Your Name,

There is None like You. 

How majestic is Your Name

 

Chorus

There is none like You

There is none like You

Together we proclaim

The power of Your Name

There is none like You

https://lyricstranslate.com/ja/joshua-aaron-none-you-lyrics.html

How majestic is Your Name

 

Chorus

There is none like You

There is none like You

Together we proclaim

The power of Your Name

There is none like You

https://lyricstranslate.com/ja/joshua-aaron-none-you-lyrics.html

Pomegranates and a Blossoming `Chai` Challah of Life!

 

Amen, amen I tell you, he who believes has eternal life.     I am the bread of life.

John 6:47~48

Today`s challah is a Challah of Life! 

I call it the Blossoming Chai Challah, and you can see it all started HERE . 

 CHAI is a Hebrew word which means `LIFE` (see header above).

You may have heard it in the famous `toast`,

LE-CHAI-IM, To life!

As I was reading in the last parsashiot of the book of Genesis,  Parasha Vayigash and Parsha Vayechi, I kept seeing that word LIFE!!! Joseph asking `Is my Father still alive`, Jacob asking the same of his son Joseph, and then when the brothers reconcile Joseph tells them it is to `preserve the lives of many` that he was sent to Egypt. And of course, he saved many alive through grain ~~ the `bread` (corn?!)  that he provided for his family and Egypt and all the nations.

And to top it off, the LORD was showing me pomegranates upon pomegranates in the supermarket and fruit stands.  I just had to make the Pomegranate Blossoming Chai Challah !! And kept making them until there were no more pomegranates (and now I found more, so if you would like me to make one for you and you are in Japan, let me know!!).  Every time I open a pomegranate I hear YESHUA`s call to us to be fruitful in Him.  Every time I make a Challah for Shabbat  I taste His goodness and that He is the true Bread of LIFE!  When we drink the cup of redemption with it, we proclaim His LIFE until the day He returns!! 

So without further ado, here is my Blossoming Challah of Life in a Challah-cast upload to share with you!!

I will also include my first Blossoming Chai Challah from last year on this Parsha.  It is exciting how the LORD  shows us new things in His word each time. 

The third is a short upload I did for my brother, lately I have gotten to know some of the care residents he works with at his job, and have been doing mini Challah-casts for them as they are in lockdown and even their Shabbat time is on hold as they quarrantine in their rooms. It is a blessing to share from Japan to NY and  a special way to connect with my brother who I have not seen for a long time with the travel being restricted.

May we say together these words that are said at the end of each book of Torah,  so perfect for strengthening each other! 

CHAZAK, CHAZAK, VENIT CHAZEK!

Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another!

Hope you might enjoy one or all of the Challah of Life and Pomegranate Challah uploads below courtesy of 

Joannes Challah-cast Channel

 Love,

Shayndel　♡ 

 

The recent Blossoming Chai Challah with Pomegranate:

First Chai Challah of life : 

 

Pomegranate challah for my brother and friends:

 

Come, my beloved, Let us go into the open;

Let us lodge among the henna shrubs. Let us go

early to the vineyards; Let us see if the vine has

flowered, if its blossoms have opened, If the

pomegranates are in bloom.

There I will give my love to you.                                       Song of Songs 7:12~13

 

 

 

 

Succot Welcome! Parts 1 &2!!! Welcome!!

 HI friends! Chag Sameach Sukkot! Happy Succot! Hello from the succah ! Sharing a few stories from the week in the succah. Hope you are having an amazing week of dwelling in His presence, and tabernacling with HIm!!! I may come back and add a few photos and scriptures to the post, but meanwhile wanted to invite you to come in to the succa and share a few stories and praise while it is still Sukkot!!! And if we don`t get the typhoon too strong and if I can be in the succa tomorrow, I will invite you again for  succot communion with the Hebrew letters challah that you will see in this upload!! I welcome your prayers that the typhoon will change course and we can keep the succah up till the end of the feast!!!  Enjoy!!  This is part 2!! Part 1 can be seen HERE!

Joanne`s Challah-Cast channel!

To Life! A Challah of "Life"!

 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come forward to me."  

And when they came forward, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, he whom you sold into Egypt.  Now, do not be distressed or reproach yourselves because you sold me hither; it was to save life that God sent me ahead of you.

Genesis 45:4~5

(timing note:  On the Cycle of weekly readings we have entered into the book of Shemot, Exodus.   This post is from the last two readings from the book of Genesis!)

Chai means "life" in Hebrew.

The last parsha in the book of Genesis is called "Vayechi"  and the word Vayechi means "and he lived".  It is referring to the "life" of Jacob, who passes on from earthly life, and yet, like our foremother Sarah and the parsha "Chayei Sarah", which means "Life of Sarah", our righteous forefathers and mothers "live" on.

Interestingly, in the second to last parsha in the book of Genesis, which is called "Vayigash", I noticed that the Hebrew word "chai" , for "life", was appearing a lot!! According to my count I found this root word "chai" NINE times in the parsha Vayigash.  That is a lot especially as Chai, like other of the deeply meaningful words like Shalom, is a word that has deep spiritual significance. 

Hence, when I saw its appearance so many times, I felt moved to make a challah that expresses "Chai" or "Life'".  Especially as the tribes are going down to Egypt and into a place of darkness in the readings we are in, I was inspired to make this challah at this junction between the book of Genesis and the book of Exodus.  The Torah is a Torah of "Life".

When I put the word and the challah together, it also occured to me the connection to the "Bread of Life"!!  Everyone who eats this challah, may they know the Bread of Life, Yeshua!

Below you can find my recent "Challah-cast" about the "Chai" Challah.
Please join me on this newest "Challah-cast" adventure if you are moved to and watch the latest upload!! 
 It  is fun of doing the Challah-casts , "on the spot" and in the spirit--- things got a little changed from the original plan, as the dough was shaped and formed!!  Enjoy and hope it blesses you and that there might be something to learn or feel free to share anything that is on your heart about the parsha or any encouraging or "life-giving" thoughts!!  Blessings and Love and thank you for your visit!

Chai Chai Chai! Am Yisrael Chai!!!
Life, Life, Life, Israel nation is alive!

Adding a Life-filled link to this song, thanks to our blog friend Duta!!
 CHAI!! CHAI! CHAI! AM YISRAEL CHAI!!
♡

  

You will teach me the path of life.

In Your presence is perfect joy;

delights are ever in Your right hand.

Psalm 16:11 

 תּוֹדִיעֵנִי,  אֹרַח חַיִּים
שֹׂבַע שְׂמָחוֹת, אֶת-פָּנֶיךָ;    נְעִמוֹת בִּימִינְךָ נֶצַח

♡

CHAZAK, CHAZAK, V'NITCHAZEK!

Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another!!

*Finishing the book of Genesis!  

words that are said after finishing reading each book of the Torah