Shavuot Diary--Postcard from Shavuot & Story of Two Loaves, in pictures

From wherever you live, bring two loaves of bread as a wave offering of first fruits to the LORD.

--Leviticus 23:17

I love the spring feasts center around bread!!

Israeli oranges in Japan

(with Israeli oranges, and following the feast days, an `otsukaresama-de` cranberry smoothie)

something new

PS  my Shavuot postings are late! But as its still the month of Sivan...still within the Hebrew month, I am seeing if I can smoothly insert them in!
For more postcards from Shavuot, please enjoy posts here. 


Blessings and Shalom! Love, ♡　Shayndel

Panorama!

Post in Progress, just testing the panorama!!
Yeah! I can post it.

Can you find Challah or Cherry Blossoms in this picture?!

answer below!

Love,

Shayndel

answer:  there are Cherry trees in the right side of the photo, lining around the moat of the Castle, but no blossoms at the moment as the trees are all green!

Challah is not in this photo, but just baking now...！

I know, not every post has to have challah and cherry blossoms, but just fun to try to make the connections, and wanted an excuse to come here and wish you a Shabbat Shalom!!

Blessings and Shabbat Shalom!!

Love,
Shayndel

♡

Counting the Omer--Shabbat Shalom! Omer Blessing

The Castle is made of light!! So when it appears bright and illuminated as the sky turns to night,  I read a blessing and count the day of the omer!!

And from the day on which you bring the sheaf of elevation offering---the day after the sabbath--you shall count off seven weeks.  They must be complete:  you must count until the day after the seventh week--fifty days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to the Lord.  You shall bring from your settlements two loaves of bread as an elevation offering;      --Leviticus 23:15~17a

The days counting up from Passover to Shavuot are very exciting.
The commandment to count the Omer comes in the reading portion we are in this week!
In the counting, it is so wonderful to realize the living cycle of God's calendar and feasts, and  honor and marvel in His exquisite timing and eternal plan. 
The count each day and the blessing are made when the sun goes down, just at night fall or any time after night fall.

In our city there is a castle made of light that goes on at night,
It's perfect, so when the lights of the Castle go on,  we can count and make the blessing...

Today is 30 days, which is four weeks and two days of the Omer!

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

May the LORD be gracious to us and and bless us.  May He make His countenance shine upon us forever, that Your way be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.  The nations will extol You, O God; all the nations will extol You.  The nations will rejoice and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples justly and guide the nations on  earth forever.  The peoples will extol You, O God; all the peoples will extol you, for the earth will have yielded its produce and God, our God, will bless us.  God will bless us; and all , from the farthest corners of the earth, shall fear Him.

 Accept our supplication and hear our cry.  You who knows secret thoughts.

Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever.

(exerpted from the blessings and counting of the Omer,and Psalm 67) 

＊

Related posts on this blog for Counting the Omer, HERE
Related posts on this blog for Shavout, HERE

Sakura Gelato

special order, for Passover, no cookie, substitute with matzah

 

 From your Challah and Cherry Blossoms Correspondent, a view during Passover week

Cherry Blossoms Gelato at Odawara Castle!!

It was a treat the color of the blossoms, 

the sweet taste of the Goodness of the Father, 

our Father our King,  I believe He smiled 

He comforted me

made me feel like a child at His Castle 

in the midst of all this pink!!

♡

Shayndel

Cherry Blossoms at Odawara Castle-- w/matzah

Yes, really !  Cherry Blossoms Balloons, in the street leading to the Castle

matzah and Odawara Castle, Tokyo Japan

I loved seeing that this Castle has triangular shaped windows!! Did you know what these small windows are for in a castle? Something would be pointed out towards the outer area as a defense from the enemy. 

The cherry blossoms at Odawara castle were exquisite.  Below is where the "moat" was at one time.  Most of this castle is re-constructed, but it was a beautiful site to see how it was and the the cherry trees blossoms always a new.

The earth is the Lord`s and all that is in it.

Psalm 24:1

♡

Shabbat flowers, Shabbat Shalom!

On my way home with the flowers for Shabbat, I pass through the Castle.
Shabbat flowers are...flowers for the King!
In those moments before sundown our hearts beat fast,  `doki doki`--- a Japanese adjective for the sound of a heart beating fast in anticipation!

With eager anticipation to enter into and welcome the Shabbat....

Love and Blessings,

Shabbat Shalom!!

Who is this King of Glory?
Adonai Tzva`ot--He is the King of glory!
Selah.

---Psalm 24:10 TLV

On the Way home to welcome the Shabbat

 

Friday, February 3,
On the way home with flowers, color of milk, delight like honey, to Welcome the Sabbath day...

Shabbat Shalom!  Delight in the Shabbat.