Hod Ve Hadar! Splendor and Majesty ~~ Succah Reflections and Fragrant Beginnings

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works. Psalm 145:5

 

The Beautiful fruit of the beautiful tree

On the first day you are to take choice fruit of trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook, and rejoice before ADONAI your God for seven days.

Leviticus 23:40

I am lingering a little in the fragrance of the fruit called an etrog, which is a fruit associated with the Feast of Sukkot.  It has a fragrance that reaches my heart with the love of G-d and speaks of His Majesty.  I know, a heart cannot exactly `smell`, and a fragrance does not `speak`, but this fruit makes me think outside of the regular dimensions, and stretches my senses, that is how divine the fragrance is!  I hope to release even a little of that fragrance here in a blog post. 

In the verse that introduces the commandment to rejoice for Sukkot (Lev. 23:40 above), there is the mention of taking 4 species.  One of them as you can see in the verse (and in the photos as represented by the etrog), is the "choice fruit of the trees".  The Jewish sages have a discussion on this `choice fruit`, or sometimes translated as `beautiful fruit`.  They ask the question, does the modifier `beautiful` describe the fruit , or does it describe the tree?  That is the midrashic question around this fruit.

I don`t know the grammatical answer, but what spoke to me was the word itself in the Hebrew that describes the fruit, or the tree.  The word is HADAR.  It ultimately modifies and points us to the Majesty of the LORD God Almighty Himself!

This word, HADAR, הֲדַר~ which modifies the fruit or fruit tree, actually means splendor, honor, ornament, majesty!

The first time the word HADAR is used in the Torah (in all of the bible) is here in Leviticus 23:40, and after that we see this word HADAR is used to describe God`s splendor and majesty. We sometimes see it paired with HOD or KAVOD, as it speaks of God`s glory and His majesty.

הֲדַר, כְּבוֹד הוֹדֶךָ--    וְדִבְרֵי נִפְלְאֹתֶיךָ אָשִׂיחָה

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works. Psalm 145:5

The four species together are also said to represent different parts of the body.  The fruit which is called an Etrog represents the heart.  The palm leaves the spine, the myrtle the eyes, and the willow the lips.

Taken together we can see how they represent worshiping God with our whole self, with every part of us,  as in Deuteronomy 6:4,

 Love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Connecting back to the Garden and forward to the Redemption!

We recently started in a new Torah cycle from the book of Genesis.  When I read about the fruit, that Eve took when tempted by the serpent, I noticed how It was described as pleasing to the eye.

I was thinking when I read it this time of this description of  `pleasing to the eye`,  as compared to the beauty of the fruit in Leviticus 23:40.  That which represents the deepest expression of God`s majesty, and His beauty that we see from the heart, is something that He reveals when we seek after intimacy with HIm... with all our heart.

I felt that G-d was speaking about how growing in obedience to Him is a way in which we grow into seeing His majesty and splendor.  

Those are some of my Succah reflections and fragrant beginnings.  As we start a new Torah cycle,  we are already in the third Parsha (Torah Portion)!  I will hope to catch up a little to where we are now, going into `Vayera` , which means `And He appeared` and comes from the root word `To see`!!

If anyone would like to join in following the Torah portions together, please let me know in the comment or in an e-mail (ahavaprayerandmovement@gmail.com).    I send out a weekly AHAVA  Parsha Prayer Sheet, which gives a short introduction to the Parsha and scriptures related to the weekly portion to pray for your loved ones, schools, community,  and for Israel!  

Blessings and LOVE ~  AHAVA!

Love,

Shayndel

Splendor and majesty are before Him.
Strength and beauty are in His Sanctuary. 

Psalm 96:6

PS Interestingly, after I wrote this post, I found that it was not just my discovery about the fruit representing God`s majesty!! I saw this article  on a Jewish website describing how each element is also describing an aspect of G-d, and relating to a verse in the Tanakh! I love that when the Holy Spirit leads us to our own discoveries, and then after we find the discovery that was already made!!

Each species has a particular reference to God, according to a Midrash in Leviticus Rabbah, 83: the etrog is symbolic of Psalm 104:1: “You are clothed in glory and majesty”; the palm is used because it is said Psalms 92:13: “The righteous bloom like date-palm”; the myrtle signifies Zechariah 1:8: “And he stood among the myrtle-trees”; the willow is significant because it is written in Psalms 68:5: “Extol Him who rides on the clouds (aravot), the Lord is His name.”

 PS notes to myself:

put a few photos of the succah here!

Article HERE  for how to make a fragrant spice box out of an etrog after Sukkot !!

 

 

Rosh Hashanah Rainbow

 

 

I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.  Genesis 9:13

Teshuvah Diary

(note:`Teshuvah` is the Hebrew word for `return` as in `return to G-d.  It is a word for the Fall Feasts which are all about returning to G-d. )

My Dad said it never rains on the Jewish holidays. 

When I was a child we always walked together as a family to the synagogue on the Jewish Holidays.  Note that we always called them that, but in my `Return` to G-d` all these years later, I understand that these are the Feasts of the LORD and for all His children and for all who would walk in His ways!

As my Dad declared that it never rains, so it was, anyway to my memory it never did rain on the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah＊ and Yom Kippur!  So this year, when at last I made it to celebrate the High Holidays with my Dad in Long Island, NY where we are from, we found ourselves on the way to shul (synagogue) on the eve of the first of the holidays, the new month of Tishrei, and it was raining.

Before I get to the rainbow, I just want to tell a little of the back story which is that my Dad and I had this `appointment` since June,  to meet on G-d`s appointed days and to spend the High Holidays together.  I almost went back to the US in June, as I wanted to see my Dad, who recently turned 90. As these days with our parents are precioius and I live so far~ Japan, if anyone is just joining in~  I wanted to go and spend the spring Holiday of Shavout there with him, but we both realized it would be too much to make the trip twice and that we would wait for this `appointed time` in the Fall. 

So after waiting a half of year, at last I was here and thankful to be going to the synagogue with my Dad.  We were on our way, at the entance to the month-long feasts.  

And here it was, raining. 

I said to my Dad, `You said it never rains on the Jewish Holidays`.  And my Dad almost matter-of-factly replied, `yes, but... there`s a rainbow`.  

A rainbow? I didn`t see any rainbow.

I looked in front of me and just saw rain on the windshield (we live a little too far now from the synagogue to walk, and so we were in the car).  I was like a kid in disbelief in that moment, not knowing where he was coming from in saying that.  Its possible in all my years I may never have even heard my Dad speak of a rainbow ever.  We are alike in certain ways, but he is the opposite of me in one sense that he is very practical, and his vocabulary is more nuts and bolts, and less rainbows.  I love my Dad.

I looked again and didn`t see any rainbow and felt a great dissonance in that moment.  It was raining and we were on the way to the synagogue with my Dad and here he was bringing up a rainbow?!

Then we curved around the road and a burst of light shined in front of us and my Dad, who was driving, said that he couldn`t see.  It was dangerous as the light was so bright!  At this hour of the sunset, the setting sun appeared in a glow.  The Glory of G-d was bursting through.  Just in the nick of time!

And then as we were going over the bridge over a small canal to enter the town, there it was, over us, the hugest rainbow I ever saw.  

A full rainbow!   I was so excited now like a child whose hopes were returned and faith affirmed,  proud of a father who wasn`t letting me down, and who saw it first.   I exclaimed my excitement and must have started Praising G-d who put it there for us so clearly!　

My Dad stopped the car for me to take a picture.  Even though I had been rushing him not to be late to shul, in this moment we both were suspended in time under the rainbow.  

The rain had stopped!! When we continued on, we saw the sun going down over the small town where the synagogue is, in such a perfect glow of radiance.  Again it was the LORD showing His Glory on this eve of the Rosh HaShanah, and this Rosh Chodesh.  

I can say clearly that this was no doubt Him showing us that it was a very special `Rosh Chodesh` and even Rosh HaShanah, as the new month and all holidays start at sunset on the Jewish calendar.  He was so clearly showing the sunset and the rainbow entrance to the month and year. ＊＊

With that we continued on through the town as G-d brought the rainbow in front of us, and highlighted each view putting the rainbow there scene after scene: over the town, over the supermarket, over the fire department, it was such a gracious unfolding as we were now in His peace and in His Holy Spirit presence.   When we arrived at the synagogue, the rainbow was now hidden from view from clouds, and we entered the service.

Dad and I have to sit on opposite sides as it is an Orthodox synagogue and the women are on one side and men on the other.  My dad signaled me to sit in the aisle opposite him so we were near, and when the Cantor sang the Shehechiyanu blessing, I don`t know if my Dad noticed, but I was completeley in tears!!   We made it!

Shehechiyanu is a blessing where we thank God for the miracle of  sustaining us and bringing  us to this day. It is said on the `first` of something and is said on most of the Holidays to mark the special occasion with thanksgiving.

 בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu, v'kiy'manu, v'higiyanu laz'man ha-zeh. 

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.

I must also add, when the Cantor sung the blessing, in his amazing cantorial voice and the first time I`d heard him in 3 years, I also saw not only the miracle of my being here in this generation with my Dad, but I felt all the history of the Jewish people of our nation of Israel, since the beginning of Creation and since Abraham, and even before.  And continuing God`s Covenant Promises to the Jewish people to return them to the Promised Land, as God is bringing us home.

Amen and Amen!  With all thanks in Yeshua who brings us back to the Father and who returns the children to the fathers and the fathers to the children, to prepare the way and make a prepared people! ***

Blessings and Love, 

Shayndel

❤️

A few notes:

1.  As I write this it will be the new month of Cheshvan, when we have come out of the Fall Feasts, and we land into a month where we have rolled back the Torah Scroll and start at the beginning.   We just read the story of Creation, in Bereishit and now It happens that this week we are in Parsha Noah, the second portion in the Torah.  A connection to the rainbow!

 2. ＊Rosh Hashanah is another name given to what is actually the Biblical Feast of Trumpets, and begins on the First day of the Seventh Month of Tishrei.  Jewish people refer to it as the Jewish New Year, and the shofar is blown throughout the holiday in a pattern of blasts culminating on the last great trumpet at Yom Kippur.  

3.  ＊＊Note also that the actual Biblical New Year is in Spring! When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, G-d gave the first commandment to them which was to observe the first month of spring time.  (see Exodus 12)

4.  ***As I post this, I am reminded of the verse from Malachi 4:6 about the fathers returning to the children and the children to the fathers.  That verse is also repeated and referred to in the gospel of Luke.  I just was shown a teaching explaining this verse as it speaks about the `return` (Teshuvah!) of the Jewish people to their Messiah and physically to the land of Israel which is necessary preparations for Messiah`s return!  

And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to the children and the disobedient ones to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for Adonai a prepared people.

Luke 1:17

Happiokai Sukkah!

Dear Friends, this post is actually from last year`s Sukkot Festival!! I am posting it now as we are coming once again to Sukkot. I apologize for my not posting for so long! And now as we prepare for the Fall Feasts, I am reflecting on the year before we enter into the new year of 5783 and realized that I had written this post and never posted it! I hope it will encourage you to get ready for Sukkot,  and all the Fall Feasts!!  It is now the last week of the month of Elul, a time of Teshuavah, and leading into a time for all God`s people to Tabernacle as One!!

....................... 

Note in the title, `Happiokai` means `Recital`

Every year my voice training teacher makes a student recital for her students, to share songs and encourage one another.  This year the recital was postponed 3 times, for reasons you can imagine due to restrictions on gatherings.  The third time when I checked the date on my Biblical calendar I saw that the date was to be on the first day of the Festival of Sukkot.  I told my teacher I wasn`t sure if I could join.  Then I realized, I could join IF we were able to celebrate the festival.  So I asked her if we could celebrate the festival by having a Sukkah there and sharing about the Feast of the LORD and she agreed.

I was over joyed and as our commandment for the Feast of Sukkot is to rejoice before the LORD, I was already seeing that this was His hand upon the scheduling and that it would be a joyous time and a chance to be a testimony for Him and to share about Sukkot with my community.

It turned out to be a wonderful time and I made the Sukkah specially for the festive time, and brought in flowers and decoration. My singing teacher even contributed the Palm leaves for the top, from her Father`s trees!!  

 I look forward to sharing more of the Feasts and special times of the LORD in Japan, as we know in the days of Moschiach, all the nations will come to Zion to worship the King of Kings and the Glory of the God of Israel will be known throughout the earth!!

 

Galilee Succah! Menuchah! and AHAVA!

 

Dear Friends,

Welcome back! I hope you are all well!

I took an unintentional blog break during the season of Fall Feasts.  I hope you all had a blessed time during the Feasts of the LORD from Elul to Sukkot to rejoicing in Simchat Torah!!!

I am posting this post as a `waiting room` to invite you to enjoy this view of the sunrise on the sea of Galilee through the `Galilee Succah` ~~outside of time and space, as this photo was taken at the Pomegranate Hotel a few springs ago! ＊Actual name and location is the Rimonim hotel (Rimonim= Pomegranates!) on the Sea of Galilee in Israel!

Menuchah (word in post title ) means rest and is a word for this week as well as I am coming back to the blog in the week of Parsha Noah!  Noah`s name means `rest` in Hebrew.   In the story of Noah we can see so many foreshadows of the true fulfillment of God`s promised rest and Salvation in Yeshua who says,

Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28 (the word `rest` in Hebrew is Menuchah)

I will hope to share a few posts from the holidays.  Some highlights included the first miracle, which was that my daughter came home for Rosh Hashanah!! It was so wonderful to see her! And the second was that I was able to build my first succah `outside` of my home for others to enjoy in the community at the start of the holiday of Sukkot!  Both were answers to prayer!  To spend the beginning of the holidays with my daughter, and to share the feasts of the LORD with my community in Japan!!

Meanwhile I also have started a new Website for AHAVA Prayer and Movement! 

Please stop by at:

AHAVA Prayer and Movement!! 

Praying from the Parsha, Moving onto God`s Kingdom Calendar

See you again soon !! ❤️ 

Love and Blessings,

Shayndel

May mercy and shalom and love＊  be multiplied to you.    Judah (Jude)  1:2

＊~ AHAVA!~

 

 

 

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!

Round Challah Part 2 and Rosh Hashanah・Shabbat Shuvah diary

 

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

Would you believe it, this challah  was a gift, sent to me from Tokyo!!  A good and perfect gift from our Father in Heaven, who sent it through the synagogue ,  surprise and touched my heart in ways that only He knows how!! (the perfect round challah in a perfect square box, the box had my name on it hand written all around the box!!!)

L`Shana Tova! A card for you!

This one I made! A three strand braid shaped in a circle like a crown

. 

Praise is awaiting You in Zion, O God,

and to You the vow will be fulfilled.

Psalm 65:2

A few friends asked about how to make the round challah and to see `part 2` of shaping the challah, so I am popping in to share the upload for Part 2,  and share a few reflections on the Feast days and the Ten days of Awe that we are in, as well as about the challah!!

So without further ado, here is Part 2.  Sorry it doesn`t include the receiving of the challah gift described and pictured in top photos above!! I had already filmed the video!! But if you can, just imagine another doorbell ring, like in Part 1 when the sukkah was delivered from Abram the tent maker.  This time it was a Japan postman at the door delivering a Round challah from the King!!!  

 

 Joanne`s Challah-Cast channel!

As I have shared before, the round challah is my recommendation for all the fall `chag` (chag-im) feasts!!   I am thankful for master challah teacher Tamar, who I got a lot of tips from for making the challah this year.   I learned a few new things, including sifting the flour first, using oil instead of flour on the board for rolling and kneading if needed.  I made three of the shapes she taught about (see upload!).  I gave the ones I made to others, including of course one for my daughter, and to neighbors or friends to share about the holiday and God`s goodness.  So I was extra grateful for receiving the challah (from) above! 

The next feast is Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement, and the holiest day on the Kingdom calendar, with the Shabbat of Return (Shabbat Shuvah, or Shabbat Teshuvah!) before that.  It is very wonderful to see this year here in Asia, and many people now in the body of Messiah everywhere around the world,  are  beginning to more and more understand and enter into God`s appointed feasts.   And to  pray for Israel during these days.   Many Jewish people still do not know their (our) Messiah Yeshua.  Over hundreds, thousands, of years of history,  He has become unrecognizable to the Jewish people,  so removed even from His own feasts (*actually another word is `moedim` which means God`s appointed times and seasons).   The Feasts of the LORD are the appointed days that Yeshua  made as part of His plan of creation and redemption and for heaven and earth to meet in Him.  From the beginning it was all in place.  At the Restoration of the Kingdom of God on earth they will be continue to be celebrated and they will be fulfilled by Yeshua Himself, the coming King.   On this Shabbat of Return, and in this year 5781, May He reveal Himself to the Jewish people and to the world that He is the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the World!!  This is a time of restoration of all things and its exciting that we each have a part to play!!! 

 

And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

" The Deliverer shall come out of Zion.

He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins."

Romans 11:26~27 (referencing Isaiah 59:20~21, 27:9, and Jeremiah 31:31~34)

 

Oh, so of course no challah on Yom Kippur as it is a complete fast, for 25 hours, but you can have a challah prepared in advance for the break-fast, or for the continuing days of the feasts through Succot!! 

By the way I started putting up my Succah today!! Its my first real succah, and I can recall how it harkens back to the Tabernacle and forward to the wonderful day when God will dwell with us here on earth!!!

Blessings and Chag Sameach!

G`mar Chatimah Tovah!!

May you be sealed and inscribed for a good year!!

Love,♡

Shayndel

O the depth of the riches, 

both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable are His judgments

and how incomprehensible His ways! 

Romans 11:33

Shabbat Shalom--some thoughts on Rosh Chodesh Elul and Parsha Re'eh!

Happy is the people who know the teruah (joyful shout of the shofar)
                                                       Psalm 89:16

       Parsha Re`eh,
       Almost Elul!!!

This week (Friday) we will enter into the new month of Elul, the 6th month of the Hebrew calendar.

As Elul is the preparation month for the Fall Feasts, that means its getting close to the Fall Feasts, which begin with Rosh Hashanah,  in Tishrei, the 7th month and a `New Year`on the Hebrew calendar.

I love the month of Elul itself, and feel like I need to even prepare in these few days before Elul to prepare for Elul!! 

Prepare to prepare ??  What does that mean?  I would say, it means to strip away everything that is not focused on the beloved Yeshua!!  To have the whole month clear for meeting Him in the fields and in every encounter.  So as to precious-ize (not a word maybe?! but just making that word for the situation!!) each moment in anticipation of His return.  As we know the Fall Feasts are a time of celebrating the beginning of Creation, and the blowing of the Shofar to announce the Kingdom come, as well as the leading up to the day of Atonement, a time of individual and corporate repentence and return,  and after that the rejoicing in the Feast of Succot.  

And ultimately tabernacling with the God of Creation, our very beloved Yeshua.  Of couse there will be dancing and a feast of feasts for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  The spring feasts have been fulfilled in the Messiah`s first coming and although we don`t know the day of when He will return, we want to be prepared!!  The time of the Fall Feasts will be the fulfillment of His return and of His Coronation and His dwelling with us!!!   Indeed now is a time of preparation.   Halleluyah!

The word Re`eh, the name of this week`s Parsha, means `See`!!

It is the root word of Yireh, which may be known to many, as that is the word for ADONAI Yireh, The LORD who Provides, one of the names given to God that we read in the book of Genesis when Abraham saw the ram in the thicket and says `The LORD will Provide`, which also can be translated as `The LORD is Vision`, since it is from the root word See.  He sees the end from the beginning and the beginnning from the end.

I pray a blessed month to all and a month of `Seeing` what it is that God has for us individually and as a body of Messiah.  

Much Love, 
 ♡
Shayndel 

Succa Sky and clouds of Glory

The sky canopy (above) and the succa canopy.

The sky canopy draped in the heavens as the Succa was being constructed on earth!

On the first day you are to take choice fruit of trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook, and rejoice before ADONAI your God for seven days.

Leviticus 23:40

On the day the succa was being set up at the synagogue I didn't know where to look!! It was so exciting to see the succa as it was progressing and it was at the same time I coudn't stop looking UP to see what God was doing in His succa sky, forming and gathering the clouds in the shape of a welcoming Succa!!

I just learned this year that there is also an expression to do with Succot of the tents or booths of succa also being a reference to Clouds of Glory, or Clouds of Honor.

I love that expression of being under the Clouds of Glory, as we prepare to sit and dine and rejoice in the succa, and all this week of the holiday of Succot (until today as it is a big rain)!!! 

At night it was heaven to sit in the succa.  What does one do in a succa?  Eat! Sing! Rejoice!! The Feast of Succot is also known as the Holiday of  Rejoicing.  It is a commandment to rejoice the whole week of the 7 day holiday.  Its hard not to soar up to heaven when in the succa and with the people filling in it with song and feasting!!

Most of all、 the holiday is about God and dwelling with Him,  being reminded of the fragility of all life that is given and sustained by Him.

Blessings and Moadim l'Simcha.

Enjoy the Appointed days of the Feasts!

Love,

♡

Shayndel

Ha’azinu Challah and second “Challah-cast”

Give ear o heavens and I will speak!

Let the earth hear the words of my mouth. 

May my teaching trickle like rain, 

my speech distill like the dew.

Deuteronomy 32 1~2

first lines of Parsha Haazinu

For this week I made a special Challah for Parsha Haazinu.

And trying out  the second "Challah-cast" upload for the New Year! Which is a play on "pod-cast" , using challah as the basis for the "broadcast"!! Please note, these "Challah-casts" are IN PROGRESS!!! I know they need a lot of editing and I am trying out a new idea.  Feel free to let me know any comments!! This week I wanted to commumicate the  making a challah in the shape of the text of the song from the "Parsha" we are reading  in the Torah!  It might not be clear until somewhat into the 12 minutes of what I am doing, but if you are moved to watch it please do!!

Hope you enjoy it and that it communicates!! Did I say, it is a "Work in Progress!"

Hope you are enjoying a beautiful season.

Shavua Tov!

Chag Sameach Succot!!

Tonight starts the holiday of Succot.  Blessings and Shalom, Rejoice in His Tents!!

Love,

♡

Shayndel (Joanne, live from L.I. !!)

Tashlich and an Ice Cream Sundae

Who is a God like You, Who forgives iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?  He does not maintain His anger forever, for He desires loving-kindness.
He shall return and grant us compassion;  He shall hide our iniquites, and You shall cast into the depths of the sea all their sins.  
You shall give the truth of Jacob, the loving-kindness of Abraham, which You swore to our forefathers from days of yore.   Book of Micah 7:18 ~ 20

This word Tashlich means "You will cast away", and refers here to the Jewish observance that is symbolic of casting our sins to the sea.  This custom dates back to probably before the 14th century, and is based on the final verses of the book of Micah (above).   At the synagogue I attend on L.I. for the holidays , there is a special  Tashlich at the Marina, and after we take a handful of bread to cast into the sea , representing casting out sin,  there is a treat!!

Ice cream!

God is good!!

He is pleased at repentance.  As a matter of fact, even before the creation God put into effect the plan of a Deliverer to redeem us.

I am starting to experience the "joy" of repentance.

I am starting to love "teshuvah".  

Tashlich is done on the day of Rosh Hashanah, at the beginning of the ten days of Awe, which lead up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.   I always thought  of the Day of Atonement as a heavy and sad day, and yet even though it is the most important and Holy day on the Jewish calendar, it is a day of lightness and joy.  People wear white and sneakers to synagogue and there is a divine Light shed on this holy of holy of days after the 10 days of Awe and Repentence and the work of preparing that starts way before that.  It is recited that on Rosh Hashana our names our written in the book of Life and then on Yom Kippur it is "sealed'.

May all our names be written in and sealed in the Book of Life for a good year!

Blessings and Shalom,

Love,
♡

Shayndel

Shana Tova!

on the small print on the honey it says,   Because you are precious and honored in my sight and because I love you.  Isaiah 43:4

"May you and your loved ones be inscribed in the Book of Life, May you have a happy healthy and peaceful New Year"

Wishing you a Happy and Sweet and Blessed New Year!
5780!

See you in 5780! 

please note I will be taking a blog break in honor of the High Holy Days. Sorry to have been "absent" in the last week or so, with all the shofar blowing and getting ready for the holidays, and now its time to deliver a Challah to my daughter and make my way to spend the holidays with family abroad!! I look forward to see you on my return and in the New Year!
 

Shana Tova is the New Year Greeting for Rosh Hashanah.
It means Good Year!
Rosh Hashanah, means "Head of the Year" 

The round challah represents the celebration of the Creation of the world which we celebrate at Rosh Hashanah,  and most of all we celebrate and honor our Creator and King!! The round challah also can be seen to represent a crown!  This period begins what is known as the "Ten Days of Awe" , a time of repentence and return leading up to Yom Kippur, and then the holidays of rejoicing of Succot and Simcha Torah!! Blessings and a beautiful season to all!

For You met him with the best blessings. You set on his head 
a crown of pure gold.
Psalm 21:4

ADONAI reigns, let the earth rejoice!
Psalm 97:1


Blessings and Love!

♡

Shayndel

Teshuva and the Ice Cream Truck

Challah  and Cherry Blossoms diary

Winding down, or up the posts from my LI visit and celebrating the fall feasts in this season of "return".
I know this post out of sequence, but for my records, I had to put in this photo of the butterscotch ice cream sundae and just wanted to include the story to go with it.

You will teach me the path of life.

In Your presence is perfect joy;

delights are ever in Your right hand.

--Psalm 16:11

At the Tashlich ceremony (part of the New Year celebration and observances, a Jewish tradition of symbolically casting our sins into the sea), there were two ice cream trucks!!  After the ceremony, where we read certain scriptures that are chosen for this day, and then throw crusts of bread into the sea to symbolize casting off sins, everyone lined up for ice cream.  Young and old.   Hearts were lightened from the blowing of the shofar the previous day at Rosh Hashanah. 

There at the marina, it was a joy to be part of.   Small children with their fathers in excitement for what kind of ice cream to have, and older people who were also joyously enjoying a treat that they might not ordinarily indulge in.   And I can't tell you when was the last time I had an ice cream sundae!  With butterscotch yet!   We all were eating and enjoying ice cream that was from a man in a truck,  but there was a wonderous unity and beauty in  how it was clearly understood that everything is provided from God. 

( somehow the spiral shape  of the soft ice cream even reminded me of the spiraling round challahs of return often made at this time of the year.  The whole experience being shaped by the Holy Spirit and filled with the sweet taste of return...)
 
Teshuva = Return

＊
Post Script

The photos below are from another day, after the butterscotch sundae story above.  I suppose I had butterscotch sundae on my mind sometime after the Tashlich!  One day after that I was driving into the village and  surprised to find myself behind an ice cream truck.  I wanted to stop him but didn't quite know how from the car, so I  followed it through the winding streets of the neighborhood.  Finally he stopped in a cul de sac.   I stopped behind him and  got out and ordered... guess what?... a butterscotch sundae.  I had completely forgotten that I had almost no money and was on the way to the bank!  but he had already made the sundae and said not to worry about it!

I don't know if you or I will find an ice cream truck at the next feast of the Lord but I will say that  we enter new doors and new roads open to treasures and delights that God will reveal exquisitely ....and I might add, in unique ways...to each one who follows after His heart.

Love and blessings from your Challah and Cherry Blossoms correspondent,

♡

Shayndel