Challah-Cast Diary/notes! Life of Sarah

Now Sarah's life was 127 years--the years of Sarah's life.

Genesis 23:19

The reading from this past week in the Torah is the Parsha "The Life of Sarah" .
It is called "The Life" of Sarah,  even though it is actually to tell about her passing, at the time of her death at 127 years. 

 Sarah lived in righteousness, purity and with a love of loving-kindness--the quality of chesed, in Hebrew-- in everything she did .  She and Abraham opened up their tent for hospitality to strangers to share the truth about the One true God.  Her whole being emanated light because she drew from the source of light for her life.  At  age 90  God blessed her and Abraham (who was 100) with a child, even though in the natural it was impossible.  Nothing is impossible with God!

In connecting with something about challah, the aspect I wanted to share is how her light shone even in her challah dough!!

According to a midrash in Bereshit Rabba, we learn that Sarah's dough was divinely blessed, that  her challah stayed fresh from  Shabbat to the next Shabbat, and that a candle would burn in her tent from Sabbath Eve to the next.  There was said to be a cloud of the divine presence always over her tent. 

I love this teaching about Sarah
＊ from a Rabbinic source, quoted below, and what it tells about her life and how she lived doing everything for the glory of God.  I can try to imagine the light that shone forth from her very being!! The woman who was the mother of all the generations of Israel.  Her challah dough was divinely blessed!  From the same midrash, we also learn that the divine blessing left in all those areas, but when Rebecca came into the tent as Isaac's bride, the blessings returned.

Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother, 

took Rebecca and she became his wife--and he loved her.  

So Isaac was comforted after the loss of his mother.

Genesis 24:67

 

And Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah, his mother-" All the days that Sarah was alive, a cloud was connected (lit. tied) to the entrance of her tent. When she died, the cloud stopped [resting at her tent.] And when Rebecca came, the cloud returned. All the days that Sarah was alive, the doors were open wide. When she died, the wideness stopped. And when Rebecca came, the wideness returned. And all the days that Sarah was alive, there was a blessing in her dough, and when Sarah died, that blessing ended. When Rebecca came, [the blessing] returned. All the days that Sarah was alive, there was a candle that would burn from Sabbath Eve to [the next] Sabbath Eve, and when she died, the candle stopped [burning for so long]. And when Rebecca came, [the week-long flame of the candle] returned. And as soon as [Isaac] saw her, that she did the deeds of his mother, separating her challah in purity and separating her dough in purity, he brought her into the tent.

                                                                                 ＊ from Bereishit Rabbah 60

For those that are following or interested in the Challah-cast series,
please read on , these !
"Notes on the "Challah-cast":

My  basic "filming"  plan was to take  scenes of first getting  flowers for Shabbat at the flower shop,  a special bouquet to honor the Life of Sarah, then zooming in on the flowers in the shop, and next scene , zooming out on the flowers when back in my home, and showing the flowers and the dough.

The whole short film, the challah-cast, would be homage to Sarah. The aspect of the challah that we would focus on is the dough, talking about the teaching above, about the blessing on her challah and the light that she shone from living with the Divine Presence always.
In my challah making scenes I would just show the dough, from when its made, to when it rises, as I talk about that aspect of Sarah's life.

So that is the basic idea for the week of Chayei Sarah.  What I am learning for the challah-casts is it takes a lot of "takes" to get a short video together! And I have to work fast if I want to do it by Shabbat, from the making of the Challah.

After all, I didn't get a finished challah-cast that I felt ready to share, so  am just sharing this post as an "outline" this week, and realize that I may not get a finished Challah-cast each time.  I started to get a little discouraged, but, rather than get discouraged if I don't complete it, I am glad as it is a way of drawing closer to Him in the process.

The midrash (Rabbinic commentary) from Bereishit Rabbah, is about how once Isaac and Rebecca married, and Rebecca entered into Sarah's tent with Isaac, the blessings returned through her.

Its such a beautiful testament to the generations, how through Sarah's life, Rebecca was able to enter in and keep alive the flame of God's presence continually.   It is said that in the time after Sarah died, the blessings stopped, but when Rebecca entered the tent as Isaac's bride, they returned again.
May we learn from the Life of Sarah, and be inspired to keep the light of Yeshua shining through our lives, and be diligent in prayer and in how we live, to pass it on to the next generation.

And a PS, I really was gettting a little discouraged not having done a Challah-cast, so just to keep on going I made a "rough" upload with talking it through and I also included the next Parsha, Toldot, to tie in with it.  If you are moved to watch it, you can see it HERE

When we spend time with the Lord, and more than that, when we live with Him as the source of our very being,   then our light will shine forth in all we do.  And nothing is impossible with Him!

Blessings and Shabbat Shalom!!

 Every year I post my Rebecca (Rivka)  drawing (Below) to go with this parsha!
Blessings and Shalom!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,
♡
Shayndel

So she said, "Drink, my lord," and she quickly lowered her jar onto her hand and gave him a drink.  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

Postcards from Parsha Pekudei

I will expound a theme, hold forth on the lessons of the past,

things we have heard and known, 

that our fathers have told us.

We will not withhold them from their children,

telling the coming generation

the praises of the LORD and His might, 

and the wonders He performed.

Psalm 78:2~4

Finishing the book of Exodus!

Chazak, Chazak, venitchazek!!

Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen each other!

Blessings and love,

♡

Shayndel

Shayndel's Jacob's Red Stew--Parsha Toldot

From Abraham and Sarah, to Isaac and Rebecca, embroidered on the Challah cover cloth, this week in the Torah we read parsha Toldot, the story of the generations of Isaac.

Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the open, famished.  And Esau said to Jacob, "Give me some of that red stuff to gulp down, for I am famished"--which is why he was named Edom.  Jacob said, "First sell me your birthright."                   ---Genesis 25:29~31

This past week in the Torah we read parsha Toldot.  The story of the generations of Isaac.

If you come by my house for Shabbat on erev Shabbat for this parsha, you can try some of Shayndel's Jacob's red stew!!

I can't help it, I just have to make a red stew on this day!!

As you know in this parsha Rebecca finds out that she will have twins, two nations, who are struggling with each other in her womb.  There is the  story in the parsha of Jacob and Esau and the birthright and the blessing and  two meals --- Lentil soup for the birthright; fresh Game stew for the blessing  --- Gen. 25:27~34, and Gen. 27.   Two hearty meals through which the Torah reveals how the course of the generations was destined.
 There is a lot to digest in this parsha,  with the deceptions involved, what it must have been for Rebecca for giving birth to twins who would come to be two opposing nations.  How we can understand it is always difficult each time we read it, but also in the Torah the things that are written are there tell us things that we don't always understand.  But it gives us a place from which to seek God's heart in everything,  and surely each reading can teach us things and help in our prayers for reconciliation and seeking Shalom in the world. 

So I won't  talk a lot, but will rather will share an original recipe inspired by the parsha.

Please  have some , try making it, share any thoughts what the parsha speaks to you, or  how you like the stew.

 ＊

For today I will share with you how to make a stew that will bring on blessing, as its taste is really quite heavenly, in an earthy kind of way!

To make Shayndel's Jacob's Red Stew
You will need:
1.  Red Lentil Curly Pasta, or if you cannot find it near you, look for any pasta or legume that is made from red lentils.

2. Other Ingredients:
Beef for stew
Vegetables
      Note: you can adapt by using the vegetables local to your area and in season, as this stew should bring about the tastes of freshly brought in ingredients, as Isaac sent out Esau to gather the game for the stew! Isaac has a good tongue to know what he likes, so when making this, bring home the ingredients that are fresh to where you live!
We used these local / Japan grown vegetables in season.  Cut them in appropriate stew sized pieces:

Pumpkin
Mushrooms
Spinach
Ginger

Olive oil
Can tomatoes
Sake or red wine
 Salt and pepper, spices

3. Boullion or soup stock of your choice

4. Also include any spices you like , rosemary , thyme, and again if any from your garden or local that is even better!

How to make:

1.  Cut ginger into small sliced pieces and sautee in olive oil.  Add beef chunks and sautee until brown on all sides.
2.  Add soup stock to cover and with enough liquid to accommodate vegetables and pasta.  You might need to add more soup stock as you add the other ingredients.
3.  Add sake or red wine and canned tomatoes (and or fresh tomatoes if you prefer!)
4.  Once it all boils, lower heat to medium to simmer
5.  Add salt, pepper and spices
6.  Add vegetables by stages, the longer cooking ones first.  Spinach and green leaves can wait to go in at the very end.

7. Here you will have to time with the pasta cooking instructions.  When you sense that everything should be at the right softness and perfectly cooked  in 5 to 7 minutes, add the pasta.  You don't want the pasta to cook too long, but has to be long enough to be the perfect consistency.  Also you want to make sure the vegetables and meat will be cooked just right in timing with the pasta!! Alternatively, you could cook the pasta separately and add at the last minute, but I recommend the precision timing method, as it cooks together more like a stew.

8.  Put on the finishing touches on the table.
Gather to light the candles.   Recite the Kiddush and Sabbath prayers.

9.  Serve and enjoy with a beautiful and fragrant Challah!!

10.  Be blessed!!

Note  This week I used Dassie's recipe for the Challah from HIS ISRAEL.
Thank you His Israel for THIS POST and video about CHALLAH and for sharing your recipe!!

 Note on the red lentil pasta (pictured above and a main ingredient in the recipe):  There is background story HERE if you would like to read it , from last year, the surprise of finding this pasta in our local shopping mall.  I had been looking everywhere for red lentils, to make a red stew, but to no avail.  So it definitely seemed to have put there by the heavenly hosts for this Parsha.!!  It made me to think that on Shabbat Toldot, everyone in heaven is around a table eating the red lentil stew with curly red lentil pasta.  All parties reconciled and rejoicing in the knowing that everything was planned for a purpose and will turn out for the good. 

I have observed the business that God gave man to be concerned with: He brings everything to pass precisely at its time; He also puts eternity in their mind, but without man ever guessing, from first to last, all the things that God brings to pass.

Ecclesiastes 3:10~11

♡

Bara and Challah for Sarah

The names `Sarah`, and `Rifka` (Rebecca) are embroidered in Hebrew letters on the layers of the Challah Cover.  Adding layers as we read the unfolding of the stories in the Torah!!

  Rifka, in English her name is Rebecca,  is the wife for Isaac who we meet in this Parsha.

`Bara` (rose), `Challah`, Sarah, the words go together like a harmony of Shabbat for this Parshat

Can you see, there are little pink cherry blossoms on the rainbow cookies for my daughter! From one rainbow, many.  The promises of God are for generation to generation

Blessed are you LORD our God who sanctifies us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Sabbath light

Now Sarah`s life was 127 years--the years of Sarah`s life.

---Genesis 23:1

Chaiyei Sarah, The of Life of Sarah, is the Parsha this week.

We celebrate the life of Sarah, the wife of Abraham whose life was 127 years.

I couldn`t resist the word play.  Bara, Challah, Sarah

Bara=Rose  (in Japanese)

Challah= Special bread for the Shabbat (Hebrew)

 With Challah, and some pretty bara (roses!)

may we celebrate the life of Sarah.

The Jewish sages say that Sarah`s challah stayed fresh from week to week.

She was quite a maker of Challah, and surely her light shone in all she did!

I also celebrate my daughter today.  She is applying to college, and has passed the first of her big tests for where she wants to go.  I made rainbow cookies to celebrate her.

I noticed two things when we were saying the prayers for Shabbat.

One, is that we mention Sarah`s name every week when we say the blessing for girls,

May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.

Ye-si-mekh Elohim ke-Sarah Riv-qah Ra-chel ve-Leah

--Blessing for Girls, it is customary for parents to bless their children on Shabbat.

`Bara` means rose in Japanese, and `Bara` means `He created` in Hebrew!

The second, is in the kiddush (Friday night blessings for the Shabbat), we say the word `bara` !

Bara, which means rose in Japanese, means `He created` in Hebrew.

Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, for on it He ceased from all His work that God created for the purpose of preparing.   ---Genesis 2:3

Blessings and Shabbat Shalom! 

Rejoice and Celebrate the things in our lives, and give thanks to the LORD in all we do!

Notes:  Cookie Recipe, HERE, Yummy Peanut Butter Cookies from Joy of Kosher.  To make the rainbow, use seven colors choco-pens (chocolate pens) to draw the rainbows, and add some cherry blossom petals and cherry blossoms with pink. 

The Challah Recipe is a Whole Wheat Challah, see link at sidebar under My Favorite Challah recipes.

For the Weekly "Parsha" , Torah Readings, see the weekly readings list  HERE , next weeks Parsha is Toldat, which means, Generations.

Enjoy!

Toldot! & Another layer of the Challah Cover

Now these are the genealogies of Isaac, Abraham`s son.  

Abraham fathered Isaac.

---first line from Parashat Toldot, Generations

Genesis 25:19

Peeking under the `Isaac` layer to `Abraham.  The Hebrew letter `Nun` represents Messiah Yeshua, connecting the generations in this weeks parsha study, Toldot

Same challah cover, different layering to express this weeks parsha about the generations  of Isaac

 The layers of the Challah Cover keep unfolding (see the four or five `challah cover` posts below!!).  The `Isaac` layer of the challah cover is a shimmery blue.  It seemed to connect to the water and the wells in this weeks parashat. 

 In this post I want to see if I can finish the series and..well...uncover!  some of the things  I saw in this weeks reading.

The title of this weeks Parashat is Toldot! It means `Generations`.  

When I started making the challah cover in the week of the  `Life of Sarah` study, I was inspired by this picture  (left),  a painting of Isaac and Rebecca*. 

Isaac was wearing a clear turquoise blue robe.  It reminded me of water and of the color of the New Jerusalem!   Rebecca was wearing a beautiful soft and flowing pink.  Her color reminded me of the color of Messiah!

The picture inspired my choice of colors for the `Isaac` layer and the `Rebecca` layer of the cloth.  Here is how they look separate, and then layered and over the challah for Shabbat:

`Rivka` = Rebecca, on the pink cloth layer

`Yitzak` = Isaac, on the blue cloth layer

In this week I want to look at the `Isaac` layer,  since we are talking about the generations of Isaac.  The color is a shimmery blue. 

It seemed to connect to the water in this weeks parashat.

Isaac was digging wells.
And not just digging but re-digging wells, the wells that his Father, Abraham, dug before him.
The wells spring from living water.  

What comes to mind and springs forth in our hearts when we hear `living water`?!

"But whoever drinks from this water that I will give him shall never be thirsty.  The water that I give him will become a fountain of water within him, springing up to eternal life."  ---John 14:4

Messiah Yeshua!  He is the Living Water.   It excited me to find how in each week the Torah brings us deeper into and reveals that source of Torah, the very living Torah itself, the Living Water from which Life comes!!!

Then Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham--the Philistines had stopped them up after Abraham`s death.  

                                                                                                      ---Genesis 26:18

The wells that Abraham began were closed up by the Philistines, and we see Isaac re-digging them.
This is said to be about Isaac consolidating the work his Father began.
If the son did not come back to continue the work of his Father, the wells would have remained covered, and imagine how that would have made the Philistines, and everyone else who wanted to cover up the truth, glad.  But Isaac, heir to the promise of his father Abraham, did not let this happen.  In his diligence and carrying on the work of His Father Abraham, he re-digs the wells.  Look at this too in relation to the Father and Son.   Jesus--Yeshua,  the Son , carries out the work of the Father here on earth.  When we see the wells as a symbol of Salvation, this seemingly small part of the parashat reaches very deep.

Back to the challah cover, I forgot to mention something.  Remember when I told you that I ripped out some of the part of my name that needed correction and found that the Hebrew letter `nun` represents Messiah?  Once I found that out, I took out my name from the challah cover completely, and left only the letter `nun` in that space.  So you can see in the picture above, that in this layering there is Abraham, Isaac, and the Hebrew letter `Nun` which represents the Messiah.  Yeshua.  The cloths can be layered in different ways, but in whichever way you layer them, this letter "nun" will be revealed.

Messiah Yeshua is the source that connects all the generations.  He was always there and always is and always will be the source of Life and Living Water.   He is from Abraham`s seed and at the same time He came before Abraham!!

Yeshua answered, "Amen, amen I tell you, before Abraham was, I am!"

---John 8:58  TLV

The third well that Isaac dug was called Wide Spaces.
When I read in this parashat about the wells, I had a sense of the Living Water spreading into wider spaces as  the `generations` of Abraham`s seed continue.

Then he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it.  So he named it Wide Spaces and said "Because now ADONAI has created wide spaces for us and we will be fruitful in the land."
 ---Genesis 26:22



When we observe the Shabbat and study His word,  worship and chose to spend time in His presence,  aren`t we too opening up and re-digging the wells of Abraham?

May the the wells be uncovered for the Living Water to flow as GOD`s great Name and His Shalom spread into all the nations, and deep within in our hearts!!  Shabbat Shalom!

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
    as the waters cover the sea.

--Isaiah 11:9