Multiplying fans--first edition

Seek shalom and pursue it.   Psalm 34

The Hebrew letters for `shalom` are the basis of the design on this fan, with Japanese motifs and even `challah` in the letters

 And the shalom of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Messiah Yeshua.

Philippians 4:7

The sky has been blue and dotted with clouds.  

Its summer and its hot but somehow reassuring to know the seasons are given in their place.  For a cool summer activity I have been giving out shalom fans. 

In summer in Japan fans are given out with all kinds of messages.  Mostly commercial for like cell phone companies and etc, so I had the idea when I see them, that  if people are carrying fans, to make one with a message of Shalom.  

So this year I made my first edition of Shalom fans, 

in collaboration with a graphic artist who formatted my drawing into a design for printing.

Can you see the little challah in the Hebrew letters?! There are loaves and slices! As well as Mt. Fuji in the background on one side, and an elongated hot springs mark on the other, and of course cherry blossoms in the  letters that say `Shalom` !

Its really nice to  hand one to a friend or to a stranger on a hot day.  

Sometimes I tell about it and the meaning and depending on how far I can get in the conversation, but other times I will just hand one to someone and am learning that just that gesture is sometimes more than enough.  I tend to sometimes rely on words, and today when I just gave it to some people who looked hot in the sweltering sun, I realize that Yeshua was teaching me something about Him in that moment.  It was freeing to just to give without a whole explanation. 

I have a lot more to distribute and  pray that He will multiply the knowledge of Him through this summer project and that I too will learn more about  His great shalom!! 

Funny I thought it was for me to `teach` others  with this large package of shalom fans, but now I see that it is I who have a lot learn!!

Shabbat Shalom!

♡

Shayndel

Postcards from Parsha Pinchas

SHALOM over Mt. Fuji

Let the Shalom of Messiah rule in your hearts.

--Colossians 3:15A

In this weeks Parsha, Pinchas` opening act (actually the closing act in Parsha Balak, Numbers 25:7~9) reveals his  zeal for ADONAI.   It results in a stopping of the plague and atonement for the Children of Israel.  He received a perpetual covenant of Peace --Shalom-- from ADONAI for him and his descendants after him.  Hence the word Shalom, in these postcards.  Why the Pineapple?  Well, maybe that it starts with P for Pinchas, and Peace, and also the little (piercing) pricklies somehow made it seem an appropriate fruit for this week (Numbers chapter 25).  

Blessings and Shalom.
Shabbat Shalom.

Love
♡
Shayndel

Water from the Rock

Adonai Lives,
Blessed be my rock.    --Psalm 18:47(46)

You will need to look very close at these photos to see Mt. Fuji, but it is there.
A huge mountain but in the photos only a tiny bit of the top of the mountain is visible over the clouds from the airplane to Tokyo.

I have taken this trip many times over many years and have come to be able to spot Mt. Fuji even if it appears just as a spot.  Looking at this view I connected to the week"s reading of where Moses was asked by God to speak to the rock to bring forth water for the children of Israel.  Instead, Moses hit the rock.  Because he did not trust in ADONAI so as to sanctify Him in front of the children of Israel, he was not able to bring the Children of Israel into the promised Land.  (Numbers 20:1~13).  

Seeing all the water almost spilling forth in this scene, and the huge "rock" of Mt. Fuji that was there, and yet barely visible, made me think of these scriptures and  the importance of obeying God's voice and sanctifying His name in our hearts and lives.

♡

For who is God but ADONAI?
Who is a Rock but our God?      ---Psalm 18:32 (31) 

Challah Diary---David Dancing, Raisin Cakes

David whirled with all his might before the LORD; David was girt with a linen ephod.  Thus David and all the House of Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with blasts and shouts of the horn.                  ---2Samuel 6:15

I read there is a Jewish tradition to make a challah in the shape of a key for the first Shabbat after Passover.  I considered it,  but didn`t make a key shape this time.

I made challah cakes with raisins instead.

It was an inspiration from the Haftarah readings for this past week, where King David gave raisin cakes and bread to all of Israel, after he rejoiced and danced with all His might for the Ark of the Covenant was returned safely to the City of David, amid rejoicing.

They brought in the Ark of the LORD and set it up in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts.  And he distributed among all the people---the entire multitude of Israel, man and woman alike --- to each a loaf of bread, a cake made in a pan, and a raisin cake.  Then all the people left for their homes.    ---2Samuel 6:17~19

That verse spoke to my challah-making heart when I read it in the week`s readings.  Plus I love that passage about King David dancing with all his might, in unashamed rejoicing of the LORD God of Israel! It spoke to my worshiping heart.  This is  one of my favorite Haftarah portions. 

I made extra portions of raisin challah and gave them to friends and neighbors.
It was a way to rejoice and share the joy of the LORD with others. 
Celebrating with sharing Challah is a great way to enter into a new season and to praise God for the Bread of Life that He has given us in Yeshua, our Salvation.  May we dance and rejoice in our Maker and in wonderful plan for Salvation!! In un-abashed praise!

The Torah reading and this part in 2 Samuel also talk about obedience, dis-obedience, and the laws of cleanliness and of kahrut (kosher).  We see where both of Aaron's sons were struck down in the reading in this week in Leviticus for their "unauthorized fire";  and we also read in the Haftarah portion where one of the ark carriers was struck down by the LORD for his discretions.  Surely obedience to the LORD is "key".

Blessings and Shalom! Shabbat Shalom!

Love,

Shayndel

PS while I am making the challah for today's Shabbat, writing this post inspired me to search for some fun songs related to David Dancing, and I found some fun ones here (an Israeli dance flash mob) and here (Dance like David Danced, somthing I "stumbled upon" by Duke Ellington  , here (David Danced by Joshua Aaron) and if you got this far,  here (me , like Miriam danced!), if you have your dancing shoes ready, or not, enjoy!

A Challah over Mt. Fuji

challah wrapped in a `tenugui` cloth on the airplane table in front of the window

can you see Mt. Fuji?  There is is, you see! The mountain top!

Drawing from the plane, So close to heaven, God so near! 

Landed, with the Challah, in Tokyo!

Travelling from South to North, to Tokyo for Succot,
A challah in my hands.
Hoping to get a view of Mt. Fuji
before the plane lands.

There it is!! You see, the  mountain top!
The challah, on the table, prop (propped!)
Mt. Fuji and a challah in one view,
I hope one day you`ll see those two

Oh what a thrill
when it appears

So close to heaven
God so near

 Give thanks to the God of heaven

His love endures forever.   ---Psalm 136:26

Blessings and Shalom!
from Challah and Cherry Blossoms correspondent,

Shayndel

♡

Challah and Mt. Fuji notes on this story:

The challah is a Red Bean challah! I used THIS RECIPE for the dough, with a few variations, and for the filling used  red bean paste (secret: the red bean paste, called azuki,  I used this time was ready made,  from 7-Eleven!),  You can also make your own!
(Variations:  I often make this recipe as is, but for this red bean version I made the following variations.  I note this here as sometimes I will go back to make a challah and I forget what I did!  So this is like my  diary of making the challah, and of course I welcome you to try it too!!
instead of honey, I used Tensai-to which is a Japanese sugar made from daikon radish;  I substituted Grapeseed oil, instead of Olive Oil; and doubled the recipe, one loaf went with me to Tokyo, and the other stayed home and was for our Shabbat, see in posts below).

The first Red Bean Challah I made was in this past year for Abraham, you can see the Red Bean Challah in This post and This post.

note:  The challah is wrapped for travelling in a Japanese Tenugui.  Click in the *labels* at right side bar or beneath this post under `tenugui` and there you can find out more about these cloths.  The design on the tenugui I was carrying this Challah in had a picture of a red Mt. Fuji!

note:  If you see in the photos, you might not even realize where Mt. Fuji is, but please look close and you can see the dark shape of the top of the Mountain coming out from the clouds!! You can also see more Mt. Fuji views and posts on this blog, some readers may already know my Mt. Fuji and challah fascination!  

Also noted:  often we make a foil `tent` for the Challah in the oven after about 20 minutes, depending on your oven so the top doesn`t burn while the inside cooks.  I noticed this time as I was making the foil tent, that this Challah is for Succot and at this time we are commanded to dwell, rejoice in tents!!
This photo below is the Challah in it`s tent.

36 views of Mt. Fuji cookies!

 Mt. Fuji cookies, using `Savta` dough recipe.
On Challah and Cherry Blossoms!

Use pink for the  blossoms and white for the snow!
It was a recipe from Joy of Kosher, but what `savta` means ,
I didn`t know!

So as I am posting this I looked up "what is Savta?"
It means `grandmother` in Hebrew!!  So I plant a hope that one day I will have a grandchild my grandchild will ask , oh please Savta Shayndel, make us a batch of our favorite Mt. Fuji cookies!!

The first batch, today!  Try them for your grandchildren...or children...or for you...enjoy!!!

To find the recipe, you can click HERE,
for Mt. Fuji shaped cutters, HERE.(actually is a different one than the one I used, I can`t find a link to the one I used, but if you are in Japan you can visit the shop called Tokyu Hands and find it there!

Blessings and Shalom!

Shavu`a Tov---Have a good week!

Elul Story, Jerusalem dress

I sacrifice in His tent with shouts of joy,

singing and chanting a hymn to the LORD.

--Psalm 27:6

♡

Blessings and Shalom!

Love,

Shayndel

And Finally, the Fourth Challah Cover complete!

As we are nearing the end of the Fifth book of Torah, I have finally completed my Fourth Challah Cover!  It is time to start on the fifth quickly, so without further ado, I will just share some of the photos of the fourth, and hope you enjoy how it came out.  It surprised me how playfully the pink cloud of Cherry Blossoms above Mt. Fuji echoes the shape of the Challah!

Also how the mountain becomes voluminous when it covers the Challah.
Can you see how the elements come alive when the challah cover does its job of covering the Challah!!

The `Torah` on top of Mt. Fuji can be seen in this photo below, as well as bits of fabrics in Japanese patterns that are used in places on the front and back.

The islands will wait for His Torah.
---Isaiah  42:4

The first ten letters of the Hebrew alphabet, representing the Ten Commandments,  are embroidered onto the shape of Mt. Fuji.
  

 

It surprised me how playfully the pink cloud of Cherry Blossoms above Mt. Fuji echoes the shape of the Challah!

Views of a Challah Cover, above `Flat and extending over the Shabbat Table`, and as it drapes over the Challah....Shabbat Shalom from Japan!

God Bless you and Shabbat Shalom!

Love,
Shayndel

*Note:  Extra special thanks to K-san, who some readers may recall meeting  through my Postcard Challenges!! It was her inspiration on this Postcard Challenge post HERE that gave me the ideas for this Challah Cover, including the idea of the Pink Cherry Blossom cloud, and the use of the Japanese pattern fabrics, so it really became a collaboration.  Thank you K-san!   

Shalom Fan

Seek Shalom and pursue it.

---Psalm 43:15


Shalom be upon Israel!

---Psalm 128


Blessings and ....

Shalom!