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

The Love of God

(the first picture from the book of Exodus!! Much Love!!)

♡

In days to come Jacob will take root,
Israel will blossom and bud and fill 
the face of the world with fruit.

--Isaiah 27:6, first line from this week`s Haftarah reading

Rainbow in Sand

My son, give your heart to me,

and let your eyes observe my ways.

 Proverbs 23:26

Recently I told my daughter about sand art and showed her a picture of rainbow colors in a bottle and she had never seen it before.  So when I passed by a table today of all these bottles of colored sand,  advertising, Make your own "Sand Art", I felt drawn to make something for her.

And soon knew what I wanted to make, and you can surely know too from the title of the post,
a rainbow!!
A rainbow in sand!!

As I was pouring in the colors little by little, and the instructor was showing me how to do it carefully, grains by grains, it struck me as the perfect expression of God's heart in the conversation we have been having this week and that has been in my creative consciousness, about  rainbows (here) and sand (here).
From Noah to Abraham, the rainbow "smile", to the generations.

Who could resist all the sand in all those colors of the rainbow!!

A little girl was making one near me, she was diligently working on it.  Her mother was by her a little distance away as she worked on it.  Mine was for my daughter, who is now a farther distance away but it was a nice connection to connect to a childlike heart while working on it.  And as it is a little delicate and would be hard to send, I may just have to hand deliver it to her!!

The little girl next to me made this!!

in progress, a smile!!!, adding a "bouquet" and some finishing touches

♡

My heart trusts in Him.

 PS  A Shayndel Torah "takeaway" from these weeks since beginning the book of Genesis, as seen in the experiences with the Rainbow this week and what I felt the Holy Spirit speaking through this sand art rainbow. (see two posts below for background story)
God connects the generations through His rainbow (a.k.a., covenant) and through His promises.  And it is through the faith of Abraham and the Holy Spirit given us through Yeshua that we can enter into a living relationship with the Creator of the Universe.  He is the one who made us and multiplies us like the sands on the seashore.   Each of us, like each of  those "grains" are unique.   I realized too that it is a "circle" rainbow, going around the glass which is also something He showed me in the rainbow going around the whole sky and making an opening for Him to throw down to us the bouquet.  If we look into a minute infinitesimal picture it can expand exponentially to the hugeness of His heart, as He will show us things in a size and scale that we can hold on it.  And then enlarge it for us to walk into .  Honestly, I am not quite at that point yet, and sense He is teaching me to  be ready to walk into all that He has to offer!   He is a loving Father who longs to pour out His love for us.   Now I am also realizing the rainbow was in a glass, as we are a vessel  to receive His Holy Spirit through whom we give our selves to Him and then we can be co-creators using all the amazing colors and resources that He opens up. This coming week there is Jacob's dream of the ladder, and I remember last year in this parsha He showed me a rainbow, and that the ladder is Yeshua, who makes it possible for us to connect to Heaven, here on earth, and bring the things of Heaven down through our prayer and worship.   Oh , and in the sand art we could give it a "use", and so I made it a "memo holder", there is a little clip that can hold a memo, or a drawing, postcard, picture etc.  What will then be created from the loving connection with Him.
Later in the book of Exodus, He says to Let my people go so that they can Worship Me.  It is not just that we are set free, but it is so we can make our lives into lives of worship, in everything we do.  Oh, and lastly, I am not sure if you can see it in the photo, but nestled behind the heart, there is a shimmering present wrapped in turquoise blue the color of the New Jeruslaem.  Yes, He thinks of everything!!

Blessings and Shalom!

❤️

I also saw the holy city---the New Jerusalem---coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
                  ---Revelation 21:2

LIfe of Sarah, A bouquet, a Rainbow on a sunny day

The Lord is my strength and my shield.  My heart trusts in Him.  

I was helped, and my heart exulted, so I will glorify Him with my song.

---Psalm 28:7

Before I left the house to buy flowers for Shabbat, I made a prayer to ask God if my offerings are pleasing to Him.  I am just "holding down the fort" here and making my little Shabbat, and yet wonder, after being in a community of others on L.I. and feeling so filled there, I was questioning some things.

 So I asked Him, please LORD show me somehow if this is pleasing to You. 
Soon after I walked out of the house, I got to an intersection and felt to look up at the sky.  Almost as if there was a tap!  Saying, Look up!!
And there was the most subtle small strip of a rainbow!! I did a double take as there was no rain.
It was a clear day,  in a clear and beautiful sunny week.  A rainbow on a sunny sky?  And just before Shabbat!   I took off my glasses to see if maybe it was a refraction from my glasses or something.

And I  saw,  a rainbow!! I  stood there looking up,  the street light might have changed.
No one else was noticing it, so I mentioned to an older couple and they looked and the man saw it too, and showed his wife.  They were glad.  Then I crossed when it was green and continued on my way to the flower shop. and the rainbow went with me!! It got bigger and spread out into a wide rainbow smile!!

It echoed a rainbow "sign" painted on a building, and moved in the sky all the way there till I got to the flower shop and escorted me in,

When I entered the flower shop the woman there was holding a little bouquet, like the kind that is thrown at a wedding. She was in the middle of making some flower arrangements.  I said its so cute, it looks like a wedding!  And she threw the bouquet into my hands, and said, its for you!

(well, I exaggerated , she didn't really throw it, but she wrapped it in a little paper and handed it right to me and said she wanted to give it to me!)

"Sarah"

This week in the Parsha, The Life of Sarah, we read about the match made in heaven for Isaac, as Abraham sends his servant to go in search of a bride for Isaac.  I love this scene every time I read it , and how Rebecca runs out to greet him and give him a drink and for his camels too and is confirmed as the wife for Isaac.  Of course, all this has been planned well in advance, before the Creation even, as she will be the one who carries on the generations of Sarah and Abraham.   As the story enfolds anew each time it's still always a thrill to see her obediently running out and giving the water to Abraham`s servant and all the camels.  It was said to be a great amount of water that fed all those camels, and that showed the quality of goodness in Rebecca.

I like that wonderful story of meeting and beginning of her relationship into the family of God.
Its like a setting of what is to be when we enter into the family as believers and say yes to Yeshua.  He asks us to serve Him with all our hearts and soul.  And His Living Water pours out in abundance. 
He is looking for the bride who shows kindness (chesed, in Hebrew) and will give Him her all.

I am re-eposting this drawing that I made for this Parsha last year, maybe you recall it!
I hope it still delivers a fresh blessing even if you are seeing it again!

As I asked God if he accepts my offerings, and He showed me a rainbow.

Lord, may we enter this week more eager to serve You, our Beloved Lord and King of Kings.

 Thank you for the flowers.

Blessings and Shabbat Shalom!
Shavu'a Tov!

 Love, Shayndel

Drink, my lord, she said...I will also draw for your camels, until they finish drinking...and she drew for all his camels.  from Genesis 24:18~20

♡

PS Rainbow cakes and kugel

The Shabbat table stayed festive even as the week began.  A small gathering with friends we hadn`t seen for a long time became a kind of Elul snack party, and as my daughter won`t be here for the Fall Feasts, I made a few recipes that are traditional for the holidays like Classic Kugel and Rainbow Cakes.  Everyone seemed to like them. Where I grew up in New York,  kugel and rainbow cakes can be found in all the Jewish delis and bakeries.  But of course you can't find those here in Japan, at least not where we live.   I remember when my daughter was little I started craving Jewish foods, and as there was no place to get them,  so I started baking.  The rainbow cakes are fun to make, and it comes out as a surprise to taste them and all it once there is that Jewish bakery taste!

Blessings and Shavu`a Tov, have a great week!

♡

Shabbat Table, A Rainbow for Parsha Noach

 

The red apples and green `kabosu` (lime like citrus) were given to us by neighbors this Shabbat, so perfectly fitting the rainbow of God`s promise and blessing!

I have always seen `Rainbow Cake` in Jewish bakeries and delis when I lived in New York, who knew I would be making it for Shabbat for my daughter one day in Japan!!

There is no doubt, meals on Shabbat become more colorful.

For Parsha Noah,wouldn`t you know,

 the table is spread with a rainbow

setting it up  like making the ark

gotta get done before it gets dark

Today as there were rain showers

 let`s choose seven colors for the flowers

Red orange yellow green

enjoying the colors with my grown teen

there is even a Rainbow cake

and challah to bake

oh what a delight on Shabbat to make

 then there comes blue

indigo and vio-let

honoring you LORD in the table we set 

S  h  a  b  b  a  t     S  h  a  l  o  m  !

＊rainbow cakes recipe HERE＊

Joseph and the Bread of many colors

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons because he was the son of his old age.  So he had made him a long-sleeved tunic.    ---Genesis 37:3

Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob.

He stood out, not only when he was wearing his coat.  He was the first born son of Rachel, and the eleventh (out of 12) son of Jacob.  He stood out for his righteousness and for living in faith and devotion to ADONAI.

Joseph wasn`t afraid to show his colors.  When his father Jacob gave him the many-colored tunic, he wore it.  When he had dreams that spoke of his position in the family, he blurted them out to his brothers.  He was just seventeen.  It wasn`t a matter of pride, but maybe something of his genuine heart and an expression of someone who didn`t hide his light.   He didn't try to hide from wearing the colors that showed that he was a beloved son of not only Jacob, but of the LORD God Almighty.

That is a great lesson in this parsha.  For me it rings brightly.  I sometimes hide who I am.  I did so for 40 years with my Jewishness, and now I don`t want to do that anymore.  In a world where so few people put their trust in God, we sometimes have to be really bold to not only do so but to say we do.   When the baker and cupbearer asked about their dreams, Joseph said only God can interpret our dreams. He put his trust in God at all times and made it clear that he wasn`t in anything for his own glory, but rather always gave praise and glorified ADONAI, to the point that whatever circumstances he was in, he blessed all those around him and he always found favor with the  LORD ...even under such circumstances as when he was sold as a slave by his brothers,  serving an Egyptian master, and even when he was in prison for something he did not do.

 I am really loving getting to know Joseph as I read this parsha

So my challah this week of Parsha Vayeshev is a bread of many colors, a slice that stands out!
There are 12 slices of challah, representing Joseph and his brothers.  And you can see there is Joseph, the 11th brother in the lineup, with the colors!

It is also the first night of Hannukah tonight!! Surely it is no coincidence that this parsha and Hannukah are on the same day, well perhaps that is a Miracle! They are always near each other, but today just when Shabbat of Parsha Vayeshev finishes it is the time to light the candles of the first night of Hannukah.  A beautiful continuation from Joseph son of Jacob, to Yeshua our Messiah,  the Light that lights all the other lights!

All Torah points to our Messiah Yeshua, and Joseph`s story is especially rich with parallels and prophetic pointers to the Light of the World, Yeshua.   Wrongly accused and almost put to death (in Joseph`s case) by his own brothers,  and all part of God`s great plan for Salvation and repentance.

May this Shabbat be filled with light.  As we light the  candles, starting with the Shamash, or servant candle which lights all others may our hearts be open to know Messiah Yeshua and receive His Light.  May we not hide our light but let it shine bright in this season and all year through!!

Shabbat Shalom!  Happy First night of Hannukah.

You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket.  Instead, they put it on a lampstand so it gives light to all ain the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.        

--Yeshua`s words from Matthew 5:15

Jacob`s Ladder (2nd post, a day later), A step of Faith!

Undoubtedly my favorite verse from the scriptures this week in Parashat Vayetze, or at least the verse that spoke to me most in this week is the words Jacob said when he woke up from his sleep having seen the ladder from heaven.  

Undoubtedly, The Lord is in this place---and I was unaware.
--Genesis 28:16

And today I have no doubt what this parsashat spoke to me.
It said Yeshua is the ladder that connects us between earth and Heaven!! He is the step that reconnects us with God.  

It was like God put ladders in my path this week to engage me ...and you!...
in the conversation about ladders, Jacob, Yeshua, and stopping to see that indeed He IS in this place!!

When I saw this ladder (photo above), I stopped.
There was even a rock next to the ladder, another element from the scene in the scripture,  the rock  where Jacob laid his head to rest.

Then Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran.  He happened upon a certain place and spent the night there, for the sun had set.  So he took one of the stones from the place and put it by his head and lay down in that place.     ---Genesis 28:10, first line of Parashat Vayetze


Then I also noticed the gardener.  The scene made me think of John 15,  Yeshua as the Vine. 
God is the gardener who prunes us and cuts off all the branches that don`t bear fruit.

This real life vision of the ladder and the gardener came to life even more as I sat in front of it.
When I  took out my sketchpad and started to draw the ladder, a rainbow appeared...on my hand!   I moved my hand and the rainbow moved onto to the page of my sketchbook, just above the ladder!!!

Whereas yesterday I saw an actual rainbow in the sky, drew it, and  envisioned its connection to a ladder (see post below), today I saw an actual ladder and He drew in the rainbow,  showing me its connection...to Him!! 


 

Surely Adonai is in this place!!

      One `lesson` that took hold of me this week is that engaging our hearts and minds and time in the study of Torah brings us closer to God in real ways.  It was almost like a week of seeing answers to a question that the ladder raises which is:

What can we do to step up the rungs of the ladder, to come closer to Adonai in our days? 

We can pray, read the scriptures and keep close to God in our hearts.  We can bring the scriptures and our meditations with us as we go through our day, wherever we are.  After all, God is the Creator of the Universe,  so it is not a great step to take to say that He also creates the scenes that we walk or bicycle ride into in all of our days.  And even steps into them.

James 4:8 says  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

When we align ourselves with His calendar of Shabbatot and Torah study, we are saying that we desire to know Him and to abide in Him (abide by His commands). 

When talking about the ladder, I also believe one essential step on the ladder is to receive Yeshua into our lives as our Salvation.  It took me 50 plus years to take this step, and it wasn`t even one I ever thought about until He took me by surprise from up above the ladder.   Like Jacob, once I heard His voice,  I woke up and opened my eyes to the living presence of the Almighty God!!

I believe it is like that when we first see him, hear Him, and have that realization that `He is in this place.`  Of course, He is in every place.  But we are `unaware` until there is a place and time where He calls and we are ready to respond.  For Jacob it was on the way to Haran.  Remember he was running away from the consequences of deceiving his father and brother.  And yet when Adonai comes to Jacob, it is not to scold him, but rather to bless him with the covenant promises.   For me it was  after 17 years of living in Japan.   I too had run away.

My deceit was in thinking I could run away from my Heavenly Father! He didn`t scold me either, but welcomed me back with such great Love and compassion that I had never before known.  Such a ladder of Grace it is!!
For you, where was it? Or where might it be?!  

Surely ADONAI is in this place,  wherever we are!!
                           Waiting for us to reach out to take hold of the ladder,

and
        take
                a step
                            of faith...!

Jacob`s Ladder (1st post), photos from Today

Undoubtedly, ADONAI is in this place

---Genesis 28:16

During this week of meditating on the Parashat VaYetse,  I have been seeing ladders and rainbows. First, God revealed a rainbow on a sunny day!  I saw it there above the cloud, so perfectly standing...like a ladder...and there wasn`t even rain at all that day!
I wanted to scream out the words above from Genesis, Surely God is in this place!!!

 Jacob made an altar to the LORD after He heard God speak to him in a vision when he stopped to rest on his way on his journey to Haran.  In the vision, ADONAI promised to be with him wherever he goes, and gave him the blessing that He gave his father and grandfather, Isaac and Abraham before him.  When Jacob woke up from the vision or dream he said
`Surely ADONAI is in this place--and I was unaware.`

Jacob right away made an altar to honor the meeting with ADONAI and the spot.
How can we turn moments in our everyday waking lives into moments of worship and praise!?
When we have those wonderful moments in our days when we feel His presence, may we remember how our forefathers bowed down and worshipped ADONAI right there!    I tried to represent my thanks and awe and mark the spot where I was standing in a drawing, so the middle drawing above is like an `altar` of praise.

Later in the day I saw cloud formations that look like the Ladder connecting heaven and earth.
It is thrilling to see in this Parashat how the Ladder is for Jacob`s Ladder (Genesis ch. 28) and is also represents Yeshua as the one who connects us between Heaven and Earth!!

And He (Yeshua) said:  "Amen, amen I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God going up and coming down on the Son of Man!"   John 1: 51 



Wishing you a beautiful week!

This weeks Torah Portion (parashat) is VaYetse, and he went out.
The readings are:
Genesis 25:19~28:9
Malachi 1:1~27
John 1:19~51