Challah Journal--Victorious Raisin Cakes- a Challah-cast, and looking at the Haftarah!

Unleavened and Victorious Raisin Cakes, in the week of Parsha Shemini

They brought in the Ark of the LORD and set it up in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it,         from 2 Samuel 6:17

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 6:19

Reading the Haftarah of in the Parsha Shemini.   Did anyone else notice the raisin cakes?!

I know, you probably paid more attention to David Dancing! That's one of my favorite too!!

Or you may remember the tragic part where Uzzah touches the Ark of the Covenant when they were bringing it back to Jerusalem, and he is struck down for his disobedience. 

So how is it that those raisin cakes have such an attraction for me?  I think its the expression of "victory" and the way King David had them given out to all of Israel in celebration of his victory for the LORD in bringing back the Ark to safety.   I just love that how he shares the victory by giving out bread to the entire multitude of Israel! How king-ly and how neighbor-ly! And it reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures, "Taste and see that the LORD is good". 

The angel of the LORD camps around those who fear Him 
and rescues them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
happy the man who takes refuge in Him!   Psalm 34:8~9

As we await the time of Shavuot and count up the Omer to that day of great Revelation, why not proclaim His victory with "Victorious Raisin Cakes".

 Here is the link to the recipe (below)!
I hope you might enjoy it,   and enjoy watching the Challah-Cast ( also below)

Blessings and Happy Counting the Omer!
When I wrote this post draft it was day 19 of the Omer.
And today (when I am finally posting it! ) we are already in the third week of counting the Omer!

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

Today is twenty-six days, which is three weeks and five days of the Omer.

Recipe note:  This recipe base can be found HERE, it is the recipe if you scroll down for "Cinnamon Matzah", I made  variations--- mainly the addition of raisins! As well as using Grapeseed oil in place of butter, and "tensai-to" , a Japanese kind of healthy sugar, for the "sugar".   And I baked them (the recipe says to pan-fry).  They came out delicious and very aromatic from all the spices!!  I hope you might try it.  

Blessings  in all the areas of your life for you and your loved ones, may we see new victories all around us and for health and deliverance for all people.    Blessings and Love,  In Messiah Yeshua♡Shayndel

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!

Wind

 

He rode upon a cheruv and flew.

He was seen on the wings of the wind.

--2 Samuel 22:11

  Flying a kite is one of the traditions of games and things children do at the New Year in Japan.  Though some of those traditions are fading as more and more kids just turn to their electronic devices, sadly not even noticing the wind of God`s touch on their cheeks.  

So it made me so happy to see one child flying a kite on New Years day.  

I watched this little girl flying her kite, and when it came down I asked if I could try it.  

It was so fun to hold the string and feel God`s wind blowing the kite, and moving into the wind and with the wind as the kite surged up and danced with the wind, changing directions and flying higher.   I wanted to fly up with it to His heavens!!!

I will share a few scriptures about the Wind to praise God for His Wind, for being the One who directs us and points us in the directions He wills for us to go.

He loosed the east wind in the skies,

and by His power He drove the south wind.  --Psalm 78:26 

Here are a few! Any more? Please add some in Praise of ADONAI!! 

And if you haven`t flown a kite in the New Year, do try it!! 

It`s really fun and returns us to a childlike heart!!

God Bless you! Have a great day!!

For behold!

He who forms mountains

who creates the wind,

who declares His thoughts to man,

who makes dawn out of darkness,

who walks above the heights

of the earth---His Name is

ADONAI Elohei-Tzva`ot! 

---Amos 4:13