Happy Tu B`Shevat!

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

Isaiah 27:6

 💛

Yes! The grapefruits are Jaffa Sweetie from Israel.  At Tu B`Shevat we were able to find them in our local supermarket in a small city in the South of Japan! Baruch HaShem! The prophetic verse is already coming to pass as Israel sends her delicious fruit out into the world.   I am so thankful to receive them here.  I remember the very first time I saw an Israel fruit in our local supermarket in Japan (HERE!), it was also Tu B`Shevat!! Once we open our hearts to love and pray for Israel, Heaven hears and God sends fruit!  The land of Israel becomes closer and closer, and we too get closer to our return.

But you, mountains of Israel, you will shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit for My people Israel; for their return is near. 

Ezekiel 36:8

Taste and see how good the LORD is.  

 15 Shevat, 5783

Happy Tu B`Shevat!

Love, 

Shayndel

 PS adding a verse with `my word` this year, inheritance, and how beautiful to go with the fruit of Tu B`shevat in all its prophetic splendour, and there will be a `sowing of Shalom`! Thank you LORD! We speak it forward on this very Tu B`Shevat today as the sap courses through the trees and they awaken in spring, and your Ruach courses through the spirit of your people to return to our inheritance in You!

For there will be a sowing of shalom: the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its increase, and the heavens will give their dew. I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.   

Zechariah 8:12

כִּי-זֶרַע הַשָּׁלוֹם, הַגֶּפֶן תִּתֵּן פִּרְיָהּ וְהָאָרֶץ תִּתֵּן אֶת-יְבוּלָהּ, וְהַשָּׁמַיִם, יִתְּנוּ טַלָּם; וְהִנְחַלְתִּי, אֶת-שְׁאֵרִית הָעָם הַזֶּה--אֶת-כָּל-אֵלֶּה

 

First Plum Blossom and Tu B`Shevat

 

Come, my beloved ...Let us go early to the vineyards; Let us see if the vine has flowered, If its blossoms have opened, If the pomegranates are in bloom.   There I will give my love to you.        Song of Songs 7:12~13

 

The first plum blossom opened in the park next to where we live.  I am amazed how in Japan the plum trees correspond to Tu B Shevat, and then the Cherry Blossoms open at or just around Nisan 1 !  It has been my recent discoveries in Japan over the past few years how the seasons here with the blossoms so truly reflect the Glory of HaShem!!

This year I didn`t know...well, wait, that is not so...

I knew that despite the `lockdown` even on trees, that I would be able to see the first blossom of the plum tree.

I knew because God is faithful and He knows my heart.

Every year since I found out about the holiday of Tu B`Shevat, the New Year for Trees in Israel, God has been encouraging me to delve into His word about fruit and fruitfulness, and He has been sending forth the fruits from Israel, as I have often talked about on this blog !!

He also has showed me how the first blossoming of the Plum tree in Japan comes about just the time of Tu B`Shevat, which is the 15th day of the month of Shevat on His biblical calendar.  Why Biblical calendar? It is the calendar that He established with the Children of Israel when He set them free from the bondage of Pharoah and gave them the first month of Nisan.

Something else we can see about Tu B`Shevat, since it is the 10th month, is that we can begin to `prepare` for the Springtime and the spring Feasts of the LORD.  As the sap is beginning to come up into the trees that have been seemingly `dead` in the cold winter, we too begin to come into new excitement for the promised spring and the hope in the new season that we too will have a time of `resurrection` as the winter gives way to a new blossoming in us as well.    The springtime speaks of resurrection.  And so perfectly did God plan the death and resurrection of Messiah to be fulfilled in this very season of spring.  We can see it manifest in the creation magnificently when the fruit trees blossom , and then bear fruit!!

So back to my plum tree and the lockdown!!

Its a sweet story because this plum tree that I have been watching in this time of year is now in `shutdown`! Really, even the trees! We can`t access the park because it is closed off as they have a temporary location there now for testing, so there is a gate and its guarded.  But I have been asking the guard when I pass by, can I go in to see if the plum tree has blossomed?  And he started to get to know me, and usually he says no.  Then the other day he seemed to understand me and my heart to see the tree,   and just said `its too early, its not blossomed yet`.  Then yesterday, I passed by and he asked me, `do you want to see the tree? Ok, go ahead!`, (all in Japanese of course!) and he let me in!

And look (photo at top!)!! The first blossom!  I tell you, I got on my knees and cried.  And I made a blessing on the fruit tree (even though its before Nisan, it was just a prayer of thanks from my heart).

May it be a fruitful season for you and for us all and our families!

 

Much love,

 ♡

Shayndel 

First Blossoms, Shabbat of Song, A new Challah-cast, and Happy Tu B'shevat!!

Plum blossoms, and can you see , the "Tu B'shevat" moon?! 

Thou in Thy love hast led the people that Thou hast redeemed; Thou hast guided them in Thy strength to Thy holy habitation.        

                                                          Exodus 15:13

This Shabbat is known as the Shabbat of Song.
I love the sound of that, and the readings in the book of Exodus and the book of Judges this week that contain the Song of Miriam and the Song of Deborah.  Joyful and Triumphant songs of Praise and Redemption!!!  Isn't it amazing how Miriam had her timbrels all packed and ready on the Exodus, she was so confident of the Victory that would be seen from the mighty hand of God that she had all her worship instruments ready to take out and break out into leading the women in song and dance!! Praise God!! He is mighty!! The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea!!

In this week's Parsha, Parsha Beshalach we are also introduced to the manna which God sends down to the Children of Israel.  I love this parsha for the song, for the freedom, for the manna!!!

I talk about the manna and God as our provider in this week's Challah-cast.  You can see it  at the end of post or HERE   if you are moved to please do watch and to  let me know any comments!! I am trying to find a good balance between Torah and Challah, and each week's continues to be a learning experience  how to put it together.  You may notice in this one, I mostly talk! I do hope to include more of the challah-making as I go along and can find the good way to set it up!! I did some scenes this time but as I kept talking I was adding more and more flour and I lost my concentration on the challah, so I didn't include those scenes this time!!
Enjoy if you do have a chance to watch.

This Shabbat also comes around the time of the first blossoms of spring!!   The first blossoms we see here in Japan are Plum Blossoms, called UME (pronounced u-may) in Japanese.  I have a special love for these first blossoming trees and how their opening also corresponds to the season in which  the holiday of Tu B'Shevat is celebrated in Israel. 

Tu B'Shevat is the new year for trees!!

The trees start to 'wake up' as the sap and movements that we can't see yet begin to be activated from underground that gives rise to the opening of beautiful flowering blossoms!!  We can also tap into that creative unleashing in ourselves as we ask the LORD to help us to reach our creative potential and use our gifts for His glory.  May we all blossom in our gifts and use them for His glory!!

Blossoms appear in the land.  The time for singing has come.
Song of Songs...

Happy Tu B'Shevat !!!  Take a walk around, admire the blossoms!
Sing a song of Praise to the maker of all Creation, to the Redeemer who set us free so that we can worship Him!!! What a wonderful purpose to have!!!

🎵The LORD is my Strength and my Song! And He has also become my Salvation*!🎶

*my Yeshua!! ♫

 Under the blossoms, so fragrant,  I want to say, Thank you LORD for you are my Strength and my Song.  And you  have become my Salvation!!!  Thank you for saving me!! Creating me!  Setting me free!!  You are my Messiah, My Yeshua, and I love YOU!

Blessings and love!
♡
Shayndel (aka "Joanne" on the Challh-cast!!)

A tambourine  as part of the table setting for the Shabbat of Parsha Beshalach and the Shabbat of Song!! To remember Miriam leading the women with timbrels and the Songs of Praise !!

The very first Plum Blossom this year!!

The Moving of the Plum Tree on the New Year for Trees day

Let us go out early to the vineyards,
---let us see if the vine has budded,
if their blossoms have opened,

from Song of Songs 7:13

When I went down to see if the ume (plum) tree had blossomed, there was a construction sign in front of the first blossom.

  I found that the tree was being moved! With the earth beneath it too.

Imagine What a Tu B' Shevat surprise!

Right before my eyes!

The gardeners re-assured me that it was ok.  They were doing something that would be good for the tree.

I have learned to trust the gardeners, as I have mentioned before I do  believe  the gardeners around the castle are working for the King!

So let us enjoy this holiday, plant a tree, and sing!

I will post some views of the  Tu B'Shevat Challot in the next post!

This year the Plum tree where I saw the first blossom, 
is under construction.
Yes, it was a surprise to me too!

Seeing the sweet little blossom with the yellow and black construction sign,
just in the season of the New Year for Trees!

And yet the gardeners re-assured me that she is ok!

They are doing some work in the garden to make improvements,
and as it is in the garden of the Castle I trust that the King has it under control.

No matter what is happening on the ground, her blossoms reach up to the sky and open towards heaven!

          To be continued.....

♡

Branch, Blossoms, branch, almost Tu b'Shevat

At this farm side stand, there was a bucket with plum blossom branches, 

and a can for coins

Come, my beloved, let us go out into the field.  Let us go out early to the vineyards, --Let us go down to see if the vine have budded, if their blossoms have opened,    Song of Songs, from verses 7~13

On my way home I took a new route, my friend drew me a little pencil line map for how to get to the train station.
The route even looked like a branch on a tree.

And on my home then what did I see?
You guessed it! A branch, well more like branches for the taking.
I knew this scenario was of the LORD's making.

There by the branches was a little tin can,
to put in a coin though there was no woman or man,
just the box there and someone who trusts.

So I put in some coins  picked up a few branches and set out on my way.
If anyone saw me, they would see that I was holding a flowering branch on that day!!
And the rest I will write as a post for today!

So that is my introduction.
 Its  a "Tu B'Shevat" Story in the making, or a prelude to a Tu B'Shevat story!

I must say I like this story very much!
I have an affinity for sure for flowering branches, and have written about them and even made a flowering "branch" challah for two years in a row, this year will be third.

God gives His gift of fruit and flowering blossoms and branches in this season.
The branch is from a yellow plum tree.  In Japanese, Ro-bai.
Its supposedly the most early blossoming plum tree, but actually the white ume, the plum tree near us, blossomed similarly early, so I don't really know which one came first.

I think of the branch and the flowering staff of Aaron that we will read about later in the book of Exodus.

I think of the golden menorah with the blossoms and bulbous designs.

I put the blossoming branch on the seat next to me on the train, and it reminded me of taking the train on Hannukah with the menorah, I put the menorah in the window as the train passed from north to south, and it lit up the scenery.  God reminded me of that when I placed the blossoming branch on the seat next to me on the train!

I think of the branch I received last year at this time that flowered in my home and in my heart.

I think of the Messiah who would come from the root of Jesse.  So perfectly in Hebrew does His name, Yeshua, come from Yeshi.   

 A branch will sprout from the route of Jesse.
(scripture)

The holiday of Tu B'shevat is coming up next week.  It is the New Year for fruit trees on the Hebrew calendar and celebrated in Israel in the 15th of the month of Shevat (that is the meaning of Tu b'Shevat). I 've written about it on my blog since finding out about this day ,three years ago.

The sap from the earth is starting to come up and pulse through the roots and up into the branches bringing new life into what look all winter like dead trees.  It is a season of new life.

Spring is in the ground before it is in the air!
And it is in the readings in the book of Exodus this week, as God gives the children of Israel the commandment to sanctify the first month and the head of every month therein.  He tells that this will be the first month of spring.  And that on the 14th of the month will be their delivarance.  The commandment to slaughter the Passover lamb is given just before the tenth plague is carried out.  All that is speaking of the first month of Nissan.  Though we read it now in the 11th month of Shevat.  In Shevat we can prepare out hearts for the first month, the month of spring.  And look to God's time for He is beyond time, but He commands the time and the times!

Now the LORD had said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt;  This month shall mark for you the beginning of the months; it shall be the first of the months of the year for you.  

Exodus 12:1

All that from a branch on a roadside? someone might ask?
There is so much more, its just  the beginning of the month of Shevat!

behind the branch of the yellow plum blossom, you can see the plum tree near me

In this story, I saw only the branches and didn't see the tree!
But we know that the gardener is certainly He!!

Much Love, Shabbat Shalom!

Shayndel

* Shevat is the eleventh month of the Hebrew calendar, so this time of the New Year for trees is a harbinger of the Spring, which starts as the month of Nissan, and the 14th of Nissan is Passover.  The day planned from the beginning of time which would be the day the Jewish people were set free and the day that the rest of the world would be set free through the death of Messiah Yeshua, which was exactly the same day, Nissan 14 , and  His resurrection three days after that.  Our God is beyond time and space, and yet He commands time and space, defines it by His making, and sanctifies it by His Word.

＊＊note, I should also note the fragrance!! The Yellow plum blossoms, called Ro-bai, written
蠟梅 in Japanese、are known for their yellow color and for their fragrant blossoms.  When I read this verse below, after posting this, it spoke to me about these flowering branches and the fragrance that fills the air, and accompanies the branch.   So I am adding it here, hoping it might waft through the post to you, with Wishing you a fragrant Shabbat and beautiful week!

The vines in blossom give off fragrance.
Arise, my darling;
 My fair one, come away!

from Song of Songs 2:13


♡

Biblical Fruits Challah for the Shabbat of Song and Tu B`shevat!

Figs, raisins, dates, pomegranate, olive oil, honey, barley, and one special addition, the grapefruit from Israel!

As The Shabbat of Song (see post below!) was just a few days before Tu B'shevat, I made a Biblical Fruits Challah for this Shabbat!!

This was a very exciting Challah to make! The ingredients themselves are a song.  They are expressing the 7 biblical species, which are foods mentioned in the Torah and eaten in Biblical times as well as used or represented for various significance such as in the Temple.  I took the challenge of seeing if I could find them here in Oita, Japan.  

 

Tu B'shevat is a holiday celebrated in Israel as the New Year for Fruit trees.  The name  means the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat, which is tomorrow on our calendar, from the evening of January 30 to January 31.  I first learned about it last year, and this discovery of a New Year, or Birthday for Fruit trees excited me.  It became a great delight-filled time in noticing the first blossoms on the fruit trees and gave me a new awareness of this season when the sap from underground begins to enter into the trees, renewing them, a time we don't "see"  much, but a time when much is happening to prepare for the first blossoms.

Blossoms appear in the land, the time for singing has come,

The song of the turtledove

Is heard in our land.

The green figs form on the fig tree,

The vines in blossom give off fragrance.

Arise my darling, 

My fair one, come away!

--Song of Songs 2:12~13

 Once I decided to make the Biblical Fruits Challah, I went Friday morning to gather the ingredients. I already had the Israeli grapefruit (famous post about the first Israeli Grapefruit HERE, and using it in the Challah HERE) And a pomegranate!!

There were dried fruits in the recipe and I also needed pomegranate juice for another recipe so I decided to go to a Department store I hadn't gone to for a while.  When I got to the food floor,  and was looking around at the dry fruits area a song came on the BGM.

Here we are preparing for the Sabbath of Song, I am in the dried fruits area, and a SONG comes to my ears, with words very clear, and in perfect English.

His Grace is enough.

I listened again,

His Grace is enough.

Oh my goodness, I am hearing this!

God I sing,  Your grace is everything!!

I was hearing worship music in our local department store food floor here in southern Japan.  Well, I practically hugged the store man, for playing such great music..

Posting note:   I didn`t realize at the time, but looked it up after from the words I heard, and it must have been the song by Chris Tomlin, Your Grace is Enough.  But how it came to our hometown Department store, ..Well, sometimes we don't need a reason.

God's Grace is Enough for me!!

Sustain me with raisin cakes,

Refresh me with apples,

For I am faint with love.

Song of Songs 2:5

 

He brought me to the banquet table 
and his banner of love was over me.

Song of Songs 2:4

Some notes on the Challah:

The dough was a very easy dough to work with.  Some of the fruity parts are that in the last stages you mix in the dried fruits--raisins and dates.  The recipe includes a fig filling that is rolled into the strands!!  You can find the recipe HERE-- Biblical Challah and Date Butter, and up on the sidebar at right.

For a perfect dish to go with this Challah for a Tu B`Shevat 'banquet`, see this recipe for Pomegranate Salmon

The Sabbath of Song

I will sing to ADONAI,

for He is highly exalted!

The horse and its rider

He has thrown into the sea.

ADONAI is my strength and my song,

and He has become my salvation.

This is my God, and I will glorify Him,

my father`s God, and I will glorify Him,

my father`s God, and I will exalt Him.

--Exodus 15:1~2, begins The Song of Moses and Miriam

Blessings to everyone and Shabbat Shalom!!

The reading this week on the Parashat Cycle is from Exodus, it is a wonderful Parsha, Parsha Beshalach, where God brings the Children of Israel out of Egypt and through the Sea of Reeds. It is the Parsha where He gives Manna to them from Heaven, and establishes the Shabbat with the Double Portion!! There in this portion is the Song of the Sea, the Song of Praise by Moses and Miriam upon being set Free!!

Oh there is just so much and I could write a whole blog about this alone as I am bursting with things I want to express.  You can see in the readings below how the Song connects all the readings, from the Song of Moses and Miriam in the Torah portion, to the Song of Deborah in the Haftarah, to the Song of Victory in Heaven at the Wedding of the Lamb.  But it is Friday afternoon, and time to start preparing for Shabbat.  I will make a special Challah today because not only is it the Shabbat of Song, but it is also Tu b`shevat this week so I will make a special Biblical Fruits Challah!!

I have a prayer, friends and dear ones, it is that God will bring me people to my community to celebrate Shabbat day with. Thank you to all if you feel led to agree and believe with me for this!! In my city and even Prefecture (State)  I have not yet met anyone who observes Shabbat.   I realize as it is January that this will actually be starting my third year of observing Shabbat!!  Thank you Father in Heaven for your wonderful and delight-full Shabbat, and for hearing our prayer, I send this prayer up boldly to the throne room in Heaven,  in Yeshua`s glorious name I pray!

A-men!!!

Parsha BeShalach, Shabbat Shirah, The Sabbath of Song

The readings in the Bible are:

Torah Portion (from Old Testament):  Exodus 13:17~17:16

Haftarah Portion(from the Prophets): Judges 4:4~5:31

Brit Chadasha (New Testament)*:  Revelation 19:1~20:6

Note for the Brit Chadasha, or New Testament reading, I also see John 6:47~51  as a good connected reading as the Torah portion is about the Manna from Heaven and these verses connect the Manna to Yeshua who is the Bread of Life, the living bread, which came down from Heaven

Time to start the challah!!

Shabbat Shalom!!

Love

♡

Shayndel

Thank you Father, Love Shayndel

The land brought forth grass, green plants yielding seed, each according to its species, and trees making fruit with seed in it, each according to its species.  And God saw that it was good.

                                                                    ---Genesis 1:12

 Shabbat Shalom!
Happy (almost) Tu B`Shevat! 
♡ 

The First Cherry Blossoms

My blog is called Challah and Cherry Blossoms.  I`ve posted a lot of challah but not too many cherry blossoms.  And now the time for cherry blossoms is come-ing!  As your Challah and Cherry Blossoms correspondent, I must say this is a very exciting time.

This week a friend invited me to see the earliest blossoming cherry blossoms in Kyushu, the south island of Japan where we live.  Of course I said yes!  Thank you T-san and K-san!!  The skies were cloudy, but it didn`t matter.  We had a beautiful day.  The pink blossoms cheered up the whole landscape and brought new life to everything.  The funny thing is the place where we ended up to see the cherry blossoms was in a parking lot.  An ordinary parking lot becomes extraordinary when lit up by the pink `sakura` blossoms!





Cherry blossoms are like a resurrection, a bringing new life to what was once dead.  After the burst of pink they soon bring forth green leaves and the season of spring.  People flock to see them, and even as we left the parking lot, there were many people with cameras who came for the same reason we  did, to see the cherry blossoms.  We left as people came.  Everyone was taking pictures of the cherry blossoms.

There is still a month before the rest of the cherry blossoms here and in all Japan officially open.  Its a little hard to explain, but this viewing today was like a sneak preview, in the still cold days of February, a reminder of the new life that comes after the sap begins to flow (remember Tu B`Shevat, the New Year for trees. That day a few weeks ago commemorates when the sap begins to flow after the months of winter in the trees.)

At the end of our adventure, she took us to see her new granddaughter.  How precious is new life!
And what a special reminder that we too can be born again!!

Blessings and blossoms!!
Shayndel

 A prayer of thanks for today, Dear Father thank you for this day that You have made.  How glad we are for every moment in it,  we rejoice in your Creation.  Thank you for friends who are so kind and invited me today on the day outing.  We know it is You who provides everything in our lives, and that You bring us together with people for your purposes. Thank you for the beautiful canopy of pink that makes everything new and reminds us of the power of the Resurrection of Yeshua.  
The color pink is like a burst of your Love painted in the landscape, announcing a new season and showing the miracle and wonder of how what was once dead comes to life as You direct all of Creation.  Please reveal more about Yourself to us in this season as we eagerly anticipate the cherry blossoms opening throughout Japan.  May the Messiah`s return come soon and may we prepare for His coming by becoming new in You and seeking your Kingdom and the heavenly on earth.  I pray blessings for the one who is reading this.  That she will be renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit and that she will come to know Yeshua as her Saviour.  And to the reader here now who has already received Salvation in Yeshua, may she be constantly renewed by your Great Love and Shalom, and be restored in health and strength and new passion and creativity.  May all we do bring Glory to You.   Hashem Yeshua.  Amen!

 Yeshua said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life!"

---John 11:25

Shabbat Shalom! Tu B`Shevat Challah and Seven Fruits and Grains

                                                             Today`s Shabbat was also the holiday called Tu B`Shevat.  It is the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat (see two posts below!).

  On this day it is tradition to eat foods that are from the seven types of fruits and grains--barley, wheat, grapes, figs, pomegranates, dates/honey, and olives ---which are mentioned throughout the Torah as the main produce of Israel.

This recipe for a Biblical Challah and date butter combines these tastes.

 I made the challah using a variation of the Biblical foods that I was able to find locally in Japan.  I couldn`t find a pomegranate, but did have one ingredient that came from Israel, the famous Israeli grapefruit that I wrote about in this post below!!

God is so good.  As we are reading about the manna in this weeks Parsha, we know that He provides what we need, and everything comes from Him.  Little did I know earlier this week when I saw the Israeli grapefruit --from Jaffa --in the local supermarket,  that it would be one of the indgredients* that was called for in the recipe for this week`s Challah!! His ways are so much greater than ours!!

The grapefruit from Israel became the center of this week`s Challah and celebration of fruits!

                     Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, 
so is my lover among the sons.
In his shadow I delighted to sit,
and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
He has brought me to the banquet house
and his banner over me is love.
Sustain me with raisin cakes,
refresh me with apples---
for I am weak with love.             ---Song of Songs 2: 3~5

There are so many references to the spices and fruits of Israel in the Song of Songs, one of the scriptures that is read to welcome the Shabbat.  There is choice fruit, pomegranates, all the finest spices, honey from the honeycomb, and all the trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes.  These passages can touch our souls as our senses are filled with the fruits and sweetness of Shabbat.  May we prepare a Shabbat table to welcome the God of Israel into our hearts and deeper into our lives.  May we taste and see that He is good and know that His Love endures forever.

Delight in the Shabbat, Shabbat Shalom!

Shalom be upon Israel!  --Psalm 125, 128

I went down into the garden of nut trees

to look at the fruit of the valley,

to see if the vine had budded, 

or the pomegranates had bloomed.

Before I was aware, my soul sent me

among the chariots 

of my princely people.

---Song of Songs  6:11~12 

Happy Tu B`Shevat (2) & Shabbat Shalom・梅の木と雪とマナ

Then Moses and Bnei-Yisrael sang this song to ADONAI

  I will sing to ADONAI,
for He is highly exalted!

--Exodus 15:1 TLV

Friday, February 10

The snow falling this morning looked like the manna God sent from heaven.
It was big flakes of white dew-like snow, falling from heaven and forming a layer on the ground!! As we are in the Parsha Beshalach, the parsha where God gives the manna to the Israelites, it was like a Shabbat Miracle!

 I also just found out it is the New Year and Birthday for trees, called Tu B`shevat.
It falls on the same day as this week`s Shabbat.  (Sundown February 10th, to Sundown February 11th).  It is my first Tu B`shevat in Japan, and maybe in my life (though I probably celebrated it in some way when a child though I can`t remember how).

The snow falling like manna even seemed to be `dancing` around  the Ume (Plum) Tree.  May today be a day to dance a joyous dance and wish a Happy Birthday to your favorite tree.  May we give thanks the God of Heaven for all that He provides.  And remember the test of the manna in the desert, that we should know that all provision comes from heaven, and that His heavenly provision comes in just the amounts we need.  This weeks Torah portion can be found starting in Exodus chapter 13.  In it we see the first teaching about Shabbat, and how God set apart this day of rest and provides a double portion of manna.   It is also the Torah Portion of Moses and Miriam`s song of Praise and declaration of Faith in ADONAI  after the `showdown` at the Sea of Reeds (Red Sea).  For the full list of weekly readings see here.  This weeks readings are:

Torah:  Exodus 13:17~17:16

Haftarah:  Judges 4:4~5:31

Brit Chadashah: Revelation 19:1~20:6 

and the Holiday readings for Tu B`Shevat, New Year for Trees (15th of Shevat):
Psalm 104:16~17
Psalms 120~134
Matthew 7:13~24, 7:28~29

Delight in the Shabbat! Shabbat Shalom! Happy Tu B`Shevat!!

Then ADONAI said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you.  The people will go out and gather a day`s portion every day, so that I can test them to find out whether they will walk according to My Torah or not.  So on the sixth day, when they prepare what they might bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather day by day."

---Exodus 16:4 TLV

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梅の木と雪とマナ


それから、夕方になるとうずらが飛んで来て、宿営をおおい、朝になると、宿営の回わりに露が一面に降りた。

この一面の露が上がると、見よ、荒野の面には、地に降りた白い霜のような細かいもの、うろこのような細かいものがあった。

イスラエル人はこれを見て、「これは何だろう」と互いに言った。彼らはそれが何か知らなかったからである。モーセは彼らに言った。「これは主があなたがたに食物として与えてくださったパンです。」　　　出エジプト１６：１３〜１５

イスラエルの家は、それをマナと名づけた。それはコエンドロの種のようで、白く、その味は蜜をいれたせんべいのようであった。　　　出エジプト１６：３１


金曜日、2月１０日

今朝雪が降りました。
とてもきれいでした。
雪は天から地面に舞い降りて来ました。
地面の上は白雪でおおわれました。
神がイスラエルの人々に天から下ろして来た「マナ」のように見えました。

梅の木の周りに雪が舞いりました。　

明日はイスラエルではこの日には「樹木の新年」、トウ・ビ・シュバットと呼ばれています。ユダヤ暦でシュバット月の１５日という意味で、イスラエルではみんなで植樹をしたりドライフルーツを食べたりします。毎年１月～２月のあたりにあります。
今年は２月１１日。

これからもうすぐ実もなるでしょう。

私達も、木々をを祝いしましょう。
身近な木の周りで踊りましょう。神から創造された木々に感謝し、「明けましておめでとう」をお祝いしましょう！


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Happy Tu B`Shvat from Japan!

 post in progress!
 thank you to my new blog friend at The Real Jerusalem Streets for making me aware  of this day!!
I just learned we are still in time for Tu B`Shevat, a Jewish Holiday that is the New Year for Trees!

It will be this Shabbat, so there is even time still if you are considering celebrating this day, to make a Biblical Challah perfect for the occasion. Here is the Link, stay tuned for how the Challah comes out and hopefully some nice photos of our neighboring Ume (Plum Blossom ) tree, for a Japan-Jewish-Israeli celebration!! Happy Tu B`Shevat! and guess what?  Remember the Israeli Grapefruit I found in the post below?  In the Challah recipe it even calls from zest from a Jaffa orange, so I will plan to use the zest from the Jaffa Grapefruit!.  If you are local, please let me know as surely there will be plentiful Challah to share!!



Blessings and Shalom from Japan,

Shayndel

Grapefruit from Israel・イスラエル産のグレプフルッツ

Limited time only! Grapefruits from Israel, Ruby

It was a great surprise to see this sign and the grapefruit...from Israel! in the  local supermarket in the small city where we live in South Japan.

It says `Limited! Today Only!  Grapefruit from Israel (Ruby)! 138 yen.`

I believe when we study Torah and declare to those around us the greatness of the God of Israel, that Israel comes a little closer to us wherever we are.

Praise the God of Israel!!

 ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

 びっくりしました！
近所のスーパーでイスラエル産グレープフルーツを初めて見ました。
大分にイスラエル産の物は本当に珍しい。

「本日限り」と表示していますした。

多分最近イスラエルの神のことをよく考えることが多くなったからでしょうか。　イスラエルのことが身近に現れるように感じます。

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Shavua Tov! For a taste to go with this post  I recommend reading Psalm 138!   The number 138 (yen) in the sign on the grapefruit led me there.  Oh yes, and 150 too, and all the ones in between.  Enjoy! 

 And just for fun,  this is a list of what`s in season each month in Israel!  Israel Produce Calendar

Love from Challah and Cherry Blossoms Correspondent,

Shayndel

Every day I will bless You,

and praise Your Name forever and ever!

Great is ADONAI, and greatly to be praised

---His greatness is unsearchable.

---Psalm 145:2