Today`s challah is a Challah of Life!
I call it the Blossoming Chai Challah, and you can see it all started HERE .
CHAI is a Hebrew word which means `LIFE` (see header above).
You may have heard it in the famous `toast`,
LE-CHAI-IM, To life!
As I was reading in the last parsashiot of the book of Genesis, Parasha Vayigash and Parsha Vayechi, I kept seeing that word LIFE!!! Joseph asking `Is my Father still alive`, Jacob asking the same of his son Joseph, and then when the brothers reconcile Joseph tells them it is to `preserve the lives of many` that he was sent to Egypt. And of course, he saved many alive through grain ~~ the `bread` (corn?!) that he provided for his family and Egypt and all the nations.
And to top it off, the LORD was showing me pomegranates upon pomegranates in the supermarket and fruit stands. I just had to make the Pomegranate Blossoming Chai Challah !! And kept making them until there were no more pomegranates (and now I found more, so if you would like me to make one for you and you are in Japan, let me know!!). Every time I open a pomegranate I hear YESHUA`s call to us to be fruitful in Him. Every time I make a Challah for Shabbat I taste His goodness and that He is the true Bread of LIFE! When we drink the cup of redemption with it, we proclaim His LIFE until the day He returns!!
So without further ado, here is my Blossoming Challah of Life in a Challah-cast upload to share with you!!
I will also include my first Blossoming Chai Challah from last year on this Parsha. It is exciting how the LORD shows us new things in His word each time.
The third is a short upload I did for my brother, lately I have gotten to know some of the care residents he works with at his job, and have been doing mini Challah-casts for them as they are in lockdown and even their Shabbat time is on hold as they quarrantine in their rooms. It is a blessing to share from Japan to NY and a special way to connect with my brother who I have not seen for a long time with the travel being restricted.
May we say together these words that are said at the end of each book of Torah, so perfect for strengthening each other!
CHAZAK, CHAZAK, VENIT CHAZEK!
Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another!
Hope you might enjoy one or all of the Challah of Life and Pomegranate Challah uploads below courtesy of
Love,
Shayndel ♡
The recent Blossoming Chai Challah with Pomegranate:
First Chai Challah of life :
Come, my beloved, Let us go into the open;
Let us lodge among the henna shrubs. 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