Simplify & Soar – 8 – (CHESHVAN) Tiferet – Compassion; Jacob; and the Color Green
After the whirl of the Fall Feasts in Tishrei, Cheshvan is a welcome quiet month. ‘Mar’ means ‘bitter’ in Hebrew, and the month sometimes is called MarCheshvan because there are no biblical feasts in it at all. This proves to be a blessing in disguise, however, because it provides us with the opportunity to slow […]
Simchat Torah – Joy of Torah
A JOYOUS NEW BEGINNING The conclusion of the annual Torah reading cycle at this time and the immediate beginning of the cycle for the next year is the central reason and focus of the holiday of Simchat Torah. An old gate is closing and a new one is opening. We celebrate the new beginning and the […]
Simplify & Soar – 7 – (Tishrei) Gevurah – Discipline, Yitzchak – Isaac, and the color Red.
Shalom dear fellow-learners, A blessing is not said for Rosh Chodesh Tishrei because the month is overshadowed, as it were, by the glory of Rosh HaShanah – the start of a new Hebrew calendar year. Nevertheless, Tishrei is a very special and holy month. It is bursting with festivals, just as the pomegranate – the […]
Sukkot – Feast of Tabernacles – Part 1
SUKKOT – SEASON OF OUR JOY – A HARVEST FEAST ~ Keren Hannah As we approach the week-long festival of Sukkot [soo-koht], we are aware that the seasons are changing. Summer is slowly but surely giving way to the cooler nights and days of Fall. We are reminded that time is divided into years and each […]
Sukkot – Part 2 – The Four Species
THE FOUR SPECIES After the sukkah, the most visible elements associated with the celebration of the festival of Sukkot are the Arba Minim, the Four Species. While the sukkah is a reminder of the temporary nature of our journey and the need for God’s supernatural provision and protection in the wilderness, the four species are […]
Simplify & Soar – 6 – (ELUL) – Lovingkindness, Avraham, and the Color Blue
For the next seven months we will be taking a closer look at the seven core attributes or character traits, and will be making a connection with a biblical character and one of the seven colors! As human beings created in the image of God we are designed to reflect His attributes. Just as He […]
Simplify and Soar – 5 – (Av) Self Care
Finally, in the midst of winter,I discovered in myself an invincible summer. ~ Albert Camus Self care necessarily needs to be applied and undertaken in the four major area of life: the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.Let us recognize straight off that self-care is not a selfish pursuit but is vitally important if we are […]
Simplify and Soar – 4 – Surrender (Tammuz)
Summer teaches us love of life and pity for the falling flower. ~ Jill Hammer When I first considered the topic for this month of Tammuz, I must admit I felt rather hesitant and dubious. Surrender seems to have a negative aspect to it. Surrender. Quit! Give up! But, as I have given it more […]
The Three Weeks – 17 Tammuz to Tisha B’Av
Bein HaMetzarim – In the Narrow Straits Adapted, with thanks, from article in HaMizrachi Parsha Weekly: Parshat Matot 2022 Worth a read. May the Final Geulah / Redemption come quickly. BEATINGS OR BLOSSOMS? Rabbanit Shani Taragin (Educational Director, World Mizrachi) During the twenty-one days “Bein HaMetzarim” (In the Narrow Straits) between the 17th Tammuz (17th […]
TAMMUZ – The Fourth Hebrew Month
TAMMUZ BLESSING OF THE NEW MONTH – BIRKAT HA’CHODESH May it be Your will, O Lord, our God and the God of our forefathers, that You inaugurate this month of Tammuz upon us for goodness and for blessing. May You give us long life, a life of peace – Shalom, a life of goodness […]
Israeli Spicy Surprise Chocolate Brownie Muffins
Thanks to Shmuel Veffer Gluten and sugar free! Ingredients 1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained, rinsed 3 large eggs ½ cup pure maple syrup 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder ½ teaspoon baking soda 3 tablespoons Galilee Green Olive Oil 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips hot pepper flakes for […]
Anochi? The Torah is like the Sea?
Two interesting questions. I have always loved this picture and I have had it on my computer screen for a few years. But I only learned two fascinating truths it reflects this past week. Artwork by Israeli artist Baruch Nachshon (z”l) 1. The Hebrew word at the top is Anochi – אנכי The first word […]
Torah – the Bread of Life
TORAH – the BREAD OF LIFE The Torah, or the first revelation of the Word of God in a communal form, was given by God at Sinai. The account in Genesis tells us that a form of the Word was in existence at the very beginning of Creation. This Word was with God so intimately that, in […]
Simplify and Soar – 3 – Intuition (Sivan)
There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen! ~ Anonymous This is the third of the five steps at the heart of this cycle of BeIng Holy BeIng Whole. We are aiming to replace unnecessary effort with ease, clutter with clarity, irritating drama with inspiration. Hopefully, after Nissan, we now are more aware of […]
SIVAN – The Third Hebrew Month
BLESSING OF THE NEW MONTH – BIRKAT HA’CHODESH May it be Your will, O Lord, our God and the God of our forefathers, that You inaugurate this month of Sivan upon us for goodness and for blessing. May You give us long life: a life of peace – Shalom a life of goodness – Tovah a life of blessing […]