TGIF

       So it's Friday again.  Already.  I have a few chores to do, some errands to run in town; then, it will be about time to set up the Shabbat table for lighting the candles, taking communion, preparing for a day's rest.

     Moshe fell on the back steps this morning when he went out to feed the chickens.  We are praying that he hasn't broken a rib.  I put ice on it immediately, had him take some aspirin, and he is trying to relax in his chair at his desk.  I might convince him later to let me tape it up - treat it as if it is a rib fracture.  That's about all they would do at the E.R.  

     I finished feeding the chickens;  will do that again this afternoon.  Gathering wood I'm not so great at, but, I'll do my best.  We'll be alright.  There must be a reason for this - just like there is a reason for every single thing that happens to us.  All of life is a learning process.  There are no coincidences. And, God is in control.

     The sun is just now beginning to come out, and the temperature is "all the way up to 33 degrees".  We could use a couple days of drying out after this past week!  

  

 TGIF :     Thank

                God

                 I'm

                 Forgiven

Sunny days will return...

SHALOM Y'ALL -

     TWYLA

Chanukkah - Shabbat



Chanukkah and Shabbat all in one night!  Oooh! The pretty candles!

  
 
Tonight we lit three Chanukkah candles; then, the Shabbat candles.  We are going to a party tomorrow evening, so we made little dreidels out of marshmallows, pretzel sticks for handles, dipped in melted chocolate, and lettered with melted white chocolate... To see this idea, go to The Shiksa on Facebook.    Mine aren't perfect, but they are VERY cute... can't wait to take them to the party.  I'm going to put them on a blue tray, along with the macaroons I made yesterday, and scatter gelt on the tray.  It will be very festive.
     Of course, I have the "usual" social anxiety... what to wear.  Aargh.  When one gets to be "a certain age" AND "a certain weight". dressing for a party becomes a challenge.  Am I the only one who feels this way?  (I seriously doubt it).
     So, it is the close of another week.  Tomorrow is a day of rest.  We are ready for it;  it's been a busy and unusual week at the Ben-David farm.  Hope this post finds all of you healthy and joyful.
                          Shalom Y'all - Twyla

About the Sabbath

       After several years of study, prayer, and deep seeking I have embraced the belief that GOD loves the Sabbath.  He loves it, and He expects us to love it and observe it.   I used to think that Sunday was the Sabbath, because that's the day most churches gather together to worship.  But, the more I studied, the more evidence I found that the Sabbath always was and still is Saturday.  (I won't go into all the details of how this can be proven, but it is provable.)
       And so we observe the Sabbath (Shabbat in the Hebrew language).  We observe Shabbat by resting - not doing "ordinary work".  Although cooking isn't expressly forbidden, I try to prepare most of our food on Friday so that I don't have to cook much on Shabbat.  I don't clean house on Shabbat.  We feed the animals, of course, but we don't clean their coops on Saturday; this is "ordinary work" and can be done the day before or the day after... It's okay to do work that is life-saving.  Just think about it: God chooses life for people - not death.

        Of course, we also observe the Sabbath by studying God's word and by praising Him.  No need to wait until Thanksgiving... go ahead and give Him thanks and praise today!



Our Shabbat table



       Well, I could go on and on about Shabbat - what to do, what not to do, various opinions, etc.  But, what I really want to talk about is how we bring in Shabbat on Friday evening.  It's a beautiful ceremony, and it can be very meaningful.  The lighting of the Sabbath candles is a centuries-old tradition.  Moshe blows the Shofar before we gather at the table.  Tzedakah is given (this is a collection for charity). We read Scriptures ,we recite prayers  in both Hebrew and English,  and blessings are proclaimed over each other and the family. I light the candles;  there are special prayers/and/or songs, and we also read a poem about welcoming Shabbat into our home.  After the candles are lit, Moshe gives the blessings over the wine (grape juice) and the bread. 

     Then, we say "Shabbat Shalom", and it is time to have a nice dinner by candlelight, followed by at least 25 hours of rest.  Nice, huh?

       I didn't go into much detail, but, if you are interested, you can Google Shabbat and get more information on how to celebrate it.  Another time I'll write more about it and include photos of our dining room table when the Shabbat candles are lit and all the Shabbat items are in place.
     Shalom Y'all - Twyla



       

Beach plans

Ducks know the crinkle of  Ritz crackers wrapper!

        We have really worked around the house the past two or three days.  Like I mentioned in my last post - Fall cleaning, rearranging, sorting, revamping.  There is still a bit to do, but it's coming along. Tomorrow, being Shabbat, and Yom Kippur, we will have a day of rest.  I checked the weather forecast and it's supposed to be hot, sunny, and clear - warmer than usual for this time of year with 0% chance of precip.
     So, it will be off to the beach.  Hooray!  For the past couple weeks, when we go to the beach, we wonder if it will be the last time for this year... Then, another glorious weather day crops up, and away we go.  Last year at this time it had already cooled off, so I am very thankful for every summery day - especially when it lands on a Saturday!

         I've already prepared all the food for our cooler and packed the beach bag  - including lots of Ritz crackers and stale bread for the ducks and fishies.  Shabbat supper is simmering on the stove, and I'm about to wind down for the evening.  Shabbat shalom!
                                                                                        Twyla

Friday - The Eve of Shabbat

as paraphrased from the Website, OU.org


          Friday is Yom HaShishi - The Sixth "Day"   Saturday is Shabbat, or Sabbath.  Human beings need a transition  between holy and worldly. When one speaks of the Holy Shabbat, that transition is provided by Erev Shabbat, Shabbat  Eve. What occurred on the first Erev Shabbat? Let us look at the Bible, where that event is described.
     "…And Hashem said, 'Let us make Man in our image and in our form, and let them rule over the fish in the sea, and the birds in the sky, and over the cattle and over all creatures that are above the earth, and over all things that creep upon the earth.' And the L-rd created Man in His image; He created him in the image of G-d; male and female did He create them…"
     "…And G-d saw all that He had done, and behold it was very good; and it was evening and it was morning; the Sixth "Day."
     Paraphrasing Rabbi Kaplan : "…Shabbat must also be a do-it-yourself project. In order to really feel the Sabbath, you cannot wait for it to come to you. You must get into it. Every person must make his own Shabbat. You must prepare yourself and get into the mood. Only then will you be able to feel its true significance. True understanding only comes from doing and feeling. In a way, Shabbat is like (being in) love. You can talk about love for the rest of your life, but if you have never experienced it, you will never understand it. Once you have been in love though, no further discussion is necessary."
     Sabbath is a bond of love between people and Adonai.
    And so I am setting up the Shabbat table, and looking forward to  lighting the candles, reading scriptures, saying blessings, partaking of the grape juice and the challah bread - all in preparation for tomorrow - the Sabbath, a day of rest and pleasure.

                                                    My watercolor, " Aaronic Blessing"

                                                      Shabbat Shalom!          Twyla