Thanksgiving - Israel 2006

Entranceway to Yad Vashem. 

     I can hardly believe it's been 4 years since I went to Israel.  In some ways it seems like decades ago; in others, it seems as if it only just happened.  At any rate, I was in Israel for Thanksgiving in 2006.  What a wonderful trip.  What a beautiful place.  Ha!  I didn't want to leave; and, guess what?  There was a government strike the day we were supposed to fly home... Government strike = airports closed = extended vacation.  I remember that some of the people on the tour were angry about staying extra;  I was thrilled.  Had we not stayed those few extra days we wouldn't have seen "the Holocaust Museum" - the museum of Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes - Yad Vashem - in my opinion, the most meaningful experience of the tour.  Sobering to say the least.  Man's inhumanity towards man. And yet, there were also stories of heroic actions, and examples of the best of mankind.  We stayed 4 or 5 hours; to really take in the  experience would take at least 2 days. I remember, there was not a dry eye leaving the building. Like life, there was only one entrance and one exit.


Me, at the Gateway into Capharnaum


 Earlier in the trip we saw much of Israel's countryside... miraculous agricultural areas that fulfill the prophets of old;  the Jordan River, which, in places, is a roaring river, and in other areas is a mere babbling brook.  Many of us were baptized in the Jordan... let me tell you, it was like icewater!  Also, of interest were the white doves in the trees along the river's edge.  Yes, most everything reminded me of Scripture... We saw Cana, the site of Jesus' first miracle.  And Capernaam (Capharnaum), the home of Simon Peter and Jesus' "home base" during His ministry on earth.  The remnants of Peter's house is still there, almost next door to the old synagogue.
The Scriptures - both Old Testament and New - came to life as we experienced life in the Holy Land.  We saw the seat of Moses in the old synagogue there in Capernaam... Someone offered to take my picture if I would sit in it;  alot of folks were doing that, but it felt disrespectful to me, so I declined.  The seat of Moses is where a visiting Rabbi sits to read from the Torah scroll.

the sun begine to set on the Sea of Gallilee

One of my favorite photos - an oasis in Israel

Shalom y'all - Twyla

 I could probably blog about Israel all day.  But, life beckons.  It's Thanksgiving 2010, and family will be arriving in a few hours.  There are preparations to be made, food to cook, the regular household and farm chores to see to.  Meanwhile, my Hubby has fixed me a wonderful breakfast of latkes and scrambled eggs. And brought the plate to my desk!  Very unusual to eat at our desks!   My husband is my oasis.  So, on this Thanksgiving day I thank Ha'Shem for my marriage which is now almost a year old.

Brewster's Harem

This afternoon, while I  worked crazily on projects for Thanksgiving and Hannukah,  Moshe let all the chickens roam the yard near their arks (moveable coops).  This was the first time Brewster-the-rooster has been outside the coop since Moshe built it.  He was a LOT tamer outside the coop than he is inside. I guess when he's in there, he feels more threatened by people and dogs... no where to run, no where to hide... Well, anyway, they had a great time.  They dug  in the grass and leaves, finding "treats" such as bugs and salamanders. (Glad I'm not a chicken!) 

out for a stroll...

Moxie, keeping her distance...

      A couple times they tried to sample the greens growing in Moshe's winter garden, but we stopped them and herded them back down the hill.  Moxie was hilarious.  She couldn't decide where to be or what to do.(So many chickens; so little time.)  She tried to tell Brewster what to do, but Brewster pecked her nose 'til she whimpered like a kitten.  Never one to give up,  she quickly found some more receeptive chickens to herd around the yard.  Now, completely exhausted, poor Moxie is stretched out on the floor between our desks,  no doubt dreaming of chickens.

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



       

On Giving Thanks - The Last Day of Sukkot

Porch decorations for Sukkot/Thanksgiving

          Today is the last day of Sukkot. We are going to leave the sukkah decorations up through the month of October, and, possibly November.  Decorating for Sukkot is based on the theme of the harvest, so it stands to reason that I would keep the screened porch decorated with Autumn leaves, artificial fruit, dried flowers, and cornstalks.  We had a great Sukkot - had friends over for great meals and conversations.  We had an extra table set up for our "unseen visitors" - one always invites such persons as Moses, Abraham, and Jesus for Sukkot.  Although we didn't see them in the physical, we can be certain they were present in the spiritual realm.
        
           And, so the next holiday we will celebrate is Thanksgiving.  (Trust me, we will NOT observe Halloween!)  Did y'all know that originally when the Pigrims celebrated "Thanksgiving", they were actually observing Sukkot?  They observed this holiday earlier in the year than what Americans now celebrate Thanksgiving, and it was to thank God for the harvest.  They originally celebrated this day of thanks between Sept 21 and Nov 9, but usually in early October... THAT is Sukkot. See this site for further reading on this subject. The people who came to this land were obeying Torah in their harvest celebration.
           It was many, many years later that President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday - to be observed on the last Thursday of November. See this site to read more about this.

Nothing like having a little bed right by the dining tables1

Shalom Y'all,
          Twyla