Chayei Sarah menu

Today is preparation Day but I need one more cup of coffee...

What a challenging week this has been. My FIL has had some health trouble that required more attention, we've had car problems, weather has gotten in the way of plans, I've been stumped for a menu, and I STILL haven't gone grocery shopping!!! AAaack!

It's ok! This week's portion has been very centering for me and I finally realized what I needed to cook. I am so grateful how The Father uses His Word to speak directly to me and teach me exactly what I need, and provides a menu to illuminate His Word to our family.

~The Life of Sarah~

Genesis 23:1-25:18

1 Kings 1:1-31

Isaiah 51:2-22

Matthew 1:1-17

1 Cor 15:50-57

The portion celebrates a long and fruitful life with all it's cycles, it celebrates the very name of this blog, so this menu incorporates healthy antioxidants in a celebratory wedding feast. I set pictures of family members of blessed memory around the table along with some heirlooms and also set out pitchers of water to remember how Rebekah watered the 10 camels.

...The theme makes me think of the song, "Sunrise, Sunset." :)

The menu is gluten free, Kosher, and prepared by Friday afternoon...

~Shabbat Dinner~

Challah

Wine

Pan Seared Salmon with Walnuts and Pomegranate

Onion Mushroom Soup

Spinach Salad with Pomegranate and Avocado

Roast Beef with root vegetables in Red wine

Raw and Pickled Vegetable and olive Platter

Mixed Nuts

Fresh Fruit and Berries

Frozen Pears drizzled with Raspberry Dark Chocolate Sauce

~Shabbat Breakfast~

kefir, honey, & fruit

cheese

~Shabbat Lunch~

cabbage soup

salad

~Supper ~

leftovers

~Shabbat Shalom

~WOW~

Echad

This week, I read a post about a person's sadness over broken families. She wondered how to acheive oneness with The Father, Echad. She ended with the idea that to have Echad, we should trust and obey. How very right she was!

I've been thinking about her post and here is a small thought on Echad~

In Mark 12, when Yeshua was asked what is the GREATEST commandment, he replied by reciting part of the Shema, (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) which as a Jew, was probably the first scripture he learned

"Hear, Oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One (Echad)

And you shall love the Lord your God

With all your heart

and all your soul

and with all your strength..."

He went on to sum up all the law and prophets

"...and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

There is no other commandment greater than these."

In another place, Matt 22:40, he says

"On this hangs all the law and the Prophets..."

The first instance of Echad is in the creation story in Genesis 1, and here it is a few verses later in Genesis 2:24...

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother,

and shall cleave unto his wife:

and they shall be one (echad) flesh.

When we are so very intimate with our spouse that our very chromosomes mingle, the result is a "to one flesh-ness;" in other words, a baby.

The same with YHVH, When we are intent on pleasing HIM, we give HIM our all, the result is that we bear godly fruit with Him and we can not sin! There's just no way!

That begs the question, What is sin?

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law:

for sin is the transgression of the law. (1Jn 3:4)

When we walk perfectly before him, become Echad, we are walking in and obeying HIS Law *because we love him*, we are so very intimate with him that we can't do anything else. We do what pleases HIM and only then are we able to bear His fruit, namely

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness,

Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control.

With this fruit, His fruit, we are able to:

… walk before me (Almighty God),

and be thou perfect. (Gen 17:1)

How do we know just what pleases The Father? Through HIS WORD!!! Here are just a few examples:

"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love;

even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." (Joh 15:10)

"Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God,

to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments,

as at this day." (1Ki 8:61)

"I delight to do thy will, O my God:

yea, thy law is within my heart." (Psa 40:8 )

...and the entire chapter of Psalm 119!

~Shalom

~WOW~

A wonderful Fish Appetizer recipe

I needed an easy appetizer that included fish and honey for last week's Shabbat meal. While using Google, I stumbled across A Taste of Persia, (I am soooo gonna buy this cookbook!) and was able to modify the recipe to suit my needs and the family's taste prefrences. What a wonderful dish! Everyone loved it, even the little ones. I wish I had taken pictures, it was as beautiful as it was yummy! I will certainly cook this one again!

~Pomegranate Fish with Honey~

4 firm-fleshed, Biblically-clean fish fillets,( halibut, salmon, sea bass...)

butter or olive oil

pomegranate seeds for garnish

chopped walnuts for garnish

candied orange peel for garnish

squeezed lemon juice

fresh cilantro

~sauce~

1 onion, sliced very thinly

3 cloves garlic, pressed

small palmful walnuts, chopped

cayenne pepper to taste

squeeze of juice from an orange, or a bit of candied orange peel

4 TBLS pomegranate paste diluted in water to make 1 cup, or 1 cup pomegranate juice

1 TBLS honey

1 pinch of saffron threads

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400F. Wash and pat dry fillets, rub both sides of fish with salt and oil. Place on foil lined, oiled baking sheet.

Saute onions and garlic in sauce pan with butter and olive oil until nicely browned. Add remaining ingredients and saute until nuts are softened.

Spread over fish. Either roll fish and secure with toothpicks, or leave flat to bake. Pop into oven bake until done, about 10 minutes, or until fish flakes easily.

Arrange on platter, pour remaining sauce over fish, garnish with pomegranate seeds and chopped walnuts. Add chopped, fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lemon.

Serve with saffron rice and Tziki.

Shabbat menu, Vayera!

I was going to cook a Jordanian-bedouin style meal for this portion but my oldest son made a special request for this week and I was happy to oblige. He asked for Tandoori chicken which has it's modern roots many miles East, in New Delhi, India. How could I form the meal around the Portion? Well, it begins with Abram's show of hospitality and carries on with the folks of Sodom's total lack of hospitality... I sat up the dinner table area as much as possible, as Abram's tent!! Next year we might sit on the floor. This menu was still very similar to foods found in Jordan, and I think Abram and Sarai would have approved.

We're still searching for a fluffy, EASY gluten free flat bread. This menu's version of Naan, flat bread baked at high temps, was approaching GREAT! I added yeast, egg, and yogurt to the rice flour mix. Next week I'm gonna try to make Ingera, a fermented, teff flour-based flat bread that looks promising.

The tandoori chicken, Clinton's request, was very good though it could have used more cayenne pepper. I found a recipe online for the a multi-ingredient spice mix. Thankfully, I had all the spices on hand and was able to make my own so I was insured it was gluten free. The recipe called for high heat cooking so I cooked the blazes out of that chicken, made me think of Mrs. S.J.! haha!!

The surprise winner of the evening was the fish. I wanted to remember the New Testament verses where the apostles gave The Messiah fish and honey. I found this recipe on an online Persian cookbook. (Wish I could pronounce the name...) The recipe included pomegranate paste, walnuts, honey, onions, and saffron. even though I had to use fillets, it was amazingly good! I can't wait to tell my Persian friend about it.

Later, Craig and Grace are coming over for Bible study with us. I think they will have a good time.

~

~Shabbat Dinner~

Naan

wine

pomegranate fish with honey

tandoori chicken

roasted vegetables

pickled vegetables

salads

dips & spreads

nut & seed mix

fruit

mint tea

coffee

~Shabbat Breakfast~

kefir with honey and fruit

~Shabbat Lunch~

chicken wraps

salad

~Supper~

left overs

popcorn

~

Shabbat Shalom v'Shavua Tov!

~WOW~

What Shabbat Looks Like at our House...

I was recently asked this question:

“Lynn, when you prepare the meals for Shabbat the day before, how do you serve them warm on the Sabbath day? I have never quite gotten my brain wrapped around that concept. I would love to see a blow-by-blow description of a "composite" Shabbat for your family sometime, when/if you have some time to type it out, please. Like how you prepare and what the actual day actually LOOKS like in your family.”

I’ve answered this before in earlier posts, complete with scripture. Now that we’ve kept Shabbat for a few years, we have changed a few things, streamed lined a few things, and Shabbat has become even more blessed and a much anticipated rest at the end of the week.

Please remember, I have older children who are a wonderful help and we enjoy having a big, festive meal. This was much more difficult when they were all younger and we didn’t really know what we were doing…

~Sunday through Wednesday We actually begin preparations for Shabbat on Sunday by reading the new Parasha, (the scripture reading set up by Ezra to keep the Hebrews learning scripture) the Haftarah, (the portion of the prophets that corresponds to the Parahsa) and the Brit Chadasha, (the corresponding New Testament portion.) During the week, we study these and several extra biblical texts, Biblical and Modern Hebrew, history, geography, ancient sociology, nutrition, climate, archeology, cultural anthropology, etc... anything that helps us further understand the text.

I try to plan my menu around the things we’ve studied but I don’t always achieve this. Dietary needs, taste preferences, ingredient availability, budget, and whim is sometimes limiting…

The menu encompasses the Shabbat evening meal on Friday evening, a Shabbat breakfast & lunch on Saturday, and leftovers for Saturday night supper, and even several more meals. I also try to plan the menu to be hot for Shabbat evening and either a cold lunch or to stay warm in the crock pot for lunch. Many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern meals are ideal for this.

~Thursdays are usually reserved for school, shopping, and cleaning.

~Fridays are devoted to cooking and last minute prep. I have older children who are great workers so I can devote myself to this. I make sure to employ crock pots, rice cookers, (they’re not just for rice) hot water pots, warmers to make this easier. I would someday like some nice serving pieces to really make the food look as good as it tastes, and maybe even a Blech keep it all warm.

~

~Shabbat is sundown Friday until sundown Saturday~

Here’s what our Shabbat looks like:

~Sundown Friday~ Shabbat begins. I cover my hair, we gather around the food for Kiddush, blessings, prayers, a little singing, an explanation of the menu to the Parasha. Then we Eat, talk, discuss, laugh… Then, clear the table, food left in crock pots or put in ‘fridge, dishes to soak (Clint has everything washed up before Shabbat begins as a kindness to me so there really aren’t many dirty dishes)

After Dinner, we might have a quick summary of the Parasha, watch an online Parasha study, or we might watch a “Sabbathy” movie, or go visit someone. Usually, I’m just ready for bed!

~Saturday morning~ Sleep late! Stay in our special Shabbat PJ’s all day!!! Shabbat is all about resting and remembering. We don’t have to work, or shop, or cook; we only need to rest. All meals are ready so I don’t have to do anything, just set out the breakfast and maybe some items to come to room temp in time for lunch. I am a total Lady of Leisure on Shabbat!!!

Clint might go to synagogue or a Bible study but I usually stay home, that’s what I love. About once a month we’ll all travel to a meeting with like-minded people for fellowship.

~Saturday midday~ We will eat our lunch, dishes in the sink and then begin our Bible study. We might have some folks over or it might be just us.

Now THIS can get fierce. My older children are very good at bringing what they’ve learned during the week to the table and we’ll discuss, debate, argue, listen, compare, read, consider… It can be intense and once, my 19 son actually yelled out:

“The Marquis of Queensbury Rules will be observed at all times!”

Our Bible study can last hours and sometimes, it is very short. A few times, we don’t have Bible study at all but instead there may be a need in the community and we will go help. One time, we had a tornado hit the adjacent town and the guys were able to get there quickly, before emergency services and help out.

~Saturday afternoon~ Clint joins a Jerusalem-based online Torah study and I have my Hebrew studies. We are free to play, read, nap… We love to go to the state parks and hike. Sometimes we’ll go visit people and sometimes we’ll continue our Torah study.

~Saturday sundown~ supper and Havdalah, when we mark the end Shabbat and the beginning of the work week with prayers of thankfulness and blessing. I dearly love the Havdalah prayer…

~Saturday night~ Shabbat is over and our work week begins again. We clean up, wash the dishes, and then it’s off to Broomball. Or we’ll watch a movie and eat freshly popped popcorn, since we can cook again!!!

It is a wonderful time with our family and The Father. I only wish that we had always kept Shabbat.

~

Shabbat Shalom v'Shavua Tov!

~WOW~

Chukat and menu

~Chukat~

The weather has been so hot and dry, the garden has been burning up. My lettuces have been looking poorly and the only thing really producing right now is the zucchini and my herbs. Tomatoes and cucumbers are flowering but no fruit yet and I'm still waiting on the peas and green beans, too.

My garden was frost-bitten and flooded in May but now I have been praying for some of that cooler, wetter weather.

The children haven't been able to mow since noone's grass is growing. Their bank accounts are feeling the heat, too. The little ones don't even want to go outside.

It's funny how this week's Bible study dealt heavily with water and this week, I've been desperate for it! Friday, we finished up the gardening for the week, changed the water in the hydroponics, and cleaned out and refilled the little pond. Then inside, we straightened up the house and finished cooking. Oh, so hot! Air conditioning is truly a blessed invention!

Wow, I sound like those grumbling Israelites we have been studying about this week...

This week's Bible Study, Chukat, contains the sacrifice and use of the ashes of the Red Heifer, the Water of Purification, the death of Miriam, the grumbling of the people, (again!) Moses' and Aaron's sin, water from the Rock, death of Aaron, the bronze serpent, and various battles. Figs, Dates, Pomegranates are mentioned... and of course the Red Heifer. I again relied on table settings to help Clint tell the story...

I sat the table with a red felt table runner which I attached tassles to the corners, a large vase containing Rosemary branches, sprigs of marjoram, oregano and thyme, (the closest things I had to hyssop) all seated on a plank of cedar. I also sat out glasses of water, pitchers of water, bowls of water and even some lye water.

I always try to reflect the Portion in my menu. This week, my husband smoked a large beef brisket to remind us of the Red Heifer. I also chose to serve glasses of water and a three different versions of watermelon. My vines aren't yet producing but I was able to pick up some nice melons from the grocery. I also served a few dishes prepared with rosemary, marjoram, and other herbs that could possibly reflect hyssop.

For our Torah study, we discussed the medicinal side of the ashes of the Red Heifer, how lye water was made by pouring clean water through the ashes, how it cleansed after exposure to the dead, various forms of "leprosy" and cleansing of sin, and how it is used today. We explored the various forms of water... water for cleansing, water for sustaining, living water, stagnate water... and the danger of too little water. One of the songs we sang was, "I've Got a River of Life"

We looked for other references to the Water of Purification.

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." (Psalm 51:7)

For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. (Hebrews 9:19-20)

Did we find Yeshua in the Portion? Here are just a few instances:

He is the unblemished sacrifice! (Hebrews 9:14)

He is the living water that is poured through the ashes! (John 7:37-38)

He is the Water of Purification that cleanses us from all unrighteousness! (1John 1:9)

He is our Seventh Day! (Matthew 11:28)

He is the Rock that gives us water! (1 Corinthians 10:4)

He is the serpent on the staff! (John 3:14)

He is the High Priest who became unclean for us so that we might be clean! (Hebrews 9:11-28)

~Halleluyah!~

Speaking of sustaining water, The Father gave us a wonderful respite this Shabbat afternoon. We received a soothing summer shower that refreshed us and gave the garden a good soaking. Such an unexpected blessing! HE only gives me good things.

~

~Chukat~

Statute

Numbers 19:1-22:1

Judges 11:1-33

John 3:10-21

Hebrews 9:11-28

Here's the menu, gluten free, Biblically clean, prepared by Friday, and relevant to the Torah portion. I hope to post recipes later:

~Shabbat Dinner~

Water Challah

Wine, Alexandria, Orleans' Hill Winery

Smoked Beef Brisket w/ rosemary

zucchini sauteed with fresh herbs

Smoked Corn on the Cob w/ cumin butter

garden salad w/ Rosemary vinaigrette

watermelon/mango salsa

watermelon/mint salad

Watermelon slices

~Shabbat Breakfast~

Kefir

Fresh Fruit, including watermelon

cheeses

milk

~Shabbat Lunch~

Brisket lettuce wraps w/ quinoa

salad

~Supper~

leftovers

~wow~

Shabbat on our knees... Teshuvah!

Tonight begins Shabbat and we will be on our knees. Today is the eighth anniversary of the 9/11.

We are not having a special meeting tonight but a time of prayer. Husband and I are grieved to see America has slipped back into complacency, back away from The Almighty. This is the season of Teshuvah, of returning back to the laws of The Father in preparation of the Fall Feasts and the Messiah's return.

How very fitting that tonight's Parashah is Ki Tavo, "when you enter." In this Parashah, the children of Israel are getting ready to enter the land and Moses is exhorting them to keep the law, the Torah. It is in this reading where the Moses gives them the charge for the "Blessings and Curses." Blessings if you follow the commandments, the Torah, and Curses if you don't. This is reflected in 2 Ch 7:14

Quote:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Ki Tavo is read during the season of Teshuva, or returning, the time when we are to perform cheshbon ha-nefesh and teshuvah, (soul searching and return [to the laws of the Almighty]) in the days leading to Yom Kippur. In other words, "Repent before you die." This is interesting because Husband and I feel today, the eighth anniversay of 9/11, America needs Chesbon ha-nefesh and Teshuvah!

Parashah: Deut. 26:1 - 29:9
Haftarah: Isaiah 60:1-22
Brit Chadashah: Acts 7:30-36, Eph. 1:3-6 , Rev. 21:10-27

A Labor Day Mikvah

We are now almost three years into our "Messianic" (for lack of a better term) journey. Husband has been getting increasingly anxious to learn about an immersion.

From what we've been able to learn, a Mikvah is a cleansing before entering the temple. Actually, it is the recepticable for holding the immersion water for cleansing before entering the temple.

We have no temple but it is commanded in Leviticus and Numbers.

~Also the Messiah himself was immersed.~

I was recently asked if I felt we needed to perform a Mikvah in place of our childhood Baptist Baptism. Here was my answer:

Yes, actually. We've been studying a lot and, as you have probably already figured out ,(we're just very slow and leaving all we've ever known is, at times, difficult) we have discovered that there are concepts added to scripture that were not there originally.
One concept seems to be the idea of the Trinity.

Even though we have been Messianic for almost three years now, we were challenged over the summer to study if the concept of Trinity is actually scriptural. Here is what we found:

The statements "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" are not in the oldest Greek manuscripts or ANY of the Hebrew NT manuscripts. The updated Strong's has changed their definition of "Echad" found in Deuteronomy 6:4, to actually mean "One" instead of "Unity." A Trinitarian concept does not agree with Torah.

I never realized that in being Baptist, I was very Catholic...

We wanted to be immersed into the Father's Biblical name, YHVH, and into His Son's, the Messiah Yeshua's (or Yashua, Yahosua) Name and character.
And in following the Sh'ma, Deuteronomy 6:4-11, we wanted to symbolically state we believe YHVH is truly ONE, not a unified god-head.
We prayed for the Father to immerse us in His Son's character (name, reputation)
I don't think this is a salvation issue but Husband is thinking it is. We are studying John 3 right now.

Here is something on which I would like your opinion:

How do you interrupt this verse and the whole context surrounding it?

Quote:

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

As I see it, the Messiah is using parallelism to answer Nichodemus' question; born of water being of flesh, born of spirit being spirit...

In other words, you certainly can't enter into the Kingdom if you're not first born into this world.

But, then how does that explain the evil one's access to the Throne in the book of Job? He wasn't "born of water."

But, if the "born of water" phrase means baptism, then how can I explain the robber on the cross?

Quote:

And Yeshua said to him, “Truly, I say to you today, you shall be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43

Do you have any thoughts on this?If you see any error in my logic, please point it out to me so I can study further!

~

Spurred on by John 3, We decided to follow HIM.

We went to the river today and after a simple prayer, immersed ourselves in HIS name and in HIS character.

It was a wonderful experience for our entire family.

k'tiva v'chatima tova!

~wow~

How do these relate?

At first glance, this week's portion seems a rather dry, jumbled together list of laws that have little in common with each other: the rules for taking a captive to wife, a rebellious son, finding a mother bird and chicks... In fact, of all 613 laws of the Torah, I think 74 are found in is portion!

The portion is called Ki Teitzei and means "When you go out"

Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Isaiah 54:1-10

Matthew 5:27-30

1 Corinthians 5:1-5

In reading the Deuteronomy section, I wondered how could these laws be related? After reading again.... slower... A pattern did begin to emerge. I saw that this portion seemed to relate to family, specifically, Jacob's family.

I'll only write about the first and last parts of the Deuteronomy portion.

The Beautiful Captive is found in Deuteronomy 21:11 and, as I understand it, Strong's might have it wrong here.

The word Stong's uses is ידדות Yediduth (H3033) "beloved," but when I attempt to read this portion in a Hebrew Torah, the word is actually יפת תאר Y'fat To'ar, and is the exact word used to describe Rachel back in Genesis 29:17. It means "of beautiful form." I do not understand why Strong's would use such a different word as the original Torah but using "beloved" does make me remember Rachel. According to a few different websites, Rachel is the only woman in the Torah described as Y'fat To'ar, although I haven't checked this out.

******Edited! I have found our hard copy of Strong's uses the correct translated Hebrew word, Y'fat To'ar. It is our electronic version of Strong's and our hard copy of Green's Interliner Bible that uses the incorrect word, Yediduth To'ar, very likely a "fat-finger" mistake since the correct word is H3303 and the mistake is H3033. This just shows me to be even more diligent in Bible study*******

Rachel was from a somewhat pagan family and she stole her father's idols as she was fleeing with Jacob, presumbly to secretely continue the pagan practices, or at least to hold on to that part of her past. The Portion says for the Captive, the Y'fat To'ar, to promise to follow the Torah. Perhaps it was because Jacob didn't have her sware to follow the right rulings of the Almighty that Rachel struggled during the birth of her second child, named him "Ben-oni" or "Son of My Sorrow" and died.

A few verses later in the portion are the laws regarding the Hated Wife, the Rebellous Son, and the rejection of the firstborn. This also seems to point back to Jacob and how he did what the Torah prohibits: He took the first-born rights away from Reuben, his firstborn son of the"hated" wife, Leah, and gave them to Joseph the first-born son of the beloved wife, Rachel. Reuben WAS a rebellious son. Remember what he did with Jacob's concubine?

I have wondered why the Biblical Patriarchs often didn't follow the ideals of the Torah. I realize Moses hadn't yet been given the Torah when many of these stories took place but the Torah's ethics were in place since Creation.

Here is a quote from a Jewish website that shows this dilemma:

This brings up an issue which is quite beyond the scope of this shiur (but will be addressed in the shiurim on B'resheetGenesis later this year) - namely, how we regard those actions of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs which seem to contradict Toraic norms or ethics. We may note, however, that S'forno does address this problem in our Parashah and notes that if a firstborn son is not worthy of that inheritance (which includes a double portion and a position of power in the estate), it may be withdrawn from him and granted to another brother. This is why, as S'forno points out, the verse in Divrei HaYamim notes that Re'uven's sin (Reuben) with Ya'akov's (Jacob) concubine, Bilhah, was the cause of his losing the B'khorah, (right of the firstborn).

~

The portion ends with a command to keep just weights and measures; to be fair in business dealings and reminds Israel to remember how they were treated by Amalek. Once Israel had rest, the commandment to blot out the rememberance of Amalek and not forget to do so is to be followed!

Even though Israel has yet to enter into rest from her enemies, I learned this week that in a small way, observant Jews are already following this command. When a Sofer, a scribe, is testing a Sofer quill for writing Torah pages, he will write out the name "Amalek" and then cross through the name and then blot it out.

But how does this Amalek section relate to the Torah Portion? Here again, is a quote from a Jewish website:

Much of our Parashah is devoted to inclusion and exclusion - who may marry into the Jewish people and who is excluded. One of the properties of exclusion is that it defines inclusion; i.e. by clarifying who may not enter, we begin to understand the unique qualities of those who may enter.

As we read in the genealogy of Esav (Esau), Amalek is a direct descendant of Ya'akov's brother. (B'resheet 36:12). Much as we maintain a powerful connection with family - even when they err (e.g. Onan), our lines are drawn around us and we can also define who is "not family". Although Amalek might be considered a "cousin", the Divine selection which firmly placed Ya'akov on the inside track - also pushed Esav out. His seed, though they may be genealogically related to us, are not our family.

This exclusion, as mentioned above, helps define the inclusion which is the undercurrent of the Parashah. Even if the sons and grandsons of Ya'akov sinned - even if we need to question grandfather Ya'akov's behavior - we are all still family with each other and we bear the responsibility that comes with that relationship.

The strong and uncompromising exclusion of Amalek helps to define the notion of Jewish inclusion for those who are truly of the family of B'nei Yisra'el (Sons of Israel) and Beit Ya'akov (house of Jacob).

This message runs underneath the explicit laws of family which form the basis of our Parashah and help us further understand our responsibilities towards each other - expanding on the second theme of Parashah R'eh

~

So how do the commandments to not take a mother bird or to put railing around your roof fit in? These commandments do show kindness, and tradition says that these are the least of the commandments. Was this what the Messiah was talking about in Matthew 5:19?

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

I think perhaps the Messiah was referring this portion of Ki Teiztei and he was saying ALL of the Torah is important and to be kept, even the "least of the commandments."

Much, much more study is needed on my part...

k'tiva v'chatima tova!

~wow~

Shabbat menu

We've had a few sick ones this week so this Shabbat will be our favorite type: Cozy at home, just our family in our PJ's all weekend!!!!

The tentative menu:
Shabbat Dinner
Challah
GF Challah
Red Truck Pinot Noir
onion mushroom & garlic soup
Shawarma
garden salad
raw vegetables
tziki

Shabbat Breakfast
fruit
GF cold cereal
vanilla rice milk

Shabbat Lunch
wraps w/ the dinner leftovers
soup

Shabbat treats
popcicles
dark chocolate squares
new books

supper
vegetable soup
GF cornbread

Prayer for restored health

I am ready for good health and wellness for our family.

It seems at least one person has been achey and sniffley since July.

I have been doiling out Vitamin C and Echinacha, onion soup and grapefruit seed extract, fortified orange juice and zinc, Sambucol and colloidal silver, Mullein and a whole host of teas and herbals.

I have been sending the children outside to soak up some sun, making them go on walks for the fresh air and exercise, and making sure we are all well-hydrated. I have been getting them to bed for plenty of rest. I have been cooking good, healthy meals.... Yet, we are still somewhat puny.

I keep telling myself:

"And let us not be weary in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Galatians 6:9

To paraphrase Moses, "Heal us now, Oh Father!"

I'm not sure what else I need to be doing to build up immunities and I'm afraid if I stop, this flu will hit us all with full force! Right now, Husband feels very poorly and my oldest daughter seems to be dragging.

I am praying for healing:

Heal us, oh Lord, and we shall be healed; save us, and we shall be saved,

for the one we praise is You.

Bring complete healing for all our sicknesses,

for, oh God, you are our faithful compassionate Healer and King.

Blessed are you, Lord, the healer of the sick of Israel.

~

And this is the confidence that we have in him,

that, if we ask any thing according to his will,

he heareth us:

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask,

we know that we have the petitions

that we desired of him.

1 John 5:14-15

~

K'tiva V'Chatima Tova!

~wow~

~K'tiva V'Chatima Tova!~

Tonight, Friday, August 29th, begins the first full Shabbat of the Sixth Hebrew month, or the 12th Jewish Civil month commonly known as Elul. This month is the beginning of a forty-day season of Teshuva (repentance, turning back) in preparation for the coming Biblical High Holy Days.

The Sixth month of Elul is a time to search the heart and draw close to the Father. The final ten days of this 40-day season are an intense period of soul searching and repentance between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur, known as the Days of Awe. The Aramaic word, "Elul" means "search:" Elul is a time of intense searching of our hearts and forgivness from God.

Several meaningful abbreviations based on acronyms of various Hebrew verses have been associated with Elul. One source says the name "Elul" is actually an Hebrew acronym for the Song of Solomon's Ani L'dodi V'dodi Li...

Song of Songs 6:3 I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine...

Or Deuteronomy's ...Et L'vavcha V'et L'vav...

Deu 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise

thine heart, and the heart of thy seed,

to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

Another acronym has to do with the burnt offerings and sin offerings, the Olah and the Chatat. These are referred to three times in the Torah.

Echad L'olah V'echad L'chatat

"One for a burnt offering (olah)

and one for a sin offering (chatat)"

It is customary to blow a Shofar every morning from the first day of the month, Rosh Chodesh Elul, to the last day of Elul. Here is a quote from a Jewish website that may help explain this custom:

According to tradition, Moshe (Moses) went up to Mount Sinai on Rosh Chodesh Elul to recieve the second set of tablets upon which the Ten Commandments were inscribed. Moshe then spent the next 40 days on the mountain, returning to the people on Yom Kippur. The first time Moshe went up to the mountain the people worshipped the Golden Calf because they miscalculated the 40 day period after which they expected Moshe to return. When Moshe did not come down at the appointed time, the people created the Golden Calf to lead them in his stead. Tradition teaches that when Moshe went up tot he mountain the second time, a shofar was sounded throughtout the encampment, so everyone would know exactly from when to begin counting the 40 days until his return.

Another custom is to recite Psalm 27 from Rosh Chodesh Elul until the middle of the Sukkot, 45 days later. Psalm 27 begins with:

"God is my light and my helper, whom shall I fear?"

The challenging spirtual work of Elul is made easier when we know that God is with us as we strive to draw closer to Him.

Another, rather sweet custom is to begin any correspondence with this blessing:

~K'tiva V'Chatima tova!~

"a good writing and sealing (of judgement)"

It means that the person should be written and sealed in the Book of Life for a good year.

~~~~~~

Tonight we held our monthly Shabbat meeting. Attendance was down due to illness but we still had a good time of study and fellowship. Our Study was based on Parashah #48, "Shoftim" or Judges:

Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

Isaiah 51:12-52:12

John 1:19-27

Acts 3:22-23

The menu was varied as everyone brought a dish. My contribution was Greek, vegetarian, and gluten-free!

Shabbat Dinner

Greek Salad

Dolmas

tziki

olives

raw vegetable platter

rice pilaf

Shabbat Breakfast

cold gluten-free cereals

vanilla rice milk

fruit

Shabbat Lunch

Mediterranean Lentil salad (cold)

fruit

Shabbat Snacks

fruit

fruit juice popcicles

nuts

supper

four bean soup w/ sour grape seed and cilantro

toasted brown rice pilaf

ice cream

Other special treats:

I downloaded three rental documentaries regarding the Ark of the Covenant and the Dead Sea Scrolls. They look very interesting. I also ordered a book on the Lord's Prayer by Nehemia Gordon, and a video from AHRC about the Aaronic Blessing so we'll have lots to watch and study about this Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom ve Shavua Tov!

~wow~