Is Thanksgiving a Jewish Holiday?

Rabbi Eric Eisenkramer of the Fly Fishing Rabbi Blog asks that old age question... and like a good rabbi, he answers it too!



I love thanksgiving, and for all of you who celebrate it, I hope you have a very special holiday... remember for what you are thankful, so you can make this holiday a truly Holy Day.

And one of the things for which I am thankful, is an apparently endless supply of artists and artisans who make my life and my blog so easy. Today it is Naama Zamir... and one of her beautiful hamsot!

Help the Economy

It is a gift giving time of year here in the States... I am pretty motivated to buy things that are handmade or at least made by artists. These are the folks who are NOT getting bailouts from the U.S. government.

Last week I showed this from Doodlage... Today I found these cool paper cut calendars on her site. I am an admirer of the Tree of Life Motif... and so for the Secular Jew in your life who likes to use a January-December Calendar... this a way to sneak in a bit of Eitz Chaim...

Beshert...

Some things are just meant to be... finding your soul mate is one of those... and for me finding this doodle or JuDoodleAica from Doodlage on Etsy.
The Forward offers us a different look at beshert...

How sweet it is...

Oh my, is this Chanukah cake not just lovely? It is from Dahlia's Cakes, an Ann Arbor, Michigan based bakery. I wonder if Dahlia gives samples???

Can you tell that Chanukah is coming...

I love Chanukah... not because of the presents mind you, but because it is FUN, FUN, FUN!!!! I find this Hanukiah ingenious... BUT it insights flashbacks of December 10, 1982 dormitory fire at Cornell University in low rise #9. In brief let me say it was the first night of Chanukah (my first Chanukah away from home) and there was the unfortunate battle between the flimsy tin Hanukiah sent by my synagogue and my roommates Christmas tree. The Hanukiah won... And I was infamous across campus for a few months.


From Yael Friedman (for owhom I could not locate a website) This delicate pewter-metal blend gold Hanukiyah or Chanukah Menorah presented the neatest little DIY project that just couldn’t go wrong. A one-dimensional page of metal provided cut outs of semi-circles - each with laser cut decorations - that can be slotted together to form a fully functioning eight-plus-one candle holder. The details gave some light and delicacy to the metal material and the adornment was reminiscent of jewelry techniques. And the idea of being able to mail someone a flat DIY Menorah in time for the holidays? Opens a whole new world of holiday card options. Seen here are the separate parts and the metal page from which they are cutout.

Delta's Dreidel

Delta's Dreidel 2
Originally uploaded by garrettebsmith

The origin of Delta lies within this ball valve. Since 1954 the Delta ball valve has been an unseen yet integral part of what makes single handle faucets possible, but the times are a-changin'. New innovations have led to Delta's traditional ball valves to become obsolete leaving these relics of innovation in limbo. Delta's Dreidel repurposes a ball valve by taking advantage of its formal and material characteristics. The punched holes, necessary for the ball valve’s original purpose, act as symbols during play that coordinate with letters from the Hebrew alphabet: nun (a player does nothing), gimmel (a player takes the whole pot), hey (a player takes half of the pot) and shin (a player puts one piece into the pot). During each round a player puts one piece, traditionally coins, into the pot as one player spins at a time until the whole pot is won and a new round begins. It spins beautifully as a top, and with its augmented flat surfaces on the ball and spindle it lands perfectly in place to reveal the player's next move. See Delta's Dreidel at its best, in motion.

A Prayer for our Soldiers...

Sovereign of the Universe!

We invoke your blessings upon the members of our American military forces, those brave men and women whose courage and commitment to that for which this country stands protects us all.

Whether by air, land or sea, wherever their orders take them, we ask, dear God, that they be protected within your sheltering presence. Shield them from harm and from pain, assuage their loneliness, and sustain their faith in the face of the formidable enemies that they confront on a daily basis.

May all of their efforts be crowned with victory, and the assurance that we who depend on their courage appreciate and understand the great difficulty of their work.


Most of all, we pray what for all soldiers is the ultimate prayer- that they be privileged to return to the loving arms of their families and a grateful country safely, speedily, and in good health. Because of their courage, may we all be privileged to know and savor the blessings of true peace and security.

Amen.

(Rabbi Moe Kaprow, U.S. Navy)

This Shabbat art work adeptly stating SHALOM, or peace is from the scissors of Sharon Pazner, Tel Aviv-based artist whose work is amazing and intriguing.

Shabbat Shalom, dear reader!

Peace through art

Sometimes, as I scan the net (and galleries and art festivals) for work to feature here on JudaicaJournal, I happen upon an artist whose work takes my breath away. This rare visual artist is able to communicate through paper or stone or metal ideas, thoughts and beliefs better than a series of words or phrases. Today, I as I trapsed through the world wide web, I stumbled upon the work of Andi Arnovitz who was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1959. Forty years later she made Aliyah and it appears that she discovered her personal Muse in Eretz Yisrael.
Andi says of her work shown above and below: The Tehellim Belt series was a series I created in response to the series of violent suicide bombings that occur here in Israel. They were created to be the antithesis of a suicide belt: made of the ultimate Jewish tools: words, paper, string. Composed of dozens of small scrolls printed with Psalms, the belt is at once reminiscent of a belt strung with dynamite, but is in fact a piece created out of hopefulness and prayers for peace.

Such a doll

Rivkah Mizrahi is a doll maker... and she is proud to introduce us all to her newest creation, Tikvah. Doesn't she look like the Ideal Jewish Woman (of the 1800s, that is)?

Given that Tikvah means Hope, and given that we all can use a little bit of that every day, I thought I would remind us all of HaTikvah... the Israeli National Anthem. This version, sung by Barbra Streusand begins with an interview with Golda Meir.

Rest in peace

Last night, U.S. President Barak Obama stayed up late to welcome home the bodies of 18 Americans who were killed last week in Afghanistan. This war has been in existence nearly as long as my 9 year old son has been on this earth. Let us pray for the families of these men. Let us pray that this war will be long over before my sons will be old enough to join their ranks and risk their their lives as these brave souls did.

These Ner Tamids are from the studio of Claude Riedel of Minnesota.

Mezuzah Haiku

Touched by our fingertips

Mezuzah offers us peace

For our homes and hearts

Lev Shneiderman is a Russian born Israeli craftsman.

Tallit Haiku

Keep me safe and warm

Cover me L'dor v'dor

Blanket me with joy

A lovely and girl tallis... a beautiful gift for a bat mitzvah girl. From TantahLeah's Handmades

Shabbat Shalom!!!

In today's news...

Do you find yourself to be a bit ethnocentric? I know it only perpetuates stereotypes to think that Jews are smarter than others of other religions BUT when one looks at the list of nobel prize winners one cannot help but think that perhaps there is something there (slap me- I know this is a horridly racist thought). As a religion Jews are the most literate group because it is a mitzvah to study torah and talmud- which one cannot do if one cannot read.

That being said, today, the Nobel prize in chemistry was awarded. One of the three winners, Ada Yonath whose work is on ribosomes, is an Israeli woman- the eighth Israeli to win a Nobel Prize and the fourth woman to be awarded the chemistry prize.

What other members of the tribe have won the Nobel prize? The Israel Science and Technology Homepage allows you to search the winners of the various science prizes. Here are the winners of the literature prize and the peace prize.

Today's art work is that of Deborah Michael Langsam and is entitled "Me'irah's Quilt: Study of Torah is Equal to Them All ." Deborah is the epitome of the Renaissance Woman and “circuitous” might be the word to describe Deborah’s path to art. The colors, shapes, and textures of fungal spores led her to a doctorate in botany from Duke University and a career as a biologist at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. After twenty two years her attraction to the visual and tactile took a different turn … this time in the direction of textiles. Deborah creates contemporary wall-hangings and fiber art wearables. Her wall-hangings combine traditional quilting techniques and fabrics with an array of unique materials — photo transfers, beads, and found objects — to form original contemporary designs that play with color, texture, and light.

A Torah Haiku

Delivered at Mount

The Original in Stone

Lessons to follow

Five books perpetuate

A glorious history

To teach our children

Bonnie Yales of Jacksonville, FL first began to express her creativity through fiber arts. The very first project was 14 by 6 foot tapestry in Temple Isaiah in Lexington, MA. 92 people needlepointed 12 panels in a variety of stitching techniques under Bonnie’s supervision in a period of 2 years. Using this medium, she achieved an international reputation as a foremost designer of gobelin tapestry weaving, and is particularly well-known for her group projects executed in needlepoint.
Her works include wall hangings, torah mantles, ark curtains, chupahs, tallesim and other religious articles. Her work is displayed in hundreds of synagogues and institutions worldwide.

Sukkot in 51 Syllables

Solemn Yom Kippur

Is followed by joyousness

A week of Sukkot

The sukkah is up

Decorating has begun

Lulav? Etrog? Check!

We'll do some shaking

Some sitting and some eating

'Cause it's a mitzvah!

Ed Nickow from Torah In Haiku

The Seven Species Hamsa seen above is from the etsy site of Susie Lubell owner of Mishmish Studio.

Sukkot- a family affair!

Sukkot is such a family oriented holiday.... building the sukkah, decorating its walls and ceiling, dining together. For those who do not build a sukkah or don't have the room for a real one, hear is a craft project from the Jewish Deaf Community Center. This would be a lovely centerpiece on the dining table.

And speaking about dinner how about a sukkot recipe? Here is one for an etrog (citron) cake. Sounds yummy.

Asking for forgiveness

As many of you know, the only transgressions which can be forgiven during the High Holiday periods are those that are made against G'd. The sins we have made against our fellows must be forgiven by the victim. We must ask for forgivness. So dear reader, if I have done anything to hurt you, disappoint, offend or cause you ill, I ask your forgiveness.







From today's DailyHalacha.com


The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 606:1) writes that one does not earn atonement on Yom Kippur for offenses committed against other people unless he receives their forgiveness. Therefore, it is imperative for a person to approach those people whom he has wronged during the year to ask them forgiveness before Yom Kippur. This applies to both financial and verbal offenses. In the case of a financial offense, of course, one must also return the funds in question.



The Shulhan Aruch writes that if the victim does not grant forgiveness when the offender first approaches him, the offender should return to him, as many as three times. He then earns atonement even if the victim still refuses to forgive. As the Be’ur Halacha (commentary by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, 1839-1933) notes, it appears from the Shulhan Aruch’s presentation of this Halacha that a person should approach the victim accompanied by three people. Even when he approaches the victim for the first time, according to the Shulhan Aruch, he should bring three people along with him. The Rambam (Rabbi Moshe Maimonides, 1135-1204), however, on the basis of the Talmud Yerushalmi, maintains that when the offender approaches the victim for the first time he does not have to bring three people with him. If the victim refuses to forgive, then he should return as many as three times together with three other people. The Kaf Ha’haim (Rabbi Yaakov Haim Sofer, 1870-1939) writes that the accepted practice follows the Rambam’s view, and thus one is not required to bring three people the first time he approaches his fellow to request forgiveness.

The importance of requesting forgiveness from one’s fellow before Yom Kippur cannot be overstated. According to some opinions, one cannot even earn atonement for sins committed against God if he does not receive forgiveness from the people whom he had wronged. Furthermore, the Kaf Ha’haim writes that if a person does not seek his friend’s forgiveness before Yom Kippur, then the prosecuting angel comes before God and argues against this person. The angel contends that the person is not concerned about his sins, as evidenced by his unwillingness to ask for his fellow’s forgiveness, and therefore should not be granted atonement on Yom Kippur. One must therefore make every effort before Yom Kippur to make amends with all those whom he had wronged over the course of the year.

Finally, the Sages also emphasize the importance of granting forgiveness to others. The Rabbis teach that one should not be “cruel” by refusing to grant forgiveness to somebody who offended him. A person who willingly grants forgiveness to others will earn God’s forgiveness for whatever sins he may have committed.Summary: It is imperative to ask forgiveness before Yom Kippur from all those whom one had wronged during the year. If the individual refuses to forgive, then one should return to him with three people, as many as three more times, to request forgiveness. At that point, he need not ask forgiveness any further. It is proper for the victim to grant the offender forgiveness.

From the art of francisca_rodrigue z-lapuente on flickr.

Silent shofar

Am I the only reform Jew who is disappointed when Rosh Hashannah falls on Shabbat and we are prohibited from hearing the sound of the Shofar?

Well, luckily Yom Kippur is but a week away (and on a Monday) so we will hear its cry then!

Michelle Pulver Feldman also appear to love the sound of the shofar, as seen in this holiday greeting card she created entitled "Golden Light." Please check out her etsy site... she has lots of Jewish inspired items.

Shana Tova, my dearest readers...

may your year be as sweet as honey.

Felted Apple and Honey from Tania Stahl

Good night, Mary Travers

Mary Travers

1936-2009

Although not a Jew, the music of Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary influenced many of us who grew up in the Jewish youth movement, even years after the popularity of the trio began to wain. Listen to the music of PPM singing "Where have all the flowers gone" as you admire this lovely floral hamsa from Naama Zamir.

The Muppets Wish You A Shana Tova!

HERE

What Reform Jews don't Hear this time of year.

Traditionally, we Reform Jews observe only one day of Rosh Hashanah, not two. As a result our rabbis chose which Torah portion was the more important one to share with congregants, and as you know, that was the Akeidah, the binding of Isaac. What we miss, is the story of how Sarah has Abraham cast Hagar and their son out of the community and into the desert. As we know now, that casting out of Hagar led to the development of the Isalmic nation. The artwork above is that of Marc Chagal's depiction of Hagar in the desert.

Genesis 21:1-34 & Numbers 29:1-6

This translation was taken from the JPS Tanakh

Chapter 21
1 The Lord took note of Sarah as He had promised, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. 2 Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken. 3 Abraham gave his newborn son, whom Sarah had borne him, the name of Isaac. 4 And when his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him. 5 Now Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter; everyone who hears will laugh with me." 7 And she added,
"Who would have said to Abraham
That Sarah would suckle children!
Yet I have borne a son in his old age."

8 The child grew up and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

9 Sarah saw the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham playing. 10 She said to Abraham, "Cast out that slave-woman and her son, for the son of that slave shall not share in the inheritance with my son Isaac." 11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly, for it concerned a son of his. 12 But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed over the boy or your slave; whatever Sarah tells you, do as she says, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be continued for you. 13 As for the son of the slave-woman, I will make a nation of him, too, for he is your seed."

14 Early next morning Abraham took some bread and a skin of water, and gave them to Hagar. He placed them over her shoulder, together with the child, and sent her away. And she wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. 15 When the water was gone from the skin, she left the child under one of the bushes, 16 and went and sat down at a distance, a bowshot away; for she thought, "Let me not look on as the child dies." And sitting thus afar, she burst into tears.

17 God heard the cry of the boy, and an angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heeded the cry of the boy where he is. 18 Come, lift up the boy and hold him by the hand, for I will make a great nation of him." 19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water, and let the boy drink. 20 God was with the boy and he grew up; he dwelt in the wilderness and became a bowman. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol, chief of his troops, said to Abraham, "God is with you in everything that you do. 23 Therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my kith and kin, but will deal with me and with the land in which you have sojourned as loyally as I have dealt with you." 24 And Abraham said, "I swear it."

25 Then Abraham reproached Abimelech for the well of water which the servants of Abimelech had seized. 26 But Abimelech said, "I do not know who did this; you did not tell me, nor have I heard of it until today." 27 Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a pact. 28 Abraham then set seven ewes of the flock by themselves, 29 and Abimelech said to Abraham, "What mean these seven ewes which you have set apart?" 30 He replied, "You are to accept these seven ewes from me as proof that I dug this well." 31 Hence that place was called Beer-sheba, for there the two of them swore an oath. 32 When they had concluded the pact at Beer-sheba, Abimelech and Phicol, chief of his troops, departed and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 [Abraham] planted a tamarisk at Beer-sheba, and invoked there the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham resided in the land of the Philistines a long time.

May Their Memory Be A Blessing

In every Jewish place of worship the Ner Tamid, the Eternal Light, floats above the ark which holds our sacred text of Torah, the five books of Moses. It reminds us of the Light of Freedom always present, always illuminating our path, guiding our hearts- Susan Zalkind & Paul Hawkins

CONTACT

Are you trying to contact me. I can be emailed at
judaicajournal AT gmail DOT com

Did I find another Hamsa Genius????

In my internet surfing, I happened upon a polymer clay artist who was unknown to me prior to today. Inna is an Israeli. Currently a stay at home mom, her prior life was spent as an engineer. She and her children are crafters and they also appear to be avid bakers... I think I need to keep Inna among my favorites!

I lift up mine eyes...

A few months ago, a friend and I were chatting on the phone while he was waiting for a plane. I told him about my moderate fear of flying and my superstition: When ever the plane was taking off or landing I would recite the Shema- over and over again until I felt secure. I mentioned that there were some in my life who thought it was silly... This friend, further endeared himself to me when he told me that his mantra of choice was Esa Enai.



Susie Lubell of Mishmish Studio is inspired by this psalm as well

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth

More sweetness, more calories.

Have you been like me, procrastinating on the High Holiday and Jewish New Year Cards... maybe we can still get some from Lindsey, of the BlueCricket in the U.K. Aren't her original watercolor cards just perfect? If you like dreidels, check out those cards from her as well!

And from Rakusen (AKA the Recipes of Denise Phillips) an Apple Pomegranate Cake... My American readers... Sorry for not exchanging the metric for English, but here is a metric cooking conversion site.

450g eating apples, peeled, cored and chopped
1 pomegranate – remove outer skin and white pith
1 tablespoon vegetable oil – to grease tin
225g Self –raising flour
150g dark soft brown sugar
110g Rakusens margarine
2 eggs, beaten
100ml soya milk / single soya cream (Alpro)/ milk
2 tablespoons clear honey, warmed slightly
1 teaspoon ground mixed spice
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
Garnish: Icing sugar and ground cinnamon

Method
Pre-heat oven to 180°C/350°F/ Gas 4. Line and lightly oil a deep 18 cm (7 inch) round cake tin with non- stick baking parchment paper.
Cream together the butter, sugar, until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, a little at a time, beating constantly. Stir in the flour, cinnamon, spice, milk /soya milk / cream, baking powder and honey.
Add to the mixture, mixing thoroughly. Fold in the apples and pomegranate seeds so that the mixture is a soft dropping consistency.
Pour into the prepared cake tin.
Bake for 50 minutes until well risen and firm to the touch. Turn out on to a wire rack to cool.

Sweet new year is around the corner

Can it be that Rosh Hashanah is less than three weeks away... If you are like me, the perpetual Jewish mom, you are always looking for a new recipe or a something beautiful to display on your table for the holiday. Aren't these apple and honey dishese from Adi Sidler just SCRUMPTIOUS!!!

And are you thinking dessert? This recipe looks mighty lucious to me! I think the addition of the tea and the carrot will make it mighty yummy. It is from the blog Ilana-Davita.

3 large eggs (or 2 large eggs plus 2 egg whites)

1/2 cup canola oil1 cup honey

1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar

2 tsp pure vanilla extract or brandy

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp salt

3/4 cup cold tea (green tea is a great choice)

1/4 cup orange juice (preferably fresh)

2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and grated (about 1 cup grated)

1 medium carrot, grated (about 1/2 cup grated)

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 12-cup fluted tube pan with cooking spray.

2. In a food processor fitted with the steel blade, process the eggs, oil, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla extract for 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth and creamy. Don’t insert the pusher into the feed tube while processing.

3. Add the flours, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt to the processor bowl. Then add the tea and orange juice and process with several on/off pulses, just until combined. Add the grated apples and carrot and process with several quick on/off pulses, until combined.

4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 65 to 70 minutes or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool for 15 minutes before inverting the pan and unmolding the cake onto a serving plate.

206 calories per serving, 34.8 g carbohydrate, 1.8 g fiber, 3 g protein, 6.7 g fat (0.7 g saturated), 32 mg cholesterol, 142 mg sodium, 108 mg potassium, 1 mg iron, 45 mg calcium
Source: Norene’s Healthy Kitchen

Where is Noah when you need him?

It appears that much of the US, east of the Mississippi River is receiving a lot of rain. I know that is the case here in Atlanta.

Thinking about rain led to thoughts of floods. Thoughts of flood led to thoughts of Noah... and that led me to ETSY... and this adorable menorah from Poppytalk.

Have a Shabbat Shalom!!

One of my all time favorite quotes... now ART!

I used this quote in the 11th grade when running for vice president of the senior class (I lost despite my very impressive speech). Although I was referring to the work entailed in running a prom, Rabbi Tarfon in the Pirkei Avot (Sayings of the Fathers) was referring to the study of Torah and to the (Jewish) obligation to continue throughout one's life to "repair/perfect the world" (tikkun olam).

This lovely piece of original calligraphy is available from Jerise on etsy.

It is a dog's life...

I have friend whose sister is quite a dog lover... and to boot, she is Jewish! I saw this card and thought of her. The artist Deber Klein is a North Carolina resident, and while I don't believe what she believes I do think she is quite talented and has a great sense of humor!

Wouldn't this card be wonderful for the next Bark Mitzvah that you are attending?