Shabbat and Feast Celebrations

         bIBLICAL fEASTS...

              Special Memories of  

                     the year

                                                       

                                                                               

                                                                        

                                                                                   

A Call To Repentance

Taken from a blog written a while back.

Awake Oh sleepers from your sleep,
Examine carefully your deeds.
Rememder G-D the blessed one;
Return to Him, Return at once!

Your losing sight of deeper truths,
while waisting time in vain pursuits;
That niether profit, never save -
Abandon now your evil ways.

The Shofar's sounding with all might,
Repent, Awake,and see the light.
Exceedingly it sounds and strong,
Forsake your ways for they are wrong.

Teshuva's urgent to draw nigh,
We must prepare to be His bride.
Repent, Return, and do your part,
And seek the L-RD with humble heart.

Commit yourself, to Him draw near,
The time is now; to this take heed.
Awake Oh sleepers from your sleep!
Awake Oh sleepers from your sleep!


By: MJ

Inspired by the Rosh Hashana theme of repentence, I wrote this poem this past weekend. I pray it motivates others to examine their walk with the Lord and make teshuva!

Shabbat: A Special Gift

Taken from another blog I wrote a while back.

Here comes a time when things come to a stop,
A precious day of beauty, love, and rest.
At last to rest I'll gladly do my best;
Without delay my routine I will drop.


Though toils and work of daily life abound,
Keeping me busy hours throughout the day;
Requiring time for study, work, and play
Of these today we'll find absent the sound



A special meal prepared just for this time,
Exquisite settings for this day of rest.
Fresh flowers arranged to look their very best.
No doubt this day will surely, brightly shine.


With praise and joy filling our home tonight,
The sweetest wine, and challah for our bread,
A white soft veil that’s placed upon my head;
I’ll light the candles to shine warm and bright.


The Sabbath day clearly given to man,
A blessing for His children all;
Who willingly take time to heed the call,
To accept this gift from our L-rd’s very hand.


A memorial reminding when the world was made,
A heavenly gift sent to mankind;
Six days of work and then time to unwind,
A shadow of eternity is this day.



For those embracing this sacred retreat,
A secret hidden from the common eyes;
That’s only seen by those that seek what’s wise.
The place where time and eternity meet!



By MJ



I wrote this poem to share and inspire those that both in reading the Holy Scriptures and seeking to live in obedience; have come to embrace the Sabbath Day as G-d’s appointed day of rest.



May you have a "SHABBAT SHALOM"!

Special Sukkot

This year we had a beautiful Sukkot celebration. Sukkot, known to many as the Feast of Tabernacles http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukkot is become a very important part of our faith and family life. We had such a pleasant and edifying time. During this G-D appointed times we somehow connect to our Creator in a way that is amazing. With every feast observed in joyful obedience, we agree to meet with Him in His appointed time which makes it so special. For those of us that can relate, it's meeting up with the one the heart longs for. A date with the one loved. Yes, there is already a relationship there to begin with. And we should always be connected to the source of our life, our G-D. Yet, when He specifically calls to meet with us and we are there, it strengthens our relationship with him in an unexplainable way. There's just a closeness that is just so beautiful.

To begin with we planned our Sukkah and built it ahead of time. The kids all helped decorating it and had fun doing it. We did different activities throughout the celebration. It was a good opportunity for reading Torah and learning more about the feast. We ate our meals there daily, and the kids even slept in it. My allergies didn't allow me to sleep there, but I would have loved to. One day we watched Ushpizin from our laptop. Another time we watched Sukkot related videos and teachings. The kids also had Sukkot coloring pages to work on. And one more thing that made this time so special, was having guest over and sharing a meal with them in our Sukkah. We were so blessed and edified. No doubt it will be a memory to cherish for the whole family. Blessed be the Name of the Most High. This was definitely "Hag Sameach" a happy holiday.

                                                building the Sukkah

                                             decorating the Sukkah

                                       kids enjoying some frozen treats in Sukkah

                                            reading Torah during a meal

                                                       waving Lulav

                                                 two of our guests

                                    we could see the moon through the roof

                                              our Sukkah lighting at night