A Joyous Sukkot

Here are some photographs of our Sukkot celebration. We are truly enjoying ourselves and I hope you all are too.

                                                          Our Sukkah

Abby in the Sukkah

Fixing our bench 

Baby looking around

Our candle to keep mosquitoes out

Top view of candle

Seth and Judith

Matthew joins in

Working on some decorations

Abby making fruit decorations

Here they are

Magen David

Our kids bring pecans from our tree

Seth's big smile

Having a good time

Reaching for fruit

Hanging fruit baskets

Our light fixture

Paintings on canvas our kids made last year for our Sukkah

Hiding behind our curtains

Chavah

Playing around

We have a few more days to go, and memories to share. Chag Sukkot Sameach!

What if? Moshe and the Internet

Got to Love Pesach Cleaning!

Not enough time for a post, so instead here's a funny video...

The Children Get It: Passing Down our Beliefs to our Children

Pesach is now over, and we are now in the process of counting the Omer. My Pesach dishes have been put away and most things used put back into a storage container labeled with the feast's name with a black permanent marker. Much time and energy were invested in preparing for the feast to the last detail. New dishes were purchased which was a whole ordeal in itself, as I had to make several trips back to the store to get the right match and take back a set with a broken bowl. We changed our kitchen drapes to a gold and white combination for the special occasion, to go along with the table settings and tablecloths. Everything was beautiful and specially set apart for this occasion.

Although I do love to have beautifully table settings, this was not the main focus of this time. Our priority for all the prep was twofold. First of all, we wanted to make sure that all the chametz was destroyed and no trace of it left in our homes, in order to obey the command. To us this meant using separate dishes than the ones we normally use throughout the year in which we eat all manner of foods containing chametz. Next, we wanted to make it quite clear to our children of the importance of obeying the commandment and the special care and deliberate effort invested in this. When we begin our preparations, the children get the importance of the coming date. They remember all the detailed cleaning. They get why we will no longer be using our commonly used dishes for our daily meals. They get our diet for the next few days will be undergoing some major changes. Everything is different, and they get why. And if they are too young, it's an excellent opportunity for them to begin learning and storing up memories for future years.

This time becomes a time of anticipation. We actually look forward to this feast. Everyone enjoys eating the matzo bread, and the creative ways in which we adjust our daily meals. Using special dishes is also a constant reminder of the absence of chametz and its meaning. All the preparation and changes can be a good thing. It's a lesson and reminder of the biblical command to remove the leaven from our dwelling places. It's a blessing to obey HaShem's mitzvahs as a family. We see this feast not as a burden which is difficult to keep, but as a blessing that we may take part of in joyful obedience. As we finished our Seder and began picking up, we could hear our two-year-old singing in his sweetest baby voice the following chorus lines, "Dai, Da-ye-nu...Dai, Da-ye-nu...Dai, Da-ye-nu...Da-ye-nu, Da-ye-nu, Dayenu!" It was indeed a memorable feast.

The Urgent Truth About the Resurrection

Here’s one delayed blog post, which I was not able to add until now. With all the celebrations going on now and all the hype due to the celebration of Easter, I wanted to share some links with studies concerning the timing and dates of the resurrection.  For those that have not had the opportunity to study the subject, here is something that will hopefully be somewhat of a spark to encourage a deeper more thorough study in G-D’s Word. As mentioned on an earlier post, our family celebrated the Biblical Feast of Pesach, Passover as some may better know it. It is my sincere desire that others be encouraged and provoked to walk in truth even as Yeshua HaMoshiach did; as He observed and never taught contrary to the teachings in the Torah.  Growing up within a church setting myself I have realized, that many times the doctrinal beliefs and an understanding of Scripture can be something we leave to the experts and or leaders, when in truth we should question what is taught and study it for ourselves. If we were more diligent, in seeking the truth, there would be an amazing unity in the body of believers instead of all the differences, which constantly separate us. Remember  “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt,7:21),  this should be our  goal;  focusing on and seeking His perfect will. Be strong in the L-rd and dare question where you stand, and what you have believed!

Wednesday Crusifiction Timeline

The Day of Debt

The Cronology of Christ's Crusifixion & Resurrection

The Passover Story of the Four Sons...Brought to Life, G-dcast Style!

An Under the Table Haggadah!

Seders can get quite long and this can be difficult for the little ones. We like providing plenty of well illustrated books for the kids on the subject. There are many resources and ideas to implement. Some things I like personally are:


- Engaging my kids in the whole process and preparation (decorations are a favorite)
-Help preparing some of the dishes to be served
-Pesach coloring books
-Stickers
-Learning and singing a variety of Pesach songs (Seder Nights by Paul Zim is a favorite)
-Building mini-models of Pesach scenes for display during our Seder


Still wondering about the title? Well, If you have kids and long Seders here I present some book suggestions. One book is titled Uncle Eli's Passover Haggadah:(Special-for-Kids, Most-Fun-Ever, Under-the-Table).

The link I'm sharing with the book title, is actually for the web site to the online version, but the book can be found at Amazon.


Another book which happens to be one of my favorites is The Animated Haggadah by Rony Oren. Eye catching pictures for all ages makes this one very interesting. I really like all the clay characters.

One last suggestion is Passover: The Ultimate Sticker Book This one is learning and fun bundled up in one book. 

I hope this post was of some help. I wish you all a Hag Sameach!

Not neccesarily spring cleaning

We have begun our yearly routine, of deep cleaning. I don't necessarily clean for the sake of the spring tradition, though. The cleaning we'll be doing, around here, will be with the exclusive purpose of honoring G-d and His Word. Our goal is the complete removal, of chametz(anything containing leaven). These following weeks will be spent in intense deep cleaning. We'll be basically going through a detailed to-do-list of all the cleaning that is to be done around the house.We will be dusting every book, from our library, and cleaning our shelves carefully. The kitchen appliances will also be moved to clean behind them; as from time to time a cookie or other bread-like food may roll under it. Rugs will be washed; living and family room furniture vacuumed carefully. Our curtains will be washed and some walls may be painted at this time. The children's rooms will need some detailed cleaning, especially their closets which need to be reorganized. Usually my husband takes this time to check for any repairs or maintenance, that may need to be done as well. This usually winds up spilling over unto the yard and he'll end up having the kids cleaning up all sorts of stuff around our small property. The next few weeks will be the busiest, as now I have to divide my time, between driving my son to school (which keeps me many hours away from home) and working to get all my cleaning done in time for Pesach.
Here I am posting some links to these excellent sites with very helpful lists for the removal of any food products containing chametz. (Also included in the links other helpful sites on the topic of chametz).

http://oukosher.org/index.php/passover/article/which_foods_are_chametz/
http://www.betemunah.org/chametz.html
http://judaism.about.com/library/3_howto/ht_searchchametz.htm
http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/485958/jewish/Chametz-vs-Matzah.htm
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/117150/jewish/Cleaning-Checklist.htm
http://www.ka.org.au/index.php/Pesach_Guide/The_Mitzvah_of_Disposing_of_Chametz.html

http://www.suite101.com/content/traditional-forbidden-chametz--foods-on-pesach-a209687

Is Christianity Based on Anti-Christ Creeds?

Here is a post by a friend that I'm glad to share here.

Written by Cari Gillespie

Do you know that Christianity is based upon the anti-christ creeds? Read and weep.
In the book of Daniel 11, we read about anti-christ Antiocus Epiphanes. It set up a an image of Zeus, not called Peter by the Vatican, and for 3 years and 2 months, he continued to desecrate the Temple

 This is what he demanded of the people of Israel and the whole world, if they refused, they died. 1) thou shall PROFANE the sabbath 2) thou shall CHANGE the the set-apart times of YHWH (festivals) and laws (Torah) 3) thou shall set up idols... 4) thou shall EAT UNCLEAN animals 5) thou shall NOT circumcise 6) thou shall FORGET Torah
Does your denomination obey these commands of the anti-christ and do you think it's OK?
In the early 4th century AD, The Roman Emporer, Constantine, a Mythra (sun god) worshipper revived these laws and gave them new life. The early believers in Messiah were tortured and hung on crosses, set on fire before they were dead, etc. Here is what he demanded: The Constantine Creed: "I renounce all customs, rites, legalisms, unleavened breads, sacrifices of lambs of the Hebrews, and all the other feasts of the Hebrews, sacrifices, prayers, aspirations, purifications, sanctifications, and propitiations, and fasts and new moons, and Sabbaths and superstiitions and hymns and chants, and observances and synagogues, absolutely everything Jewish, every law (instruction), rite and custom and if afterwards I shall wish to deny and return to Jewish superstition, or shall be found eating with Jews, or feasting with them, or secretly conversing and condemning the "Christian religion," instead of openly confuting them and condemning their vain faith, then let the trembling of Cain and the leprosy of Gehazi cleave to me, as well as the legal punishments to which I acknowledge myself liable. And may I be an anthema in the world to come, and my my soul be set down with Satan and the devils."
(Stefano Assemani, Acta Sanctorium Martyrum Orientalium at Occidentalium, Vol. 1, Rome 1748, page 105) Furthermore, any follower of the "Jewish Messiah" (Yeshua HaMashiach) who wished to join this "holy community" was compelled to adopt a different set of rules and customs. Subsequently, special creeds were drafted, to which the "Christian" would have to swear as such:

"I accept all customs, rites, legalisms, and feasts of the ROMANS, sacrifices, prayers, purificaitons with water sanctifications by PONTIFUS MAXIMUS (high priests of Rome), propititations, and feasts, and the NEW sabbath "Sol Dei" (day of the sun god), all new chants and observances, and all the foods and drinks of the ROMANS. In other words, I absolutely accept everything ROMAN, every NEW law, rite and custom, of ROME and the NEW Roman religion."
All Protestants are daughters of this Roman church and all protestants obey these laws in defiance of the Word of The Father and The Son. Protestants are included as they still observe the holidays (Easter and Christmas) and sabbaths (Sunday) of Rome, as in "are you going to church tis Lord's Day?" The Lord being the sun god of Sunday.
What really is ironic, these laws were created by two anti-christs, Antiocus and Constantine and that is what people CHOOSE to live by today, totally going against The Father and the bible.
-Cari Gillespie

Bat Mitzvah Celebration

This post will be a short one since I'm ready to go to bed. I'm out of the house most of the week lately and haven't the time to write new posts. This post however, I did not want to put off. This past Shabbat we celebrated my daughter's Bat Mitzvah with our congregation, Zion. It was a memorable occasion as we were blessed to be surrounded by both friends and family. We didn't have much time to prepare due to the fact it wasn't during my daughter's birthday. Actually she talked to our Rabbi and planned it around three weeks ago. I drove her to Rabbi's on three weekends to talk and prepare for her portion. Two days before the big day I was told about a dance my nephew was preparing for this special day. He also asked my kids and me to join them in the dance. Now I'm not that great a dancer to begin with, but I think that I could have done somewhat better if I'd have had a little more time to practice (This you will see in the video posted).
Notwithstanding the short time of preparation and all, we had a joyful and unforgettable time rejoicing with our friends and family. We took many pictures and videos although the whole service is available to be viewed at Zion's website. The part I most enjoyed was hearing Chavah talking about how now she perceived and embraced Hashem and His Word. It actually brought tears to my face. There is just so much gratitude in my heart for Hashem's faithfulness, Baruch HaShem.

                                          music practice before the service

                                          Chavah with her cousin Caleb

                                          Music Team praying

                                          Rabbi watching Kimberly during practice

                                          Rabbi  Hall and Chavah

                                          My husband and I with our daughter

                                          Torah Service

                                          Chava leading the prayers

dancing during the celebration