This is a vegan recipe that elevates the soul in gooey-chewy delight! Let me know what you think if you try it, or questions!!
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Welcome to my YouTube debut with my first ever video of how to tie a scarf or two, or even eventually I'll do three scarves. There are so many wonderful videos that I felt silly doing it but so many people requested it so I used my webcam and made a video. Please forgive the low quality; I'm hoping that since I'm a newbie people will be kind. Shalom! You all have to listen to this study on the Beyond the Matrix show. What a blessing this show has been! Please have a listen if you have not before! Amazing video to answer the questions of WHY Jewish wives cover their hair! Torah Parsha this week, Va-era, has the Holy One sending Moshe and Aaron to Pharaoh to deal with. I've read these passages countless times but this time I noticed something and learned something I'd like to share with you. HaShem says to Mosheh to instruct Aaron to throw down his staff to produce the serpent contest with Pharaoh's magicians. Then Mosheh is told to instruct Aaron to put his staff in the Nile to be stricken. In the beginning these judgements are things that Pharaoh's magicians can duplicate such as the staff into a snake bit. But later, the plagues of frogs, pestilence, illness on the Egyptian livestock (but not the Israelite livestock as foretold), and the rest are things that the magicians CANNOT duplicate. I asked myself why would the most powerful being in and beyond creation need to prove any points; why not just strike down Pharaoh and free His people straight away? Certainly the Most High could if He so choose to do so. Then my answer lit up my mind. How else can the most powerful man in the world, ruling the most powerful nation of that era learn and acknowledge that the Infinite Creator is and always will be the only Mighty One. Also, think about the Isrealites. It says in this Torah Parsha that the people were so dismayed and so long enslaved that their minds were weary. Seeing these wonders gradually built their minds back up to experience the amazing reality of HaShem's power, love, and desire to bless them. Eventually all people on earth at one point or another come face to face with this reality. Perhaps not through frogs, boils, or rivers of blood, but we certainly will all experience the lessons of the Infinite and see His power. In this Parsha we learn that Mosheh was not magical, he was a messenger and Aaron was not magical but was the bearer of the rod, yet he himself was not the source of the wonders. Gradually we see parlor tricks like snakes and red rivers become more serious things like disease and death; the lesson is that there is only One who controls illness, life, and even death. If these types of plagues occurred to teach the most powerful nation of the world of that era, how much more will have to happen in our time for G-d to teach those with power today who abuse their abilities to duplicate the wonders of G-d, teaching the world to deny the existence and power of the Most High? Remember the Israelites were enslaved for four hundred years and yet they were not abandoned. We are not abandoned as believers and servants of G-d and maintain our belief, not letting our minds get weary and over burdened. We look to our Tanakh for hope and strength with example after example of the Infinite's faithful love and protection for all who seek and believe. Psalms 121 Troubles are the stepping stones to our destiny as is explained over the next two week’s Torah Parshiot Va-Yeshev and Mikkets. We see Joseph is the preferred son amongst his jealous brothers. Joseph had a special destiny which was brought about by very scary events. It must have been terrifying for him to have been thrown into a pit and sold to Ishmaelites to then be held in a prison. If Joseph had just kept to himself and not shared those visions which drove their brothers over the edge of jealousy into the realm of pure hate he may never have had to experience the strain and difficulty he had to deal with.
However, he did not control any of those things. He could not control the fact that his father preferred him or that his brothers hated feeling inferior to him. Though he had no control over these things he maintained his integrity and remained honest. Some people might hide their ability to have visions or interpret dreams because perhaps people will not like what you have to say. Joseph goes with the events as the come his way and though he does not understand the “why” destiny continues moving him in a certain direction. No matter what is happening in our lives, we really do not have 100% control over events that lead us to where we are today. We make goals and plan but most of us do not end up in our late 30s where we expected to be in our early 20s. Troubles might come upon us that we do not like, they might be troubles of money, troubles with health, or work problems. Whatever the problems we face, whatever doors close on us there is a greater thing at work. When we trust that and remained focused on the fact that there is a reason for it all, there is a place we are going that we need to be at a precise moment under specific circumstances for other amazing things to happen, we then can accept our circumstances. When we can accept our troubles as stepping stones to our destiny we can move forward with confidence instead of fear. There is a line in the move, Shakespeare in Love (cca. 1998) that applies very well to this concept. Two characters are discussing how things tend to just work out in the theatre business and the man Hugh Fennyman asks Philip Henslowe how does it work out? Mr Henslowe says, “I don’t know, it’s a mystery.” It’s comic but true! Somehow, some way things tend to just work themselves out and often we find once we get past the troubles we are in a much better place. After all, if Joseph had not traveled on his difficult path thrust upon him, many people in Egypt and surrounding areas, including his own family, would likely have starved to death during the famine that comes about in the next Parsha. So next time you are going through troubles, remember this story and that though you might not know how the mystery of it all works, just know that it does work. Stay positive, don’t panic, and walk along these stepping stones to your destiny. Our brief yet lovely trip to France included a walk on the Normandy sea coast, a visit to the Tropical Butterfly Museum in Honfleur as well as a trip to the local Paleospace Museum. The weather is cooling, the leaves are falling and Chanukkah is coming! This year for many Americans Chanukkah will come with a goble goble, transforming into Thanksgivukkah! No matter what, here are a few GREAT craft ideas you can do with the kids of all ages to get the home ready for this festive season. It's always nice to bring in some cheer as the days get shorter and the nights become longer. The darkness of the autumn is comforting in a way, a time for deep introspection and preparation for growth next spring. The Weekly Schmooze wrote a terrific article with ideas and links on celebrating this very rare occasion.
Please let me know if you have any other things to add to my list so we can share with everyone a little holiday cheer!! |