Candles lit on the eve of Shabbat and Jewish holidays.
GIVING AND RECEIVING
Shavuot is a time to remember when the Israelites stood at the base of Mount Sinai and this is a little reminder. This Torah shield, from 1826/1827, is a representation of the tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed. It would have been hung around the top of a Torah, thus the reason for the metal chain which extends from the top of the tablets.
Historically, the giving of the Torah happened at Mount Sinai on Shavuot and so it is a time to celebrate. For this reason, Shavuot is also called Hag Matan Torateinu (the Festival of the Giving of the Torah).
Also known as the Festival of Weeks, Shavuot is one of the three major festivals when the Israelites would have gone to Jerusalem to visit the Temple (the other two are Passover and Sukkot). Shavuot has both agricultural significance and historical significance. In terms of Shavuot’s agricultural significance, it was the time to bring the first fruits of the harvest to the Temple. Thus Shavuot is also called Hag ha-Bikkurim (the Festival of the First Fruit).
It is important to remember that Shavuot is called the “giving” of the Torah, rather then the “receiving” of the Torah. The sages explain that the first time the Torah was “given”. After that moment of “giving”, the Torah is constantly being “received” every single day. That is why the use of the term “giving” is key to understanding the holiday of Shavuot.
Torah Sheild, 1826/1827. Collection of Yeshiva University (1996.298).
On the anniversary….
On the anniversary of my entering the mikvah and immersing…on the day I became a Jew.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us concerning the immersion.
This monument was designed by Peter Eisenman, and, from what I understand, was inspired by the Jewish Cemetery in Prague.
MOONSHINE!! Okay its not, but I am from the South. So I’m of the opinion that anything in a Mason jar tastes better.
Fruit Infused Coconut Water
Hi there, Since you have liked one or two of my posts,I thought I would introduce myself (in case you ever hear of people needing wedding photography here on the west coast). My Tumblr page is modernweddings-dot-tumblr-dot-com/ and my proper site is realgoodweddings-dot-com (Tumblr is not allowing me to send this message directly from my wedding page) All the best, Beth H
HEY! Yes I love a good wedding. Actually I did the whole ULC thing and performed one last August. There are some openings this year in my town for JP. That to me is better choice. I live on the east coast, but I’ll let anyone know.
I did a random search for the tag “chuppah” didn’t realize they were all your photos. I’ll add you to my follow list so I cut out all the annoying middle men.
BTW…Thank you for writing me.
Judaica the right way
Some people feel the need to buy really elaborate and expensive items for their religious needs.
To me, this is the same as have a rosary with pearl beads and gold chain. You really miss the point.
The Talmud does say that ritual items should be beautiful and attractive. And since they are center of your worship and the center or a Jewish home—they should be beautiful and special. But that doesn’t mean you have to take out a second mortgage.
I do have a wonderful wool tallit and a beautiful pair of tefillin. They make me happy. My Shabbat Candlesticks are small ones—I don’t even know where I got them from. My first menorah was a pipe with holes drilled in it. I’ve since picked up an inexpensive but awesome one that uses olive oil. I made my tzedakah box using tin from the local 19th century museum. I also used tin to make travel Shabbat candle sticks.
To me…it just seems more real. To me it makes me feel closer to G-d. It’s just more Jewish.
