Go -- Thank You Hashem.

Go --

Thank You so much.. (and here I was hesitating a moment whether I should go to Jerusalem for the Torah class, kotel, hoping for a surprise... and then You gave me so much.. so much more.. in so many ways.. קודם שאצטרך להם. בנחת ולא בצער Thank You! )

and you could give us all.. infinitely more... if only we truly wanted... please help us want it.. to want to turn to You..

I promise I will always be grateful and sing your praise.. Please allow me through immense joy, gratitude and awe!

Rachel Imeinu's Yahrtzeit -

"A voice on high is heard, Rachel is weeping for her children and refuses to be consoled..."

Please, Merciful King, I have come today to pray at the grave of Rachel Imeinu. That the good deeds that she performed in her lifetime will be to my merit, and in the merit of her righteousness and her merits and the prayers that she prayed when she was barren. You heard her, so will You hear me. As it is written (Bereishit 30:22) "and Hashem remembered Rachel and He blessed her and He opened her womb." And in the merit of the goodness of her heart which she did with her sister Leah. So shall you remember for us her merits and her righteousness, for myself and all Your nation Israel. That our prayers will be accepted and that You will listen to our prayers, that which we ask of You. Fulfill all of our requests only for good, and remember us to redeem us in mercy. Open Your eyes and see our emptiness and the city which is called by Your name. Because we are contemptible in the eyes of the nations, who say "there is no hope". And if not for our sake, then act for Your sake.

Hashem promises..
So says Hashem, cease your crying for there is a reward for your actions, by the word of G-d they will return from enemy lands, and there is hope for your end, as is the word of G-d, and your children will return to their borders" Yirmiahu 31:11.

we will return home..

laughing pools quest - day 2

So I am addicted to downhill rollerblading. Once you start you just
can't stop.. you get addicted to this amazing feeling.. adrenaline
pumping.. you're on a total high!

So I went yesterday... and of course today too....
besides my mission was yet uncompleted.. I was on a search to find again the laughing pools I had once discovered..

Thank G-d I found them today...
and boy do they make you laugh..
The scenery was absolutely magnificent.. I swam in a
stream of cool water.. between two mountains .. the water.. flows
right into the dead sea.. It is a real special place – a breathtaking
oasis in the desert... and the waters.. oh so refreshing!! full of
amazing healthy minerals.. and gasses that make you feel so
reinvigorated and ecstatic! And radiating!!
The mud was the softest mud ever.. and felt so nice..
but soon later..
the sun was setting and the mosquitoes were tenaciously getting at me...
so I swam in the dead sea..(the saltiness keeps them away..) washed up with a cool water bottle..

and then headed towards the road.. where I got a ride right to where I
wanted to go – Rabbi Yitzchak Schwartz class @ nachlaot..
and then I got to go to another amazing class.. Rabbi Avraham Sutton.. wow! Zohar: Adam, Avraham, David Hamelech, Chaim Vital...
it's Hashem's way of getting the holy sparks here..
so G-d forbid... don't let any negativity.. bring you down a bit..
just rise higher.. shine..

Thank G-d
It was an awesome day!

In search of the laughing pools.. day 1

Hashem surprise me. Delight me.

ז חשון You answer us before we even call to you..
Rain in the desert!!! Wow!! The flashes!!

בשם ה' אלוקי ישראל מימיני מיכאל ומשמאלי גבריאל ומלפני אוריאל ומאחורי רפאל ועל ראשי שכינת קל

Pitch dark.. and for a few seconds the world lights up!!!!!!!!!! And then absolute darkness again…

Water so reinvigorating.. and the rain!!

Great skate.. the wind was perfect.. blowing in the right direction… I was going at a great speed.. Sections which I usually don't brake at all.. I needed to brake this time.. so that my speed.. remains under control..(70 kph..)

I had some races with a few trucks.. some I won.. (the red road sign..finish line) some I lost..(blue truck) I was almost winning one with a bus. A few seconds before the finish line.. the bus driver got so annoyed and forced me to get off the road..

Wow! The steep curve.. down to Tzomet Yericho.. is now even more curvy! Due to construction on the road.. the traffic is rerouted to a super downhill curve..

I waited a real long time for a ride.. I declined a few smoker rides.. I got there after sunset… too dark to go in search for the laughing pools. I didn't get to them.. but the great skate.. night swimming in the dead sea. Soft healing mud.. finding my cloths.. delightful refreshing rain.. in the deset.. and the amazing light flashes.. surely made me laugh.. and smile..

Thank You Hashem

And I got a ride back.. right to Simchat Shlomo right in time for a great class

לך לך

a staircase in the desert

It was cool - I found a staircase in the barren desert.
what's the staircase in the desert doing? I wonder.

I also came across a new water spring.. yay!

It was so nice to fall asleep on the boulders just above the beach... wow! the total quietness.. stillness.. just the relaxing sound of the water.. and the sun rays caressing you..

Thank you Hashem so much for vision.. I was floating for hours in the dead sea.. but when I wanted to get back the water was flowing against me.. pushing me further into the sea.. I tried swimming back with minimal splashing..but as the night was heading on.. the waters got louder and lots of salt when into my eyes.. and I couldn't see. BH I finally got to dry land and to a fresh water spring.. to flush my eyes.. with lots of water.. BH I can see.. wow!!! Thank you so so much Hashem for vision.. for being able to see! בא''ה פוקח עורים

Chodesh Tov - ראש חודש as Rabbi Yitzchak Schwartz was singing tonight ראש חדש.
We should all be blessed to be in the state of אלה תולדות נח -אלה - ) not being bound by yesterday.. but everyday.. serving Hashem on a higher consciousness - with Today's knowledge and experience of Hashem.. which should always be hopefully so much greater.. every day..
( ישמח ישראל - R Davide Lustigman @ Simchat Shlomo )

and don't worry... ...מבול turbulent waters of life.. מר חשון ....winter.... in hiding...
but there is a staircase in the desert..
it's there...

please please Hashem, open up our eyes to see it.. and to believe it..

please please don't blow your horn

I know you're excited that I am back.. but please please don't blow your horn.. Long distance Skating on the highway puts me in a very meditative mode.. don't worry I am totally aware of the road traffic.. and hear you coming along.. but you don't have to blast it... please please don't.

ולשוני תהגה צדקך כל היום תהלתך

hold on adventure junkies -

- real fun is coming ahead .. G-d willing.. It will be an amazing year!

bouquets of 13 roses challos!

Yay! I finished baking Yom Tov challos for Hoshana Raba and Simchat Torah!!

Vanilla cinnamon honey whole wheat challos .. with prayers...
ויהי נועם ה` אלקינו עלינו, ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו, ומעשה ידינו כוננהו"

each challah - a bouquet of - 13 Roses -!!

There are probably lots of kaballistic connections..., 13 petalled rose, הושענא יג מידות של רחמים,
כשושנה בין החוחים כן רעיתי בין הבנות , תורה

the last batch finally came out of the oven.. I tasted a small roll.. B"H yummy!!!

Erev Succos I baked Challos.. I was sure we'd have enough for the entire Chag.. B"H it was so yummy.. it's all gone.. we finished it all.. the first few days.. so I made more.. and got to make the bracha for separation of Challah again..

יהי רצון מלפניך, ה' אלהינו ואלהי אבותינו, שייבנה בית המקדש במהרה בימינו ותן חלקנו בתורתך. ושם נעבודך ביראה כימי עולם וכשנים קדמוניות.
וערבה לה' מנחת יהודה וירושלים כימי עולם וכשנים קדמוניות.

lovely scents and golden kiwis

Thank you Hashem..

for the golden kiwis..

and the lovely scent..

Divine embrace

שמאלו תחת ראשי וימינו תחבקני

Succos!

Mincha in my Succah - Thank You Hashem for embracing me with your divine embrace.

(also for the sweet lovely scent around...)