Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Snowy NY

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

some cleanup treasures







some old treasures I found during cleanup.

Monday, January 17, 2011

winter soup

Friday, January 14, 2011

Sing a Song!

by Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Seigelbaum
Devorah’s Song


Devorah, she judged Israel in this time…Come and see, two women of this world who said song and praise to G-d in a way that no man in the world ever did! Who were they? Devorah and Chana… (Zohar, Part three, Page 19/b). Rav Aviner explains that the highest level of speech is Shirah – song. Like the Song of the Sea, it conveys reality from an expansive, all encompassing, deepest perspective. The righteous King Chizkiyahu lost his opportunity to become the Mashiach because he didn’t recite Shirah (song) over the miraculous fall of the enemy of Israel – Sancheriv. His lack of song was due to his inability to raise himself above the events that took place in his time. Devorah preceded him, and taught us a model for praising Hashem for His miracles in the highest way of song. According to the Shelah, King Chizkiyahu actually did recite song, but only after the miracle of victory. When he was in danger, although he trusted Hashem completely, he refrained from singing to Hashem. Devorah’s song, on the other hand, was preemptive. She sang her song of triumph, prior to the actual victory, and through her emunah she brought about the miraculous victory. In the same way, the emunah of the Jewish women in Egypt brought about the redemption. They packed their drums because they trusted that Hashem would perform miracles for them, and they prepared to praise Him in song, music and dance. The song of Devorah contains secrets and multiple hints for hastening the redemption and the arrival of Mashiach. The phrase ביום ההוא – “on that day” (Shoftim 5:1), which Devorah mentioned in her song parallels the verse: “And Hashem will be King over all the earth: on that day Hashem will be one and His name one (Zechariah 14:9). This teaches us that reciting this song is a segulah (remedy) for the redemption both personal and for all of Israel.
Sing a Song!! It's going to be so so amazingly good and it is!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

fennel art








Sunday, January 09, 2011

sweet potato berry citrus salad





sweet potato chips baked in oven (water, oil, sea salt some seasoning - nutmeg, cumin, paprika)

lots of fresh herbs basil, parsley, scallions
sweet tangy red berries

dressing: oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, wine, sea salt.

very very tasty!

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

green goddess dressings with vegetables







I tried it with basil and with cilantro. I loved it both ways.

green goddess dressings:

avocado, oil, scallions, fresh herbs basil or cilantro, sea salt, wine vinegar, freshly squeezed lemon juice, garlic.


squash, raddish tops and more..

Sunday, January 02, 2011

Bet Hugla and sunrise at Yam Hamelach










I was looking for an adventure and wanted to spend Shabbos in the beautiful desert landscapes near Yam Hamelech -- Mitzpe Yericho, Kfar Adumim or somewhere in that area. I put a request on Shabbat.com (a wonderful website uniting Jews through love for Shabbos ) with a family in Kfar Adumim right above the spring Wadi Kelt but I didn’t get a reply. The previous week I got a ride from the hot springs to the cool sweet water springs at Yam Hamelech from a lovely woman name Sivan. She’s quite a kindred spirit. She’s a raw foodist and we share quite some other interests as well. She mentioned that she might check out Yishuv Chavat Hadat – just the name sounded like something I’d be interested too. So I called her up and wanted to ask her about Yishuv Hadat and whether she wanted to do Shabbos together somewhere.. She said she needs to be up North.. so I called up Yishuv Hadat and I spoke to a sweet woman Naomi. She said that she wont be at the Yishuv for Shabbat but they’re doing Shabbat in nature near Yericho.. and if I want I can join. I said great! And Thanked her. I didn’t really know where it was.. I didn’t get the name of the place straight…. Reception wasn’t too good on her cellphone and I heard the name of the place and the surrounding place incorrectly…I had no other idea where it was besides that it was somewhere near Jericho… I love the challenge of locating the place so I got to work.. Studied maps and researched online.. until I finally got it!! I put in all different keywords into the search engine.. until I finally put in נעמה and יריחו and one of the results was a post which had the answer to my search – the place was בית חוגלה I was psyched to visit it and meet the courageous woman Ornah.. who lives on her own in the desert at the place closest to Jericho.. so that there is a Jewish presence at this special sight near Jericho and Har Nevo. I made delicious onion nutmeg spelt challah for everyone.. It started raining.. but it wasn’t going to change my plan. I knew I had to be there. I took the bus to Jerusalem and then waited for a ride.. I got a ride to French Hill Junction. I then waited for a ride to Mitzpe or for someone heading to Yam Hamelech. It was close to Shabbos and didn’t have much time to spare.. I prayed to Hashem to send me a good ride.. I reminded myself of the time when I was in Maui.. I went to Paia to get coconut bliss for Shabbos… I had about 15 minute walk to the main Highway and from there about a 20 minute ride.. I didn’t want the ice cream to melt and prayed to Hashem to send me a ride quickly.. someone that would go directly to where I needed to go.. even on the same block would be nice.. and then a car stopped .. and it was my Shabbos host himself! B”H I didn’t wait too long at all.. a car stopped and guess where it was heading to בית חוגלה wow! That was beautiful Hashgacha Pratis. I had a beautiful Shabbos with about 20 other people. It was really nice and the food was delicious.. healthy and lots of organic produce that Aharon a farmer from Itamar shared with us..
Motzei Shabbos I got a ride to the hot springs at Yam Hamelech and camped out there.. It was really nice! B”H!