Shabbat

Imagine driving through the hills and forests of Galilee, rocky hillsides to your right and left, in the last light of the day, the last hours before the Sabbath. You take a turn that is barely identifiable as anything, but you have been warned, so you are keeping your eyes peeled for the three [...]

And find out how to win a copy of Chana’s book below. Three Tips for Healthier Shabbat Meals. 1. Lighten up You can plan a delicious Shabbat meal around traditional foods that have been adapted to reduce fat and sugar. ...

  Shalom and Chag Sameach and Happy Passover!   As always, for those who wish to post, send an email to spiritualrenewal@shamash.org . If you want YOUR email left off, please say so, and I will remove it, before posting it. I will do the same with names.   If you are forwarding this to friends, and they wish to sign up, all they need do is to email listserv@shamash.org (no 'e' in serv) and write in the body, with nothing in the subject, 'SUBSCRIBE SPIRITUALRENEWAL your name." "Your name", can be an avatar of two words, or simply the word 'anonymous'. The computer needs something. This class from Hebrew College, outside of Boston, MA, USA, is 100% free to audit and participate in.   Ok. So let us begin.   All of us, in our lives, at one time or another,

כ'ו באדר א' תשס"חKeolwulf 27Interestingly, in further follow-up to previous entries discussing my astrological natal charts, I note that in both the Tropical Placidus and Sidereal Whole reckonings, 4 of the 8 Elemental Fire signs of my chart concentrate in the fifth house of the zodiac.On the fifth house of the zodiac (About Astrology):The Fifth House is commonly referred to as the House of Pleasure. Oftentimes, pleasure is the result of a creative act. The simple act of creating is, essentially, giving of oneself and making something -- making another? Yes, the Fifth House does speak to procreation and children, but it also addresses the creation of art and culture.Simply, the fifth house concerns pleasurable creative endeavors of Shechinah (see Shechinah & The Mystery Of Z

In case you’re wondering where the song recommendation for this Shabbat is, as is the ‘tradition’ of our household to post one every Shabbat, it has moved to another blog. Huh? I’ve decided to start up a new blog to document my Christian walk as accompanied by some of the best Christian music from when I first started listening to them till the present. So it will be so that from now on, all music recommendations for Shabbat will also be posted on the new blog, aptly named Sing To The LORD!. In addition, there’ll be regular posts featuring some of my favorite tunes and artistes, as well as my take on the Christian music scene, album reviews, etc. The blog was started just yesterday, but I’ve left off on the announcement till I’ve got some content posted up. Now that a good amount of content is in, and since it’s also Shabbat starting from sunset later, it’s a good day as any to let you know. Do pay the new blog a visit if you love m

I read an article some time ago (and therefore cannot remember where it was so please let me know if you’re the author), that speaks about how even though many don’t see a difference between observance of the Shabbat on Saturday or Sunday, there is indeed a difference. And I am writing about it tonight because it really got me thinking and seeing how true it is! (more…)

Lord Jesus, thou art Above all powers, above all kings, Above all nature and all created things. Above all wisdom and all the ways of man, You were here before the world began. Above all kingdoms, above all thrones. Above all wonders this world has ever known. Above all wealth and treasures of the earth, There’s no way to measure what you’re worth. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psp4ETP-I_0 1 Colossians 1:16 (KJV) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 1 Colossians 1:17 (KJV) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 1 Colossians 1:18 (KJV) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 1 Colossians 1:19 (KJV) For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 1 Colossia

Dear friends, have you read this? No, no, don’t click it and go away yet! Let me first tell you what it’s about. Pope Benedict XVI, at the end of his tour of Austria earlier this month, warned that the observance of Sunday worship was “not just a ‘precept’ to be casually adhered to, but a ‘necessity’ for all people.” Did you notice he said that Sunday worship was a “necessity for all people“? Does that send alarm bells ringing in your head? It did for me. (more…)

Shabbat shalom! Hope everyone has a relaxing Shabbat. Remember that on Sunday it is Yom Hashoah a day to remember all those who died in the Shoah (Holocaust).Kaddish (mourners prayer):"Glorified and sanctified be G-d's great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will.May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days,and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon;and say, Amen.May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.He who creates peace in His celestial heights,may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.BBC information:http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/juda

י"ט בניסן תשס"זRegarding preparation of the first batch of Feminine Clarity on Craftwork Of A Jewitch I wrote:I prepared the first trial batch of Feminine Clarity ritual purification oil tonight under the planetary influence of Saturn and a waning gibbous moon 90% full (see link above for recipe).Fifteen (יה) total drops of essential oil were used to make Feminine Clarity, where fifteen represents the concealed upper half of the Divine Name (the tetragrammaton). Fifteen has a digit sum of 6 (ו) and is brought down through gathering together the supplies and tools for making the blend into a focused location (my workspace) in time (last night). The act of actually making the blend further brings down feminine clarity into reality and forms the final hei (ה) of the tetragrammaton.The five drops of cinnamon bark oil were quite by accident (the original intent was to use one drop) but I let the "accident" remain unaltered instead of adding other ingredients to make original

I love the Kabbalat Shabbat (recieving the Sabbath) service despite the fact that it is actually a modern invention being first introduced by Kabbalists in the 16th century. It is so mystical and musical and express the oneg (joy) of Shabbat. One of the songs in the service L'cha Dodi ('Come my beloved') which compares Shabbat with a bride was written by Rabbi Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz and evokes images of the Kabbalists going out in to the field. This is my personal favourite and can be fitted to loads of different melodies. I like the bit when everyone turns round as if to greet the bride."R. Hanina robed himself and stood at sunset of Sabbath eve [and] exclaimed, ‘Come and let us go forth to welcome the queen Sabbath.'"(Talmud, Shabbat 119a)Visit:http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Shabbat_Blessings/Kabbalat_Shabbat/kabbalat_shabbat.html

As is my custom on Erev Shabbos, here’s a beautiful Jewish Sephardic Shabbat song: Shabbat Kodesh. Enjoy your Shabbos! (One of these days, I’ll make up my mind on the Sabbath’s spelling, but till then: Gut Shabbos to the Sephardim and Shabbat Shalom to the Ashkenazim) [See post... [ visit A Jewish Blog to continue reading ]

El Al apologizes for flying on Shabbat after the Orthodox Jewish community was outraged. (YnetNews) Five days after an El Al aircraft landed on Shabbat, the company has issued an apology to the Orthodox religious community for the incident. The company took out an advertisement in the two most... [ visit A Jewish Blog to continue reading ]

Israeli MKs discuss moving soccer games that are played on Shabbat. This would be a great move. MKs against Shabbat soccer in Israel Saturday afternoon soccer could become a thing of the past as Knesset Members presented Israel Football Association (IFA) heads with a petition to move games to... [ visit A Jewish Blog to continue reading ]

Here is the first formal Friday evening shabbat ritual I have written for the solitary Jewitch. It may tweaked and refined as time goes by. This is the basic format from which I will build:1. Take a bath or shower. Visualize washing away physical, emotional and spiritual impurity, letting all negativity flow down the drain with the water. Dress in ritual attire. Put on Jewitch pentacle (pentacle + magen David), saying:Blessed is this Unity. Her Glorious Name is One. So mote it be.2. "Sweep" (counterclockwise-"widdershins" and out) ritual space with besom. Visualize removing all negative energy from it, saying:From this place, I banish all negativity and evil. So mote it be.3. Perform ritual bath. Add herbs and oil of choice [1] to ritual bowl containing warm water.Relax. Breathe. Stand facing north (Gevurah, fire) in front of bath bowl. Purify and consecrate the water mixture, placing tip of athame into the water, saying:Out from you I cast all that is impure and unclean. Blessed are y