EtsyChai

Purim

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 13:44:00 +0000

Purim is March 16, 2022 at sundown

By Linda Blatchford, EtsyChai team

Purim is one of the most popular Jewish holidays for families and children (of all ages). There is feasting and gladness, gift-giving and tzedakah (charity), revelry and drinking (in moderation).

Purim is a holiday based on the Book of Esther. Queen Esther of Persia bravely revealed her Jewish identify saving the Jews from extinction by the evil, Haman, adviser to the King. (Poo poo poo - his name is blotted out.)

Here are a few items by EtsyChai team members.

Purim by Adam Rhine of Hebrew Art

Purim Tags by Barb of BB Designs

Purim Earrings by Linda Blatchford

Purim Mask/Doodle Drawing

by Barb of BB Designs

Purim Hamentaschen Earrings by Linda B

Please visit these shops and share this post on social media.

Tu B'shevat Jewish New Year for Trees

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 01:53:00 +0000

Tu B'shevat Jewish New Year for Trees

Tu B'Shevat is the new year for the purpose of calculating the age of trees for tithing. See Lev. 19:23-25, which states that fruit from trees may not be eaten during the first three years. The fourth year's fruit is for G-d, and after that, you can eat the fruit. Each tree is considered to have aged one year as of Tu B'Shevat.

Tu B'Shevat is not mentioned in the Torah.

To celebrate The New Year for Trees, here are a few of my designs:

Tree of Life - Sterling Silver earrings

Sold Tree of Life Necklace Set (Custom Order)

In Israel, Tu B’Shevat marks the beginning of spring in Israel. Sustaining rains are at the peak of their power and the world responds, brimming with buds of fragrant life. To mark this moment, many Jews plant trees by contributing to the Jewish National Fund. (I get no compensation for using this link. It’s a wonderful way to contribute to the planet and plant trees in Israel?

What new fruit will you eat? Figs for me, this year.

Please post comments

Thanks,

Linda

Updated 1/4/22

Happy New Year 2019

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Sun, 30 Dec 2018 23:16:00 +0000

Hope that 2019 is a happy, healthy, successful New Year.

Have any New Year's resolutions? Please share.

Jewish High Holy Days

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 16:26:00 +0000

Jewish New Year

Jewish New Year (Rosh HaShanah) starts at sundown on Wed. Sept. 20.

The ten days starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur are commonly known as the Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim) or the Days of Repentance.

Rosh Hashana is the beginning of the High Holiday season.

Tree of Life Necklace

Rosh HaShana Challah Cover

Did you know that there are 5 names for Rosh HaShanah?

1. Rosh Hashana literally means "Head of the Year" because Rosh Hashana marks the point when we begin the new calendar year (e.g. from 5772 to 5773).
2. Yom Harat Olam means "The Birthday of the World."
3. Yom Hazikaron means "The Day of Remembering."
4. Yom Hadin means "The Day of Judgment."
5. Yom Teruah means "The Day of Sounding (the Shofar)." This is the actual name that the holiday is called in the Torah.*

The Jewish High Holidays mean:

We get a chance for teshuvah (return to G-d), turn over a new leaf and begin again doing the right thing.
We hear the shofar – a wake-up call to jostle us, to seriously taking stock of what we’ve done all year and make sure we are worthy of being written into the Book of Life. “God sits in judgment, deciding whether or not we have merited to be inscribed in the divine book of life.“ **
We eat apples dipped in honey to celebrate the sweetness of life.
The challah is round symbolizing the circle of life.

Shanah Tovah u’meitukah,
Happy and Sweet New Year!

Linda B.

Check out the items created by EtsyChai team members. Visit each shop!

Originally published in 2014.*Source: Jewish Treats
** Source: A Taste of Torah, by Rabbi Matthew Berkowitz

Linda Blatchford
Jewelry Designer
www.LinorStore.com
www.lindab142.etsy.com

Purim begins March 11 at sundown

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 21:30:00 +0000

What is Purim?

Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination.

In the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on its thirteenth day ... on the day that the enemies of the Jews were expected to prevail over them, it was turned about: the Jews prevailed over their adversaries. - Esther 9:1
And they gained relief on the fourteenth, making it a day of feasting and gladness. - Esther 9:17

[Mordecai instructed them] to observe them as days of feasting and gladness, and sending delicacies to one another, and gifts to the poor. - Esther 9:22

The story of Purim is told in the Biblical book of Esther. The heroes of the story are Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman living in Persia, and her cousin Mordecai, who raised her as if she were his daughter. Esther was taken to the house of Ahasuerus, King of Persia, to become part of his harem. King Ahasuerus loved Esther more than his other women and made Esther queen, but the king did not know that Esther was a Jew, because Mordecai told her not to reveal her identity.

Purim Mask Gift Tag

htt ps://www.etsy.com/listing/92307671

In 2017, the Fast of Esther is March 9, 2017 and Purim begins the evening of March 11 through March 12. All Jewish holidays begin at sundown the night before. The word "Purim" means "lots" and refers to the lottery that Haman used to choose the date for the massacre.

Purim Hamentaschen Earrings

The villain of the story is Haman, an arrogant, egotistical advisor to the king. Haman hated Mordecai because Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, so Haman plotted to destroy the Jewish people. In a speech that is all too familiar to Jews, Haman told the king, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your realm. Their laws are different from those of every other people's, and they do not observe the king's laws; therefore it is not befitting the king to tolerate them." Esther 3:8. The king gave the fate of the Jewish people to Haman, and Haman planned to exterminate all of the Jews.

Esther fasted for three days to prepare herself, then went into the king. He welcomed her. Later, she told him of Haman's plot against her people. The Jewish people were saved, and Haman was hanged on the gallows that had been prepared for Mordecai.

The book of Esther is unusual in that it is the only book of the Bible that does not contain the name of G-d. In fact, it includes virtually no reference to G-d. Mordecai makes a vague reference to the fact that the Jews will be saved by someone else, if not by Esther, but that is the closest the book comes to mentioning G-d. Thus, one important message that can be gained from the story is that G-d often works in ways that are not apparent, in ways that appear to be chance, coincidence or ordinary good luck.

The Purim holiday is preceded by a minor fast, the Fast of Esther, which commemorates Esther's three days of fasting in preparation for her meeting with the king. Purim is celebrated on the 14th day of Adar, which is usually in March. The 13th of Adar is the day that Haman chose for the extermination of the Jews, and the day that the Jews battled their enemies for their lives. On the day afterwards, the 14th, they celebrated their survival. In cities that were walled in the time of Joshua, Purim is celebrated on the 15th of the month, because the book of Esther says that in Shushan (a walled city), deliverance from the massacre was not complete until the next day. The 15th is referred to as Shushan Purim.

Purim Grager Earrings

The primary commandment related to Purim is to hear the reading of the book of Esther. The book of Esther is commonly known as the Megillah, which means scroll. Although there are five books of Jewish scripture that are properly referred to as megillahs (Esther, Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Lamentations), this is the one people usually mean when they speak of The Megillah. It is customary to boo, hiss, stamp feet and rattle gragers (noisemakers; see illustration) whenever the name of Haman is mentioned in the service. The purpose of this custom is to "blot out the name of Haman."

We are also commanded to eat, drink and be merry. According to the Talmud, a person is required to drink until he cannot tell the difference between "cursed be Haman" and "blessed be Mordecai," though opinions differ as to exactly how drunk that is. A person certainly should not become so drunk that he might violate other commandments or get seriously ill. In addition, recovering alcoholics or others who might suffer serious harm from alcohol are exempt from this obligation.

In addition, we are commanded to send out gifts of food or drink, and to make gifts to charity. The sending of gifts of food and drink is referred to as shalach manos (lit. sending out portions). Among Ashkenazic Jews, a common treat at this time of year is hamentaschen (lit. Haman's pockets). These triangular fruit-filled cookies are supposed to represent Haman's three-cornered hat.

Shalom Towel

It is customary to hold carnival-like celebrations on Purim, to perform plays and parodies, and to dress in costume. Americans sometimes refer to Purim as the Jewish Mardi Gras.

Researched by Linda Blatchford. This post was from my blog in 2009.

Team Changes

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Team changes are coming - membership requirements are changing.

We are currently not accepting new members.

I am looking for mavens to write blog posts, share on Facebook and ways to promote the team.

Please bear with us.

Linda Blatchford, Team Captain

Rosh HaShanah starts Oct 2, 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 09:30:00 +0000

Jewish New Year (Rosh HaShanah) starts at sundown on Sun., Oct 2.

The Jewish High Holidays mean:

We get a chance for teshuvah (return to G-d), turn over a new leaf and begin again doing the right thing.
We hear the shofar – a wake-up call to jostle us, to seriously taking stock of what we’ve done all year and make sure we are worthy of being written into the Book of Life. “God sits in judgment, deciding whether or not we have merited to be inscribed in the divine book of life.“ **
We eat apples dipped in honey to celebrate the sweetness of life.
The challah is round symbolizing the circle of life.

Shanah Tovah u’meitukah,

Happy and Sweet New Year!

Linda B.

Originally published at Linorstore.com

Linda Blatchford
Jewelry Designer
www.LinorStore.com
www.lindab142.etsy.com

noreply@blogger.com (tamdoll) — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 01:00:00 +0000

Thanks for visiting EtsyChai!

You can find us on the online at:

Check out what we have in stock on Etsy for the holidays.

Note: We are not accepting new members at this time.

I'm a new breast cancer survivor and can't devote the time to this right now.

Linda B

Team Captain.

Tu B'shevat Treasury

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 16:45:00 +0000

This lovely Treasury is by Gal Sews. Thanks, Gail.

Tu B"Shevat plants trees and nature

Cactus Crochet - Yarnius Fuzzicus BlazingNeedles $10.00	Peach Rose bottlecap necklace lindab142 $6.00	HANUKKAH GIRL GIFT - Jewish Daughters Blessing - Print - Hebrew English names - Jewish Judaica Art - Print - Girls room Wall Art - Chanukah AmitJudaicaArt $35.00
Red Ceramic Pomegranate Dish for Rosh Hashannah JewishHeirlooms $14.00	Geometric vase White ceramic with red heart decal Origami inspired Gift idea Contemporary style Home decor StudioArmadillo $79.00	Olive Branch Mezuzah - Contemporary Pewter Judaica emilyrosenfeld $40.00
Small Hamsa Magnet Daisies and waves CarmelTreasuries $4.90	Aqua and Pink Square Glass Tile Dome Tree of Life Pendant with Cluster of Swarovski Crystals anjalicreations $15.95	Israeli Flowers Earrings. Handmade Goldfield. Special pearls, Swarovski Crystal gems and lovely flowers. FREE GIFT with every purchase! JudaicaBySarah $44.00
Tulip fused glass platter FREE SHIPPING YafitGlass $119.00	Art Print / Tree of Life Mandala-Print Reproduction LauraBolterDesign $15.00	Mezuzah Cover - stoneware with warm jade green glaze ClayMystique $25.00
One Of A Kind Eshet Chail Woman of Valor Judaica Print OOAK AJteam PearlBrush $28.99	Cobalt blue ring, Cocktail ring, Blue rose ring adjustable, Something blue ring gift for bride rebekajewelry $67.00	Mini Cactus Pin Cushion GoofingOffSewing $8.00
Blessings: Pomegranate Collaged Rimon Bracha norunningwithscissor $40.00

Chanukah Treasuries

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 01:03:00 +0000

Here are the most recent Hanukkah Treasuries.

Hanukkah in Blue and Silver by GALSEWS

Hanukkah Gifts by LindaB

New Passover Treasury

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 22:07:00 +0000

Shop for Passover with the EtsyChai team.

Click here

Passover in My House in Maryland

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:30:00 +0000

By Gail of GalSews

I look forward to Passover with a little angst. I’m not the world’s greatest housekeeper and switching my house around is a pain. If I’m lucky, I can convince my younger son who boomeranged after college to haul the Passover stuff up from the basement and lug the regular stuff down. I must admit, I have never gone through my house with a feather looking for chametz, the food forbidden during Passover. Passover is an opportunity for me to run the self-cleaning oven. (Self-cleaning ovens are a great invention!)

Seder Plate by Yafit

Then there is the cooking. Lots of eggs during Passover. It’s a good thing that eggs are no longer blamed for high cholesterol because they are pretty important in getting baked goods to “rise” without yeast – a major no-no during the holiday. My matzo balls are almost always floaters. To help insure this, 1) I separate the eggs and whisk the whites until they are good and stiff. Then I add them to the Manishewitz Matzo Ball Mix (tip #2), let the mixture rest, make the batter into balls, plop the balls into boiling water, and trick 3, cover and don’t peek for the time specified on the package.

Matzoh Art by Eisner Art

Passover Parsley and Salt Water Bowls by Jewish Heirlooms

You know it is Passover in my house because the seder plate is no longer hanging on the dining room wall where it has been used as a decoration. It’s washed off and loaded with the items required for the seder – the bone for the Pascal lamb Israelites ate; the maror, horse radish, for the bitterness the Israelites experienced; the salt water, for their tears, into which we then dip the parsley or Romaine lettuce; the charoset, a mixture of apples, cinnamon and wine, for the bricks that were made for Pharoah, and, most important of all, the matzo, the bread of affliction, which did not have time to rest when the Israelites fled Egypt after the final plague of death to the first born.

Seder Plate Art by Adam Rhine

My family insists that we read the Haggadah, the book which tells the Passover story and orchestrates the seder, mostly in English. But when we do a blessing in Hebrew, we are not to double read it, by translating it! We’re now using a lovely Haggadah we purchased while in Israel from its compiler and illustrator, Rabbi Matthew Berkowitz. Rabbi Matt insisted that there’s nothing wrong with a Haggadah which has a wine stain or two on it. It shows its use.

Seder Plate Earrings by Linda B

Our main course for the Seder is either chicken or brisket. It’s always nice to have asparagus, as it is new in spring. My piece-de-resistance used to be a chocolate walnut torte (10 eggs), but it met with resistance with my family –no accounting for taste. So, now my favorite dessert is Blenheim apricots dipped in chocolate. Yum.

So that is how I prepare for and then do the Seder. On the seventh day of Passover, I attend synagogue and read the Shira haYom, the Song at the Sea of Reeds which reiterates how Pharoah’s army pursued the Israelites into the sea and was drowned.

Matzah Cover by Gail

After Passover, again I look to my son or husband to help switch things to their regular position.

Wishing you all a Happy Passover and “Next Year in Jerusalem.”

A Handmade Seder - Updated

noreply@blogger.com (GoofingOff) — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 09:00:00 +0000

In my home, the Passover Seder is a mix of old and new, vintage and handmade treasures used to help tell the story of freedom. The Haggadah we use was used at my parent's table, the Cup of Elijah is a magnificent cobalt blue treasure that was used at my grandparents' home. Each part, the matzoh cover, the Seder plate, the table clothes, have history, so setting up for a Seder in my home is easy, almost like bringing in family I haven't seen in a while. I get a bit thrown off guard when an invitation comes my way for a Seder at someone else's home. What do I bring? I can't go empty handed. Food? Like what? Maybe something very special...something handmade might be in order.

Passover Apron - I love the play on words

Clear Diamonds Glass Fused Seder Plate by Yafit Glass

This plate is so beautiful it might be hard to get it out of my house

Afikoman Bag by Renee's Needle I love this fabric....Renee is very talented with a needle.....hmm

This blue washing cup from Agru is wonderful....and I remember my dad using a bowl at the table....definitely could be stepped up a bit..

This vase from Studio Armadillo could be used to pour salt water. So pretty.

This wine cozy from Blazing Needles could do that, keep the wine cozy...We'll be drinking a bit of wine during the Seder....4 cups each. (I'll need to wear flats...)

These wine glass charms from Down To Earth Creations are wonderful....and a good idea, after all 4 cups each...Not that I'd lose track of my glass...

Maybe a kippah or 2 from Maybe Sew. Joanne makes team kippot...wonder if she can make some Gator kippot...Go Gators!!

So, what do you think? Not sure....Me neither. Lots of good choices, though, all befitting a friend's home. I'd better decide soon...Passover is approaching quick...April 14th.

Blog post by Eileen Patterson....Goofing Off Sewing Supplies and Miss Eileen Vintage...GoofingOff..it's what I do best.

Shopping for Pesah with EtsyChai

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 09:00:00 +0000

EtsyChai artisans make it easy for you to shop for Passover and other Judaica items. Buy a gift for your Passover Seder.

Check out this list and note your favorites. Some of the shops might be having a Passover special.

Pesah curated by EtsyChai Jewish Team on Etsy

Hag Sameach,

Linda B

Passover Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 13:58:00 +0000

By Linda B, EtsyChai Team Captain
The Jewish calendar is based on the lunar calendar – the early Israelites were an agricultural people, thus celebrations and observances revolved around planting, harvests and other lifecycle events.
Passover (Pesach) is the spring holiday observed in March or April depending on the lunar cycle. It is the celebration of freedom from being slaves in Egypt and relates to the Pharoah being hardhearted and not letting Moses’ people go. He even had his overseers make it harder for the Israelites to make the bricks and mortar, which are symbolic in the Passover Seder.
In 2014, it is celebrated the evening of April 14; it lasts for 8 days (outside of Israel). (All Jewish holidays begin at sundown). There are two Passover Seders held on the 1st and 2nd night of Passover. Seder means order and there is a guide to the meal, a Haggadah, with blessings and songs that the family and guests sing and read.

Matzah Plate	Passover Charm Bracelet

Seder Apron	Sewing Pattern for girl’s dresses

Important points:

We are to pass the story onto our children and others. It is customary to invite guests and non-Jews to enjoy the Passover meal and break “matzah” with them.
We are to remember our ancestors being slaves in Egypt and the miracle of the Red Sea parting.
During Passover, we do not eat bread or leavening of any kind to commemorate the Israelites not having time to escape Egypt before Pharoah changed his mind about setting the Israelites free.

I’ve just received more Passover charms, so I’ll be working on new jewelry designs. Also, I do take custom orders.
There’s so much more to the holiday, this is just a thumbnail view. Stay tuned for more Passover information.
See the EtsyChai team’s shops here

This post originally appeared on Linda’s Blog

Jewish Spring Holidays are Coming

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 16:03:00 +0000

New Spring Jewish Holidays Purim Passover curated by EtsyChai Jewish Team on Etsy

EtsyChai Team's Passover Event starts March 9 - so come back to see what our member shops are creating.

Hanukkah/Chanukah - What's the Mitzvah?

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 23:19:00 +0000

Happy Chanukah/Hanukkah from the EtsyChai Team

Posted by Linda Blatchford, Team Captain

Here's a quiz:
What is the primary mitzvah of Chanukah?

a) Eating potato latkes (potato pancakes)
b) Giving Chanukah gifts or gelt (money)
c) Publicizing the miracle of the oil that lasted 8 days
d) Playing Dreidel

The correct answer is C. While the customs of Chanukah include eating latkes, giving monetary and other gifts and playing dreidel, the primary mitzvah of Chanukah is to light the menorah and display the lights, thus publicizing the miracle when the oil in the menorah in the Holy Temple burned for eight days instead of one.

Menorah Earrings by Linda B

In order to fulfill this mitzvah of publicizing the miracle, the menorah/chanukiah should be lit where it can be seen by the public. Chanukah lights were originally lit only in the doorway of the home, opposite the mezuzah, facing the street. However, it is now common practice outside of Israel to place the menorah in a window facing the street.

Dreidel Menorah by Yafitglass

In order to make certain that the lights are visible, the menorah is lit after dusk. (There are two opinions regarding the correct time to light, so please consult your local rabbi.) On Friday evening, however, the menorah is lit before the Shabbat candles and extra oil (or longer candles) are used so that the Chanukah lights remain lit after nightfall.

If one is unable to light at the appropriate time, one may light later in the night, as long as there is someone else in the house who is awake (thus fulfilling the requirements of publicizing the miracle).

Kiddush Cup by April

If it is very late and no one is awake, one should light the menorah without the blessings.

If there are still people in the street or in the apartments of a facing building who would see the lit menorah, it is permitted to light and say the blessings.

If the menorah was not lit at all during the night, there is no "make-up" lighting during the day.

NOTE: Please be sure to review fire safety procedures with your family.

Zayde Mug Rug by Barb

This Jewish Treat was last posted on December 6, 2012.

Hanukkah or Chanukkah Gift Ideas from EtsyChai

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 00:58:00 +0000

Here are some terrific gift ideas. Please visit all the shops on the EtsyChai Jewish team.

Hanukkah by Linda B.

You can find all the member shops at https://www.etsy.com/teams/5818/etsychai-jewish-team/members

Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:51:00 +0000

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement is tonight and lasts through Saturday after sunset. Moses brought down the second set of tablets from Mt. Sinai on this day.

Jews around the world will gather in synagogues to hear the cantor sing Kol Nidre, whose melody will break your heart.

But the words of this song may be even stranger and more disturbing than its haunting melody. Kol Nidre is a legal declaration repudiating our vows. Just before the sunset that ushers in the Day of Atonement, the congregation stands before a symbolic court of law, represented by three Torahs held in the arms of community leaders. The cantor sings:

All vows and prohibitions and oaths …
that we may vow or swear or prohibit upon ourselves
from this Yom Kippur until the Yom Kippur that is coming upon us for goodness—
regarding all of them, we repudiate them.
All of them are undone, abandoned, cancelled, null and void, not in force, and not in effect.
Our vows are no longer vows, and our prohibitions are no longer prohibitions, and our oaths are no longer oaths.

In the oldest version of the declaration, dating from around 800 CE, the vows that are disavowed are those we have made in the past year, from last Yom Kippur to now. In the 12th century Rashi’s son-in-law changed the text to annul vows that we would make in the coming year. Either way, the main issue is the same: Beginning in the Bible and continuing in rabbinic literature, there is an awareness of the ease with which we forget our vows. This passage in Deuteronomy is poignant in its advice to the would-be vow-er:

A careful understanding of the language and imagery of the High Holidays provides a lens through which the power of Kol Nidre comes into focus. The vows that the song alludes to are akin to New Year’s resolutions; by deflecting the impulse to make such resolutions, Kol Nidre acts as an antidote to our unhelpful reliance on willpower as the path to self-improvement. It points us instead down the more productive road of strengthening our relationship with what we hold most dear.

***

Out of context and without the perspective of Jewish
By putting vows aside, Kol Nidre clears the path to different kind of self-improvement. Instead of making vows, we do teshuvah. The noun teshuvah comes from the Hebrew root shuv (shin-vav-bet)—to return—and it has two meanings. First, teshuvah is the act of returning, a coming-back. Second, a teshuvah is a comeback, a response, as in “I asked him a question and he came back with a teshuvah,” or “She told him she loved him and his teshuvah was a kiss.” On Yom Kippur, the goal is to become aware that we are standing in the presence of infinite grandeur and to offer the appropriate teshuvah, to come back with the right response. The High Holiday liturgy that is designed to evoke this response is strikingly short on promises of good behavior. Instead of putting vows in our mouths, what it does is try to place us inside a relationship that, once we are aware of it, we would never dream of betraying—a relationship to which we cannot but respond.

Posted by http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/112181/kol-nidre-conundrum

Jewish New Year Gifts from EtsyChai

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 21:34:00 +0000

There's still a few weeks to shop for Jewish gifts from the members of the EtsyChai team. Browse around the shops and contact the shop owners about delivery dates.

Sweet New Year

Color the High Holidays

Hamsas for the holidays

Shana Tovah from the EtsyChai team,

By Linda B.

Shop EtsyChai for the Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 02:41:00 +0000

Get ready with EtsyChai for the Jewish holidays and Chanukah shopping.

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 10:15:00 +0000

By Linda Blatchford, Team Captain

The members of the EtsyChai Team are pleased to share handmade Judaica with you before the Jewish New Year or Rosh HaShanah. As you know, the Jewish holidays are extremely early this year; Erev Rosh HaShanah is on Wed., Sept 4.

EtsyChai handmade artisans have a good supply of Judaica items ready for your personal and gift giving needs.

Shop with us now to make sure you get your Judaica gifts before yontiff.

Members with specials:

Lindab142.etsy.com – 15% off everything in shop. No coupon needed.

Kippah - Silver Wire with Silver Beads

Use coupon code ETSYCHAI.

Christine Lumbroso - 10% off
Sterling Silver Star of David Necklace

Meredith - 10% off
Pewter Hamsa Chryphase Unisex Necklace

There are 5 names for Rosh HasShanah:

Rosh Hashana literally means "Head of the Year" because Rosh Hashana marks the point when we begin the new calendar year (e.g. from 5772 to 5773).
Yom Harat Olam means "The Birthday of the World."
Yom Hazikaron means "The Day of Remembering."
Yom Hadin means "The Day of Judgment."
Yom Teruah means "The Day of Sounding (the Shofar)." This is the actual name that the holiday is called in the Torah.

Shanah Tovah u’meitukah,

Happy and Sweet New Year!

Linda Blatchford

Tisha B'av

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 01:51:00 +0000

This is from JTS

Tish’ah Be’Av, the day we mourn the destruction of the first and second Temples and many other tragedies of Jewish history. It is traditionally a complete fast—from sunset until sunset—with Yom Kippur the only other such fast day in the Jewish calendar. There is a Hasidic teaching that no halakhah concerning fasting on these days is needed, for “on the black fast of Tish’ah Be’Av, who could eat, and on the white fast of Yom Kippur, who needs to eat?”

The rituals of Tish’ah Be’Av guide us not merely into an understanding of destruction and mourning, but into a living emotional encounter and experience. The book of Lamentations opens with the onomatopoeic word “Eicha!”—a primal sound of utter despair and grief. It is the sound uttered by David as he hears of the death of his beloved Jonathan and Jonathan’s father, King Saul: “Eich!Naflu gibborim” (Aaach! How have the mighty fallen; II Sam. 1:27). The melodies of Tish’ah Be’Av are primal and haunting: the melodies of tears and desolation, the sounds of yearning for a world destroyed that will not return, and melodies that give soul to the kinot, the poems of lamentation and grief.

Tish’ah Be’Av recalls events that are historical, but it is not a day of history. Tish’ah Be’Av is anencounter with our history. We are increasingly conscious that Jewish history is far from an unfolding series of tragedies: there are many epochs of security and substance, with great flowerings of Jewish culture and learning. So perhaps it is fitting to invest this day each year with the memories of destruction. We recall not only the destruction of the Temples, but also the exile from Spain, and there are those (including my teacher Rabbi Dr. Louis Jacobs [z”l]) who suggest that the Shoah might be most fittingly commemorated on this day.

The poem Eli Tsiyon (Weep O Zion) is well known throughout Ashkenazi communities, and has a melody that has become the leitmotif for Tish’ah Be’Av. The liturgy of the Spanish and Portuguese communities includes a haunting poem called Aleichem Eidah Kedoshah (To you O holy Congregation I would ask these questions) with a refrain that echoes a different time: “Mah nishtanah halailah hazeh mikol haleilot”(Why is this night different from all other nights?). There is a poignant irony in this question of the lavishness of seder night being reprised on the night of the black fast. And yet, Tish’ah Be’Av is a powerful night, a time of learning and yearning, a time to ask questions.

May our journey into the memories of sorrow deepen the breadth of our lives, our understanding of our history, and our commitment to the future.

A lovely setting of Eli Tsiyon can be heard here. The text of the Iberian poem can be found here, and can be heard here, chanted by Hazzan Halfon Bengarroch of London’s Bevis Marks Synagogue.

Upcoming Jewish Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 13:06:00 +0000

Get ready for:

Tisha B'Av 7/15/13
Tisha B'Av primarily commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples, both of which were destroyed on the ninth of Av (the first by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E.; the second by the Romans in 70 C.E.).

Although this holiday is primarily meant to commemorate the destruction of the Temple, it is appropriate to consider on this day the many other tragedies of the Jewish people, many of which occurred on this day, most notably the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 and from England in 1290.

Star of David

Rosh Hashanah 9/4/13 = Jewish New Year - a time to start over

Gold and Clear Swarovski Crystal Kippah

Yom Kippur 9/13/13 = Day of Atonement - repentance and forgiveness

Hebrew/English Baby Blanket

Sukkot 9/18/13 On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Festival of Sukkot, seven days for the L-RD... on the eighth day, there shall be a holy convocation for you. -Leviticus 23:34

Sukkot Art

Shemini Atzeret 9/25/13 evening - Shemini Atzeret literally means "the assembly of the eighth (day)." Rabbinic literature explains the holiday this way: our Creator is like a host, who invites us as visitors for a limited time, but when the time comes for us to leave, He has enjoyed himself so much that He asks us to stay another day.

Hebrew Baby Onesie

Simchat Torah 9/26/13 evening - Simchat Torah means "Rejoicing in the Torah." This holiday marks the completion of the annual cycle of weekly Torah readings. Each week in synagogue we publicly read a few chapters from the Torah, starting with Genesis Ch. 1 and working our way around to Deuteronomy 34. On Simchat Torah, we read the last Torah portion, then proceed immediately to the first chapter of Genesis, reminding us that the Torah is a circle, and never ends.

Glass Tile Pendant

Hanukkah 11/27/13 evening - the miracle of the oil for the menorah lasting for 8 days & the battle that Judah fought to preserve Judaism.

Hanukkah Dreidel earrings

Visit the EtsyChai team members' shops to see more Jewish handmade creations.

Keep watching our blog for more information about Jewish holidays and handmade gifts.

Shavuot - What is this Holiday by Linda B.

noreply@blogger.com (Linda B) — Thu, 09 May 2013 01:02:00 +0000

Shavuot is the Hebrew word for “weeks” and refers to the Jewish festival marking the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, which occurs seven weeks after Passover. Shavuot, like many other Jewish holidays, began as an ancient agricultural festival that marked the end of the spring barley harvest and the beginning of the summer wheat harvest. In ancient times, Shavuot was a pilgrimage festival during which Israelites brought crop offerings to the Temple in Jerusalem. Today, it is a celebration of Torah, education, and actively choosing to participate in Jewish life.

Shavuot begins at sunset May 14, 2013 and lasts until nightfall May 16, 2013

"You shall count for yourselves -- from the day after the Shabbat, from the day when you bring the Omer of the waving -- seven Shabbats, they shall be complete. Until the day after the seventh sabbath you shall count, fifty days... You shall convoke on this very day -- there shall be a holy convocation for yourselves -- you shall do no laborious work; it is an eternal decree in your dwelling places for your generations." -Leviticus 21:15-16, 21

Torah Quote on Bar Mitzvah Card

Jews can no longer bring the first fruits of their harvest to the Temple in Jerusalem, so there are no particular mitzvot, or commandments, associated with Shavuot. There are, however, several rituals that are traditional components of celebrating the holiday.

Beaded Wire Kippah - Gold with White Pearls - 5"

Many people stay up all night studying Torah. This custom evolved from the story that says that when the Israelites were at Sinai, they overslept and had to be awakened by Moses. As a result, many modern Jews stay up all night to study and celebrate receiving the Torah.

These events, known as Tikkun Leil Shavuot, which literally means “Rectification for Shavuot Night,” are understood as the custom of studying with a community in order to re-experience standing at Mount Sinai, where the Jewish people received the Torah. The Tikkun Leil Shavuot was developed by 16th century mystics in Safed, who believed that by studying on Shavuot, they were symbolically preparing Israel to enter into a sacred relationship with God. Modern interpretations and versions of this practice include study on a wide range of topics.

Judaica Star of David Earrings

In recent years, Tikkunim have become extremely popular for all Israeli Jews. In Jerusalem, one can spend the whole night wandering from tikkun to tikkun, which are held in homes, synagogues, community centers, and educational institutions of every religious and ideological flavor. Most of these gatherings use the name, but ignore the traditional format. They simply are evenings of study for the sake of study and fellowship, and the various themes and topics they address are endless. (Sounds fun to me, doesn't it?)

Dichronic Glass Hamsa Necklace

It also is customary to eat dairy foods on Shavuot because Jewish tradition compares the words of Torah to the sweetness of milk and honey. Blintzes and cheesecake are among the popular foods to make and enjoy for the holiday.

At one small synagogue I belonged to, one woman always made cheesecake before the holiday, chocolate or pumpkin, and it was delicious. I'll always associate her cheesecake with the holiday. (She now lives in another state).

Red/Black Glass Flower Bowl

In the Congregation
Traditionally the Book of Ruth, part of the Bible section known as Writings, is read during services on Shavuot. Ruth is a young Moabite woman who married an Israelite man. When her husband died, she followed her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Israel and adopted the Jewish faith and people as her own. To feed herself and Naomi, she gleaned in the field of Boaz, a rich man. Boaz is taken with her, and eventually they marry. Among their descendents is the famed King David who built the first Temple.

Bat Mitzvah Original Painting

The theme of Ruth’s conversion to Judaism is central to this story. In Ruth 1:16–17, she states: “Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following after you. For wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. Thus and more may God do to me if anything but death parts me from you.” Ruth is often considered to be the archetype of all who “choose” or convert to Judaism—accepting the Torah, just as Jews accepted the Torah at Mt. Sinai—and this passage traditionally has been understood as her conversion statement.

The ceremony of Confirmation—for high school students who have continued their studies and Jewish involvement beyond b’nei mitzvah—often is held on or near Shavuot. Just as the Jewish people accepted the Torah on Shavuot, so do confirmands reaffirm their commitment to the covenant and adult Jewish life.

Hand Towel Embroidered with Star of David

At Home
It is customary to decorate ones home with greens and fresh flowers on Shavuot as a reminder of the spring harvest and the ancient ritual of bringing the first fruits to the Temple. Many Jews prepare and eat dairy foods—often cheesecake or blintzes—on Shavuot as a reminder of the sweetness of Torah. Often families gather together on the holiday to enjoy a meal that features such dishes.

By Linda Blatchford Linda's B Jewelry of LinorStore
Originally posted at LinorStore Blog

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