Dolores Jones

Do you like to pray for Israel on a continual basis? Would you like encouragement to be reminded to?  If you’re like me, prayer sometimes comes easily, other times not so easily, and sometimes it helps to have a reminder or inspiration. This is precisely why our Siddur is such a treasure!  It provides just such inspiration. And here is something new you might enjoy along these lines.

I’m a member of Jewish charitable and news organization called, “Unity Coalition of Israel” and they have recently teamed up with another Israeli organization called “American Friends of Ariel”,  who just launched a brand-new weekly prayer for Israel program using the Psalms.  Each week they create a short  D’rash for the Psalm and a video to accompany it.  They are in English, with beautiful scenes from The Land. They discuss the meaning of certain Hebrew words as well so for those of you who know a little Hebrew, or would like to, you will enjoy very much.  Plus they are 2 minutes....nice and short!

Check it out below. And please let me know what you think.   Shalom uv’rachah!

This week- Psalm 4 - Weekly Prayer for Israel
Prayer is an exercise in expanding our lives. As we open our hearts with prayer we are given an opportunity to reach far beyond what we previously allowed ourselves to imagine.  Praying for Israel is a perfect example of this. Whereas many may pray for individuals, people who pray for Israel are praying for the entire world. They’re looking at what’s happening today, and they’re connecting, far beyond themselves, into an expanse that constantly draws international and multi-faith interest. When we pray with Israel we are attaching ourselves to something very vast and very meaningful.

YouTube video – 2:15 minutes

In this four-part series How to Celebrate Hanukkah we've explained what Hanukkah is and the importance of the Menorah,  How to light the Menorah and the blessings that go along with the lighting. Today is all about the fun and games.

Fun and Games!

The traditional, fun game to play at Hanukkah is the Dreidel game! Judaism does not at all encourage gambling, but this is one gambling game that is enjoyed each year. Historically, during times of persecution when the study of Hebrew and Torah was forbidden, Jewish children would learn with a teacher anyway. When soldiers would investigate, they would spin a dreidel they kept handy and pretend to be playing a local game. As it was a game of chance involving money, they would have coins on the table too. However, the actual purpose for these was to pay their usually impoverished Hebrew teacher! Interestingly, the word Hanukkah and the Hebrew word for education, “hinukh”, have the same root letters. …

How To Celebrate HANUKKAH – pt 4Read More »

For the past two days, we've shared How to Celebrate Hanukkah. We've explained what Hanukkah is and the importance of the Menorah. Today we take a look at how to light the Menorah and the blessings that go along with the lighting.

1st Night

On the first night, place the shammash in position and one candle at the far right, as you face the hanukkiah. Light the shammash, recite the first two blessings, and use the shammash to light the first candle. Then say the third blessing and prayer, followed by a song – Ma’oz Tzur, or one of your choice. …

How To Celebrate HANUKKAH – pt. 3Read More »

Yesterday in How To Celebrate Hanukkah, Pt. 1, we talked about what Hanukkah is. Today we'll talk about the importance of the Menorah.

What Is a Hanukkah Menorah?

It’s a special 9 Branched Menorah- Called a Hanukkiah. Wide assortments of hanukkiahs, as well as candles, are available for purchase in many shops and on any Judaica website, or they are very simple to create at home. In all styles, the ninth candle, the shammash or servant candle, should be higher than the others or set slightly apart, to the front, middle or side. …

How To Celebrate HANUKKAH – pt. 2Read More »

For You light my lamp; the LORD my God illumines my darkness. (Psalm 18:28)

When one thinks of Hanukkah, what generally comes to mind, especially if you’re a child, is the lighting of many candles, gifts, fun games, sizzling latkes (grated potato pancakes) and mounds of big, sugarcoated, jelly, chocolate, filled doughnuts or sufganiyot. Not a bad beginning (except for the waistline), but these are merely the trimmings. Yeshua celebrated this “Feast of Dedication,” as it is also called (John 10:22). There is a profoundly rich spiritual core to the festival of Hanukkah; the fun  elements, however, help imprint the spiritual truths in the minds of the young and can certainly also be enjoyed by the not so young! …

How To Celebrate HANUKKAH – pt. 1Read More »