A Peek at the New Torah Sisters Magazine - Passover Special Edition

Have you seen the latest issue of Torah Sisters Magazine? It is just beautiful and stuffed full of ideas for Passover and the Spring feasts! It is 56 pages of tangible encouragement, ideas, and inspiration - not just for the feasts, but for daily life as a follower of YHWH.

Even though it's called Torah Sisters, I think Hebrew men would also enjoy its content, and there are even a few activity pages for children. With more than fifteen contributors, topics in this issue include: recipes for Passover, spiritual housecleaning, DIY tzitzit holder, 10 Scripture verses on gardening, Torah portions list, Passover bucket list, Scripture poster for Passover, how to make kombucha, plans for deep cleaning your home, saving a bad homeschool day, Passover coloring pages and lots more.

I loved this piece from Kayte Abaffy about spring cleaning your diet. It had practical and doable advice for healthier eating habits, and I especially enjoyed how she tied that into the process of cleaning the leaven out of our homes before the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

The Torah portions page is just beautiful, and you can easily remove it from the magazine to put on your fridge or bulletin board or in your Bible. In this issue there is another poster, coloring pages, and my Passover Bucket List that you can also remove for real life use!

Can I just add that I even like the advertising in the magazine? I know that sounds crazy - most of the time when an article title lures me on the front of a magazine, I turn page after page of ads and eventually give up without finding what I actually wanted to see. That is definitely not the case here: there are only a few ads (maybe six in this issue?), and they are actually pertinent to your life as a believer! Advertisements are from companies selling things like Hebrew apparel, tzitzits, and resources for teaching Scripture to children. Yay!

There are lots of pictures of different ideas for Passover tablescapes. You will hear from a number of believers about how they celebrate this feast. It's so nice to have something tangible that is an inspiration for keeping Torah and celebrating the feasts. I think that it's fun and lighthearted make it easier for others to approach the Hebrew faith when they see it sticking out of your bag or in the break room at work or on your coffee table. It's a great way to start a conversation about faith!

You can head to the Torah Sisters website to order your copy of the magazine in time for Passover. It is also available as a PDF if a digital version would better suit your needs. Amy and Crystal have done a wonderful job of putting together a beautiful magazine that you will certainly enjoy. It would also make a great Passover gift for a friend.

Hebrew Shirts I'm Loving

So lately I've been loving a lot of different faith based tee shirts and I decided I had to share them with you. First of all, who doesn't love a good tee shirt? Comfy, easy, and modest for the win. But also, what a great way to share your faith! One of these designs could spark a great conversation, or it could plant a seed in a stranger that you pass. Even if you just wear this around the house, it's great to have a tangible reminder of your faith.

Written On Your Heart from Milk and Punny

It's All Tov from Chai Tide Apparel

Menorah Shirt from Messianic Marketplace

YHWH Astronaut Shirt from OneRuach

Is it Shabbat Yet from Mount Tabor Tees

Messiah is My Roots from Messianic Marketplace

Psalm 22:22 from Yah is Good

Mom Taught Me How to Keep Torah from Hebrew Way

Do you have a favorite tee shirt or other item that shares your faith?

light, easy, small printable

"It is a light, easy, small thing to bring back the tribes of Jacob and to restore Israel." -Isaiah 49:6

The wording from this verse is so lovely to me. What seems to me as an insurmountable problem - the lost tribes of Israel - is described as light, easy, and small for YHWH. No problem at all.

That goes for what you're dealing with too. Maybe you're having relationship frustrations with family members. Easy thing for YHWH to restore. Or maybe your health diagnosis isn't so great at the moment. That is a light matter for YHWH. If your situation with work is bad that is a small thing to YHWH. 

Light easy small. YHWH overcomes it all. If that's a reminder you need, here is a printable for you. Put it in a place you will see it often, and be reminded of hope.

Click here to download. This printable is free for your personal use.

Shavuot Provision: Celebrating Enough

Count seven weeks for yourself. Begin to count seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain (First Fruits), and you shall perform the Festival of Weeks to YHWH your Elohim, according to the voluntary offering from your hand, which you give as YHWH your Elohim blesses you. -Deuteronomy 16:9-10

Shauvot. Pentecost. The Feast of Weeks. First Fruits of the Wheat Harvest. The fourth of YHWH's set apart times. Scripture instructs us to count fifty days after First Fruits (this one of the barley harvest) during the Week of Unleavened Bread to arrive at this set apart time. The fifty days is where the name 'Pentecost' comes from with the Greek root of the word being fifty. So if you're familiar with Pentecost in Scripture, just know that it is another name for Shavuot.

What is this holy day?

Shavuot is a party for physical provision. Since it happens in the late Spring, there is joy that winter is over and we made it through the dangerous cold and lack of resources. The wheat was just harvested and there is enough. This was no small thing with wheat taking up a large portion of the Israelite's diet. Since most of us are largely withdrawn from the worries of the harvest we miss what a relief and joy it is to see the provision for us and our families for the next year. Shavuot is about celebrating that YHWH meets our needs. No matter the time and place we can all agree that YHWH's gift of provision is worth celebrating. Give thanks and be glad that your needs are met.

Did you know that this set apart time was kept in the New Testament? Yes, even after the resurrection and ascension of the Messiah, we see the Disciples counting the days diligently to the arrival of Shavuot (Acts 2:1). Indeed, when they received the Holy Spirit they were gathered together celebrating this set apart time of YHWH. And why were they doing this? Don't miss that the Messiah expressly instructed them to wait in Jerusalem to receive the Holy Spirit before heading out of town and country to spread the good news (Acts 1:4-5). With this instruction, Yahusha upheld a commandment of YHWH found in Deuteronomy 16:16 which instructs Israelite men to appear before YHWH at his set apart place on Shavuot.

As a side note, while many of us have heard it was just the twelve disciples in an upper room, Scripture says the a rushing mighty wind filled the house where they were. What house could this be? The Temple of course. In Hebrew this was called the Beit Hamikdash and beit means house in Hebrew. The Disciples were in the house. There is no way this was a family home because we know there were over 3,000 people present! (Acts 2:41) So the Disciples were keeping the commandment found in Deuteronomy even after the Messiah ascended into Heaven.

It's significant that YHWH poured out the Holy Spirit at a time where people were celebrating physical provision. When you rely on wheat for survival, it's worth celebrating and praising YHWH that he provides enough. And what about our needs for spiritual sustenance? By likening the need for physical nourishment we see how desperate our need is for the Holy Spirit in our lives. As the Israelites would have been starved without wheat, what would happen to us without the Holy Spirit? How would your life be if it lacked love, and joy, and peace, and faithfulness? It's a reminder of Moses' words, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of YHWH," (Deuteronomy 8:3) which is especially appropriate because the ten commandments were given at Shavuot as well.

Shavuot is a reminder that there is enough for our needs. Enough in the cupboard. Enough healing for all of us. Enough of the Holy Spirit to go around. Enough joy to overcome sorrow. Enough discernment to make good decisions. There is enough. And there is still more. He provides.

Who is Shavuot for?

Anyone who wants to give thanks for YHWH providing for them. Or anyone who thinks following the example of the Disciples and the instructions of Scripture to serve YHWH in this way. Or anyone looking to have more of the Holy Spirit in their life. While you can ask any day, there is certainly not a time more appropriate than Shavuot!

In Vayikra 23:17 we are instructed to wave two loaves of bread before YHWH. I like the symbolism of the two loaves because it signifies abundance and our needs being provided for. Not one but two. The two houses of Israel are also called to mind, and YHWH expects both the natural born Israelite and those grafted in to celebrate his set apart times. The animals coming two by two to Noah's ark and then multiplying to fill the earth is also symbolized by these two loaves, which YHWH will multiply to provide for us throughout the coming year. Of course the ten commandments were given on two tablets as well.

Shavuot is a time to not only celebrate the word of YHWH being given to us on tablets, but also having it written on our hearts. Once again, YHWH wants to pour out the Holy Spirit to give us a better understanding of his word, ability to walk in the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit, that many would come to him.

Verses to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit:

I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away. Because if I don't go away the Holy Spirit will not come to you. -John 16:7

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my ways and obey my commandments. -Ezekiel 36:26-27

Where the Spirit of YHWH is there is freedom. -2 Corinthians 3:17

So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts, how much more will the Father keep giving the Holy Spirit from Heaven to those who keep asking him. -Luke 11:13

To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for profiting, for to one is given a word of wisdom, to another a word of knowledge, to another belief, and to another gifts of healing, and to another operations of powers, and to another prophecy, to another discernment, to another kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues. -1 Corinthians 12:7-10

I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams will cover the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring and my blessings on your descendants. -Isaiah 44:3

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness, gentleness, and self control. -Galatians 5:22

I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. And also on the male servants and on the female servants I shall pour out my Spirit in those days. -Joel 2:28-29

I baptized you with water, but the Messiah will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. -Mark 1:8

Have a very happy Shavuot!

Related posts:

The Beginner's Guide to Shavuot
Seven Ways to Celebrate Shavuot
Shavuot Dessert Ideas

Eat to Remember - Passover Pictures

I hope everyone had a very special celebration of Passover, First Fruits, and Unleavened Bread! Were you able to attend a Seder or did you host one yourself? Here are a few pictures from my congregation's.

We don't have our own building so for Passover we rent a small building in an area park. It's really just a large empty space with a kitchen and bathrooms. Which is perfect for us.

Other than the tables and chairs, everything is brought in for Seder. We do this potluck style with everyone pitching in. One person brings the plates, another silverware, someone else the glasses. Everyone brings serving spoons, tablecloths, and a menorah. It's a fair amount of work for everyone but it's doable.

If you're hosting a Seder or Passover celebration I would definitely recommend getting everyone involved with various tasks throughout the evening, whether that's candle lighting, refilling cups, or washing dishes afterwards. Doing work side by side with someone is a much more significant experience than having a few people cater to everyone else. More fun too!

Flowers double as decor and favors with each household getting to take some home.

Biggest day of the year for the matzah pinata!

This is my body broken for you.

Here's this year's version of the famous one page Haggadah. Would you anyone be interested in being able to download it?

Passover menu:

Smoked lamb
Roasted root vegetable medley of sweet potatoes, potatoes, and beets

Rice and lentil pilaf

Einkorn matzah

Local greens with roasted chickpeas, green olives, and shallots

Hummus two ways: garlic and jalapeno cilantro

Avocado hard boiled eggs

Grain free tabbouli

Fresh vegetables

Roasted red pepper sauce

Tahini sauce

Apple cider vinaigrette

Baked charoset

"Eat to remember this all your life." -Deuteronomy 16:3

Go to Passover dessert: two kinds of cheesecake without crust, chocolate ganache, berries, and a raspberry meringue.

Happy Passover!

Beautiful Things for Passover

I wanted to share a few items to make your Passover even more beautiful this year. Decorate your home, add a special touch to your Seder table, or use as gifts. Whether you buy things for the feast days or make them yourself hopefully you have a few special things to help set apart these special times.

Seder Plate or Dishes from Turtle Lane Pottery - $57
Talk about a family heirloom piece!

Chag Sameach Matches from Tchotch Shop - $5
Use these to light up your menorah for the feasts.

Hello Sabbath Decal from Torah Sisters -$4.95
This would be a great gift for a friend!

He is Risen Shirt from Juliet Rose Boutique - $21.99
Wouldn't this to be great to wear on First Fruits? Heart eyes.

Menorah Challah Plate from Turtle Lane Pottery - $49
This could definitely work as a matzah plate, don't you think?

Dayenu Flags from Tchotch Shop - $10.50
If you're not familiar, Dayenu is a beautiful Passover song. The word translates as, "it would have been enough," and the song extols the many things YHWH has done for us. 

Celebrate Passover Wooden Sign from HeartnSaw - $12.99
Love the idea of decor you can use year after year.

Isaiah 51:5 Pouch from Kevin Ohlin - $15
A great depiction of the significance of the Passover season.

Lotzah Matzah Spatula from Modern Tribe - $6
Mine actually just broke and I am so bummed about it. A fun design for sure.

Go Feast Card Game from Rebekah Co - $25.95
Like a regular set of cards but the suits are menorah, torah, trumpets, and crowns.

Matzah Leggings from Shalom Squad -$36/$28
Um, these are amazing! They come in adult and kid sizes. :)


Check out Spring feast gift ideas for kids here!