Friday, March 18, 2022

Purim

 


Tonight was the full moon Shabbat occurring closest to Purim, the holiday celebrated by the Jewish community in honour of God saving the Jews from destruction back before Jesus was born. Purim involves wine, dressing up in costumes, eating hamentashen (Haman's hat/pockets/ears—depending on your tradition/etymology)—jam-filled, triangle cookies, giving alms to the poor, and reading the book of Esther (cheering for Mordecai and jeering against Haman when their names were read).



Did I mention that people dress up? Not exactly in formal wear, but in our case, in order to dress up like Esther or Vashti, formals worked perfectly! These are my small group gals! (We're missing two...and I don't think we took photos of the fellows, oops.)





This work of art is Haman. That's Challah Haman, to you! He was made by Brienne and we thought he was fabulous! I ate his beard with butter. And his eyes are hard-boiled eggs to pluck out. How fearfully gruesome! 
 


There was much wine to go with the challah... Making it a true Shabbat!


 

All in all, a fun and fabulous evening was had... Especially by the boys, who all dressed up as superheroes and helped us with the booing and the hooraying whilst eating cookies. :) Who could possibly have more fun with that?



 

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Ash Wednesday IV





Ash and oil
mix in paint
across my forehead

A cross my
forehead boldly bears
stares at me
from the mirror

Dust of death
to wipe away
like life—brief

Unlike the bread,
the strong wine,
both now part
of my body
much like I'm
part of His

Life from death
Life swallowing up
sin's spectre grey
painting a cross
for Life Himself
to die upon. . .

Yet He holds
so much life
death is undone
like ash become
palm once again



___