Peeling a Pomegranate

I think I’ll add new presents each day of Hanukkah under this menorah — just like at home. One thing I promise, no six packs of socks!

Seventh Present

Happy Winter Solstice! Here’s a collection of Jewish winter solstice stories to light your way through this dark night

Thanks to Jason at Wild Hunt for posting this gorgeous picture!

Sixth Present

Unwrap a little Matisyahu — nothing like a hipster Hasid! New album comes out on December 26th.

Fifth Present

Fourth Present

Artist Shoshanna Bauer is on a mission to paint 50 paintings in 50 days. She painted this beautiful menorah on the first day of Chanukkah. What a lovely gift she gave us all!

Third Present
If you haven’t checked out Chanukkah in Story and Song — do! It’s a mixture of story and song that was produced by NPR a few years ago. Leonard Nimoy, yes that Leonard Nimoy, does the narration and the Western Wind Ensemble does the music. I have several Jewish holiday CDs produced by the Western Wind Ensemble with Mr. Nimoy’s narration — all are fantastic.

Second Present
And if you know any feminist, goddess Jews — Leonard Nimoy’s book Shekhinah is a great gift choice. Warning — more traditional Jews may be offended by it, so please be sure that the recipient will actually appreciate it. I love it, but my Mom (who gave it to me) was a bit confused by it, although not offended.

Technorati Tags: hannukah, chanukkah, gifts, menorah

Once we had The Temple where we made sacrifices of precious blood and grain.
Now we we have temples where people pray, but few truly give offerings.

The darkness. The darkness. The darkness.

Doesn’t the light always return?
 

The light, it does return?

It does return.
 

Hanukkah?

חנוכה
 

The lights.   We light them.   The light returns.

We light the lights to remember. We light the lights to re-dedicate the temple or The Temple?

Where is The Temple?
 

Isn’t She everywhere? Is She the שכינה, the Presence? Isn’t the Presence everywhere and in everything.

Yes
 

Then I re-dedicate The Temple here.

נס גדול היה שם

 

Yes, but I am here –פה

I r e a c h to others who feel as I do.   And one becomes many.   I becomes we.   We together, reclaim our inheritance.

And it begins again
 

Technorati Tags: hanukkah, chanukah, earth-based judaism, re-dedication, חנוכה