Menorah Lighting: Day Two

Today pay particular attention to the shamash, the candle which is in the middle and is used to light all the other candles.  (I've made it dance a little bit when the candles are lit to make it stand out.)  In Hebrew, the word "shamash" means "attendant" or "sexton."  On the menorah, the shamash is used to light all the other candles.  Today take time to reflect on ways you can be a "shamash" to the world around you.

On the second day of Hannukah, the following blessings are recited:

Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe,

Who sanctified us by His commandments,

and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanakkah.

Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe,

Who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.

♥.

Menorah Lighting: Day One

This is a special holiday gift to all my Jewish brothers and sisters.  Each day of Hanukkah I will be posting a movie made using my original artwork to show the lighting of the menorah.  Hannukah is the Festival of Lights.  The menorah is set near a window or a door so that all those who pass by on the outside, as well as those who live on the inside, can see it's lights and reflect on God's faithfulness and provision.

Hanukkah celebrates events that took place in Judea, which is now Israel, over 2,300 years ago.  Judea had a Syrian king named Antiochus who ordered the Jewish people to reject their faith and customs in order to worship Greek gods.  Judah Maccabee and his brothers formed an army in opposition to this, and after three years if fighting they were successful in driving out the Syrians from Judea and reclaiming the Temple in Jerusalem.  After cleaning the Greeks symbols and statues out of the Temple, they wanted to light the Eternal Light, which is present in every Jewish house of worship.  Only a tiny jug of oil was found, with only enough oil for one day.  The lamp was filled and lit and then a miracle occurred for it was able to stay lit, not for one day, but for eight days.

On the first night, the following blessings are  recited...

Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe,

Who sanctified us by His commandments,

and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanakkah.

Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe,

Who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.

Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe,

Who has kept us alive,

and has preserved us,

and enabled us to reach this time.

Music Monday: I am a Poor Boy Too

This has always been one of my favorite Christmas songs for highlighting the humble beginning of a king.  I hope you enjoy the version.

Sunday Sketch: Love Locks

Today's Sunday Sketch  is in celebration of one of  our chatters in the Friends in Healing community, Pea,  who has patiently been growing out her hair for two and a half years.  This past Thursday she washed, combed, and blew dry her waist length hair and made her way to the salon to make a wonderful donation to Locks of Love, an organization who's mission is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need.

What a loving and quite personal way to literally "give of yourself!"  I think of Pea and all the generous other donators who have spent years taking such good care of their hair with plans to donate to a child in need.  And today I think of the children, for whom these hair pieces may be one simple way of bringing back a part of themselves. ♥
 

 

Healing Art Challenge: Silent Night

How exciting it has been to see all the participation in our Healing Art Challenges.. as well the anticipation for the Gallery show each week and all of the connections being made in the Friends in Healing chatroom as well through the expressive arts.  I'm just jumping out of my cowgirlboots with joy to announce the first challenge in a series that is inspired by well known Christmas carols.  This week we will be reinterpreting "Silent Night."  So grab cameras, colored, pencils, computer keyboard.. whatever your artistic tool is and get busy.  Remember that pieces can be as literal or abstract, personal or general... it's all up to you!  And feel free to open up the idea of what art really is... cook, garden, construct.. whatever speaks to the theme in your way.

Please send your pieces to friendsinhealing at gmail.com no later than Thursday, December 2, 12 :00 pm CST time.  Please write "Healing Art Challenge: Silent Night" in the subject line.  Happy creating!

And if you can see this ittty bittty font.. I'm giving you a heads up this month.  The other challenges will be based on the songs "Oh Christmas Tree," "We Three Kings" and "Angels We Have Heard on High."  :)

And here's an extra little inspiration for you this week... Enjoy!