Erev Shabbat settled with peace… the kind that radiates from deep within… the kind that bubbles up with hope and contentment–regardless of life’s circumstances or situation. More than the soft glow of candles lit the room, an incandescent illumination radiated from the hearts of the family and friends gathered at the table. The evening shone…
Category: Tradition
Sir Winston
Before the sun disappeared below the horizon of the Holy City and Shabbat officially began, we had a very interesting experience. We were invited to have coffee with an Arab family that lives just outside of Jerusalem. The husband is a one of the few Arab judges in Israel. The Arab culture is extremely hospitable,…
A Confession…
This photo was taken at the English Teapot Cafe in Agios Georgious village in the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus. I love the way it turned out–not so much for its photographic composition or execution, rather for its meaning and memory.
Dazzle Fade
The holiday dazzle is on a downward slop to fade… but here are few moments to remember.
Let There be Peace…
As an elementary-age student, I sang in the school and church choirs and enjoyed it very much. One of the songs we performed almost every holiday season is a classic: “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” That introspective child in me always pondered the words to the tunes we sang, and the lyrics to this song stirred…
That Gnawing Emptiness…
Here we are standing thigh-deep in glittering red and green–or in my case, the glittering white of the season. It’s not going away for a couple more weeks–it will only intensive. Love or loathe it, Christmas celebration is part of the cultural life-cycle that spins our immediate world. Lights, sparkle, candles, scents, ribbons, baking, colors–all of…
‘So Easy a Caveman Can Do It’
Off the charts with popularity, the Geico ad campaigns make everyone chuckle. My favorite is the caveman series, “So Easy a Caveman Can Do It.” Hebrew, one of the most ancient languages on the planet, is so easy a caveman can speak it. In fact, maybe they did.
Focus
These are the candles for our Sabbath meal last evening. They brightened our table and our eyes through the entire evening. Two candles burning against the night are symbolic of Sabbath rest and Jewish tradition.
haiku: sabbath peace
Art by Yoram Raanan sabbath peace settles flecks of gold, copper, and light pierce the dark of night
Bonnie Saul Wilks 