Ekev 5771: Fertility and Fidelity

This is the Parsha Cake Blogs' Ekev cake showing the all the good things with which the Israelites will be blessed when they enter the promised land.  2 questions:  Which verse does this refer to?  What are the species depicted?



We send our condolence to the families of those killed at the Indiana State Fair and prayers of healing to those who were injured.

Kedoshim 5771: The Holiness Code and Holy Threads

Some interesting articles about Shatnez can be found here:  http://www.jerusalemkoshernews.com/2011/01/shatnez-dr-pepper-so-misunderstood/

http://www.tabletmag.com/life-and-religion/39728/shatnez-shock/

I especially like the second article which gives the reason that wool and linen should not be mixed is because wool shrinks and linen does not shrink, makes one wonder if all of the biblical authors were actually hand spinners?  As I mention in the podcast, I think there are other reasons as well that we are supposed to refrain from mixing wool and linen.

I have also included some fun images from the world of Shatnez.  

Hayei Sarah 5771

I WON!  I won 5^th place in the novice spinning competition at the New York Sheep and Wool festival!

The Cave by Composer Steve Reich and Beryl Korot is a wonderful performance piece delving into the meaning and imagery of the Cave of Machepelah and its importance to our world today. http://www.stevereich.com.

Don’t forget to check out Forgotten Classics at:  hcforgottenclassics.blogspot.com to hear more from Robert Alter on the difficulties of biblical translation. 

You can now find Torah Threads at Itunes!

My Winning Skein of Yarn with its Ribbon!

Lech Lecha

Happy Birthday to me!  It was my birthday when I recorded this podcast….of course, when you listen to it…it will be over and I will simply be old.

Here is the link to the article about Jboomers.  http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new_york/boomers_needs_being_neglected_communitys_peril

You can find Jboomers on Facebook.  If you are interested in attending the Jboomers Klezmer Brunch at City Winery on Nov 21, send a note to Jboomers through facebook.

New York Sheep and Wool, Oct 16-17 in Rhinebeck, NY.  You can look for my skein entries in the novice category.  (1 skein is purple and pink, the other two are grey, pink and blue and very sparkly).  Maybe I’ll even win a ribbon or something!  The last time I entered an artistic type contest was when I was 10  or 11 years old!  (I won!)

http://www.sheepandwool.com/

Thank you Linda Hirschhorn for giving me permission to play her song “Sarah and Hagar” as performed by Vocolot on their Album Heart Beat.   Heart Beat is available at Itunes.  You can find more information about Linda and Vocolot by clicking on the links below.

http://www.lindahirschhorn.com/

http://www.vocolot.com/

Two Contests

Donation Drawing:

If you donate to Torah Threads during the month of October you can win either a personalized yad or a skein of handspun wool.

You can send a donation by clicking on the paypal link at torahthreads.blogspot.com

Essay

If you submit a short essay about the relationship between the children Ishmael and Isaac, your feelings about the pre-ordained strife mentioned in this week’s portion and/or the implications of the strife arising from the relationship of Sarah and Hagar, you are eligible to win a personalized yad or a skein of handspun wool.  I will read the winning essay on a show in early November.  Please submit your essays to me at:  torahthreads@gmail.com

                                 

Our Sponsor, Frisky Lamb Farm is now taking orders for fresh, 100% grass fed, humanely raised lamb on our 75 acre pesticide free farm.  If you live in the Binghamton area you can pick up the meat directly from the farm.  If you live in NY, we can make arrangements for delivery in early December.

The chart below shows relationship of Torah to other forms of Jewish Literature.  More on this in the coming weeks