Why Miriam?

Why did Miriam die in this week's Parsha, Chukat?  She did not participate in any of  the rebellions against Rabbano Shel Olam or her little brother.  She did not carry on with the episode of the spies.  So why did she  not merit going to Erez Israel? Why?

What puzzles me about Parshat Behar is what happens to the non-Jewish slave that converts and become a MOT.  Does his slaves status change?  Can his owner prevent him from becoming a Jew as that would then change him from a slave to an indentured servant?

On a different note, my challah for the week were the # 7 and a shekel, however no one recognized the # 7 as such and they thought the shekel was a flying saucer.  I don't recall a flying saucer in either of this weeks Parshot.

And finally, reading the Chapter of Manna daily has really helped my Parnasah!  Several etsy sales (finally), a couple ketubot and a new bookkeeping client!

Almost every Shabbat, when I read the Parsha, I have questions that are not asked by Rashi or "Rav" Artscroll. Despite 12 years of Jewish Day Schools, some how my sons "never learned this Parsha" and when I have posed some of these questions to my Lor (local Orthodox Rabbi", the response has been "good questions. I don't have reliable answers to them, tho I can make stuff up". 


 For example:


1- All of Bnai Israel was called to stand before the פתח of the אוהל מועד- except for those in the first few rows, how were all these people suppose to see or hear anything?  

2- If all they were eating during the 40 years was manna, then they didn't have any chumetz at all, so Pesach wasn't a big deal.  And what did they make matza from?  This was the desert- no wheat.  Matza from manna?

Yesterday (Parshat Emor) I asked at the Shabbat table- the divorced daughter of a Kohen with kids who was married to a Levite or Israelite- what happens to her?  Artscroll says she maintains ties with her husbands family.  Sure, that's going to work out great for her - NOT.  And she can't go home to Mom and Dad and eat at their table.  So what happens to her?  

My husband suggested a write a blog poising these questions and maybe I will get some "not made up" answers.

Anyone out there have some answers fro me?

Januart 4, 2010

Finished my son Zvika and his bride Chaviva's ketubah. He found them an apartment to live in and now just needs to find a job. He has put in the effort, now someone just has to give him a chance.

This year went fast

It has been an entire year since I wrote in this blog. My oldest son is engaged to a lovely girl and I am making their ketubah. My husband and I took a trip to Israel. The first time in 26 years. For two week, I had trouble getting my bearings and that was just in Jerusalem. The country has grown so much. Building everywhere. But what most impressed us was the 3 hour free parking parking lot at the Mamilla Mall. To build it they had to go down 5 stories in rock. The parking deck is clean bright and spacious. Never seen anything like it. The tunnels at the kotel were very interesting. The best part of the whole trips was seeing friends that we have not seen in more than 26 years.

Brachot Achronot

I drew a filigree as the design. Behind the filigree I painted solid colors blending into each other around the design. There are 15 spaces for either small pictures or words. I am trying to decide whether to draw pictures of the 7 minim (wheat, barley, olives, dates, grapes, pomegranates and figs) twice and fill the last spot with some snacks, label the pictures or just callig the 7 minim and then name various snacks. I want to paint the filigree in silver, but I am out of silver gouache. I ordered some from John Neal, Bookkseller on Dec 19, but it has not arrived yet.

Brachot Achronot

I am now making a Brachot Achronot (blessings for after eating snacks of the 7 species, baked goods and grape products) which I hope to print and sell. I first roughed out the lettering on graph paper. I then cut and pasted the lettering on another piece of graph paper until I am satisfied with the way it looks. I decided to use a more elaborate design around it. I'm thinking of having the 7 species in the design. I drew the design on tracing paper.

I am using a heavy watercolor paper from my stash. I drew guide lines and wrote in the brachot with black suni ink. I then transferred the design to the paper. Next I used black ink to outline the design and then started painting using gouache.