​“But on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered the produce of the land, you are to observe the festival of Adonai seven days; the first day is to be a complete rest and the eighth day is to be a complete rest. On the first day you are to take choice fruit, palm fronds, thick branches and river-willows, and celebrate in the presence of Adonai your God for seven days. You are to observe it as a feast to Adonai seven days in the year; it is a permanent regulation, generation after generation; keep it in the seventh month. You are to live in sukkah for seven days; every citizen of Isra’el is to live in a sukkah …” - Leviticus 23:39-42, CJB
 
This week is Thanksgiving!  
 
Did you know that before the Pilgrims came over on the Mayflower that they spent 12 years in Holland living amongst the Jewish people?  While living there, the Pilgrims learned much about the Jewish traditions and holidays and one of these holidays being Sukkot.  It is said that when the Pilgrims came to Massachusetts, that they brought those traditions with them.  
 
During Sukkot Jewish people will build their sukkah’s.  These dwellings will have palm fronds as roofs so the sky can be seen.  For 7 days they celebrate inside eating the harvest they reaped, with family, friends and neighbors.  
 
The pilgrims celebrated their first harvest outdoors beneath the trees for 3 days.  Their Indian neighbors who taught them much, were also a part of this celebration.  Sounds a lot like the one new man.  Like Sukkot, this celebration took place at different times during the Fall.  Although, by the Hebrew calendar, all Jewish holidays are the same time of year.  Through time many picked up on this tradition.  
 
George Washington liked this tradition, so on Nov. 26, 1789, for one year only, he declared a Thanksgiving holiday for everyone.  Many years later, Abraham Lincoln would declare Thanksgiving to be a national holiday.  Theodore Roosevelt would later set Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of the month of November.  
 
Like Sukkot, Thanksgiving is about family, friends and neighbors coming together to celebrate life.  It’s about people of different backgrounds joining to celebrate the bountiful feast which God has provided.  
 
Friends, as we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, let’s remember the real meaning behind it and its biblical foundations.  
 
Happy Thanksgiving!
 
Be a Blessing and Be Blessed!
 
Monday Morning Inspirational 
 
27th of Cheshvan, 5780 | November 25, 2019

“Let no harmful language come from your mouth, only good words that are helpful in meeting the need, words that will benefit those who hear them. Don’t cause grief to God’s Ruach HaKodesh, for he has stamped you as his property until the day of final redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, violent assertiveness and slander, along with all spitefulness. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you.  So, imitate God, as his dear children; and live a life of love, just as also the Messiah loved us, indeed, on our behalf gave himself up as an offering, as a slaughtered sacrifice to God with a pleasing fragrance.”  Ephesians 4:29- 5:2, CJB 

We all have that one person in our lives that is “obstinate.” Such people always have an answer or an argument for everything you say, an in the end such individuals likes to incite negativity into every situation.  
 
When dealing with such people and trying to match them word for word works to only fuels their fire and has the power to cause damage to any relationship!  
 
The best way to handle such conversations is to not let anything they say penetrate you.  Seek God in the moment; ask him for his wisdom (James 1:15) and allow Yeshua to speak through you.  The more we do this, the more natural it will become to imitate God.  
 
Continue to love one another regardless of the situation.

Be a Blessing and Be Blessed!  

Monday Morning Inspirational 
By Rebbetzin Kat

20th of Cheshvan, 5780 | November 18, 2019

Today’s Monday Morning Inspirational was adapted from our original post on January 17, 2019

“The angel of Adonai appeared to him and said to him: “You valiant hero! Adonai is with you!” “Excuse me, sir,” answered Gid‘on, “but if Adonai is with us, then why is all this happening to us? And where are all his miracles our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Didn’t Adonai bring us up from Egypt?’ For now, Adonai has abandoned us and handed us over to Midyan.” Adonai turned to him and said, “Go in this strength of yours and save Isra’el from the hands of Midyan. Haven’t I sent you?” But Gid‘on answered him, “Forgive me, my Lord, but with what am I to save Isra’el? Why, my family is the poorest in M’nasheh, and I’m the youngest person in my father’s house!” Adonai said to him, “Because I will be with you, you will strike down Midyan as easily as if they were just one man.” Gid‘on replied, “If indeed you favor me, would you mind giving me a sign that it is really you talking with me? Please don’t leave until I go and return with a gift and present it to you.” He replied, “I’ll wait till you come back.” “ - Judges 6:12-18, CJB

Here we see Gideon questioning whether he is hearing from God because Gideon doesn’t see in himself what God sees.  Gideon doesn’t believe he could possibly do what God is telling him to do. Gideon says he is weak, but God sees the strength in his weakness.  God knows Gideon can do the task he’s calling him to do.  
 
The same way God knew Gideon, he knows us.  He formed us; he knew us before we were born.  Many times, we ask him for sign that we are hearing from Him.  The problem is, if we don’t get the sign “WE” want, we will ignore what he is showing us.  “If he knows us, then he’ll give us what we want.”  No...  Because he knows us, he will show us what he knows we are capable of.  We need to be still and listen, and see.  
 
This is how we grow as human beings.  We can’t focus on who we think we are, we put our trust in God and become who He “KNOWS” we are.  He will call us out upon the water.  Even if we can’t swim, will we follow him in faith, or will we stay put.  

Be a Blessing and Be Blessed!

Monday Morning Inspirational 
By Rebbitzen Kat

November 4, 2019 | 6th of Cheshvan, 5780