Those Maccabee Boys...

For years I have been posting about the Maccabee Brothers, every Chanukah, I post about the Maccabees. So, if you anything about me at all, you know how much I love those Maccabee Boys. They said, no way, no how, it is not going to happen to Antiochus' men when they came to a village in Modi'in. A Greco-Syrian soldier entered the Temple and started to sacrifice a pig on the altar. Enraged by this action, an old priest named Mattathias stabbed the soldier to death and the revolt began! 

For me, this year Chanukah carries even more meaning. When I was in New York in October, as I have mentioned a few times, I went to the 'Jerusalem:1000-1400, Every People Under Heaven' exhibit at the Met. I had one of those moments when history, DNA, the resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto, and the present collided and had me completely frozen with awe. There it was, one of the Books of The Maccabees. I wanted to hug the exhibit glass, but, that would have landed me out of the museum. I wished they had had a stool or ladder for short people to see the case of these books from above. I don't know how long I stood there soaking it all in, time stood still. This book is huge, at least 2 feet or more by 18" or more. The craftsmanship, unmatched. What an incredible work of art! This is so amazing, because if it looks like sheet music, it is! Here is what the caption said, "Europeans fighting for the Holy Land considered the Maccabees, Jews of the 2nd century, B.C. as examples of the struggle for Jerusalem. The hymn that begins with this pitched battle is a plea for peace taken from the book of the Maccabees." It is strewn throughout the Bible that praise, blowing of the shofar(s), songs of worship were sung before battle, Joshua 6:1-20, being a well known example. As was custom, I learned from this exhibit, that everyone, of every religion, in the region scribed. More so, the books have survived literally thousands of years. 

Pursued by the Greco-Syrians, Mattathias and his 5 sons, known as the Maccabees fled to the hills surrounding Jerusalem. There, the resistance movement took form. Before he died, Mattathias selected his son, Judah to lead the fight, which he did, and valiantly. Through strategy and foresight, the rebels overcame all of Antiochus' forces, including an army riding elephants. In victory, the Maccabees liberated Jerusalem from the invaders, and on the 25th day of Kislev (this year, the first night is tomorrow, the 24th day of Kislev) they cleansed the temple which had been defiled. Chanukah, which means dedication, commemorates that day.

The miracle occurred, when looking for holy oil to light the Temple's candelabrum, there was just a very small cruse of sacramental oil, just enough to last a day. Knowing it would take eight days to prepare new holy oil, the Maccabee Boys, used the little bit they had and lit the menorah. Lo and behold, the oil burned for 8 days. Look at God!

To my Family and Friends who celebrate, a very joyful and blessed Chanukah!

Festival of Lights, From Generation to Generation...

 We repeat the story of Chanukah every year, from generation to generation. It is a great great story! So, again: 2200 hundred years ago, without the wonders of modern technology, and social media/networking, like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, (et al), just imagine this: a small group of Jewish rebels, led by the Maccabee band of Brothers (love those boys) stood, up to the Greek kings who were forcing the Jewish people to worship their gods and Greek idols in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem....hence, the wondrous resistance and the miracle of the purified oil...given all the upheaval we see around the world, even today, this story may sound somewhat familiar...here is their story:

About 2200 years ago, Greek kings, who reigned from Damascus, ruled over the land of Judea and the Jews living there. One Greco-Syrian King, Antiochus Epiphanes, forbade the Jewish people from praying to their God, practicing their customs, and studying their Torah. Antiochus forced the Jews to worship the Greek gods. It is said that he placed an idol of the Greek God Zeus on the alter in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. In response to this persecution, Judah Maccabee and his four brothers organized a group of resistance fighters known as the Maccabees. They fought against paganism and oppression.The tenacity of the rebels, which came from their steadfast faith in one God, is one reason this military victory has been so celebrated by Jews in future generations. In one battle near Beit Horon, Judah's small army is intimidated by the size of the enemy army and Judah tells them to have faith that God is on their side:

"But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said unto Judah: 'What? shall we be able, being a small company, to fight against so great and strong a multitude? ...' And Judah said: 'It is an easy thing for many to be shut up in the hands of a few, and there is no difference in the sight of Heaven to save by many or by few; for victory in battle standeth not in the multitude of an host, but strength is from Heaven. They come unto us in fullness of insolence and lawlessness, to destroy us and our wives and our children, for to spoil us; but we fight for our lives and our laws. And He Himself will discomfort them before our face; but as for you, be yet not afraid of them."
(The First Book of Maccabees)

Against great odds, after three years of fighting, the Maccabees succeeded to drive the Greco-Syrians out of Judea. Chanukah proclaims the message of the prophet Zachariah: "Not by might, not by power, but by My spirit." Chapter 4:6

The Maccabees reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. They cleaned the Temple, removing the Greek symbols and statues. When Judah and his followers finished cleaning the temple, they rededicated it. On the 25th day of the month of Kislev in 164 BCE, the Temple was purified and rededicated. According to tradition, when the Maccabees entered the Holy Temple, they discovered that the Greco-Syrians had defiled the oil which was used to Temple's menorah. Only one vat of purified oil remained - enough for only one day. It would take the Jews a week to process more purified oil. Then a miracle occurred. The Maccabees lit the menorah and it burned for not one, but eight days, by which time the new, purified oil was ready. This is why the Chanukah Menorah has eight candles (not including the shamash candle used to light the others) and one reason why Jews celebrate Chanukah for eight days!!!

Happy Chanukah!

Happy Festival of Lights!!

This is our Menorah, which holds the drippings from the candles of Chanukah past, as we prepare the light the first candle tonight @ sundown!

Happy Chanukah...Let's Do this Again in the Year 79,811

This year features an anomaly for American Jews – The first day of Chanukah starts at sunset on Wednesday November 27 the night before Thanksgiving, on November 28, 2013.It turns out that it has never happened before...and it will never happen again.Thanksgiving is set as the fourth Thursday in November, meaning the latest it can be is November 28. November 27  is also the earliest Chanukah can be. The Jewish calendar repeats on a 19 year cycle, and Thanksgiving repeats on a 7 year cycle. You would therefore expect them to coincide roughly every 19×7 = 133 years. Looking back, this is approximately correct – the last time it would have happened is 1861. However, Thanksgiving was only formally established by President Lincoln in 1863. So, it has never happened before.

Why won’t it ever happen again? The reason is because the Jewish calendar is very slowly getting out of sync with the solar calendar, at a rate of 4 days per 1000 years (not bad for a many centuries old calendar!) This means that while presently Chanukah can be as early as November 28, over the years the calendar will drift forward, such that the earliest Chanukah can be is November 29. The next time Chanukah falls on November 27 is 2146 (which happens to be a Monday). Therefore, 2013 is the only time Chanukah will ever overlap with Thanksgiving. Of course, if the Jewish calendar is never modified in any way, then it will slowly move forward through the Gregorian calendar, until it loops all the way back to where it is now. So, Chanukah will again fall on Thursday, November 27 . . . in the year 79,811.

HAPPY CHANUKAH!!!

The Miracle of the Oil, Happy Chanukah

Happy Chanukah!

2200 hundred years ago, without the wonders of modern technology, and social networks, like Facebook and Twitter, a small group of Jewish rebels, led by the Maccabee band of Brothers (love those boys) stood up to the Greek kings who were forcing the Jewish people to worship their gods and Greek idols in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem....hence, the wondrous resistance and the miracle of the purified oil...given all the upheaval we have seen in the mid-East this past year, this story may sound somewhat familiar...here is their story:

About 2200 years ago, Greek kings, who reigned from Damascus, ruled over the land of Judea and the Jews living there. One Greco-Syrian King, Antiochus Epiphanes, forbade the Jewish people from praying to their God, practicing their customs, and studying their Torah. Antiochus forced the Jews to worship the Greek gods. It is said that he placed an idol of the Greek God Zeus on the alter in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. In response to this persecution, Judah Maccabee and his four brothers organized a group of resistance fighters known as the Maccabees. They fought against paganism and oppression.

The tenacity of the rebels, which came from their steadfast faith in one God, is one reason this military victory has been so celebrated by Jews in future generations. In one battle near Beit Horon, Judah's small army is intimidated by the size of the enemy army and Judah tells them to have faith that God is on their side:

"But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said unto Judah: 'What? shall we be able, being a small company, to fight against so great and strong a multitude? ...' And Judah said: 'It is an easy thing for many to be shut up in the hands of a few, and there is no difference in the sight of Heaven to save by many or by few; for victory in battle standeth not in the multitude of an host, but strength is from Heaven. They come unto us in fullness of insolence and lawlessness, to destroy us and our wives and our children, for to spoil us; but we fight for our lives and our laws. And He Himself will discomfort them before our face; but as for you, be yet not afraid of them."
(The First Book of Maccabees)

Against great odds, after three years of fighting, the Maccabees succeeded to drive the Greco-Syrians out of Judea. Chanukah proclaims the message of the prophet Zachariah: "Not by might, not by power, but by My spirit." Chapter 4:6

The Maccabees reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. They cleaned the Temple, removing the Greek symbols and statues. When Judah and his followers finished cleaning the temple, they rededicated it. On the 25th day of the month of Kislev in 164 BCE, the Temple was purified and rededicated. According to tradition, when the Maccabees entered the Holy Temple, they discovered that the Greco-Syrians had defiled the oil which was used to Temple's menorah. Only one vat of purified oil remained - enough for only one day. It would take the Jews a week to process more purified oil. Then a miracle occurred. The Maccabees lit the menorah and it burned for not one, but eight days, by which time the new, purified oil was ready. This is why the Chanukah Menorah has eight candles (not including the shamash candle used to light the others) and one reason why Jews celebrate Chanukah for eight days!!!

10% Discount in my Etsy Shop Lilleypics

'Inner Visions'
'Child of Wonder'
'Let The Mountains Sing'

Etsy has just made it really easy for us to mark our handmade goodies down, with the use of coupon codes. I have marked down everything in Lilleypics by 10%, using the code 'rhodagirls3'. These 3 pieces are some of my original artwork! Remember, there is still no shipping on all cards for another few days. If you want to give the cards as a Chanukah or Christmas gift, they will be wrapped in rice paper, decoratively tied w/ hemp string. Your final price will automatically be adjusted to reflect the change of price....so happy shopping everyone!!!

10% Discount in my Etsy Shops, Lilleypad and Lilleypics!!

'She Sells Seashells'
'Aqua CZ Dangle'
'Ruby Reds CZ'

Etsy has just made it really easy for us to mark our handmade goodies down, with the use of coupon codes. I have marked down everything in Lilleypics by 10%, using the code 'rhodagirls3'. Remember, there is still no shipping on all cards for another few days. If you want to give the cards as a Chanukah or Christmas gift, they will be wrapped in rice paper, decoratively tied w/ hemp string. Every piece of jewelry in Lilleypad has also been marked down by 10%, using the code 'amylikesjack26'. Your final price will automatically be adjusted to reflect the change of price....so happy shopping everyone!!!

Etsy Coupons Are Here!!!

'Starry Night', 10 cards

'Go Green, CZ'

Etsy has just made it really easy for us to mark our handmade goodies down, with the use of coupon codes. I have marked down everything in Lilleypics by 10%, using the code 'rhodagirls3'. Remember, there is still no shipping on all cards for another few days. If you want to give the cards as a Chanukah or Christmas gift, they will be wrapped in rice paper, decoratively tied w/ hemp string. Every piece of jewelry in Lilleypad has also been marked down by 10%, using the code 'amylikesjack26'. Your final price will automatically be adjusted to reflect the change of price....so happy shopping everyone!!!

Free Shipping on ALL CARDS in the U.S. for the Month of November!!!!

Well, people, it's November 4th and the Handmade community is thinking 'Holidays'.

Chanukah and Christmas are just around the corner, and to help make things easier, I quote my friend Kim Gonzaga, the maker of delicious handmade soaps, called 'Stella Marie', the shipping is on us, well, 'moi'!. All my cards in Lilleypics on Etsy have been marked to $0.00 in the United States.
My cards are a great handmade gift, and they frame beautifully!! There are more Holiday deals in the works...so, be on the lookout....!!

Happy Chanukah!!!!!!!!

Here is the story of Chanukah:

About 2200 years ago, Greek kings, who reigned from Damascus, ruled over the land of Judea and the Jews living there. One Greco-Syrian King, Antiochus Epiphanes, forbade the Jewish people from praying to their God, practicing their customs, and studying their Torah. Antiochus forced the Jews to worship the Greek gods. It is said that he placed an idol of the Greek God Zeus on the alter in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. In response to this persecution, Judah Maccabee and his four brothers organized a group of resistance fighters known as the Maccabees. They fought against paganism and oppression.

The tenacity of the rebels, which came from their steadfast faith in one God, is one reason this military victory has been so celebrated by Jews in future generations. In one battle near Beit Horon, Judah's small army is intimidated by the size of the enemy army and Judah tells them to have faith that God is on their side:

"But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said unto Judah: 'What? shall we be able, being a small company, to fight against so great and strong a multitude? ...' And Judah said: 'It is an easy thing for many to be shut up in the hands of a few, and there is no difference in the sight of Heaven to save by many or by few; for victory in battle standeth not in the multitude of an host, but strength is from Heaven. They come unto us in fullness of insolence and lawlessness, to destroy us and our wives and our children, for to spoil us; but we fight for our lives and our laws. And He Himself will discomfort them before our face; but as for you, be yet not afraid of them." (The First Book of Maccabees)

Against great odds, after three years of fighting, the Maccabees succeeded to drive the Greco-Syrians out of Judea. Hanukkah proclaims the message of the prophet Zachariah: "Not by might, not by power, but by My spirit." Chapter 4:6

The Maccabees reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. They cleaned the Temple, removing the Greek symbols and statues. When Judah and his followers finished cleaning the temple, they rededicated it. On the 25th day of the month of Kislev in 164 BCE, the Temple was purified and rededicated. According to tradition, when the Maccabees entered the Holy Temple, they discovered that the Greco-Syrians had defiled the oil which was used to Temple's menorah. Only one vat of purified oil remained - enough for only one day. It would take the Jews a week to process more purified oil. Then a miracle occurred. The Maccabees lit the menorah and it burned for not one, but eight days, by which time the new, purified oil was ready. This is why the Hanukkah Menorah has eight candles (not including the shamash candle used to light the others) and one reason why Jews celebrate Hanukkah for eight days

Painting by, Yoram Raanan
Menorah: 'Purple With Stripes'
2002-2003

Earrings and Cards....

Many people are off and running with their Holiday shopping. Chanukah and Christmas are literally just days away. I have marked every earring in my Etsy shop, Lilleypad, DOWN by 10% and in my photo shop on Etsy, Lilleypics, there will be no shipping charges for custom orders only, including Holiday cards. All prices will hold until December 25th.

Please convo me with your custom orders so that I may create a listing reserved in your name!!
A portion of every sale is donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Happy shopping!!!

From Generation to Generation, Happy Chanukah

We celebrate Chanukah and Christmas in our house. My son, who is now 19, loves this arrangement. Lots of presents coming from a variety of family and dear friends, 8 nights of Chanukah, a beautiful Christmas tree. Seriously, he has meshed the two in his heart, and I pray he will pass this wonderful tradition of the Festival of Lights on to his children as well. Here is the Chanukah story:

About 2200 years ago, Greek kings, who reigned from Damascus, ruled over the land of Judea and the Jews living there. One Greco-Syrian King, Antiochus Epiphanes, forbade the Jewish people from praying to their God, practicing their customs, and studying their Torah. Antiochus forced the Jews to worship the Greek gods. It is said that he placed an idol of the Greek God Zeus on the alter in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. In response to this persecution, Judah Maccabee and his four brothers organized a group of resistance fighters known as the Maccabees. They fought against paganism and oppression.

The tenacity of the rebels, which came from their steadfast faith in one God, is one reason this military victory has been so celebrated by Jews in future generations. In one battle near Beit Horon, Judah's small army is intimidated by the size of the enemy army and Judah tells them to have faith that God is on their side:

"But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said unto Judah: 'What? shall we be able, being a small company, to fight against so great and strong a multitude? ...' And Judah said: 'It is an easy thing for many to be shut up in the hands of a few, and there is no difference in the sight of Heaven to save by many or by few; for victory in battle standeth not in the multitude of an host, but strength is from Heaven. They come unto us in fullness of insolence and lawlessness, to destroy us and our wives and our children, for to spoil us; but we fight for our lives and our laws. And He Himself will discomfort them before our face; but as for you, be yet not afraid of them." (The First Book of Maccabees)

Against great odds, after three years of fighting, the Maccabees succeeded to drive the Greco-Syrians out of Judea. Hanukkah proclaims the message of the prophet Zachariah: "Not by might, not by power, but by My spirit." Chapter 4:6

The Maccabees reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. They cleaned the Temple, removing the Greek symbols and statues. When Judah and his followers finished cleaning the temple, they rededicated it. On the 25th day of the month of Kislev in 164 BCE, the Temple was purified and rededicated. According to tradition, when the Maccabees entered the Holy Temple, they discovered that the Greco-Syrians had defiled the oil which was used to Temple's menorah. Only one vat of purified oil remained - enough for only one day. It would take the Jews a week to process more purified oil. Then a miracle occurred. The Maccabees lit the menorah and it burned for not one, but eight days, by which time the new, purified oil was ready. This is why the Hanukkah Menorah has eight candles (not including the shamash candle used to light the others) and one reason why Jews celebrate Hanukkah for eight days.