Shavuot - The holiday honoring the giving of the Torah.

Judaica Art "Shavuot" - Artist Rochelle Blumenfeld -  Limited Edition Lithograph on archival acid-free paper, hand-signed and numbered. It is boxed for special gift giving, gift card included upon request. Unframed. To order email us , call (412) 441-1282

Shavuot is a holiday with a double celebration.
Shavuot - Hag Matan Torateinu or Festival of the Giving of Our Torah
Hag ha'Bikkurim or Festival of the First Fruits

More profoundly, Shavuot commemorates the gift of the Torah, the crystallization of the ancient relationship of the peoples of Israel with their Gd. Falling in spring, Shavuot celebrates the bounty of the harvest and the first fruits of the season.

Along with Passover and Sukkot, Shavuot is a pilgrimage holiday, one of three festivals when the ancient Israelites traveled to Jerusalem to offer thanks to Gd for bountiful crops.

Biblical Significance of Shavuot:
Shavuot celebrates Moses descent from Mount Sinai and his presentation to the peoples of Israel of the Torah (the books of the Pentateuch) and the two tablets on which were recorded the "Ten Commandments". The emphasis on Shavuot is on receiving the Torah and accepting the revelations contained within it. That acceptance is a commitment to obey the laws given by Moses.

Moses ascended Mount Sinai, and Gd told him these words: "Say to the house of Jacob, and say to the Children of Israel: 'You saw what they did to the Egyptians, and how I have brought on the wings of eagles and brought them up to Me Now, therefore, if you hear my voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then are My treasure among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine, and shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation '. "

Moses climbed the mountain and stayed there for forty days and forty nights, without eating or sleeping, because he had become like an angel. During this time, Gd revealed to Moses the whole Torah, with all its laws and its interpretations.

Finally, Gd gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, made of stone containing the Ten Commandments, written by Gd Himself.

The Book of Ruth, written long after the books of the Pentateuch, is a narrative book in the Old Testament that relates the story of Ruth, a Moabite, who joined the Jewish people and who is the ancestor of King David. Though the story is told in narrative form, it stands as a metaphor for the acceptance of the Torah and is generally read on Shavuot. The story takes place at harvest time which brings a focus to the harvest, but, because Ruth was a convert who embraced Judaism fully and sincerely, she also represents the Jewish acceptance of the Torah.

The "Pessach" (Passover) marks the beginning of the barley season which ends with Shavuot when the barley is is harvested and the wheat crop is planted. In the days of the temple, some grain would be offered ritualistically. This, too, is commanded biblically: “When you enter the land that the Lord your Gd is giving you as a heritage.... you shall take some of the first fruit of the soil, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your Gd is giving you, put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your Gd will choose to establish His name...” (Deuteronomy 26:1-3:)

Traditionally the offerings made to Gd were taken from what has come to be known as the seven foods species: Wheat - "Chitah", Barley - "Se'orah", Grapes - "Anavim", Figs - "Te'enah", Pomegranate (Romã) - "Rimon", Olive - "Zayit", Date - "Tamar", and "Tamar-d'vash" - The "Tamar-honey" was made by placing "Date" (tamar, tâmara) in a pot of boiling water and scooping the fruit sugar off what bubbled to the surface.

"Isha" - Israel Health Advancement for Women

The Initiative "Isha"

ISHA, the Hebrew word for "woman," is an acronym for the Israel Health Advancement for Women.
Launched in 2001 by the Jewish Agency and the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, this vital initiative brings together an international team of healthcare professionals, women's health advocates, academics, lay-leaders and researchers to advance women's health in Israel. The major objective of the ISHA partnership is to harness the collective power of women to improve their health and quality of life and to accord community leaders the tools with which to do so.

This multi-organizational, interdisciplinary program brings together and provides education and training for primary care physicians, health professionals, lay leaders in women's health and academicians, and strives to enhance the knowledge of the medical community on women's health issues, promote consumer awareness and establish women health advocates in communities throughout Israel. The Jewish Agency, with its extensive network and professional staff, is responsible for full implementation of the project.

Our current initiatives include:
Training 'Clalit' medical professionals;
Training Community Women's health advocates;
Promoting the well-being of disadvantaged women soldiers in the IDF;
Establishing leadership and empowerment project for Falash Mura Jewish women and their families;
Isha-Na'ara (Woman-Young Woman)- Raising youth awareness for the need to reduce violence in romantic teen relationships;
Empowering Tipat-Halav nurses to give women practical tools to enhance a healthier lifestyle, etc
.
For further details contact
Hannah Aharony Soltz
Director "Project Isha"
Phone; 972-2-6202038
Mobile: 972-52-6130208
Hannahsa@jafi.org

Holocaust - We can never forget

Today is a sad day for my people. Mark the International Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust - Yom HaShoah

For years and even today, I seek to discover why the Jews, Blacks, Gypsies, homosexuals and other minorities, are dangerous to the world? Because many people still do not understand that we are just human beings with different colors and cultures? What the reason for bestial hatred against innocent people, children, elderly and mentally ill?

What happened at the time, the existence of such hatred, to come to an end so terrible?

Nowadays many people are ashamed of what happened, but in fact everybody was quiet in those times, were silent and many agreed with such evil. Few people in the world raised their voices to try to prevent this massacre.

What is the fear that the world has of us; are we different? Only the L-rd can respond to our fate - I know. Why He allowed such bad people in the world ,to me, is a big unknown.

Maybe one day our children can live without fear of oppression of evil men.

Gd bless you all.

Coexist Foundation - Three Faiths

The 'Coexist Foundation' since 2006 is a charity which works to promote understanding and respect between Jews, Christians and Muslims and between these communities, through education, dialogue and research.

Coexist is an operational foundation which not only funds projects, but also forges and facilitates new partnerships and programmes, which help people to understand better what it means to be Jewish, Christian or Muslim today.

We do this by bringing together an influential network – including government, business, charities, academics and faith leaders - working towards the same objectives as ourselves.

We hope this website will give some flavour of how Coexist is working today, and how you might be able to help us in our mission.

Philosophy
What is it that makes Coexist distinctive among others working to promote better understanding between faiths?

Firstly, while we recognize and celebrate the many connections between the Abrahamic faiths, we also acknowledge their differences and distinctiveness. We believe we learn more about ourselves and our own traditions by looking respectfully at others’. So Coexist is not just about good relations: it is also about exploring our own convictions and beliefs.

Secondly, Coexist is focused on action, not words. The programmes we support aim to make a difference – not just to immediate issues and relationships, but for the long-term.

Finally, all our work is done in partnership. We believe in finding the best organizations and people to deliver our objectives around the world. Our global network increases the impact of initiatives which we hope will transform cultural and religious understanding around the world.

"Gd has given us many faiths but only one world in which to co-exist. May your work help all of us to cherish our commonalities and feel enlarged by our differences."
Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations

Understanding Faiths
We joined with innovative on-line education specialists Microbooks and a team of scholars to develop the series. www.understandingfaiths.net/

Projects
We have links with a number of organizations; Coexist Projects

Contact
You can contact click Coexist Foundation

Pesach - The Celebration Of Freedom

The Pesach (The Jewish Passover) has different meaning of Easter Christian.

The eight-day festival of Pesach (Passover) will commence either just after sunset or just after nightfall on Monday, April 18th, 2011, concluding either at sunset or at nightfall on Monday, April 25th, 2011 (From 15th to the 22nd of Nissan, 5771 in the Jewish calendar).

It commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. And, by following the rituals of Passover, we have the ability to relive and experience the true freedom that our ancestors gained.

After many decades of slavery to the Egyptian Pharaohs, during which time the Israelites were subjected to back-breaking labor and unbearable horrors, Gd saw the people's distress and sent Moses to Pharaoh with a message: "Send forth My people, so that they may serve Me." But despite numerous warnings, Pharaoh refused to heed Gd's command. Gd then sent upon Egypt ten devastating plagues, afflicting them and destroying everything from their livestock to their crops.

At the stroke of midnight of Nissan 15 of the year 2448 from creation (1313 BCE), Gd visited the last of the ten plagues on the Egyptians. While doing so, Gd spared the Children of Israel passing over their homes - hence the name of the holiday.

The Pharaoh's resistance was broken, and gave up chasing his ex-slaves. The Israelites left Egypt in such a hurry that the dough prepared for the journey did not go up, that is not fermented, so it is traditional eat Matza Lechem Oni (bread of poverty), bread without fermentation. That day began the journey to Mount Sinai and birth as the Chosen People of Gd.

The Seder (The Holiday Meal)
- The seder table should already be set before nightfall, with the seder plate, matzot, cups etc.
- The seder plate should contain - starting from top going clockwise - an egg lightly roasted, a piece of meat, charoset (usually made of grated apple, ground walnuts, cinnamon, red wine and dates), chazeret (a vegetable), karpas (potato, parsley etc.) and in the middle maror (the bitter herb - horseradish or romaine lettuce). A bowl of salt water should be placed on the table but not on the plate.

- Three whole matzot shmura should be placed under or in front of the plate. They should be covered and separated from each other by a napkin or cloth. Matzot shmura are matzot that were made for the sake of the mitzvah and from wheat that was protected from moisture from the time of its harvest. They are the matzot that one should use for the commandments of the seder.

- Everyone should have a cup that holds at least 86 cc. And there should be enough wine to fill four cups for each person at the seder. Red wine is preferable but white wine may also be used. Children and pregnant women or people who for health reasons cannot drink wine, may fulfill the obligation with grape juice (preferably, with a little wine mixed in). The cups should be filled to the brim for each of the four cups of wine.

Seder is concluded with the singing of the traditional songs (Echad Mi Yodea, Chad Gadya, Adir Hu, etc.)

To learn more, click.

AMA - Associação de Amigos do Autista (Brasil)

Click na imagem para ver animação

Note: AMA website is also available in English, click here and look down the right to find this option.

A Missão:
- Proporcionar à pessoa com autismo uma vida digna: trabalho, saúde, lazer e integração à sociedade.
- Oferecer à família da pessoa com autismo instrumentos para a convivência no lar e em sociedade.
- Promover e incentivar pesquisas sobre o autismo, difundindo o conhecimento acumulado.

A AMA atende em duas unidades, ambas na cidade de São Paulo: no Sítio Nova Esperança, que fica no bairro de Parelheiros, e no Centro de Reabilitação Infantil, que fica no bairro do Cambuci.

Toda pessoa autista deve receber educação especial diária, oferecida por profissionais preparados que conheçam bem o autismo.

O que é Autismo
O Autismo é um distúrbio do desenvolvimento humano que vem sendo estudado pela ciência há seis décadas, mas sobre o qual ainda permanecem dentro do próprio âmbito da ciência divergências e grandes questões por responder.
Atualmente, embora o Autismo seja bem mais conhecido, tendo inclusive sido tema de vários filmes de sucesso, ele ainda surpreende pela diversidade de características que pode apresentar e pelo fato de na maioria das vezes a criança autista ter uma aparência totalmente normal.
O Autismo é uma síndrome definida por alterações presentes desde idades muito precoces, tipicamente antes dos três anos de idade, e que se caracteriza sempre por desvios qualitativos na comunicação, na interação social e no usa da imaginalção.
É comum pais relatarem que a criança passou por um período de normalidade anteriormente à manifestação dos sintomas.
Quando as crianças com autismo crescem, desenvolvem suas habilidades sociais em extensão variada.

AMA - Associação de Amigos do Autista
Doações: http://www.ama.org.br/public/doacoes.php 

Conheça melhor o trabalho da AMA clicando aqui. 

Hasdei Naomi - Food to the Needy

Hasdei Naomi was founded in 1984 by Rabbi Yosef Cohen.

While sending his small children to school, he noticed that there were children arriving with torn briefcases and worn out clothing and he was deeply disturbed by this sight and felt badly for those families.

Rabbi Cohen, went, himself, from door to door, collecting food products and distributed them to the poor. After a while an entire array of volunteers was added, storage warehouses were formed, mobile collection-carts were distributed for collecting products. And today, Hasdei Naomi supports over a thousand families on a permanent basis as well as many others from time to time.

“Hasdei Naomi” takes care of those children and sends their families a box of basic products, such as canned goods, oil, vegetables, bread, laundry powder and sweets for the child. Dozens of products are being sent every month to more than 5000 families. The value of one box is about 500 NIS (today 500 Israeli shekels = 143.95 U.S. dollars).

The boxes which are given to needy families and widows, are distributed by a messenger from a courier service, in order to disguise the purpose of the mission and to spare the women and children the unnecessary embarrassment.

Donate to Hasdei Naomi; Click aqui