Parshat Terumah- Golden Menorah

In this weeks Parsha, Parshat Terumah we learn about the building of the Mishkan. Hashem asks Bnei Yisroel to come together and contribute different materials for the Mishkan, its incredible to see the achdus that Bnei Yisroel has while contributing these materials. On the outer chamber of the Mishkan stood the Menorah. I chose to make Menorah cupcakes this week because it had such intrinsic detail that went into making the 7 branch menorah. There were 3 types of decorations added to the branches, a gavia (a cup), a kaftor (a knob), and a perech (flower). One cupcake is a regular seven branch menorah and the other one I put some flowers. Just like Bnei Yisroel came together as one to contribute things to the Mishkan, the menorah was made out of one solid piece of gold.

May we all be able to have Achdus with each other and be able to appreciate the little intrinsic details of our everyday lives.

Good Shabbos and Chodesh Tov- Happy Adar!!

Parshat Mishpatim- These are the Laws!

It's been a while since I've posted, between being in the Ukraine and being sick I had to go on hiatus. But Parsha cupcakes are back! This weeks Parsha is Parshat Mishpatim. The Parsha opens with Bnei Yisroel still fascinated by the Aseret Hadibrot. Hashem teaches Moshe new laws, and these set of laws are meant to help Bnei Yisroel get along with one another and love each other. Moshe doesn't just simply teach the laws straight to Bnei Yisroel, he first teaches them to Aharon, then he teaches them to Aharons sons Elazar and Itamar while Aharon listens, next to the 70 zekainim as Aharon and his sons listens. Then finally Bnei Yisroel is assembeled and they are taught the mitzvot 4 times. First by Moshe, then by Aharon, then by Elazar and Itamar, and then by the 70 zekainim. After that its up to the zekainim to deal with the disputes that come up.

What are these laws you ask, The first set is in regard to the treatment of your Jewish servant,  Murder- the 4 types of death penalties- Skila, Sraifa, Hereg, and Chenek (stoning, burning, decaptulation, and strangulation), damaged persons, if a Jew damages another Jew, animal damages, stealing, care taking soemones property, kindness- Hashem wants us to be nice to 3 kinds of people, ger, an orphan, and a widow, The Beit Din has to have 3 judges, you cant mix milk and meat together, fruits and veggies from the vine have to be put aside for Hashem, if an animal is found torn apart in the field its treif, Shmita, Shabbat you cant do any work, Shalos Regalim.

Its a lot to take in for one Parsha. I decided to make law cupcakes with the scale to represent all the laws in this weeks Parsha.

May we all be able to do the best we can in following the laws and serving Hashem.

Good Shabbos!

Parshat BO- Last 3 Makot

Shalom from the Holy Land!
In this weeks Parsha, Parshat BO we learn about the last 3 Makot. Arbe- (locusts), Choshech (darkness), and Makat Bachorot (death of the firstborn). After all of these plagues Pharoah finally lets his people go!
Just like Pharoah finally let Bnei Yisorel go we all should be able to be free from our galus.

Shabbat Shalom

Arbe- Locusts

Choshech- Darkness (the yellow is the light that the Jews had)

Makat Bechorot- Death of the firstborn (Door post with blood around it)

Last 3 Makot

All 10 Makot

Let My People Go- First 7 Makot- Parshat Va'eira

In this weeks Parsha, Parshat Va'eira we see the amazing miracles Hashem does to help Bnei Yisroel get out of Mitzrayim. This Parsha begins the first 7 Makot. I chose to make all 7 makot on 7 different cupcakes. Enjoy and Shabbat Shalom

1. Blood (Dom)

2. Frogs (Sefrdayah)

 3. Lice (Kinim)

 4. Wild Animals- Leopard (Arov)

 5.Pestilence (Dever)

 6. Boils (Shichin)

 Hail and Fire (Barad)

The First 7 Makot

It's A Boy!- Parshat Shemot

This weeks Parsha, Parshat Shemot was filled with so many things, one of them being Moshe was born! But Pharoh did not like the Jews and decreed for all baby boys to be killed in the river. Yocheved, Moshe's mother does not want to kill her son, so she sends him off in the river in a basket. Bat-Pharoh (Batya) sees a baby in the river and stretches out her arm (another miracle) to grab him.

I decided to make Baby Boy in a basket cupcakes (the blue foot prints and the brown around the cupcake) because it was a miracle that Bat-Pharoh saw Moshe in the river and he became the savior of the Jewish people.

May we be able to find our saviors or be our own and bring the geulah!

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish- Parshat Vayechi

In this weeks Parsha, Parshat Vayechi, Yaakov/Yisroel gives bracha's to all of his sons. He begins with Yosefs two sons Menashe and Ephraim. He crosses his hands and puts his right hand on Ephraims head even though he was the younger one and his left hand on Menashe's head. In the bracha Yaakov says "Hamalach hagoel oti mikol ra yevarech et han’arim vikareh bahem sh’mi V’shem avotai Avraham v’Yizchak v’yidgu larov b’kerev ha’aretz." V'yidgu meaning they should multiply like fish.

I chose to do fish cupcakes for this weeks Parsha, to represent all of the "fish" that came out of that Bracha.

Just like Yaakov gave a specific Bracha to each of his sons that was tailored for them, may Hashem bless us with exactly what we need.

Good Shabbos

Jump on the Wagon- Parshat Vayigash

In this weeks Parsha, Parshat Vayigash Yosef reveals himself to his brothers and would like to tell his father Yaakov that he is alive. But how would he make his father believe that he is really alive. He had to send something to prove to Yaaov that its really Yosef. Yosef was going to send wagons to his father with his brothers, why wagons you ask, as Rashi says "because as Yosef explained to his brothers to tell Yaaov, the last topic that Yaakov and Yosef studied together was the Eglah Arufah (If a stranger is found murdered between two cities, a calf is sacrificed by the town leaders) The word Agalot/ wagons, cans also be translated into calves.

I chose to make agalot/wagon cupcakes because it was a clear sign for Yaakov that his beloved son Yosef was still alive. May we all have clear signs in our lives, just like Yaakov did, to see what really is meant for each of us.

Good Shabbos