Parshat Naso- Don't Drink the Wine!

In this weeks Parsha, Parshat Naso it talks about a Nazir. A Nazir has to stay away from wine, vinegar, grape juice and grape products. Also a Nazir is not allowed to cut his hair. Why is a Nazir not allowed to eat grape products or cut his hair? The Nazir is supposed to look past his physical appearance and desires, so he can keep away from sin. He has to concentrate on Teshuvah and Torah thoughts. A person who takes it upon himself to become a Nazir is as Kadosh as a Kohen Gadol. If one becomes a Nazir and doesn't set a time frame its set at thirty days. If a Nazir accidentally becomes tamay during that time, the Nazir waits seven days, offers korbanot on the eighth day, and then starts the count all over again. After that period he cuts off all his hair and offers Korbanot to Hashem, his hair is burned with the Korbanot. There was a room in the Beit Hamikdash called "Lishkat Hanezirim" the room for the Nazir's. Once the Nazir finished his time he went to the room to get his hair cut off, which then was a painful experience. He would remember this for a long time.

I chose to make cupcakes with a no wine sign to represent the wine the Nazir was not allowed to drink.

Good Shabbos

Lauren

Parshat Bamidbar- Wave Your Flag

In this weeks Parsha, Parshat Bamidbar, Bnei Yisroel enters a new stage of their relationship with Hashem. They have been forgiven for the Eigel Hazahav incident and the Mishkan is complete. Then they begin counting Bnei Yisroel, each male from the ages of 20-60 has to give a half a shekel. Then they are divided into three camps, The Camp of the Shechina, The camp of the Leviyim, and the camp of Machane Yisroel. At Har Sinai Bnei Yisroel watched as 22,000  chariots of Malachim accompanied the Shechina descending from the mountain. These Malachim were divided into 4 divisions and each division had a flag. Watching this heavenly army, Bnei Yisorel wished they could be the army of Hashem surrounded by the Shechina, so Hashem granted them their wish. Moshe told Bnei Yisroel that they now would be divided under four banners: The Yehuda division, which also includes Yissachar and Zevulun; the Ephraim division, which also includes Menashe and Binyamin; the Reuven division, which also includes Shimon and Gad; and the Dan division, which also includes Asher and Naftali. Each flag would have a mascot and words embroidered on it.

I chose to make flag cupcakes to represent the flags of the four divisions.

Good Shabbos

Parshat Bechukotai- Let The Rain Fall Down

In this weeks Parsha, Parshat Bechukotai, Hashem wants Bnei Yisroel to dedicate their hearts and minds to learning Torah and doing Mitzvot. Hashem promise them 5 Brachot one being RAIN. Hashem promises to give rain to Eretz Yisroel at the right time. Ran isn't as simple as we think, when we daven we want to ask for just the right amount because too little or too much can devastate the land. Hashem promises that the rain will freshen the water supply and keep Bnei Yisroel, their children and the animals healthy. I chose to make rain drop cupcakes to represent the rain Hashem promised to Bnei Yisroel to keep them healthy.

Enjoy this RAINY shabbos!

Good Shabbos

Parshat Behar- Shmita- Dontcha Wanna Eata!

In this weeks Parsha, Parshat Behar, it talks about Shmita. Beginning on Rosh Hashana of the seventh year, the Shmita year begins. What is Shmita you ask? For the entire your farmers do not plant, sow, plow or work the field. The only work he can do is water it to keep things alive. The fruit that grows during the Shmita year cannot be sold, therefore it is free for everyone. The owner of the farm has to leave his gates unlocked so people can come in and take. The fruit is also considered holy, so you cant just throw it on the peels and core on the ground, you have to let them return to the soil naturally. As for vegetables its a different story, basically you cant eat them because they don't usually grow on their own. At the end of the Shmita year all loans are forgiven This Mitzvah applies to produce from Israel.

I chose to make apple cupcakes to represent the fruit during Shmita!

Good Shabbos!

Parshat Emor- Good Yom Tov!

In this weeks Parsha, Parshat Emor, it continues to discuss the holy nation Bnei Yisroel. What Kohanim can and cant do. And then it goes into talking about all the Yom Tovs, Pesach, Shavuos, Succos, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. I chose to make Yom Tov cupcakes to represent all the Yomim Tovim.

I chose to use pink and purple colors in honor of my new niece Ayelet!

Have a Good Shabbos

Lauren

Parshat Kedoshim- Holy Parsha

In this weeks Parsha, Parshat Kedoshim, Hashem commands Bnei Yisroel to be Holy. How exactly does he do this? Hashem begins laying out a plan in the Torah of how the Jews should live, he tells them about the Mitzvot. If you follow the Mitzvot then you are Holy. Hashem teaches us 29 Mitzvot in this weeks Parsha, One of the Mitzvot is #17 the Mitzvah of Ve Ahavta Lereicha Kamocha- Love your fellow Jew as yourself. We must all get along, and when we get along Hashem is closer to us. The Beit Hamikdash was destroyed because the Jews couldnt get along, this show us how much it means to Hashem for us to all get along. I chose to make cupcakes that represent this topic. On the top of the cupcake you can see 2 people holding hands:

 and on the bottom of the cupcake I placed a heart, to remind us to love each and every Jew:

Because of my recent trip to the Ukraine please take a minute to daven for the Jewish people there. That is the best form of achdus!

Good Shabbos

Parshat Acharei Mot- No Food For You!

In this weeks Parsha, Parshat Acharei Mot, it is the 1st of Nissan and we left off with Aarons two sons dying, Nadav and Avihu. Hashem tells Moshe not to make the same mistake they made, no one can enter the Kodesh Hakodoshim without permission. And only the Kohen Gadol can enter it on Yom Kippur and only to perform the special Yom Kippur Avodah. With this introduction, we begin to learn about Yom Kippur. We learn about what the Kohen Gadol should wear, We learn about the slaughtering of tow goats for a wake up call for Bnei Yisroel to do Teshuvah, we learn about the four times the Kohen Gadol enters the Kodesh Hakodoshim on Yom Kippur. Since we do not have a Beis Hamikdash now we recite the Avodah and Mussaf on Yom Kippur. There are a few new laws we learn about that are forbidden on Yom Kippur.

I chose to not make cupcakes this week, 1. being that Pesach is coming up and 2. to represent the food we do not eat on Yom Kippur.

Have a good Shabbos and Chag Kasher V'Sameach!