Abraham sacrificing Isaac. The intense and powerful image of Abraham Avenu, our father, devoted and faithful to He who commands both the heavens and the earth. Abraham’s obedience, fortitude, and absolute trust, hint at his future accomplishments. In this event, Abraham’s relationship with God transitioned into a very close, unique, and personal one. Throughout his life, his dialogues and debates with God never resulted in a victory. But that is not to say that he was not a winner, nonetheless. He was able to make many an alliance, as is noted in the circumcisions and with God’s help, Abraham used those partnerships to come to a unique level of opulence, not only monetarily, but spiritually as well. That was necessary to create the Jewish nation that flowed forth.

In the Jewish calendar, Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the new year; a day that people bless each other and wish for happy a new year for one another. Yom Kippur, the second high holiday, each person asks God for forgiveness for past sins and requests a new clean slate for the new year. Sukkot comes about a week after Yom Kippur and links the three together. In fact, one is required to post the first corner of the sukkah while fasting. The last day of Sukkot, if the very end of the new year celebrations and it is on the last day that God signs off on our fortune for the year.

A beautifully hand carved mezuzah depicting Jacob’s Dream which illustrates the third and final occasion that God communicates the promises set out for the generations to come. And thus, Jacob is the last of the greats that is blessed by his descendants and immigrating to Egypt with his seventy family members, Jacob greatly helped the seed of the nation sprout. Jacob, a man who never shied away from hard work, a man who was not afraid to face a challenge, a man who was the third part in creating a melting pot of a nation. Jacob, a man who dedicated his life to ensuring that the reality of his dreams blossomed into the reality we know today.

In the Jewish calendar, Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the new year; a day that people bless each other and wish for happy a new year for one another. Yom Kippur, the second high holiday, each person asks God for forgiveness for past sins and requests a new clean slate for the new year. Sukkot comes about a week after Yom Kippur and links the three together. In fact, one is required to post the first corner of the sukkah while fasting. The last day of Sukkot, if the very end of the new year celebrations and it is on the last day that God signs off on our fortune for the year.

Jewish tradition requires that one must have a minimum of ten people over thirteen years old in order to pray Ha-asere Leminyan. Finding this essential tenth person was always a challenge or possibly a pleasant hunt for the rabbi’s assistant. It was not uncommon to hear craziest of excuses as each person tried to squirm out of the responsibility, while at the same time attempting to feel guilt free. Unfortunately, the most common response was, “have you tried my neighbor?”

A welcoming message as you enter your home.