Jerusalem Descending

10/24/2024

This evening is the beginning of Simchat Torah, a special Jewish holiday focused on celebrating the Torah.

“For seven days you must present special gifts to the LORD. The eighth day is another holy day on which you present your special gifts to the LORD. This will be a solemn occasion, and no ordinary work may be done that day” (Leviticus 23:36).

On the day following the seven days of Sukkot, Simchat Torah is celebrated, which means, “rejoicing with the Torah.” The Bible says on that day to have another “holy convocation” on which sacrifices are offered to the Lord and no work is permitted.

Simchat Torah is a celebration marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle.

Simchat Torah is a component of the biblical Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret (“Eighth Day of Assembly”), which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei (mid-September to early October on the Gregorian calendar).

Every year, synagogues read through the entire Torah in designated weekly portions. The yearly reading cycle ends with Deuteronomy and begins again in Genesis on the day of Simchat Torah.

“There’s an ancient Jewish custom to dance for hours around the bima (“lectern”) on Simchat Torah in a circle symbolizing the eternity of the Torah and its Author,” It’s also common in Israel for many to dance in the streets.

In Israel, both Simchat Torah and Shemini Atzeret are celebrated on the same day, while outside of Israel, they are celebrated as two days—first Shemini Atzeret, then Simchat Torah.

07/28/2024

Great 78th Birthday yesterday in the backyard pool of my son Judah, with his wife Jaclyn, my son Israel his wife Alison, my son Michael and his wife Marci along with a bunch of the grandkids of these 3. Eating Judah's bacon wrapped west Texas dove with Jalapeno inside, plus BQ sausage the way I like it. Everyone had fun and I enjoyed being with my grandchildren and sons.

06/02/2024

07/28/2023

Thanks to all those who sent me Happy Birthday wishes. Had a great lunch at Red Lobster and finishing the party today going to a special movie.

06/17/2023

Years and years of good luck for you 🤦🏽 thanks for like

05/04/2022

74 years, God is still in control.

01/01/2022

As we go into this New Year of 2022 we need to hold on to God's promises. Most of these promises are in the Bible and then there are the ones that God has spoken to us personally by the Holy Spirt. It was in the spring of 1976 that bascially 10 things were spoken to me by the Holy Spirit. I didn't realize at the time that it was going to take a lifetime to live out these promises. It is now 46 years later and 8 of those promises have been fulfilled. I am in expectancy of the last 2 promises to be fulfilled before I take up my residency in heaven.
I encourge you as we go into this New Year, pray, seek his face, praise and worship him. Do some silent sitting in his presence, let him speak to your heart and then obey and do what he says. God is not a man that he should lie. When he says he will do it , he will. Hang on and expect great things as you go into this New Year. "For I know the plans I have for you, plans for good and not for evil, plans for hope and an expected future." Jer29:11 Blessings in the New Year. Mike & Helen