Cardboard Ahasuerus horse

Sleep eluded the king that night, so he asked his servants to read for him from the Royal Chronicles. They complied with the king's orders. They read from the Chronicles how Mordechai saved the king's life when two of his chamberlains hatched a plot to kill him.
"Was he rewarded for this fine act?" Ahasuerus asked. "No he was not," the servants responded.
At that moment Haman entered the king's courtyard. His purpose? To ask the king's permission to hang Mordechai! Before Haman could utter a word, Ahasuerus addressed him: "My Haman, in your estimation, what shall be done to a person whom the king wishes to honor?"
Haman, who was certain that the king wished to honor him, responded: "Bring royal garment and a royal horse. And let one of the king's nobles dress the man and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, 'So is done for the man whom the king wishes to honor!'"
"Great idea," Ahasuerus responded. "Now go get the garments and the horse and do so for Mordechai the Jew!"
Haman had no choice but to comply. On the next day he went and honored Mordechai as the king had ordered, and then immediately rushed to join the king and Esther for...

Cardboard horse for Mordechai

SUPPLY LIST:
Cardboard (an old box or two)
Dala horse template (I blew this up 125%) 
Scissors or an Exacto knife
Cutting mat (if you are using the Exacto knife)
Washi tape - blue, pink, gold.
Download the template and cut out the horses. Using an exact knife and cutting mat makes it so much easier if you are doing many. But if are doing just a few you could get away with using a good pair of scissors. Decorate it with washi tape.

The Purim Superhero

Purim play set with felt hamantashen

There is a spirit of liveliness and fun on Purim that is unparalleled on the Jewish calendar. If there were ever a day to “let loose” and just be Jewish, this is it!
It is also customary for children (and adults, if they desire) to dress up in costumes.
A traditional Purim food is hamantaschen (or oznay Haman), three-cornered pastries bursting with poppy seeds or another sweet filling. On the day before Purim (or on the Thursday before, when Purim is on Sunday), it is customary to fast, commemorating Esther’s fasting and praying to G‑d that He save His people.

Purim play set

Giving kids a part of the holiday to incorporate into their everyday pretend play is such an amazing way to help them feel it.
Kids can help make this Purim toy (with adult help) but it’s also a great toy for parents to make for kids. It is a bit of work, but if you enjoy crafting, it’s all fun!!
And it’s so much cheaper than buying a dedicated Purim toy.
These are the parts of the DIY Purim toy:
A couple of megillah cases with a printed text to slip into it so kids can pretend to read the megillah on their own!
A felt pretend noisemaker. Well, it actually doesn't rattle a lot but it’s designed to mimic the style of the classic ratchet that’s used on Purim.
Felt Hamantashen created much like regular ones are made...but they’re made of felt…
A mask, obviuosly!

The Purim Surprise 

DIY Megillah case

What is Purim?
Purim, which literally means “lots,” is the holiday in which Jews commemorate being saved from persecution in the ancient Persian Empire. The Jews of the city of Shushan were threatened by the vile Haman, a prime minister who convinces the King Ahasuerus to kill all the Jews. Haman casts lots (hence the name of the holiday) to determine the date he would carry out his plan: the 13th of Adar. In the end, the Jews are saved by the heroic Queen Esther, Mordecai’s niece (and adopted daughter), who married Ahasuerus (after he banished his first, rebellious wife Vashti). When Ahasuerus discovers that his wife Esther is Jewish, he decides to reverse Haman’s decree, and instead of the Jews being killed, Haman, his sons, and other enemies are killed instead.
It is a mitzvah to listen to the story of Purim chanted from Megillat Esther  and to hear every word. It is customary to make loud noise with a noisemaker called a ra’ashan in Hebrew, or grager in Yiddish, every time Haman’s name is mentioned, in order to fulfill the obligation of blotting out Haman’s name. 

DIY Megillah and Washi Tape Megillat Case

When is Purim?
On the Hebrew calendar, Purim is celebrated on the 14th of Adar, the day after the Jews emerged victorious against the evil Haman.
Jewish Year 5778: Sunset March 11, 2017 – Nightfall March 12, 2017

The Artscroll Youth Megillah: Fully Illustrated with the Complete Text, Simplified Translation and Comments (The Artscroll Youth Series)

Paper Fan for Adar

Dress up your Adar with colors with an easy paper fan backdrop!

Supplies
• Wrapping Paper and/or card stock
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors
• Double-sided tape

1- Start with 3 pieces of 12x12 paper

2- Fold it "accordion style" in 1-inch increments

3 - Fold the entire paper (you may end of with a slightly short or longer piece at the end; it's ok!)

4 - Bring the each end together to meet in the middle.

5 - Crease the center fold well.

6 - Follow steps 1-5 for the remaining 2 papers.

7 - Hold each "fan" by one side so the inner folds are visible.

8 - Place a line of hot glue along the edge and center crease.

9 - Pinch "fan" closed to adhere glue to both sides.

10 - Follow steps 7-9 for remaining "fans".

11- On outer edge of one "fan", pipe a line of glue along top and lower crease.

12 - Attach glued side to outer edge of another "fan".

13 - Pipe glue along outer edge of last "fan".  Attach it to one side of previously joined "fans".

14 - Pipe another line of glue along top edge and down center crease.

15 - Pinch together to secure.

 

 

 

Adar board

Some facts about the Hebrew Month of Adar
Known as a month of celebration and happiness, the late-winter month of Adar contains the joyous holiday of Purim that takes place mid-month. Purim, however, isn’t the only thing that makes Adar special.
The Talmud tells us that “when the month of Adar arrives, we increase in joy” to welcome a season of miracles. Accordingly, the Talmud tells us that this month is fortuitous for the Jewish people.
Adar is the only month in the Jewish calendar that comes back for seconds. The Jewish leap year, or shanah me’uberet (literally “pregnant year” in Hebrew), occurs approximately once every three years. In order to assure that the lunar months of the Jewish year stay in sync with the solar calendar, an additional month of Adar is added. Purim is celebrated in the second Adar.
Tradition relates that Moses passed away on 7 Adar.
The zodiacal sign (mazal) for Adar is Pisces, or dagim in Hebrew. In Jewish tradition, fish are a sign of blessing and fruitfulness. Also, just as fish live in water, the Jewish people thrive when immersed in the Torah, which is compared to life-giving water.
Adar was the last month the Jewish people spent in Egypt before the Exodus. Adar’s joy is so great, in part, because it serves as the opening to an even greater rejoicing: the miracles of Passover.
Have a happy month!

The month of Adar brown paper board 

The Laws & Customs of Rosh Chodesh

Star of David wood pendant

The Star of David is a symbol commonly associated with Judaism and the Jewish People. In Hebrew, it is called Magen David (“Shield of David”). A six-pointed star, the Star of David is composed of two overlaid equilateral triangles, one pointing up and the other pointing down.
Two Triangles in the Star of David
The Zohar (3:73a) states, “There are three knots connecting [three entities] one to another: the Holy One, blessed be He; Torah; and Israel.” The Jewish soul connects to its Creator through the study and observance of Torah. The triangle represents the connection between these three entities. The essence of the soul connects with G‑d’s essence through the study of the teachings of Kabbalah


Star or Shield of David handmade pendant carved from solid pine wood and naturaly wax finished.

Wood Pendant

The Magen David: How the Six-Poined Star Became an Emblem for the Jewish People

Decorative handmade trees for Tu b'Shevat

The celebration of Tu B'Shevat  is the New Year of Trees which is one of the four New Years referenced in the Mishnah or Mishna. This is a minor Jewish Holiday in modern times serving as a tree planting festival and celebration. The holiday is believed to have originated as an agricultural festival indicating the onset of Spring and the fiscal new year of agriculture.
The Hebrew spelling of Tu B'Shevat is ט״ו בשבט‎. This holiday occurs each year in the month of Shevat on the 15th day. Tu B'Shevat is known as the New Year of Trees, Rosh HaShanah La'llanot (ראש השנה לאילנות). Each year on Tu B'Shevat Israelis and Jews across the globe plant trees to celebrate, along with commemorate and honor loved ones on this Jewish Arbor Day.
Decor your home with handmade trees.

Decorative trees

 

Tu B'shevat - Coloring Book For Adults - Jewish 'New Year for Trees' Festival: Tu B'Shevat Colouring Collection For Teenagers & Grown ups

Trees, Earth, and Torah: A Tu B'Shevat Anthology

Tu b'Shevat paper letters

Creative letter paper cutting for a Tu b'Shevat decoration.

Burlap napkin rings for Tu b'Shevat table

Although there are no specific dishes that have traditionally been prepared for Tu B’Shevat, the custom of serving dishes that contain fruits and nuts has emerged. There is also the custom of consuming the Shevah Minim or "Seven Species," the five fruits and two grains found in the land of Israel. According to Gil Marks in the Encyclopedia of Jewish Food, the seven species are either eaten in the order in which they’re mentioned in Deuteronomy, namely wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates or in order of their importance in ancient Israel, wheat, barley, olives or olive oil, dates, grapes or wine, figs and pomegranates. Some people also eat fruits, such as apples, quinces, walnuts, pistachios and carob, which are mentioned in the Torah or have come to be associated with Israel. With the various ingredients that one can choose to include on their table for Tu B’Shevat, there is room for much creativity and the possibilities are endless. Decor your Seder table.
Do you think pumpkins are quite an old cliche in decor? Be different this year,
and if you've been kind of obsessed with empty toilet paper rolls lately, there’s so many cool DIY projects you can do with both of them 
As these burlap napkin rings I've made. These are very inexpensive to make and fairly easy and they cost next to nothing to make!
Burlap napkin rings will add a touch of rustic charm to your table top. Burlap rings are wrapped with  cotton lace and accented with a miniature button in a creamy, wood color. Just slip them on your napkins for a bit of rustic Tu b'Shevat elegance.

 Burlap napkin rings table decorations

 

Tu BiShevat Seder: Volume 1

Corks tree placeholder

You may use wine during an holiday, and if you love drinking wine, then you have probably asked yourself many times about what you should do with the wine cork. You can actually use wine cork in a very creative way to make ornaments for Tu b'Shevat tree ...

Corks tree placeholder

Wool tree decoration for Tu b'Shevat

In 2018, the "birthday of the trees" begins at sundown on Tuesday, Jan. 30
Tu B’Shevat or the “birthday” of all fruit trees, is a minor festival. The name is Hebrew for the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shevat.
In ancient times, Tu B’Shevat was merely a date on the calendar that helped Jewish farmers establish exactly when they should bring their fourth-year produce of fruit from recently planted trees to the Temple as first-fruit offerings.
In the 16th century, the Kabbalists of Tzfat in the Land of Israel created a new ritual to celebrate Tu B’Shevat called the Feast of Fruits. Modeled on the Passover seder, participants would read selections from the Hebrew Bible and Rabbinic literature, and would eat fruits and nuts traditionally associated with the land of Israel. The Kabbalists also gave a prominent place to almonds in the Tu B’Shevat seder , since the almond trees were believed to be the first of all trees in Israel to blossom. Carob, also known as bokser or St. John’s bread, became another popular fruit to eat on Tu B’Shevat, since it could survive the long trip from Israel to Jewish communities in Europe. Participants in the kabbalistic seder would also drink four cups of wine: white wine (to symbolize winter), white with some red (a harbinger of the coming of spring); red with some white (early spring) and finally all red (spring and summer).
Complete with biblical and rabbinic readings, these kabbalists produced a Tu B’Shevat Haggadah in 1753 called “Pri Etz Hadar” or “Fruit of the Goodly Tree.”

Wool tree

The Month of Shevat: Elevating Eating & Tu b'Shevat

Felt birds tribute for Shabbath Shirah

The Shabbat on which the Parsha of Beshalach is read is called Shabbat Shira, because it contains the song sung by Israel after the splitting of the Red Sea.
Tradition teaches that there are only ten true Songs (Shirot, the plural of Shirah) in the history of the world. These true Songs are not mere melodies; they are expressions of the harmony of creation and mark monumental transitions in history. Another of these Songs appears on the haftarah portion for the week (Judges 4:4-5:31): the Song of Deborah. The Song of Songs is, of course, one of the Ten Songs. Interestingly, the Tenth Song has not yet been sung: it is the Song of the coming of the Mashiach, which will be sung at the End of Days (see Isaiah 26:1).

To celebrate Shabbat Shirah, the Rabbis suggested, in addition to the customs connected with the synagogue Torah reading, a home-based ritual: on Shabbat Shirah we feed the birds. Some have suggested that we do so to acknowledge the birds’ singing in praise of G.d and his great miracle at the sea. Others have linked feeding birds with their role in the biblical story of the double portion of manna that miraculously appeared on Friday so that the Israelites would not have to gather manna on Shabbat. A midrash tells us that two trouble-makers, Dathan and Aviram, put out manna Friday evening so that the people would discover it on the morning of Shabbat and Moshè and G.d would be discredited. But the birds gobbled up all the manna before the people awoke, preserving the miracle of the double portion of manna on Friday and its absence on Shabbat and, thus, confirming the leadership of Moshè. 

Tribute to the birds

 Homemade garland with handmade felt birds decoration for Shabbath Shirah.

Shevat board

Seven facts about the Hebrew Month of Shevat
Jews around the world usher in the new month of Shevat today. While not as well known as the Hebrew months of Tishrei or Nissan, when we celebrate the High Holidays and Passover, Shevat is a month rich in symbolism and meaning.

The month of Kislev brown paper board

1.It’s the Eleventh Month in Torah
The Torah doesn’t give names to the months of the year. Instead, it calls Nissan, the month of spring, the first month. Counting from Nissan, then, makes Shevat the 11th month.
2. It’s All Babylonian to Me:
The name first appears in the Book of Zechariah, and is believed to be a loan word from ancient Akkadian. Related to the word lashing, the name refers to the heavy rains of the season as winter draws to a close. Rain, in Jewish tradition, is tied with blessings.
3. The Age of Aquarius
The sign for the month of Shevat is Aquarius, the waterbearer. This further ties Shevat to the rainy season, reflecting the Biblical verse, “Water will flow from his wells.”
4. Make Like a Tree
Shevat is well known as the month of Tu B’Shevat, the new years for trees, but according to the Mishnah, there’s an opinion that the new year should be celebrated on the first of the month, not the 15th.
5. The King’s Speech
The month of Shevat was when Moses prepared for his passing in the following month on 7 Adar. He took the opportunity to rebuke the children of Israel, as recorded in Deuteronomy. Out of honor for the Jewish people, Moses saved these words of rebuke and heartfelt criticism until right before he passed away.
6. How Do You Say Abraham?
The Midrash explains that Moses spent the month of Shevat translating the entire Torah into the 70 major languages then spoken.
This teaches an incredibly important lesson: Every Jew has a connection to the Torah, even one who can not read it in its original tongue.
7. A Hidden Message:
We don’t know who first gave the month this special acrostic, but the word Shevat can stand for the Hebrew express Shenishma Besurot Tovot, that we should be blessed to share good tidings.
How appropriate in the month that celebrates the blessings of abundance, new life, and importance of the Torah.

                                                Children version

The Laws & Customs of Rosh Chodesh

Tevet board

Tevet is the 10th month on the Jewish calendar, counting from Nissan. Its name, which is mentioned in the book of Esther, was acquired in Babylonia, and shares a root with the Hebrew word tov, meaning “good.”
This month begins with the last days of Chanukah. By internalizing the message of the ever-increasing lights of the menorah we are able to reveal the good that is hidden in our lives and in the world around us.
The 10th of Tevet is a fast day, commemorating the start of the siege of Jerusalem in the year 3336 (425 BCE), which led to the destruction of the first Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple) three-and-a-half years later on the ninth of Av.

The month of Tevet brown paper board 

The Laws & Customs of Rosh Chodesh

Traditional string and nails art

One-of-a-kind home decor wall art that you make yourself. Keep it or gift it... either way you'll be happy with this unique star string art for your home.
Wood pine board is hand sanded and hand stained in dark walnut, afterward finished with natural wax.  Use the highest quality wool string 

Art of the string

DIY String Art: 24 Designs to Create and Hang