Sunset Over Mount Meron On Rosh Chodesh Sivan

Chodesh tov, wishing you a joyful new month, dear readers! Every month on the Jewish calendar has its own special qualities, and the first day of the month, rosh chodesh, is a mini holiday of sorts. We have a special affection for the cycle of the year and the numerous celebrations it includes as well as the periods of mourning and fast days to remember the sad times. As it turns out, the month of Sivan contains the special holiday of Shavuot, on which we celebrate the giving of the Torah, and receive the Torah each and every year. The four days between the beginning of the month of Sivan and the holiday of Shavuot are very special, and so I just had to smile when my son called me outside to witness the stunning sunset yesterday evening, marking the beginning of this period. We do see sunsets like this now and again, but this time the intense orange sky was so nicely placed beside the mountain making it a perfect image for Shavuot!

Anyone see anything on that mountain that reminds them of something?

Ah yes, there on the top of that mountain, that actually houses a very important army base, (Lebanon is just a stone's throw to the right) are two little half domed structures that always remind me of the luchot habrit, the tablets on which the ten commandments are written, see it?

Okay, gotta run, shabbat preparations and my own mountains of laundry are calling. Happy preparations for Shavuot and enjoy this special time! Get out the greenery and the flowers and make your home, or at least the area around your dining table look like paradise. A great excuse to splurge on some interesting house plants I'd say, Ah yes I already have just a bit, stay tuned for that!