Jewish Card Challenge - Pink Ribbon Cards

Hi There!

I want to challenge you to think of ways of creating Jewish themed cards outside of traditional themed cards you would normally see.

My first challenge to you came from a website I found that has a great idea - http://www.pinkribbongifts.com/products.php?prod=64 Jewish Themed Star of David Cards with the Pink Ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness..

If you take the challenge, please feel free to respond on the comments section with a link to your card post.

Another Hanukkah ATC

Another ATC made from the ever-so-popular Studio G Dollar Stamps...

Hanukkah ATC

I have to say that I am disappointed in the Hanukkah Clear Studio G Stamp Set I found at Jo-Anns. They could have at least said Happy Hanukkah instead of Happy Holidays considering this is the ONLY hanukkah set they have...

Anyway... here it is. I hope you enjoy :)

The 7 species and stamping

The Seven Species

The Seven Species (Hebrew: שבעת המינים, Shiv'at Ha-Minim) are seven types of fruits and grains enumerated in the hebrew bible as being special products of the Land of Isreal.

Having these fruit availble in rubber allows you to stamp many different items for Jewish stamping. You can stamp regular cards, or scrapbooking pages, or even make your own Mizrach signs.

The seven species are:

Olives: More than any other fruit, the olive symbolizes this continuity. The gnarled barks of the ancient olive trees on Israel’s terraced hillsides seem to exude a wisdom accumulated from witnessing centuries of human history. In ancient times, olive oil was used to cook, to light lamps and as soap and skin conditioner. Today, the olive remains a popular food and its golden oil is a coveted commodity. Moreover, olive oil has become more popular since the discovery that it lowers cholesterol. Olive wood, with light and dark grains, is popular for small decorative items, while the olive branch persists as a symbol of peace.

Olive stamps are harder to find (usually you'll find them in a martini), but you can use circles if you can't find a real olive stamp...

• Stazon - Olive Green Ink Pad
• Olive Branch Wood Mounted Stamp - Printworks #C2141

Grapes: During the parched heat of the late summer, the grapevines lend the countryside a welcome rich green hue as the vines bear their fruit. Wine has always been an integral part of the rituals of Judaism, as in the "kiddush" blessing on Sabbath and holidays. In ancient times, grapes were also used for seasoning and in vinegars. Today wine is a major industry, and over the past decade high-quality kosher wines have become widespread while nearly 100 "boutique" wineries have sprung up. Moreover, because grapes, especially dark grapes, are rich in iron, the fruit is recommended to ward off heart disease. Stuffed with meat and rice, the leaves of the vine make a popular dish.

Grape stamps are easy to find. You can also use leaf stamps and circle stamps if you don't have any.

• PSX Large Grape Cluster - PSX (retired) K1783

Wheat: With a cool and wet winter followed by a dry spring, Israel’s climate is ideal for wheat growing. Today the northern Negev is the bread basket of Israel. In winter the fields around Kiryat Gat are a rich green, turning a glorious golden color in the late spring before the harvest begins during the festival of Shavuot. In biblical times as today, bread was the staple of the local diet. The modern Israeli supermarket bulges with a choice of local breads like halla and pita as well as imported concepts like the baguette and standard sliced loaf.

Wheat stamps are harder to find. As soon as I get the chance I'll look up the names of the ones I have and list them here.

• Stamp and Go Wild Wheat

Barley: In biblical times barley was the poor-man’s staple - eaten as porridge and barley cakes. Cattle and other livestock were also fed barley. Today, the grain has become a marginal culinary ingredient used in soups and stews. Barley’s most common modern use in Israel is as the basic ingredient for beer, sold locally in bottles and cans and served in pubs from the barrel.

Barley stamps are harder to find. As soon as I get the chance I'll look up the names of the ones I have and list them here.

Figs: The fig tree — with its distinctive leaves, used as clothes by Adam and Eve - is a ubiquitous part of the Israeli landscape. In biblical times the fig was eaten fresh or as a seasoning, in addition to being used to make honey and alcohol. The fig itself, ripe in midsummer, is today an expensive delicacy. In fact it is best eaten straight from the tree in the late afternoon after being baked naturally by the sun. Dried figs covered in sugar are also a popular item.

Fig stamps are harder to find. As soon as I get the chance I'll look up the names of the ones I have and list them here.

Dates: Date palms are only found in the hotter inland rift valley. In biblical times they grew in the Jordan Valley, but with modern irrigation techniques the palms have also taken root near the Dead Sea and further south in the Arava. In the biblical era dates were made into honey, and many believe the notion of the "land flowing with milk and honey" actually referred to date honey. Today, dates are a popular sweet snack before or after meals and fetch premium prices for export to Europe.

Date stamps are harder to find. As soon as I get the chance I'll look up the names of the ones I have and list them here.

Pomegranates: Pomegranate trees are prevalent in Israeli gardens. The tree with its rich green leaves and red flowers becomes heavy with fruit for Rosh Hashanah (New Year) The plump red fruits are often plucked to decorate the succa during the feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles). In biblical times the pomegranate was used for making wine and seasonings in addition to its function as a dye. Then, too, it was appreciated for its aesthetic qualities, particularly the crown near the stem. Tradition has it that a pomegranate has 613 seeds to represent the 613 commandments in the Torah (five books of Moses). Today the pomegranate is traditionally eaten on the New Year although rarely otherwise, and occasionally used for flavoring in cooking.

Although you can find them, you do have to search a little bit. I'll list mine as soon as I can.

• Pomegranate paper from Stampin Up!
• Pomegranate ink pad from Stampin Up!

Jewish Crafts & Hiddur Mitzvah

Hiddur Mitzvah: (lit. “enhancement of the mitzvah” or
"beautification of the mitzvah); enhancement or meticulous observance of a mitzvah (divine commandment) beyond the formal demands of the law.

For observant Jews, the Hebrew word mitzvah literally means commandment, but in the Jewish tradition, it has also come to mean blessing or good deed. Hiddur means to make beautiful. The concept, then, of hiddur mitzvah can be interpreted as beautifying those objects that are used in rituals.

More about Hiddur Mitzvah:

www.yutorah.org/_shiurim/Hiddur Mitzvah.html

MyJewishLearning.com - Holidays: Holiday Art

The Value of Hiddur Mitzvah Bnai Keshet

Jewish ATC's & Trading Tagz

I spent a little time yesterday creating some Jewish ATC's and a frew Trading Tagz for trade.. hope you enjoy!

Flicker: Jewish Crafts Group

I just got this message circulated through email from "Raspberry Hamentashen"....

============================

To share a photo with the Jewish Crafts photo pool:
1. Upload the photo to your Flickr account.
2. Add a title to your photo.
3. Add a description of the project.
4. Add the tag phrase "Jewish Crafts" (in quotation marks).
5. Add other tags of your choosing to describe your project.
6. Go to the Jewish Crafts photo pool http://www.flickr.com/groups/jewishcrafts/
7. If you are not a member, please join the group.
8. Go the the photo you wish to share. Click on the "Send to Group"button above your photo to add it to the Jewish Crafts group.
9. Share your photos with other groups on Flickr, too, and spread theword about Jewish crafts.

Recently discovered "Jewish" themed stamps..

When all the stores start to put out their Christmas goodies, it's time to search for Hanukkah items!

I'll list what I find, where I find it and for how much I found it for, that can be used for Jewish Stamping... If you find anything useful please post and let us know!

JoAnn's

• Studio G - Menorah Stamp - $1.00 - barcode 858237000146
• Studio G - Peace Dove - $1.00 - barcode 858237000146
• Studio G - Peace on Earth - $1.00 - barcode 858237000146
• Inkadinkado - Peace Dove Stamp 6670K - $7.00 (approx) - barcode 725718966706
• Stuido G Clear Stamp - Happy Holidays VS4195 - $1.00 - barcode 858237000139

Michaels

• Studio G - Presents Tower - #1.00 - barcode 729632043307
• Studio G - Peace & Dove - $1.00 - barcode 729632043307
• Studio G - Celebrate! - $1.00 - barcode 729632003189 (leftover from previous bins of Studio G stamps) (Great for Hanukah or Bar/Bat Mitzvah's or other occasion)
• Studio G - Happy New Year - $1.00 - barcode 858237000146 (Perfect for Rosh Hashana)

Yom Kippur Rubber Stamping Tips

Yom Kippur:

This is the most solemn day of the Jewish calendar. It is definatley not a jewish holiday to send cards.

Most Jews spend the day in synagogue and pray to be written in the book of life for another year (see Rosh Hashana).

Tu B'Shevat Rubber Stamping Tips

Tu B'Shevat

Tu B'Shevat, the 15th day of the Jewish month of Shevat, is a holiday also known as the New Year for Trees. Tu B'Shevat is the new year for the purpose of calculating the age of trees for tithing. See Lev. 19:23-25, which states that fruit from trees may not be eaten during the first three years; the fourth year's fruit is for G-d, and after that, you can eat the fruit.

There are very few customs or observances related to this holiday but I happen to like it mainly because of my attraction to trees and nature. One custom is to eat a new fruit on this day. Some people plant trees. A lot of Jewish children go around collecting money for trees for Israel at this time of year.

Some ideas for rubber stamping are:

• Trees
• Flowers
• Fruits

Some common sentiments for the day are:

• Plant a tree
• Leviticus 19:24-25
• Proverbs 11:30

Passover Rubber Stamping Tips

Passover/Pesach

Of all the Jewish holidays, Pesach is the one most commonly observed, even by otherwise non-observant Jews. Pesach begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. Passover marks the start of a few agricultural holidays, but the primary observances of Passover is related to the Exodus from Egypt after generations of slavery. "Pesach" comes from the Hebrew root Peh-Samech-Chet , meaning to pass through or to pass over. It refers to the fact that G-d "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt.

Here's some ideas to get you stamping your very own Passover cards:

• matzoh stamps, (square stamps with little dots to look like matzoh)
• seder plates (round plates with round sections for each of the food types for passover seder). You can use circle shaped stamps for this.
• Any of the plagues - usually frogs just because they're so darn cute on cards. I can think of a SU! set that has frogs...
• Grapes/Grapevines
• Other Fruit (generic for most holidays)
• A "Passover" word stamp, or combination of letters to spell P-A-S-S-O-V-E-R

Some common sentiments are:

• Happy Passover
• Pasover Blessings
• A wish for you at Passover...
• Wishing you joy at Passover

More info about Passover and some card ideas at Hallmark.com -http://pressroom.hallmark.com/passover.html

Using Christian Rubber Stamps for Jewish Themed Cards

Keep in mind that when your stamping Jewish - anything is fair game.

There are a few good companies out there that have a decent selection of Jewish themed stamps, but you have to admit that ther isn't the selection we'd like to have. This is where you just have to be creative.

For a while now, I've been searching the Christian Rubber Stamp websites for stamps I could use with my cards. You can find bibilical passages (psalms, proverbs, etc), biblical fruits (grapes, pomegranates, etc), and other appropriate stamps. (Keep in mind if they contain the word G-D, that most Jews keep to the thought that the page cannot be simply thrown away, and has to be "disposed" of properly - thus why some synagogues have huge storage areas for old prayer books etc - they aren't thrown away).

Here are some links to get you started:

• Biblical Impressions - http://www.biblicalstamps.com/
• Faith Meadow = http://www.faithmeadow.com/
• Catholic Rubber Stamps - http://www.catholicrubberstamps.com/ - more Catholic, than Christian - but there are a few that could be used.
• Verses Rubber Stamps - http://www.versesrubberstamps.com/

I hope this helps you in your journey. Please let me know if it does or if you have additional comments.

Purim Rubber Stamping Tips

Purim

This holiday is known playfully as the "Jewish Halloween" although has completely different meanings. The Jewish Halloween reference comes because kids and adults both get dressed up in costumes for this holiday.

Purim is celebrated on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Adar, which is usually in March. The primary commandment for Purim is to listen to the reading of the book of Esther. The book of Esther is commonly known as the "Megillah" which means scroll. It is customary to boo, hiss, stamp feet and rattle gragers (noise makers) whenever the name of Haman is mentioned during the service. The purpose of this custom is to blot out the name of Haman.We are also commanded to eat, drink and be merry. A person is required to drink until he cannot tell the difference between cursed be Haman and blessed be Mordecai - though opinions differ from person to person how drunk that is. (A person certainly should not become so drunk that he might violate other commandments or get seriously ill). Recovering alcoholics or others who might suffer serious harm from alcohol are of course exempt from this obligation).

In addition, we are commanded to send out gifts of food or drink, and to make gifts to charity. It is also customary to hold carnival like celebrations on Purim, to perform theater, plays and parodies, etc.

To give you a list of things you could stamp:

• Scrolls
• Esther (pretty women)
• Hamentashen (triangular cookies)
• clowns and circus
• graggers or noise makers
• Masks (similar to mardi gras masks)
• Some halloween stamps may be appropriate, but I think avoiding gouls, ghosts, monsters, etc may be a good idea.

Some common sentiments

• Happy Purim

Some stamp sets and companies to get you started!

• Ruth's Jewish stamps also carries a large selection
• Hevea Art Stamps
• Zum Gali Gali

Some ideas for cards from other crafters:

• http://www.highlightskids.com/Express/Crafts/Holidays/C0301_purimCard.asp

Rosh Hashana Stamping Tips

Rosh Hashana - The Jewish New Year

Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of the Jewish calendar month of Tishri. The rituals used as a part of this 'feast of trumpets', or the feast of shofar, is a festive feast. It is a Minhag (custom) during the New Year season featuring sweet foods is a symbol of our desire for a sweet year.

In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year." According to the Talmud, the Jewish scripture, symbolic acts are performed as a good omen, and also as an expression of prayer that the New Year brings good for all.

The common greeting at this time is L'shanah tovah ("for a good year"). This is a shortening of "L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem" (or to women, "L'shanah tovah tikatevi v'taihatemi"), which means "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year."

A popular practice of the holiday is Tashlish (or known as "casting off"). We walk to a flowing water supply, such as a creek or river on the afternoon of the first day and empty our pockets into the river, symbolically casting off our sins.

Another practice is to eat apples dipped in honey to symbolize our wish for a sweet new year. After the appropriate blessing on the apple, it is added: "May it be Your will to renew for us a good and sweet year." These foods are eaten as "simanim," "good omens," of success and happiness for the coming year.

If your Rosh Hashana (New Years) cards arrive late, most people are happy if a card gets to them any time before Yom Kippur!

This is usually the time of year that we give cards rather than the winter holiday season.

Some ideas for cardmaking for Rosh Hashana:

There are a few ways that people spell the holiday:

• Rosh Hashana
• Rosh Hashanna
• Rosh Hashanah

To give you some examples of cards for Rosh Hashanna, you can stamp using

• Apples
• Honey, or honey pots
• Bees or Beehives
• water/river scenes
• star of davids

Here is a listing of Rubber Stamp sets and companies that can provide sets that would be appropriate:

• Stampin Up! Decorative Country Apple
• Ruth's Jewish Stamps has a ton of Rosh Hashana Stamps and other Jewish Stamps
• Hevea Art Stamps also has a lot of Rosh Hashana and other Jewish Stamps

Some example sentiments:

• Wishing you a year of health and happiness
• Thinking of you on Rosh Hashana
• Shana Tova (or Shana Tovah, L'Shana Tova)
• May you be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life
• Make it wiht a mighty blow... L'Shanah Tovah!
• Y'hee ratzon Hashem sheh-tichadesh alainu shana tovah oomtookah. "May it be your will Hashem that you renew for us a good and sweet year."