It's snowing in Jerusalem!

Today is the tenth of tevet,when we recall the day that the siege of jerusalem began,a sad day on the Jewish calendar.Its also Erev Shabbat.It seems strange to be fasting now.Just concluded Mincha afternoon prayes including the special prayer for fast days called  anaynu,which means "answer us ".It's ironic that in the words of that prayer we beseech g-d "al tastir panecha meemeni" don't hide your face from me" and yet in just two hours we will be ushering in the Shabbat,proclaiming the exact opposite penai Shabbat nekabla 

"The face of the holy queen we will receive". Hiddeness followed by redemption and revelation,all experienced in the course of a frigid winter Friday afternoon.Competing spiritual energies gevurah-hiddeness and Chesed-benevolence swirl around us,as we scurry about finalizing our last minute Shabbat preparations!The message of the prophet ISAIAH that we've just read in the Mincha haftorah is jubilant and fills us with hope,"For as the rain or snow drops from heaven and returns not there,but soaks the earth and makes it bring forth vegetation,so is the word that issues from my mouth"

It's amazing to me that it's snowing in Jerusalem as we read this prophecy!Bring on Shabbat,and let the good times roll !:)

Shabbat shalom 

Yossi