Our friends came in the morning:
families with children
young men and ladies
friends from Israel
and Rabbi.
Rabbi’s daughter brought her guitar.
The ladies went in the house:
to cook the food, to make the sweet tea
to twist flowers for their hair.
The men went to the field:
to find a flat place, to look at plans
to build the Sukka with nails and boards.
I rode in the truck:
down the hill
into the woods.
I picked up the branches as the men cut them down.
Families with children
Young men and ladies
Friends from Israel
And Rabbi
And I
Hung the branches in the Sukka.
The ladies came out from the house wearing flowers in their hair.
They brought:
lights for the Sukka
fruit to hang up
sweet tea in pitchers
bagels on trays
Mama wiped bagel crumbs off my brother’s cheek.
Rabbi stood up for a speech. In his hand were four things:
myrtle
palm
willow
citron
Hold them in your hands, he said. Wave them in the Sukka.
Up
Down
Right
Left
We make a cross as we wave. We remember Yeshua.
Rabbi’s daughter brought out her guitar and
Mama danced with the ladies
Papa built a bonfire
I ran with my brother in the field
We heard our friends singing.
One day, Rabbi says, when Yeshua comes again, He will celebrate with us:
the Feast of Tabernacles
the Feast of Booths
Sukkot
When He comes, I will share my sweet tea with Him.
In the Sukka, my brother and I look up through the branches.
We remember Yeshua Messiah.
We remember He is coming soon.
Author notes
This is my first draft of a Messianic Jewish children's book. Read it as such. Imagine that you turn the page when you reach a blank line. As a piece of children's literature, what do you think?
Written June 14th, 2006
What did you think
Comments
1 - 14 of 14
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Thanks for your comment. I put this as a children's book because I hope to complete illustrations and actually have it published. As a connoisseur of children's literature, I've yet to find a picture book addressing Messianic Judaism. I hope fill that gap with works such as these. Pray for me, though. Maybe you'll see this in the children's section of the bookstore one day! Once again, thank you so much for the comment!
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A Sukka is a booth originally built during the fall harvest as a shelter for field laborers. It may look like a playhouse or a tree house, built with no more than three walls and covered with boughs. Here is one example of a Sukka without the decorations: succah.telarian.com/fig14.htm The celebration of this festival harkens back to agrarian Ancient Israel as well as being a reminder to modern Jewry of the 40 years of wandering in the desert before entering the promised land. :-D Hope that helps!
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Thanks for your comment. I hope we understand one another: Messianic Jews are also called Hebrew Christians, and Yeshua is Jesus' name in Hebrew. He has come once (the "Suffering Servant")--we look forward to His return! Once again, thank you for the encouragement!
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Blessed is the word....
"G-d was here, in this place, and I knew it not!"
Thanks for taking me to sukkot! The kids will certainly love this!
John---------------------Las Vegas, Nevada -
I think this is an excellent children's book. It is easy enough to understand. You explain things nicely. You might want to go into a little more detail to explain the rituals and such. I don't know what age you inteded this for.
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Very easy to read - but what is a sukka - is that a church, tabernackle? If you could put that in your author comments it would help us to understand this better.
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Excellent
This sounds like an excellent child's leanring book, I know I learned from it
Very simple, yet full of imagery and information in a calm flowing manner. Nicely written!
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very good
I liked it very much.Very readable for children. For me, of course, Yeshua has already come. -
I think this would be excellent for a jewish book, especially with illustrations. I am not jewish but the words weaved such clear and beautiful images into my mind... this was very well done. you have all my luck, i think it will be a great kids book
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wonderful writing throught he eyes of a child great imagery keep up the good work
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Oh I love this. I knew you wrote it even though I had forgotten to look at the name. I see why it will make a GREAT children's book. The illustrations will be beautiful. And the message is awesome. I think it's fantastic.
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not sure why you put this piece in as a childrens book, but is really good none the less!
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Wonderful, It will be faboulous with illustrations!!
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You know, despite being a children's book, this could read as a sophisticated free verse.
'to twist flowers for their hair.'
Either I didn't understand that, or perhaps it should be 'into their hair'? I'm not sure.
Well done. I adore your form.
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