Rosh Hashanah L’Ma’sar Behemah “New Year for Tithing Animals” begins Tuesday, September 3!

Rosh Hashana LaBehemot for Hebrew Year 5784 begins at sundown on Tuesday, 3 September 2024 and ends at nightfall on Wednesday, 4 September 2024.

Rosh Hashanah L’Ma’sar Behemah (Hebrew: ראש השנה למעשר בהמה‎ “New Year for Tithing Animals”) or Rosh Hashanah LaBehemot (Hebrew: ראש השנה לבהמות‎ “New Year for (Domesticated) Animals”) is one of the four New Year’s day festivals (Rosh Hashanot) in the Jewish calendar as indicated in the Mishnah. During the time of the Temple, this was a day on which shepherds determined which of their mature animals were to be tithed. The day coincides with Rosh Chodesh Elul, the New Moon for the month of Elul, exactly one month before Rosh Hashanah.

Read more from hazon.org or Wikipedia

Shabbat Shalom Artwork

I’ve just launched a new section of HebrewArt.com. This one will be a collection of all of my “Shabbat Shalom” graphics that I’ve been producing every Friday morning and posting on Facebook for all to share.

You have my permission to share them as well on social media leading into the weekly holy day (beginning at sundown each Friday). All I ask is that you leave the copyright line at the bottom for proper credit.

With that, I wish you a Shabbat Shalom, peace on the Sabbath Day!

Happy Independence Day, USA!

It’s the 4th of July in the United States of America and we’re celebrating independence from the British Empire in 1776. Along with the fireworks and outdoor barbecues, I do hope my fellow countrymen will read a book or an online article about the history of this day. My schooling way back when did cover it, but I fear that it’s not emphasized these days.

And yes, I’m sounding old. What can I say? The gray in my beard is real!

Man's Search for Meaning

"... it did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life - daily and hourly. Our answer must consist, not in talk and meditation, but in right action and conduct."

Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1959

Illuminations: Uncovering Beauty Through Wisdom and Coloring

I hope you will enjoy my first self-published book, “Illuminations: Uncovering Beauty Through Wisdom and Coloring” exclusively on Amazon for only $6.99. The theme is secular so it can be enjoyed by everyone of every faith. Twenty ornate designs await your colored pencils and markers for hours of artistic exploration.

Please share your feedback with me as I plan to make this the first of many editions to come.

Happy coloring!!!

80% Discount on the Hebrew Illumination Coloring Book

Amber Lotus Publishing is winding down operations and is clearing their warehouse. While supplies last, the Hebrew Illuminations Coloring Book is 80% off its cover price.

For only $2.60 you can have…

• Intricate Jewish motifs to embellish with color.

• 38 unique full-page illustrations.

• 38 wisdom quotes and words of prayer to contemplate while coloring.

• A wonderful creative tool for Hebrew schools and scripture study groups.

• One-sided printing on heavy paper designed specifically for coloring.

• Perfect bound with a heavy durable coated cover.

• Printed in the US on paper sourced from a combination of sustainably managed forests and recycled materials.

• Paperback

• 80 pages

• 8.5 x 0.25 x 10.875 inches

Please note that the 2024 Hebrew Illuminations Wall Calendar has sold out and is not included in this discount program. I mean, there are none left to sell!!!

The 2025 edition is on pre-order at Amazon and is now handled by Andrews McMeel Publishing which has worldwide distribution.

The Hebrew Illuminations Coloring Book is now 80% off while supplies last at Amber Lotus.

Pre-Order the 2025 Hebrew Illuminations Wall Calendar

The 2025 Hebrew Illuminations wall calendar is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com. If you order today it will be on your doorstep on May 14th.

Features include:

• 12" x 12" wall calendar (12" x 24" open)

• Fold-around cover design eliminates need for plastic packaging

• High-quality printing on premium paper stock

• Spans September 2024–December 2025 28 Av, 5784–11 Tevet, 5786

• Jewish holidays and observances

• Candle lighting times for Shabbat and holidays

• Official government holidays for U.S., Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand

• Moon phases, based on Universal Time

• Inspiring biblical quotes

• Perfect gift for Judaic art lovers

• Wall art for your home, school, or office that provides a sense of time for planning and dreaming

• WE PLANT TREES to offset our carbon footprint and resource usage — more than ONE MILLION and growing!

• NO SINGLE-USE PLASTIC — We have eliminated single-use shrink wrap to reduce plastic pollution.

• SUSTAINABLY SOURCED — Our paper is sourced from a combination of recycled materials and wood harvested from socially and environmentally sustainable forests and is Forest Stewardship Council® Certified.

The new 2025 Hebrew Illuminations wall calendar now available for pre-order on Amazon.com.

Hebrew Illuminations joins Andrews McMeel Publishing

In 2024, the Hebrew Illuminations Wall Calendar will be published by Andrews McMeel Publishing, Kansas City, MO.

The title was published annually by Amber Lotus Publishing, Portland, OR since its debut in 2004 and has since sold over 165,000 copies worldwide. Amber Lotus will now become an imprint of Andrews McMeel in 2024.

Andrews McMeel only selected a few titles from the Amber Lotus catalog to continue printing, and Hebrew Illuminations is one of them.

The 2024-2025 edition has already been designed and will be available for pre-orders in March, 2024. Collectors can expect a new-and-improved grid layout and print format that eliminates plastic waste. Nine brand new paintings fill the 16-months of Judaic beauty.

A review of the past eight Hebrew Illuminations Wall Calendars as published by Amber Lotus since 2004