Dear Doves,
      A number of us have been pondering the stories of the days of Noah and Lot. The dates of Cheshvan 10 and 17 are important anniversary dates about the beginning of The Separation and The Great Divide between the 8 of the Noah family and those outside the ark of life, provision, safety, hope and future. The family then goes through the rain, the great deluge, the floodwaters crest, then recede, and finally the earth dries, and the family leaves the ark at the far country for new home, new lives, new beginnings.
      When do the days of Noah and family end? When do the  stories end? We need to look at the whole story, the entire process, not just the stories before the rains begin at Cheshvan 17. We need to look later, as well. Cheshvan 27 is the Noah anniversary day of completion, new beginnings, hope bloomed anew, the flood completely over. The Master tells us that the end will come like a flood. When a flood starts is important, so is when it all ends. Many believe that the flood lasted one year, from a Cheshvan 17 to a Cheshvan 27. The following told me something I did not know about Cheshvan 27. The following is from www.ou.org/chagim/roshchodesh/marcheshvan/default.htm. "The 27th of Cheshvan is observed by those who fast on Erev Rosh Chodesh as a Yom Kippur Katan (small scale Yom Kippur fast day." Why is this interesting?. In 3 of 4 Gospels, The Master speaks of fasting. He mentions that when the groom is with them they will not fast. They will fast when he is taken from them. The implication is that when the groom returns, the Messiah/Christ, that the fast ends and sublime joy begins. Some of the seed of Isaac will be fasting this Cheshvan 27. The day this year links to the passage in the Sarah Torah Reading about Rebekah saying "II will go" with Eliezer to the far country, new home, new life, new beginnings, hope anew with Isaac, her groom. The I Will Go Day is the great day of The Separation, The Departure, The Great Divide for The Bride Rebekah from home, family, friends, and the life she has known. Avram and Sarah left Ur together. They had that great comfort. Rebekah, in a sense, had even greater courage and trust as she left with Eliezer, the faithful servant of Abraham, to travel 500 miles away to Isaac, a man she had never met, who became the love of her life. She had the strength to stand before the son of man. All these motifs or themes converge this week, especially on Cheshvan 27. May we WATCH each day for the Isaac-like Beloved! Come quickly, Lord..
 
 With Love and Shalom,
Jean