Will Your Eye Be Evil
Toward Your Brother?
by Daniel Hamaty, M.D.
That umbral day in Eden land When first fraternal blood Spilled in jealous rebuke of Him Who sent two through the only womb.
The first of uncountable days that see Violent sibling scorn, Unending paternal groan and maternal tear, Unconsummated sorrow.
Cain’s anger, Jacob’s scheming, The jealous Joseph’s ten, The terrible Abimelech, and Absalom’s wrath Grieves Abba in heaven.
The Mosaic warning gone unheeded; Curses promised across Suph. Echoed by the Rabbi of Nazareth, a promise of hell For whoever utters, "You fool," to a brother.
Sense the stench of Dachau, See the blood-stained Armenian Hills, The slaughters in Serbia and Palestine bombs; Cain is alive and well.
Help me, O Lord, to love my brother, No reservation or oath; To clutch the hem of the Saving Brother Whose blameless scars bought us both.
–Daniel Hamaty, M.D. |
Scripture Fruit Cake
The Bible often likens the Word of God to food. Job had an "appetite for God’s Word more than for his necessary food" (Job 23:12). The Psalmist regarded the Word as "sweeter than honey from the honeycomb" (Psalm 19:10). In the Book of Revelation, John was instructed to take God’s Word and "eat the book" (Revelation 10:9).
This fun recipe is another way of eating God’s Word. It is my version of a similar recipe which appeared some time ago in the Jerusalem Post. I am sure that the children of the house will have a great time in helping make this cake. Have the older children look up the scriptures to find the ingredients.
(Note: the fruit used in this recipe is dried rather than candied.)
1 cup golden raisins (I Samuel 25:18: ". . .a hundred clusters of raisins.")
1 cup figs, chopped (Isaiah 34:4: ". . .fig from the fig tree.")
1 cup almonds, finely chopped (Numbers 17:23: ". . .bore ripe almonds.")
1 cup dates, chopped (Exodus 15:27: ". . .there were seventy palms.")
1-1/2 cups flour (Leviticus 2:5: " . . .fine flour, unleavened.")
1 pinch salt (Leviticus 2:13: " . . .season with salt.")
1 tsp. cinnamon (Exodus 30:23: ". . .of sweet cinnamon.")
1 dash ginger and allspice (Song of Solomon 4:10: ". . .all manner of spices.")
1 tsp. baking powder (Amos 4:5: ". . .of that which is leavened.")
3 large eggs (Isaiah 10:14: ". . .one gathereth eggs.")
1 cup sugar (Jeremiah 6:20: ". . .and the sweet cane.")
1/2 cup vegetable oil (Numbers 11:8: ". . .cake baked with oil.")
1 tbsp. honey (Judges 14:18: ". . .what is sweeter than honey.")
Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F) or 165 degrees (C). In a medium bowl, combine raisins, dates, figs, and almonds. Set aside. In a large bowl beat eggs until light. Gradually add sugar and continue beating for 5 minutes.
Add oil and honey slowly and continue beating another 5 minutes. Add flour, salt, baking powder, and spices, a little at a time. Stir until well-blended. Finally, fold in fruit and nuts.
Pour into well-greased 5" x 9" loaf pan or two smaller loaf pans. Bake about 1-1/2 hours for large loaf or 45 minutes to 1 hour for smaller loaves. Let cool for a few hours. Slice with sharp knife. Keeps well in refrigerator.
This cake is very good for the Jewish High Holy Days in the fall or for the Hanukkah season in the winter.
–Betsy Gerrish
from What’s Cookin’ in Jerusalem
Bridges for Peace
