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Joy Serves G*d in Joy as a passionate performing percussionist, poet, publisher, photographer, publicist, sound healer, spiritual guide, artist, gardener and Gemini. "Ivdu Et Hashem B'Simcha" -Psalm 100:2 ....... Joy Krauthammer, active in the Jewish Renewal, Feminist, and neo-Chasidic worlds for over three decades, kabbalistically leads Jewish women's life-cycle rituals. ... Workshops, and Bands are available for all Shuls, Sisterhoods, Rosh Chodeshes, Retreats, Concerts, Conferences & Festivals. ... My kavanah/intention is that my creative expressive gifts are inspirational, uplifting and joyous. In gratitude, I love doing mitzvot/good deeds, and connecting people in joy. In the zechut/merit of Reb Shlomo Carlebach, zt'l, I mamash love to help make our universe a smaller world, one REVEALING more spiritual consciousness, connection, compassion, and chesed/lovingkindness; to make visible the Face of the Divine... VIEW MY COMPLETE PROFILE and enjoy all offerings.... For BOOKINGS write: joyofwisdom1 at gmail.com, leave a COMMENT below, or call me. ... "Don't Postpone Joy" bear photo montage by Joy. Click to enlarge. BlesSings, Joy
JOY's POEMS

JOY'S POEMS ... "You G*d are the Compassion, the Strength, the Beauty, the Victory, the Splendor, and the Foundation of everything in Heaven and on Earth." (1 Chronicles 1:29) ... I see Your Face in All Nature that I photograph. ... ... http://joys-poems.blogspot.com/ . . . Click "Older Posts" on lower right of each post page for MORE earlier posted stories and art.

FIG TREE AT SINAI

Fig Tree
Prior to Amputation
© Joy Krauthammer 




FIG TREE AT SINAI

Joy Krauthammer


My 32 years old,
double trunk
 Mission Fig tree
at sunrise,
filled with potential
stood proudly against the sky
two days before
I cut down the entire top of 'right' trunk.

This devoted fig tree
must have been at Revelation.
Feel its holy Essence,
its power, loving soul and Source.

My responsibility as 'Fig Mama':
to protect
and save the beloved tree
from totally uprooting.
I must take down half
of its remaining top,
the entire top of right trunk.
Blessed, heavily fig-laden in the summer
one trunk bends toward the ground.

With grief today,
at the tree's base
I stood and was strong.
as its body and beauty were felled.

I breathe deeply in great sadness,
shock and horror
at the amputation of its large limb.
I had to choose to save
longer, healthier life for the whole fig tree
with two trunks
and not only lightly prune
the dormant branches.

At shul tomorrow
I shall give the congregants,
the limbs of a tree that was at Sinai.

Dozens of straight, foot-long,
 thick, barren branches,
buds pregnant on tips
with sap beginning to flow
are chosen, pruned, and gifted.
Lev Eisha women, the new Fig Mamas,
will plant, nurture and grow fig trees.

The women and their daughters
send me photos of cherished figs,
miracles from a once barren branch.

Again this year, to honor Tu B'Shvat,
the fig tree gives its present, its gift
to the future
 from generation to generation. 

May my fig tree survive the surgery
   and again next year,
give us its heavenly fruit.

~ ~ ~

 2/1/13  Parshat Yitro



Perek ShirahThe fig tree proclaims, “The one who guards a fig will eat its fruit.” (Mishelei 27:18)
צֵר תְּאֵנָה, יֹאכַל פִּרְיָהּ
AMAYN.

Everyone will sit under their vine and fig tree and none shall make them afraid; 
 ~ ~ ~


Fig tree Mama Joy and G*d's abundant big fig tree
grown from a barren branch gift from Italy 32 years ago.
Planted the single barren scion filled with promise, in 1980, from a friend's grandfather's tree.
(Adjacent orange tree on left (next to a grapefruit tree), Joy planted 33 years ago for daughter's birthday.)

Horizontal heavy fig tree trunk
Fig tree roots on northern slope
Figs from Garden of Joy shared at Lev Eisha luncheon Kiddush












Fig photos © Joy Krauthammer
Pick 'em Perfect
















Fig tree's 2 trunks upright
Fig tree 1 of 2 trunks horizontal







Fig tree top after lower large branches were removed.
And before full top amputation.
Fig tree's 2nd Generation 2011
In 4th year I ate the fruit of the baby fig tree
and it was delicious.
2013 Tu B'Shvat branches from this tree.
This tree I planted on slope for the animals.

Figtree's Cafe collage © Joy Krauthammer 
Fig tree collage © Joy Krauthammer



 Hummingbird serenely sits high on Fig tree 2 days after tree trunk #2 amputation,
week of Tu B'Shvat, and communicates in song with nearby Mockingbird.
(I feel that this tiny bird is honoring / healing Mama Fig Tree.)




© Joy Krauthammer
~ ~ ~

5 comments:

Cindy Epstein said...

WOW, very cool!
Cindy

Shira said...

Dearest Joy,
Thank you for your poetry and photographs. They were lovely and certainly reflected the essences of you.
I felt your sadness and shock at pruning the magnificent FIG TREE AT SINAI only to be uplifted by your photo of the eastern sunrise of "GLORY AND JOY" and later immersed with you and Edith in the evening sky of Sunset. How lovely to later imagine the "awesome orange colors" Edith saw in the clouds she witnessed from "G*d's colorful crayon box". Exquisite !
Love, Shira

Edith said...

JOY........
SAD TO LOSE THOSE ARTISTIC BRANCHES.........
THEY ADDED SO MUCH INTEREST TO YOUR SUNRISE PHOTOS........
LV YA, EDITH

Hesha said...

I love it and so proud of you !!
Hesha

Aryae Coopersmith said...

Joy -- beautiful and poignant poem/story/image.
Painful choice in the service of life.