art and design by Laya Crust
Rosh HaShana always seems to creep up before we know it, and this year more than ever. September has just started. We just enjoyed Labour Day. Students are getting back to class. And, guess what? Rosh HaShana starts this weekend. To make things a little better I thought we could do a craft together- make a pop-up card with a pomegranate theme.
The pomegranate is beautiful. It’s one of the biblical seven species of Israel, and it’s a favourite fruit for the new year. It is often used as a special fruit for a blessing on the second night of Rosh HaShana. There is a theory that each pomegranate has 613 seeds- the number of “mitzvot” or commandments we were given to observe. By choosing the pomegranate we are acknowledging the 613 commandments.
We want our friends, relatives- and ourselves- to have a happy, worry free, healthy, peaceful, year. Here is a New Year’s card that you can make yourself. Go ahead and have some fun.
Start by printing the picture below on an 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper: We’ll call it ” Model 1″
Fold the sheet in half lengthwise.
Take your page and cut along the solid line through both halves of the paper. DO NOT cut through that blank space in the centre of the half circle near the words “without any”.
Now you have cut the shape of a pomegranate.
Fold the page in half widthwise. The message “Shana Tova u’Metukah” (in Hebrew) will be on one side and all the text will be on the other.
Fold the page as shown above.
Pull the pomegranate gently towards you. The pomegranate should extend out and the rest of the card folds in the opposite way. Does that make sense? So, below you can see all the steps.And here is the ultimate greeting!
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So get out the honey cake and a cup of tea, print up a couple of pages from “Model 1” and with just a pair of scissors a piece of paper and some patience you can wow your friends and impress your family with a 3-D card!
If you are a teacher you might even want to do this with your class.
All the best for a wonderful, healthy and peaceful New Year!
Laya and family
Dear Laya,You are putting me to work. I will try. I’ve printed it out. Honey cake is already made so I’m ahead….so far. Still need to bake an apple cake and a pavlova, prepare fish and carrot cake or barley risotto, but that will be Sunday. Thursday I set the table for Monday, and the kitchen table for Shabbat. But I’m not complaining. I love having the “big” family around the table. Wishing you all a Shana Tova U’Metukah Gwen
It all sounds wonderful. I hope you find the “work” of the card fun. Your menu sounds amazing! Shana Tova.
Great card!!
Shana Tova 🙂
Joey
Thank- have a great time with your freshly picked pomegranates!
Chag sameach! thank you for the Rosh HaShanah card, fun 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it.