Shalom Mishpocah,
Summer is here! Warm temperatures, barbecues, and lazy days at the beach! We are halfway through this year, where is the time going? July is the seventh month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. It was named by the Roman Senate in honor of Roman general Julius Caesar in 44 B.C., being the month of his birth. Before then it was called Quintilis, being the fifth month of the calendar that started with March.
The Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (M.J.A.A) annual “Messiah Conference” begins Sunday June 29th through Saturday, July 5th, 2025, at Messiah College in Grantham PA. We will still have our Erev Shabbat service on Friday, July 4th, 2025. During the Day, Congregation Zion’s Sake offices will be closed in observance of Independence Day!
The United States Declaration of Independence is the pronouncement adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 4, 1776. Enacted during the American Revolution, the Declaration explains why the Thirteen Colonies were at war with the Kingdom of Great Britain and that they regarded themselves as thirteen independent sovereign states, no longer under British rule. With the Declaration of Independence, these new states took a collective first step in forming the United States of America. The declaration was made to guarantee equal rights for every person! Next year, 2026 the United States will celebrate is Semiquincentennial, also called the Bisesquicentennial, Sestercentennial, America250, or the Quarter Millennium, which will be the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.
The month of July ushers in the hot and muggy weather. The thermometer’s edging toward triple digits. That’s because we’re in the “Dog Days of Summer”, the hottest, muggiest days of the year. It is also a period of drought and occasional severe thunderstorms. The “Dog Days Summer” are the hottest and steamiest part of summer and run from Thursday July 3rd, 2025, through Monday, August 11th, 2025. This is a time to be wary of Heat Stroke or Heat Exhaustion.
Heat exhaustion can occur when you exert yourself, especially in hot, muggy weather. Symptoms include heavy sweating, headache, dizziness, nausea and fast heart rate. Immediately stop what you’re doing and move to a cooler area. Cool your body and seek medical care. Untreated heat exhaustion can progress to life-threatening heat stroke. Prevent Heat Exhaustion by staying hydrated, drink plenty of fluids with electrolytes. Water alone isn’t enough. Limit physical activity in the heat. Whenever possible, plan your outdoor activities for cooler times during the day (like early morning or late evening). Let your body get used to the heat. Healthcare providers call this process acclimatizing. It means you slowly expose yourself to more intense physical activity in the heat over a period of at least a couple weeks. Start with short sessions and gradually increase the duration and intensity. Dress for the occasion. Wear loose-fitting or vented clothes when working out to allow air to circulate against your skin. This helps sweat evaporate and cool your body. And always protect yourself from over exposure to the sun that results in sunburn. Skin cancer affects all humans regardless of your skin color!
As you celebrate Independence Day this year, please pray for no traffic fatalities across the entire Commonwealth of Virginia over this three-day weekend! As you enjoy the Fourth of July festivities, celebrating our nation's freedom, thank Adonai for the deliverance and freedom from sin He has given us through His Son, Yeshua and for the new, abundant life we have in Him.
Abba Father, in Yeshua name as we enjoy summertime the waves beckon, and the sandy shores await. We thank you for the gift of beach days, where the rhythmic tides and endless horizons offer solace to our souls. Bless us with laughter, joy, good health, and safety and security. May our beach days and barbeques be filled with cherished moments of family and fellowship. We offer our gratitude to You for these precious moments. May our gatherings be filled with laughter, love, and shared memories that last a lifetime.
Amen.
Blessings and Shalom,
Rabbi & Rebbetzin Carlson
Summer is here! Warm temperatures, barbecues, and lazy days at the beach! We are halfway through this year, where is the time going? July is the seventh month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. It was named by the Roman Senate in honor of Roman general Julius Caesar in 44 B.C., being the month of his birth. Before then it was called Quintilis, being the fifth month of the calendar that started with March.
The Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (M.J.A.A) annual “Messiah Conference” begins Sunday June 29th through Saturday, July 5th, 2025, at Messiah College in Grantham PA. We will still have our Erev Shabbat service on Friday, July 4th, 2025. During the Day, Congregation Zion’s Sake offices will be closed in observance of Independence Day!
The United States Declaration of Independence is the pronouncement adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 4, 1776. Enacted during the American Revolution, the Declaration explains why the Thirteen Colonies were at war with the Kingdom of Great Britain and that they regarded themselves as thirteen independent sovereign states, no longer under British rule. With the Declaration of Independence, these new states took a collective first step in forming the United States of America. The declaration was made to guarantee equal rights for every person! Next year, 2026 the United States will celebrate is Semiquincentennial, also called the Bisesquicentennial, Sestercentennial, America250, or the Quarter Millennium, which will be the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.
The month of July ushers in the hot and muggy weather. The thermometer’s edging toward triple digits. That’s because we’re in the “Dog Days of Summer”, the hottest, muggiest days of the year. It is also a period of drought and occasional severe thunderstorms. The “Dog Days Summer” are the hottest and steamiest part of summer and run from Thursday July 3rd, 2025, through Monday, August 11th, 2025. This is a time to be wary of Heat Stroke or Heat Exhaustion.
Heat exhaustion can occur when you exert yourself, especially in hot, muggy weather. Symptoms include heavy sweating, headache, dizziness, nausea and fast heart rate. Immediately stop what you’re doing and move to a cooler area. Cool your body and seek medical care. Untreated heat exhaustion can progress to life-threatening heat stroke. Prevent Heat Exhaustion by staying hydrated, drink plenty of fluids with electrolytes. Water alone isn’t enough. Limit physical activity in the heat. Whenever possible, plan your outdoor activities for cooler times during the day (like early morning or late evening). Let your body get used to the heat. Healthcare providers call this process acclimatizing. It means you slowly expose yourself to more intense physical activity in the heat over a period of at least a couple weeks. Start with short sessions and gradually increase the duration and intensity. Dress for the occasion. Wear loose-fitting or vented clothes when working out to allow air to circulate against your skin. This helps sweat evaporate and cool your body. And always protect yourself from over exposure to the sun that results in sunburn. Skin cancer affects all humans regardless of your skin color!
As you celebrate Independence Day this year, please pray for no traffic fatalities across the entire Commonwealth of Virginia over this three-day weekend! As you enjoy the Fourth of July festivities, celebrating our nation's freedom, thank Adonai for the deliverance and freedom from sin He has given us through His Son, Yeshua and for the new, abundant life we have in Him.
Abba Father, in Yeshua name as we enjoy summertime the waves beckon, and the sandy shores await. We thank you for the gift of beach days, where the rhythmic tides and endless horizons offer solace to our souls. Bless us with laughter, joy, good health, and safety and security. May our beach days and barbeques be filled with cherished moments of family and fellowship. We offer our gratitude to You for these precious moments. May our gatherings be filled with laughter, love, and shared memories that last a lifetime.
Amen.
Blessings and Shalom,
Rabbi & Rebbetzin Carlson
Posted in July 2025