Bread and Wine
After spending a day hiking the hills of beautiful Şirince (a quaint village at the end of an uphill bus ride from Ephesus), a rare occurrence made me smile deep inside.
I had just finished taste testing a portfolio of local fruit wines. The karadut—blackberry—was exquisite and the berry that this region is known for, especially at this time of the year.
…but I didn’t come for fruit wine.
Fruit of the Vine
A rare grape grows in this region of Turkey; this small vintage rarely gets sipped by locals as it is sold at a premium, bottled exclusively for the Saudi Royal family. After I provoked the sommelier in the wine cellar, he reluctantly uncorked a prized bottle from the region.
It’s Shabbat, and I was only here for one glass. Upon tasting this vintage, I knew it to be the one. One glass costs the same as an entire bottle of Karadut Şarap.
Well worth it.
I ordered dinner and headed up to the deck overlooking the valley where the waiter delivered a basket of warm bread as the sun set just beyond the rolling hills. The lighting was perfect as I casually snapped a photo of my bread and wine.
The balance in this photo immediately struck me. The blue napkin and the subtle blue bench. The touch of Turkish flare with the intricate silver dish (filled with my evening Turkish coffee).
The wood. The lighting. The moment. Everything. Beautiful!
I sipped the wine, relishing the moment, and remembering the price that was paid 2000 years ago for me to walk in freedom today. There is power in the blood!
Baruch ata Adonai,
Eloheinu Melech ha-olam,
boreh p’ri hagafen.
Blessed are You, LORD our God,
King of the universe, who creates
the fruit of the vine.
The Bread of Life
I broke off a piece of bread and held it in the palm of my hand. A single tear rolled down my cheek as I reflected on my time in Turkey. Yeshua is the Bread of Life!
Baruch ata Adonai,
Eloheinu Melech ha-olam,
hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz.
Blessed are You, LORD our God,
King of the universe, who brings
forth bread from the earth.
This sunset ended my time in this region of Turkey
My month in Selçuk was marked by delicious fruits and vegetables. Every Saturday, a pop-up farmer’s market overtakes an entire city block bringing forth the most delicious seasonal produce.
Family’s bring their rolling grocery trolley and leisurely stroll through the stalls greeting one another and filling their basket with the week’s bounty. As I had not yet figured out how to order fractional amounts, I ordered one kilo (bir kilo) of anything I found to appear delicious.
The result: an abundance of fruit to share with friends and neighbors. As I established a weekly rhythm, focused on seasonal foods and healthy eating, I took intentional time to realize how blessed I am in this moment. Truly, I’m Gr8ful.
Many on this earth go without. Even more that have food now will be blindsided in the months ahead when food seems to disappear from grocery shelves once again, all at once.
A simple reminder to friends and family: if you do not have a six-month food supply set aside, NOW is the time to ensure your future resilience.
I pray that the testimonies from my adventures will bless you and encourage you in your own faith walk. If you find the AL3XAND3R blog encouraging, please share with friends.
I’m Gr8ful.