Wow, another yom hakipourim...

We all need it to live, we need it to survive.
Torah.
We've just finished the ten days of repentance. Have we repented. Do we feel renewed, reborn, refreshed, as we emerge from yom hakipourim?
We have amazing power now. We hold the power to change, not only ourselves and our futures, but others as well. Everything we do, affects others, including ourselves.
As we get ready for succout, and prepare to dwell with HKB'H, should try to perfect the miztvout that we already spend time doing. Work on our kavanout during tefila, how we talk and react to people, and how careful we are with our words and how we spend our time.
It's the small things that lead to big changes.

May we all be zochei (merit) to continue to grow throughout this year and advance closer to HKB'H with all of our efforts and tefilout.

Moadim B'simcha!

~Sarah Rutti

60 years

Look how far we've come! We have such amazing potential.

*77

I knew about the red light on cars, but not the *77.

It was about 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend An UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put his lights on. Lauren's parents have always told her never to pull over for an unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather to wait until she got to a gas station, etc.

Lauren had actually listened to her parents advice, and promptly called *77 on her cell phone to tell the police dispatcher that she would not pull over right away. She proceeded to tell the dispatcher that there was an unmarked police car with a flashing red light on his rooftop behind her. The dispatcher checked to see if there were police cars where she was and there weren't, and he told her to keep driving, remain calm and that he had back up already on the way.

Ten minutes later 4 cop cars surrounded her and the unmarked car behind her. One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car behind. They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground. The man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes.

Too bad the cell phone companies don't generally give you this little bit of wonderful information.

*Speaking to a service representative at ** Bell** Mobility confirmed that *77 was a direct link to state trooper info. So, now it's your turn to let your friends know about *77.

Send this to every woman (and person) you know; it may save a life.

This applies to ALL 50 states

15 seconds

There's a very powerful, 15 second, aish video. Please click on the link. Have a great day.

Ha'kol b'idei shamaim

The most that you can do is your best. But once that's done you have to put up your hands and say, "Ok HaShem I did my part. Your turn."
Once you've done that the hardest part sets in, bitachon. Hishtadult is done, there's nothing left for you to do.

~Shabbat Shalom.

Swept Away

The tide draws me in...
and out to sea again...

Life is full of change.
Most of it comes unexpected, unprepared for, and even when it is anticipated, the shock of it can numb you.
Like the horizon, you're drawn out toward it, you long and wait for it to come and take you, but then when it does you try to scramble back on dry land.

Why?

Because the dry land is familiar.
The sea is full of creatures. But what's worse is that the sea is driven by tides. We are pulled along. We control nothing but how we interact with it.

We can either repel it or embrace it.

We will be tossed, we will be turned, over and over and over. But we will come out alive, we will come out whole. There is nothing in the ocean that will consume us. Nothing can touch us for the good or the bad, except HaShem.

In the end the tide will calm. The ocean will bring us to a new beach. We will resettle on different dry land, which will soon become familiar. Life will resume.

When we look back on the ocean we will see the growth that brought us to were stand.

The tide draws me in...
and out to sea again...

Twisting Metal

The way the world works
is unknown.
As much as we try to
we will never fully understand.

Bitchon
He has gotten us this far,
only to continue further.

HaShem cares about all of us in a way that we cannot fathom. He is constantly checking over all of the details, the little 'coincidences', to make sure that we experience only our best! Everything that we go through is supposed to help us grow and change for the better.

While He works out the details, we need to do hishtadlut. We need to try our best to do what we can, and to invest our energies in things that we think are for our best. We need to constantly asses our situation and deduce what we can do to continue to grow closer to Him.

When we do our part, knowing that He'll do the rest, then we can 'rest assured' that He will 'twist metal' to help us.

HaShem loves us.
He's gotten us this far.
He'll get us through the rest.

Bitachon

Warning

I don't know how many people actually read my blog regularly, but, to those of you who do, I wanted to warn. I will be very busy for the next three weeks, and might not have the time to sit and post on my blog(s). I apologize in advance. I will try to keep the string of Torah thought flowing, but I might now succeed.
So, in advance, I'm sorry.
I hope you all have a great next three weeks! Thanks for your patience.

~Sarah Rutti

T'was the night of the Geulah

I first read this in grade 8, thank you Tzivia.

Recently Sara N sent it to me, and I felt like it was a reminder.

I hope you enjoy it, and that it helps up to be zochei geula:

***

T'was the night of the Geulah, and in every single Shtiebel,

Sounds of Torah could be heard, coming from every kind of Yeedel.

This one in English, some in Hebrew, some in Yiddish.

Some saying P'shat, and some saying a Chiddish.

And up in Shamayim, the Aibishter decreed:

"The time has come, for My children to be freed.

"Rouse the Moshiach, from his heavenly berth.

Have him get in his chariot, and head down to earth.

"The Moshiach got dressed, and with a heart full of glee,

Went down to earth and entered, the first Shtiebel he did see.

"I am the Moshiach!, Hashem has heard your plea!

Your Geulah has come!, It's time to go free!

They all stopped their learning; This was quite a surprise.

And they look at him carefully, with piercing sharp eyes.

"He's not the Moshiach!" said one with a grin,

"Just look at his hat, at the pinches and brim!"

"That's right!" cried another, with a grimace and frown,

"Whoever heard of Moshiach, with a brim that's turned down?"

"Well," thought Moshiach, "If this is the rule,

I'll turn my brim up, before I go to the next shul."

So he walked right on over, to the next shul in town.

Sure to be accepted, since his brim was no longer down.

"I'm, the Moshiach!" he cried, as he began to enter

But the Jews wanted to know first, if he was Left Right or Center.

"Your clothes are so black!", They cried out in fright.

"You can't be Moshiach, you're much too far right!"

"If you want to be Moshiach, you must be properly outfitted.”

So they replaced his black hat, with a Kippah that was knitted.

Wearing his new Kippah, Moshiach went out and said:

"No difference to me, what I wear on my head.”

So he went to the next shul, for his mission was dear.

But he was getting frustrated, with the Yidden down hear.

"I'm the Moshiach!" he cried, and they all stopped to stare,

And a complete eerie stillness, filled up the air.

"You're the Moshiach?!, Just imagine that!

Whoever heard of Moshiach, without a black hat?"

"But I do have a hat!", The Moshiach then said.

So he pulled it right out, and plunked it down on his head.

Then the shul started laughing, and one said “Where's your kop?

You can't have Moshiach, with a brim that's turned up!

If you want to be Moshiach, and be accepted in this town,

Put some pinches in your hat, and turn that brim down!"

Moshiach walked out and said: "I guess my time hasn't come.

I'll just return, to where I came from.”

So he went to his chariot, but as he began to enter,

All sorts of Jews appeared, from the Left, Right, and Center.

"Please wait - do not leave. It's all their fault!" they said,

And they pointed to each other, and to what was on each other's head.

Moshiach just looked sad, and said, " You don't understand."

And then started up his chariot, to get out of this land.

"Yes, it's very wonderful, that you all learn Torah,

But you seem to have forgotten, a crucial part of our Mesorah.”

"What does he mean?", "What's he talking about?"

And they all looked bewildered, and they all began to shout.

Moshiach looked back and answered, "The first place to start,

Is to shut up your mouths, and open your hearts.

To each of you, certain Yidden, seem too Frum or too Frei,

But all Yidden are beloved, in the Aibishter's eye."

And on his way up he shouted: "If you want me to come,

Try working a little harder, on some Ahavas Chinam!"

Boruch Dayan Ha'Emet

I am sad to announce that Horav Hagaon Rav Henoch Leibowitz, zecher tzaddik l'vrocha, was niftar today.

I can't think of anything else to say, but I"ll go cry for now.

Sarah Rutti,

P.S. We've lost a gadul, a link to the past.

One more to go

It is erev shabbat and we are about to enter the second to last shabbat before pessach. Are we ready? Have we prepared? I'm not referring to the many hours spent on cleaning and purchasing kosher l'pessach items.

I'm talking about our neshama.

Pessach is more then just cleaning, it's a chag that demands us to take in inner look at our middot and at the way we serve HaShem. These are not new concepts, but reminders are always helpful. We learn from matzah, for example, that we should not be haughty and 'puffed up'. Additionally, we know that we should have zerizut when preforming mitzvout and not let them 'sit in our hand' of an extended period of time, become 'chametz'.

Again, non of these are new or astounding, but have we thought about them recently? When pessach cleaning have we reflected and checked every crevise of out heart and soul for 'leven' emotions and actions? While doing the physical actions of cleaning for pessach we need to look within and do the spiritual cleaning as well.

As a random thought, I'd like to share with you a recollection that I had yesterday:

The situation was as such: I had purchased two skirts for pessach, but they were too short on me (being tall isn't always so great). But, being in Vancouver and desperate for new skirts, I decided to purchase them and then alter them myself at home, making them longer by adding to the top.

So, I started the altering processes yesterday and thought I could finish one of the skirts in a day. However, I was using my own made up pattern and had no instructions, besides for my wise Ima, so it took longer then expected. A few times, even, I had to take apart what I had just sewn and put on the again, in a different way.

Throughout this whole process I was listening to two shirs from Rabbi Shaifer (theshmuz) and listening to music.

Now, this was a very stressful endeavor. So, anytime I would start the machine I would say, "l'chavod yom tov," and this kept me calm.

To make a long story short: after listening to more then 2 hours of shirim, and 4 hours of music, the skirt wasn't finished. But I had learned a lesson (if not more).

HOUSE WORK CAN BE STRESSFUL.

By the end I turned to my Ima, who has so much more patience with these types of things, and said, "Now I understand why HaShem made women to do house work."

What did I mean? Yes, it was tiring, yes it was tedious, but I had grown through the process. The physical action of making a skirt had caused me to practice patience and bitachon.

How?

While committing the enterprise, I was constantly reminded of my own limitations. Here I was, with high hopes in my own physical capabilities, to alter a skirt in an afternoon, and "presto chango" I was being defied by a machine, and made to realize that I'm can't do it so easily.
(Not to say that I've given up it's just taking more time then expected).

How does this relate to what I was saying before?

Cleaning for pessach is no mundane action. It's an opportunity to get closer to HaShem, to reflect on our middot and to make sure that they're still in check, not high and haughty.

Chag kasher v'samayach.

Chodesh Tov

It's that time of the month!
Chodesh Tov!
I hope that everyone had a great shabbat! Now that we have entered the chodesh of Nissan, may we be zochei to see geula! B"H, we'll grab the coach of this month to develop our ahavat Yisroel and strengthen our achdut.

I wish you all the best! May out tefilot be answered l'tova.

Kol Tov

~Sarah Rut

Man Plans... G-D Laughs

Many times we forget that we're not in control.
It is then that we get frustrated with things 'not working out,'
because they haven't gone according to plane.
We assume that we know best.
We think that we are the directors.
Little do we know,
little do we understand.


For the record,
we are not the master plans of our own life.
Yes, we do hishtadlot,
Yes we make decisions.
But for the most part,
we don't really know what's best.

Patience,
we have to wait it out.
After making the decisions, and doing hishtadlot,
there's nothing else to do but sit tight,
and wait.

But while we are waiting,
we need to stay in touch with the Borei Olam.
He needs to hear our tefilot,
our cry.
For,
that's the whole point of waiting.
We need to show Him that we recognize that we're not in control.
We need to prove to Him that we have bitachon and emunah in His final decision.

On that note,
may HaShem continue to give us the strength we need,
to overcome the difficulties in life,
and the patience to wait
and rely on Him.

Shabbat Shalom
Sarah Rutti

Snow! ?

Ok, don't et me wrong, I like every season, in its time. But snow in the middle of March, sorry, late March, is not what I enjoy. I feel like my spring and fall have been ripped away! :-( And they're my favorite seasons....

Well, it is snowing here, yes that's right, up north in Vancouver. We'll see what the weekend brings.
Kol Tov
Shabbat Shalom.

P.S: It's my bat mitzvah parsha this week, parshat shemini. This parsha reveals HKB"H wisdom and infinite knowledge, duh He created the world. There is a list of all of the kosher animals, and animals that we MIGHT think are kosher, but aren't. B"H, He's guiding us and helping us!
Ok, sorry that I'm not elaborating, I'm in a rush. Let me know if I'm not making any sense.

Do you use a Mr. Potato Head?

I heard a GREAT shiur on "Finding and Keeping Your Bashert"
I recommend it to everyone.
Rabbi Shiefer has a great sense of humour and is very articulate. I find him clear and very easy to chap. I hope you enjoy this shiur.

There are no coincidences.

We learn from Magilat Ester that everything is ordained by HKB"H, even if we can't see or appreciate it. Furthermore, everything is for the ultimate good.
May we be yotzei all of the mitzvot of purim and continue to grow closer to HKB"H, knowing that He ALWAYS has our best interest in mind.
Purim Samayach!

~ Sarah Rutti

P.S, it's raining outside! I love the sound of the raindrops hitting the floor and puddles. B"H!

Taanit Ester

Firstly, I want to recommend Aish.com's purim section, and one of their short clips called Behind the Mask, by Rabbi Zeldman

Secondly, I'd like to summarize an article about taanit ester. In this article, Rabbi Simmons mentions that taanit ester is a pre-war fast. Ester and banei Yisroel fasted to prepare themselves to meet with Achashverosh and to prepare themselves to fight against Hamman's decree.

What does fasting accomplish? On the day before a war, wouldn't you prepare your artillery and do other things to insure that you'd be strong for the fight? Why would you tell your soldiers to fast?

The reason, brings down Rabbi Simmons, is to remind us that we aren't strong and have no chance of winning without HaShem's help. We fast and remind ourselves of our physical restrictions and dependence on HKB'H.

The constant gnawing of hunger should act as a reminder to ourselves that HaShem runs the world and gives us strength.

May we be zochei to take this reminder and use our kaoch hatefillah to unite Am Yisroel and be zochei geulah.

Kol Tov

It's coming!

I want to wish us all a chag samayach,
in case I forget later.
B"H, we should be yotei all of the mitzvout of purim.

B"H, we should have a meaningful fast on Thursday.

Kol Tov

Peeka -a-boo

We are being watched.
But don't be frightened.
HaShem is taking care of us.

Have a great week.

Next thurday night is purim! B"H, we'll be matzliach in being yotzei all of the mitzvot. I just thought I"d remind everyone about the upcoming chag. I know it's hard to stop when tests and hw are calling, but we can do it! B"H, this year I have no school on purim, it's a stat. holiday.

Ok, be well.

Living and Breathing

Unfortunately,
sometime we need to brave the waters for ourselves,
without knowing where the sharks live.

But,
no mater where we are or what happens,
HaShem will always be there,
watching and holding us.

Rosh Chodesh Adar Bet

Rosh Chodesh Adar! It's here. Besides for it being me Hebrew birthday on the 19th (:-D) it's going to be purim in about 15 days!

So excited, mishe mishe mishe mishe, .....

I wanted to share a thought, and a great point, that I deduced from and article written by an SFU student, Kristen McCathy.

She was in the downtown east side, otherwise known as 'crack town' and gave a loonie (dollar) to a homeless man on the street. She comments, on reflection, that the money was given for her not for the poor man.

How did she reach this conclusion? She asked herself, how far will that money go? What can a dollar buy? NOTHING> not even a bottle of water. (Well, maybe half of a big mac.)

If she was giving money to help the man, then she would have at least given him a $5, something that can buy a meal down there.

But she was giving to make HERSELF feel better, and so she admits.

What can we learn from this?

I think it's pretty clear.

Especially now, when we're getting our mishloach manot ready, we need to remember to spend more $$ on matanot l'evyonim.

We need to open our hands for others, not for ourselves. To help them, not just to make ourselves feel 'good.'

We should be matzliach in using these mitzvout of the month to inspire growth in achdut (unity) amongst klal Yisroel. Thus, bring gaula (redemption) and turning yom kiPURIM into PURIM.

Shabbat Shalom,
Kol Tov.

Rabbi Lau

B"H, I was fortunate to hear the former chief rabbi of Israel speak tonight. I want to share an amazing mashal with you:

The sun and the wind were having a fight. They didn't know who was the strongest. In order to test their strengths, they decided to see which one could make a little man remove his coat.

The wind went first. It started blowing and blowing. But the harder it blew, the harder the man clung to his coat, realizing that without it he's freeze. The wind kept blowing to the point where the man was rolling like a ball, clutching tightly to his coat. The wind gave up.

Next came the sun. He approached the man slowly, with warmth and compassion. Soon the man felt very warm and started sweating. The man realized that he no longer needed his coat, as the temperature continued to rise, and removed it on his own free will.

The sun won.

The coat is out emuna in HaShem and out connection to Him.

In the past, the wind came with bitterness, harshness, the destruction of the batei migdashing. Yet, benei Yisroel stuck to their Creator, Hakadosh Barchu. They knew that without it they would be lost, they would freeze.

But then came the sun. With warmth, compassion, encouraging us to assimilate. The sun smiles upon us. Will we take off out coat willingly? No one is stopping us from doing mitzvout, no one but ourselves.

B"H, we will NOT abandon our coats, but stick close to our Torah and emuna. B"H, we should be matzliach in increasing our avodat haShem.

Kol tov,
Shabbat Shalom.

"Those thoughts"

I was reading an article in the Jan 2nd, 190th issue of Mishpacha magazine. It's written by Toby Bulman Katz. She writes about the Schwab's experience with their daughter, Ruchama Aliza Sarah Chana bat Ester Liba, who is in a comma.

This article struck my interest particularly because I know the family. They used to live in Cincinnati. I remember when Ester was pregnant with Ruchama Aliza Sarah Chana and her twin brother.

The article quotes Rabbi Naoch Orlowek. He made a personal call to the Moshe Schwab and told him, "Don't think 'those thoughts.' " The thoughts of could've, would've, should've. He explained that they show a lack of emuna in HaShem.

Everything is in His hands. Things happen because He wants them to.

So, when we look back over the days, weeks, months, and years of our lives, while acknowledging the mistakes and growing from them, we shouldn't have 'those thoughts.' Yes we need to move forward and perfect our actions as servants of HaShem. We can't change the past by dwelling on it and become depressed over it.

B'ezrat HaShem we will see a refuah shaleam in Ruchama Alia Sarah Chana's continued recovery. The Schwabs have sailed through many storms and have come out as an inspiration for all of us.

I"H, we will take these lessons and use them to retain a higher level of achdut among Kallal Yisroel, a higher level of emunat HaShem and chachamim, and a higher level of tefilla (our ultimate power).

Kol Tov

Parshat Ki Sisa

After reading a short vort on Parshat Ki Sisa, from TheShmuz.com, I would like to share the idea presented:

We see that Bnei Yisroel succumb to the sin of cheit haeigle. Even though we were on a very high level, having seen all the maacot, the yam suf's splitting, and hearing the dibrot from HaShem, they were still drawn by the the gleam of gold and sliver, the sparkle of gaava.

Kal vechomer, when thinking about us NOW and our present level, we can tremble to think of the taava that we have toward this same gleam.

We must stand on guard and realize and recognize that it is a source of taava.
We should be matzliach in recognizing our tests and pass them with flying colours, or get up and try again.

Shabbat Shalom.

Purim Kattan

This was sent to me, I'm sending this on...

WEDNESDAY FEB 20 THE POWER OF PRAYER ON PURIM KOTTON

I heard this week an unbelievable speech from Rav Avraham Schorr Shlita about the power of prayer on Purim Kotton.

THERE IS A MISHNA IN MEGILLAH THAT SAYS "EIN BAIN ADAR RISHON L'ADAR SHENIE ELE KRIAS MEGILLAH UMATONAS LEVYONIM BILVAD"; THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FIRST ADAR AND THE SECOND ADAR ONLY THAT YOU CAN NOT DO YOUR OBLIGATION OF READING MEGILLAH AND PRESENTS FOR THE POOR.

THE POWER OF PRAYER REMAINS EXACTLY THE SAME;

SO HERE WE HAVE A DAY THAT HAS THE TREMENDOUS POWER OF PRAYER.

LET US USE THIS WEDNESDAY TO DAVEN TO H-ASHEM FOR ALL THE RIGHT THINGS, KLAL YISROEL IS LIVING THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES AND THERE ARE MANY THINGS TO DAVEN FOR...WE SHOULD BE ALL BE ZOCHE TO SEE MOSHIACH BMIHERA BYOMEINU.

THIS SHOULD BE A ZECHUS FOR THE NESHAMA OF MOSHE DOVID BEN PINCHUS DOV, HIS NESHAMA SHOULD HAVE AN ALIYA.

Boredom

The world really excites and interests me,
I guess I'm not cool.
Sorry, folks.
Will you still be my friend.

Accepted...but not to where I want to go.

I've been officially 'offered acceptance' by UBC, Vancouver. Though I really want to go to York, Toronto, and am still waiting for their reply, it was nice to feel 'wanted.'

Hopefully I'll be able to send UBC a letter of 'dejection' thanking them for their generous offer and consideration. I'll keep you posted.

I must say, the colour photos on the envelope, folder, and brochure are very stylish and enticing ;-)

Buried Treasure

Some people spend all there time look on the OUTSIDE, and they miss what's on the INSIDE.

'Bling, bling' and buried treasure can be found out there. But the best kind of treasure that you'll ever find was given to you at birth. If you work on yourself and reach out to others, you can help to polish that treasure and let it shine through.

(I apologize for the tackiness.)

Photo source.

Yeah!

I've officially sent in my application of graduation.

Let me explain. I received a notice from my college recognizing that I have filled out the requirements for a Arts and Science Diploma. Regardless of the fact that I plan on finishing my BA in English and BeD, this credential is a nice piece of paper that looks good. So, I've applied for it.

Though I won't be attending the graduation ceremony, and I really have two more years (at least) to go, this half way mark is really motivating.

So, YEAH!

Scary Analogy

When you say things freaquently, you devalue your statements. Like saying, "I love you," to everyone, or offering hugs all of the time. This increase in production can cause inflation, thereby decreasing the value of the "love" and/or hug.

Just a thought.

Source of Frustration

While contemplating life (lol) I thought of this brilliant (humbling eh?) connection:

Frustration is bred from disappointment, which comes from missed expectations. When the goals are set too high, the actions fall short.

In other words, try to be as realistic as possible.

It is ALMOST impossible to do this, we tend to "shoot for the moon." But we can try, and thus spare ourselves the frustration.

Have a happy day/week/month/year/life :-D

Sorry about my absence

I've been drowning lately, in physical and intellectual pain. Between pulling leg, and hand, muscles, I've been trying to get homework done. Enough said. Sorry

Hummmmm... this is starting to get fishy

My history proff cancelled class for the second friday in a row. Mind you, I'm not complaining, it's just weird. I feel bad becuase I ditched yesterday's class to do research for my history report (due on the 18th!) Since I had a snow day on tuesday, and have no school on wed., I only attended one class this week. Oh well, I don't like his lectures anyway...

Well, I thought that I'd share with y'all. Thanks for droppning by.

Shabbat Shalom.

~Sarah Rutti

Don't get stuck!

Everything we do adds up for the good and for the bad.

Here's a cute 3 minute film by Aish.com. There's a good mashal in it. Have a great shabbat!

Just keeps getting better.

Ignoring the fact that I spent the whole day in bed yesterday, I'm having a great week. I recieved a present from my college on Tuesday in the form of a snow day. I took this gift as an expression of their appreciation for the tuition I pay. Additionally, mon examen de francais has been postpond until Lundi! What could be better.

So, I'd like to spread my joy and wish everyone a great shabbat.
I'm off to do more history research. I figured that if I ditch my history class to do history research, I'm ok. Anyooo... thanks for stopping in.

~ Sarah Rutti

Only in Vancouver...

I did not take this picture

"SNOW CLOSURE UPDATE: Tuesday, January 29, 2008, 7:15 am

Langara College is closed for daytime classes due to snow.

Online registration is available as scheduled. All Credit Studies classes are cancelled. College services are not available. Listen to radio stations CKNW (980 AM) or CBC (690 AM) for future updates. The Langara College website homepage is updated regularly."

"So, how much snow has fallen?" you might ask? Well, as of now, 7:47 am, from my window it looks like 5 centimeters. I don't know why this has scared off my professors, and honestly don't care. I'm excited to take advantage of this opportunity, B"H, and come up to date on hw!

BUT! I'm letting anyone, unless they ask. I DON"T have time to babysit and can think of 3 people who would ask for help. I'm already babysitting from ~ 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm.

Well, I'll keep you posted. Have a great day!

~Sarah Rutti

P.S. The only down side is shoveling.....

Wow, Maybe I'm Doing Too Much!

I didn't realize how crazy this semester was going to be when I signed up for all of my courses. But now I'm feeling it. Every one of my five classes requires constant work and effort. This is causing a conflict in my time managment. Econ is taking more time then français!

Some things are going to have to start sliding. Sleep has been the first. Last night I went to sleep after 1 am, and woke up at 8 am, not soo bad.

I'm going to start being more selective with the materials I spend time on. English Lit. has too much reading involved, I don't have time for it all....

We'll see how it goes. B"H, I'll be able to pull it all together. I'm trying not to think about the fact that I have a history research paper due on the 28th... at least I've picked my topic and sources...
Right?

Be well

~ Sarah Rutti

Pulling Back

This week has been really hard. I've felt the tug a lot harder then usual. I hope I passed.

I'm reaching out now to all of my friends.

Being alone Vancouver has gotten harder over the past 6 months. I need to start learning more Torah and talking to you guys. The problem is, I don't have time.

I feel consumed by homework and other responsibilities. Arrggg.

B"H for shabbat! I'm gonna embrace my neshama yesera and try to climb as high as I can. I wish you all a brach, that you're able to enhance yourself this shabbat!

Be well and stay in touch!

History's Cancelled

I feel like HaShem just sent me the biggest present! I really didn't want to go to history today and guess what, it's cancelled! YEAH!

(I hope he's ok :S)

Have a great weekend Y'all!

Slow But Steady Wins the Race

Yes that's right! We can do it if we're persistent and stubborn. Just keep trying and before you know it you'll be ahead! Keep up the great work y'all!

....beep....beep....beep....beep...

...BEEP!...

"You have reached the personal voice mail of,..., I'm sorry I missed your call. Please leave a message after the beep and I'll try to get back to as soon as possible. Thank you and have a great day!" ...Beep!....

It's true, I'm busy.

But, other than that, it was tu b'shvat today! I hope that everyone was able to eat yummy fruit, not from aretz Israel as it's shmita year, and learn. I've already written on this topic, see my previous post.

Otherwise, have a great night! I hope that everyone who's off from school is having a blast. For the rest of us, hold in there!

~Sarah Rutti

Lo Aleinu

I've just heard that Rav Noach Wineberg has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Please daven for him, his name is Harav Yisroel Noach ben Ayala Hinda.

Thank you.

Brace Yourself

I will not bend

I will not break

I will conquer

At least that's what I hope.

I've been up to my neck in homework for the past few days, and I still have more to do :-( I didn't accomplish everything, yet. Things are taking longer then I thought they would, and I keep finding myself hoping for the day when I'll have a little time to myself. Well, as least I enjoy reading Pride and Prejudice, it could be worse.

So, off I go to do my french homework. I'm still stuck on my economics, and have asked for an extension due to me oral surgery, we're hoping... and if not, that's fine too. I'll make the time and get it done. So, since I still have a high pile of textbooks on my bed, waiting for me, I'll be off.

Have a great weekend, don't get too blown away.

Thank you

I just wanted to publicly thank all of my supporters, who have helped my through this recovery of wisdom teeth extraction and, therefore, missed school work.

I am busy and crazy, and crazy busy. I'm sorry that I haven't been very attentive to this blog, or others, for the beginning of the week. I'm probably not going to have time to post until the weekend.

So have a great one!

~ Sarah Rutti

Feeling Swamped

So, now that I've officially missed two days of school, mind you this is only the first week of the semester, I feel overwhelmed by the amount of homework that my professors have decided to distribute in class. I was notified on Monday that I have an english essay due in the beginning of Feb and a history paper due in the middle of Feb. Furthermore, I have a french dictation on Monday, and a rough draft to some assignment in creative writing due on Tuesday. Being that I only have creative writing twice a week, Tues and Thurs, I've missed the first two classes. My teach has been very helpful, however, and has left the handouts on her door.

None the less, I feel a little overwhelmed. I wish that I could have used this time to think and read more. But the medication simply won't comply to my wishes. Instead of spending my day doing French hw and reading up on Modern European history, I've spent my time sleeping and reading Pride and Prejudice, though that is part of my hw as well.

Ok, though I haven't accomplished anything through this rant of annoyance, I do feel better.

I wish you all a great night and weekend. I hope to report back to you in better cheer, as soon as possible.

Thanks for listening.

Sarah Rutti

Thank goodness...

I'm relieved to report that I'm not TOO addicted to blogging. My addiction to facebook is something else to scowl at though :-(

48%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

After the surgery...

The surgery was quick and painless. I was told that they removed my three impacted teeth by cutting them to pieces. I vaguely remember asking to see them right after I woke us, but I couldn't distinguish them as teeth, due to the blood and fragment sizes. I've spent the day reading and sleeping. (At least I got some english homework done, Pride and Prejudice here I come.) After the pain killers kicked in, the pain subsided to a tolerable level.

I haven't been able to talk much, because talking opens up the three cuts. So, I've decided to take advantage my blog as a form of communication.

It was rosh chodesh Shevat today, though I didn't feel it much, I'd like to write something to enlighten my, and hopefully your, month:

We have entered the month of Shevat and on the 15th of this month is the birthday of the trees, known as tu b'shevat. We know that Man is compared to a tree, "A person is like the tree of a field..." (Deut. 20:19) As well as the Torah, "Torah is a tree of life for all who grasp it." (Proverbs 3:18) In the article 'Man is a Tree' by Rabbi Simmons, found on Aish.com.

It is explained in the article that just like a tree needs all of the four elements to survive, so too does a man. With out embellishing, you can always read the article, I'd like to point out that there's a reason why HaShem put us in this world when its creation was complete. As we know, Adam was the last creation so be created, and he, therefore, entered Gan Eden when is was basically complete. Interestingly, Adam had to pray for rain before it came, and he named the animals. He was here to take care of the land and use it for good. This teaches us that the world is here to serve us and we are here to take care of it.

In life in general, we are meant to take what HaShem gives us and use it to serve Him. This idea is applicable in all type of situations, difficult or not. Let us take this reminder from chodesh Shevat and not only safeguard the world we live in but use it to serve HaShem in the happiest way possible.

Have a great day!

I know it's late but...

Parshat Va'eira

(Inspired by Aish.com, Rabbi Aba Wagensberg's article.)

Rabbi Wagensberg begins with a questions: There are four different expressions of redemption mentioned in this week's parsha, 6: 6-7. He goes on to anwser that each expression is another form of redemption that the Jewish people had to go through in order to be fully separated from the Mitzrim, and become Am Yisroel. He quotes one of the Nevitot Shalom's mepharshim regarding this week's parsha:

"The Jewish people in Egypt had fallen to the lowest possible spiritual level. The Midrash (Socher Tov on Psalms 114) compares the enslaved Jewish nation to a fetus within the womb of an impure animal, based on the verse, "...to take for Himself a nation from amidst a nation" (Deut. 4:34). The Jewish people were living "inside" the Egyptians. Their identity was completely meshed with the corruption and immorality of Egyptian society.

According to the Netivot Shalom, since the situation was so severe, the first stage of redemption was for the Jews to be taken out from the darkness and impurity of their surrounding culture. Nevertheless, they were still slaves to their inner drive toward negativity (yetzer hara). The second stage, then, was to be saved from this servitude. The slave mentality cannot be so easily eradicated, however; even after being saved, the Jewish people were still subjugated to the side of negativity. It was this subjugation from which God redeemed the Jews. The final stage of redemption was for God to take the Jews as His nation."

So what does this mean for us personally, as we live amongst the nations and try to attain our identity?

Rabbi Wagensberg continues in his article by explaining the process of separation that the Jewish people went through in order to leave Mitzriam. This process can be applied to our own personal situations.

It must be remebered that we are a people with a unique mission and with many strengths. We have cochout that need to be utilized. The best way to do this is by clinging to HaShem and His mitzvout. As the Nesivat Shalom points out, we need to be SEPARATE! We are not the same as the others. We have to retain out identity as Hakadosh Baruchu's Am!

We should not be confused and try to look and act like the others.

I know that this point is hard for some to swallow, but it is true. There is a reason for tznius and all the mitzvout that we sould be doing the best of our individual abilities. Growth is a must, one should never stay in the same place for too long.

We should all be zochei to grow at the right pace and remain distinct and unique in our speacial way. Hakadosh Baruchu should help us to see clearly how we should act, in order for us to be the best yiddim that we can be.

Have a great shabbat!

~Sarah Rutti.