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.