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.