Thursday, 19 October 2017
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Tuesday, 8 August 2017
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Wednesday, 2 August 2017
Heartfelt Letter From A Chassidic Father To His Sweet Daughter Suri
This letter is from a chassidic dad to his adult OTD daughter.
My dearest Suri,
As I fasted today, I sat and reflected on what our fast is all about. Why was our beautiful home in Yerushalayim destroyed? Why did the presence of hHashem leave us? What did we do to drive ourselves into this long bitter golus?
I always knew the answer, but I don't think I understood it as well as I do right now. It was destroyed because we were judgmental of those who did not ACT the way we wanted them to act. We were embarrassed of those who did not DRESS the way that we wanted them to dress. We looked down at those that did not TALK the way we wanted them to talk. And our misplaced ego caused us to think that we are better then they are. This is what caused us to destroy ourselves completely. Without having a ayin tovah, a favorable and understanding eye on those around us, we are not deserving of having the divine presence of Hashem live among us. We threw ourselves out with our self-righteous mindset.
Which group of us caused the destruction? The ones “on the derech” or the ones “off the derech”?
On this I sit and cry... my eyes fill with tears... the epiphany just hit me like a ton of bricks: It was not the ones wearing the jeans (as an example) that caused the destruction, rather, it was the ones not wearing jeans who then looked down upon those who wore the jeans! WE are the ones who destroyed the beis Hamikdosh and we have not yet corrected our sin! In fact, with Torah and mitzvos being so strong... we have perhaps even strengthened our sin... we have taken it to a higher level.
I look at myself... am I not part of the group who uses our beautiful religion to look down at others? And if so, am I not the one responsible for our current exile? What good is my fasting and sitting on a floor if I cannot face the truth that “I” am currently responsible for this tragedy?!
I now fully realize that it is not you and your friends who are preventing Moshiach from coming... it is me and my friends!
I wrote my own kinniss: Woe is to me for I have repeated and repeated the original sin that caused the churban! Woe is to me for I have stabbed my own flesh and blood! Woe is to me for I took the holy Torah that is supposed to be sweet and peaceful "dirachehuh darchei NOAM vichal nesivosehuh SHALOM" and I used it to form a dagger which I then used to stab you - and others - over and over again!!
And so after a long day of fasting and contemplation, I look back at the way that I treated you and for this I now sit and cry. My dear sweet beloved Suri !! How can I ever take back the pain that I caused you? How can I ever repay you for the smiles and hugs that you so deserved... but didn’t get from me because I was too busy justifying to myself why it is OK for me to look down at you… to judge you harshly… and to actively destroy the Bais Hamikdosh? How can I give you back the lost years?
My dear Suri, a long long long time ago, I looked into the future and dreamed about the day that you would grow up, mature, learn right from wrong, wake up from your selfishness and finally come ask me for forgiveness… but after alot of inner searching... “I” grew up, and “I” matured, and “I” learned right from wrong, and now “I” finally finally woke up from MY selfish, haughty, egotistical, judgmental attitude! And now on this painful day I turn to you and I ask you – no, I BEG you - for forgiveness!!
I accept upon myself to shower you with love and affection, with hugs and kisses, and to do everything in my power to always be there for you through thick and thin! I pledge to work so so hard to make up for all of the pain that I caused you. I pledge to never look down at you, your friends, or on ANY JEW ever again. I am DONE with the negative attitude! I am DONE with being the judge and jury to another Yid! I am DONE with thinking that I am BETTER than ANY other Jew in Klal Yisrael. I am DONE being a part of the problem... and I pledge that as of right this moment... I will become a part of the SOLUTION!!
My Suri, please open your heart to me... please open your arms to me... hug me, hold my hand and let us build the beis Hamikdosh together…
What do you say?
Your loving Totty
letter is from a chassidic dad
Thursday, 13 July 2017
Saturday, 24 June 2017
Sunday, 11 June 2017
Thursday, 8 June 2017
Sunday, 7 May 2017
Thursday, 27 April 2017
Friday, 14 April 2017
Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Saturday, 8 April 2017
Friday, 7 April 2017
Great Read
The Kids Are Home for Yom Tov
When out of town kids come home for Yomtov, it is very easy for everyone to slip back into old habits; Toby Lieder of Australia, a mom of 14, gives tips on making the time a memorable experience.
By Toby Lieder - momof14.blogspot.com
When our out of town kids come home for Yomtov, a very short period of merely 2-4 weeks, it is very easy for 'all' of us, to slip back into our 'old habits'.
Why not? We're back in our good old home, where we grew to love, have fun and created all our childhood memories, so of course home is where we long to be, together with family and friends, the way it was.
And yet we find, when the kids return home from a long absence, we all go back to where we were at when they left in the first place. Everybody goes right back into their positions. The oldest one is the boss, the youngest so spoiled, old habits play out, the way we are all used to right?
After all, we are continuing where we left off.
I came to realize that a new system has to take place. We cannot treat the children that return home from out of town, for Yomtov the same like it was before.
Because they are home for such a short period of time, and we are all so occupied with yomtov, with guests, food preparations, cleaning up, and what not, that each and every minute really counts.
Time speeds by so fast, that before you turn around, pouf they are gone again!
What I came to realize was that, since the out of Towner kids are home for so short, let me make this time the most absolute precious memorable experience ever, for both me, and them.
Before they return home, I am busy with preparations getting ready for their exciting arrival.
Their bedroom is freshly cleaned (sometimes I buy new linen) with a new towel embroidered with their name on it, resting at the foot of their bed, that is calling out to be picked up.
I always have a welcome basket on their dresser, with their favourite chocolates and nash, plus a new sponge, and their favourite shampoo and knickknacks.
I change my gear up a notch; to talk to them like a guest rather then the child I used to order around to do this and that. I find that when I treat the out of Towner kids like a guest. in my mannerism, and speech, we suddenly become like best friends, instead of returning back into the mother/child I am the boss, and you do as you are told, habits.
Remember, they are home for such a short while, lets make it a most memorable, happy, peaceful, experience, where love and understanding between one and another has its place in a warm accepting environment, rather then the old habits we were so used to behaving.
The children have grown up now. They are now much more independent. We must recognise that, and shower them with a sense of respect, and praise their maturity, and keep reinforcing their positive behaviour.
The more we treat them as we would treat our guest, the more they will live up to that behaviour.
We have them for such a short time, lets chap arayn, seize the moments, and make this short visit a most positive experience, where they go away saying "I cant wait to come back home!"
Lets bite our tongues when a criticism creeps up, and have mesiras nefesh, self sacrifice, for the sake of peace, to practice seeing only the good, (as we would in our guests) and make our kids feel that home is a place where we feel safe and loved and not where they want to run away from.
Time flies so fast, right? Do you also say every week; it feels like there’s only 3 days to the week. Shabbos, Monday and Thursday. I don't know about you, but every time I turn around it’s Thursday again! Do you know what I mean?
This stage, of kids returning home from out of town, will slip by so fast, and before you know it, you are walking them down the chupa.
So, while we have them at home, please think twice before you open your mouth, and say to yourself, "What I am about to say to my child, will it make him feel good or bad?" as simple as that.
You have the power to make it or break it.
For more inspirations visit Momof14.blogspot.com
Monday, 27 March 2017
Warm story
Great warm story
By Rabbi Eisenman
Bigger and Holy Group
A pilgrimage to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital is a prerequisite for anyone considering a career which involves Chessed. On second thought, it is a prerequisite to being a compassionate human being. If you are looking for a model of compassionate care and unconditional acceptance of all, spend an hour at “Sloan”. On Friday morning February 12th with the temperature struggling to reach double digits, I returned to the place where so many people from all over the globe turn their hopes and their prayers. On this day it did not look like a world class cancer center that it is; rather, it was akin to a third world field hospital. There were patients on gurneys lining the halls. Many of these patients had spent the night in the hallway. This was because the hospital never turns anyone away. They were functioning at 118% capacity as every single bed in the hospital was occupied! I saw nurses patiently attempting to communicate and calm patients whose mother tongue was Hindi, or Punjabi; the nurses struggled to make themselves understood and to help the patients. The fellow who I was visiting informed me that he would be staying over Shabbos. When I inquired as to what he would be eating, he said there was nothing to worry about as there are Shabbos rooms stocked with supplies, Chulent and Kugel. He also mentioned that Satmar Bikur Cholim provides individual Shabbos containers including a silver-like Kiddush Becher, a small table cloth and disposable hospital approved candles. I marveled at the Chesed the Bikur Cholim societies provide to Jews they don’t even know. On the way out I noticed the Shabbos rooms and could not resist taking a peak to see for myself. I was awed. In the refrigerator were individual portions of Gefillte fish with small individual containers of horseradish, mayonnaise, and many other dips. I was impressed by the care put into making each serving just right. There were stacks of newspapers in Hebrew, Yiddish and English; all for the taking. Suddenly I realized I only had one hour on my meter and as anyone in New York knows: never be late for your meter! As I reached the vehicle I noticed a policeman removing his large ticket issuing device from his back pocket. As I approached him he said, “I’m sorry; however, your time is up.” However, before he actually wrote the summons, he eyed me in a strange sort of way. He was looking at my beard and studying my face. Suddenly he asked, “Hey, are you one of those guys who work for the “Bigger and Holy Group?” I had no idea what he was referring to; so I asked him, “What is the Bigger and Holy Group”? “You know, the group of people who look like you with the beards and hats who visit the sick and distribute food to those in the hospital and their families; they always tell me they are the ‘bigger holy group’” I slowly said to myself, ‘bigger and holy….. Bigger and holy…? What could he mean? When suddenly like a light bulb I began to hear myself say, “Bigger n’ Holy…. Biggur n’ holim… Bikur Cholim!!! “You must mean the Bikur Cholim group!” I said. The officer looked at me and answered, “Yes, that’s what I said, the Bigger and Holy group!” “No, sorry, I’m not part of the “Bigger and Holy group; however, I’m familiar with their work.” “So even if you are not an official part of the group you are still “one of them”, isn’t that correct?” “Yes officer, I know what you mean, I am one of them” “Well in that case, you can go. No ticket for you today.” “Officer, I don’t understand. What does the “Bigger and Holy Group” have to do with my not getting a summons?” The officer explained, “This morning, when it was about 9 degrees, a guy approaches me who looked like you; you know- big guy with a big hat and a big beard? And he says, “Excuse me, it’s very cold today please take this thermos of hot coffee and these Danishes.” “I said, “You know I’m not Jewish; why are you giving me this food?” “He says, “All of us, Jew and non-Jew are created in G-d’s image. (See Avos 3:14) It’s freezing outside, you need to stay warm; please take this.” “If he could do that for me on a cold day like today, I can do a nice thing back to one of his friends; no? After all, we’re all connected.” I looked at the policeman and thought back to the hospital full of people of all religions and ethnicities and of the equal and compassionate care they all receive, “Yes officer you so right, we are all connected.”
Tuesday, 21 March 2017
Monday, 20 March 2017
Thursday, 9 March 2017
Tuesday, 7 March 2017
Saturday, 4 March 2017
Monday, 20 February 2017
Monday, 13 February 2017
Tuesday, 7 February 2017
Woman
💐This is one of the best posts I've read about woman... Please read it completely... it's worth it...
WOMAN. . . . . . . . .
When God created woman he was working late on the 6th day.......
An angel came by and asked." Why spend so much time on her?"
The lord answered. "Have you seen all the specifications I have to meet to shape her?"
She must function on all kinds of situations,
She must be able to embrace several kids at the same time,
Have a hug that can heal anything from a bruised knee to a broken heart,
She must do all this with only two hands,"
She cures herself when sick and can work 18 hours a day"
THE ANGEL was impressed" Just two hands.....impossible!
And this is the standard model?"
The Angel came closer and touched the woman"
"But you have made her so soft, Lord".
"She is soft", said the Lord,
"But I have made her strong. You can't imagine what she can endure and overcome"
"Can she think?" The Angel asked...
The Lord answered. "Not only can she think, she can reason and negotiate"
The Angel touched her cheeks....
"Lord, it seems this creation is leaking! You have put too many burdens on her"
"She is not leaking...it is a tear" The Lord corrected the Angel…
"What's it for?" Asked the Angel..... .
The Lord said. "Tears are her way of expressing her grief, her doubts, her love, her loneliness, her suffering and her pride."...
This made a big impression on the Angel,
"Lord, you are a genius. You thought of everything.
A woman is indeed marvellous"
Lord said."Indeed she is.
She has strength that amazes a man.
She can handle trouble and carry heavy burdens.
She holds happiness, love and opinions.
She smiles when she feels like screaming.
She sings when she feels like crying, cries when happy and laughs when afraid.
She fights for what she believes in.
Her love is unconditional.
Her heart is broken when a next-of-kin or a friend dies but she finds strength to get on with life"
The Angel asked: So she is a perfect being?
The lord replied: No. She has just one drawback
"She often forgets what she is worth".
Sunday, 5 February 2017
Wednesday, 1 February 2017
Inspirations By Toby: Shidduch Checklist
Inspirations By Toby: Shidduch Checklist: THE SHIDDUCH CHECKLIST by Toby Lieder "WHAT EVERY GIRL AND BOY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MEETING THEIR ZIVUG" "WHAT EVERY...
Sunday, 29 January 2017
Thursday, 19 January 2017
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