Invitiation to Esti Slepoy's Vort!!!

Dear Everyone,

Esti Slepoy would like to invite all of you to her Vort that will I"H take place Sunday, March 30th 4 to 8 pm at 127 Van Houten Ave. Any problems with directions, email me and I'll try to help you out. Hope to see you all there!

MAZEL TOV!!

MAZEL TOV TO OUR OWN ESTI SLEPOY ON HER ENGAGEMENT TO YISRAEL FRIEDMAN FROM ISRAEL/BROOKLYN!!! MAY YOU BUILD A BAYIS NE'EMAN B'YISRAEL!

virtual mishloach manos

A Freilichin Purim to all!!

Henna Gittel and her Chosson!!!!

Sooooooooo Cute!!!!

Taanit Ester

This was copied from my Back to Reality Blog:

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

MAZEL TOV!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HENNA GITTEL IS ENGAGED!!!

Rosh Chodesh Adar Bet

Taken from my Back 2 Reality Blog.


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.

The new Mrs. Tamara "Blonder".....

MAZAL TOV TO TAMARA BALLIN AND HER CHATTAN MOSHE AARON BLONDER ON THERE CHATUNAH! MAY THE 2 OF YOU BUILD A BAYIT NE'EMAN BEH YISRAEL!!!! :) BRACHA VE HATZLACHA!