Praying for my mother

 As some of you may know, last Sunday my mother, Mrs. Sara Kaplan of Tzfat, suffered a severe stroke. Since then she has been getting, Thank G-d, wonderful treatment in the local hospital.

 I know that many of you have met my mother, and heard her speak on different occasions, including last summer (see pictures here) and most recently on Pesach.

What you are most probably unaware of, is the extent of her involvement with the work we do here in Victoria. Not only does she know of every event or program we offer, and interested in getting a detailed report after each one, but she helps Chani and me regularly, with her wise advice for planning and decision making, and with her broad and deep knowledge and insight with preparation for classes and teachings.

On Sunday evening, when I heard the shocking news, I was ready to take the next airplane to Israel, especially since her condition was unknown.

Knowing my mother's selflessness and giving nature, I knew what she would tell me to do. In fact I was thinking that if she would see me there, she would wonder how I can leave my home and community for Shavuot, when there is so much happening...

Though, it is very difficult, being so far away while the rest of my family is together by her bedside, when about 100 men, women and children came on Wednesday to the largest Shavuot celebration we had in our Shul - I knew it was the right decision to stay here for the Holiday.  (My apologies to all of our friends for not sharing the news at that time, I didn’t want to hurt the spirit of the celebration).

I know that when I will be going next week to Israel to visit her - she'll be very proud of my decision, and she'll ask me, as always, to hear in detail how was Shavuot in Victoria...

I will be grateful to you if you will take a moment of your time to say chapter 60 of tehillin (below) for the speedy and complete recovery of Sara Hinda Bas Chaya.

Please G-d; I will be a messenger of good news very soon. 

א  לַמְנַצֵּחַ, עַל-שׁוּשַׁן עֵדוּת;    מִכְתָּם לְדָוִד לְלַמֵּד.
ב  בְּהַצּוֹתוֹ, אֶת אֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם--    וְאֶת-אֲרַם צוֹבָה:
וַיָּשָׁב יוֹאָב, וַיַּךְ אֶת-אֱדוֹם בְּגֵיא-מֶלַח--    שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אָלֶף.
ג  אֱלֹהִים, זְנַחְתָּנוּ פְרַצְתָּנוּ;    אָנַפְתָּ, תְּשׁוֹבֵב לָנוּ.
ד  הִרְעַשְׁתָּה אֶרֶץ פְּצַמְתָּהּ;    רְפָה שְׁבָרֶיהָ כִי-מָטָה.
ה  הִרְאִיתָ עַמְּךָ קָשָׁה;    הִשְׁקִיתָנוּ, יַיִן תַּרְעֵלָה.
ו  נָתַתָּה לִּירֵאֶיךָ נֵּס, לְהִתְנוֹסֵס--    מִפְּנֵי, קֹשֶׁט סֶלָה.
ז  לְמַעַן, יֵחָלְצוּן יְדִידֶיךָ;    הוֹשִׁיעָה יְמִינְךָ וַעֲנֵנִי.
ח  אֱלֹהִים, דִּבֶּר בְּקָדְשׁוֹ--אֶעְלֹזָה:    אֲחַלְּקָה שְׁכֶם; וְעֵמֶק סֻכּוֹת אֲמַדֵּד.
ט  לִי גִלְעָד, וְלִי מְנַשֶּׁה, וְאֶפְרַיִם, מָעוֹז רֹאשִׁי;    יְהוּדָה, מְחֹקְקִי.
י  מוֹאָב, סִיר רַחְצִי--עַל-אֱדוֹם, אַשְׁלִיךְ נַעֲלִי;    עָלַי, פְּלֶשֶׁת הִתְרוֹעָעִי.
יא  מִי יֹבִלֵנִי, עִיר מָצוֹר;    מִי נָחַנִי עַד-אֱדוֹם.
יב  הֲלֹא-אַתָּה אֱלֹהִים זְנַחְתָּנוּ;    וְלֹא-תֵצֵא אֱלֹהִים, בְּצִבְאוֹתֵינוּ.
יג  הָבָה-לָּנוּ עֶזְרָת מִצָּר;    וְשָׁוְא, תְּשׁוּעַת אָדָם.
יד בֵּאלֹהִים נַעֲשֶׂה-חָיִל;    וְהוּא, יָבוּס צָרֵינו.