Shona

(The message below is a post from a rabbi that I follow on social media. I saw it a few minutes ago and thought it was so lovely. I just had to share it. Shabbat Shalom, and have a safe and happy weekend.)

There are weeks when life feels scattered, a little chaotic and a little noisy. And then there is this week, Parshat Terumah.

G-d doesn’t ask for perfection. He asks for a home. “Make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell within them.” Not in it, within them.

Because the real Mishkan was never just a structure of gold and wood. It was a space carved out inside the human heart. A place where generosity replaces fear. Where presence replaces distraction. Where we stop running and finally make room.

Terumah means lifting up. Not just giving, but elevating what we give. Your time. Your attention. Your kindness. Your heart.

This Shabbat, you don’t need to build a Tabernacle. Just create a little sacred space. Turn off the noise. Light the candles. Sit with the people you love. And let G-d move in. Because when you make space, something holy fills it.

Your time, your attention, your presence … that’s your sanctuary.

Wishing you a Shabbat that feels like coming home.

~ Rabbi Yisroel Bernath

One of my favourite activities is feeding the squirrels who live in my neighbourhood. I have been doing it for a long time. My family and I enjoy watching them scampering around, living their best little squirrel lives. They are so sweet and very entertaining. We love them and often refer to them as our outdoor pets.

During the warm weather months, I feed the squirrels in the backyard. We have a fenced yard with trees, and they seem to like hanging out there. Last summer, I nicknamed the backyard Squirrel Sanctuary because we had so many squirrels visiting us. Some of the squirrels come and go, but we have three regulars: Shmuel, Moshe, and Shlomo. Now, we also have little Shmuli, who I think is Shmuel’s offspring, hence the name!

In the wintertime, I feed the squirrels under the front porch, a safe and sheltered area where they are protected from the elements. The big downside is that they are pretty much hidden away, and we can’t watch them and enjoy their company.

So, today is Family Day. It is one of those made-up Canadian holidays that is celebrated in some provinces but not others. In my province, it is a statutory holiday. My daughter, Harmony, had the day off work. And we were blessed with a special little visitor! My husband, Mike, who was contemplating a walk, looked outside just as Shlomo ran across the front steps to go under the porch. Shlomo’s visits tend to be infrequent, and it is always a treat to see him. I am thrilled that he chose Family Day to stop by and say hello.

Me: We don’t see Shlomo too often. I think he’s busy at the yeshiva studying with the other Jewish squirrels. Harmony: Jewish squirrels. LOL

Here is a photo of Shlomo that was taken toward the end of November last year. Isn’t he a cutie? Look at that gorgeous tail!