The Cry of the Converso

You hate me because I survived.
You hate me because my family tried.
You hate me because they didn't want to see
their children brutalized.

You don't believe me because I don't know.
you don't believe me because we didn't know.
You don't believe me because my family just found out.

No matter how much you doubt, it's true!
No matter how much you doubt, I will prove it to you!
No matter how much you doubt...
Deep down inside I always knew.

No matter how little custom my family held onto,
No matter how little Jewish we may seem,
No matter how little faith my family had,
We still Believe.

I'll prove to you I am a Jew!
I'll prove it by doing any thing!
I'll prove it by immersing myself...
Because I am a Jew.

~Racheli Zohara bat Yael Nehama bat Karmit (Carmen Lydia) bat Sarah...

NOTE: This is a poem written by my daughter. The term Converso is used instead of marrano which is a horrible, derogatory term meaning pig. The Conversos, Crypto Jews, B'nei Anusim, are the 'fortunate' ones who somehow escaped the Spanish Inquisition physically (sadistic murder and torture of Jewish bodies and souls) but lost most, if not all of their Jewish connection. Some retained a residual trace of Judaism, but many do not even know why their family does the strange things they do. There may only be a trace of an oral tradition of the family being Jewish many, many years ago. But nobody talks about it. Many of these lost ones are returning home, Baruch Hashem, but not without a fight from family outside the Tribe and even among members of The Tribe. It is not an easy journey to be standing outside one's home, longing to come in and your brothers and sisters, who do not know or recognize you asking for proof of who you say you are. But prove it these lost ones do! Even to the point where the Converso will 'convert/return' to erase all doubt of their family lineage. Never again to have to hide! Never again to have anyone question who they are! Never again to stand outside in the cold, longing, waiting to be embraced by their family and warm themselves by the Fire of Torah. This ingathering has been said to be a precursor to the coming of Moshiach...please let it be soon and in our time.
Por favor, Di-s de mis padres, Di-s de Avraham, Yitzhak y Ya'akov, por favor ten piedad en tus ninos, en tus ninos que no estan regresado todavia, ayudalos por favor Abba, manda a el Moshiach rapido, rapido Abba, bimhierah b'yamienu!!!
Amen v'amen

Moshiach's Hat

~~~Author unknown

'Twas 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 Ahavat Chinam!"

My Lil' Farmgirl

You know how you can take an avocado seed and stick some toothpicks in it, place it in a cup of water and watch it take root over time. Well, guess what, you can actually grow the seed into a plant! My daughter has been growing this avocado plant now for about a year and a half (maybe two).She has nurtured it, watered it, replanted it and has been an all around good gardener. She is very proud of her plant and so are we!