THE WEDDING DRESS!

Lilly Friedman doesn't remember the last name of the woman who designed and sewed the wedding gown she wore, when she walked down the aisle over 60 years ago.

But the grandmother of seven does recall that when she first told her fiance, Ludwig that she had always dreamed of being married in a white gown he realized he had his work cut out for him.

For the tall, lanky 21-year-old who had survived hunger, disease and torture, this was a different kind of challenge. How was he ever going to find such a dress in the Bergen Belsen Displaced Person's camp, where they felt grateful for just the clothes on their backs?

Fate would intervene in the guise of a former German pilot, who walked into the food distribution centre, where Ludwig worked, eager to make a trade for his worthless parachute. In exchange for two pounds of coffee beans, and a couple of packs of cigarettes Lilly would have her wedding gown.

For two weeks, Miriam, the seamstress worked under the curious eyes of her fellow DPs, carefully fashioning the six parachute panels into a simple, long sleeved gown with a rolled collar and a fitted waist that tied in the back with a bow. When the dress was completed, she sewed the leftover material into a matching shirt for the groom.

A white wedding gown may have seemed like a frivolous request in the surreal environment of the camps, but for Lilly the dress symbolized the innocent, normal life she and her family had once led before the world descended into madness.
Lilly and her siblings were raised in a "Torah observant home" in the small town of Zarica, Czechoslovakia where her father was respected and well liked by the young yeshiva students he taught in nearby Irsheva.
He and his two sons were marked for extermination immediately upon arriving at Auschwitz .

For Lilly and her sisters it was only their first stop on their long journey of persecution, which included Plashof, Neustadt, Gross Rosen and finally Bergen Belsen.

Four hundred people marched 15 miles in the snow to the town of Celle on January 27, 1946 to attend Lilly and Ludwig's wedding.

The town synagogue, damaged and desecrated, had been lovingly renovated by the DPs with the meager materials available to them. When a Sefer Torah arrived from England they converted an old kitchen cabinet into a makeshift Aron Kodesh.

"My sisters and I lost everything - our parents, our two brothers, our homes. So,the most important thing was to build a new home." Six months later, Lilly's sister Ilona wore the dress when she married Max Traeger. After that came Cousin Rosie.


How many brides wore Lilly's dress? "I stopped counting after 17."

With the camps experiencing the highest marriage rate in the world, Lilly's gown was in great demand.

In 1948 when President Harry Truman finally permitted the 100,000 Jews who had been languishing in DP camps since the end of the war to emigrate, the gown accompanied Lilly across the ocean to America .
Unable to part with her dress, it lay at the bottom of her bedroom closet for the next 50 years, "not even good enough for a garage sale. I was happy when it found such a good home."
Home was the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington , D.C. When Lily's niece, a volunteer, told museum officials about her aunt's dress, they immediately recognized its historical significance and displayed the gown in a specially designed showcase, guaranteed to preserve it for 500 years.

But Lilly Friedman's dress had one more journey to make....... Bergen Belsen.

The museum, opened its doors on October 28, 2007.

The German government invited Lilly and her sisters to be their guests for the grand opening.

They initially declined, but finally traveled to Hanover the following year with their children, their grandchildren and extended families to view the extraordinary exhibit created for the wedding dress made from a parachute. Lilly's family, who were all familiar with the stories about the wedding in Celle , were eager to visit the synagogue.

They found the building had been completely renovated and modernized. But when they pulled aside the handsome curtain they were astounded to find that the Aron Kodesh, made from a kitchen cabinet, had remained untouched as a testament to the profound faith of the survivors.

As Lilly stood on the bimah once again...... she beckoned to her granddaughter, Jackie, to stand
beside her where she was once a kallah.

"It was an emotional trip. We cried a lot."

Two weeks later, the woman who had once stood trembling before the selective eyes of the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele, returned home and witnessed the marriage of her granddaughter.

The three Lax sisters - Lilly, Ilona and Eva, who together survived Auschwitz, a forced labour camp, a death march and Bergen Belsen - have remained close and today live within walking distance of each other in Brooklyn. As mere teenagers, they managed to outwit and outlive a
monstrous killing machine, then went on to marry, have children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and were ultimately honoured by the country that had earmarked them for extinction.

As young brides, they had stood underneath the chuppah and recited the blessings that their ancestors had been saying for thousands of years. In doing so, they chose to honour the legacy of those who had perished by choosing life.
Dear Yaddy:
I am the author of the story "The Wedding Gown That Made History" originally published in The Jewish Press Weekly Magazine. Here is the link:
http://www.thejewishpress.com/pageroute.do/37658

Please add my byline to this unauthorized version and add: Helen Zegerman Schwimmer is the author of the acclaimed anthology, "Like The Stars of The Heavens" available from amazon.com.
Helen Zegerman Schwimmer

bless you....
Yaddy

some funnies

Some things people actually say in court:

Q: "What is your date of birth?"
A: " 15th July.." Q: What year? A: "Every year..."

Q: "The youngest son, the 20 year old, how old is he?"
A:" He's 20..."

Q: "Were you present, when your picture was taken?"
A: "duh...." ( no answer!)

Q: She had three boys....right?" A: "yes" Q: How many of these were girls?" A: "none"

Q: How did your marriage end?" A: "By death" Q: "By whose death was it ended?"

Q: " Do you remember the time of the autopsy?"
A: " Around 8.30am" Q: "And, Mr Denning was dead at this time?"
A: "No...no.....he was sitting on my desk, wondering what I was doing..."
Q: "Before you did the autopsy...did you check for a pulse?" A: "No..."
Q: " Did you check for blood pressure?" A: "No"
Q: " Did you check for breathing?" A: "No"
Q: "So, then, it is possible that the patient was alive....before you began?"
A: "No..." Q: "How can you be so sure DOCTOR?"
A "Because his brain was sitting in a jar on my desk...!"
Q: But...he could have been alive?"
A" Yes......he could have been practicing some profession somewhere...."


An elderly couple were having dinner at another couple's house, and after eating, the women went into the kitchen.
The two husbands were talking, and one said, "Last night, we went out to a new restaurant and it was really great, I would recommend it highly!"
The other man said, "What was the name of this place?"

The first man thought for a while then said, " What is the name of that flower you give someone you love, the one that's red and has thorns?"
The reply was, "Do you mean a rose?"
"Yes," he said, "That's the one....." then he turned to the kitchen and yelled...."Hey Rose....what was the name of that restaurant we went to last night?"
Blessings.....
Yaddy

John chapter 10 verses 1 to 16

Here is the Scripture that I see so often misapplied. John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:”

Now for years I believed that the “the thief” mentioned here was the Devil. It is a pet verse of those who are “under attack” by the enemy. I do believe that the Devil is a thief, but allow me to propose to you that the Devil is not “the thief” that Jesus is warning about in this regularly quoted verse.

No my friends, the thief is not the Devil, but a “false shepherd” Please take a moment and read John 10:1:16

In the very first verse Jesus identifies the thief for us.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber."

Jesus tells us that the one who enters by the door is the shepherd (v.2) and that He (Jesus) is the door. (v.9). The one who enters any other way is a “thief and robber” (v.1) as clearly identified by Jesus.

He tells us that the sheep “hear his (true shepherd’s) voice; he calls them by name, and he LEADS THEM OUT.” (v. 3)

(Funny isn’t it, most pastors today lead folks in.) The true shepherd “goes before the sheep” (v. 4) as he “leads them out.”

But Jesus tells us in verse six that the folks to whom He was speaking “understood not,”

and He took more time to further explain. Beginning in verse seven He tells us that He was “the door” and that “all that came before him were thieves and robbers.” (There it is again…He tells us who the thieves and robbers are...and it ain’t the devil.)

The thieves are the false shepherds who will not lead the sheep to Jesus, “the door” (v. 9) through whom the sheep could be saved. (v.9). (Get ready…here it comes)

In verse ten Jesus warns us that the previously identified thief (v.1 and v 7) has come to steal, kill, and destroy. The thief is not the Devil, but the false shepherd. (Still not convinced?)

Look who shows up in verse twelve…the wolf!

Doesn’t it make sense that the wolf is the Devil? We have two different characters here…the thief and the wolf….the Devil can’t be both. In fact, Jesus goes a step further to identify the thief for us by calling him a “hireling” and not the shepherd (v. 12).
It is the “hireling” (false shepherd) who “seeth the wolf coming” (v. 12) and deserts his post. The hireling flees because he “careth not for the sheep.” (v. 13), but is only in it for his own personal gain.
The thief (hireling) sees the wolf (Devil) coming and flees. It is the hireling who has come to “kill, steal and destroy.”

Some things never change. Those “hirelings” were the one’s Jesus saved his greatest criticism for, when He ran into them earlier, (only then He called them Pharisees) when He rebuked them because they “shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”

(Remember, He also accused the hirelings of not being able to lead the sheep through the door). The Pharisees were the original hirelings. Read what Jesus said about them and ask yourself if they were any different from what we see on the television today?

John 10 is clear if read with an open mind. Hirelings are Pharisees and the Pharisees were hirelings….professional “ministers.” Jesus warned us about both.

How can we possibly restore righteousness, when some of those who stand in the pulpit don't honour the Word of God?

Jesus’ anger was not directed towards the secular government but towards those who changed his house of prayer into a “den of thieves.”(There are those thieves again) He cleaned the house and today we need to do the same.

Christians have lost a lot of credibility with the world. It will never change while the hirelings are doing what they do best!. It is at their feet that we must lay the killing, stealing, and destroying of the Christian heritage from the churches. It is time for a reformation.

Don't get me wrong....... There are always true pastor who follow God's word. They are the meek who inherit the earth (Mat. 5:5). They weep and pray in secret, and defy earth and hell in public. They tremble when faced with danger, but die in their tracks sooner than turn back. They are like a shepherd defending his sheep or a mother protecting her young. They sacrifice without grumbling, give without calculation, suffer without groaning. Their price is above riches. They are the salt of the earth. For the cause of the kingdom, we need more of them." (Author unknown.)

Do you know many shepherds like that?

Don’t be discouraged. The Lord’s Church is thriving and on the advance, but don't focus on the big large group of people gathered in the showpiece building down the street. Most of those sheep belong to a hireling, a false shepherd, and not to the Lord.

It is the hireling, the false shepherd that has come to steal, and kill, and destroy.

Allow The Lord to be your Shepherd. He leads us out, we hear His voice, and He lays down His life for us.

As a friend of mine said, “Everyone wants to follow Jesus until they find out where He is going. He is going to a cross and he asks you to take up yours and follow Him.”

It is time we decided to follow Jesus and not some hired hand.

Dave Dausenmire

INNOCENCE IS PRICELESS.........

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex standing in the foyer of the church staring up at a large plaque. It was covered with names and small American flags mounted on either side of it. The six-year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the little boy, and said quietly, "Good morning, Alex."

"Good morning Pastor," he replied, still focused on the plaque. "Pastor, what is this?"

The pastor said, "Well, son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service."

Soberly, they just stood together, staring at the large plaque. Finally, little Alex's voice, barely audible and trembling with fear, asked,

"Which service.....8.30 or 10.30?"

blessings..

Yaddy

A Verse We Can't Explain Away.... or Avoid

"All that the Father gives me will come to me; and whoever comes to me, I will never cast out."- John 6 v 37:

There are some especially challenging verses in the Bible which are simply profound and glorious, and are just to be believed and enjoyed.

Yet some professing Christians simply can't seem to believe them, because they can't make the verses fit into their own, theological system or tradition, or they are so prejudiced against what such verses say, that they have to explain it away or avoid it.

I have met people who do not like and won't even read Romans 11 because they actually can't stand what Paul says in that chapter. Some pastors will avoid preaching entire sections of Scripture because they know if they preached them, they would be greatly opposed in their church. So they remain silent about those passages by avoiding them.

Almost the same is said about this verse, which is is found in the words of our Lord in,

John 6:37: "All that the Father gives me will come to me; and whoever comes to me, I will never cast out."
How are we to read it and understand it? What is it saying? Some simple obvious observations we see even from a casual reading:

1. "All the Father gives me..."
There are "some souls" who have been given by the Father to Christ the Son.
It says: SOME that then means not ALL.

The verse specifically and clearly says this; Am I to change it or try to adjust it to fit my theology?

Why not let it stand and say what it says? Did Jesus mean what He taught there? "All that the Father gives me." So a right biblical doctrine from this text is this: Some have been given to the Son by the Father.

One might reply, "Yes, but would it not be right to say that ALL people--everyone--would have been given to Jesus by the Father?

No, that would not be right, and the context of the verse clearly shows why, which we answer in our next observation.

2. "All that the Father gives me WILL COME to me" . . .
All those who have been given by the Father to the Son DO come to Jesus Christ.

Jesus said this clearly: "All that the Father gives me WILL COME to me."
If ALL PEOPLE UNIVERSALLY had been given to the Son, then everyone would end up coming to Him for sure, because He says "all who are given by the Father DO come to Him"

3. "Whoever comes to me shall never be cast out" . . .
Anyone, anywhere, anytime who truly comes to Christ will never be rejected or cast away.

But first......you truly have to come to Him!

That's pretty clear and simple. Anyone who truly desires to come and does come, will be received and is never rejected or turned away.

Summary doctrine- God the Father has already given to His Son, as His inheritance,
a great number of individuals as His bride--
its called in the Bible His body, the true church of Jesus Christ. All those who have been given to Christ by the Father will certainly come to Him. Everyone who truly comes to Him in saving faith will be received and not cast away.

Application- It is wrong for us to negate, what one Scripture clearly teaches, by saying,
"But what this verse says can't be truly saying that because other verses contradict what it says."

No, they actually don't. Scripture never contradicts Scripture; but it often does state objective truths that seem impossible to reconcile, because our minds cannot see how they both could logically be true.
When that happens, we must let every truth stand alone and we must say

"Both are equally true and I just don't have enough understanding yet."

John 6:37 is infinitely glorious truth that we must believe and rejoice in, even if it is beyond us.

-- Mack Tomlinson

Careless Atheist...... By Ray Comfort

"I became an atheist to distance myself from people like you, but since becoming an atheist I've found that I don't care – I honestly don't care – if there is a God. I don't care if there is an afterlife. I don't care if I'm going to Hell. Oh, you can say all you want about that, I just don't care. You can't save me." (from an atheist)
reply:
"And I don't believe a word you are saying. If you became an atheist to distance yourself from people like me, why are you writing to me? You may say that you don't care, but you do, and so do I.

I care enough to get up on a soapbox thousands of times and look like a fool, to plead with people like you..... who either say that they don't care about their eternal welfare, or show that they don't.... by their godless lifestyle.

But the Bible teaches that sinful mankind doesn't "care" about God.

He gave them life itself and they don't care.

He gave them eyes to see His incredible creation,

ears to listen to incredible music,

taste buds to enjoy incredible food........and they don't care. As the Psalmist says, "God is not in their thoughts," and yet at the same time they vainly use His name as a swear word.

If....... you had to give up one of those senses....... which would it be?

Sight? You don't care if you go blind?

How about giving up your taste?

Or your hearing?

Imagine, never seeing a beautiful rose or a sunset, or the color blue ever again, or never tasting good food, or hearing the music of a bird in the early morning? If you are sane, you care.

But..... the loss of those precious senses are nothing compared to giving up your soul. Your "soul" is the real you. It's the interchangeable Bible word for 'your life'.

Your soul looks out the windows you call "eyes."

It's your soul that responds to the 10,000 friendly little taste buddies on your tongue.

Your soul listens to the amazing sounds that are pulled into your inner ear.

You don't know what you have until it's gone. Familiarity does breed contempt. Jesus said that if a man gained the entire world but lost his soul, he is the biggest of losers.

Yet, every day more than..... goodness only knows how many..... "don't care" enough..... to take their own lives. Life's circumstances have tragically driven them to that terrible point. Atheism is your first step in that direction. You owe it nothing.

You are right about one thing though.

I can't save you........ Only God can.

So after you have read these words of mine, how about reading the words of God? Read Matthew chapter 5-7 and get a glimpse of His perfect holiness. Then think about how we all justly deserve Hell if God is that holy, and think about how Jesus cared enough to take your punishment upon Himself--to pay your fine so that the Judge of the universe could dismiss your case. What more could you want?

An atheist's question . . .

"Do you ever doubt the existence of God? And if so, why?"

Do I ever doubt the existence of God?

NO.....Not for a moment. However, an intellectual belief in God's existence is really a non-issue. This is why:

I live in a solid, well-made house. Do I ever doubt the existence of a builder? Not for a moment.

My wife has a well-made and reliable vehicle. Do I ever doubt (for some strange reason) the existence of a car maker? Not for a moment.

I own a well-made computer...I'm sure you get the message. I never doubt that there was a maker of these things, because these things can't make themselves. My common sense tells me that they had to be made by someone with an intelligent mind. The alternative is ludicrous.

However, the issue I think you may be driving at is rather, "Does my faith in God ever waver?" The answer to that one is the same. Do I ever doubt God? Not for a moment. There's a reason for this unwavering faith.

If you asked me if I ever waver when it comes to faith in my wife, I would answer the same--not for a moment. This is because I trust her with all of my heart. She is a trustworthy person. She always keeps her word. However, there is a possibility that she could let me down.

That could happen because she is a sinner......... She is fallible.

But God is not. He is without sin, so you can totally trust Him with all of your heart, and you will never, ever, be disappointed in Him.

Life's terrible circumstances may shake you to the core, but if you catch a glimpse of God's incredible integrity as well as His ability to keep His word, and therefore you trust Him, your faith will only grow through life's lion's den experiences. His promises are immutable. They are a solid rock. See Matthew 7:24-25 for details.

www.LivingWaters.com

blessings

Yaddy

NOW.....THAT'S GOD!

It was one of the hottest dry season, we had not seen rain for almost 2 months.
The crops were dying and the cows were dry.
All the creeks and streams had been dry for months.

If this kept up, a lot of farmers would go bankrupt.

Every day, my husband would go and do the task of feeding, and trying to get water to the stock.
This actually involved a tanker that first needed to be filled, and then taken to the paddocks to water the stock.

If we didn't see rain soon.....we would lose everything! AND....
it was precisely on this day, that I saw the greatest miracle I ever witnessed!

I was in the kitchen making lunches for the men....when I saw little Billy walking towards the woods.

He wasn't walking like he usually did, no, he had "purposeful strides" like, he had a job to do!

I could only see his back, but he was obviously being very careful, doing........something!

Minutes after he had disappeared...he came running back again, towards the house.

I kept making the lunches.

About 20 minutes later.....there he was again.....doing the same careful walk.....

This went on for an hour, and it was getting too much for me, so I sneaked out and followed him, being very careful not to let him see me.

I watched, as he was cupping both his little hands in front of him, being careful not to spill the maybe two spoonfuls of water that he held in his cupped hands.

Branches and leaves slapped in his face, but he ignored them. He had a bigger job to do....and he was doing it!

As I got closer.....I saw the most amazing sight!

Several large deer loomed up in front of him...and Billy walked right up to them.....

I nearly screamed......for him to get away........

a huge buck with large antlers was so close......but he did not threaten him.
He did not even move.....as Billy knelt down.

And then.....I saw a tiny little fawn.....lying on the ground.....it was obviously suffering from heat exhaustion and it lifted it's tiny little head to lap the precious water from my beautiful little son's tiny hands.

When the water was gone....Billy jumped up to run back to the house....I hid behind a tree.
I then followed him back to the house, and there, at a tap round the back, he turned it on full blast, but.....only a little trickle came out.

Drop by drop....he caught it in his little hands, ( it took 20 minutes....easy) and off he took again, back to the little fawn.

It suddenly became clear to me, the trouble he'd gotten into, last week, when he'd left the hose running and the lecture he'd gotten for wasting water....he was not game to ask me to help him...

After the 20 minutes of filling his cupped hands...he stood up.......and there I stood....right in front of him!

His little eyes filled with tears....."I'm not wasting water..." was all he said and went back to "doing his job"
I went with him. As I stood and watched tears came to my eyes.

I was watching the most beautiful heart in action!

And....as my tears fell....there were drop.....drop.....drops in the dust!

It was as if God Himself was crying too....weeping with pride!

Some will say it was all just a coincidence, that it was bound to rain anyway and I can't argue with that....the rain saved a little fawn and it saved our farm!

But I say.....In all that we do....we need to totally give Him thanks and then our blessings will continue to multiply!

Don't tell God how big your storm is.....tell your storm how big your God is!

HAVE A BLESSED DAY....

Yaddy

PROBLEMS....?????

Problems are either stumbling blocks or stepping stones.
If you accept them as stumbling block....you'll grow bitter.

If you accept them as stepping stones....you'll grow from them.


AN OLD FARMER'S ADVICE!

1) Life is simpler, if you plow around the stump.

2) A bee is considered faster than a John Deere tractor.

3) Meanness don't just happen overnight.

4) Forgive your enemies....it messes up their heads.

5) You can not un-say a cruel word.

6) Always drink up stream from the herd.

7) Every path has a few puddles.

8) The easiest way to eat crow is when it is still warm, cause the colder it gets,
the harder it is to swallow.

9) Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never going to happen.

10) Letting the cat out of the bag is a lot easier then getting it back in again.

11) If you're thinking you're a person of some influence, try ordering some one
else's dog around!

THE TAXI RIDE!

20 years ago, I drove a taxi for a living.
When I arrived, at 2.30am, the building was dark, except for one single light in a ground floor window. Now, many drivers would have honked once, maybe twice....then just left, but I had seen too many poor people who depended on taxis as their only means of getting anywhere
and unless the situation smelled of danger, I usually went to the door.

"This passenger might need assistance," I argued with myself.

So I walked to the door and knocked.....

"Just a minute..." answered a frail elderly voice.

I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause......the door opened.

A small woman, in her eighties stood before me. She was wearing a floral dress, and a small
hat, with a veil....like someone out of a 40's movie.

She was carrying a small suitcase.

The flat looked like no one had lived there for years.

Everything was covered, no utensils, no photos, no anything except for in the corner where
stood a box filled with packed stuff.

"Could you carry my bag to the taxi?" She asked. I did....then came back for her.

We slowly walked back to the taxi and she kept thanking me for the trouble.
I said it was nothing and was glad to be able to do it.

She gave me an address....then asked, "Could you drive through the town?"

"It's not the shortest way..." I answered quickly.

"OH, I don't mind..." she said, "I'm not in a hurry, I'm on my way to the hospice...."

I looked in the rear vision mirror and noticed her eyes were glistening.

"I don't have any family left," she continued, "And the doctor says I don't have much time left"

I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
"Which way would you like to go?" I asked her.

For the next two hours we drove through the city.

She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator, we drove through the neighbourhood where she and her husband had lived, when they were newlyweds.

She made me pull up in front of a warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a young girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow down in front of a particular building or corner....and would sit
staring into the darkness....saying nothing.....

At the first hint of sunlight she said, "I'm tired....let's go now!"

I took her to the address she had given me and when we arrived, two orderlies came out to the taxi as soon as we got there. I got her small suitcase.

She was already in a wheel chair.
"How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.

"Nothing..." I said....
"You have to make a living..." she answered.
Almost without thinking.....I bent down and gave her a hug.....

:You gave me a little moment of joy...thank you..." she said.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift, I drove around, aimlessly, lost in thoughts.

For the rest of the day, I could hardly talk..."What if she'd gotten an angry driver?...or an impatient one?"

I felt that I had never done anything more important in my whole life!
To me, it was a divine appointment.

People may not remember what you said or did, but they will remember how you made them feel!

God Bless you...

Yaddy