Rebbe’s Stories Speaking to the King of All Kings

Rabbi Mordechai Dubin

Purim, the holiday of clowning around, is right around the corner. Let’s get crafty with this clown pom pom blaster, which looks like an innocent little clown but has a fun surprise! What’s better than 1 pom pom blaster? Two! Create one with a friend and it will provide you with hours of fun and entertainment!

Supplies:

Pool noodle, Balloon, Tape, Scissor, Pom poms, Googly eyes and colored paper (optional)

Instructions:

Step 1: Cut a pool noodle to about 3 inches

Step 2: Tie a knot in the balloon (do not blow it up)

Step 3: Cut off the round part of the balloon

Step 4: Stretch open the opening of the balloon and attach it to the pool noodle

Step 5: Secure your balloon to the pool noodle using a strip of tape

Step 6: Decorate your pom pom blaster like an innocent clown

Step 7: Load your pom pom blaster with pom poms or confetti

Step 8: Pull the tied part of the balloon to allow the pom poms to explode!

1 2 3 4 6 5

Mushky, aka the “Duct Tape Lady”, is a duct tape artist and lover of crafts who is always On A Roll coming up with something new and exciting. Mushky believes that creativity and connection are 2 really important things to take with you throughout life. Crafts build confidence, teach problem solving, and encourages “Out of the box” thinking. She currently teaches 3rd grade in Bais Chaya Mushka LA and is an adjunct professor at Sara Schenirer College. You can check out more awesome projects on her YouTube channel, onarollcrafts, or follow her on instagram @onarollcrafts

To book a craft event contact her at onarollcrafts@gmail.com

One day Reb Baruch was riding in his wagon and realized that the sun was about to set and he had not yet davened Mincha. He quickly steered his horse to the side of the road then got down from his wagon and began to daven.

At that time an important Roman general was passing by. He noticed Reb Baruch and stood before him expecting an honorable greeting. Reb Baruch continued to sway back and forth as he davened but did not stop his Tefilah to greet the general. As soon as Reb Baruch finished his Tefilah, the general began to shout angrily. “How dare you ignore me!! Don’t you know that anyone who does not show honor to an officer of the king will be thrown into prison?!?”

Reb Baruch asked the general to please give him a moment to explain the reason why he did not interrupt his Tefilah to acknowledge him.

“Kind officer,” asked Reb Baruch, “Have you ever had the opportunity to speak with the king?” The general responded arrogantly. “Of course, I have spoken with the king. I have spoken with the king many times. I am one of the king’s top generals”. Reb Ba- ruch continued. “And what would happen if while you were speaking with the king you turned away to greet someone else?”

“Turn away from the king to greet someone else?” the general answered surprisingly, “The king would throw me into prison for such disrespect!” Reb Baruch replied to the general, “That is exactly how I felt. While I was praying, I was speaking with the King of all Kings. The Master of the whole world. He created you, he created me, and he created your king. Wouldn’t it have been disrespectful for me to turn away from Hashem to greet you?”

The general nodded in agreement and was sat- isfied with Reb Baruch’s explanation and said, “You may continue on your journey.” Reb Baruch got back onto his wagon and continued his travels happily and safely.

This story is found in Meseches Shabbos 32b.

Questions for Discussion

1. How can we apply this story to our own Tefilah and Brachos?

2. Can you try to have focus next time you daven like Reb Baruch did, even just one time?

3. What images of kings can you think of to attribute to Hashem?

Rabbi Mordechai Dubin is a Rebbe at Gindi Maimonides Academy. He is the author of three illustrated children’s books, I’ll Never Forget Yerushalayim, I Believe, and I Know 6; and has produced four Musical CD’s for children, I Made This World For you, Let My People Go, Al Shelosha Devarim, and Hashem is Always With Me.

By Rabbi MORDECHAI DUBIN

books/cds by Rabbi Dubin: