Efrat Bnei and Translation
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    • Rabbits In The Living Room
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​​Rabbits in the living room     4 Lessons & 2 Miracles         May 1, 2016   related by Lenny Schwartz
 
Sarah was my and Efrat’s first born (Sarah is in her mid 30’s)… Efrat didn’t know if she would/could/should have children (due to her Marfans) - so Sarah was a blessing (and paved the way for our Ella!).  Since baby-hood Sarah carries a small piece of rabbit fur with her all the time – as a child, instead of a “blanky” she always had a rabbit pelt! – she calls her fur thing “fluffy”.

Efrat (my best friend for 40yrs and wife of 33yrs) died 03-2016 – Naomi, one of Efrat’s very very close friends and Torah-Chanting students invited Sarah and I to her house for Friday night dinner (neither of us have ever been to Naomi's house or knew anything about her and hubby's hobby)) – Sarah was not overly excited since Naomi & husband & me are “old” people – she imagined the evening could be very boring one.  Sarah made it clear that she was NOT going to do it again!   Sarah’s negative thoughts (lesson #1) about the visit were entirely based on her assumptions (lesson #2 ) that the visit would not be “enjoyable”…  she assumed the worst instead of being open to the possibilities. (lesson#3) 

Considering her attitude, I talked with Sarah on the way to the dinner about Conscious Labors & Intentional Suffering (a Gurdjieffian term that is a key to Man’s “evolution”)  – doing something intentionally - that we do not want to do – and doing it without expressing negative emotions, criticism, condemnation, complaining or judging.  (lesson #4)  We had a very good conversation.
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We arrived at Naomi’s house.. and were greeted by Naomi and her husband David.  Right in the middle of the living room there was a large animal “petting zoo” complete with metal fencing  – Rabbits!  (1st miracle) (Naomi & her husband told us they have always raised rabbits) – Sarah squealed with joy and immediately picked one up and cuddled the fat fluffy bunny.
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The evening was amazing.  Sarah and I related stories about Efrat that Naomi relished… Sarah also had many old photos of Efrat on her phone that Naomi flipped over (many I don’t remember ever seeing)  – the stories and photos completed Naomi’s emotion connection with her beloved & very good friend & teacher.  During the course of the evening the conversation somehow came to a point that allowed me to confide in everyone my pet name for Efrat – in so doing Naomi volunteered HER pet name for her husband – “fluffy” (2nd miracle)… Sarah & I couldn’t believe our ears.  We told Naomi & husband Sarah’s pet name for her rabbit fur… we were all in awe.  (* note: both sarah and naomi coined the fluffy nick-names about 30 years ago - we met naomi approx in 2007)

What a blessed evening… what lessons.  Rabbits in the living room.
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