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WHISPERS TO HASHEM
Her greatness wasn’t just that she baked challah, but how she did it… and why she did it.
Once she recognized the privilege she was granted, the opportunity to convene with
Hashem—for however long she chose—she decided to make most of it.
Slowly, her Friday mornings began earlier so she could do more in her day and be
Shabbos-ready by chatzos. She’d start her day in the wee hours, motivated purely by the
opportunity to spend her time on that exalted plane, as she welcomed the Shabbos
Queen.
With her own poetic techinas for the Shechina on her lips, she joyfully reveled in the
privilege of preparing for the heilige day.
After she completed her Shabbos preparations, the food freshly cooked, the cakes, pies
and muffins lined her counters, the blech set and her Shabbos table bedecked for
royalty, she would head to her parents’ home, where she’d assist with Shabbos prep—
and relish in her opportunity for kibbud av v’em.
SHABBOS, MY SHABBOS
The message she so wished to relate, was that the kedusha of Shabbos permeates
everything we do for her; it’s in the preparation and in the food itself. She insisted that
not only was the flavor divine—and those who were privileged to taste it,
wholeheartedly agreed—but more than that, she appreciated that the food, prepared
with so much thought, heart, and purity, was imbued with the kedusha and koach of
Shabbos. She bemoaned the attitude of an “off Shabbos,” and the delight in not needing
to prepare for the big day. She urged us to recognize that preparing for Shabbos isn’t a
chore, but a privilege—an opportunity to reset our internal clock gone haywire.
And that is the secret she wants us all to know: we all have the opportunity to connect
to that holiness — should we choose to do so. And hearing her describe the joy and
beauty, we can’t help but desire that connection too. She also points out how
strengthening that connection changes who we are. It not only
elevates our Shabbos and our connection to her, it has the capability of putting us on a
higher realm, seeing the world differently, experiencing life more profoundly,
recognizing our priorities more accurately.
She makes sure to emphasize that her Erev Shabbos routine didn’t happen overnight.
She only started with one small commitment, and though she acknowledges that she
took the steps in that direction (learning hilchos Shabbos weekly, for instance), she
credits others for encouraging her and insists it must have been the koach of Shabbos,
tself, that elevated her and ignited the desire to learn more.
Rifky spoke with such chiyus—about her cooking, her chesed projects, her kabbalos in
tznius, her opportunity to serve her parents… It is readily apparent that indeed none of
it was too strenuous for her. Because doing what one loves is never difficult.
We walk away from that speech humbled, inspired and invigorated. We want to do all
that too! And we can, she promises. One step at a time. Always in the right direction.
Always with enthusiasm, gratitude and a smile on our lips.
THE CHALLAH LADY
A local Rebbetzin, a childhood friend of Rifky’s, recently remarked that when she saw
Rifky she was humbled, inspired and a tad embarrassed. For years, she hadn’t realized
she was in the presence of greatness.
Rifky’s sweet personality ensured her ascent was as subtle as it was steady — like the
woman herself. When asked about her amazingly inspiring Fridays and overall

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