By Shaina Wolff, the Bais Rivka Grapevine
There’s not a lot I remember about First Grade, but my teacher will forever be in my heart.
I was not one of those typical kids that would sit in their seat and listen to every word the teacher said.
Morah Bruk, however, was the one who led me through one of the most important years of my life. I don’t remember the way she taught us how to write the ABC’s but I do remember the cute stickers we got at the top of the page for our good work.
There is a special incident that I remember from First Grade; looking back I realize that Mrs. Bruk knew a whole lot about what mattered to a First Grader.
It was during recess that a girl in my class was making fun of my last name, telling me that a wolf is a kind of animal, not a name. It seems trivial now, but back then, it was a big deal. I was very hurt, as any six year old would be.
When Mrs. Bruk came in and saw how upset I was, she calmed me down and told me not to think about what the other girl had said. A little girl was insulted, and Morah not only noticed, but she took time to comfort me. To her, it wasn’t trivial.
I remember going to Mrs. Bruk’s house on Purim to bring her a Shalach Manos basket. I was dressed up as a clown. I’d say probably half her students had on the same costume as me. But she nevertheless went on and on about how cute I looked, and made me feel like a million dollars.
Sometimes, we little kids would accidentally call our teachers “Mommy.” Everyone would always giggle when that happened, but I can easily imagine why such a mistake would happen so often in Mrs. Bruk’s class.
She once told me how lucky she was to have me as a student and a neighbor. (Let me remind you that I was not the easiest student.) You can’t imagine how special I felt.
After the year was over, Mrs. Bruk didn’t forget about me. When I would see her in the street she would stop and ask me about Second Grade and tell me how big I got.
Morah Bruk, I’m writing on behalf of every First Grader that you nurtured with love. You cared so much about every one of us; I’m sure every Bais Rivkah girl you taught will never forget the privilege they had to be your student.
Morah Bruk, you taught us that it’s going to be the little little kinderlach who will make Moshiach come, but we’re not such little kinderlach anymore. Tell Hashem that your students were promised they would bring Moshiach, and He can’t wait until they get any older.
Related links:
+ Shloshim for Chanchy Bruk
+ A Torah in her Memory
+ Mrs. Chanchy Brook, 54, OBM
wow….
Hey shaina you rock! Bais Rivkah newspaper you rock also! Best paper ever!
I once heard a story about a little girl asking her mother why Hashem does what he does,(making her friend move, and taking people she loved away). Her mother told her it was like a cake, A cake is made up of many things, and at the end it is delicious. Her mother told her to come in the kitchen and they would bake a cake. She asked her if she liked her cake and the daughter said “yes” Ok said the Mother, Here is flour tast it, the daughter said that doesn’t taste good and she went on about… Read more »
Mrs. Bruk , I didn’t know you, but your tender-heartedness is a lesson for me….. .Moshiach NOW!!!
thank you shaina,
and thank you to the BAIS RIVKA GRAPEVINE, school newspaper, for originally publishing this!
Is this my sister?
Beautiful , inspiring and it is the children who will bring Chanchy’s memory to life. It is all of us who continue to write our words of love for her that will continue to touch the hearts and souls of Chanchy’s family. G-d bless them all..
I was scrolling down COL, and paused when I came across a picture of a little girl with the most adorable smile. I thought to myself, that girl looks alot like Shaina (P) Wolf…
You’ve written an inspiring piece, may her memory live on, and may those she impacted learn to take advantage of every moment in life, to care for others as she did for you.
-Ralph
Shaina,
I am beyond impressed. Clearly this morah had a deep and lasting impact on you and it was one that has been internalized and is a big piece to the puzzle of who you are…. Great article and thanks for the inspiration.
Shaina,
Your article is amazing! Words can never describe how great our Morah Chanchi was. You did an awesome job 🙂
Thanks for posting this
beautiful tribute shaina!
may hashem comfort the bruk family,
mrs. bruk was so special
so inspiring! last paragraph=wowowow
go shaina!
How old is the author, Shaina, at time of writing this beautiful message? Thanks so much for sharing it! cousin Karen in SNOWY Atlanta
🙂
Shhaaaainaa you wrote this SO well
amazing job .. really touching..
ps The pictute is TOO cuute
Wow!!!! Thanks for sharing !!! Ur amazing !
This article is incredssss!!
love you
brought tears to my eyes. may we only have openly good things to write about. moshiach now!
wow shaina you did a great job! miss you! <3
great job shaina! its such a beautiful piece! luv u!
very nice article!!
Shaina, wow wow wow!!!!!!! i’m amazed! beautifully written!did your English teacher see this?!?! You are amazing!
great job shaina!!
u used to be so cute what happened?! jk… I love the way u wrote this. what talent dont u have?? its written so well love ur bff!
The “little, little kinderlach” will bring Moshiach…
That’s very well said, because “little, little kinderlach” are pure in heart.
Similarly, it will be the “little, little kinderlach” deep INSIDE of us (the pure and divine neshamah), once unfettered by klippot, that will bring a Gan Eden (a sanctuary) for Moshiach and the divine truth, once more into this world. Sigh…:)
…Until then, good anashim, keep working at it!:)
Don’t forget http://www.ChanchysTorah.com and memorialize your beloved teacher!
shaina amazing!
its so specail
so special for you to share your thoughts!
GO SHAINA!!! SHE WAS MY COUNSLOR!!!
LOVE A SHMAICHEL MAIDEL 🙂 🙂
And so impressed. Love you shaina!
go shaina!
this was so inpiring!!! Thank you so much! You are a great writer keep it up!
Thank u Shaina for sharing this tribute. It brought tears to my eyes!
wow, the proof is in your heart!
She touched you, that is what really counts.
wow.
Thank you Shaina, for sharing your story with us. As family we find these stories to be true testimony of a wonderful part of us that we terribly miss.
for all those of you out there who have a picture with mrs. brook, please send it in to the grapevine-718 735 0400
luv u shaina well done!
cute jumper 🙂 nice job!
Thanks for sharing!
unreal. the last paragraph brought tears to my eyes. how true!
moshiach now!
shaina, this brought tears to my eyes.
thanks for letting them publish it.
and to the editors of the grapevine..
KOL HAKAVOD! It was an unbelievable publication!
wow what a nice letter!!! keep it up!!!
mashiach now
Absolutely beautiful. What a tribute!