apache rewrites from elgg

Hi List,

I want to install the elgg networking engine but unfortunately the 
rewrites are not optional and only for apache :(
don't understand the apache part nor I can adapt them for cherokee

I installed elgg with apache (so I can make sure it works)

now I shut down apache and start cherokee

I changed alredy the default rule of the vserver to redirection and all 
the following rules
but I don't know what to do with the %{QUERY_STRING} is this also 
possible on cherokee side?

of course I get an http 500 ;)
another question
if I point my prowser to http://localhost I get also an 500
  as the last rule I added additionally
a rewrite rule

^\/$       =>     index.php

now I get the homepage so here my question is this the only way to 
achieve this or are there better ways

ok I got the hompage but without css :(
but my first rule on this vserver is a Extension rule for 
png,gif,jpg,css,js with static content haendler
what you think I made wrong ?