A Soulful Journey

I live in a farming community.   One windy day, after I’d hung my laundry out to dry, I returned to my house just in time to notice the farmer who rents the neighboring field had begun to plow, sending clouds of dust toward the wet clothes hanging on my lie. Quickly shutting the windows, I hurried outside to retrieve the clothes.   But when I got to the line, the roaring plow had disappeared. Several days later I ran into the farmer and asked him about the incident.   With a smile he told me that, yes, he remembered the day.   As soon as he saw my clothes on the line and realized which way the wind was blowing, he had decided to plow elsewhere and return to that field later.  Our town has no theaters or fancy restaurants, but we do have good friends and neighbors who care about each other – as well as their laundry.   –Mary Love in Reader’s Digest This may not qualify as "tzedaka" but it is a righteous way of thinking.  Every moment has ...

There are two types of givers of tzedaka.   One gives out of pity because he cannot stand to hear and see the affliction of the poor.   The other gives for the sake of heaven.   The difference between them is that the first one will try to be rid of the poor immediately and he doesn’t try to collect from others.   But one who gives for   the sake of heaven will solicit others as well. How does this change your view of helping others?

When you feel yourself getting angry,  stop.  Imagine yourself  as having already exploded and  you now feel wasted. For that’s  what happens when you get angry;  your soul leaves you.  Do this, and your anger  is sure to dissolve.   Rebbe Nachman, The Empty Chair

“How was your yontif?” “Fine, how was your yontif?” “Fine.” “How were your services?” “Fine, how were your services?” “Fine.” “How were your Rabbi’s sermons?” “Fine, how were your Rabbi’s sermons?” “Fine. What did your Rabbi talk about?”                   “About 20 minutes” - Rabbi Saul Teplitz Humor teaches humility.  It is good to always remembers we are servants, no masters.

Two young Israeli soldiers were on miluim (reserve duty).  Their task was to patrol an area where Jews and Arabs lived in the same neighborhood in Jerusalem.  It was a tense area and time.  One of them chanced to see an Arab woman rummaging through the garbage.  He took pity on her and gave her his sandwich. His solider buddy then said to him, "I don't know whether I can go to war with you.  You might shoot too late." The other replied, "I don't know whether I can go to war with you.  You might shoot too soon." This tale also applies to judgments we make without a rifle in our hands.  Every day we make decisions about others.  Those decisions are more of a reflection on us than them.

A melifluous cantor named Sholem While asleep in the night had a cholem*, That he chanted "al cheit," At the Heavenly Gate, And it pleased the Ribono Shel Olam. - Cantor Harry Gelman Wouldn't it be nice to craft songs and poems out of experience? perhaps the days of our lives are a song. If so, then we are the both the lyrics and melody.... Nothing pleases God more than hearing our song. *dream

“This is the beginning of a new day God has given me.   This day to use as I will.   I can waste it or use it for good.   What I do today is important because I’m exchanging a day of my life for it.   When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something I have traded for it.   I want it to be gain, not loss; good not evil; success not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it.”   -Anonymous

“The inspiration of the Bible depends upon the ignorance of the gentleman who reads it.”   -Robert G. Ingersoll “I have read it [the Bible] carefully.   And if Bob Ingersoll isn’t in hell, God is a liar and the Bible isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.”   -Billy Sunday Perhaps the best advice comes from the Mishna which states, “Turn it over and over for everything is found in it.”   You see what you are willing to see.   No more.   No less.

“I have always felt that the moment when first you wake in the morning is the most wonderful of the 24 hours.   No matter how weary you feel. You possess the certainty that anything may happen.   The fact that it practically always doesn’t matters not one jot.   The possibility is there.   –Monica Baldwin, I leap Over the Wall This echoes the prayer we recite each morning, “My God, the soul you have planted in me is pure…”

“While it is not possible for every human being to be an author, it is possible for every author to be a human being.” –Moritz Gottlieb Saphir There is never an excuse for us to lose our humanity.   Never.

“Woe to the person who says that the Torah is just a series of stories.   We could write better stories! "  - Zohar

Three Jews who had recently been converted to Episcopalianism were having a drink together in a posh country club.   They started talking about the reasons for their conversions. “I converted out of love,” the first one said.   Seeing the dubious looks on his friends’ faces, he added, “Not for Christianity but for a Christian girl.   As you know, my wealthy wife insisted that I convert.” “And I converted in order to succeed in the law,” the second one said.   “I never would have been appointed a federal judge if I hadn’t become Episcopalian.” “I converted because I think that the teachings of Christianity are superior to those of Judaism,” the third one said. “Whom are you trying to kid?” the first man answered with considerable heat.   “What do you take us for – a couple of goyim?”   -Charles Silberman You can never escape who you really are.

In Midrash Bamidbar Rabbah, Nasso, the Gibeonites are defined as “heathens who have taken on the laws and customs of Israel but have chosen to remain apart from the Jewish community.”   The same text elaborates, “From here we learn how far the Holy One blessed be He, drawing near to those far removed, even extending this to converts who have ulterior motives.”   (8:4) It is easy to define ourselves as better than “they” (whoever the “they” is).   Yet, God Himself reaches out beyond the scope of parochialism to embrace those who may eventually find their way.

"A camel looks like a horse that was planned by a committee." -Vogue 1958 Compromise is good but not when it runs counter to what is right.

"Committee: A group of men who keep minutes and waste hours."  - Milton Berle Talk is always good...when it ends up in decisive action.

I wish that there were some wonderful place called the Land of Beginning Again.   -Louise Fletcher in the Land of Beginning Again. There is.  We call it Teshuva.   You just have to do it.

J.F. Brown, chief research psychologist at the Menninger Clinic, wrote in 1942 in "The Origin of the Anti-Semitic Attitude" that "the costumes of the rabbis; the celebration of the chief feasts, especially the Sabbath, on other dates than those of the Christian culture; prohibitions regarding diet; the facades of synagogues - all mark the Jew out." We always have a choice to blend in or stand out as unique.  What do we teach our children?

A. Lawford Lowell, Harvard’s president from 1909-1923 once remarked that if Jews were admitted they would “be overcome with and oblivion to the fact that they were Jews, even though all the Gentiles were perfectly aware that they were Jews.” Are these the words of an anti-Semite or prophet?

“We may be expert in assessing the value of gold and silver and gems – but to appreciate the true worth of a Jew is way, way beyond us.”   - Rebbe of Gostonin What a beautiful revelation!   Each of us has a shining an irreplaceable gift or series of gifts to give to the world.   Priceless.