“Judaism understands that there is an element of risk in this type
of program. It is repetitious. Sometimes, by dint of repetition, religious
rituals may become mechanical. Again,
let me refer to a metaphor. What does it
take to play glorious music? Great art
can be appreciated only because the artist had the patience and the willingness
to discipline himself. Inspiration comes
after constant practice. Paderewski is
reputed to have remarked: “If I stop playing the piano one day, I feel the
difference. If I stop playing two days,
the critics know the difference. If I
stop practicing three days, my audience knows the difference.” There is no substitute for repetition. Only by accepting constant self-discipline
can we enjoy the glories of the symphony of Jewish life.”
“To say the right thing at the right time, keep still most of the time.” John W. Roper Those who get in trouble most often are those cannot seem to keep still, remain silent. Life teaches many lessons. Among the best lessons of life is one my father taught me at an early age was, “If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing.” The contributions we make to life via our mouth are many and varied. Most of the time, I reckon, they are not contributions at all, but things that diminish the richness of life.
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