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Showing posts from November, 2015

Effort

"The harder of the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and his conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death." -Thomas Paine

The Barber

“At first the barber snipped judiciously, but soon Weinstein realized he had gone too far.   “Put some back! “he screamed unreasonably. “I can’t,” the barber said.   “It won’t stick.” - “Well then give it to me, Dominic!   I want to take it with me!” “Once it’s on the floor of the shop it is mine, Mr. Weinstein.” - “Like hell! I want my hair!” He blustered and raged and finally felt guilty and left.   Goyim, he thought.   One way or another they get you.” -Woody Allen Want to scapegoat?  You always can find a target.

You Can Fly!

"Come to the edge." But they held back and said, "It's dangerous." He beckoned, "Come to the edge."  And they said, "We can't we will fall."  Then he commanded, "Come to the edge!" So they went to the edge and he pushed them...  And they flew."   -Appolinaire

What is Real

A scribe writing a sefer Torah walked into Rabbi Elimelech’s study to show off his art. “Nu, Rabbi, how do you like my penmanship?” the scribe asked. Rabbi Elimelech peered at the Torah. “The penmanship? To tell you the truth, Reb Yankel, the penmanship is nothing to get excited about.   But the language – such beauty, such meaning…” -Israel Jacobs

Speaking to Distraction

Shalom Abramovich, the Yiddish writer who created the figure Mendele Mocher Seforim, would write long letters filled with trivia.   At the conclusion, he would wrote, “I left out the most important thing I intended to say.”   -Israel Jacobs In the midst of tale telling it is easy to become distracted.   Stay the course.   Remember the point.

Table It

"R. Johanan and R. Eleazar both explain that as long as the Temple stood, the altar atoned for Israel, but now a man's table atones for him."  - Talmud, Berachot 55  How does your table truly represent the holy  altar ?