A Soulful Journey

“Rachel gave voice to the definite words of despair, “Give me children.   If not, let me die!”   Her husband Jacob was angry that she asked for a miracle: “Shall I take God’s place?”   But rabbinic tradition did not approve of his response.   According to one sage, God replied: “Is that how you answer someone who cries in distress?”   - Rabbi Jonathan Sacks , 1981 Anger destroys. It is not constructive, most emphatically among people who love one another.

“Can we actually “know” the universe?   My God, it’s hard enough finding your way around in Chinatown.”   - Woody Allen He is right.   It is difficult to navigate street when we are unfamiliar with the territory.   How much more so when we cannot “see” our object?   Yet Chinatown is there, even if we are lost in the middle of it.   So is God.

In 1959, after hitting over .300 for seventeen consecutive years, Ted Williams, on of the all time greats of baseball, batted a mere .254.  In spite of dismal season, Boston Red Sox owner, Tom Yawkey sent him a contract worth $125,000 for playing the next season. 1969, for the same amount he had received for 1959.  At that time, Ted Williams was baseball's highest paid player, but he was too proud to accept such a generous contract for failing to maintain his high level of play.  He sent the contract back and demanded at twenty-five percent salary cut, the maximum that was allowable in those days.  The Boston Red Sox Management agreed to those terms and Ted Williams went on to have an outstanding season.   -Rabbi Bernard Glassman C an you imagine a world where such integrity was the norm and not the exception ?

An atheist came to a rabbi and asked him to interpret a dream. “What was your dream?” “I saw a dog gnashing his teeth at me and straining his leash to leap at me.   It was terrible!” “Do not be afraid,” the rabbi replied.   “You have nothing to fear.   You saw only your own shadow.” We all possess shadows, dark sides of ourselves that we hide and are ashamed of.   Why then did the rabbi advise to not fear his shadow? Because fear gives power.   Also, we  can never disown what we truly are.

Rabbi Judah began with the verse, “Her husband is known in the gates.”   (Proverbs 31: 23)   The Holy One, blessed he He, is elevated and glorious hidden and transcendent.   No one has come into the world since the time of Creation that can understand Him or His wisdom.   Because He is so hidden, neither those above not those below are able to cleave to Him, so that all of them say, “Blessed be the glory of God from His place!”   The lower creatures say, “He must be above!”   As Scripture indicates, “Your glory is above the heavens,” (Psalms 57:6)   Thus everyone both above and below proclaims, “Blessed I the glory of God from His place!”   (Ezekiel 3:12)   for He is unknown and no one can grasp Him.   That is why its states “He husband (i.e. God) is known in the gates.” But surely he is known is the gates (heb. sh’arim)!   he is known and cleaved according to what each person is capable of imagining (m’asher) in his mind, according to his wisdom.   Those are the sh’arim through w

Milton Steinberg’s father once said there are four different versions of sermons: 1.      What the rabbi should have said 2.      2. What he could have said 3.      What he meant to say 4.      What they heard    -Rabbi Jack Reimer Listening is an art, as is speaking.  Be clear. Listen with your ears and heart.

“Today I saw a red-and-yellow sunset and thought, ‘How insignificant I am!’   Of course, I thought that yesterday too, and it rained….”   -Woody Allen Let very day new new, bright, full of hope.  When it rains may it never rain in your heart.

“God dwells wherever man lets Him in.”  -Kotzker Rebbe Let Him in.  Now.