A Soulful Journey

A fictional story is told of a bird during the days of creation. This particular bird was created without wings and when it looked around at other birds soaring in the heavens it implored the Creator to allow it to fly. That night, whilst the bird was asleep, G–d affixedwings to its body. When the bird awoke and saw two new appendages to its body it said to G–d, “G–d, I asked you to make me fly, not to make me heavier.” G–d replied, “little bird, just flap them and you will see that you will fly.” The restrictions often seem like extra baggage but once we utilize them, they allow us to fly and soar into new heights. - Nissan Dubov

A Chinese scholar was paradoxically troubled by sorrowful thoughts during what was ostensibly his happiest hour.   He sensed that he had reached the apex of his career: happiness, wisdom, wealth, personal and public success had all been granted to him.   Now, as he was celebrating the marriage of his youngest child, he felt that his fortunes could only begin moving in a downward direction.   The last few years had been distinguished by unfailing accomplishments, a series of successes that were now crowned with the wedding of his youngest child.   Aware that he could go no higher, fear and trembling overwhelmed him as he speculated upon the likely collapse of his good fortunes.   “If I could only improvise a tool with which to fasten the wheel of my life at its present point, I would be the happiest man on earth,” he thought.   -  Rabbi Moshe Weiss What is there.  Just this moment.

Jewish legend tells of the tradition of Jewish belief of nature.  In nature is the inherent God given quality of justice.  In this regard we are told that the Torah predates the world by 2,000 years.

“A small trouble is like a pebble.   Hold it too close to your eye, and it puts everything out of focus.   Hold it at proper viewing distance, and it can be examined and classified.   Throw it at your feet, and it can be seen in its true setting, just one more tiny bump on the pathway to eternity.” –Celia Luce Take your pain and hold it at arm’s length.   Give it the perspective that it needs in the grander, larger view of life.

Members of the Board of Directors are visiting the rabbi, who is in the hospital.  “I have good news and bad news,” the delegation leader says. “What’s the good news?” the rabbi asks. “The board voted to wish you a  refuah shleimah , a speedy healing.” “Thank you!” says the rabbi.  “But what’s the bad news?” And the delegation leader says, “The vote was 10 to 9.” Rabbi Samuel Cohon

Moses was sitting in the Egyptian ghetto. Things were terrible: Pharaoh wouldn't even speak to him. The rest of the Israelites were mad at him and making the overseers even more irritable than usual, etc. He was about ready to give up.      Suddenly a booming, sonorous voice spoke from above:      "You, Moses, heed me !  I have good news, and bad news."      Moses was staggered. The voice continued:      "You, Moses, will lead the People of Israel from bondage. If Pharaoh refuses to release your bonds, I will smite Egypt with a rain of frogs"      "You, Moses, will lead the People of Israel to the Promised Land. If Pharaoh blocks your way, I will smite Egypt with a plague of Locust."      "You, Moses, will lead the People of Israel to freedom and safety. If  Pharaoh's army pursues you, I will part the waters of the Red Sea to open your path to the Promised La...

"Maybe it's best to treat happiness like a deer in the forest.  Sometimes it will emerge from the woods and pay you a visit.  But it dislikes undue attention.  And if you chase it, it will run away." - Phyllis Theroux

"One historian summarized the Jewish experience in America.  "This is the first land where the Jews didn't automatically have to fear the police."  His meaning was that, for too long, authority and the individuals who wield power were capricious, arbitrary, rapine.  Holocaust chronicler, Dr. Raul Hilberg, put it another way when he writes in capturing the logic and horror of some 1700 years of experience with the "civilized" western world.  "The Church said you may not live among us a s Jews. "  The result was conversion, exclusion, or ghettoization.  Then Hilberg continues: "After the Church, the State  said you may not live among us."  The consequence: More ghettos, often violence, sometimes expulsion.  "The Nazis then said you may not live."   -Michael Zedek

Bahya Ibn Pakuda compared the Torah to a letter sent by a king to a subject whom he loves.  When the letter is finally received, some of the words have faded, the writing is unclear and much is left to be deciphered by the reader.  Still, if the subject  loves the king as much as he is loved by him, he will be undeterred in his effort to decipher it. So the letter falls to our hands.  May our hearts be worthy and unyielding in our efforts to make it clear what the King wants to communicate.

"I don't want 'em good, I want 'em Tuesday." -Sam Warner

"If you are tolerant out of fear it is not tolerance." -Shmuel Smith

A seventh grader was sitting around the dinner table, chatting with his family when suddenly he said: “I am glad I sit in the back of the bus.”   “Why?” asked his parents. “Because the driver does not see what I am doing….Just kidding mom!   Just kidding, dad!” No matter how far we may try to hide, slouching way down in this bus called life, God always sees what we are doing. -Ira Fortna of Bart

"If a city doesn't have any vegetable gardens, our sages are not permitted to live there"   -   Talmud,  Eruvin 55b