A Soulful Journey

“Just as it is the nature of sheep that if one of its limbs is struck, all of them feel it.  So it is with Israel, if one of them sins all of them are grieved.       -Mehilta d'Rabbi Yishmael     There is little doubt that when one of us achieves greatness we are all exalted.  Likewise when a Jew does poorly we all feel the pain. This is what is meant by the saying, "All Israel is responsible for one another."

“Be what you is.  Not what you ain’t.  For if you is what you ain’t,  you ain’t what you is.”  - Dr. Bernie Siegel                  

“If I am here, everyone is here.   If I am not here, who is here?”   - Sukkah 53b            This statement sounds cute but it is one of the most profound ideas from one of the most erudite scholars of all time.  If we are present,  everything  necessary in the world is with us.  Yet, when we are physically present but mentally absent, no one is there.

A Hassidic Rebbe was once speaking about the Torah and the upcoming parasha, b’haalotkha .  He asked his disciples, “Why is there an enlarged “khet” in the title word, b’haalotkha ? "It stands for God’s name,” he answered. “But rebbe,” one retorted, “There is no big “khet” in b’haalotkha .” “That’s your answer,” replied the rebbe .  –Louis Jacobs Is this a joke?  Or is how life really is?  Is life how we see it?

You are wherever your thoughts are. 
Make sure your thoughts are where you want to be. 
 - Rebbe Nachman, The Empty Chair

It is said that once William Randolph Hearst suggested to novelist Dorothy Parker that her short stories were too sad. "Mr. Hearst, there are two billion people on the face of the earth, and the story of not one of them will have a happy ending." The story of our lives is always decided by the one who lives the tale.  It may interpreted by others but only we determine how we live it.

My God, 
You and only You know 
how strongly I want 
to believe in You, 
to put all my faith in You alone. 
Help me make this desire 
a reality. 
Help me perceive 
Your Presence 
and draw strength from it 
every moment of my life, 
through every trial I face. 
Let that recognition bolster 
my faith in You— 
wherever I go, 
whatever I do. 
 - Rebbe Nachman, The Gentle Weapon

"There is a deep, innate, almost inexpressible yearning within each one of us to find our voice in life." -Steven Covey Your life's task?  Heed the voice. 

“There ‘s a wonderful story in some African tradition of the god who’s walking down the road wearing hat that is colored red on one side and blue on the other.  When the farmers in the field go into the village in the evening, they say, “Did you see that man go by with the blue hat?”  And the others say, No, no, he had a red hat on.”  -Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth Perspective can make all the difference in the world.  It can start wars, feuds, destroy families, and crush feelings.  On the other hand, recognizing its presence can bring great healing.