Rabbi Bill
Lebeau tells the following story of his rabbinical school interview. Among the
people sitting on his admission committee was Professor Abraham Joshua Heschel.
As it happened, Rabbi Lebeau overslept the morning of his interview and woke
with a start. He quickly dressed and rushed off to the Seminary for the
interview that would determine the rest of his life. Still out of breath as he
sat before the committee, Heschel asked the first question: "Mr. Lebeau,
have you seen God today?"
Young Bill Lebeau was dumb-founded. How does one answer such a question? Stuttering and sputtering, he decided honesty was the best policy. "Well, Professor, actually I overslept this morning and barely made it here to my interview. I didn’t see much of anything as I rushed here."
After a moment of silence, Heschel said, "Mr. Lebeau…when you walked up Broadway did you notice amid all the asphalt and concrete that there were trees growing right in the middle of Broadway? Aren't they miracles? And the people who you passed on the street – couldn’t you see that they are created in God's image?
Young Bill Lebeau was dumb-founded. How does one answer such a question? Stuttering and sputtering, he decided honesty was the best policy. "Well, Professor, actually I overslept this morning and barely made it here to my interview. I didn’t see much of anything as I rushed here."
After a moment of silence, Heschel said, "Mr. Lebeau…when you walked up Broadway did you notice amid all the asphalt and concrete that there were trees growing right in the middle of Broadway? Aren't they miracles? And the people who you passed on the street – couldn’t you see that they are created in God's image?
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Chaim and Yankel were among the Israelites who left Egypt. There they were at by Yam Suf, when sea split and the Israelites rushed to get away from the Egyptian Army. Just imagine: there was a wall of water to the left and the right. But Chaim and Yankel didn’t notice. Chaim looked down and started to complain: “Yuch, my sandals are getting mud all over them! And there are pebbles in them.” Yankel said: “Look at all the dead fish. They stink! I hate the smell of fish!” Chaim and Yankel complained as they walked across the Red Sea – not even aware they were witnessing a miracle, a true wonder. -Rabbi Mark Greenspan
Chaim and Yankel were among the Israelites who left Egypt. There they were at by Yam Suf, when sea split and the Israelites rushed to get away from the Egyptian Army. Just imagine: there was a wall of water to the left and the right. But Chaim and Yankel didn’t notice. Chaim looked down and started to complain: “Yuch, my sandals are getting mud all over them! And there are pebbles in them.” Yankel said: “Look at all the dead fish. They stink! I hate the smell of fish!” Chaim and Yankel complained as they walked across the Red Sea – not even aware they were witnessing a miracle, a true wonder. -Rabbi Mark Greenspan
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