A Soulful Journey

The unborn child is told, “You must realize that God is pure, His servants are pure, and the soul that He gave you is pure. If you keep it pure, all is good and well but if you defile your soul, it will be taken from you.  Three partners partook in your creation, God, your father and your mother. Your father and your mother provided you with a body. But it was still dead, it could neither speak, walk, nor hear. Then God provided it with a divine soul, giving your face expression, and providing you with the power to see, hear, speak and move. He also gave you wisdom and understanding." -Me’am Loez    

Abimi, son of R. Abahu taught: There is one who feeds his father pheasants as food, yet [this] drives him from the world; whereas another may make him grind in a mill and [this] brings him to the world to come!  In the Yerushalmi Talmud, we read its  interpretation : There is one who feeds his father fatted birds and inherits Gehenom and one who ties his father to a mill and inherits heaven. How is it that one can feed his father fatted birds and inherit Gehenom? There once was a man who fed his father fatted birds. Once, his father said to him, "Son, where did you get this?" He said back, "Old man, eat and shut up like a dog." It turns out that while he feeds his father fatted birds, he still inherits Gehenom. How is it that one can tie his father to a mill and still inherit heaven? There once was a man who was a wheat-grinder. A command came from the king to the grinder. The son said to his father, "Father, grind in my place so that if they come ...

Rav Judah said in the name of Shmuel: They asked Rabbi Eliezer: How far does the honor of parents extend?  He said: Go out and see what a certain gentile, Dama ben Netinah is his name, did in Askhkelon. The Sages sought jewels for the breast-plate, at a profit of six-hundred thousand [gold dinars] but the key that unlocked his chest with the jewels was lying under his father's head.  The did not wish to wake him from his sleep.  The following year the Holy One, blessed be He, gave him his reward. A rare red heifer was born in his herd. When the Sages of Israel went to him to buy it, he said to them, "I know you, that even if I asked you for all the money in the world you would pay me. But I ask of you only the money which I lost through my father's honor." -Kiddushin 31-2 Honoring one's parents is a paramount mitzvah in the Torah.  It is also the undergirding of civilization.

"One who brings up a child is to be called "father" even if he did not give birth to him." - Shmot Rabbah

A little girl and her father were crossing a flimsy bridge. The father was scared so he asked his little daughter: "Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river." The little girl said, "No, Dad. You hold my hand." "What's the difference?" asked the puzzled father. "There is a big difference," replied the little girl. "Dad, if I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But, if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let go." Dear Heavenly Father, never let us go.

A person lost his father and his teacher, his rabbi.  His awe for his teacher precedes that of his father.  A father will bring him into this world (olam hazeh) whereas a rabbi will bring him into the next world (olam haba).   Baba Metsia 33b

A little boy comes home from school and says, "Guess what, pop?  I got a part in the school play!" "Really?  Who are you?" "I play the father." "Oh well, son, don't you worry.  Next time you'll get a talking part." This joke comes from many years back.  It is goo to read them and chuckle a bit all the while realizing how much society has changed.

The story is told of the young Jewish girl who comes home from college with the boy she intends to marry. He is a Yeshiva bocher who intends to spend his life studying. Her father takes him into the study to have the opportunity to get to know him better. He says, “you know, my daughter is used to spending the winter vacation in Florida. Can you give this to her?”    The young man replied, “God will provide.” The father says, “My daughter is used to going to Paris in the spring to get her summer wardrobe. Can you give this to her?   The young man replied, “God will provide.” The father says, “My daughter has always had a cook prepare her meals for her. Can you give this to her?” The young man replied, “God will provide.” They finish the conversation and return to the family. The mother asks her husband, “Well, what do you think?”   He replies, “He is a very nice boy. He thinks I’m God.”   -Rabbi Arthur Flicker Go...

An older gentleman was on the operating table awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son, a renowned surgeon, perform the operation. As he was about to get the anesthesia, he asked to speak to his son. "Yes, Dad , what is it?" "Don't be nervous, son; do your best, and just remember, if it doesn't go well, if something happens to me, your mother is going to come and live with you and your wife...." Funny, isn't it?  Perhaps what makes it  must  funny is we know that caring for another human being, no strings  attached , is not easy but is our  responsibility .

There is a story of a woman with fourteen children, whose ages were one through fourteen. She decided to sue her husband for divorce on grounds of desertion.         “When did he desert you?” the judge asked.         “Thirteen years ago,” she replied.         “He left 13 years ago? Where did all the children come from?”         The woman looked sheepish.         “He kept coming back to say he was sorry.” -Rabbi Toba August

The old father, who had a weakness for gambling, was dying and called his children to his bedside for their final blessing and advice. “You must promise me,” he said, “never to touch a card.   Above all I would warn you against playing baccarat.   It is a game which will cost you a fortune, waste your time and ruin your health.   Do you all promise me never to play baccarat?” Yes, father,” in chorus.. “And remember – if you do play, always take the bank !” -Friday Nite Book There is a gross difference between words and action.   That is why Judaism belabors this idea time and again in myriad ways.     A person of action always precedes one of words.

"Dad, how do they do gene splicing?" Shrugging, the father said, "I don't know." "Dad, why do we believe in God?" "I do not know." "Who do you think would make the best president?" "I do not know." "Dad, I hope you don't mind me asking you all these questions." "Of course not son, how else will you learn anything?" -Rabbi Shammai Kanter Pay attention to what comes out of your mouth.

A college student wrote home, "Am without friends or funds." His dad wrote back, "Make friends." A big part of growing up is learning how to solve problems on your own.  When you have done this you have made it.

One afternoon a 12 year old boy and his dad were watching football on television.  The boy had just gone out for football at his school.  The team played on Sundays but the boy had yet to be called to play yet.  So his father suggested as they watched the game, "Pick out the position that you play and watch that person.  You will learn a lot."  A few minutes later, he turned to his son and asked, "Are you doing what I told you to do?" "I would," answered the boy, "But why aren't showing the bench." Sometimes that is how life is.  You plan one thing but life has other things in mind for you.

It is said of the late Rufus Jones that he spent his lifetime gathering up the wonderful things his son did before he died at the age of 11.   Writing more than forty years after his son’s death, Jones put it like this, “I overheard him once talking with a group of playmates, when each one was telling what he wanted to be when grown up and Lowell said when his turn came, “I want to grow up and be a man like my daddy.” Few things in life have ever touched me as those words did or have given me greater impulse to dedication.   What kind of a man was I going to be, if I was to be, if I was to be the pattern for my boy!” Sometimes the push to be our best comes from others.  Sometimes it comes from our children, parents, or siblings.  Sometimes it comes too late. It is good to know there is someone always watching us, taking cues from our actions.