A Soulful Journey

  “People stopped inviting me to their homes – the same people hadn’t been inviting me for years.” – Groucho Marx Having a sense of humor is always optional, but it makes lifes difficulties and trials so much more bearable when we learn how to laugh at ourselves.

  The President of Iran was sitting in his office when his telephone rang. “Salaam! Mr. President," a heavily accented voice said. "This is Moshe from a small town in Israel. I am ringing to inform you that our morning minyan is officially declaring war on you!” "Well, Moshe," the Iranian President replied, "This is indeed important news! Tell me, how big is your army?" "At this moment in time," said Moshe after a moment's calculation, "there is myself, my cousin Shlomy, my next door neighbor Yossi, and the entire 6:00 am morning minyan  — that makes 18!” The President sighed. "I must tell you Moshe that I have 1 million men in my army waiting to move on my command. If you attack, you’ll be dead the moment your foot touches Iranian territory.” "Oy vay!", said Moshe, "I'll have to ring you back!"  Sure enough, the next day Moshe rang back. "All Right Mr. President, the war is still on! We have managed to ...

Moshe Waldoks labeled new Jewish humor as pareve. When he did shows for younger audiences he found himself explaining that “naches is not a cheese dip.”

On a busy afternoon, the telephone rang for Rabbi Morris Greenblatt. -“Hello.” “Is this Rabbi Greenblatt?” -“Yes.” “Well, Rabbi Greenblatt, I have heard a great deal about you.   You are a scholar and a very dedicated rabbi.   You are a marvelous preacher.” -“Fine.   But what do you want?” He said, “I will tell you. I represent an association of undertakers and we have discovered a new method of embalming.   We would like to try it out on you.” The caller was Greenblatt’s colleague, Rabbi Max Artz. Today is a good day.   After all, you are alive.   Take time to laugh. It will make today even better.

“All of my humor is based on destruction and despair.”   -Lenny Bruce (nee Leonard Schneider) Laughter can dispel the darkest night.

"Rabbi Raditz of Poland was a very short rabbi which a long beard, who was said to have inspired many pogroms with his sense of humor." - Woody Allen It is good to laugh but it is wise to know when to laugh.

“In two words – im possible.” – Sam Goldwyn This movie mogul was known for his witticisms.   One of things we can learn from him is to disarm negativity by smiling and using humor.

When asked by reporters how he preferred to be addressed, Henry Kissinger replied, “I don’t stand on protocol.   If you will just call me “Excellency” it will be okay.” In these days when politics seems motivated by personal advancement and squelching one's opponents it is a sign of maturity to hold a sense of humor and remember that nothing lasts.  All is ephemeral.  So smile.

"There is no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you." - Will Rogers

Albert Schweitzer employed humor as a  form of equatorial therapy, a way of reducing the temperatures and the humidity and the tensions."   -Norman Cousins

"It makes no difference what kind of humor you indulge in, whether you revel in the coarsest puns or dwell on nihilistic black humor.  As long as you engage in this type of activity you keep your mind working, sharp nimble.  The exercise irrigates your cortical cells with happy thoughts.  It is a prevention against depression, a truly therapeutic agent of positive self-healing." From Rage to Courage

Three inmates were talking. "What are you here for?" asked one. "They put me in for beating up some old Jew named Khaimovich." "And why are you here?" asked the second. 'For having defended some old Jew in a fight man Khaimovovh." "And what were you arrested for?" the third was asked. "For being Khaimovoch."

“Avoid zealots.   They are generally humorless.”   - Lloyd Shearer When someone defiantly stands for an ideal nothing will distract him or her from their fixed vision.