A Soulful Journey

At the turn of the century, Hayyim Soloveitchik, the rabbi of the Eastern European city of Brisk, a scholar of extraordinary renown, revered also for his gentleness, took a train in Warsaw to return home. The rabbi’s slight appearance did not betray his greatness. He found a seat in a compartment surrounded by traveling salesmen who started to play cards. The rabbi sat there reading but his disinterest in the game annoyed the card players one of whom suggested that he join in. He politely declined saying that he never played cards. The salesman increasingly badgered the rabbi and finally threatened him. “Either join us or leave.” With that he picked up the rabbi by the collar and threw him out of the compartment. When the rabbi and the salesman got off at Brisk the rabbi was surrounded by his admirers, and the salesman discovered the rabbi’s true identity. His heart sank and he went over to the rabbi to ask for forgiveness. “I would like to forgive you, but I can’t,” he said. In...

Rabbi Akiva teaches: Note that the Torah does not say, “Since I was humiliated, let it be just the same for my neighbor, or “Since I was insulted, let my neighbor be insulted as well.”  Rabbi Tanhuma says, “If you choose to behave in such a manner, know well whom you are actually insulting, for “God created humankind in the divine image.” (Genesis 5:1)  – Talmud

“If you call an Italian girl a hooker you’re in a lot of trouble.   Somebody will kill you.   You call a Jewish girl a hooker…”No kidding, I look like a hooker?”   It’s a compliment.   You have to be beautiful to make a living from that field.   A short fat yenta with a mustache; what are you going to give her, eighty cents?"    -Jackie Mason

"When you bow to one person, your showing your tuchus to someone else! " - Rabbi Yaakov Rosenberg We must always be cognizant that when we laud one person we may be offending another.

“Let a man throw himself into a blazing furnace rather than shame another person in public.”   - Berachot 43 "Shaming another in public is like shedding blood. ” – Baba Metzia 58 Such an incident led to the destruction of the Second Temple.   A well-know dignitary had sent out invitations to a banquet, including one to his good friend Kamza.   The invitation, however, was inadvertently addressed to one Bar Kamza, who was, in fact, an enemy of the host. During the banquet, the celebrant spotted the mistake and ordered Bar Kamza to leave his home.   The guest pleaded with the host not to humiliate him and even offered to pay for the cost of the banquet.   But the host, devoid of feeling, was adamant, seized Bar Kamza and threw him out. Full of rage - particularly since many sages were present did nothing to stop the indignity – Bar Kamza went to the Roman ruler and told him the tale.   This, said the rabbis, set in motion the chain of events wh...

A Correspondent for the London Daily Mirror once said that the wives of Soviet leaders resemble dam builders from Siberia. Do not think insulting one's enemies in any manner is new.

Year ago, Sir John Gielgud celebrated his ninetieth birthday.  As famous as he was for his acting career he was as renowned for his faux pas.  While lunching with playwright Edward Knoblock, Gielgud motioned to a man entering the restaurant.  “He’s the biggest bore in London, second only to Edward Knoblock.”  Then, realizing whom he was with, Gielgud backtracked.  “The other Edward Knoblock.” –Mel Gussow in New York Times Pay attention.   Think before you speak. Once the words are out, they can never be retracted or fixed.

“The only gracious way to accept an insult is to ignore it, If you can’t ignore it, top it.   If you can’t top it laugh at it.   If you can’t laugh at it, it’s probably deserved.”   - Russell Lynes in Vogue