A Soulful Journey

Rabbi Meir used to give public sermons every Friday evening. A certain women, who enjoyed his lectures greatly, attended regularly. One evening, his sermon was especially long and when the woman returned home she found her house dark and her husband angrily standing at the door. “Where have you been?” he shouted at her. "To hear the rabbi preach," the woman replied. ”Since the rabbi’s preaching has pleased you so much,” the husband said, “I vow that you will not enter this house until you have spat in his eyes. That is his reward for the entertainment he has given you,” he added sarcastically. The husband barred the doorway and refused to allow his wife to enter. The strongest woman went to live with a neighbor. When word of the incident reached Rabbi Meir he sent for the woman. Pretending to have pain in both his eyes, the rabbi asked her if she knew of a cure for his illness. The simple woman nervously said, “No.” “Spit seven times in my eyes,” said the Rabbi, “perhaps that...

When our son Larry was born, I was forewarned by my family and friends that my 3-ear old daughter, Claudia, could become jealous.   After several months however, Claudia seemed to adore her younger brother.   But one day I glanced at the crib and was horrified to see an ink line drawn down the center of Larry’s nose and little squiggles all over his cheeks.   Claudia does resent the baby, I thought.   I’ll have to handle this calmly so as not to add to her negative feelings.   Very casually I asked my daughter why she had written all over her brother. Claudia looked at the baby, then at me, and replied, matter-of-factly, “I didn’t have any paper.” Don't get angry.  First look, see and ask.  Then think.

"When a great genius arises in the world, the dunces are all in confederacy against him."  -Jonathan Swift Be open .

A story is told in Leviticus Rabbah 9:94: Rabbi Meir used to hold regular classes in the synagogue every Sabbath eve. A certain woman was present who regularly came to listen to him. On one occasion he went on later than expected. When she arrived home she found the lights out. Her husband asked her: “Where have you been?” She told him: "I have been listening to a class.” He replied: “You may not enter this house until you go and spit in the face of the teacher.” Maybe her husband fears she has a crush on the rabbi? Meanwhile, Rabbi Meir has elected to hold his class on a Friday night. Rabbi Meir witnesses this domestic exchange “through the Holy Spirit”. He understands that he brought about discord in the woman’s marriage, and responds to it the next day. Rabbi Meir pretended to be suffering from pain in the eyes, and announced: “If there is any woman skilled in whispering charms for the eyes, let her come and whisper.” Her neighbours related this to her and said: “Thi...