A Soulful Journey

“For the next 2 1/2 hours the Orthodox and Faithful debated the right of juice to pray on the Temple Mount.  One Orthodox man said: the chief Rabbinate has said it is forbidden to go up to the Temple Mount, because we are all ritually impure and may not stand in the area of the Holy of Holies.  One Faithful retorted: “But you don’t except the authority of the Chief Rabbis.”   The Orthodox man shot back: “But you do.” – reported in Jewish Chronicle

“While you may seem small in your own eyes, remember you are the leader of the tribes of Israel.”  - Prophet Samuel to the king Sometimes we need to be reminded that represent more than we think.

A man goes to the pet shop to buy a parrot. “We have three,” says the clerk. “This blue one speaks four languages and costs $1000. The red parrot knows six languages and cost $2000. The orange one over there costs $3000, but doesn't talk at all.” “$3,000?!” Exclaimed the man. “How come so much?” “Well,” the clerk goes on.  “We don’t know what he does but the other two call him ‘boss’.”

He died, the last leader-in-prayer, Locked-up stands for lonely the Synagogue Hall The windows all boarded, and shadows Embarrassed, I’m making full. It lays, like eternal grieving All over the naked walls And under the Crown of Glory:  Broken rest to Priestly hands. He died, the last leader-in-prayer, There’s no one to walk to the lectern. Languishing flickers the flame, the eternal Himself in his corner alone. And hushed on the steps to the Ark- Scrolls The Shechina, the desolate, stands; Her head bowed low in deep sorrow And black as the night is her dress. And it seems that her lips move in murmur A whispered last pleading request, And there’s a voice heard form the Ark-tapestry-cover Too late, my devoted, too late! - Rahel Gil

A baraita in Hullin (24b) suggests in the name of Rebbi that one should not be appointed as shaliah tzibbur or perform the priestly blessing unless he is twenty. Being the leader of congregational worship is an important task, one that is not handed onto anyone less than worthy.

He was born before he had a homeland, he was a leader in a war before he had an army, he became a statesman before he had a state. -Shimon Peres on David Ben-Gurion

An aged tribal leader was facing a rebellion.   Youthful warriors wanted to take over and embarrass the leadership.   They decided to hold a bird before the leader and ask him to say whether it was alive or dead. If he answered “alive” they would squeeze the bid’s neck and show how wrong he was.   If the leader said it was dead they would release the bird to the air and prove he erred. The group came before the leader holding the helpless bird and asked the chief, “Is the bird alive or dead?” He wisely answered, ”The choice is in your hands.” Stories are told to express morals.   Some lessons are clear and universal while others are specific.   This tale is one of the latter.   So, the question comes to the heart to the reader: What does this mean?