A Soulful Journey

 "The individual who parks around of the synagogue blames himself for his shortcomings; the individual who parks in front blames Judaism."   -Rabbi Cyril Harris Think and do for yourself.

"If you want to find out what it means to have a society without any rituals; read the New York Times, the news of the day....all the destructive and violent acts by young people who don't know how to behave in a civilized society." -J oseph Campbell Better to know who you were created to be.

Wherefore ha-Moshlim (those that speak in parables) say, ‘Come to Heshbon! (Numbers 21:27). Ha-Moshlim means also those who rule their evil inclinations.  Come to Heshbon (to the reckoning), means, come let us consider the account of the world; the loss incurred by the fulfillment of a precept against the reward received by its observance, and the gain gotten by a transgression against the loss it involves. (Baba Bathra 78b) – Jacob Haberman While we may vacillate when it comes to observing God’s Will we need to bear in mind the risk that we take by ignoring it.

“And Moses carried the bones of Joseph with him” (Exodus 13:9). Moses, leading the Israelites out of Egypt toward the Promised Land, carried at the head of a vast army the mortal remains of Joseph in an Ark.  Another Ark was also carried before the people, the Ark which held the Tablets of the Divine Law, fashioned at Sinai. “Why were the Arks carried side by side?”   The answer, filled with significance for us today, echoes down the ages and hovers over the Ark  which  rests before us now:  "He who lies on the first ark fulfilled the mitzvot inscribed in the other.”   -Mekhilta, Lauterbach This is the goal of life - to live seamlessly with God's  ordinances.

Mr. Goldwyn sat forward at his desk and peered over his glasses.  You’re a what?” “I’m a Jew, Mr. Goldwyn, and I can’t work on the high holy days.” “You mean it?  It’s not one of your little jokes?” “No. I’ll do anything in the world for you, Mr. Goldwyn, but I won’t work on Yom Kippur.” “You’re a real Jew?” “Yes, sir.  I converted several months ago.” “You know what it’ll cost me to suspend production for a day?  We can’t change the schedule, it’s too late.  Twenty-five thousand.  Maybe more.” “I just learned today that I’m scheduled to shoot on Yom Kippur, sir.  I came up as soon as I heard.” He threw out his hands. “Sammy –answer me a question. What did I ever do to you?” “Sir, you’ve been wonderful and I feel terrible about the problems I’m causing you.  It’s one day of the year when I won’t work.  I’m sorry.  I really am.” He took off his glasses. “...

An apikorus (one who denies belief) from Minsk went to see the famous Apikorus of Pinsk.   He was surprised to find that the latter davenned, wore tefillin, studied a blatt Gemara every day, washed before saying berchot and recited Birkat Ha-Mazon.  "I thought you were an apikorus," he said.  "At least that is what I was told.  Yet, you daven, learn, wash, say berakhot, and you bench!  What kind of an apikorus is that??" "I am an apikorus" replied the Pinsker.  "What do you think is an apikorus?" Said the Pinsker, "An apikorus is someone who doesn't do any on those things. I do not do any of them." Pinsker: "You aren't an apikorus, you are a goy." Belief and action are two tightly intertwined concepts.  Both are critical.  Yet, we must never forget or neglect who we are and where we come from.

Yiddel had a burning question to ask his rabbi.  He wondered who is more holy, who is higher on the spiritual ladder in God's judgment: A person beginning to observe the mitzvot (whose observance is still minimal) or a person who had been fully observant who is now moving away from observance (but whose observance was still far more than the first person)? The rabbi replied that God's judgment is not based on how observant the person is, on high they are on the ladder of observance, but is based on whether one is ascending or descending the ladder.   – Rabbi Gershon Weissman Move up.  L'eila, L'eila, 

“ There are two kinds of rabbi: the one who is wiling to kill every Judgment (din) for a Jew and the other who is wiling to kill every Jew for every judgment.”   -Hermann Cohen What Cohen refers to regarding “judgment” is mitzvah.   He reckons that either mitzvot are important to preserve at any cost.   Our commitment to God is worth any price.   Others say that the mitzvot are subservient to human need.   Which is correct?   Sometimes both?   One or the other?   Neither?