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Showing posts with the label Rabbi Gerald Zelizer

Full of Love

Prime Minister Menachem Begin, on a visit to Washington, at an impressive dinner tendered to him and his wife at the National Portrait Gallery. In a sentimental mood, he indicated that he would reach the pinnacle, and we called the obstacles he had faced. Lifting a glass to toast to his wife, with whom he shared his flight and dinner, he cited the words of Jeremiah: “I remember your love for me in our youth, when we were first married, when you followed along with me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.”  Compare that view of marriage with the story told by Ilka Chase about her divorce from her first husband.  It was his second divorce.  When they parted ways she placed into his suitcase personal mementos with a message next to his wife: “I hope this reaches you in time.” – Rabbi Gerald Zelizer Live life and make it full of love.

Missing

A rich Hasid asked his rabbi, “I can understand and fulfill with all the mitzvot in the Torah except one: “One should bless God for the bad as fervently as for the good.” His rabbi instructed, “Go to the other and the town and spend some time with Hayim, the water carrier.” The rich Hasid traveled by carriage to a slum.   Hayim, the water carrier, was in his flimsy shack, his children went barefoot, playing in the filth they were grubby and malnourished.   “The rabbi sent me to see how you fulfill the mitzvah of “One should bless God for the bad as fervently as for the good.” Hayim looked puzzled. “He sent you to see me?  I cannot understand why.  I have never been given anything from God but that which is good.” - Rabbi Gerald Zelizer What is missing in your life?

Politicians and Bureaucrats

Q. How many bureaucrats does it take to screw in a light bulb?    A. Seven – one to supervise, one to arrange for the electricity to be shut off, one to make sure that safety and quality standards are maintained, one to monitor compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, one to manage personnel relations, one to fill out the paperwork and one to screw the light bulb into the water faucet.  Rabbi Gerald Zelizer

The Wisdom of Youth

A Mother noticed her son busily drawing. “I am making   picture of God,” he sid. - “But dear, no one knows what God looks like.” Without blinking he replied, “They will when I’m through.”    –Rabbi Gerald Zelizer We all know what God looks like, or at least we did we we were young.  That is the wisdom on youth waiting to be recaptured.

Or Else.....

“A young boy concluded his bedtime prayer: 'O yes, dear God, please take care of Yourself, because if anything happens to You we are all sunk'.”   - Rabbi Gerald Zelizer