A Soulful Journey

A great rabbi wanted to reintroduce the Sanhedrin just after the birth of the state of Israel.  Ben-Gurion asked, “Where are you going to find seventy righteous and honest men?” He replied, “Well, if you pay enough you can get them! ” - Rabbi Louis Jacobs

Groucho Marx used to say that he was so busy reviewing books that he didn’t have time to read them.   –Rabbi Louis Jacobs Is this you?  Slow down.

Reb Hayim Brisker what’s the boy who remained rather obstinate against learning. He could not be persuaded to study. His father was a famous dayyan, judge, and in desperation asked him, “What will become of you?” To this the young lad replied, "I will become a dayyan”. – Rabbi Louis Jacobs

Both the Hasidim and the Mitnagdim (those opposed to Hasidim) are in error: The Hasidim in imagining that they have a Rebbe. The Mitnagdim in imagining that they do not need a Rebbe.”  - Rabbi Israel Salanter quoted by Rabbi Louis Jacobs Thinking, examining and re-examing what we believe is critical to living a life that matters.

The difference between a holy mystical leader, called a “lighted lamp,” for his disciples and a religious leader or gaon on is akin to the difference between a headache and a stomachache. The little boy has a headache and goes to his mother to complain so that he will not have to go to school. His mother feels his head and discovers that he has no fever and so since him to school. The next time the little boy, if you smart, will claim that he is the stomachache. For this, his mother cannot text him and he will be able to stay home from school. - Rabbi Louis Jacobs

"If you only obey the law when it is reasonable, it totally denigrates the law.  If you take this attitude then there is no law." - Rabbi Louis Jacobs

"The law is an ass." - Charles Dickens. There must be a systematic way of judicial process. It cannot be decided in individual cases by judges. - Rabbi Louis Jacobs

The late Koppel Rosen told the story of his congregation that was shy one member for a minyan one day. They sent someone across the street to min the needed man.  Knocking on the door the reply came, “I am an atheist.”   To this the shamas replied, “An atheist doesn’t daven Mincha?” – Rabbi Louis Jacobs

“The definition of an am ha-aretz is someone who can read the Passover Haggadda in Sephardic pronunciation without mistakes. “  - Rabbi Louis Jacobs In other words, an Ashkenazic Jew that takes the sacred texts and reads them as an intellectual exercise misses the whole point.

A man who has great wealth, the Hasidim say, should hide it well. If he has a safe in his house he should not concentrate everything has in the safe because if it is all there, a burglar will break in, find the vault and take his life savings. If, on the other hand, he finds the safe empty, the thief will scour the house until he finds where the total wealth is located. Therefore, the house owner should be wise enough to place a goodly amount of valuables in the safe-just enough to convince the robber that he got to goods-and secure the real wealth away elsewhere. Likewise, wisdom should be worn in a fashion to show that one is learned but not ostentatiously. - Rabbi Louis Jacobs

"In Judaism, the attitude to Law has always been that it is  merciful (for example we refer to this in the prayer Ahavah Rabba h).  In fact one of the common phrases for Law is " rachmana " (merciful) while Christian law is thought to be harsh (concerning law and sin)." - Louis Jacobs

A famous professor of mathematics at Cambridge University decided that he needed to become more cultured in world literature.  Going to an advisor he asked, "Would you tell me a good book in which to begin to learn the rudiments of literature?"  Having recommended Tennyson's "Charge of the Light Brigade," he later returned to the English professor and remarked, "The book sayid, " leagues another league and another league."  Why couldn't he just have said, one and one-half leagues?" -Louis Jacobs Literature is for the heart, not the head.  It is important to know which to use and when.

“The difference between a psychiatrist and a magician is that a magician pulls rabbits out of his hat and a psychiatrist pulls habits out of rats.”   -Rabbi Louis Jacobs

Eugene Borowitz told the story of a man who wanted to watch television on Shabbes.  So he went to an Orthodox Rabbi to find an answer.  Without hesitation, the man as told, "no."  Not satisfied, he went to a Reform Rabbi and was told, "yes."  Then approaching a Conservative Rabbi, he was told, "Well, some say you can and some say you can't"   -Rabbi Louis Jacobs This is why all traditions indicate that once have an opinion from an authority you do not go seeking a second or third opinion.  It is enough that you went to the first.

A couple experiencing marital problems went to see a rabbi.  The man complained that his wife did not take care of him. "Du bis gericht," (you are right) declared the rabbi. Then the wife objected that her husband did not appreciate her. "Du bis gericht," declared the rabbi. "But how can we both be right, rabbi?" "Du bis gericht."  -Rabbi Louis Jacobs There are time when everyone is right.  The solution must be found in compromising.

There is a discussion in the Talmud on the value of stolen sheep and oxen that died after the thief had taken them.   It is decided that the ox’s value must be repaid to the owner at five times its appraised value.   The sheep’s value was only multiplied by four.   ‘Is this not unfair?’ asks Rabbi Meir and Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai.   'Yes,' insists the Talmud, 'It is'.   The ox can be simply led away by the thief while the sheep had to be carried.   Even in the case of theft we recognize people’s shame and the fact hat the thief had to carry away one animal to his public shame while only leading the other away, as if he owned it. Everyone's honor matters.   Even that of a common thief.    –Rabbi Louis Jacobs

The myth of Prometheus tells when he steals fire from the gods and is discovered, he is chained to a rock for his crime. In Jewish tradition, Adam is shown how to make a fire by rubbing two sticks together, by God. In our tradition, He is not a jealous God, safeguarding His secrets but allowing instead man to enjoy all that remains on the earth. The one exception is on Shabbat when man should refrain from certain actions.   – Rabbi Louis Jacobs

"There are many differences between the rich and the poor.  Among Jews, the rich hope for prosperity, health and happiness while the poor Jew prays the there will be a clear moon with no obliteration." - Rabbi Louis Jacobs Simple people have simple requirements.  Complicated lives are inevitably complex.

Throughout the Torah whenever God addresses Israel, it uses the word, ani (I).  From this that the Zohar teaches that the “I” must be used when speaking to others.  “The ani is when God reveals Himself to His creatures.”  Only we have come to grips with ourselves we may then reach out to others.  “Self-realization requires companionship."  –Rabbi Louis Jacobs When speaking with others speak from the heart,  from the “I”.

“You can afford to starve in a garret as an artist but not as a judge.”   - Rabbi Louis Jacobs There is an saying, "You lie in the bed you have made."  We decide the path which we want to tread.   Alternative explanation:  A judge who is in constant need of food or money will not judge poor and rich equally.  Justice is supposed to be blind.