A Soulful Journey

A child was once careless with the words she spoke and the promises she made.   She drove away all of her friends until, bereft and lonely, she visited her Rabbi to ask why they had abandoned her.   “They have left you,” the Rabbi said, “because the words you speak are hurtful and cause pain.   Change your language and attitude and you will find companionship.” As the girl turned to leave, the Rabbi said to her: “There is something else I want you to do.   Take the pillow on which you sleep, bring it to the place where your friends gather, tear the pillow case open, and let the wind pick up and scatter the feathers across the sky.” The girl did as she was asked and returned to the Rabbi and told him what she had accomplished.   “Now,” said the Rabbi to the child, “Go and gather up all the feathers and put them back into the pillow case.”   The girl explained that the task was impossible.   The Rabbi responded: “You are right.   Once we speak,...

A crumbling old shul building needed remodeling, so, during his sermon, the rabbi made an impassioned appeal looking directly at the richest man in town.  At the end of the sermon, the rich man stood up and announced, “Rabbi, I will contribute $1,000.” Just then, plaster fell from the ceiling and struck the rich man on the shoulder. He promptly stood back up and shouted, “Rabbi, I will increase my donation to $5,000.” Before he could sit back down, plaster fell on him again, and again he virtually screamed, “Rabbi, I will double my last pledge.” He sat down, and a larger chunk of plaster fell on his head. He stood up once more and hollered, “Rabbi, I will give $20,000!” This prompted the gabbai to shout, “Hit him again, God!  Hit him again!”