A Soulful Journey

 "We have become a fire-engine religion...we only come in emergencies."   - Rabbi Lopian Come for the good times. It will make the bad times less painful and severe.

A rabbi trued to convince a man to join his congregation.   The man said, “I appreciate the importance of religion but I don’t believe in organized religion.” To which the rabbi replied, “You’ll love our shul; it’s completely disorganized.”   - Rabbi Sidney Greenberg After you have chuckled, realize the importance of having each person develop his or her own relationship with God.   There is no universal key: God wants each of us as we are, as individuals.

The rabbis taught: “When you have a chance to perform a mitzvah do not tarry lest it sour.”   And they urged us to study Torah now when the opportunity is available.   Say not, “I will study Torah when I have free time.   Perhaps you will have no free time.”   I had a a very good and dear friend who was learned in Judaism but strayed from Jewish observance.   He often said to me, Rabbi, soon I hope to sell my business and retire.   Then you’ll see me in Temple all the time."    He said that to me for several years and now it’s too late: He died of a heart attack, unable to redeem his pledge.   – Rabbi Gilbert Rosenthal

The Altneu Shul in Prague is the oldest in Czechoslovakia.   It was established in 1265 and it is still used today.   When first constructed, there was an ordinance that placed a limit on the height of a synagogue.   It had to be lower than a church.   So the Jews of Prague lowered the floor so that the room would still be expansive. We survive by adapting on the communal level and not he personal level.

Gottlieb called his Rabbi and said, "I know tonight is Kol Nidre, but tonight the Yankees start the playoffs.  Rabbi, I'm a life long Yankee fan.  I've got to watch the Yankee game on TV". The Rabbi responds, "Gottlieb, that's what VCR's are for". Gottlieb is surprised. "You mean I can tape Kol Nidre? –Dov Peretz Elkins