A Soulful Journey

Story #1 The Kotzker Rebbe was returning home to his town by train.  His compartment had three other passengers who wanted to play cards.  But they needed a fourth to play.  They asked him to join them, but the Rebbe (who was not known to them) declined to play saying he preferred to sit and study. The three men wouldn’t take no for an answer.  They insisted he play.  Still the Rebbe refused.  Things got out of hand and a tussle ensued.  But their train station was announced and one by one they got off the train.  To the great surprise of the three others the Rebbe was welcomed home by a throng of his hasidim.   The three men were now terribly embarrassed by their treatment of this great rabbi.  They had no idea who he was!  They decided to visit the Rebbe the next day to beg forgiveness.   The next day they knocked on the door of the rabbi’s home and were greeted by his son.  They told him that they wanted to speak ...

If [a person] were able to survey at a glance all he has done in the course of the life, what would he feel?  He would be terrified at the extent of his own power.” - Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel “The impulse to do evil is at first like a passer-by, then like a lodger, and finally like the master of the house.” – Talmud, Sukkah 52b What habits have taken up residence this year?  (R. Debra Orenstein) “No sin is so light that it may be overlooked.  No sin is so heavy that it may not be repented of.” – Moses Ibn Ezra “Better an open rebuke than hidden love.” – Proverbs 27:5 It’s hard to hear that someone it is dissatisfied with us but considering that it is usually an actor friendship and love when someone is honest enough to tell you where they believe you have gone wrong.  (R. Debra Orenstein) “If a person sinned against another and the latter died before pardon was sought, the sinner should bring a minyan, station them at the grave of...