A Soulful Journey

  “Instead of saying   you frighten me , what if we said   you interest me ?’ -Richard Bach   I laughed as I read those words.   Can you imagine a world where interest was a stronger impulse than fear?  There would be no more wars.  An end to hatred and likely poverty.  Much suffering would disappear from the world because we would learn from one another.

  “People have disabilities. A handicap, on the other hand, is a disadvantage that makes achievement unusually difficult....  The person may have the disability but the environment produces the handicap.  A handicap is a societal burden, not necessarily related to a person’s physical or mental condition: a disability places an additional burden upon the individual but in no way diminishes that person’s potential – society does that.”     Harold E. Yoker   The Torah is transparent and revealing with all our fathers and mothers.  In every instance it details their disabilities from blindness to mental illness, to the incapacity to bear children….  And yet these are the people whom we venerate for their remarkable, unique abilities.

Speaking in 1975 in Baltimore at a ZOA gathering, Menachem Begin delivered a speech on why Israel should not give up land for a promise of international guarantees.  The next morning headlines appeared in the Morning Sun, "Ex-Israeli Terrorist Asks for Weapons." Some things never change.

A Jewish family moved into a mixed neighborhood.  Their Irish neighbors saw the new family and their beautiful little boy. The daughter cooed and fawned over the boy and asked, "What is he?" The mother answered that he is an American. The young girl was not satisfied.  "What else is he?" The mother understood.  "He is Jewish." "Oh," said the child.  "So young and already he's a Jew."  - Rabbi Ralph Simon

“My best friend is half Italian, half Jewish.  If he can’t buy wholesale, he steals it.” – Jackie Mason It is good to laugh but it underscores the idea that prejudice still is at large.

"I imagine that one of the reasons that people cling to their hate and prejudice so stubbornly is because they sense that once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with their own pain.."   - James Baldwin

“A woman preaching is like a dog walking on his hind legs.   It is not done well but you are surprised to find it is done at all.” –Dr. Johnson Times changes.   Prejudices can too .

UNESCO sponsored an informational symposium on elephants and asked a number of member countries to prepare papers for presentation. The French submitted a study on “101 Ways to Make Love to an Elephant.” The Italians wrote on “Can an elephant be Trained as a Contralto?” The Dane’s study was on “1001 Ways to use Elephants in the Making Open-face sandwiches The Germans study focused on “The Racial Origin and Purity of Elephants.” The Jews’ study focused on “Elephants and the Jewish Question.” And the Russian entry was entitled, “Soviet Elephants: the Greatest Elephants in the World.”   –David Harris

“At first the barber snipped judiciously, but soon Weinstein realized he had gone too far.   “Put some back! “he screamed unreasonably. “I can’t,” the barber said.   “It won’t stick.” - “Well then give it to me, Dominic!   I want to take it with me!” “Once it’s on the floor of the shop it is mine, Mr. Weinstein.” - “Like hell! I want my hair!” He blustered and raged and finally felt guilty and left.   Goyim, he thought.   One way or another they get you.” -Woody Allen Want to scapegoat?  You always can find a target.

"How a minority, Reaching a majority, Seizing authority, Hates a minority." -Leonard H. Robbins We  came from a place of impoverishment. It is invaluable to never forget our roots so that we never relinquish what makes us most human, empathy.

Rabbi Alexander said: “If a person uses broken vessels it is a disgrace.   But with God it is otherwise.   All His servants are broken vessels, as it is written, “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and the contrite He will save.”   -Pesachim 158b Perhaps this is the greatest argument to not be judgmental.