A Soulful Journey

A Jew was in a train accident and had the misfortune to lose a leg.   When he was well enough he gave his wife details of the accident: -‘I was sitting in the train, not thinking anything, and had just lit a cigar when there was great crash and the train went off the rails.’ -‘How many times,’ she cried, ‘Have I told you not to smoke so much! ’ – Friday Night Book Enjoy a smile at the humor.  But reflect on how often we blame the victim for being victimized.

In a perfect world… Your raise would always be more than you expected; Neither chocolate nor booze would contain calories; Procrastination would be viewed as a virtue; Teenagers would much rather work on the lawn than talk on the telephone; What the cat dragged in would be $100 bills; Children on trips would say, “Isn’t riding in car fun!” and then they’d fall asleep. -“Folio Weekly,” John Gration, Jacksonville, FL

“When a woman lights the Shabbat candles with joy in her heart, she brings peace into the world, health and happiness to her family, and is blessed with children who   brighten the world.” — The Zohar

Charles Darwin when asked whether there was anything unique about being human, after establishing our link with the animal world, said, “Man is the only animal that blushes.” Mark Twain added, “Sure, man is the only animal with good reason to blush.” The Talmud concludes, "One who causes another to blush is as if they have shed blood."

“Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is like expecting the bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian.”   -Harold Kushner Place your faith in the Ultimate Source (that excludes you).

“If there are any righteous, then they suffer first for the sins of the age, and if not, then those children for whose sake the world is preserved suffer first, and God takes them from the world although there is no sin in them.” -Chaim Potok, The Book of Lights We learn as we age that we know little.   As we age even more, we know less.   Is it with age we become less rooted in the world and grow dumber?   Or simply less naïve?

And I will espouse You to me forever. I will espouse You to me in righteousness and justice, and with goodness and mercy. And I will espouse You in faithfulness. Then you shall know the Lord.   -Hosea