Jewish Wisdom: December 2007 Archives

The acts of the leader are the acts of the nation. If the leader is just, the nation is just; if he is unjust, the nation too is unjust and is punished for the sins of the leader.

--The Zohar

Learning must be sought; it will not come of itself.

--Simeon b. Lakish, Midrash Mishle

Reprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations.' edited by Joseph L. Baron. Jason Aronson Inc.

One may do something advantageous for a person in his absence.

--Babylonian Talmud, Ketubot 11a

As cited in "Jewish Wisdom" by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin.

We can judge a man faithful or unfaithful only by his works.

--Baruch Spinoza, "Theologico-Political Treatise"

Reprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations,' edited by Joseph L. Baron, Jason Aronson Inc.

Show respect for an old man who has forgotten his learning through no fault of his own, for we have learned that the fragments of the old tablets were kept alongside the new tablets in the Ark of the Covenant.

--Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 8b

As cited in "Jewish Wisdom" by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin.

No tongue speaks as much ill of us as our own.--Sholom Aleichem, "Olom Habo"Reprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations,' edited by Joseph L. Baron, Jason Aronson Inc....

Every house a temple, every heart an altar, every human being a priest.--Moritz Lazarus, German philosopher and psychologist (1824-1903)...

A small act done modestly is a thousand-fold more acceptable to God than a big act done in pride.--Orhot Tzaddikim, 15CReprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations,' edited by Joseph L. Baron, Jason Aronson Inc....

All beginnings require that you unlock a new door.--Rebbe Nachman of Breslov...

I have no particular taste for post-mortem immortality. I am immortal now, while I am gloriously alive.--Rabbi Joel Blau, "My Uncertain God," 1924...

Scripture likens the Torah to the desert, to fire, and to water, for like these three, it is free to all.--MekiltaReprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations.' edited by Joseph L. Baron. Jason Aronson Inc....

All souls stood at Sinai, each accepting its share in Torah.--Rabbi Moses ben Hayyim AlshekhReprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations.' edited by Joseph L. Baron. Jason Aronson Inc....

Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders and they will instruct you....

Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders and they will instruct you.Deuteronomy 32:7As cited in "Jewish Wisdom" by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin....

When man completes a product, his relation to it ends; but God's power continues to permeate His creatures.--Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, "Tanya"Reprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations,' edited by Joseph L. Baron, Jason Aronson Inc....

The souls that were yet to be created were there... So did the sages of all generations receive their wisom from Sinai.--Isaac, Exodus RabbahReprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations,' edited by Joseph L. Baron, Jason Aronson Inc....

Shame is an iron fence against sin.--Orchot TzaddikimReprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations.' edited by Joseph L. Baron. Jason Aronson Inc....

A person is prohibited to eat until he first feeds his animals.--Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 40aAs cited in "Jewish Wisdom" by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin....

To have no occasion for lying does not yet mean to be honest.--Arthur Schnitzler (Austrian playwright, 1862-1931)Reprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations,' edited by Joseph L. Baron, Jason Aronson Inc....

"Enough!" said Israel. "My son Joseph is still alive! I must go and see him before I die." So Israel set out with all that was his, and he came to Beer-sheba, where he offered sacrifices to the God of...

If you sanctify yourself a little, you are sanctified much.--Talmud: Yoma, 39aReprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations,' edited by Joseph L. Baron, Jason Aronson Inc....

One may not rely on a miracle.Babylonian Talmud, Pesachim 64bReprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations,' edited by Joseph L. Baron, Jason Aronson Inc....

Remember the virtues you lack and the faults you have; forget the good you did and the wrong you received.--Orhot TzaddikimReprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations,' edited by Joseph L. Baron, Jason Aronson Inc....

One should conquer the world, not to enthrone a man, but an idea, for ideas exist forever.--Benjamin Disraeli, 1847Reprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations,' edited by Joseph L. Baron, Jason Aronson Inc....

Who lives in joy does his Creator's will.--Baal Shem TovReprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations,' edited by Joseph L. Baron, Jason Aronson Inc....

The community of the living is the carriage of the Lord.--Hasidic proverb...

Thou hast created me not from necessity but from grace.--Solomon Ibn Gabirol, Spanish-Jewish philosopher and poet c.1021-1058Reprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations,' edited by Joseph L. Baron, Jason Aronson Inc....

The highest peace is the peace between opposites.--Rebbe Nachman of Breslov...

On Purim one should drink till he cannot tell the difference between "Cursed be Haman" and "Blessed be Mordecai."--Raba, Talmud: Megilla, 7bReprinted from 'A Treasury of Jewish Quotations.' edited by Joseph L. Baron, Jason Aronson Inc....

The world is new to us every morning--this is the Holy One's gift and every person should believe he is reborn each day.--Baal Shem Tov...

There is no reward for following the commandments in this world.--Babylonian Talmud, Kiddushin 39bAs cited in "Jewish Wisdom" by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin....