Discuss. Digress. Enjoy.
Chuck Bennet called me Friday about his exclusive article on the Yankee Stadium curse set into play by a T shirt buried by a Red Sox construction worker fan into the foundation. What would you say on the topic of curses? Why are nasty exclamations and bad wishes referred to with the same word? Do you believe in people giving curses? What do you know of the Jewish View on this topic? Have you ever been cursed? What was your reaction?
Bertrand Russel was once asked by his dentist where it hurt. And he said the hurt was in his mind. How much of what we experience is in our heads? Can we figure it out? Is it healthy to do that kind of math?
Rabbi Benjamin Blech years ago wrote in Newsweek in the My Turn column about The Little Train That Could. He felt that stories message is a bit much. He told the story of his friend who was dying from an illness. His friend said to him, "This wouldn't have happened if only I'd fought harder." What are your thoughts on this?
In The Kuzari a searching king is told that his intentions are good but his actions are bad. This is sometimes used as a critique of others. What are your thoughts on this critique? Take context into account? Is it relevant that some people are more action people and some more idea people? Explain. Digress. Enjoy.
They say that the Kotzker Rebbe said: "If I am I because you are you and you are you because I am I then I am not I and you are not you. But if I am I because I am I and you are you because you are you then I am I and you are you." How would you put that into your own words? Do you think it is relevant/true? How does this play out in your own life?
posted by rabbi neil fleischmann @ 1:28 AM
12 Comments:
Sefer Chasidim says not to curse others, and that it will rebound on the one delivering the curse.
Russell was trying to annoy the dentist, a stance of which I most heartily approve!
In today's lingo, the Kotker's vort would be interpreted as discussing self-esteem, but I don't think that's what he meant. He was certainly talking about avodas Hashem, and the reasons behind one's service. That's what makes sense in his context.
>Rabbi Benjamin Blech years ago wrote in Newsweek in the My Turn column about The Little Train That Could.
I haven't seen this article, but I think I tracked down the reference:
Benjamin Blech, "Don't Blame the Victim," Newsweek, Sept. 19, 1988, p. 10.
Also, the attack on the book The Little Engine that Could (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Engine_That_Could) reminds me of Shel Silverstein's poem "The Little Blue Engine" (http://www.des.emory.edu/mfp/littleblueengine.html).
"Russell was trying to annoy the dentist, a stance of which I most heartily approve!"
I can relate! Last time I sat down in my dentist's chair I told him "you are the man that my nightmares are made out of."
Oy, do I have dentist (horror) stories.
At my first root canal, I told the dentist that in my opinion, every dentist should be required to undergo at least one, whether he needs it or not.
Thanks dear readers. Good points all around - Chadeish yameinu kekedem.
Uri I remember reading that article when it appeared in Newsweek, I guess on has to find the issue the old fshioned way.
Kishke - Did you ever think of the punishment given to the rasha in the haggadah? I can't think of a more grueling consequence - hakkeh et shinav. Mess up his teeth and send him to the dentist...
Wishing everyone a Happy Pesach and hope that your seder divrei Torah are better than that!
rr: Have you ever read Marathon Man? A good book, but twice as scary for anyone with a dentist phobia.
Kishke - Sounds familiar, but I'm not sure. Maybe I'll try to pick it up before Pesach. BTW even though I am indeed dental phobic I have figured out the refuah before the makkah. It is called nitris oxide (sp?) a.k.a. - sodium pentathol/truth serum. It works wonders and I highly recommend it. You can't even get me to do a cleaning without it anymore!
It's by Ira Levin; probably his best.
What does this stuff do? Knock you out? Is this the same as "laughing gas?" Do all dentists administer it?
It doesn't knock you out. It might also be called laughing gas. For me, it takes the edge off. It also makes me think of great jokes that I can't say because I have all of this paraphenalia in my mouth. Also, it's like I know that I am being tortured, but I don't even care - it's great! I don't know about all dentists, but I think that it is pretty standard procedure nowadays. When you are done you just breath a few minutes of pure oxygen and then you are able to leave.
About the Engine that Could, and the dying man who wished he had tried harder: There are no promises in life that I know of (other than that we will die). It is unfortunate that anyone would blame themselves for a fatal condition based on a simplistic parable.
I do believe the Little Engine has something important to tell us about a positive attitude, though. That particular journey should be its own reward, whether or not the mountaintop is gained in the end.
Just my not-so-humble opinion!
anne - there's a talmudic saying that if someone says "i worked hard but didn't find," don't believe him - but if he says "i worked hard and i found," believe him.
one explanation of why this statement can be made with certainty is because the finding is in the looking - as you said, "that particular journey should be its own reward."
thank you as always for your wise and present words - they raised a lot of reaction in me and i'm only writing out a small piece in response.
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