Story of the Day

The group in charge of increasing the enrollment in gehenna, or hell, was discussing ways to get more people to sin. One suggested encouraging them to steal. But the others all protested that the laws against theft were too strict and not enough people would sin by stealing. Another suggested encouraging people to lie. Again, the others protested that lying would make people feel too guilty. Finally came the suggestion with which everyone agreed:

"Let's encourage people to do good deeds, acts of loving kindness, acts of charity, acts of courage and justice. But let's tell them not to do those things today. But rather, tomorrow!"

In his parsha piece this week on Re'eh Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb cites and elaborates on this story. It brought to my mind that old saying about where the path of good intentions can lead. He also gives the context of how he came to discover this story.

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