Sitting Thoughts

My book is my soul opened up and spread across a hundred pages for your reading enhancement. It has been available since day one at this year's YU - SOY Sefarim Sale. Please check it out. Print this picture in case the workers don't know where it is. If you'd like to hear me speak on humor in Judaism and read from my book next week at the sale, please let them know.

On a related/unrelated note (mei'inyan le'inyan be'oto inyan) I have a question: What is the point of speeches, talks, presentations, classes? The very vast majority of people don't take notes at the rabbi's speech, a talk at a bris, a work seminar presentation, a dinner speech, etc. Most people don't review or try to remember the points. The people who give these things often prepare a lot, and today it is in vogue not just to prepare the presentation but also to write up source sheets and distribute them. Who saves and studies these sheets? What is left when audience and the speaker move on, handouts are swept up and thrown away, and it is no longer impolite for everyone to go home and/or go to sleep? This question haunts and gnaws at me, because the phenomenon of the public speech - that it is socially acceptable to not really pay attention to it - is so common, happens every day. I'd love to hear reader's answers and will share my thoughts if anyone lets me know that they read this and cares.

Speaking of readers, I am a big fan of a reader of this blog's blog. Pesach Sommer's Running Thoughts (I can't believe no runner already had that name) - can be found at middleof the packrabbi.blogspot.com. I am always taken by him and what he writes (he had a recent beautiful piece about his daughter reaching bat mitzah age, and running a half marathon with her) and and and. His most recent piece is about balance. I commented on it because I was taken by it. I highly recommend taking in what he wrote, for everyone.

It's 10:46 PM, just got home a few minutes ago. Full day: classes, guidance, improv club, parent teacher meetings. Parent - teacher meeting in the mid-year is always on a weeknight from 6:30-9:00. About ten parents came, less than for many others. It's a nice time to catch up with other teachers. The talks I had with parents were pleasant and meaningful. I'm giving a test tomorrow that I need to finish writing, and I have a test I gave on Monday that I need to mark.

I just came across this quote that I posted here years ago:

‎"Just because the rose died on the vine -
doesn't mean it lied to you when it was in bloom."

I need to go to sleep.

Good night and may G-d bless.