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Interesting quotes from famous Jews

My father never lived to see his dream come true of an all-Yiddish-speaking Canada.
-David Steinberg

I once wanted to become an atheist but I gave up. They have no holidays.
-Henny Youngman

Look at Jewish history. Unrelieved lamenting would be intolerable. So, for every ten Jews beating their breasts, God designated one to be crazy and amuse the breast beaters. By the time I was five I knew I was that one.
-Mel Brooks

The time is at hand when the wearing of a prayer shawl and skullcap will not bar a man from the White House, unless, of course, the man is Jewish.
-Jules Farber

Even if you are Catholic, if you live in New York, you're Jewish. If you live in Butte, Montana, you are going to be a goy even if you are Jewish.
-Lenny Bruce

The remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served us nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.
-Calvin Trillin

Let me tell you the one thing I have against Moses. He took us forty years into the desert in order to bring us to the one place in the Middle East that has no oil!
-Golda Meir

Even a secret agent can't lie to a Jewish mother.
-Peter Malkin

My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me.
-Benjamin Disraeli

It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it.
-Sam Levenson

Don't be humble; you are not that great.
-Golda Meir

I went on a diet, swore off drinking and heavy eating, and in fourteen days I had lost exactly two weeks.
-Joe E. Lewis

A spoken contract isn't worth the paper it's written on.
-Sam Goldwyn

I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve immortality through not dying.
-Woody Allen

Whoever called it necking was a poor judge of anatomy.
-Groucho Marx

A politician is a man who will double cross that bridge when he comes to it.
-Oscar Levant

Too bad that all the people who know how to run this country are busy driving taxis and cutting hair.
-George Burns

A committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours.
-Milton Berle

I don't want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth, even if it costs them their jobs.
-Sam Goldwyn

Television is a medium because it is neither rare nor well done.
-Ernie Kovacs

When I bore people at a party, they think it is their fault.
-Henry Kissinger

"DAILY JEWISH WISDOM" is found @ Beliefnet.com

JEWISH WISDOM:

Fear builds walls to bar the light.  - Baal Shem Tov

 

Engage in Torah and charity even with an ulterior motive, for that habit of right doing will lead also to right motivation.  - Talmud: Pesahim, 50b

The sword comes into the world because of justice delayed and because of justice perverted.- Ethics of the Fathers 5:8

Ever since Rabbi Akiba used the Passover seder to plan a revolutionary struggle against the Roman occupiers, the Jews have used the seder to begin concrete work on tikkun (healing and transformation).

- Rabbi Michael Lerner, the Tikkun Magazine Passover supplement 2006

To work out ends of righteousness and love are you called; not merely to enjoy or suffer.

- S.R. Hirsch, "Nineteen Letters," 1836

“Pessimism is a luxury that a Jew can never allow himself.”  Golda Meir

The worship of God, though desirable as an end itself, can somehow never be in the right spirit, unless it impels one to the service of man.  - Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan

Concentrate on three things and you will not fall into the grip of sin. Know from where you came, where you are going, and before Whom you will have to give account and reckoning.- Pirkei Avot 3:1

We cannot learn from general principles: there may be exceptions.  - Johanan, Talmud: Kiddushin

A truly generous man is he that always gives, whether it be much or little, before he is asked.- Orchot Tsadiqim

The best security for old age: respect your children.- Sholem Asch

 A Jew can be Jewish with God, against God, but not without God.- Elie Wiesel

He who promotes his own honor at the expense of his neighbor's has no portion in the world to come.- Judah b. Hanina, Genesis Rabbah

Even if all the world tells you, "You are righteous," consider yourself a sinner.  - Rabbi Simlai

Prayer is meaningless unless it is subversive, unless it seeks to overthrow and to ruin the pyramids of callousness, hatred, opportunism and falsehood. The liturgical movement must become a revolutionary movement, seeking to overthrow the forces that continue to destroy the promise, the hope, the vision.- Abraham Joshua Heschel, "On Prayer"

Lose with truth and right rather than gain with falsehood and wrong.- Maimonides, "Tzavaah"

Seek the good in everyone, and reveal it, bring it forth.- Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772-1811), "Likutey Moharan"

Just as we love ourselves despite the faults we know we have, so should we love our neighbors despite the faults we see in them.- Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov

A man should never impose an overpowering fear upon his household.  - Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 6b

If you add to the truth, you subtract from it.- The Talmud

Love unaccompanied by criticism is not love....Peace unaccompanied by reproof is not peace.- Genesis Rabbah 54:3

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Courier Holy Day Articles


https://www.dcourier.com/news/2018/may/12/church-news-may-12-2018/


Shavuot: Receiving the Torah Law during the Biblical Festival of Weeks. On the eve of May 19 this year, Jews will start the two day celebration of the third biblical pilgrimage festival of Shavuot. Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks [seven weeks after Passover], is also known as the Festival of Reaping, the Day of First Fruits, and the Festival of Receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai. In biblical Israel, Shavuot marked the end of the seven week grain harvest season of barley during Passover and wheat just before Shavuot. Decorating with lots of greenery became a most popular tradition for this holiday along with a festive parade to the Temple to bring the first fruits to the Priests. Today children often parade with such gifts to the Israeli Prime Minister. Eating of dairy dishes, wheat products, and other first fruits is always enjoyed.


On the more serious side, an all-night study of Torah topics such as ethical issues is undertaken by the folk who can. A favorite discussion topic is the Book of Ruth, a convert who chose to stay with her Jewish mother-in-law and the people of Israel after her Jewish husband died. This highly valued book teaches that we must embrace good people and get along with all even if they do not come from a background like ours. Every neighbor is to be valued. To learn more about Shavuot and its traditions, all are welcome to contact Beit Torah at 928-237-0390 or 928-227-0582 or write ansheitorah@cableone.net .


5778 High Holy Days


Please RSVP promptly to Beit Torah Jewish Congregation (www.onetorah.org) if you want to join in High Holy Day Activities: Sept. 16, 6:30 p.m. Selichot Forgiveness; Sept. 20 eve-Sept. 22 Rosh HaShanah; Sept. 29 eve Kol Nidre; Sept. 30 Yom Kippur. Please call for location, directions and details: 928-237-0390, 227-0582 or email ansheitorah@cableone.net


High Holy Days Comfort that We All can be Forgiven

In a couple weeks, the Jewish High Holy Days will be upon us. The seven weeks leading up to Rosh HaShanah are called the weeks of comfort. During these weeks people are supposed to reflect upon their failings of the past year. The comfort comes from being reassured that one can atone for these failings and be forgiven. If the failings are in relationships with others, then the others need to do the forgiving. If the failings are in not observing our brit, covenant contract with HaShem (the Holy One), then forgiveness needs to come from HaShem at the end of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

We are told in Torah [the five Books of Moses] that all people, regardless of background, should join together in atonement on Yom Kippur. We all have our failings, our human imperfections.


This year, Beit Torah Jewish Congregation welcome all to observe the High Holy Days: Selichot 9/16, 6:30 pm; Rosh HaShanah from Wed. eve 9/20 through Fri. 9/22; Yom Kippur Fri. eve 9/29 through Sat. 9/30. [Sukkah building will start Sun., Oct. 1 and continue until afternoon Wed. Oct. 4.]

First day Rosh HaShanah (Thurs. 9/21 at 10 a.m.) and Yom Kippur (Shabbat, 9/30 at 10 a.m.) will be in Chino Valley at the meeting hall between the food bank and the church, 735 E. Road 1 S.. For second day Rosh HaShanah, Tuesday 9/22 at 10 a.m., a brunch shofar service will be combined with our annual Taschlich service at Fain Park in Prescott Valley, 2200 N 5th St.


All are welcome to join in. Please call to RSVP or for details at 928-237-0390 or email ansheitorah@cableone.net


http://www.dcourier.com/news/2016/sep/10/approaching-atonement-during-high-holy-days/

Approaching Atonement during High Holy Days [5777]


[Rabbi Adele Plotkin demonstrates how to play the shofar, an ancient musical horn made of ram’s horn.

Prescott Newspapers Inc. file photo]

Rabbi Adele Plotkin demonstrates how to play the shofar, an ancient musical horn made of ram’s horn.

Rabbi Adele Plotkin, Special to the Courier

Originally Published: September 10, 2016 6 a.m.

    

As we are about just one month before Rosh HaShanah [the beginning of the Jewish spiritual year], we reflect on the words of Moses in Torah [the 5 books of Moses esp. the Book of Deuteronomy] which remind us that our choices are crucial in preparing us to atone during the High Holy Days. What is meant by “we”? According to Torah, all people regardless of ethnic or religious backgrounds are welcome to join in atoning for their sins. We are asked to choose blessings by doing mitzvot [good deeds] such as observing the Holy Days, resisting idolatry, respecting all of creation including all other folk, and so forth. These deeds include spiritual deeds that can help people improve the health of their imperfect selves. About a week before Rosh HaShanah on a Saturday night, there is a practice to have a Selichot Forgiveness Service [at midnight for some].


However some people seem more focused on the things that need to be done for the High Holy Days such as shofar blowing practiced until near perfection. So every morning during morning prayers during the month of Elul [the month preceding Rosh HaShanah], these folk blow the shofar. Imagine living above a store front in the center of Jerusalem. After sunrise, in uncoordinated symphony, one can hear blasts of the shofrot [shofars] for quite some time whether one wants to wake up or not during the month of Elul [but not on Shabbat].



We also remember our loved ones during the High Holy Days such as by visiting cemeteries, having Memorial prayers, and by adding specific words to the mourners’ kaddish prayer. Some add the words throughout the Ten Days of Awe [Rosh HaShanah through Yom Kippur] while others add these words throughout Elul as well.


However, we each choose which practices we want to follow in pursuing our own individual atonement. We at Beit Torah Congregation (www.onetorah.org) will observe the High Holy Days: Rosh HaShanah from Sunday evening, Oct. 2, through Tues. Oct 4; Yom Kippur Tuesday evening, Oct. 11, through Wednesday, Oct. 12. All are welcome to join in. Please call to RSVP or for details at 928-237-0390 or email ansheitorah@cableone.net.

High Holy Days 5776:


8/21/2015 6:00:00 AM
High Holy Days herald focus on self-improvement


In this time of widespread world unrest and minimal civility among government officials, many of us feel there is little we can do to help the world be a better place. Yet each year we Jews have set aside High Holy Days, Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), as days for prayer and contemplation on how best we can achieve changes in ourselves to maximize our contributions to bettering the world. After all, lots of small improvements can often add up to a large improvement whether in our families, our neighborhoods, our environments, our governments, or even just our relationships with others.

We listen to the call of the shofar (ram's horn). We symbolically cast away our sins as bread upon flowing waters. We remember the good lessons of the past and honor those no longer with us who taught us those lessons. We search for understanding of the mitzvot, good deeds, as we repent for having neglected or violated them in the past. Of course, we also include festive meals along the way with friends and family. After all, we need to keep up our strength so we can perform mitzvot!

This year Beit Torah Jewish Congregation invites all to join us in our Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur observances. First day Rosh HaShanah (Sunday, Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m. and Monday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m.) and Yom Kippur (Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 10 a.m.) will be in Chino Valley at the meeting hall between the food bank and the church, 735 E. Road 1 S.

For second day Rosh HaShanah, Tuesday Sept. 15 at 10 a.m., a brunch service will be combined with our annual Taschlich service at Fain Park in Prescott Valley, 2200 N 5th St. For details and directions, call 928-237-0390, write ansheitorah@cableone.net or check out the website at www.onetorah.org.

Special to the Courier:

Chanukah:  A Celebration of Religious Freedom

            When the Greek Assyrians invaded ancient Israel, they decreed that no one should pray except in the same way as the conquerors.  They forbade circumcision and study of Torah.  They defiled the holy places including the Temple in Jerusalem.  It was with great joy a couple years later that the Temple was retaken and Jerusalem returned to Judaism.  The rededication of the Temple became a focus for hope and a rallying cry for victory during the decades long continuing battles.

            So when, a year after the rededication, an annual celebration was declared for all Jews, it was clearly a celebration of freedom from religious coercion, of freedom to worship openly without fear of reprisals.  The most commonly known story of why Chanukah is celebrated is the one of the ‘miracle of the oil’ where one cruse of holy oil lasted for eight days until a new batch could be received.  Hence the eight days of celebration with candle lightings and the customs to eat foods made with oil.  Others say that since the eight day Festival of Sukkot was cancelled during the occupation, it was an opportunity to make up for the missed observances.

            It has since become a competitor with other holidays of the season.  As a result, modern customs include gift giving and festive decorations.  During times of oppression, people would pretend to be gambling instead of observing the holiday.  From this, we are told, Chanukah games using nuts as gambling chips and the four sided dreidel [spinning top] games were developed.  As always many silly and serious songs have been written to share during the festivities.  Still, whether one enjoys the European potato latkes [pancakes] with applesauce and sour cream or one enjoys the Israeli favorite of jelly donuts, it is a time to remind everyone that Chanukah festivities are celebrating religious freedom.

            This year Beit Torah (www.onetorah.org) will have a number of study sessions and Chanukah parties [Dec. 6-14] including a public one at the Village Towers at 3 pm on Dec. 9, Wed.  All are invited.  For further details on study and festive events please call 928-237-0390 or email ansheitorah@cableone.net .