20 Favorite Jewish Quotes

Everyday above ground can be a good day.

on gelt iz kein welt

“We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.” Anais Nin

Hashem loves you

The greatest battles you will ever fight are with yourself, and you must always be your toughest opponent.

BAD DECISIONS MAKE FOR GOOD STORIES

Everyday of our lives in everything we do we acknowledge Hashem. When someone greet you and ask, how are you. We say Baruch Hashem, we are good. We dont just say I am good thank you. We are not commanded to say that but we want to, because we want to remember Hashem in everything we do, even in a small thing as greeting a fellow jew.

Hi, I think number 5 word for word actually means "smart, smart, smart, you are a fool".

“Feeling different, feeling alienated, feeling persecuted, feeling that the only way to deal with the world is to laugh - because if you don't laugh you're going to cry and never stop crying - that's probably what's responsible for the Jews having developed such a great sense of humor. The people who had the greatest reason to weep, learned more than anyone else how to laugh.”
― Mel Brooks

Humor is as great a weapon as love. No one can hate you when you are making them laugh. I read once that every king's jester was Jewish. You could speak truth to power & get away unharmed because they were laughing too hard to be angry with you. When they thought it over later, you had a good chance of changing their minds to make a better decision.

a politician shouldn’t be defined by what he does but rather by the faults he doesn’t make

If you hadn't given your children anything to die for, you hadn't given them anything to live for.

Inspiring

Very good app

I heard a comedian say this in an interview once. I believe he was talking about the audience in the borscht belt.
“A Jew with nothing to complain about is an unhappy Jew.”

TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A TIME, AND A SEASON.

This revolutionary observation, says Rabbi Avigdor Miller, is the greatest secret of Kabbalah - the hidden mystical wisdom of Torah - hidden where no one would ever think to look: Right in the very first line! Nature and everything in it, all you see, hear, and experience, is God talking to you.

You get out of life whatever you put into it!

TRACHT GUT, VET ZEIN GUT,VAIL ES IZ GUT. THINK GOOD,AND IT WILL BE GOOD. BECAUSE IT IS GOOD!

I am looking for quotes for a baby naming. Quotes about Bubbes food and love.

The rich and the poor can't eat from the same table.

I work in a Jewish High School and would like to copy and post these quotes. Do I have your permission?

See above

I appreciate any wisdom I can receive from my fellow jews. thank you beloved.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit - Proverbs 18:21

If it's not meant to be it's meant to be better!

My late father was man of London Jewish heritage, books food ,everything was for him holy. So when asked how i am, i often laugh and say as reply. 'I don't know but I am getting there, where ever there is' I love reading quotes, thanks for these quotees,, and as for researching my heritage, i am getting there wherever there is.

Life may not be the party that you've hoped for. However, while you are here you should dance.

That is one of the best quotes I've ever heard in my life.

1) from Rav Noach Weinberg
2) Not the exact words---maybe the language is "The price of..."
3) he explains that the cost of failing is destroying one's self-confidence.

“I take no great pride at being praised,
Nor offense at being insulted”
Rabbi Abraham I Kook

This is a life long task- proper ego- humility

Enjoyable. I sent a few to relatives. Worthwhile to internalize and contemplate

'From the overflow of one's heart come the words of one's mouth.'

'Store your treasures up in Heaven, for where your treasure is there your heart will be also.'

'Greater love has no man than this: that a man set down his life for his friends.'

Hillel the elder. That which is despicable to you, do not do to your fellow, this is the TORAH, the rest is commentary

“ If a man comes to kill you, kill him first.”

The highest form of wisdom is kindness. --The Talmud

Everything in life is control by our believes. Accepting change start from us not what we are told or hear. We have power to do a lot. Psalm 46:1

"There is nothing so whole as a broken heart."

-“If there isn’t justice in society, there is justice in the universe” -“Smile your on candid camera” (Hashem is a constant watchful eye”

My father David would say this

Worshipping money is a lot worse than falling in love, in love one loses his head but with money one forgets to live

"The reason why God created the universe is because he loves to hear a good story"

If God lived on earth, people would break His windows.

Anyone who is, or has been, a teacher will immediately identify with this saying, because of its truth and simplicity. As a teacher in a synagogue religious school with over 15 years experience, I cannot recall a single time where I did not learn something new, often from my students.
The wisdom of this saying also captures the concept of lifelong learning: No matter how much we know, or how long you have been a teacher, there is always more to learn. Learning is a lifelong process that never ends.

Gam zu la tova is one of them. I recite those words when I am in the midst of a challenging situation, and I need to be patient. Say little do much is the other quote which is crucial to me. I would much rather achieve a goal then tell someone that I PLAN to achieve it.

While coming from somewhere and going to somewhere, to exist or to not exist does it make any difference.

One of my favorite quotes was an Aish 'Quote of the Day', but I'm not sure it has a Jewish source:
"Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the still, small voice at the end of the day that says, "I will try again tomorrow." "

OTOH, quote number 18 above:
"If you are not a better person tomorrow than you are today, what need have you for a tomorrow?" – Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

is a VERY dangerous thing to say, and may not be an empirical truth. (I know the Breslover was a GREAT Man, but I also know there are 70 facets to the Torah, and that this one may be contradicted by some of the others.)

We can only TRY to ensure that tomorrow will be better, or
BEGIN to be better people every day,
BUT
if I am not a better person tomorrow, perhaps I am in a rut, or on a plateau, or will be better the day AFTER tomorrow.
After all, Rav Nachman himself also said, "Lo lehitya'eish"
NEVER Give Up!

if you expect prefection from others,you will end up alone with your own imprerfections

Wonder rather than doubt is the root of all knowledge.--Abraham Heschel

In Gd's eyes effort is success, and if you're trying your best that's always good enough.

Everything is going according to plan. I heard this from Rabbi Avigdor Miller z"l on a tape many years ago. It helps me cope with challenges and allows me to turn them into opportunities. it's when i forget this adage when i get frustrated.

"gomel chassadim tovim Hashem" my grandmother always used tell that to anyone who asked how she was doing....

I love so many of these quotes, but here are a couple of my favorites:
1) Chanoch LaNa'ar Al Pi Darko- Shlomo HaMelech said that we should teach our children in their own way. Every child has a unique way of thinking and learning and we should respect that and work with it, not against it.
2) Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its entire life believing that it's stupid- Albert Einstein. Again, this speaks to every person's unique abilities and that we need to work with them and not against them.

The first quote is about who is wise. I come from a VERY Secular Jewish background and I have been soaking up knowledge from learned people of all ages. A few years ago I heard a very sensitive and intelligent 4 year old boy talk about the Beit Ha Mikdash. When I was 4, the Beit Ha Mikdash was not even on my radar. I also heard a 5 year old girl tell her friend why "we shouldn't talk about other people behind their back." This child had a grasp and sensitivity of lashan hara that people 3 times her age do not have. The other quote deals with looking at problems as opportunities. As I sit here typing, I am dealing with a challenging situation in life. It's tough and it hurts, but I will tackle this challenge head on. It is a HUGE opportunity to move into a better phase of life. Chanukah Sameach to all!

A wise man hears one word and understands two.

Source unknown

Clear your throat before you speak, lest you forget your thoughtful ideas.

This I read in a book of Yiddish proverbs when I was a teenager. I think this has made me think before complaining more then anything in my life.

I think this wise sayings is from Solomon that "this too shall pass" then a person not get too sad in hard situations, not too happy or too haughty in joyful moments. Thanks for reading

Instead of using a curse word or phrase, she always exclaim "Your Father takes numbers" Has anyone ever heard that expression before?

I remember a saying that under forty years of age, food is healthier than wine, after that age, wine is healthier than food. But reviewing my sources of PIrkeAvot, i am not able to find it. Does it really exist?

Torah is not education is transformation

Faithful are the wounds of a friend. But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Book of Solomon

Which means tough love is better than flattering hypocrisy.

Appreciate your efforts and kindness!

Two roads diverged in a wood and I,
I took the one less traveled by.
And I got horribly lost.

very wonderful quotes. thanks

It's not what you achieve that determines what you are, but what you overcome.

Someone said this with my rabbi who shared it with me.

Man makes plans, and God laughs. This is really just the Jewish version of Proverbs 16:9 -- "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." We all make plans with a goal, a destination in mind, but it's important to remember that we frequently have no control over the path we will travel to get there. Often the destination itself ends up being completely different from what we had in mind. This is why we're well advised to keep in mind that it's the journey to the station and not the station itself that describes our life. We will all arrive at the station soon enough.

Gam Zeh Y'a'vor--This too, shall pass.
This has gotten me through many a tough time, from toilet training kids to breast cancer (B"H, I'm a 20 yr survivor!). Nothing in this physical world is forever. With HaShem's help, we'll get through it--but even if we don't, God forbid, life altogether is only temporary. This quote helps me keep things in perspective.

my favorite one is "Things in life that don't kill you make you stronger!" Then combine it with " to thine own self be true". Both coinside nicely.When someone treats me unkindly ex. Overcharging me knowingly - or other forms of harassment - I see it's important that I view their behavior as a statement about them NOT me!! Then peel the onion back and you'll find time and time again some form of jealousy and greed will rear it's ugly head once agin!! I also believe "what goes round comes round"and with the Justice system or lack there of in the USA - I have faith that one day they will undoubted meet their maker and it won't be pretty!!! So "there but for the grace of GOD go I" it's so true - so all these quotes help to keep me sain in an insane world, we exsist in. some of us have a promised land to aim for.
when the worst day I ever lived - I found myself after experiences unbelievable pain - in the arms of my two favorite humans - my folks arms. Then : angels from on high! thus,the pain only lasted for a while and was replaced by a gift from above Thanks be to GOD!!! So because I believe I need to remember that he is always with me and not to fear those whose goal is to rattle my cage. So I need to remember @ all times his teachings and follow to the best of my ability the 10 commandments. I plan to try to the best of my ability to remember that he has always been there for me and all he ask is that I try. Seems like a good deal for me. so if any of my enemies are reading this JUST YOU WAIT!!! You'll get your up commence one day! every storm cloud has a silver lining - live your life so you can avail yourself of that lining time and time again! It really does say columns about the perpetrator rather than the person it's directed at.

Attitude is important.

Even if you kill me I will not kill you. Talmud

Kol Man D'Avid Rachmana L'Tav Avid - Rebbe Akiva

Laig zich nit mit a gezunter kop in a kranken bet

One of my quotes is I'm still here. G-d is in control.
What I went thru was very challenging and I'm getting better everyday. Now I believe more than ever. For more than 15 yrs. I walked the walk, I sure thought it was mostly real. Now it is more real than ever. So many of you can relate, I'm blessed and still here.

"The true worth of a human's existence can be found in the legacy of their deeds"
Vico Confino

This is said if someone makes a wish..

It is better to live until 60 and dedicating your life to torah & mitzvoth then to live until 120 but not learning enough torah and not helping others

On a trip to Israel a very kind person said this to me. Do I have the quote right? If not correct could someone please send me the correction? Thank You

This is one of my favorite quotes. You can live a full life up until 120 but not helping others, and just going about your buisness...or you can devote your life to helping people & live a short life

If you will it, it is no dream."

DON'T ARGUE WITH A STUPID PERSON BECAUSE THAT WILL MAKE TWO OF YOU AND HE WILL BEAT YOU TO IT WITH HIS EXPERTISE.

Everyone is kneaded out of the same dough but not baked in the same oven. -Yiddish proverb

thanks everyone for sharing these- enjoyed reading all your contributions

another from Wiesel:
Some stories are true that never happened.
-Elie Wiesel, writer, Nobel laureate (b. 1928)
(when I see the lies printed about Jews and Israel, when I see the power those lies have on certain people..I realize truth is not relevant to them, they will believe the lie if it fits their preconceived views.

And another quote I saved from here which reminds me to keep fighting for truth, to keep telling it in spite of the mountain of lies falling down on us:
"You do not have to finish all the work of the world, but you are not free to give up on it."
http://www.aish.com/sp/so/48945491.html

dont tell Hashem how big your problems are, tell your problems how big Hashem is

very simple and very true... food for thought

Too often we overthink, contemplate, worry, and go through a lot of "what if's" and self-doubt. If you really want to do something, no mattter hard it is or you think it is, stop thinking and start doing! Just do it! Na'aseh v'nishmah! Every day we're at Mt. Sinai for mattan Torah!

This is so much of the way Judaism informs me in my life.! If I remember these three things, I can do what is of integrity. I can be understanding, loving and merciful as I would want others to be. I can recognize G-d in everyone and everything and this humbles me.

Hashem is in charge but it is our choice

In Temple one Shabbat morning our Rabbi's sermon was about the importance and enduring relevance of the 10 Commandments. As he ended, he said he'd like us to think about something.
"G-d gave us no commandment to "Love Thy Children" yet right up front there is one commanding us to "Love Thy Mother and Father".
After a moment of silence, we parents all laughed, knowingly.

My sweet, gentle father, of blessed memory, began or ended every plan or expectation with G-d willing!" He'd simply say, when we asked why, "Who am I to say this should happen?"

My brother, sister, and I would tease w/ each other: You're making pie for dinner, G-d willing?
Now that he is gone, we mean it.
Cherish your parents, for too soon they leave.

"Lchatchila--Ariber!"This saying originated with the Rebbe Maharash of Lubavitch, who stated:

The world says that if you cannot crawl under an obstacle, try to leap over it. However, I say, leap over it in the first place!

in love with this quote

"Everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe - a spirit vastly superior to that of man."

- Albert Einstein

My friend told me he's an anaesthetist. I said "We're in the same business. I just do it without the needles"

- Rabbi Mashiach Kelaty

Rav Shammai, say little - do much,
and then there is,
To escape criticism- do nothing, say nothing, be nothing
I think A Einstein.

You can never go wrong doing the right thing...You can only gain.

When parting from someone (saying good-bye) be sure you do so on a positive note and with dignity. You never know when you may meet again!!

If you save one life, it is as though you have saved the world.

Never create a justice system you won't want to go thru - one day you may have to!

When you have some money in your pocket, you are suddenly very handsome and talented in dance and music.--old Jewish proverb (I don't know if the source is European or Middle Eastern.)

If you have money, you're smart, handsome, and a good singer too.

When the Jews were leaving Egypt Miriam was told not to pack the cymbals (Timbrels) as we should not wait until we arrived to celebrate. We should celebrate every day.

My other famous (?) quote is that a wife's job is to make her husband happy, and a husband's job is to make his wife happy.,

I think these are both terrific quotes

Show me who your friends are and I'll tell you what you are

.(author: unsure..read it somewhere from a 90 yr old woman in Ohio)

Truly inspirational quotes. Thank you for sharing

"The truth never dies but lives a wretched life." -- Yiddish proverb

"A quitter never wins and a winner never quits"
"knowledge: Tomato is a fruit
Wisdom: don't include it in a fruit salad"

philosophy: wondering if that makes ketchup a smoothie

As usual ,Aish articles are wounderfull.

... And make a safety fence around the Torah.

If you will it is no dream
Theodor Herzl

"Every situation can be bitter or better. the difference is I." -as heard from Rabbi YY Rubenstein

Every act, thought, utterance is either:
giving or taking, building or destroying, enhancing or detracting - Rav Dessler.
In other words, no neutral ground. we're either making it better or ...
Thanks for the great inspiration.

My father grew wiser as I grew older

If you always do what you've always done, you'll always be what you've always been.

If you don't ask, you can't get. You may ask and not get. However, the strength is in the asking, in the speaking up.

"Words from the heart enter the heart" and "if you want to represent the Jewish people, you have to know what the Jewish people represent" Rabbi Noah Weinberg.
THANK YOU Aish.com for sharing this inspiring article, I loved it!!, Shabbat Shalom to all.

There are two stages in life; Learning and dying, too many people go from the first to the last too soon.

"You have been shown to see, that HaShem, Hu Elokim." The Torah
According to Rabbi Weinberg. this is saying that you have been given EVIDENCE of HaShem's existence so that you can KNOW; not faith, but knowledge.

"Non-Jews respect Jews who respect their Judaism. Non-Jews are ashamed by Jews who are ashamed by their Judaism." Former UK Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.

Forgive - not because the offense was small, but because you are bigger!

who among us hasn't experienced the most well thought out plans gone asunder?

A Torah education and a secular education are complementary.

“The truly righteous [lit., the pure righteous ones] do not complain about evil, but rather add justice; they do not complain about heresy, but rather add faith; they do not complain about ignorance, but rather add wisdom.” - Rav A. Y. Hakohen Kook.

Be bigger than what happens to you - Abby Van Buren (Dear Abby)

Don't ask for an easy life, ask to be a strong person.

A non - jewish leader can be followed by a whole nation, but there is a whole nation backing up every jew.
(Author : myself).

SADLY, NOT ALWAYS

Actually I believe this to be correct...there is not ONE reason to TRUST Hashem when push comes to shove and people go outside of themselves this is true there is a whole nation backing up every Jew? and why is this? Because Hashem in his brilliance connected us and we are ONE
I find it so easy to love Hashem when you are not blaming him for your life or the worlds problems

"One person's complaint is another person's wish"

Stop Complaining.

"That which doesn't break us, only makes us stronger"--unknown
"Everyone has the nisayon "test" of money--some for having it & some for not having it. --me (but I probably heard somewhere else first & can't remember
"One mother can take care of 10 children, but it takes 10 children to take care of one mother"--Yiddish proverb

The name of "unknown" in the first is Friedrich Nietzsche

MAy you always want me but never Want!

"JUDAISM HOLDS THE PROMISE OF A MEANINGFUL LIFE, SERENITY OF SPIRIT, AND QUALITY OF CHARACTER..." Rabbi Berel Wein

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life feeling dumb: Albert Einstein

no. 13 sums it up .

I am not intelligent /smart I am only curious. Einstein

Live well and you will always be happy. Everyone's well is different but if someone tells you that you can't do something, when you DO IT it is so sweet!

It's said that if you ask ten Jews a question you'll get more then 20 answers. None of them will be right or wrong. But what you'll learn from hearing them is that you will have to think about them in relationship to the question. And, that is the most important lesson and the benefit of Jewish learning.

Peres . "Everyone else has long known that in our country the impossible is a way of life."

Proverbs 23:23
Buy truth and do not sell; [also] wisdom, discipline, and understanding.

If you give something expect nothing in return, thus you will never be disappointed.

There is nothing noble in feeling superior to another person. True nobility comes in feeling superior to your previous self.

There are those who imperiously demand everything at once without any idea of growing and becoming.

By the way torah is not information but transformation is i belive how the saying goes by R. Dena Weinberg

There is nothing new under the sun...

My concern is not whether G-d is on my side; my greatest concern is whether I am on G-d's side...

think in the same way, he would immediately realize, that a life sentence should never last longer than half of the timespan that G-d has provided between two yovel years (3. Mose 25,10); Jonathan Pollard would have been released four years ago!

Gam Zeh Ya'avor. Keep everything in perspective, from tough times to life itself!

I wear a ring with the Hebrew equivalent of "this too shall pass" as a reminder.

" I say whether they like you, love you, despise you or loathe you, HOLD YOUR GROUND. Do not concede your values"

(From "Moving forward" by David Peltzer)

Our purpose is to elevate the mundane.

The will of Gd will never take you where the grace of Gd will not protect you. Don't be afraid of death, Whinnie, be afraid of the unlived life. Tuck Everlasting.  Don't look back. Ur not going that way.  When writing the story if ur life dnt let anyone else hold the pen. It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. Harry Potter Life isn't about finding yourself it's about creating yourself Yom asal yom basal- Arabic for some days are like honey some days are like onions

Do not disdain any person;
Do not underrate the importance of anything --
For there is no person who does not have his hour,
And there is no thing without its place in the sun.

There is no system so strange, so illogical or so esoteric but that somebody, somewhere, somewhen will try it.

"This is the main principle: Be a wellspring of life to all."

(Tomer Devorah, by Rabbi Cordevero, middle of 3rd chapter)

Rabbi Cordevero beautifully sums up the essence of acting like G-d, of being B'Tzelem Elokim: flow life to all.

''Pretty is as pretty does.'' -my mom :)

"if you can change the sitiuation, then change the situation. Otherwise change your attitude."

It does not matter how pure your intentions are if someone is negative and not a friend . We cannot waste our time . We can only fix ourselves and not others .

This is my mantra:
All I Have I Need, All I Need I Have. Whatever I have, HaShem decided I need , and whatever I need HaShem has already given me.

"If it could be better, it would be better." The Chofetz Chaim

My mom always said in name of her dad... Everyone's crazy except for me and you ...and I'm not even sure about you!

"What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. This is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation. Go and learn" (Tractate Shabbos 31a)
This is what Hillel told a gentile who said he would convert if Hillel would teach him the entire Torah while standing on one foot.
This is similar to Rabbi Akiva's quoting the verse "Love your fellow as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18) and adding "This is a great principle of the Torah" (Torat Kohanim, ibid.)

Whenever you find yourself in the side of majority, its time to stop and reflect.

To live a life of undiscovered sin, that's true joy.

Think it over.

so be joyfull

"When I am called to judgment, the question that I fear will not be 'Why were you not Moses?' It will be 'Why were you not Zusya?"--Rabbi Zusya of Hanipol

"Be like the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving people and bringing them to Torah"--Pirkei Avot

A second to Manuel's comment, "Say little and do much"--Pirkei Avot

Never be ashamed of an honest days work. From my father.

Although I have had several near fatal events in my life--heart attacks, open-heart surgery, and a massive stroke, I never thought that my life was over. I knew I would bounce back. Some friend started calling me "Timex," because I took a licking and kept on ticking.
Money? I've not a lot, I don't need a lot. Hashem gives us what we need, nu? I should worry, I'm very content with what I have.
My favorite past time is getting others to smile or laugh. Because I'm losing my ability to walk very far, I use a wheelchair most of the time, I am invisible to many people--they still do not want to see the disabled. So I just look up at them, give them big smile and say hello. If I can, I tell them an one-liner, or if they ask how I'm doing (after I've asked them first) I usually say "If I were doing any better, I'd charge you for asking, but then I'd be lying through my teeth and I don't have any!" That'll get them every time. I love to see people laughing.

But to me, the most important thing is that I don't want what I don't have. I am content. And what could anyone ask for more than that?

Think good, and it will be good.

Gotta love the Southerners!!

"And dat's the name of dat tune." Rabbi Baretta

Thank you for all thse lovely quotes. They are inspiring and comforting.

Very interesting how colorful this collection of most essential quotes of dozens of different people becomes, compare comment Nr 34 Darwin.

"If water, which is soft, can penetrate hard rock, certainly Torah which is fire can penetrate my mind"-Rabbi Akiva, Since he was 40 years old and couldn't even write his name, Akiva wasn't sure that he could succeed in learning. But one day, he saw water falling on a rock. The constant dripping made a hole in the solid stone. Akiva thought, "Is my mind harder than this rock? If I work every day, than I too can change!" Quitters never win, winner never quit.

I m not Jew but yr wisdom is extremely positive. Thanks

"His mission was never to make the world Jewish, but rather to make it more human."
By Elie Wiesel from his book "A Jew Today"

Trust only in Hashem, Praise His Name.

You cannot go wrong doing the right thing
(original)

Speak Yiddish; say nothing! Don't be a loudmouth in a crowd.

this too shall pass.

Submitted a quote by Maya Angelou - but My Mom said it before I ever read it - so I consider it 'Jewish' I'm sure Dr Angelou would not mind

Quote by Dr Maya Angelou is - when you know better you do better

You should grow like an onion with your head in the ground and your feet in the air.

Whenever something went wrong or some unexpected problem cropped up, my mother, Rebetzen Shaindel Bulman a"h, always used to quote her father: "Ah Yid git zich an eitza." Literally the Yiddish saying means, "A Jew gives himself an idea" or "A Jew gives himself advice." The idea is that Jews are resourceful. When you run into trouble, major or minor, you can come up with some idea of how to deal with the problem or some way around it. There is also a connotation of Jewish hopefulness, that when you run into trouble you don't wring your hands and feel helpless, but you look at the situation optimistically and immediately start brainstorming ideas for how to solve the problem or get around it.

My mother, Sheindel bas Moshe Yechiel a"h, passed away this year on 29 Nissan. May her memory be blessed.

We grow too soon old and too late smart" -- traditional Yiddish proverb

There's real doubt as to whether Einstein made that remark about man's stupidity (#10).
I like "...from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.” Charles Darwin

Mitzvah gedolah liyos be simcha tamid., it is a great mitzvah to be perpetually happy..

Reb Nachman of Breslov

Never forget ... we are not merely Human Beings struggling towards the Divine ... we are Divine Beings struggling to be Human.

Not the best quote but the best advice. TY!

Where is God?
Wherever you let him in.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk

"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."

People plan and God laughs

Rabbi Beroka Hoza'ah used to spend time in the market at Bet Lapat where Elijah often appeared to him. Once he asked him, "Is there anyone in this market who has a share in the world to come?" He replied, "No." Meanwhile, he caught sight of a man wearing black shoes and who had no thread of blue on the corners of his garment and he exclaimed, "This man has a share in the world to come." Rabbi Beroka ran after him and asked him, "What do you do?" The man replied, "Go away and come back tomorrow." The next day he asked him again, "What do you do?" He replied, "I am a jailer and I keep the men and women separate and I place my bed between them so that they may not come to sin; when I see a Jewish girl upon whom the Gentiles cast their eyes I risk my life and save her. Once there was amongst us a betrothed girl upon whom the Gentiles cast their eyes. I therefore took sediment of red wine and put them on her skirt and I told them that she was menstruating." Rabbi Beroka asked the man, "Why have you no fringes and why do you wear black shoes?" He replied, "That the Gentiles amongst whom I constantly move may not know that I am a Jew, so that when a harsh decree is made against Jews I inform the rabbis and they pray to God and the decree is annulled." He further asked him, "When I asked you what you did why did you say to me, 'Go away now and come back tomorrow?'" He answered, "They had just issued a harsh decree and I said I would first go and acquaint the rabbis of it so that they might pray to God." While they were talking, two men passed by and Elijah remarked, "These two have a share in the world to come." Rabbi Beroka then approached and asked them, What do you do?" They replied, We are jesters, when we see men depressed we cheer them up; furthermore when we see two people quarreling we strive hard to make peace between them.

It's this story because I see very much the three semitic religions personified and because the true heroes are the practitioners!

Be grateful for what we have.

I am grateful for the ability to do every day chores.

When the world ends, we will all fall to eternity

The commentary to Quote #8 "I don't speak because I have the power to speak; I speak because I don't have the power to remain silent" – Rabbi A.Y. Kook is incredibly short-sighted and narrow-minded. Rabbi Kook's quote is much more akin to an even more famous quote from the Talmud "And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world." It is not so much the connection of Jew to Jew that is compelled by our heritage but rather it is our obligation to seek and speak out for justice and actively against injustice whenever and wherever we find it. This is the essence of the value that Jews bring to the world. To limit its meaning only to other Jews is shameful

Before slandering a great rabbi like Rabbi Kook, whose heart was as big as the whole outdoors, you should try to first understand what he meant and also learn a bit more about Judaism.

Judaism DOES compel a close connection between Jew and Jew, but it doesn't stop there. Jews are considered one big family and just as a person's first obligation is to his own brothers and sisters before to the strangers down the block, (though he certainly can and should help them also,) so a fellow Jew comes first.

There are many many mitzvas in the Torah stating how a Jew should act toward his fellow Jew and I'm a little surprised that you are not aware of them. And by the way, the correct quote is "Whoever saves the life of a Jew (nefesh echad miYisrael) is as if he saved an entire world."

Jews form a big club and as such have certain membership rules: loving a fellow Jew as myself, giving him interest free loans, being responsible for him in many ways (kol Yisrael areivim zeh b'zeh") ,redeeming a Jew kidnapped by goyim (pidyon sh'vuim) and on and on.

As far as our obligations towards humanity are concerned, who don't you Goggle "The Jewish Contribution to Humanity", and "World Perfect".

For some reason that I don't understand, many people talk about loving everybody equally. Do you? Do you love absolute strangers as much as your own children and grandchildren?

If your answer is yes, then I doubt that you really love anybody at all.

Nobody is limiting the speaking out for justice only to Jews. Not Rav Kook or anybody else. But yes, we do have many Torah obligations to each other. That is why I started off by saying that you should learn more about Judaism before you speak.

Shoshana, it would be helpful for you to read my comments more closely to see that I agree with Rabbi's Kook;s words but not the interpretation of them by Yitzchak Tendler who does, in fact, limit its reach only to Jews. This I find shameful.

I am quite familiar with the rich contributions to the world of Jews and Judaism throughout our history. The greatest of these I believe is in our commitment to justice and the obligation to look beyond ourselves or our "tribe". Rabbi Kook understands this. Mr. Tendler does not. You seem to agree with Mr. Tendler. I do not.

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Eli, your comment is the antithesis of Rabbi Kook's words and is a base tribal instinct that harms more than it helps. Caring for my brother AND caring for others is not a mutually exclusive choice. Cloistering our duty to speak only to within our own tribe makes us less of a Jew AND less of a human.

Gemara (Sanhedrin 37a): "Kol hamekayeim nefesh achas m'Yisrael, maaleh alav hakasuv ke'ilu kiyeim olam malei -- Whoever upholds one Jewish soul, the Torah considers it as if he upheld the entire world." We are a few million people. Can't you fargin Jews looking out for one another? Must you demand that we also look out for the billions of non-Jews?
Do you criticize someone for sacrificing for his brother or sister and not a stranger? Jews are brothers and sisters.

It reminds me of the quote: All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
We must speak because we don't have the strength to allow bad things to continue.

That is one of my favorite quotes as well and is my view of the great power of Jewish heritage. It is what sets us apart from so many other belief systems.

I realize that many Jews are still imperiled both in Israel and around the world. But we compromise our great promise to the world if we allow our oppression to become a siege mentality that limits our obligation to speak to only our own kind. Leave such tribalism to others.

Yes, anonymous. speak your mind with clarity. Disagree, in anger if necessary, but with respect. ("When you have one finger pointing at someone else, there are three pointing back at you")
As a 69 yr old I have had moments when I had to cloak myself with my 'tribe' because I was afraid. I will yell till I am hoarse for the weak and helpless yet my strength and compassion come from the teachings of my clan. I will never forsake them.
I will look to every member of human-kind with kindness and respect until they force me to turn away.

" Say little and do much". Shammai, Pirkei Avot The Talmud

The psalmist says G- d is close to everyone - to everyone who calls Him in truth
That last word is all important To be close entails being true to G-d - not only when and how it suits us but at all times

הריני מקבל עלי מצוה עשה של ואהבת לרעך כמוך, והריני אוהב כל אחד מבני ישראל כנפשי ומאודי

Rabbi Tarfon, in the Pirkei Avot

First sneeze: Gezunheidt! Second sneeze: Voxin zolst zi! Third sneeze in a row: Gaymer shoin uin dreirt du haust a kolt!!!
Translations 1st sneeze - To your Good Health 2nd sneeze - you should grow 3rd sneeze - well we might as well all go to hell because you really have a cold!~!!

"All Israel is responsible, one for another."
Talmud Bavli, Shavuot 39a

Torah is the best merchandise. My mother (born 1897 in Galitzia from a long line of merchants. Of course she would say it in Yiddish

Beware of unsolicited advice - Rabbi Akiva

Following this precept will save you from a ton of grief.

Entire poem can be life helping.

"if you live long enough, something always attaches itself to you".
my bubbe, sophie baimel. (submitted by marlene bertman).

"Life is full of misery, loneliness, and suffering - and it's all over much too soon". Woody Allen

"If you don't know what you're prepared to die for you don't know what you're living for"!

When you know better - you do better Maya Angelou

From your mouth to G-d's ears

A shviger muz shmaychlen, shenken un shvigen.

A mother in law should smile, give gifts and be quiet.

The day is short, the work is great, the reward is much, the labourers are sluggish and the Master of the House is urgent. It is not for you to complete the task but nor are you free to desist from it.

"Love is learning to spell "Us" with a capital "You", quoted by Chana Levitan, from unknown author: Learning to put someone else's needs before yours, getting out of oneself and giving is what ceates real, lasting love.

Translation: A Jew has to make a living and do good deeds

My favorite Jewish quote from King David is " Im eshkachech yerushalayim tishkach yemini." ( If I forget thee Jerusalem, may my right hand lose it's cunning) My second favorite is the Hillel quote mentioned in the article.

You cry about not having any shoes until you see a man with no feet.

"He [Rabbi Akiva] used to say: Beloved is man for he was created in the image of G-d. It is a greater love that it was made known to him that he was created in the image of G-d, as it is stated, 'For in the image of G-d did He make man' (Genesis 9:6). Beloved are the Children of Israel for they are called children of the L-rd. It is a greater love that it was made known to them that they are called children of the L-rd, as it is stated, 'You are children to the L-rd your G-d' (Deuteronomy 14:1). Beloved is Israel that they were given a precious utensil (the Torah). It is an greater love that it was made known to them that they were given a precious utensil, as it is said, 'For I have given you a good possession; do not forsake My Torah' (Proverbs 4:2)."
This mishna contains a three very basic messages letting us know the most precious gifts that G-d has given us. Gift #1: We humans were created in the image of G-d and by definition, every human being has unfathomable spiritual resources and intrinsic value. This is the basis of self-respect and respect for others. Gift #2: We Jews are G-d's beloved children. This doesn't mean that gentiles don't have worth (see gift #1), but that Jews were assigned a specific role which, while it is a privilege that comes with heavy-duty responsibilities, it enables a closer and deeper relationship with G-d. Gift #3: The Torah is the guidebook for how a Jew must fulfill his princely responsibilities to be a light unto the nations. But the mishna tells us that there is Gift #4 and that is the gift of awareness - of G-d lovingly telling us that He bestowed upon us these wonderful three gifts. This is an additional measure of love, because without knowledge of one's G-d given gifts, one does not appreciate them. May we use these gifts to live beautiful and fulfilling lives of service to G-d and to mankind.

You reap what you sow....King Solomon

Where does King Solomon say this?

Kohelet is called Ecclesiastes in non-Jewish world. If Mr/s. Anonimous is not familiar with this, it might be helpful to read the whole book. Or maybe try "there is a time to saw and time to reap." The ones who think it has a different meaning than "you reap what you saw" should try to reap before they saw. Oh, of course, one could reap what other saw, yet this is really called "stealing", not "reaping." Same applies to those who believe that somebody else - not King Solomon - wrote the book of Kohelet.

"Torah is not education, it's transformation." – Rebbitzen Dena Weinberg Indeed. Thank You!

Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend an entire lifetime thinking it's stupid. Albert Einstein