When the telephone was first introduced, a wise man was asked, “What can we learn from this contraption?”
He answered, “That which is spoken here is heard there.”
So they asked, “And from the telegraph?”
He replied, “Every word costs.”
“And from the locomotive?”
“Hesitate for a moment and you could lose the whole journey.”
Each one of the objects telegraph, locomotive and the telephone are of the material world. They each serve a function. Yet we must not forget there is another world for which none of these serve a function. My take be grateful for them but don't forget that The Torah also serves a function to to bring the Devine into the material world. Reply
Just don’t dilly-dally. Time is precious. The locomotive is a metaphor for life moving on. Time waits for no man. Go on! Take time to meditate. Just don’t overdo it. Reply
To Inge Reisinger in Zwickau, unfortunately your answer confuses me more but I'm grateful for your effort -- I find foreign languages difficult so I admire you're taking a stab at it. Perhaps we'll meet on the Israel Trail or in the Erzgebirge mountains. I'd like to tell you about the distance I've travelled to come to my latest unsteady conclusion that whether or not G-d exists really isn't the point. Which is why, I think, men are driven mad figuring whether He is or isn't and driving the innocent into horrible wars. I don't think G-d cares much about whether He's one or everyone. Thank you. Reply
Shakespeare is after me Sounds like Shakespeare to be or not to be. Reply
how i love to read these short texts and the comments the explanation with crazy is quite good that suits to me and for mark from ottawa may be for such cases we should organize in israel walkingtrips for you i'll be there to show you i have got from g-d big feet extraordinary but thinking is ok quick and slowly Reply
Wise Contraptions
Locomotive. This second time I read this daily, it made me laugh at the question of the locomotive. The reason: This word in Spanish would be a compound word. Loco=crazy (also extraordinary, umbelievable), motive=self explanatory.
The Engine is a very powerful one. It moves fast. It is also very intimidating, for its strength carrying the load of whatever. When it stops in its way to pick you up, your journey might be a very challenging one if you miss it at the station of life. We need discipline, organization, plan, and wisdom for this journey. Do not miss it, Torah is the Way, the Truth, and the Light. This is my interpretation. Others might have their own, of course.
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Wise maybe, but obtuse, obscure concoctions
“And from the locomotive?”
“Hesitate for a moment and you could lose the whole journey.”
I guess I'm slow; perhaps G-d left a few screws loose when he planted my brain in my head but I really don't understand this. Perhaps a reader could be kind enough to explain it to me in clear, plain language (English preferred). Thanks.
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Wise Contraptions Wonderful advise. But I often wonders what happens to those who hurt me with words. They seem to be winning all the time, while I lose their friendship. Maybe I need more wisdom. I pray that my life will be always a Torah Life. No matter what they do or say to me. Reply
Wisdom
This is going up in our classroom tomorrow. thnak you.
C. Shapero
Hebrew Academy Community School
Coral Springs, Florida
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Thanks for wisdom I laughed, those are good warnings, I shall heed them. Better prepared than sorry, victory on the way! Reply
Every word in the Torah is a metaphor, derived from the spiritual root of the word.
Moses presented the Torah in the language of "Roots and Branches".
The corporeal word is the "branch". The spiritual is the "root".
The "branch" gives us the feel of the spiritual force, quality, property or intention.
The ARI, founder of the Lurianic School of Kabbalah, presented his great work "The Tree Of Life", in the language of the "lights and "vessels".
All these holy writings present the same impressions of the interactions between G_d and Man during the spiritual states we ascend to reach the root of our soul.
We shouldn't materialize anything in the Torah. This gives the incorrect perception.