Is Being Nice, Being a Wimp?

The chassidic masters see a simple needle as a metaphor for our lives—and a means of finding guidance of how and when to be strong or soft.

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Anonymous Virginia August 21, 2016

My granddaughter's favorite thing is to sew. She is eight years old very kind and sensitive and therefore bull she is eight years old very kind and sensitive and therefore bullied, as I was my whole life. I was looking for wisdom for her and ran across your video. How perfect for her! I will need to put it in eight your old terms, and she can remember the needle analogy every time she sews! Reply

chana sudak November 23, 2014

love it i love your videos Reply

ruth housman marshfield, ma February 18, 2013

Whimpole Street The Brownings were deeply in love. We think of this in the poetry abd the title, The Barretts of Whimpole Street. To be loving, if it is to be a wimp, must reference a poetry of being. I see G-d wrote a story that is encased by all acts if creativity, all words. There is a reason the word love is one letter away from dove, just as there is a reason we so often slip on the keyboard and type live for love.

It is all G-d. Reply

Anonymous NY February 17, 2013

Needle has a fine tip Needle tips are anything but big, forceful, and strong, they are really small, really fine and can get into small places. For me, the lesson of the needle is one similar to marital arts, by not taking up space, you can whittle into small places and can achieve anything. Reply

Grant Jonathan Amsterdam, Netherlands February 20, 2011

up lifting, nice Wisdom Shalom Chana,
How wonderful to hear your Needle wisdom.
Sounds similar to Chinese wisdom, as I'm Chinese Jew.
Keep up the good wisdom, especially in these time. Reply

ruth housman marshfield hills, ma February 14, 2011

Of Human Bondage: around the world Something of great "import" just happened in Egypt, a country of great poverty. I was recently in Cairo, and it was dangerous to cross the streets, and everywhere I saw such poverty, such congestion, something truly abject, and something to object about, because surely, people should not be kept in this kind of way, in a country that has a great history, of pyramids, of artifacts, of reaching towards the sun, and even the worship of One G-d, as in a Pharoah who was enlightened. And slavery!

So I say, something is happening. And that in big and small ways, we all need to join and enjoin the joie or joy of it, in supporting, and loving each other. And just maybe the Exodus from Egypt might be the harbinger, of something happening that will come again "out of Egypt". And the Moses story will bring promise to a Promised Land as borders and boarders are related words.

To live with seams, and to open the seams as we enlarge our hearts to make more room, for everyone. Reply

Anonymous Mesa, Arizona, USA February 8, 2011

Is Being Nice.. Uhh Chana, I really enjoy your videos. Always your advices touch my heart. I have always been abused because of my simplicity. And always wanted to be accepted. But it was always the other way around. Now I am 63 years old, Hashem have been wonderful in keeping me. I realized that the past three years since I have been in Arizona. My life have been changed and so my personality. Now I know how to set boundaries. He made me strong. There are things still to learn, but He is with me 100%. He did not need to show me that because He is my Almighty G-d. But because of His infinite love and compassion He has shown me in visions His caring for me. Thank you for this video and sweet words. May Hashem keep on blessing you and yours. Reply

ruth housman marshfield hills, ma February 8, 2011

the I of the needle I was thinking, yesterday, about my remarkable ability to thread a needle, no matter how small the hole. I don't have great eye sight, and yet, this is something I can do, so well, and so often, at first try.

I was thinking about the word needle itself, because aurally it is, need EL, as in how we need the Divine, which is deeply about what you are saying in this lovely piece.

There are myriad metaphoric connects, as you do point out. To live seamlessly, or as best we can, is to create of life, a tight weave, of love. I do believe it's so totally and always about love, and what seems daily, and sometimes mundane, is a story, we are each gifted that does allow for multiple opportunities to choose love, to make ethical decisions, and to "sow", as seeds are sown, something of great beauty as we water. Reply

aviva yehudit Riverside, CA February 13, 2009

is being nice whimpy? No, nor is it necessary. Excellent uplifting and inspiring reminder, Chana, of what we are doing here in the first place, G-d's Will, not our own will. There is a fine line between assertiveness, which is necessary to do God's work, and egotism...speaking softly (or writing) is a model of how to be, thanks again for this short, sweet video. Reply

Anonymous February 12, 2009

a little light went on :D It's SO refreshing to be reminded that in a difficult world, the sweetness and simple message that Torah brings can calm you down enough to heighten your senses once again. Thank you Chana and may Hashem continue to richly bless you in all ways Reply

Melissa Fort Kent, ME February 12, 2009

Thank you That was good! I'll be thinking about that some more this week. Hopefully I won't need the point end of the needle as much. Reply

Anonymous Thornton, CO February 11, 2009

Is Being Nice, Being a Wimp Yesterday at work I was stabbed in the back so to speak by a coworker to my bosses boss. My first impulse was to strike back at this fellow worker. I am reminded of the words "Vengeance is mine saith the L-rd". Your message to me today further convinced me of being tempted to taking up my own cause my own defense. Thank you for reminding me that I need to calm down and work on restoring calm between me and my co-worker so that peace can flourish. Thank you! Reply

sue Kanata, ON February 10, 2009

Het up? Hi, When I took Judaism in Carleton U the Rabbinical professor also used a needle for an analogy. In Hebrew, he said, the word mahet means evil, (albeit I also thought mara meant evil) and the word needle, "het" is also part of that word.
So, well said, and when someone comes along to needle ones flesh or psyche, there are two ways to go about it- take up the surgical procedure of healing, patch up the problems, stitch the wound together; or let the malaise accrue toward the invasive proboscises of shellfire aimed at tiny innocent civilians. Reply

Is Being Nice, Being a Wimp?

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