There was one story that, over the course of my 13 years at Jewish day school, I must've heard a hundred times:
Once there was a gentile who came before Shammai, and said to him: "Convert me on the condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot. Shammai pushed him aside with the measuring stick he was holding. The same fellow came before Hillel, and Hillel converted him, saying: That which is [hateful un]to you, do not do to your fellow, this is the whole Torah, and the rest is commentary, go and learn it." - Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 31a
So ironically enough, as I spoke about the Golden Rule yesterday, today it presents itself in all its glory. That which hateful to you, do not do to others. Treat others as you want to be treated. "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Well, this has been a nice pep talk. Time to get pumped for Day 153!!
No comments:
Post a Comment