LABOR

A rabbi said to one of his graduating pupils: "If one should ask you to take a carcass to the market place and skin it there, do it; don't say I am a learned student, and such work is beneath my dignity!"

SCIENCE AND LEARNING

Science and learning will bring peace to the world. Science is like the mother's breast. As often as the baby seeks it, he finds new nourishment. And so does science yield new nourishment in new thoughts as often as the student seeks its fountain. If you have acquired wisdom and learning, what is lacking? Nothing.

If you lack wisdom, what have you acquired? Nothing.

Knowledge is not the main thing in life, but the use of it!

Would you acquire knowledge and learning? Then eat bread with salt, drink water, sleep on the bare ground and lead a simple, arduous life. If you do this, you may succeed in your quest.

Truly wise is he who knows that he knows nothing. The older a wise man gets, the wiser he usually is; the older a fool gets, the more stupid he is.

MAN AND WIFE, MARRIAGE

If your wife is small, bend down and whisper in her ear. (Before doing anything of importance, take counsel with your wife!)

CALUMNY AND INSULTS

“Do not shame your neighbor." What does this involve? It means that you should not embarrass

or insult publicly another man. If, for instance, he was formerly a criminal, or convicted of wrongdoing, you should not remind him of it; if there is something dishonorable in his family, do not talk about it; if he is suffering from a series of misfortunes, don't tell him that all this bad luck is the result of his wickedness; don't send a purchaser of corn to a man who never has sold any corn, and who has none to sell. Yea, it is even sinful to make it appear as if you wanted to buy a certain object and yet you know in your innermost heart that you neither can nor want to buy it. And even if you hide your intentions from the human eye, remember that there is one eye from which you can hide nothing: the eye of the Lord Almighty.

SILENCE AND SPEECH

Silence is the fence built around wisdom.

There is nothing better for man to cultivate than silence. For he who uses many words cannot help making mistakes.

It is the usual way with tale-bearers: they start with telling the good of a man, but end by telling the worst, and that usually a lie.

The mouth should not say anything which the heart does not think.

GEMS FROM THE TALMUD

Translated by 1. Myers

All virtues doth beneficence transcend,
With it the Torah doth begin and end.
Who shows compassion to mankind,
From Heaven shall compassion find;

But who compassion doth not own,

To him shall none from Heav'n be shown.

When Love upon a motive doth depend, "Twill with the motive end;

But when it hath no motive, Love is sure
For ever to endure.

When love or hatred sways the heart,
A man will from his rules depart.

The man that is to slander given
Denies, in sooth, the God of Heaven.
Let justice flow from its pure source,
Though piercing mountains in its course.
Great care a man must ever take

To show due honour to his spouse!
Since only for his wife's sweet sake
Do blessings rest upon his house.

Any ache and any smart
Rather than an aching heart!
Any ill and cruel fate

Rather than a cruel mate!

Intelligence to woman's heart
More than to man's did God impart.

Who fails his knowledge to increase
Is sure to see his knowledge cease.

The smaller stick can make the larger burn;
From lesser scholars can the greater learn.

To live by Toil's of greater worth
Than idle piety on earth.

For his son a trade who doth not find

Is but teaching him to rob mankind.

Upon one pillar all the world doth rest,-
Upon a "Righteous man,"-for ever blest.

The man that's greater than his brother
Has greater passions than the other.
No man commits a sin, you'll find,
If madness enters not his mind.

Who twice commits a wrong
Esteems it right ere long.

The Holy One, who loveth all,
Rejoiceth not when sinners fall.

THE PREDECESSORS OF HILLEL

From the Tractate: Pirke Aboth. (Ethics of the Fathers)

Moses received the law at Sinai, and delivered it to Joshua, and Joshua to the elders, and the elders to the prophets, and the prophets to the men of the Great Synagogue. They said three things: Be deliberate in judgment; and raise many disciples; and make a fence about the law.

Simon the Just was one of the last survivors of the Great Synagogue. He said: On three things the world is founded: on the Torah, on worship, on the practice of charity.

Antigonus of Soho received (the law) from Simon the Just. He said: Be not as slaves that minister to their master with the object of receiving reward; but be as servants who serve their master without the object of receiving reward, and may the fear of the Lord be upon you.

Jose ben Joezer of Zerada and Jose ben Jochanan of Jerusalem received from them. Jose ben Joezer of Zerada said: Let thy house be a meeting-house for the wise; and powder thyself in the dust of their feet; and drink their words with thirstiness. Jose ben Jochanan of Jerusalem said: Let thy house be opened wide; and let the needy be of thy household; and prolong not converse with woman.