Dear Friends,
I had the privilege this week to present a class on Judaism to college level students. It was amazing to note, by their questions, just how much they wanted to learn about tefillin, the shofar, Israel and Judaism. We often think today's students are perhaps a little superficial, but so many present asked for more information, commented that, "You uplifted me", and demonstrated a true desire and need for knowledge. It was a room full of thirsty sponges.
As we begin a new year, we must remember to provide our children with these precious values that we hold so dear, always delivering them with more than they need to know so that they too will be challenged to rise and ask questions, and never be satisfied with the minimum.
Good comedians 'always leave them laughing’: good teachers always leave them reaching for more, giving them a taste and challenging them to go for the whole meal.
A local food purveyor issued a pamphlet that claims, “People who do not eat healthy foods may look well-fed but they cannot do their best work and get the most pleasure out of living because of hidden hunger." It is a powerful idea, since the truth is that even if we do consume super organic edible foods, we can still suffer from a hidden hunger. It is not a hunger for food, or other physical appetites, but a hunger of the spirit - - a hunger of the soul.
Someone once said: “I eat at this German-Chinese restaurant and the food is great. The only problem is that an hour later you're hungry for power!”
You see, we can eat and still be hungry. We can learn a little,but that's only the beginning.
As the Torah puts it, “Man does not live by bread alone.” If it is solely our physical appetites that are satisfied, we will still be hungry. All of us have a desire, a hunger, to be greater than we are. But we don’t know how to do it. So we get better gadgets, and a new car, and we strive for a bigger home, but these possessions don’t enlarge our lives.
There is only one thing that will truly make you bigger, and that is answering the call of a cause greater than yourself.