A man passed away, leaving a will for his only son. But the executors of the will were left dumbfounded: the man had specified that his son was only to receive the money if he became crazy. Unsure of what to do, they decided to bring the matter to the local rabbi.
Upon arriving at the rabbi’s home, they caught a glimpse through the window of the rabbi acting quite strangely — gesturing wildly, running to and fro — behavior that hardly seemed befitting.
It took a few moments after they knocked on the door, and the Rabbi ushered them into his study.
After listening to their dilemma, the Rabbi exclaimed “if only you had come a little earlier as I was running around and playing with my children, you would have understood what this man’s words meant — he simply conditioned his will on his son marrying and having children…”
We all have an inner child. A playful, “crazy” part of ourselves that is free from the confines of the adult world. A part of us that knows no cynicism, thinks big and holds on to the truth. An unwavering commitment to see a world of kindness and love. A fiery passion to destroy any sense of senseless hatred.
Friends, let’s hold fast to this dream! Though the harsh reality of the world may seem to crush its spirit from time to time, let’s not ignore our childlike purity and idealism that is so core to goodness and growth.
As a child, we dreamed of making the world a better place. A world where people aren’t valued based on their color, possessions, or status. A world where we people don’t view another as a competition, but as completion of themselves. We are all part of one big puzzle! We are all created in the Image of G-d. Each and every one of us has a mission, and divine purpose. We are priceless.
That dream will become a reality!
Wishing you and your family a Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendy Weitman
