“If I Can’t Eat the Whole Cake, I Won’t Have a Slice”
Shmiras Halashon is scary.Scarier than Tammy Faye Bakers eyelashes in a dark alley. I
n addition to being scary, there is such a vast amount of Dinim to commit to, that in itself can paralyse anyone with good intentions.
There is so much to learn and do, that it just seems easier to be like Tony Blair and do nothing at all.
But that’s not the smart thing, actually it’s quite dumb.
I’ll give you an example why:
Donald Trump sees you on the street and recognises you as the wonderful person that you are. He says to you, “You look like such a nice person that I’m going to give you four hours in Bergdorf Goodman to get as many things as you want…for FREE.” So, you amble down to Bergdorf Goodman, and look at the vastness of the store. Then you turn to The Donald and say, “Thanks very much Donald, but the store is too big and there are too may floors and it means so much schlepping up and down, and there is no way that I can take everything in the store, so I think I’ll give it a miss.”
You wouldn’t do that, would you? No way!
What you would do, is organise yourself and figure out your priorities.
Then in a systematic manner, you would set about getting as many goods as you can, especially from Valentino and Oscar De La Renta. Okay, so it means schlepping, and you can’t completely empty the store. But you would try. G-d knows I would!
Let’s look at what you would have accomplished. You would have enough of a wardrobe to last you and your friends and family for the next five years.
(Or maybe two years- things go out of fashion, you know.)
Whoa.
The same thing holds true for the Dinim of Shmiras Halashon, or indeed the Torah itself. The labour is tedious, and there is no way you can accomplish everything, but by setting about it systematically you can accomplish a tremendous amount, and the reward is enormous.
By the way, never let it be said that I am in any way denigrating the benefit of retail therapy, especially at Donald Trump’s expense,
however the ‘high’ of shopping is unsustainable. (Test me, test me!)
At best, it requires feeding. (Feed me, feed me!)
Once you get used to what you bought, you have to go out and purchase something new.
It is always emptying and refilling.
Torah is not like that at all.
The ‘high’ that you get is forever.
It builds on itself and makes you that much higher.
Rather than being what you have, it becomes who you are.
posted by kasamba @ 7/04/2006
28 Comments:
very insightful thought - about not needing a refill all the time when it comes to torah - that it becomes part of you....
i'll remember that!
see ya later - gotta go shopping!
Yay!!!
i was the first -
AND SECOND!
lol!!
Great post and funny as usual.
I always fantasized about getting a good-for-life gift check at my favorite restaurant.
But I think my wife would prefer your idea.
It's true that the feeling after holding in a spicy Lashon Harah, can't be bought for money.
Unfortunately the feeling when telling one can't be either.
Hey, great way of putting it!
When I learn my din-a-day I always wonder how the hell am I gonna manage to keep all these...
But I do my bit and learn and make the effort. And hope it will become part of me!
O and Valentino and Oscar De La Renta...hmmm I think your an my priorities differ slightly... ;)
The only way:
You're always number one to me!
Prag:
Thanks- maybe one day?
The Vilna Goan says that for every second a person refrains from saying a bit of Loshon Hara they merit the Or Hagnuz.
Asparagus:
Oh, okay then, go and elevate gashmius- just don't spend so much!
exsem:
Thanks, don't they say we're building the third Bais Hamikdash brick by brick? so its bit by bit! You're doing great!
Not valentino or oscar- who else is there??????
Student;
Ta!
As I said to Asparagus; let's all elevate gashmius; one outfit at a time.....
Oh..to feel that sense of urgency...in spirituality is soo difficult..
hey nice thoughts
like the train
David:
I crave it too.
Sabra:
Thanks!
Great comparisons. Serious pt thru brilliant humor way to go.
Agreed, retail therapy doesnt do much for the long term. But it sure is nice thinking about 4 free hours in Bergdoff!
OK, now that I stopped daydreaming... great post! The message is so strong... and so true! Maybe we should just refrain from speaking at all, lol.
FG, lol :), thank G-d there Are plenty of things to talk about without gossiping. Love your humor.
Kasamba, excellent post, Love your humor too. Anyhoo, I agree that it's so overwhelming when we think about the hard task of guarding our words and that we should just try to make an effort and do the best we can.
I agree, but what will I have to do, if not talk about people? :)
wise words as always.
and you know your audience well... things sound so simple if you use a favourite pastime like shopping as an example to illustrate the point!!
Hey, you can pull off the four free hours in Bergdorf's...just make sure to wait in a long line...oh and make sure to carry your cell phone with you!
Socialworker:
Thanks Sweetie Pie!!!
Frumgirl:
Yeah 4 hours.... hmmmm....
But as for not speaking- would you call me boring????
Ivnsm27:
Great point!
That's all that we can do!
Frumbutthinking:
LOL!
You ARE joking- aren't you?
Sarah:
Well, I do love Bergdorfs!
Kollel Mama:
Lol!!!
Brilliant- you get todays best comment award!
Kasamba - "Not valentino or oscar- who else is there??????"
Hrumph.
(teeny voice) zara?
lol
good post.
and number two as well?
(gosh, i'm sooo self centered and indulgent! lol)
babe - you're my numero uno too!
Exsem:
Hrumph- a new designer?
I never heard of him.
;)
Kish:
You're young and gorgeous enough to pull it off!
Theonlyway:
Numbers one and two!
Lil Miss:
If only...
Thanks Luv!
It's so interesting. I just read a very similar post on a different blog. Your analogy is a great one.
frumgirl - it's interesting that you say that. The Chofetz Chaim was known to be THE epitome of a shomer halashon, and yet, almost anyone who met him said that he was always talking. Granted, we are nowhere near that level though.
Sure no pun intended!
humm... still thinking about shopping in Bergdorf Goodman for FREE!!!aaahhhhhh........(thinking)......wake me up later....
OK OK i hear you. I guess i will try my best. thanks for the insight.
incredible! so inspiring. i just watched The Devil Wears Prada (new movie about a girl who gets a job at a big fashion magazine) - it makes you wonder if only we could obsess that way about the important stuff!! great post AGAIN!
Afrumidealist:
Thanks!!!
Socialworker:
;-)!
Limey:
I thought it was Harrabs!
Chaverah:
Remember- shop so you can elevate Gashmius!
Anym00kie:
OOOH! I want to see that!!!
kasamba, if you go see it, try to do it in a rich jappy area, that way you'll get the whole interactive movie experience. i saw it in brooklyn and i had all these girls ooooing and ahhhhing at every outfit and pair of shoes the actresses wore.. it was like the jappy horror picture show..
Anym00kie:
Lol!
It's sort of like seeing an animal in its natural habitat!
(jappy horor- I love it!!!)
Limey:
Aren't they showing it in the BM in between shir?
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