Weeping uncontrollably a distraught mother one day called on a Chassidic Rebbe. “Rebbe,” she exclaimed, “It’s my son; he’s acting really strange; I think he needs a psychiatrist!”
“What’s the matter,” asked the Rebbe, visibly concerned.
“The matter?” cried the woman, “he’s behaving like a lowlife! He was observed dancing with gentile women and dining on swine! I’m telling you, he went Mishuga.
The Rebbe pondered the crisis for a quiet moment. “My dear lady,” he then declared: The good news is that your son is far from Mishuga.”
“You see, if your son were dancing with pigs and dining on women, I’d say that he is indeed insane, but that’s not what you describe. The characteristics you present are that of ‘sinfulness’ not ‘insanity.’”
“No, no; your son is not crazy. He has rather become a crude and lascivious young man, and there’s nothing crazy about it. ”
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Yankel appeared in Shul one day with both his ears heavily bandaged. “I was ironing a shirt when the phone rang,” he sheepishly explained. “That explains one ear,” blurted a fellow congregant, “But what about the other?” “My luck,” came the reply, “the guy decided to call back.”
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The Sin Behind the Sin, Clinging To Bad Ideas
Weeping uncontrollably a distraught mother one day called on a Chassidic Rebbe. “Rebbe,” she exclaimed, “It’s my son; he’s acting really strange; I think he needs a psychiatrist!”
“What’s the matter,” asked the Rebbe, visibly concerned.
“The matter?” cried the woman, “he’s behaving like a lowlife! He was observed dancing with gentile women and dining on swine! I’m telling you, he went Mishuga.
The Rebbe pondered the crisis for a quiet moment. “My dear lady,” he then declared: The good news is that your son is far from Mishuga.”
“You see, if your son were dancing with pigs and dining on women, I’d say that he is indeed insane, but that’s not what you describe. The characteristics you present are that of ‘sinfulness’ not ‘insanity.’”
“No, no; your son is not crazy. He has rather become a crude and lascivious young man, and there’s nothing crazy about it. ”
————————————–Yankel appeared in Shul one day with both his ears heavily bandaged. “I was ironing a shirt when the phone rang,” he sheepishly explained. “That explains one ear,” blurted a fellow congregant, “But what about the other?” “My luck,” came the reply, “the guy decided to call back.”
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