(טו) [שַׁמַּאי אוֹמֵר] אֱמֹר מְעַט וַעֲשֵׂה הַרְבֵּה
(15) [Shammai said] say little and do much
(ז) [חָכָם] שׁוֹאֵל כָּעִנְיָן וּמֵשִׁיב כַּהֲלָכָה
(7) [A wise man] asks to the point and answers as is proper
"The words we speak are the outward expression of who we are at heart." Alan Morinis, With Heart in Mind: Mussar Teachings to Transform Your Life
Once, the Hassidic rabbi Zusya came to his followers with tears in his eyes. They asked him:
Zusya, what's the matter?
And he told them about his vision;
I learned the question that the angels will one day ask me about my life.
The followers were puzzled. They replied:
Zusya, you are pious. You are scholarly and humble. You have helped so many of us. What question about your life could be so terrifying that you would be frightened to answer it?
Zusya replied;
"I have learned that the angels will not ask me, 'Why weren't you a Moses, leading your people out of slavery?' and that the angels will not ask me, 'Why weren't you a Joshua, leading your people into the promised land?' They will say to me, 'Zusya, why weren't you more like Zusya?'"
Zusya, what's the matter?
And he told them about his vision;
I learned the question that the angels will one day ask me about my life.
The followers were puzzled. They replied:
Zusya, you are pious. You are scholarly and humble. You have helped so many of us. What question about your life could be so terrifying that you would be frightened to answer it?
Zusya replied;
"I have learned that the angels will not ask me, 'Why weren't you a Moses, leading your people out of slavery?' and that the angels will not ask me, 'Why weren't you a Joshua, leading your people into the promised land?' They will say to me, 'Zusya, why weren't you more like Zusya?'"
Discussion Questions
Entrepreneurs argue that the best mission statements are clear, concise, and useful. Jewish wisdom argues that all language should be short and to the point.
1. Where in our work can we practice this value? What is at stake if we don't?
2. From blog posts to press releases, words make up the majority of how we market /pitch our ideas. How do we follow the rabbis' advice while simultaneously living in a world filled with words? How can we keep up if we take a step back from the larger conversation?
3. How do we balance fully expressing who we are at heart and practicing clear and concise speech?
Entrepreneurs argue that the best mission statements are clear, concise, and useful. Jewish wisdom argues that all language should be short and to the point.
1. Where in our work can we practice this value? What is at stake if we don't?
2. From blog posts to press releases, words make up the majority of how we market /pitch our ideas. How do we follow the rabbis' advice while simultaneously living in a world filled with words? How can we keep up if we take a step back from the larger conversation?
3. How do we balance fully expressing who we are at heart and practicing clear and concise speech?