fbpx

A Moment in Time: “Three Questions for the Rabbi”

[additional-authors]
March 7, 2024

Dear all,

I had a scheduled appointment a couple of weeks ago with a delightful three-year-old who attends our ECC. His family set up the appointment because he had important questions that he wanted to pose to “the Rabbi.” I was really looking forward to our meeting.

This articulate and thoughtful young toddler launched into each question with heart and with spirit:

1) Why is God all around us and not in one place?

2) Why is God invisible?

3) Why do some people have and some people don’t have? (Resources, money, etc.)?

Friends, I can offer my responses. But in truth, my answers don’t warrant a moment in time. My take-away from our meeting was about the incredible depth, wonderment, and empathy of this remarkable little boy.

Judaism teaches us that wisdom is not about what we know. Rather, wisdom is about what we ask. Thus, our meeting put me in the presence of a wise soul. I may ask him for another meeting so I can deepen my wisdom some more!

With love and shalom,

Rabbi Zach Shapiro

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

A Bisl Yom Kippur~ Plenty of Regrets

Yom Kippur is admitting our plentiful regrets and summoning and building our inner determination and drive to be better people, regrets, and all.

Expanding the Soul

There is a struggle within us between constriction and expansion, between despair and vitality. Good humor can be a powerful ally against the constriction that suffering creates.

Making Torah More Accessible

The 402-page book is organized around 36 life lessons related to the Book of Genesis, with thoughtful study questions and dozens of responses from respected sources in Jewish thought.

Avi Nesher Fights the Boycott with a Human Story

Making Israeli films is not easy. Budgets are generally small by American standards, and international financing has become increasingly difficult to secure amid the cultural boycott of Israeli cinema.

Knowing Our History

In this time of introspection and rising adversity, let us resolve as American Jews to write our new chapter by better understanding our history.

My Choice for Essay of the Year

The collective assault against Israel has been so broad and deep it’s been hard finding anyone in the mainstream media who will dare go after the Hamas murderers whose biggest victims are the Palestinians.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.