THIS IS FOR YOU. THIS IS FOR ME.

בס"ד

29 Kislev


Related to me today by Rabbi James Stone Goodman:

On the fifth night of Hanukkah
Rebbe Nachman appeared as an angel
he spoke out of a black thatch of beard
reminded me to walk daily
without my shoes
through the grass.

He told this story
a young man left home
traveled to a faraway land
where he learned the art of making menorahs.
When he returned home
he asked his father to gather together
the townspeople
to show off his skills.
As he worked the son covered the menorah
with a large cloth
even the father had not seen it.

When the son unveiled his work
everyone was silent
they didn’t find the menorah attractive.
The father approached every one
individually
asked them what they thought
about the menorah.
Each one said they saw a defect
each a different defect.

The father told his son
what one person praised
another person cursed.
That's what I learned
said the son
each defect is in the eyes
of the person who sees it
so I fashioned my menorah
entirely out of defects.
I made the menorah
out of flaws.
Now I will begin
its restoration and repair.

Rebbe Nachman always giggled
when he came to the end of a story.
Anyone who finds a flaw
finds his own flaw.


Here's to fire. The ShalhevetYah, the Holy flame of G@d which purges us of our flaws with ahavat shleymut.