A Jewish Grandmother: Original, unedited daily musings, and host to the monthly Kosher Cooking Carnival. **Copyright(C)BatyaMedad ** For permission to use these in publications of any sort, please contact me directly. Private accredited distribution encouraged. Thank you.
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Sunday, November 06, 2011
More Than "Caption This"
In comments, I'd like more than a simple "caption" for this picture. I think is symbolizes something very important about Judaism.
Shalom! The Key was a Symbol of Trust The lost key hung on the fence, waiting patiently for its owner. The key bore no identifying sign. If it had, the finder surely would have made every effort to find the, possibly frantic, owner. A feeling of trust allowed, even encouraged, the finder to hang the key on a nearby fence, in hopes that the owner would pass and gratefully recognize it. Out of the same feeling of trust the owner would feel only gratitude and no annoyance - Who hangs up a key in public? It only encourages thieves! - towards the considerate finder.
ruti, Hadassa, I always compare the two phrases, "lost and found" & the Hebrew/Jewish "returning the lost item." As a kid in NY we'd chant: "finders keepers, losers weepers."
That chant goes against the Jewish concept that the finder must go to all efforts to return the lost item.
Shalom! The best lost-found story I've ever read is from Jerusalem. A woman lost an expensive diamond bracelet when it broke in the middle as she was walking through the city. Within the day both halves were turned into the police. That wouldn't happen in most capital cities...
Beautiful story, Hadassa! Batya, I agree. I always am moved by my knowledge that most Torah Jews will struggle to return an item they've found. There is empathy at work here, as well as the belief that there is "an Eye that sees, and an Ear that hears."
Brothers + Values = Trust
ReplyDeleteShalom!
ReplyDeleteThe Key was a Symbol of Trust
The lost key hung on the fence, waiting patiently for its owner. The key bore no identifying sign. If it had, the finder surely would have made every effort to find the, possibly frantic, owner. A feeling of trust allowed, even encouraged, the finder to hang the key on a nearby fence, in hopes that the owner would pass and gratefully recognize it. Out of the same feeling of trust the owner would feel only gratitude and no annoyance - Who hangs up a key in public? It only encourages thieves! - towards the considerate finder.
ruti, Hadassa, I always compare the two phrases, "lost and found" & the Hebrew/Jewish "returning the lost item." As a kid in NY we'd chant: "finders keepers, losers weepers."
ReplyDeleteThat chant goes against the Jewish concept that the finder must go to all efforts to return the lost item.
Shalom!
ReplyDeleteThe best lost-found story I've ever read is from Jerusalem. A woman lost an expensive diamond bracelet when it broke in the middle as she was walking through the city. Within the day both halves were turned into the police. That wouldn't happen in most capital cities...
Beautiful story, Hadassa! Batya, I agree. I always am moved by my knowledge that most Torah Jews will struggle to return an item they've found. There is empathy at work here, as well as the belief that there is "an Eye that sees, and an Ear that hears."
ReplyDeleteHadassa, that is a wonderful story. Ruti, yes, a beautiful mitzvah.
ReplyDelete