The other day a new neighbor came by and asked for half a lemon. I said OK and got the half lemon. He quickly ran away before I could ask why he needed it. I was curious.
The next day he came back again and asked for half a lemon. I gaveit to him and before I could ask what it was for, he ran away.Then, he came back again for a 3 rd time, and I told him I’d get it, but I wanted to know what he was using it for. He said he needed it right away and I gave it to him, and he ran away even faster. I even ran after him, but he was too fast.
The following day, I was ready for him and sure enough, he came back to ask for half a lemon. I said I would give it to him only if he told me what it was for. He said OK but only if I promisednever to tell anyone. I said OK. He told me and I couldn’t believe it.! would tell you what it was for, but I can’t break my promise...
A note from our President: Diann Bank was so much a part of the St. Louis storytelling world. I attended and told stories at the St. Louis Storytelling Festival for years and she was always there with her big smile and open arms and heart. She often emceed the closing concert which was a treat for all. Everyone loved Diann and we miss her presence
now and forever.
Chabad.org, like many Jewish print and online publishers, is particular to not spell out the name of our Creator, even in English. Rather, we write "G-d." Here's why: Following the Torah's instruction to "obliterate the name" of idolatry in the Land of Israel, the Torah warns us not to the same to G-d. We thus learn that there is a prohibition to erase G-d's name. Writing G-d's name could lead to erasing or disrespecting G-d's name, as will be discussed.
G-d’s Dilemma
As Retold by Storyteller, Diann Joy BankFrom her Book, A Pot of Mitzvot: 18 Jewish Folktales
G-d had a big dilemma when he created the first human being, Adam. He wanted to get it right the first time. After all, his next project was to create Eve to help advise Adam; and he knew she was going to be much more complicated. In the Garden of Eden, G-d was ready to fill the human heart with simcha--joy, so humans could perform mitzvot-- good deeds.
The angels were puzzled. “G-d, how will your humans, Adam and Eve, know how to hold on to the joy in their hearts?” the angels asked. G-d said delightfully, “I have a magnificent plan! It is a great mitzvah—good deed--to always be in a state of happiness. When my humans are happy, they are much more capable of serving me with joy!”
The angels sighed and said to each other, “Ahhh! G-d has such high expectations of the humans he’s creating for the world.”
“We’re listening G-d. Tell us your plan,” the angels inquired.G-d smiled and said, “MMMM! I will create their nostrils to give humans the breath of life. I will teach the nostrils to only breathe in the sweetness of life. There’s the aroma of my flowers, the smell of fresh rain, and the sweet smell of a newborn’s skin. Then they will fill their hearts with joy.” And the nostrils agreed.
“MMMM, “G-d said, “Now I will create their eyes and teach them to only see the beauty I have created in the garden. Adam and Eve will look for the good in each other. They will fill their hearts with joy.” And the eyes agreed.
“MMMM, finally, I will create ears and teach their ears to listen to the beautiful singing of the birds in the garden. They will only listen to hear ‘good’. They will fill their hearts with joy.” And the ears agreed.
“MMMM, next I will create their mouth and teach them to only speak the truth and say kind words. Then the truth and kind words can fill their hearts with joy.” And the mouths agreed.
“My humans will give thanks to me and honor the gifts I’ve given them. They will sing up to the heavens and fill their hearts with joy!” G-d said smiling. “They will learn that the highest mitzvah is to feel joy in their hearts every day.” The nostrils, the eyes, the ears, and the mouth all agreed and the angels applauded!
In recent times, Diann lived in care facility. Jackie Wright had a long-term, special, best friends, mentorship with Diann over the years. She tell this story of a visit.
“On my very first visit with Diann, I took a monkey stuffed animal Papa & I named Fredrick. Diann had given Fredrick to Papa when he was in the hospital for the tumor he had in 2014. So, he wanted Fredrick to keep Diann company at Barathaven. Needless to say, I never saw Fredrick again on any of my visits. We knew he was there somewhere, making somebody happy. Well, I'm happy to say that Papa and I saw Fredrick today! A resident with a walker came into the activity room and on the seat of that walker was a collection of stuffed animals. And there was Fredrick! Diann's full name is on his label. The activity director told me that particular resident goes into rooms and collects everyone's stuffed animals; and of course, while we are watching her, she was taking a stuffed animal off a shelf in the activity room to add to her collection.”