Hope you’re having a great day.

… The other day I visited the Ark.

It’s an incredible Jewish social service agency in Rogers Park.

They provide all types of services for people in need while preserving their dignity.

And as I walked in?

I noticed one of the many people for whom theArkis a second home.

Or maybe even their only home.

I heard him say to the receptionist, “You hair looks great today!”

And since I like to kibitz?

I said to him, “And what about my hair?”

He said…

“Well.  Whatever is left, looks okay!”

I told him, “It’s so good to have a sense of humor!”

His response?

“How can you make it through life without it? 

All you need is a sense of humor and (as he points up)…

Knowing that there’s Elokim, G-d, in heaven!” 

And I said, “Thank you, my friend, for reminding me!”

… This “simple” person reminded me of something else.

And in honor of him I will tell it to you with a funny story!

… A shopper at a mall hears an announcement over the P.A. system.

“The person who lost $10,000 wrapped in a yellow rubber band?

Please come to the service desk.

The shopper says to himself, “Wow! How refreshing.

My faith in humanity has been restored”!

That is… until he hears the end of the announcement…

What was it?

We have your rubber band”!

…  Sometimes we meet someone for the first time.

And we make a snap judgment about them. 

Based on how they look.  Or what they’re wearing.

We don’t wait to get a look at what’s inside.  What they’re really like.

And just look at the wrapper.

At the rubber band!

And we forget about what’s inside each and every person.

The Divine Image!

So I thank my friend for reminding me not to look at the wrapper.

And you can thank him for this Torah Minute!

All the best,