Replies to post #1890 on Zeev's Turnips Patch-No Politics (ZEEV)

[wzambon]

I have always seen the Anglicized version of the name.... Akiba. I guess that "bet" didn't have a dot after all!

Holy Begadkephat!

And we Christians need to remember that Jesus didn't have a stranglehold on "Love your God with your whole heart, strength and mind... and your neighbor as yourself"

These two passages.... from Deuteronomy and Leviticus had already been brought together by some of the rabbis of the time.

And now I will shut up about religion.

Bill Z

[goodluck]

The version that I heard (supposedly in the Talmud, but I have never actually read it there) is that it was a "Hillel/Shammai" story. Shammai was another rabbi, contemporary with and as famous as Hillel but uttlerly different in disposition and in his approach to the law. There are many Hillel/Shammai stories in the Talmud which are told both to show that there are different approaches to the Law, and to demonstrate they can have equal validity in different contexts.

Anyway, a wise-ass businessman decides to have fun one day, and approaches Shammai in his school, saying, "I'll give you a big contribution and come study at your school if you can teach me the whole Torah while I'm standing on one foot." Shammai got angry and kicked him out. The man thought this was pretty funny, and went to Hillel's school, saying the same thing. Hillel looked at him for a moment, and nodded, waiting. Finally he said, "Well, stand on one foot." The man, startled, did so. Hillel said, "Love your neighbor as yourself, all the rest is commentary. Now come and study." The man was so ashamed that he gave the school a large donation, and came in to study.

The story was repeated to me many times when I was a boy. As it is, I think, in virtually every Hebrew school. Giving contributions to schools is in the blood.

[Little Joe]

One of the most interesting posts I have ever read.

Little joe

[Sir Realist]

>>"thou shall love your neighbor as you love yourself". By the way, that short sentence, is indeed the concentrated version of Judaism<<

I've loved plenty of neighbors but never while standing on one foot. Thanks; I'll have to try it that way.


<GG>

[jandrews]

Zeev

Apologies for any protracted religious discussion, but I would like to share the following with the thread. Proper credits to the authors are given in the presentation.



THE GOLDEN RULE IS A UNIVERSAL VALUE

Since I was a teen-ager, I have been fascinated by what appeared to be the congruity of fundamental values of the world's most renowned religions. Not being a researcher, a scholar or a librarian, I never accumulated the proof in a systematic way. Recently, I attended one of a series of luncheons sponsored by the Urban League that shed new light on the question.

The issue being addressed was racism, and the speaker was the Rev. Michael K. Jones of the Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. Mike Jones is an articulate intelligent and perceptive Harvard and Christian Theological Seminary graduate.

In the course of his remarks, he cited the golden rule of the Christian Bible and proceeded to quote other religious scriptures, saying: "It is no wonder that all great religions of the world sing this golden melody, for there is but one composer; and though we sing in different languages, we sing the same symphony. We are to be as devoted to the welfare of others as to our own."

The quotations follow:

· Judaism: "What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. That is the entire law; all the rest is commentary." (Talmud Shabbat)

· Islam: "No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself." (Prophet Mohammed) "Let none of you treat a brother in a way he himself would dislike to be treated." (Holy Koran)

· Brahmanism: "This is the sum of all true religion: Deal with others as you yourself would be dealt by. Do nothing to others which you would not have done to you." (Mahbharata)

· Hinduism: "The true rule is to do by others as you do by your own." (Upanishads)

· Jainism: "A man should go through life treating all creatures as he himself would be treated." (Sanskrit Shioka)

· Sikhism: "The true Lord is in all men. Distress no one's heart: Every heart is a priceless jewel." (Granth)

· Buddhism: "One should seek for others the happiness one desires for oneself." (Guatama Buddha) "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." (Udanavarga)

· Confucianism: "Is there one maxim which ought to be acted upon throughout one's whole life? Surely it is the maxim of loving-kindness: Do not do to others what you would not have others do to you." (Analects of Confucius)

· Taoism: "Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." (Tal Shang Kan Ying Pien)

· Shintoism: "Do to others as you wish them to do to you." (Konko Kyo) "The suffering of others is my suffering; the good of others is my good." (Kurozumi Kyo)

· Zoroastrianism: "Do as you would be done by." (Zoroaster) "That person alone is good who refrains from doing to another whatever is not good for himself." (Dadistan-i-Dinik)

· Christianity: "So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." (Jesus of Nazareth)

Coincidence? Plagiarism? Or universal truth? Thanks to Rev. Michael K. Jones, I rest my case.

Written by Tom Binford, an Indianapolis business leader, for the Indianapolis Business Journal.