B'nai Emet -> Messages -> Conservative Jewish Commitment -> 2003

Why Does Each of Us Need Two Eyes and Two Pockets

Every human being is endowed by God with two eyes. With one, s/he is expected to look at his/her neighbor, fastening his/her gaze on his/her virtues, excellence, desirable qualities. With the other eye, s/he is to turn inward to see his/her own shortcomings in order to correct them.
--Rabbi Israel Salanter (1810-1883), Lithuania and Germany; Founder of the Musar Movement

Everyone must have two pockets so that s/he can reach into the one or the other, according to his/her needs: In the right pocket are to be the words – “For my sake was the world created” and in the left pocket – “I am but dust and ashes.”
--Hassidic Commentary to Genesis 18:27, Quoted in Nahum Glatzer, Ten Rungs

 

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