One cannot live on potatoes alone. It is said that one wants bread with potatoes. And when there's no bread, a Jew takes his stick, and goes through the village in search of business.Collection: Alone
A bachelor is a man who comes to work each morning from a different direction.Collection: Morning
Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor.Collection: Life
If somebody tells you that you have ears like a donkey, pay no attention. But if two people tell you so, buy yourself a saddle.
Remember, you must not sleep at the Seder. If you do, Elijah the Prophet will come with a bag on his shoulders. On the two first nights of Passover, Elijah the Prophet goes about looking for those who have fallen asleep at the Seder, and takes them away in his bag.
A real pleasure is a pleasure that one enjoys by one's self, without a companion, and without a single argument.
There are people who have never been taught anything, and know everything, have never been anywhere, and understand everything, have never given a moment's thought to anything, and comprehend everything. 'Blessed hands' is the name bestowed on these fortunate beings. The world envies, honours and respects them.
When you die, others who think they know you, will concoct things about you... Better pick up a pen and write it yourself, for you know yourself best.
To go to the synagogue with one's father on the Passover eve - is there in the world a greater pleasure than that? What is it worth to be dressed in new clothes from head to foot, and to show off before one's friends? Then the prayers themselves - the first Festival evening prayer and blessing.
They say that children become men, and men become children. Many generations have grown up, become men, and gone hence.
Playing nuts is a game like any other, neither better than tops, nor worse than cards. The game is played in various ways. There are 'holes' and 'bank' and 'caps.' But every game finishes up in the same way. One boy loses, another wins. And, as always, he who wins is a clever fellow, a smart fellow, a good fellow.
It is an old custom amongst Jewish children, to become war-like on the 'L'ag Beomer.' They arm themselves from head to foot with wooden swords, pop-guns and bows and arrows. They take food with them, and go off to wage war.
When have you ever heard of a cantor or any artist turning anyone down when he is strongly urged to perform?
A wise word is not a substitute for a piece of herring.Collection: Wise
No matter how bad things get, you got to go on living, even if it kills you.Collection: Inspirational
When the heart is full it runs out of the eyes.Collection: Running
If somebody tells you you have ears like a donkey, pay no attention. But if two people tell you, buy yourself a saddle.Collection: Self
If you listen carefully, you get to hear everything you didn't want to hear in the first place.Collection: Want
This is an ugly and mean world, and only to spite it we mustn't weep. If you want to know, this is the constant source of my good spirit, of my humor. Not to cry, out of spite, only to laugh out of spite, only to laugh.Collection: Mean
Love is a taste of paradise.Collection: Love
You see how it is, my dear friends. There's no pleasing everyone. It's hopeless to even try, and the more you play the peacemaker, the less peaceful things become.Collection: Play
Without love our life is ... a ship without a rudder ... like a body without a soul.Collection: Love
The worm in the radish doesn't think there is anything sweeter.Collection: Thinking
Barking dogs don't bite, but they themselves don't know it.Collection: Dog
I never turn down a drink. Among friends it’s always appropriate. A man is only a man as they say, but brandy is still brandy. You’ll find that in the Talmud too.Collection: Men
To make people laugh was almost a sickness with me.Collection: People
A kind word is no substitute for a piece of herring or a bag of oats.Collection: Oats
Each Jew must either give or take tzedakah [charity] for Passover.Collection: Giving