Values in Harmony - University of St Andrews

enemies and I intend to do battle with them until they become civilised, decent people, ifneeds be for the rest of my life. Time is short and the task is urgent. Evil is real. So is good.There is a choice. And we are not so much chosen as choosers. Life is holy. All life. Mine andyours. And that of those who came before us and the life of those after us.Rabbi Hugo Gryn, “Chasing Shadows”; pub: Viking BooksOnce you have distanced yourself from anger, the quality of humility will enter your heart. Thisquality is the finest of all admirable traits, as it is written: “On the heels of humility comes thefear of Gd” (Proverbs 22:4) … When your actions display genuine humility, when you standmeekly before man, and fearfully before Gd, when you stand wary of sin, then the spirit ofGd’s presence, and the splendour of His glory will rest on you.Rabbi Moses Ben NachmanWho is wise? He who learns from everyone.Who is strong? He who can control his passions.Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot.Who is honoured? He who honours others.Ben Zoma, Pirke Avot, 4:1Love of all creatures is also love of Gd, for whoever loves Gd loves all the works that He hasmade. When one loves Gd, it is impossible not to love His creatures. The opposite is also true.If one hates the creatures, it is impossible to love Gd Who created them.Maharal of Prague, Nesivos OlamThe Rabbis taught that there are three ways in which is kindness greater charity. Charity isdone with money; kindness can be either with one’s person or one’s money. Charity is for thepoor; kindness can be done for either the poor or the rich. Charity is for the living; kindnesscan be done for the living or the deadTalmud: Sukkah 49bThere is nothing so whole as a broken heart.Rabbi Menachem Mendel of KotzkIf I am I because I am I,and you are you because you are you,then I am and you are.But if I am I because you are you,and you are you because I am I,then I am not and you are not.Rabbi Menachem Mendel of KotzkWhile the sage, Honi, was walking along a road, he saw a man planting a carob tree. Honiasked him, “How long will it take for this tree to bear fruit?”“Seventy years,” replied the man.Honi then asked, “Are you so healthy a man that you expect to live that length of time and eatits fruit?”The man answered, “I found a fruitful world because my ancestors planted it for me. LikewiseI am planting for my children.”Talmud, Taanit 23a64