Translation by Yehoshua Siskin
The 15th of Av arrives this evening. It is considered "the day of love" on the Jewish calendar as it comes at the height of the wedding season. Here are two thoughts -- one from an Israeli rabbi and the other from a French writer -- appropriate for this day:
Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe once received a letter from a worried young mother and wife, who laid out her troubles before him. In one word, his prescription for her distress could be summed up as follows: humor. She should be blessed with a humorous perspective. We tend to lose our cool, he explained, to start fights, to magnify small things with our spouse and family, and often not relate to them in an appropriate way. A smile, a good word, looking at what happens at home in an amused way - this is the best medicine, instead of overreacting and taking every little thing seriously. It is precisely those who see the big picture and enjoy an eternal perspective, he claimed, who are best equipped to utilize humor.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is the author of "The Little Prince," among other works. When he was once asked to define love, he answered: "Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction." That is, love is not only about meeting our romantic needs, but also about having a vision and a purpose, a direction and a path that we walk along together."
May we all find success in living with more humor and in walking together toward a common destination.
