Finding Balance

Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshischa would carry two slips of paper in his pockets, with a note on each, so that he could reach into one or the other, depending on the need.

When feeling lowly and depressed, discouraged or disconsolate, he would reach into his right pocket, and there find the words: “For my sake was the world created.” ~BT Sanhedrin 37a:16

But when feeling high and mighty he would reach into his left pocket, and find the words: “I am but dust and ashes.” ~Genesis 18:27

R’ Simcha teaches us that life is a balancing act between the self-perception of being merely one of the uncountable specks of dust in the Universe and the self-perception that each of us is unique and irreplaceable. We live in the spectrum between these two perspectives. The challenge is to be aware of both while not letting one become dominant.

Each card in this set contains the phrases “For my sake the world was created” and “I am but dust and ashes” on the front and the midrash on the back. There are seven color-themed cards corresponding to the colors in the rainbow and seven copies of each making this a set of forty-nine portable, engaging and self-contained teachings.

These cards are perfect as a handout during the High Holidays or at any other learning or introspective occasion.

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