Not so long ago, in a land both far away and very close, the Potzker Rebbe, if he ever existed, used to mysteriously appear and, just as quickly, disappear, from the lives of individuals in distress. That brief encounter would usually result in the Potzker leaving behind a unique teaching for that person to digest over time, a teaching that sometimes provided spiritual sustenance, and at other times resulted in mental indigestion
The Potzker Rebbe both feared and loved the written word, and, as a result, he refused to publish his insights, having modeled himself on the legend of the Kotzker Rebbe, who is said to have spent his days putting thoughts to pen to paper, only to burn his writings every night.
As such, all that we have of his teachings is to be found in the oral transmission of the Potzker’s tales and parables. Most of these tales have been guarded by those who received them, not committing them to writing out of respect to the concerns of the Potzker.
Until now.
Ten years ago I experienced my first Potzker tale, and have been collecting teachings attributed to him ever since. Since they are transmitted orally, the world is at risk of losing these tales forever, and as such I am using the power of the World Wide Web to capture them before they are lost for eternity. Through this blog I will occasionally post a selection of his words. To those who feel I have violated the wishes of the Rebbe by putting his words to print, I beg your forgiveness. Based on my understanding of the teachings of the Rebbe you would be obligated to do so, as he taught in one of his classic tale on the subject of the meaning of the appearance of the Hebrew word ve'ahavta four times in the book of Deuteronomy. But that is a tale for another day.
Respectfully presented for your consideration, the first Potzker tale ever printed on the internet, a piece I have entitled: Zomadness.
Shimon ben Zoma was respected as the most practical man of his generation. Almost two thousand years later, his teachings still guide those perplexed by the challenges of setting goals for one’s life. He encapsulated his approach to living within four simple principles.
Who is wise? One who can learn from all human beings.
Who is powerful? One who can capture the imagination.
Who is wealthy? One who can joyously appreciate the parts that compose the whole.
Who is respected? One who can lightly bear the burden of respecting all of the Creator’s creations.
One day, the Angel of Temptation arrived.
It asked Shimon four questions.
Would you like to learn directly from the teacher that is not earthbound?
Would you like to capture that which is beyond your imagination?
Would you like to be enriched by what is impossible to possess, and be possessed by it?
Would you like to be respected by God herself?
Shimon instantly replied in the affirmative to each of the first three questions, but was startled by the fourth. God herself? He had never heard this expression before, and asked for clarification.
The angel explained that the answer to all four questions resided in the Shekinah, the feminine aspect of God, and invited Shimon to have a direct encounter with her.
“You may ask the Shekinah only one question, but first you must answer one question correctly from her.”
Shimon relished the opportunity, and agreed to the pre-condition without any hesitation.
Within moments, he experienced The Presence.
The Shekinah asked Shimon: “Does this dress make me look fat?”
The most practical man on the planet felt his brain implode into the black hole that contains the proper response to that question. Two thousand years later, no man has proven wise enough to solve the riddle that pushed Shimon ben Zoma into a state of madness from which he never recovered.
Such is the power of what the Potzker Rebbe called “The Riddle of the Shminx.”
