Speak A New Language

I learn a lesson about life and relationships from Shwekey.....

Shwekey sometimes sings in Yiddish. He is of Sefardic-Syrian descent. That is like me singing in Arabic. Incidentally - he also sings Sefardic songs. He sometimes sings with Ashkenazi pronunciation and at other times in the Sefardi pronunciation. Sometimes he wears a black hat - sometimes he doesn't.

Can he make up his mind? Is he confused??

He is NOT confused. He is a shrewd businessman [with one of the best voices EVER:)]. His task is to please the audience, so he sings whatever the audience wants to hear. He is happily willing to conform to whatever the crowd wants to hear. That is his job.....

How does this relate to life? When you meet a person, try to determine what they want to talk about and talk to them about that topic. If it is a child - speak "Childese". "What do you want to be when you grow up?" "Who is your favorite super-hero?" You meet a Bubbe - ask her about her grandchildren. Sitting next to a goy on the airplane? "How 'bout those "Mets'ese!"

This is actually a gemara [Ksuvos 17]. לעולם יהא דעתו מעורבת עם הבריות - A person should be "mixed in" with others. Explains Rashi לעשות לאיש ואיש כרצונו - To do the will of all. From the context of the gemara we see the importance of saying the right words to people.

In order to do this one must step out of his individual world of what matters to him and try to connect to someone else with a different mindset. Not easy but GREAT for fixing middos:).

If one can try this on his wife - HOW MUCH BETTER:)!!!