The Jewish Wisdom Database

Who can ask for mercy for his friend, and does not, is a sinner.

Who shows pity for humankind, the Heavens will pity in turn.

Who pleads after the verdict pleads nothing. [It's too late to plead once a sentence is pronounced.]

The poor of your own town should be preferred to those of another.

If a poor man bakes a cake, any man that comes and snatches it from him is held wicked.

Praising the wicked is wrong.

One should not pray in levity and jest, but in gravity and the joy of doing good.

If a man sees that his prayer was not granted, let him pray again!

Prayer is greater than sacrifices.

Prayer is the service of the heart.

To practise (Not to practise) what one teaches.

Just as precepts do not cancel one another out, so with bans.

When the president enters, all rise and none sits until he says: 'Be seated!'

Proof cannot be got from fools.

A prosecutor cannot become counsel for the defense.

Who can protest against a wrong and does not, will be punished for it.

You do not punish without warning first.

You can stop a quarrel before it starts!

Who quarrels with his teacher might as well quarrel with the Holy Presence.

Where God is blasphemed, no respect is due to the Rabbi.

What is our prayer for rain? 'We thank You for each drop that You have let fall.'

Three keys are kept in God's hands and never delivered to an angel: one of them is the key to rain.

Rain is the husband of the earth.

To ransom prisoners is a splendid act of piety.

Two dogs were bad friends. One day the wolf attacked one of them. Quoth the other: 'If I do not help him today, the wolf will destroy him and tomorrow attack me.' So they joined forces and killed the wolf.