“And when it is said to them, ‘Believe as the people have believed,’ they say, ‘Shall we believe as the fools have believed?’ Verily, they are the fools, but they know it not.” (Quran, 2:13)

“Gimpel the Fool” is a great short story - full of humor and wisdom. I have often enjoyed Jewish culture through classic stories, plays, and films - there are many similarities to our own culture. I owe a lot of this to my mother, who loves simple, earthy humor and exposed me in my youth to Fiddler on the Roof and the plays of Neil Simon. She told me about this piece too. : )

This story is a wonderful consolation to the sad situation of the poor innocent, whether it be someone we pity or even ourselves. And what a lesson for anyone who feels they’ve been had in this life. The “fool” may just be the smartest among us.

Praise God, the Most Just!

Here is Isaac Bashevis Singer’s classic:

http://www.gimpel.tv/gimpel.txt

I don’t know when I stopped being entertained. But basically I have been feeling “dead” recently. I am very sad and overwhelmed, but it’s also peaceful in a way. I feel more emotional towards Allah as well.

And whereas before I would genuinely be entertained by things (books, music, television, films, etc.) I am feeling so dead, I can’t enjoy anything. All the colors have turned gray.

I will read about 5 pages of a book at a time, a really good book too, and not enjoy it. Even if it is a classic with mind-splitting thoughts, or a page-turner, I just can’t get into it.

If I watch something with my family, the laughs are empty. I could care less. I just do these things to fill space and time. I don’t look forward to them at all - I just don’t know what else to do some times until I can sleep and escape the eerie hollow feeling of life.

I mean it’s good in a way - to not have your heart attached to these things. Alhamdulillah. But it is also scary. It’s scary not to get comfort from good old reliable methods of distraction. Before if I was depressed I actually could be cheered up or even get into a film or a book. Now I just can’t - I simply don’t care.

Entertainment just isn’t very entertaining to me right now.  And there is no more escaping this life.