Judaism: ‘On One Foot’      Rabbi David Steinberg, Temple Israel, Duluth

The title is in reference to a classic story told in the Talmud. There was another incident involving one gentile who came before Shammai and said to Shammai: “Convince me on condition you teach me the entire Torah while I am standing on one foot.” Shammai pushed him away with the builder’s cubit in his hand. This was the common measuring stick and Shammai was a builder by trade. The same gentile came before Hillel. He converted him and said to him: “That which is hateful to you do not do to another. That is the entire Torah and the rest is interpretation. Go study.”

(Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Shabbat, page 21)