Jewish Folklore , What is Heaven like?

One day a Rabbi asked God, “What is Heaven and Hell like?”. God replied, “Come, I’ll show you.” He took the Rabbi into a very large room and told him it was hell. In the centre of the room was a large pot with a beautiful smelling stew, but around the walls of the room sat a lot of people starving and lean. They held in there hands very long spoons with which they were able to reach out a gather some stew. But because the spoons were so long they could not reach the stew to eat it. The Rabbi said, “I understand why this is hell, these people are miserable because they cannot reach the food, but what is Heaven like?” God took the rabbi into another room. It was a very similar room it had a pot of delicious stew in the centre and people sat around it with long spoons. These people however looked joyful and prosperous. The Rabbi watched as the people around the room took turns at using their long spoons to feed each other instead of themselves.

This was my music theory teacher’s answer when someone asked why we had a group assignment to do so not sure if I told it right but I love the story all the same.

The Duck Church

Once there was a duck town and every Sunday the ducks would waddle out of their duck homes, and waddle down their duck streets into their duck church. The duck choir would get up and sing duck songs and the duck collection would be passed around into which the ducks would put their duck money. The duck minster would get up and give the duck sermon. “God has blessed us with wings, we can soar through the air and fly like eagles,” said the duck minister. “Amen!” replied the duck congregation. “Fences and walls cannot contain us, we are free to go anywhere,” continued the duck minister. “Amen!” called the ducks in response. “We should be so thankful that God has given us this great gift,” finished the duck minister. At the conclusion of the service the ducks waddled back down their duck streets and waddled into their duck homes.

My minister told this story in church on Sunday and it really stuck with me so I thought I’d share it with you guys.

Johann Sebastian Bach

The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.
~Johanna Sebastian Bach

Martin Luther

Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.
~Martin Luther