More than 800 years ago, at a time of great difficulty, the Rabbi Maimonides provided a road map for decision making in troubled times when he wrote:
Anticipate charity by preventing poverty, assist the reduced fellowman either by a considerable gift, or a sum of money, or by teaching him a trade, or by putting him in the way of business, so that he may earn an honest livelihood, and not be forced to the dreadful alternative of holding out his hand for charity. This is the highest step and the summit of charity’s golden ladder.
As you proceed today with your daily business, and in this time of stress, keep in mind two very important thoughts. As the Rambam made clear, “The risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision.” And as you work to solve California’s problems, remember proverbs 11:29, “He who troubles is own house will inherit the wind”
For thousands of years, our services have ended with the following from the book of numbers 6:24-26:
May The Lord bless you and keep you;
May The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; and
May The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
AMEN
