Choosing the Right Rabbi

A weary traveler was driving through a remote mountain village and decided to stop for a bite to eat. He walked into the only deli in town and noticed two framed photographs hanging behind the counter. One was of a dignified, elderly Rabbi with a long white beard, and the other was of a much younger, modern-looking Rabbi.

The traveler turned to the deli owner and asked, "I’m curious, who are these two men?"

The owner wiped down the counter and gestured to the pictures. "The one on the left is Rabbi Bloom. He is the most brilliant scholar in the region. He can recite the entire Torah from memory and speaks seven languages fluently."

The traveler nodded, impressed. "And the younger one on the right?"

"That’s Rabbi Stern," the owner replied. "He’s a wonderful man, very kind to the children, and he leads the most beautiful songs every Friday night."

The traveler looked at the menu and then back at the photos. "They both sound like incredible leaders. Which one do you personally follow for spiritual guidance?"

The owner leaned in and whispered, "To be honest? For spiritual matters, I go to Rabbi Bloom. But if you're ordering the corned beef, you want to listen to Rabbi Stern. Bloom is a saint, but Stern’s mother owns the cattle ranch down the road."