A Good Clean Lesson

[phkrause]

Rabbi Epstein received a call from a wealthy businessman who was interested in exploring Judaism, but had many questions. He asked if Rabbi Epstein could pay him a visit at the office, which he obliged. 

The next day, Rabbi Epstein pulled up to an enormous manufacturing facility which produced soaps and other household cleaners. The company president, Aaron Miller was there to greet him. 

“Thank you for coming rabbi,” Mr. Miller said. “Let’s go for a walk, shall we?” 

After some small talk Mr. Miller said, “Rabbi, please help me answer this question that I’ve been thinking about: what good is religion, really? Look at all the trouble and misery in the world! Even after thousands of years of religions teaching about goodness and truth and love and peace, there’s still war and deceit and so many terrible things. If Judaism is true, why should this be?"

Rabbi Epstein just stroked his beard in thought. 

They continued walking until he noticed a child playing in the gutter. Rabbi Epstein said, "Look at that child. You say that soap makes people clean, but see the dirt on that youngster. Of what good is soap? With all the soap in the world, over all these years, the child is still filthy. I wonder how effective soap is, after all!"

Mr. Miller, president of a soap company protested, "But Rabbi, soap can't do any good unless it is used!"

"Exactly," replied the Rabbi. "Exactly."