Most of the people that are here tonight are, to me, beloved people. It is possibly my weakness, but I like the people around me. But beyond that, we are all connected by our common ancestry, by our blood, by our common dreams, by our wish to continue being in the future.
Let me begin with thanks. The first thanks are for the Master of all, Whom we never thank enough, for giving me life, health and the ability to do this work. Thanks to my wife and family; I know that for many years I was a legend in my own home; the members of my family believed that I existed, but did not see too much of me. So I wish to tell them that I do exist, and to thank them for bearing with my work, my efforts, my headaches and my troubles.
Our sages said, “Six things were said about man:
in regard to three, he is like the ministering
angels, and in regard to three, he is like beasts.”
Babylonian Talmud, Chagigah 16a
This combination of angel and beast is only one of the strange and various combinations forming man.