Separated by 45 years, Shalom Aleichem (b) 1859 and Dr. Seuss (b) 1904) were masters at portraying both the splendid and the not so splendid moments of our humanity.
Shalom Aleichem was a leading Yiddish author and playwright whose stories about Tevye the dairyman was the basis for the musical Fiddler on the Roof.
In addition to writing classic books that continue to appeal to children and adults, Dr. Seuss forever changed the way children learned to read when he created The Cat In the Hat, his first I Can Read book. Comprised of 1629 words in length, with a vocabulary of only 223 words, the book was written to teach children how to read.
I believe that if Shalom Aleichem and Dr. Seuss would meet today, they would be friends and soul mates. Each was able to tap into what makes us human and delivered their truths with wisdom and wit. I love when authors are asked whom they would most like to have dinner with. If I could choose to have dinner with anyone, hands down I would choose Shalom Aleichem and Dr. Seuss. I would even be willing to be a fly on the wall!
It is difficult to choose a favorite quote from their many sayings, but here are my choices for the moment.
~ “ You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” Dr. Seuss
~ “No one knows whom the shoe pinches-no one.” Shalom Aleichem
And I can’t resist adding one more of my all time favorites,
~ If somebody tells you, you have ears like a donkey, pay no attenton. But if two people tell you, buy yourself a saddle.”
Shalom Aleichem
