("Let's table the discussion" is a new Adath Israel Shul initiative where a story or thought is presented in order to stimulate exciting and constructive discussion around our Shabbos table or among friends and children.) 

A man read an ad in the newspaper, "Hunting dog for sale, $2,500.00, but well worth it." He called the number and the man told him that he had to see the dog in action.

The next morning they met and went hunting early. The dog flushed two birds from a clump of bushes and when they fell into the water, he walked on top of the water, grabbed the birds, and walked back on top of the water. The man was amazed, and bought the dog on the spot.

 The next day he persuaded his brother to go hunting with him. They flushed a couple of birds and the dog again walked on top of the water, retrieved the birds, and walked back to their boat on top of the water. 

He asked his brother what he thought of the dog and the brother replied, "So, you bought a dog who can't swim."

When the Jews came to Marah after experiencing the splitting of Yam Suf, we are told that they found they couldn’t drink the waters there because they were bitter (Shemos 15:23). The Kotzker Rebbe noted that the Torah was not highlighting the waters but rather the Jewish people. THEY had become bitter. When someone is bitter himself, everything around him tastes bitter too.

Can our attitude about a particular situation really affect the way we perceive it?

What can we do to improve our approach to life’s situations and challenges?

 Let’s  “table” the discussion – by discussing it with our children, spouses, families and guests and open an exciting  discussion into our homes and community.