In the Kabbalah, God gives his people only one commandment: give the weak and the poor hope. Animals speak to empathy, they take us out of ourselves and teach us how to love and connect with other living beings. They remind me that empathy, not power or money or security, are central to our moral universe.

We celebrate empathy as the hallmark of a noble spirit, a pillar of social justice, the pathway to our highest human potential.

Empathy is the foundation of our very humanity, of what it means to be human. At the Mansion, I see the proud and powerful spirits, radiant and present even in their aging bodies and diminished circumstances. Herman is just learning to walk confidently again, bu his heart and spirit are young and pure.

With a baby goat in his arms, Herman reveals empathy, a noble spirit, one filled with love and caring. Empathy fuels connection, it is very different from sympathy,says psychologist Brene Brown, which sets people apart and disconnects them from one another.

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I’m proud and happy to report that the Mansion Van drive on gofundme fund has reached $9,660 in just over one week. These contributions – most of them are $10, $$20, and $25, come in one after another, it was miraculous to watch them keep coming in.  We only have $340 to go to reach the goal of $10,000. The remaining $10,000 needed will be provided by the owner of the Mansion, George Scala. It should be here by the end of next week.

The van is the resident’s lifeline to the outside world, as well as their medical care and families. The other world is just outside of the Mansion’s boundaries, but only accessible via a specially equipped van. Take a look at the gofundme project, we are just about there. Thanks, thanks.