(Note: A slightly shortened version of this essay was given as a speech on May 06, 2022, at the Shabbat Itanu event held at the Danforth Jewish Circle congregation.)
Most of us have likely heard or seen some variation the saying: “Give a man a fish; he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish; he will feed himself for a lifetime.” There is a wealth of assumption and relentless social pressure present in that saying.