This and That
Issue: 3.06 this is column 87
June 1, 2002
A Midrash: Then and Now

The Old Midrash:

Once there were two brothers, each with a farm on the opposite side of the same hill. The first had a family - It came to be that, during the harvest, the first brother said to himself, "I have a wife, sons, and daughters to help during the harvest while my brother has no one to help". So late at night, he would sneak over the hill to his brother's farm and leave bags of grain.

Now, at about the same time, the second brother said to himself, "I live by myself whereas my brother has so many mouths to feed". So late at night, he would sneak over the hill to his brother's farm and leave bags of grain. One night, they happened to run into each other and each saw what the other was doing. They instantly realized what was happening, and hugged and kissed each other. And it is on that hill that the Temple was built.

The New Midrash:

Once there were two brothers, each with a farm on the opposite side of the same hill. The first had a family - wife, sons, daughters. The second lived by himself.

It came to be that, during the harvest, the first brother said to himself, "We have so many mouths to feed whereas my brother has but himself".

So late at night, he would sneak over the hill to his brother's farm and take bags of grain. Now, at about the same time, the second brother said to himself, "my brother has a wife, sons and daughters to help during the harvest while I have no one to help." So late at night, he would sneak over the hill to his brother's farm and take bags of grain.

One night, they happened to run into each other and each saw what the other was doing. They instantly realized what was happening, and yelled at each other and beat each other up.

And it is on that hill that the Knesset was built!!

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