Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Underfables: A Point of the Law

A Point of the Law


          Once upon a time, the Rabbi of Chelm stayed up late, studying the Law. His eyelids drooped, the candles guttered out, he laid his head upon a scroll, and he slept. He dreamed that his soul rose out of his body and flew straight up, higher and higher, faster and faster. Angels joined his flight, and they guided him into the presence of the Holy One.
          The Holy One said, “You are the Rabbi of Chelm.”
          The Rabbi said, “Yes.”
          The Holy One said, “You are a student of the Law.”
          The Rabbi said, “Yes.”
          The Holy One said, “Please expound upon a point of the Law.”
          First the Rabbi of Chelm said nothing at all. Then he muttered, “I know no point worth expounding upon...” Suddenly he smiled, and he continued, “ - but I’ll tell You what. You expound upon a point of the Law, and I’ll show You how to refute it.”


        Commentary on the Underfable:
        This is another cover, taken from Yiddish joke-lore. Its moral is implicit in the last line; something along the lines of; if life gives you lemons, then make lemonade.
        But I am skeptical. If every point of the Law is refutable, then is that not itself a point of the Law?

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