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From: dsg@mhuxi.UUCP (GREEN)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Yet Another Hassidic Tale
Message-ID: <174@mhuxi.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 18-Jun-84 15:20:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: mhuxi.174
Posted: Mon Jun 18 15:20:49 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 22-Jun-84 08:49:45 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 36

[]
	Rabbi Raditz of Poland was a very short rabbi with
a long beard, who was said to have inspired many pogroms
with his sense of humor.  One of his disciples asked, "Who
did G-d like better - Moses or Abraham?"
	"Abraham," the Zaddik said.
	"But Moses led the Israelites to the Promised Land,"
said the disciple.
	"All right, so Moses," the Zaddik answered.
	"I understand, Rabbi. It was a stupid question."
	"Not only that, but your stupid, your wife's a meeskeit,
and if you don't get off my foot you're excommunicated."
_____________________________________________________________________

	Here the Rabbi is asked to make a value judgement
between Moses and Abraham.  This is not an easy matter,
particularly for a man who has never read the Bible
and has been faking it.  And what is meant by the hopelessly
relative term "better"?  What is "better" to the Rabbi is
not necessarily "better" to his disciple.  For instance,
the Rabbi likes to sleep on his stomach.  The disciple also
likes to sleep on the Rabbi's stomach.  The problem here
is obvious.  It should also be noted that to step on a
rabbi's foot ( as described in the tale ) is a sin, according
to the Torah, comparable to the fondling of matzos with
any intent other than eating them.


from "Getting Even" by Woody Allen  ( Allen Koenigsberg of Midwood High ) 
____________________________________________________________________

I have four more Hassidic Tales written by the "Woodman".  If there
are no objections, I'll post them - one per week.

Shalom,
David Seth Green  Bell Labs  201-564-4468    mhuxi!dsg