Hinei Mah Tov U'Mah Na'im Shevet Achim Gam Yachad

There were two brothers who shared a field. Together they plowed, together they planted, and together they harvested. They shared everything evenly. One night one of the brothers couldn't sleep. He kept thinking - I'm single, and my brother's married - he needs the produce more than me. And he went out to the field and took from his own pile and added to his brother's stock. That same night the brother couldn't sleep, thinking - I'm married, I get so much joy from my family. My brother is alone. He deserves more than me. And he went and took from his share and put it onto his brother's pile. In the morning the piles were even. So that night the two brothers each went and again took from their own pile and gave to the other. Each morning it was even and so the cycle went on. One night they met each other at the field. When they realized what was happening they embraced. And tradition has it that it is on that spot that the Beit HaMikdash - Holy Temple is built.

The modern version goes like this: There were two brothers who shared a field. Together they plowed, together they planted, together they harvested. They shared everything 50-50. One night one of the brothers couldn't sleep. He kept thinking - I'm single, and my brother's married. I need the produce more than him. And he went out to the field and took from his brother's pile and added to his own. That same night the brother couldn't sleep, thinking - I'm married, I need to support my family. My brother is alone. I deserve more than him. And he went and took from his brother's share and put it onto his own pile. In the morning the piles were even. So that night the two brothers each went and again took from the other's pile and added it to their own. Each morning it was even and so the cycle went on. One night they met each other at the field. When they realized what was happening they beat each other up. And tradition has it that it is on that spot that the Knesset is built.

When I was a pulpit rabbi I told these 2 versions of this tale. After the first one a man in the shul groaned and eye-rolled. When I hit the punchline of the second one he said aloud that it sounded more real to him. He's got a point. The rarity of the internal feelings and external behaviors of the protagonists in this story should not be underestimated.

It is presently Ellul. The four Hebrew letters that spell Ellul are acronyms for many things. yet, one caught on more than the others: "Ani ledodi vedodi li.' This highlights the fact that the essence of the teshuva of this time is love. We have a relationship of love with G-d and, like any relationship of love, we want it to be right. It is the same way with people, even with ourselves. We seek loving relationships.

We are taught that jealousy, desire, and honor remove a person from this world. I think that means that being human means to work on these inclinations, and when you succeed you move into a higher, out of this world, realm. May we be blessed, this month and always to work on loving connections with our selves, other people, and The Holy One Blessed Be He.

Abou Ben Adhem

By James Henry Leigh Hunt

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)

Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,

And saw, within the moonlight in his room, 

Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom, 

An angel writing in a book of gold:— 

Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, 

And to the Presence in the room he said 

"What writest thou?"—The vision raised its head, 

And with a look made of all sweet accord, 

Answered "The names of those who love the Lord." 

"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so," 

Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low, 

But cheerily still, and said "I pray thee, then, 

Write me as one that loves his fellow men." 

The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night 

It came again with a great wakening light, 

And showed the names whom love of God had blessed, 

And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.