The New Midrash

The Familiar 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 Updated Version


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 only
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.