To Save a Life
It was a Sabbath afternoon and Moshe stood looking out the window of the rabbi's study.
"Rabbi," he said thoughtfully, "If one sees a cow drowning on the Sabbath, is it permitted to save her or should one let her drown?"
The rabbi looked up from his studies, "It is not permitted to break the Sabbath
over a cow," he replied.
"That's too bad. A cow has fallen in the lake and she is going under," Moshe
continued.
"Yes, it's too bad," the rabbi muttered this time without looking up from his
studies.
"Her head is going under now," Moshe continued after a pause. "She's certainly
lost now. I feel sorry for the beast."
"Yes," muttered the rabbi, "it's very sad. But what can one do? And I feel
sorry for you," Moshe said.
"Why me?" said the rabbi looking up. "It was your cow."