A TALMUD TALE
The play tells the ancient story of Rakhel and Rabbi Akiba, the shepherd who became the father of the Talmud. In this scene, Akiba, still a shepherd, shows up at the Beit Midrash in the middle of the night, seeking a place
to study.
| RABBI ELIEZER: | What now ?! |
| AKIBA: | (From outside.) I’m here to see the Rabbi. |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | Who is it? It’s late! |
| AKIBA: | (Through the door.) My name’s Akiba. Please! |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | (Mumbling as he crosses to the door.) Akiba? This should mean something to me? Does a rabbi’s day never end? |
| AKIBA: | Thank you for opening the door. |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | What is it? |
| AKIBA: | Are you…Rabbi Eliezer? |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | Who else should I be? |
| AKIBA: | I’m honored. |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | And I, stranger, am exhausted. So please tell me why you’ve come. You don’t seem like our usual sort of visitor. |
| AKIBA: | I’m sure I’m not. I’ve come to study Torah, unlikely as it seems. |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | (To heaven.) G-d, is this one a hungry mind, or just another hungry mouth? |
| AKIBA: | I’m not looking for a meal, Rabbi. Please, hear me out. I’ve been walking for days. I’ve already been turned away from three other study houses. |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | Why did the others turn you away? |
| AKIBA: | At the first, they said I was too old. The second, too dirty. The last one was simply too crowded. And always the same advice: “Go back to your flock!” |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | (To heaven again, distraught.) He’s a shepherd! |
| AKIBA: | All my forty years. |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | So why come to study, at this late date? |
| AKIBA: | Because I’ve made a vow. To my bride. To learn Torah. How can I break my vow and be worthy of calling myself her husband? |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | A vow to one’s beloved is not something to be taken lightly. You are a wise fellow for at least knowing that. |
| AKIBA: | I would not take any vow lightly. And Rakhel, my wife, is sacrificing much to make my study possible. |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | Your Rakhel must be a righteous woman. |
| AKIBA: | That she is. And I will not let her down. |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | You know the study of Torah is a lifelong commitment. A road that only begins here at the Beit Midrash. |
| AKIBA: | I’m a shepherd. Patience comes with the territory. |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | You’re an unusual man, Akiba. (He considers a moment.) I presume you can read and write? (Akiba doesn’t answer.) Or, at least…read? |
| AKIBA: | I can read the tracks of a sheep that has strayed from my flock. Or the movement of the stars in the night sky. I’ve slept out enough nights to be expert at that. |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | I begin to see why the others suggested you go back and do what you’re expert at. To begin from scratch at this late date… |
| AKIBA: | I’ve never been afraid of hard work! |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | I believe you, Akiba. Still, there is yet another problem. Here at the Beit Midrash, everyone must have a study partner. And, considering you can’t even read, with whom, in good conscience, could I pair you up? (Sings.)In the first place, you don’t know anything / So what kind of partner would you be? On the other hand, that could make you curious / Dying to look and see So on the one hand, you might be a burden / A truly unnecessary job On the other hand, this could be a bit of a Mitzvah / Even a gift from G-d Seeing both sides of an issue / Is what studying’s about You can never know the answer / Til you’ve turned it inside out Look at both sides of an issue / And before the day is through You’ll see sides, and sides of sides / You never knew (He looks for an example to use.) Take this bottle of wine, Akiba. Would you say it was half empty or half full? |
| AKIBA: | Well…on the one hand…if one had a lot of guests to serve, and only this one bottle, then I would call it half empty. But if, on the other hand, just you and I were to have the pleasure of polishing it off alone, then it is definitely half full—since it leaves us plenty to share! |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | A not unimpressive bit of reasoning, Akiba! Perhaps you are already starting to—(Catches himself.)—still… (Sings.) On the one hand, you’re over forty / And you don’t even know your Alef-Beit |
| AKIBA: | (Sings.) On the other hand, I have real experience / Could be, that carries weight |
| BOTH: | (They sing.) So on the one hand |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | (Sings.) You are like a blank slate |
| AKIBA: | (Sings.) No writing recorded there to read |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | (Sings.) On the other hand, you are like a sample of truth / With every life example you need |
| AKIBA: | (Sings.) Seeing both sides of an issue / Is what studying’s about Well, the concept is no stranger than / Say, breathing in and out Start on one side of an issue / But before you make it through You’ll find someone else’s side / Belongs to you! I know how a shepherd learns his trade, Rabbi. But tell me, how does a Jew grow wise? |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | A wise Jew is one who learns from everyone! (Sings.)So, say I take a chance / Attempt a different way Presume that since you’ve lived a lot / You’ve got a lot to say Yes, if I take a leap / Into the great unknown |
| AKIBA: | (Sings.) Since you’ve got me with you / You’re not doing it alone Rabbi, tell me please, what makes a Jew strong? |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | A strong Jew is one who subdues his evil impulses. |
| AKIBA: | And when is a Jew considered rich? |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | A rich Jew is one who is content with his lot. Now let me ask YOU one: What Jew will be honored? |
| AKIBA: | (After a moment’s thought.) The one who honors others! |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | And say I tried you out as a partner…for myself! |
| AKIBA: | Then there’d be no man more honored than I! |
| BOTH: | (They sing.) Seeing both sides of an issue / Is what studying’s about You can never know the answer / Til you’ve turned it inside out Start on one side of an issue / And before you’ve reached the end You might find that you have found / Yourself a friend! |
| AKIBA: | May I stay then, Rabbi? |
| RABBI ELIEZER: | Akiba, it is I who would be honored! |