A story from the midrashic text Genesis Rabbah 16:3 illustrates how it is often the people who contribute the least who try the hardest to call attention to themselves. And in contrast, it is those who contribute the most who feel no need to make a lot of noise to demonstrate their worth.
In this story, the river that runs silently gives life to the earth, as does the tree that offers a bountiful harvest of fruit.
The Euphrates and the Fruit Trees
When they asked the Euphrates: “Why don’t you let us hear your voice?” it answered, “I have no need to; my actions speak for themselves. A man plants a sapling at my edge and it will bear fruit in thirty days, and if he plants a vegetable, it will grow in three.”
They asked the fruit trees, “Why aren’t your voices heard?” They answered, “It is not necessary. Our fruits give testimony to our existence.”
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This lovely story is told in the recently published book Fables from the Jewish Tradition by Rabbi Manes Kogan. Printed by Mayapple Books, it contains beautiful color illustrations by Marcelo Ferder.
In this delightful, pocket-sized book, Rabbi Kogan translated midrashim (Jewish fables) found in such traditional rabbinic texts as the Talmud Bavli, Tanchuma and Midrash Rabbah, among others. These texts span the rabbinic era of 300 – 700 CE.
As is true for all stories in the “fable” genre, these midrashic tales often reflect motifs found in the stories of other societies, such as Greece, Spain and Germany. In my next posting, I will share some of Rabbi Kogan’s insights into the evolution and influences of Jewish fables.
For more info: Visit Mayapple Books at www.mayapplepress.com/ BookPages/Fables.htm
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