Rip Van Winkel

The Daf (daily talmud study) of yesterday has the remarkable precedent of the 'Rip Van Winkel' story. Choni Hama'agel (a righteous individual of Talmudic fame) wondered at the passage in Psalms that says "we were as dreamers" (referring to the 70 years that the Jews spent in Babylonian exile). He said, "can one sleep for 70 years?!".

He then observed a man planting a Carob tree and asked the man, "when will that tree produce fruit?" "In 70 years", he answered. "You won't even be here!" "Yeah, but somebody planted the one that I get the fruits from, 70 years ago, shouldn't I do the same?"

Choni then ate and fell asleep for 70 years. When he awoke he observed somebody eating from the tree. He inquired as to the identity of the individual, to be told that he was the grandson of Choni. "Must be I slept for 70 years!", he observed.

Even though he was accorded great respect by the scholars of the time, they did not believe that he was the same Choni who had disappeared all those years before. Sensing that he had nothing further to contribute, he prayed that he should die and did.

Perhaps this is our 'killing-time' syndrome. When we wish we were somewhere else in time, space or circumstances, we are 'as dreamers'. Choni wanted to see the results of his investment of time and energy, only to discover that he had nothing to add in a different time and space. Every moment that we live, even though we often cannot see the effect thereof, has an enormous impact. We should never wish/dream it away. On the contrary, we have to embrace every moment, the good ones and the bad ones and the dreary and boring and hurting and tired ones and realize that they are just part of the bigger picture we are in the process of creating....