COMMUNITY

In a little town in Central Europe, “Jacob the Tailor” felt that he had been mistreated in the synagogue. And so he withdrew from the community and isolated himself from his friends and neighbors. Weeks went by until, finally, the Rabbi called on him.

After a polite greeting, there was a heavy silence. Then the Rabbi said, “Let’s sit in front of the fire.”

So the two men sat in complete silence. An hour or so later the Rabbi picked up the fireplace tongs, pulled out a coal and placed it on the hearth, away from the fire. Still no word was spoken. The two men just sat and watched the glowing, burning piece of coal become darker and darker until finally it was black and cold and dusty with ashes.

A few moments later, Jacob the Tailor spoke. “I understand,” he said.

“I’ll come back to the syna- gogue.” Not a word had been spoken, but the point had been made: we withdraw from the community, we isolate ourselves from our neighbor, and we die.

We need one another.