3/03/2005

...Bayamim Ha-hem, Ba-zman ha-zeh

I've been inspired by this brilliant post from the Godol Hador to write the true version of another famous Jewish story:

A bunch of Yeshiva students were sitting around the Beis Medrash, playing cards, smoking, and gambling with some stupid little toy tops. All of a sudden, a fellow who hadn't been drinking (for just such emergency) noticed a stern-faced man in an Israeli Army uniform walking toward the Yeshiva.
reacting quickly, he spun around and ran through the Beis Midrash, informing everyone that a representative from the 'Lishkat Ha-Giyus' (Conscription Office) was paying them a surprise visit to insure that those who deferred because 'their Torah is their livelihood' are actually learning.
Immediately, the cards, liquor, and toy tops vanished (but not the cigarettes) and the ancient tomes of the Talmud and commentaries appeared on the tables.
In this way, the Holy Shababnikim were spared from having to serve in the Evil Army of the Freye Medina.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Funny. But what was the original story ?

ADDeRabbi said...

vey iz mir. the origin of the draydel?
the prohibition against learning... greek soldiers crashing the bais...hiding the gemaras and taking out these toy tops...
you must be familiar with it.

Anonymous said...

Oh. Now I finally understand that scene in the rugrats chanukah movie.

I never knew that story. In all my years in the Mir and lakewood I never came across it. I must ask the Rebbetzin Hador if she knew it. She tends to know no halachah, theology, chumash or gemarah, but obscure pointless midrashim are her forte.