Celebrating Jewish Life Together

“Once, a Tzadik walked beneath the trees and saw a leaf drift to the ground.

“Leaf, why do you fall?” he asked. “The branch shook, and I could not hold on,” it whispered.

“Branch, why did you shake?” “The tree swayed, and I moved with it.”

“Tree, why did you sway?” “The wind pushed me,” it said.

“Wind, why did you blow?” “The angel of the wind commanded me.”

“Angel, why stir the wind?” “I act on Hashem’s command,” the angel replied.

The Tzadik lifted his eyes to Hashem and asked, “Master of the world, why set all this in motion?”

Hashem said, “Look beneath the leaf.” There, a tiny worm rested in the shade, safe from the sun.

And the Tzadik understood: every breeze, every trembling branch, every falling leaf is part of a greater divine purpose.”

— An Ancient Chassidic Tale.