A Little WisdomTalmud stories for everyday life
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047 · 8 panels

A Greeting Can Wait

Pausing a friendly impulse left room for someone else to wait.

Inspired by a source · Creative adaptationNo sign-up · All stories free
Read at your own pace.
Walking in the park, Ara saw a colleague's dog and asked first.
Ara

How lovely to see you. May I say hello?

Walking in the park, Ara saw a colleague's dog and asked first.

The dog had stopped beside the colleague.
Colleague

They seem startled when someone comes close right now. Could you give us some space?

The dog had stopped beside the colleague.

Ara lowered the hand she had been about to extend.
Ara

Of course. I'll stop here.

Ara lowered the hand she had been about to extend.

Jin looked at the side path they could use.
Jin

We'll move over this way.

Jin looked at the side path they could use.

They kept a little distance without reaching or calling.
Story

They stepped aside, leaving the space ahead clear.

They kept a little distance without reaching or calling.

The owner watched the situation and decided when to move.
Colleague

We'll wait here a little longer.

The owner watched the situation and decided when to move.

They did not hurry anyone to complete the greeting.
Ara

All right. We'll take the side path.

They did not hurry anyone to complete the greeting.

They respected walks that could continue at different paces.
Story

Even with the greeting postponed, the warm feeling remained.

They respected walks that could continue at different paces.

A thought from the Talmud

Do not dismiss the fear a small creature may show.

The source idea in our own words · Not a direct quotation

Bava Metzia 85a:6–7 · Read the source ↗

A lesson for today

Before coming closer, we can ask about the situation and what help is wanted. Here, they clear the space requested by the dog's owner and respect the time needed to wait. The story does not promise that the dog will quickly feel comfortable or that a particular result will follow.

A modern interpretation for this story

A question to take with you

Even when I am happy to greet someone, what space might they need?

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About the source and this adaptation

Bava Metzia 85a:6–7 is a religious narrative connecting Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi's lack of compassion toward a calf's appeal, and his later stopping young animals from being swept away, with the beginning and end of his suffering. This adaptation draws on care for a small creature's fear; it does not turn the source's suffering and recovery into modern causes of illness or treatment effects. The park walk, pet dog, owner, Ara, Jin and all dialogue are new fiction, not a universal method for handling any animal.

Read the source ↗

AI-generated artwork · Creative adaptation

For your next little pause

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