A Little WisdomTalmud stories for everyday life
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130 · 8 panels

Two Ends of the Same Board

One person turned first and the whole board tilted. They paused at the corner.

Inspired by a source · Creative adaptationNo sign-up · All stories free
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The board was light but wide enough that they carried it together.
Story

Jin and Ara lifted the display board, one at each end.

The board was light but wide enough that they carried it together.

When Ara turned first, the board tilted and Jin had to take a step sideways.
Ara

We turn here. Oh, wait!

When Ara turned first, the board tilted and Jin had to take a step sideways.

He kept both hands still on the end of the board.
Story

Jin thought about jerking his end around without warning, too.

He kept both hands still on the end of the board.

They laid the board flat on the nearby worktable.
Jin

Hang on. Let's put it down on this table.

They laid the board flat on the nearby worktable.

Ara apologized for turning before Jin was ready.
Jin

When you turned first, the board tilted and startled me.

Ara apologized for turning before Jin was ready.

They went back to their ends of the board and lifted it again.
Ara

This time let's check we're both ready before we turn.

They went back to their ends of the board and lifted it again.

Jin nodded and they changed direction together.
Ara

I'm ready. Let's turn together.

Jin nodded and they changed direction together.

Only then did Jin and Ara let go of their ends.
Story

The board stood upright on its display stand.

Only then did Jin and Ara let go of their ends.

A thought from the Talmud

If you hurt one hand while cutting meat, would you strike back at the hand that held the knife?

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

Jerusalem Talmud Nedarim 9:4:2 · Read the source ↗

A lesson for today

When Ara turned first, Jin wanted to jerk his end around, too. They were holding the same board, so that could have tilted the whole thing again. Jin asked to set it down for a moment and told Ara what had startled him. They agreed to check that both were ready before turning the corner. When we feel wronged while working together, we can say what we need to coordinate the next move.

A modern interpretation for this story

A question to take with you

When I feel like getting even with someone I'm working with, what could I say or signal to help us make the next move together?

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About the source and this adaptation

Jerusalem Talmud Nedarim 9:4:2 discusses the prohibition on revenge and bearing a grudge in Leviticus 19:18. It asks whether someone who hurts one hand while cutting meat would strike back at the hand that held the knife. The following segment has Rabbi Akiva and Ben Azzai discuss important principles, pointing respectively to the verses about loving one's neighbor and the generations of Adam. The wisdom line paraphrases the hands analogy in segment 2. Jin, Ara, the display board, how they carry it and their dialogue are AI-assisted modern fiction inspired by the analogy.

Read the source ↗

AI-generated artwork · Creative adaptation

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