A parable:Long ago, in some far off land, (this is a fictional parable actually) a king went hunting in a thick woods and accidentally got separated from his hunting party. To make matters worse, some ruffians, mortal enemies of the king, heard that he was lost and pursued him further and deeper into the forest. He was running and stumbling, fearful for his life when he chanced upon a simple small
Long ago, in some far off land, (this is a fictional parable actually) a king went hunting in a thick woods and accidentally got separated from his hunting party. To make matters worse, some ruffians, mortal enemies of the king, heard that he was lost and pursued him further and deeper into the forest. He was running and stumbling, fearful for his life when he chanced upon a simple small woodmans hut. He banged on the wdoor and begged the woodsman to hide him from his pursuers.
“I have a one room hut,” said the woodsman, “there’s not much place to hide, but find a spot if you can.” The king looked about, and saw indeed, that there weren’t many options so he dove under the bed. And just in time! Two minutes later, the ruffians came banging down the door, asking the woodsman if a man nobly dressed had come by this way. The woodsman said he saw no one. They insisted on searching his hut, but he told them it was a simple one room hut with nowhere to hide, so off they went.
The king was gushing with gratefulness. A day or two later when the coast was clear, the woodsman who knew his way, led the king back to the capital city and the royal palace. While the woodsman preferred to head back home, the king insisted that he stay for a royal celebration, a thanksgiving banquet and festivity. A few days later the grounds of the palace were decked out in finery and all the kingdom was invited to a grand feast. This woodsman who saved the kings life was to be the guest of honor.
The woodsman never saw so many people in his life, and he was never served such dishes and on such finery. He was blinded and overwhelmed by all the fanfare and attention as he sat there high up on the royal dais. The king shared the details of his ordeal and told of the loyalty and bravery of the woodsman who saved him. He then turned to the woodsman and said magnanimously, “Sir! Whatever you wish! Ask your heart’s desire!’
The woodsman was a simple and content man. He had no wants. But something had been nagging him, he had been wondering about this since the king came knocking on his door. “Your majesty! All I’d like to know, is how you felt hiding under my bed, when those ruffians came in looking for you?”
The king got red and angry. “How dare you ask such a personal question of the king!? Guards take him away!” And sure enough, soldiers grabbed him from both sides and tied his hands and legs and dragged him away to the royal dungeon. Wow, what a roller-coaster of emotion! First, he was feted and honored and now dragged away like a criminal. Sitting dazed and confused in the dungeon cell he was visited by an army officer who read him the royal decree: He was to be hung at dawn for daring to ask such a personal question of the king in front of all the populace.
Hung at Dawn! Heartbroken, he didn’t even know what to think. His whole life flashed before his eyes, his mind racing and his heart pounding he could not sleep all night. Before dawn, a squadron of soldiers dragged him away to a gallows set up on a hill within eyeshot of the palace. The noose was placed around his neck and just before the hangman did his thing, an officer rode up on horseback with a note for the condemned. This is what the note said:
“This is how I felt under your bed. I couldn’t explain it any other way.”
This is a parable to demonstrate the power of experience vs. information. The king could have used this phrase or that expression, but it would not have fully and truly answered the woodsman’s question. Some things you simply have to experience it yourself otherwise you can never truly understand it. This is true about many things in life, and Judaism is no different. You can learn about and explain Shabbat or Sukkot (think of a simple woodsman’s hut!) but to experience it yourself is a totally different story.
Experience it for yourself!