Field Trip

[phkrause]

Rabbi Yizchok Epstein, a brilliant Talmudist and his student Moshe were traveling to the village of Vilna when they had to stop for the night, and pitch a tent in an empty field.

After the evening prayers Rabbi Epstein and Moshe retire for the evening.

Some hours later, Rabbi Epstein wakes up and nudges his faithful student. "Moshe, look up at the sky and tell me what you see."

"I see millions and millions of stars, Rabbi Epstein" replies Moshe.

"And what do you deduce from that?"

Moshe ponders for a minute.

"Well, astronomically, it conveys the vastness of the heavens. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Theologically, I can see that God is all powerful, and that we are a small and insignificant part of His universe. What does it tell you, Rabbi Epstein?"

Rabbi Epstein is silent for a moment. "Moshe!" he says, "someone has stolen our tent!"