Tuesday Teachings: When night becomes day

Beginning today, our blog is going to feature a regular column, called "Tuesday Teachings." Every (ok, some) Tuesday(s) we will be featuring a religious teaching that is related to social justice, public service, and/or improving the common good. We'll offer up a few questions, and hope you'll reflect with us by offering a comment below. If you have suggestions for "Tuesday Teachings" please email them to Alison.

Today's teaching comes from Martin Buber's Tales of the Hasidim. Hasidic philosophy (or Hasidus) is "the teachings, interpretations of Judaism, and mysticism articulated by the modern Hasidic movement...The word derives from the Hebrew "hesed" (kindness), and the appellation "hasid" (pious) has a history in Judaism for a person who has sincere motives in serving God and helping others."(Source)

(Photo source.)

An old rabbi once asked his pupils how they could tell when night had ended and the day had begun.

"Could it be," asked one student, "when you see an animal in the distance and tell whether it's a sheep or a dog?"

"No," answered the rabbi.

Another asked, "Is it when you can look at a tree in the distance and tell whether it's a fig tree or a peach tree?"

"No," answered the rabbi.

"Then, when is it?" the pupils demanded.

"It is when you can look on the face of any woman or man and see that it is your sister or brother because, if you cannot see this, it is still night."

How do you interpret this story? What happens in the night in this story, and what does it mean to become day? Who are our brothers and sisters? Please share with us in the comments!