ON THE FOURTH NIGHT OF HANUKKAH IT IS OUR FAMILY TRADITION TO READ THE FOLLOWING FOLK TALE from a time when the Jewish teachings were forbidden during Roman rule:
RABBI AKIVA, despite Roman decree still gathered people to study the WORD. Another Rabbi came to him quietly one day with concern. " If you continue to teach the government will come and kill you. You should just blend in with the majority. "
" I am sorry, " RABBI AKIVA said to him. " I do not agree with you. Let me tell you a story which will explain why. "
ONCE A SLY FOX was walking by the riverbank watching the fish with their scales shining as they darted in and out of the sun. His stomach grumbled at the sight of these tasty morsels.
He called out to them with feigned interest, " Why are you rushing about so? "
" To escape the nets of the fishermen, " they replied.
" Come up here on the dry land. You will be safe with me, " he said softly.
" We may just be fish, " they answered, " but we are not fools."
" The water is our home. If we leave it we will die. "
RABBI AKIVA advised the other that God's people are like the fish. They cannot live without studying the HOLY WORD of sacred texts. The other could not think of anything else to say. RABBI AKIVA returned to teaching his students the RIVER OF WORDS FROM THE TORAH as he had done before.