Story Summary
Discover the hilarious Jewish folklore tale Chelm Builds a Synagogue, where the legendary fools of Chelm learn a lesson about efficiency and hard work.
The Council of Sages in Chelm decided their town needed a grand new synagogue. To gather the timber, the men climbed the highest mountain, chopped down great oaks, and shouldered the massive logs, groaning under the weight as they carried them down into the valley. A passing traveler watched them struggle and asked, 'Why do you break your backs? If you simply gave those logs a push, they would roll down the hill by themselves!' The elders were struck by this revelation. To fix their mistake and ensure they did things the 'efficient' way, they hoisted all the heavy logs back up to the very summit so that they could enjoy the ease of rolling them down to the bottom.
The Moral
True wisdom lies in knowing when a solution creates more work than the original problem.
“Why should we carry what is willing to roll?”
Fun Fact
The stories of Chelm became a staple of Yiddish literature, popularized by authors like Isaac Bashevis Singer, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of Chelm Builds a Synagogue?
The moral is that 'efficiency' is useless if it creates more work than the original problem. It satirizes those who follow logic to an absurd degree without using common sense.
Who are the Fools of Chelm?
They are legendary characters in Jewish folklore from the Polish town of Chelm, famous for their 'wise-fool' logic where they solve problems in the most impractical ways possible.
Why did the people carry the logs back up the hill?
After a traveler told them rolling logs was easier than carrying them, they felt foolish for carrying them down. To correct their error, they moved them back up to roll them down 'correctly.'
Is Chelm a real place?
Yes, Chelm is a real city in eastern Poland. However, the reputation of its citizens as 'wise fools' is a purely literary tradition in Yiddish folklore.
What defines 'Chelm logic' in these stories?
Chelm logic involves a series of perfectly logical steps that lead to an entirely ridiculous conclusion because the starting premise or the goal is flawed.
What is the significance of the synagogue in this story?
The synagogue represents the heart of the community, making the town's absurd efforts even more humorous as they try to build their most sacred building through foolish means.
