Support System

Every Rabbi and teacher has stories that they tell, to explain an idea or theme that they want to convey. This is my first attempt to come up with a story that conveys an idea very close to my heart.

There was a little town that did not have very much. There weren't many people, there weren't many shops, there weren't many of anything. The one thing that they did have was a lot of heart. Well, one night, a large storm swooped in a toppled the little temple where the community would gather on Friday nights to join in worship.
The congregation gathered at the Rabbi's house the next day to discuss what to do next. One congregant stood and shouted "It is now Monday! What will we do if we do not have a temple by Friday night?" Another stood and said "We have nowhere to pray! What ever will we do?" One man named Jacob in the middle of the room took the center of the discussion and boldly and proudly said "I will rebuild the temple. I will take care of it. Nobody needs to worry."
Well the Rabbi stroked his beard (as all rabbis do) and looked the man up and down. "Jacob, we thank you for volunteering to rebuild the temple, but you will need much help to accomplish this task." "No," Jacob said. "I will do it by myself. I can do it. I am strong, and smart. I don't need to bother anyone else."
So the Rabbi let the man attempt to build the temple the next day.
Well Tuesday morning came, and Jacob went to the site of the temple. He spent all morning cutting the wood, hammering the nails, and constructing the first wall. Well as he set it up, and began to create the second one, the first came crashing down, destroying all the work he had already done. He went to the rabbi and said "Rabbi, I tried to build the temple but when I went to build the second wall, the first fell down. I need to attempt it again tomorrow." The rabbi stroked his beard and looked Jacob up and down. "Why don't you look for some other citizens to help you in your construction?" "No, no, I have it under control. I don't need help," Jacob replied adamantly.
The next day, Wednesday, Jacob went out again and began his work. He spent all morning cutting the wood, hammering the nails, and constructing the first wall. As he set it up and moved to construct the second wall, the wall came crashing down, destroying his hard work. Jacob again went to the rabbi and said "Rabbi, I tried to build the temple but when I went to build the second wall, the first fell down. I need to attempt it once again tomorrow." The rabbi once again stroked his beard and looked Jacob up and down. "Why don't you look for some other members of the community to help you in your construction?" "No, no, I have it under control. I don't need help," Jacob replied adamantly.
So the next day Jacob went once again to the site of the temple. He constructed the perfect first wall, and as he set it up, he went to build the second wall. As he began to hammer in the nails of the second wall, the first slowly began to fall. As it did so, however, a young boy ran forward to catch it. As he strained to keep the wall from collapsing, another man from the community came forward, he too working to keep the new building from destruction. Eventually, the whole community had turned up to help, either by holding up a wall, or by helping to construct the roof. By the end of the day, the temple was built, constructed in beauty. The congregation found it to be even more beautiful than the one before it, for the simple reason that they, themselves had helped to create it.

The purpose of this story is to convey the message of community, as well as the need to share burden. When one man tries to do it all, he is bound to fail. When a community works together, they are nearly unstoppable.