The Jug

Once the Baal Shem said to his disciples: “Just as the strength of the root is in the leaf, so the strength of man is in every utensil he makes, and his character and behaviour can be gauged from what he has made.” Just then his glance fell on a fine beer jug standing in front of him. He pointed to it and continued: “Can’t you see from this jug that the man who made it had no feet?”

When the Baal Shem had finished speaking, one of his disciples happened to pick up the jug to set it on the bench. But the moment it stood there it crumbled to bits.