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32 The Old Couple and Their Children T O L D B Y N A F T A L I B O R N S T E I N T O P I N H. A S G U T T E R M A N When he reached old age, Barukh the carpenter divided his substantial property among his children. He allotted some of the buildings and some of the money to each son and daughter. He divided it all fairly, lest there be—Heaven forbid!—less for one and more for another. After he registered his property in the name of his children, who were all married and had their own children, he told them: “Now my heart is quiet, because when I die you will not have any trouble or aggravation with my property. You are my children and after my death you might come to quarrel because of my property and deprive me of rest in my grave. This way my soul will have its repose in the world to come.” You should not think that Barukh the carpenter had transferred all of his property to his children and left over nothing for himself. No, Barukh the carpenter kept something for himself, too. He reserved for himself a portion equal to what he gave each child, so that he and his wife could manage as long as they lived. He left himself the small house where he lived, which was also where he had his carpenter’s shop. He told his children , with a quiet heart, “I have kept for myself a share of my property equal to what I have given each of you.” After that, Barukh the carpenter was at peace with his property, knowing that his children would not quarrel after his death. He kept working in his trade, carpentry. Despite his years he was a healthy man—Barukh the carpenter had never been sick in his life—so he kept working and made a good living to support himself and his wife. Each morning, he got up early and went to the synagogue for the first morning minyan.* As soon as the service was over he returned from the synagogue, carrying his tallit** and tefillin.§ When he got home, he put his 244 * Quorum of ten Jewish men, which constitutes a prayer group. ** Prayer shawl.§ Small black leather prayer boxes, wrapped around the head and arm, containing passages from the Torah. tallit and tefillin away in their place and began working. This is what he had done all his life since the age of twelve, when he started working in the carpenter’s shop. And then, all of a sudden, Barukh the carpenter took ill and lay in bed night and day. As old age approached, Barukh the carpenter came down with a bad case of the grippe. His children brought a first-rate physician to examine their father. He wrote him a prescription and Barukh recovered and got out of bed. He got out of bed after his illness—but he could no longer work. The children brought their father all sorts of good things. Barukh continued to live with his old wife until she died, suddenly, of a chronic illness. Barukh the carpenter was left by himself after his wife’s death, all alone in his house. His children asked their father to come to their homes, to live with them, to eat and sleep there. Having no real choice, Barukh the carpenter, left all alone, went to live with his firstborn son and eat at his table. Barukh the carpenter cried bitter tears when he left his dear house, where he had lived all his life with his wife and his children in harmony and joy. In this house, he had raised his sons and daughters and married them off and celebrated the festivals and joyous occasions with his family, all of them together. But now he had to leave his dear house and had no choice but to go live with his son. With a great ache and bitter tears Barukh the carpenter left his house, taking his tallit and tefillin with him, and went to live with his oldest son. When he arrived there, his son’s family greeted him warmly. His son’s wife was very glad to see her father-in-law. She took him in willingly and cooked for him and saw that he had everything he needed. Everything was fine—except that everything...

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