אות - קל

I heard in his name — regarding those who are famous Baalei Mofes [performers of wonders]: he related a story of a king who had two sons — one was wise and one was a fool. And he appointed the fool as supervisor over the treasuries, and to the wise one there was no appointment whatsoever — he only sat with the king always. And it was very difficult for people that this one who is not wise has all the appointments, and everyone comes and enters to him to deposit or to withdraw from the treasuries; while the wise one has no appointment at all. The king answered them: Is this a virtue — that he takes prepared treasuries and distributes them to the world?! For this wise one sits with me and thinks thoughts and arrives at new counsels that I am unable to arrive at myself — and through these counsels I conquer provinces I knew nothing of at all, from which all my treasuries are drawn and come. But this appointed one takes prepared treasuries and distributes them to the world. Therefore certainly the greatness and elevation of the wise one far surpasses the appointed one — even though it appears he has no appointment at all. For from him all the treasuries are drawn as mentioned above. [Narratives, stories, and matters that occurred in connection with every Torah and episode:]