Once upon a time a poor unfortunate man lived with his mother, his wife, and his six children in a one-room hut. Because they were so crowded, the children often fought, and the man and his wife argued. When the poor man couldn’t stand it any longer, he ran to the Rabbi for help. He explained the situation.
The rabbi thinks for moment, then asks, “Do you have chickens?” “Yes, I have 6 chickens,” says the farmer. “Bring them into the house,” says the rabbi. The farmer is confused, but knows the rabbi is very wise. So he goes home, and brings all the chickens to live in the house with the family. Now it’s still crowded and noisy, but even worse, with the clucking, and pecking, and flapping of wings.
The farmer goes back to the rabbi. “I did what you said, Rabbi. But with the chickens, now it’s even worse in the house.” The rabbi thinks for moment. Then he asks, “Do you have any goats?” “Yes, I have two goats,” says the farmer. “Bring them into the house,” says the rabbi.
The farmer is confused, but knows the rabbi is very wise. He brings the goats from the barn to live in the house. It doesn’t solve the problem. In fact, it is much worse, with the chickens clucking and flapping their wings, and the goats bleating, butting their heads against everything. and chewing the furniture.
The next day, the farmer goes back to the rabbi. “I did what you said, Rabbi. My mother has no place to sleep because the chickens have taken her bed. The goats are sticking their heads into everything and making a lot of noise.” The rabbi thinks. He looks very puzzled. Then he says, “Aha! You must have some sheep.” “Yes, I have sheep,” says the farmer. “Bring them into the house,” says the rabbi.
The farmer knows the rabbi is very wise. So he brings his six sheep inside. this doesn’t solve his problem—in fact, it is much, much worse. The chickens are clucking and flapping their wings, the goats are bleating and butting their heads. The sheep are baa-ing, too, and one sat on the farmer’s eyeglasses and broke them. The house is loud and crazy and it is starting to smell like a barn.
Completely exasperated, the farmer goes back to the rabbi. “Rabbi,” he says, “I have followed your advice. I have done everything you said. Now none of us has a place to sleep because the chickens are laying eggs in our beds. The goats are bleating and butting their heads, and the sheep are breaking things. The house smells like a barn.” The rabbi frowned. He closed his eyes and thought for a long time. Finally he said, “This is what you do. Take the sheep back to the barn. Take the goats back to the barn. Take the chickens back to their coop.”
The farmer ran home and did exactly as the rabbi had told him. As he took the animals out of the house, his children and wife and mother began to tidy up the house. By the time the last chicken was settled in her coop, the house looked quite nice. And, it was quiet. All the family agreed their home was the most spacious, peaceful, and comfortable home anywhere.