Mock Trial

A chosid, during a mock trial by the KGB in Russia, was given his few moments to present his defense, prior to sentencing. Knowing that the conclusion was already predetermined, and the whole “trial” was a farce, he chose, instead, to use his time to share a story:

A lion once went over to a rooster and roared ‘I am going to gobble you up!’

Trembling with fear, the rooster asked the king of the beasts why it deserves such a terrible fate. ‘Because you trot through the homes of people, tracking dirt and dust in your wake’, explained the lion.

‘But my actions are actually beneficial, they enable the homeowners to find lost objects, and they are very thankful for my behavior’, explained the rooster, in its’ defense.

‘I am going to gobble you up!’, the lion roared even louder than before.

‘Why, your majesty’, the rooster questioned again, in desperation.

‘Because early every morning you crow and crow, and make such a ruckus, and don’t let anybody sleep’.

‘But, that is what enables people to wake up, and it is so crucial to their productivity’, exclaimed the rooster.

‘I am going to gobble you up!’, bellowed the lion at the top of his lungs.

‘Why should you do this, your majesty’, the rooster cried.

‘Because I am strong and you are weak’, was the final, unanswerable retort of the lion.

And with this, the chosid rested his case.