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    Two are better than one, Koheles style.



קהלת פרק ד

(ט) טוֹבִים הַשְּׁנַיִם מִן הָאֶחָד אֲשֶׁר יֵשׁ לָהֶם שָׂכָר טוֹב בַּעֲמָלָם:
(י) כִּי אִם יִפֹּלוּ הָאֶחָד יָקִים אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ וְאִילוֹ הָאֶחָד שֶׁיִּפּוֹל וְאֵין שֵׁנִי לַהֲקִימוֹ:




Two are better than one, who share the reward of their labor. For if they fall, each can raise his chaver/friend; but if one falls, no second can raise him.
-- Koheles 4:9,10)


If two people are falling, how can being togther help? Now you have twice the clumsiness to deal with! But look more closely at the choice of word that we translate as "friend" -- chaver. The root of this word denotes a connection that permits flow or sharing between the two connected entities. The end is also curious, if one falls, why can't any other second raise him?

Now... why does anything fall? Falling comes only from one thing... lack of balance. These two, when connected, are balanced and therefore can support the falling and failing of the other. When they are apart, however, each one is falling;even while standing. Of course and no other can raise them. Only the one who offers balance can help, another -- any other -- leaves him just as unstable as before; constantly falling even when standing.

But together and connected they are balanced. Morever, the heavier the separate sides are, the worse they are when they are apart and the the stronger and more balanced they are together. It is precisely what makes them weak and fragile when apart that makes them strong and resiliant when together!

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