Rabbi Pinchas once asked his students how they could tell when the night had ended and the day had begun. One student suggested “Could it be when you can see an animal in the distance and tell whether it’s a sheep or a dog?” “No,” answered the rabbi. Another asked, “Is it when you can look at a tree in the distance and tell whether it’s a fig tree or a date palm?” “No,” answered the rabbi. “Then when is it?” the pupils demanded. Rabbi Pinchas said, “It is when you can look into the face of any person and recognize them as your sister or brother. Until we’re able to do that, it is still night.”
