Blog: The Three Little Kosher Chickens and the Big Bad Coronavirus

By Judah Pollack

Editors’ Note: A little levity in the time of COVID-19 from Judah Pollack, a student and member of the Sacred Stream community.

Many of us are familiar with the children’s story, The Three Little Pigs. It dawned on me that it is a wonderful parable for how we can handle this current crisis. (Growing up Jewish I was never really comfortable identifying with the little piggies. So please indulge me as we tell the tale of the Three Little Kosher Chickens.)

Once upon a time there were three little kosher chickens. One lived in a house made of straw, one in a house made of sticks, and one in a house made of bricks. One day the Big Bad Coronavirus showed up and the three little chickens ran into the house made of straw.

The little chicken that lived in this house believed that the market regulated itself, that inequality had more to do with laziness than systemic issues, that humans were only motivated by self-interest, that everyone is a stand-alone individual, and that the world would be a better place if all quarrels were settled in Thunderdome.

This little chicken had spent the past few weeks figuring out how to capitalize on the crisis for the most personal gain.

And the Big Bad Coronavirus huffed and it puffed and blew that house of straw right down.

The Three Little Kosher Chickens screamed “Oy!” and ran into the house made of sticks.

The little chicken who lived here believed in universal healthcare, that we all need to take care of one another, that value is measured in our human connections, that altruism is at the base of human nature, and the world would be a better place if we all truly practiced the words of that Jewish Rebbe, Jesus.

This little chicken had spent the past few weeks huddling with her chicks, eating popcorn and binging on TV with them, and worrying herself sick about the health of her parents, friends, neighbors, book club, the planet, and the general mendacity of the conservative movement.

And though it took the Big Bad Coronavirus three tries, it finally huffed and it puffed and it blew that house down.

The three little kosher chickens shouted “Tzim Guzent!” and ran into the house made of bricks.

The little chicken who lived here believed we are all here to follow our path, we discover our path by coming to know ourselves, and in knowing ourselves look upon the world as if for the first time; that a crisis like this shines a spotlight on what truly matters, not money or success or achieving status, but rather striving to come to a place where we can say, “I am enough just as I am, and so are you,” and truly mean it.

This little chicken had spent the past few weeks taking care of herself first, then taking care of others as best she could. She did not beat herself up or worry herself too much.

And the Big Bad Coronavirus huffed and it puffed but it could not blow that house down.

And the Three Little Kosher Chickens kvelled and then were veklempt from the stress of it all, and so they went and ate some chocolate babka.

The end.