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" God rests in man,
as man rests under a tree.
And the shadow, by grace of God, is man
in the tree and tree in man.
I could have been this man. I have shared his shadow.
"Yukel, tell us of the shadow we share."
(" A shadow is never more than a shadow," said Reb Hazel. But Ioakim Elia, who knew the origin of shadows, did not like this inference.
"A shadow is never more than appearance." he said. "But we know the world each morning scuttles itself to make room for appearance."
"But this world," replied Reb Hazel, "how can you grasp it, if it does not exist?"
"I can grasp what I see." replied Ioakim Elia.
"I just have to open or close my eyes.") "
― Edmond Jabès