This article first appeared on Meaningfulminute.org There is a fascinating story about the great sage Choni Ha-Ma’agel. Throughout Choni’s life, he was troubled about the meaning of the passuk, “When Hashem brought back those that returned to Tzion, we were like dreamers.” Is it possible for a person to dream continuously for seventy years? One day, Choni was journeying on the road and saw a man planting a carob tree. He asked, “How long does it take for this tree to bear fruit?” The man replied: “Seventy years.” Choni asked the man: “Are you certain you will live another seventy years?” The man replied: “I found ready-grown carob trees in the world; as my ancestors planted these for me, I too planted these for my children.” Choni sat down to have a meal, and fell asleep. A rocky formation enclosed upon him and hid him from sight, and he continued to sleep for seventy years. When he awoke, he saw a man gathering the fruit of the carob tree, and he asked him, “Are you the man who planted the tree?” The man replied: “I am his grandson.” Thereupon he exclaimed: “It is clear that I have been in a dream for seventy years!” Choni returned home, and he inquired, “Is the son of Choni Ha-Ma’agel still alive?” The people answered him, “His son has passed on, but his grandson is still alive.” Choni said to them: “I am Choni,” but no one believed him. Choni then went to the Beis Medrash and overheard them saying, “The halacha is as clear to us as in the days of Choni Ha-Ma’agel,” for whe
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