Landscapers in Chelm

Chaim Yankel was the landscaper in Chelm and one day he and his partner Schmerel were working diligently in a park. Chaim Yankel would dig a hole and Schmerel would follow behind him and fill the hole in.

They worked up one side of the park, then down the other, then moved to the next side of the park, working furiously all day without rest, Chaim Yankel digging a hole, Schmerel filling it in again.

An onlooker was amazed at their hard work, but couldn't understand what they were doing. So he asked Chaim Yankel, "I'm impressed by the effort you two are putting into your work, but I don't get it – why do you dig a hole, only to have your partner follow behind and fill it up again?"

Chaim Yankel wiped his brow and sighed, "Well, I suppose it probably looks odd because we're normally a three-man team. But today Berel who plants the trees called in sick."