I heard this many, many years ago, and have attempted to recreate it here for your reading enjoyment.

Once there was a peaceful village called Trid that was nestled in a beautiful valley deep in the mountains. The people were happy and tranquil, and harmony reigned. Once every month, a team of hardy villagers would take a huge wagon over mountains and into the town to stock up on food, medicine, and other supplies, and then laboriously haul the full wagon back to Trid.

One day, as the monthly trek was headed back to Trid hauling their wagon full of supplies, the group of villagers came upon a huge giant at the top of the mountain. As they approached the giant, he unceremoniously kicked each one of them and they tumbled thousands of feet to the bottom of the mountain into the town square. The supply wagon was demolished.

So the villagers re-stocked their wagon and armed themselves with large sticks, determined to not let the giant stand in their way. When they arrived at the top of the mountain they saw the giant and approached him, waving their sticks. The giant promptly kicked every one of them back down the mountain into the town square.

The villagers of Trid began to worry. It had been several days since their expedition had departed, and they were running low on food and medicine.

Meanwhile, the Trid villagers on the other side of the mountain came up with another plan. If the giant could not be overcome with strength, then perhaps he could be reasoned with. They restocked the wagon and began hauling it back up the mountain, determined to get home to Trid. At the top of the mountain, the giant appeared and began storming towards them. The smartest of the villagers cried out, “Giant! We come in peace – surely we can reason with you!” Without ceremony, the giant kicked all of the villagers right back down the mountain into the town square.

By now the situation was getting desperate in Trid. Food and medicine were becoming scarce. Adults began to ration out meals to the smallest and weakest of the villagers.

Meanwhile, back in town, the Trid expedition came up with a new plan: if they could not reason with or fight against the giant, then perhaps it was time to appeal to a higher power. Unfortunately, the town pastor was too old and sick to make the journey, so they instead turned to the town rabbi. “Oh rabbi, please lead our expedition back to our village of Trid! Surely the giant will not harm us if we are in the company of a holy man!” The rabbi agreed, and so the expedition began the journey once again up the mountain.

At the top of the mountain, the giant met them. One by one, he began kicking the Trids back down the mountain until only the rabbi stood before him. The giant appeared to lose interest, turned around, and began to walk away.

The rabbi shouted, “Wait! You cruel giant, why have you kicked the Trid villagers down the mountain? And why do you not kick me? Why, giant, why?”