The Absent-Minded Rabbi

The Rabbi in my son's Talmud class at Yeshiva was always so involved in the text being studied that he never looked up.

He would call on a student for translation and  explanation, and -- without realizing it -- he often chose the same student day after day.

Out of respect, the students wouldn't point this out to him.

After being called on four days in a row, a student named Goldberg asked advice from his friends.

The next day when the rabbi said "Goldberg, translate and explain."

Goldberg replied, "Goldberg is absent today."

"All right," said the rabbi. "You translate and explain."