The Turkey Prince – Rebbe Nachman’s Stories Animated

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The Turkey Prince

A royal prince once became mad and thought that he was a turkey. He felt compelled to sit naked under the table, pecking at bones and pieces of bread like a turkey. The royal physicians all gave up hope of ever curing him of this madness, and the king suffered tremendous grief. A sage then came and said, “I will undertake to cure him.” The sage undressed and sat naked under the table next to the prince, picking crumbs and bones. “Who are you?” asked the prince. “What are you doing here?” “And you?” replied the sage. “What are you doing here?” “I am a turkey,” said the prince. “I am also a turkey,” answered the sage. They sat together like this for some time, until they became good friends. One day, the sage signaled the king’s servants to throw him shirts. He said to the prince, “What makes you think that a turkey can’t wear a shirt? You can wear a shirt and still be a turkey.” With that, the two of them put on shirts. After a while, he signaled them again, and they threw him a pair of pants. Just as before, he said, “What makes you think that you can’t be a turkey if you wear pants?” The sage continued in this manner until they were both completely dressed. Then he signaled again, and they were given regular food from the table. Again, the sage said, “What makes you think that you will stop being a turkey if you eat good food? You can eat whatever you want and still be a turkey!” They both ate the food. Finally, the sage said, “What makes you think a turkey must sit under the table? Even a turkey can sit at the table.” The sage continued in this manner until the prince was completely cured. (Kokhavey Ohr, Maasiot U’Meshalim)