## Sefer Chasidim Siman 438

###### Sefer Chasidim 438:1
[Sefer Chasidim 438:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20Chasidim/r/438:1)

אחד היה בכפר והיה צריך לערבה ולא מצא ערבה יפה אלא בחצר התועבה על מים א"ל זקן אחד קח ערבה שאינה יפה ואל תקח ערבה יפה שבחצר התועבה כי לא לרצון יהיה:

**Medieval Jewish mysticism, translated by Sholom Alchanan Singer. Northbrook, Ill. Whitehall Co., 1971:**
There was one man in a village who needed a willow branch and he didn't find so beautiful a willow branch as in a yard of idolatry by water. A wise person said to him: you'd better take the one which is not so beautiful rather than that beautiful one from the yard because you will not find grace (if you take the latter).