מדרש תנחומא
מַעֲשֵׂה שֶׁשָּׁאַל טוּרְנוּסְרוּפּוּס הָרָשָׁע אֶת רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא:
אֵיזוֹ מַעֲשִׂים נָאִים, שֶׁל הָקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אוֹ שֶׁל בָּשָׂר וְדָם?
הֵבִיא לוֹ רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא שִׁבֳּלִים וּגְּלֻסְקָאוֹת.
אָמַר לוֹ: אֵלּוּ מַעֲשֵׂה הָקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְאֵלּוּ מַעֲשֵׁה יְדֵי אָדָם.
אָמַר לוֹ: אֵין אֵלּוּ נָאִים יוֹתֵר מִן הַשִׁבֳּלִים?!
It happened that Turnus Rufus the Wicked asked Rabbi Akiva: “Which are greater – the works of God or the works of humanity?” Rabbi Akiva brought before him stalks of wheat and loaves of bread. “These are the works of God, and these are the works of humanity,” Rabbi Akiva said to him, “Aren’t these (loaves) greater than the stalks of wheat?!”
[translation by Hazon]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
In what ways are bread greater than wheat? What does this teach us about humanity's role in the world?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)