When Does Day Begin?

A Hasidic Rabbi put this question to his students: “How can we determine the hour of dawn, when the night ends and the day begins?”

“When from a distance you can distinguish between a dog and a sheep,” suggested one. 

“No,” answered the Rabbi. 

“When you can distinguish between a fig tree and a grapevine,” offered another.

“No,” said the Rabbi.

“Tell us,” the students said.

The Rabbi answered, “When you look into the face of another human being and have enough light to recognize her or him as your sister or brother.  Up until then it is night, and darkness is still with us.”