Story Tour

A king was traveling along the road leading a large group of advisors and knights. Their journey led them to the edge of a field that was surrounded by a fence. Since they were pressed for time, the king ordered that the fence be torn down so they could pass through. 

The field was owned by a simple hard working villager. He did not know the king at all and thought that the men who had broken the fence to his field were a group of hunters. He became angry and threw stones and dirt at them; one of the stones struck the king in the head. 

The simple villager was immediately seized by the king’s men and brought to trial. It did not take long for the court to reach a decision. The farmer was sentenced to death for his crime of rebelling against the king. 

Seeing that the villager had entirely no grasp of just how serious his act had been, the king had mercy on him and annull the verdict.

The villager would not go unpunished, however, as the king ordered him to clean the streets of the capital city. 

The man was first instructed to clean the streets that were quite a distance away from the king’s palace. Next he cleaned the areas immediately surrounding the palace, and ultimately the king’s courtyard. With each area that he cleaned, the villager began to understand the scale of the kingdom and just how powerful and awesome the king truly was. Having arrived at this understanding, it also dawned on him to what degree he had wronged the king and just how severe his crime had been. 

When he had concluded his task, he turned to the minister in charge and requested that he bring him before the king so that he would be able to ask him for his forgiveness. 

A man who sins does not have any understanding of Hashem’s greatness and therefore stumble and sins on occasion. Had he understood how powerful and awesome the Holy One, blessed be He is, he would plead and request for forgiveness for his soul.

May you be inscribed for a year of blessings, sweetness, success and health

May all your Tales end with Shalom

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Rosh HaShanah (the Jewish New Year) is coming very soon. This is a time for all Jewish people to reflect and seek forgiveness for deeds of the past year. Repentance is the goal of every Jewish person during this time of the year. One can repent out of fear or out of love for the Holy One, blessed be He.

Repentance Out of Love

The rabbis of old taught that (Yoma 86b):

“Great is repentance out of love, for it turns sins into merits.”

Explaining the lofty level of repentance that is motivated by love of the Holy One, Blessed be He and why it is preferable to repentance motivated by fear of the Holy One, blessed be He is indeed a difficult task. It is brought down that once:

 A thief came upon the idea to steal from the king’s treasury, and he spent many days figuring out how he could dig a tunnel beneath it. Having completed his passageway, he would enter and fill his sacks with the many treasures that lay inside the vast room. He finally worked out a plan and, one night, dug a tunnel.

 His planning had not been exact enough, and instead of leading to the king’s treasury, the tunnel led into the great hall next to it. The thief entered the dark corridor and felt around, but did not find any riches at all. He was very disappointed and so he turned around and escaped before the sun came up.

That very same night, a different thief attempted to break into the king’s treasury as well. He, too, dug a tunnel, but unlike the first thief, he managed to successfully enter the treasury and fill his sacks with the king’s treasures. Before he left, however, he stopped for a moment and thought,

“How could I be so bold as to steal from the king himself? Why, I am obligated to honor him”

The thief emptied his bags completely and escaped to his home. When day broke, the king’s subjects noticed that there were two openings that were dug into the palace walls, but the careful investigation revealed that not a thing was missing from the treasury.

The king very much wanted to know the reason behind this strange occurrence, so he ordered that a full investigation be made by his trusted sheriff. In a very short time, the king’s sheriff brought the two thieves before him, and the king interrogated them, asking them to explain their actions. “I will not deny it,” said the first thief. “I entered the king’s treasury but did not find a thing. Since I feared that daybreak was near, I escaped in order to save myself.” The king immediately ordered that the thief be taken to the dungeon.

“I,” confessed the second thief, “entered the treasury and even took whatever I could. Suddenly I realized and understood that what I was about to do was a very bad thing which was an insult to the king’s honor. Out of love for the king, I decided on the spot to not follow through with this wicked deed.” When the king heard this, he sent the man home and even granted him many gifts.

So, too, in relation to repentance, it is a great honor to the King of the World when a person repents out of love!

LaShanah Tovah

Rosh HaShanah is just a few days away. People all around the world are trying to make amends for mistakes of the past year.

 May all your Tales end with Shalom

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A group of wealthy merchants went into an inn located near the cross­roads. They asked the innkeeper to serve them food and drink, and knowing that his guests had the ability to pay, he has­tened to set the table for them. 

“What would you like to eat?” asked the innkeeper. 

One of them answered, “I would like a good, thick meat broth.” “I would like to eat fresh fish,” said another. 

One by one, the merchants proceeded to order tasty delicacies, each one requesting the dish that he craved. 

A weak voice was suddenly heard coming from one corner of the inn, “Please serve me bread, for I am starving!” 

The guest who had made the request was a beggar who had happened to enter the inn at the same time. 

The innkeeper left the group of merchants and quickly placed bread before the beggar. 

“Should this beggar be served before us?” asked the merchants. “Why, we are ordering a massive feast, yet you prefer to serve him first?” 

“You,” responded the innkeeper, “are ordering delicacies for yourselves. This beggar, is asking for bread in order to survive. Who knows how long it has been since he has last had something to eat.” 

There are times when individuals who pursue their cravings and desires stand in prayer and make various requests in order to increase their assets and prestige in the eyes of the world. 

Then there is the individual who tearfully requests bread for his young children. 

The Holy One, blessed be He will most certainly give his prayer preference and answer it immediately, for the man is pleading for his life and the lives of his children!

May all your Tales end with Shalom

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Once upon a time there lived a pious man who had grown very old, and when the time for his death approached, he called his three sons and instructed them that they should never quarrel with one another, for they might be led to swearing and he had never sworn in his life. Soon after that he died and left them a beautiful spice garden, which he commanded them to guard continually against thieves. The first night, the eldest brother lay down in the garden to watch. The Prophet Elijah came to him and said: “My son, what is your wish? Do you prefer to be a scholar, or a rich man or to marry a beautiful maiden?” He replied: “I should like to be a rich man.” So the Prophet Elijah gave him a coin, and he became a rich man.

The following night, the second brother lay down in the garden. The Prophet Elijah came also to him and asked him the same question as to what he would like to have. He replied that he would like to study the whole Torah. So he gave him a book and he became a great scholar.

On the third night, the youngest son went into the garden. The Prophet Elijah came to him also and asked him what he would like to have. He said that he would like to have a beautiful wife. The Prophet Elijah then said: “You must go with me and I will give you a beautiful, pious wife.” So they went away together. The first night they stopped at an inn, whose owner was a wicked man. In the night the Prophet Elijah heard the chickens and the geese talking to one another and saying: “The young man must he a great sinner if he is destined to marry the daughter of this wicked man. They are all worthless people and worshipers of idols.” When the Prophet Elijah heard this, he understood what they said and went on his way.

The next night, as they stopped at another inn, they heard again the chickens and the geese talking to one another and saying: “The lad must be a great sinner if he is destined to take the master’s daughter for a wife, for they are wicked people and worship idols.” In the morning, they rose up early and went on their way.

The third night, they came to an inn, whose master had a beautiful daughter. In the night, the Prophet Elijah heard the chickens and the geese talking to one another and saying: “What a virtuous lad he must be if he is destined to get as a wife such a beautiful and pious girl. For all the people in this house are pious and righteous persons.” Early in the morning the Prophet Elijah rose up and asked the master of the house to give his daughter to the young man as a wife. They were married and returned home in peace.

After a time the Prophet Elijah came to visit the three brothers in order to see what use they had made of the gifts he had ranted them. He disguised himself as a poor man and came to the first brother, who had gotten wealth. He was refused admittance and no assistance of any kind was given to him. The man had become a hard-hearted miser. Thereupon the Prophet Elijah made himself known to the man and said to him: “Give me back the coin which I gave you many years ago and which made you wealthy, for you kept your wealth to yourself, you have not helped the poor and have done no work of charity. You are not worthy of it.” So he took back the coin, and the man lost all that he possessed.

Elijah then came to the second brother in the guise of a scholar. That man, however, had grown so proud and arrogant that he treated every man with contempt and boasted of his learning far beyond his merits. But he did not continue his study, nor did he have a circle of students, and he treated the Prophet Elijah in the same contemptuous manner as the rest. So he revealed himself to the man and said to him: “Have you forgotten that all your learning comes from the book which I gave you and not through any merit of yours? You are no longer worthy to keep it. Return it to me.”

The Prophet Elijah then came to the house of the youngest brother. He disguised himself as a poor man. No sooner did the wife of this man see the beggar than she called him in, treated him hospitably and showed him all possible kindness. In the evening when her husband came home, the Prophet Elijah told him who he was, took out the coin and the book from his bosom and said to the man:

“I give you wealth and learning through the merits of your good and pious wife. For you will know how to make the proper use of both.”

Thus the choice of the young man who had asked for a beautiful and pious wife proved to him a real blessing.

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A wealthy merchant made known that anyone in his city in need of a loan should come to him, and he would receive the entire sum that he needed. 

Upon hearing of the wealthy merchant’s offer, many people came to his home. The wealthy merchant sat at his desk with his notepad opened in front of him. He gave each person the sum of money that he needed, and then jotted down the amount in his notepad. Some time later, the wealthy merchant realized that of all the people he had lent money to, not one had paid him back. 

It happened to be, that one of the people who had borrowed money truly did not have the means of repaying the debt. He decided to go to the wealthy merchant and explain why he was late in returning his money. He hoped that the man would be kindhearted and understand his situation. 

Upon hearing the man’s explanation as to why he was unable to repay the loan, the wealthy merchant responded:

“I certainly excuse you of not having repaid me, as I see that you are speaking the truth. I have but one request to make of you, please go throughout the city tell the rest of my debtors to pay me back.” 

We are all indebted to the Holy One, blessed be He for the abundance of kindliness that He showers upon us at each and every moment. But due to our small stature and limited skills and faith, we are incapable of repaying that debt. What we can do, though, is speak to others and inspire them regarding matters of Heavenly gifts, reminding them that they too, are indebted to to the Holy One, blessed be He. 

May all your tales end with shalom 

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The people of a certain faraway land had a custom that every year they would go out to the main road which led to their country, and when they spotted a stranger approaching, they would crown him as their king. This newly appointed king would then decide all the matters of the land. 

At the year’s end, they would remove him from his throne and drive him out of the kingdom. Stripped of his royalty, he would leave just as he had come. The people would then go out to the main road once again and find themselves a new king. This situation repeated itself year after year. 

Once a very poor man happened to be travelling along the main road. While he owned no money he had great wisdom and an amazing range of knowledge. Suddenly, he saw a great parade of joyful and excited people heading his way. Before he even had a moment to understand the cause behind the excitement, he was dressed in noble robes and a royal crown was placed upon his head. He was brought directly to the royal palace in the capital city, where he was installed as king for the coming year with an elaborate coronation. 

Thinking about the strange events that had taken place, the king summoned one of his ministers, who offered him a detailed explanation of the land’s custom. 

“Amazing,” thought the king. “It seems that after a year, I will once again be a penniless beggar. How interesting…” 

What did he do? Over the course of the year, the king dispatched to his old home as much money jewelry, merchandise, and items of great worth, as he was able to.

When the year drew to a close, the people entered his room and brought him his old clothing. They then expelled him from the country with a warning never to return. 

The man returned home where the massive treasure which he had worked so hard  to gather. From that treasure the man was able to support himself and his family providing them with a life of wealth and luxury for years to come. 

Man comes to this world for but a limited length of time. There are times when he is totally immersed in the pleasures and trivialities of this world and does not pay attention to the time that is quickly passing. Eventually, his years pass by and he arrives in the World to Come emptyhanded, having nothing to show for his stay in this world. 

This is not the case, however, with the wise man who possesses a great deal of foresight. In this world, he works in order to send ahead a treasure of mitzvos and good deeds, which will stand in his merit on the day of accounting. 

Praiseworthy is he and praiseworthy is his portion!

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Rabbi Rachmiel Tobesman will present a session, Once Upon A Time To Comfort…Jewish Children And Grieving, at NewCaje Conference in Boston, MA  -  1-4 August  2010  

Coping up with the death of a loved one is hard enough, but dealing with it as a child is even harder.  Many Jewish children don’t understand the grieving process and are thrust into a world of shiva, levaya, and kaddish causing them even more confusion and frustration. Rabbi Rachmiel Tobesman will introduce activities, lessons and stories to guide children in changing such a gloomy moment into a time of discovery and healing.  

Death, grieving and mourning practices are often overlooked in the life cycle classes in many religious schools as the topic is hard to teach. Rabbi Tobesman will offer invaluable resources for educators, rabbis, parents and children that are filled with activities, stories and explanations,. These features help children to understand their feelings and the grieving process in the Jewish community. 

Please contact Project Shalom at projectshalom1@aol.com for more information

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He who lets his voice be heard during prayer is thought to have little faith in the Holy One, blessed be He.  He who prays in a loud voice is a false prophet, as it is written:  “And they cried aloud.”  He who belches or yawns during prayer is considered arrogant.  Others say, he behaves badly and is ill-mannered. 

Berachos 24b 

A rich man suffered terribly as he could not sleep. Night after night, he lay awake in bed, as worries gnawed at his heart and did not permit him to relax. 

What worried him so? 

The rich man was a merchant who sold diamonds and other precious gems. Naturally he stored a massive amount of gems and cash in his home. 

“Indeed,” thought the rich man to himself, “my money and gems are hidden inside a large and sturdy safe; but what will be if a thief enters my home and terrorizes me into opening the safe? What will I do then?” 

This thought disturbed him greatly and he tossed and turned, unable to sleep night after night. 

One night, the rich man leaped from his bed in a state of joy, thinking that he had resolved his problem. 

He hired an expert safe maker, who constructed a wall within the safe. Behind the wall, the rich man hid most of his wealth, leaving only a small amount of cash and inexpensive gems in the actual safe. 

“If a thief will come now, G-d forbid,” thought the thief, “he will find only a pittance of money and the rest will be safely hidden away” 

From then on, the rich man slept soundly. 

When it comes to one’s Divine service, a person must act similarly. For if an individual serves his Creator visibly and publicly, he is likely to grow proud or incur an “evil eye.” The majority of a person’s Divine service should therefore he performed privately, and only a minute amount should he revealed to the public.

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We learn from the Holy Writings:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are My ways your ways” (Isa. 55:8). When a man has a vessel, he rejoices in it as long as it is whole and useful; when it is broken, he has no use for it. Now, what is the Holy One’s precious vessel? Man’s heart. When the Holy One sees a man proud in heart, He has no use for him, as is said, “Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the L-rd” (Prov. 16:5). But when the heart is broken, He says, “This one is Mine,” as is said, “The L-rd is near to them that are of a broken heart” (Ps. 34:19).

There once lived a master Jewish tailor. Even the nobility, for miles around, came to have their clothing fashioned by his talented hand.

Once, a nobleman came to the tailor bring with him a bolt of cloth. Handing it to the tailor, he said, “This is very fine and expensive material; it comes all the way from the East. I want you to sew me a suit of clothes, but I want it to be well cut and tailored, to do justice to the fabric.”

“Am I not a master tailor?” laughed the tailor, as he received the material.

A few days later, when the tailor brought the suit for its first fitting, the nobleman was displeased with the result. “You’ve ruined the fine cloth!” he ranted. In a fit of anger, he threw the cloth at him and chased him out of his house.

After this incident, the tailor lost his good name. The other noblemen stopped patronizing him and he was soon starving. When his wife saw how poor they had become, she urged her husband to visit the holy rabbi of the town. “Many people are helped by him. Go to him; he will tell you what to do.”

The tailor followed his wife’s advice and went to the rabbi.

After the holy rabbi heard the tailor pour out his sad tale, he said to him, “This is what you must do. Take the very suit that you sewed for the nobleman. Rip out the seams, but sew them back in the same place. Then take the suit to him again.”

The tailor laughed inwardly at this suggestion, but followed it nevertheless. He had nothing to lose. When the suit was completed for the second time, he took it back to the poritz for his approval. This time, the nobleman was very pleased with the result. He praised the tailor highly and even gave him a gift of appeasement.

The tailor returned to the holy rabbi and told him what had happened.

“I realized,” said the holy rabbi, “that when you first sewed the garment, you felt a sense of exaggerated pride, as if your skill was beyond question. A thing done from pride lacks grace. That is why it failed to please the count. When you came to me, bowed and meek, no longer so self-confident in your skill, I told you to rip out the stitches and begin all over again. The second time you sewed it with humility and submission. And then the same garment suddenly became appealing!”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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So many questions are raised every day about faith and the most important questions are where to begin and where to find faith. The answers are not complicated or even ellusive, and are in the reach of each person: 

A great rabbi and his student, were once walking together along a country road. Suddenly a farmer came rushing up to them, begging them to help him. 

He pointed to a large wagon in the distance and said urgently, “My wagon of hay has overturned and the hay has scattered. Can you lend me a hand?” 

They looked at the scattered bundles of hay, shook their heads and said, “We cannot help you. It is a hopeless task.” 

“Oh yes, you could,” said the farmer, “if you would only want to, you certainly could! You just don’t want to!” 

He turned around and went back to the wagon where he began loading the hay on himself. 

The older rabbi turned to his student and said, “Did you hear that farmer? He said that if we really wanted to, we could do the job. If we really were sincere about serving the Holy One, blessed be He, then nothing would stand in our way, nothing would seem impossible. Nothing would seem too difficult. But,” he sighed, “we don’t want to. That is why we make excuses and say that we cannot.”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace) 

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