The times were bad, a poor woman was having a hard time finding food for her starving children. She had very little money and there was very little to buy in the market. As hard as she tried, she could find no work. She searched throughout the city, but there was no work to be found.

One day the poor woman was walking by the king’s palace and smelled a great and wondrous smell. She followed it to the door to the royal kitchen. As she looked through the door she saw a table with many loaves of bread sitting upon it. She thought to herself, “surely the king would not miss one loaf of bread.” So she quietly went into the kitchen and slipped one of the loaves of bread off of the table.

Suddenly, she heard someone scream, “Thief! Thief!” She turned around and saw that it was the cook. She pleaded with the cook not to report her to the king and the heart of the cook was softened to her pleas. Unfortunately the guards had heard the cook and came running and immediately grabbed poor woman and took her before the king.

The guards told King that the poor woman had stolen a loaf of bread from the royal kitchen. The King was barely paying attention and very nonchalantly replied, “someone dares to steal from the kiing, the punishment is clear. Put her to death.” As the poor woman listened she put her hands in her pocket and felt two pomegranate seeds.

The guards began to lead the poor woman out of the room, but as she passed the king she said to herself, “I guess the secret of the magic pomegranate seeds shall be lost forever.” The King heard the poor woman’s comment and being curious asked, “what is this about magic pomegranate seeds. A secret you have? What is this secret?”

The poor woman explained that her family had passed down the secret that when the pomegranate seeds were planted that they would grow immediately and within a week would be filled with beautiful fruit. The King hearing this told her he wanted proof and, at that, the next day she was to plant the magic pomegranate seeds in the royal garden.

Everyone gathered around as the poor woman was led into the royal garden. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the magic pomegranate seeds and laid them on the ground, dug a shallow hole and picked up the seeds to plant them. When suddenly she stopped and began to cry. The king asked her why was she crying he wanted to see these magic seeds begin to grow.

The poor woman, with tears in her eyes explained that the magic seeds would only grow if planted by someone who had never stolen anything. She went over to the king’s chamberlain and offered a seeds to him, but he hesitated and said, “sometimes I take things from the royal chambers to my home.”

The poor woman turned to the royal tax collector, he too refused the seeds explaining, “sometimes I don’t always record all the tax monies collected for the king. The poor woman turned to the Queen, and with tears in her eyes she sobbed, “I may have forgotten to pay the royal seamstress her full wages. One after another the people who had gathered in the royal garden refused to plant seeds. Finally the poor woman approached the king and told king that she would tell him the secret on how to make the seeds grow but the king put up his hand and said he could not.

The King took a deep breath and explained, “when I was a young boy my father had a magnificent necklace that he wore. More than anything in the world I wanted to hold and wear that beautiful necklace and so one day when no one is around I took the necklace. I brought it into my room and I held it up to the window and as the light caught shined on the fine stones, rainbows danced across my walls. I’ve never seen anything so wonderful in all my days. When my father realized necklace was missing he called all his servants together and no one knew what happened to the necklace. The king called his personal servant and his servant said he did not know where the necklace was and so he was beaten and cast out the Palace. I have told no one of this until this day.

The king looked at the poor woman and sadly said, “You have reminded me that a true king ‘judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with equity.’ (Psalms 9:9) I know that you did not steal from the royal kitchen for your own sake or the hopes of wealth, but to merely feed your starving children. It is a matter of law that ‘Thieves are not despised who steal only to satisfy their appetite when they are hungry.’ (Proverbs 6:30) You have taught a foolish king, wisdom and have reminded me that ‘man does not live by bread alone, but by anything that the L-rd decrees’ (Deuteronomy 8:3). I invite you to come to the royal palace whenever you like and share your wisdom and anything in the royal kitchen you may like.’ “

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Today, many try to modernize various aspects of the basic beliefs of religion. They claim that the Torah/Scriptures is antiquated and needs to be reviewed and updated to be relevant in today’s society. It is indeed sad that the timeless values that have been the cornerstone of countless communities and society have come under attack by those who claim to be enlightened.

We tell stories of yesteryear of the assault of the maskillim (the “enlightened” ones) on the more traditional Orthodox Jewish communities. They frowned upon faith, but adopted the national culture of the countries where they lived to better to better “fit in”.

A maskil (elightened one) once suggested to one of the great rabbis of his generation that modifications in halachah (Jewish law) are needed because the Torah/Scriptures was given thousands of years ago and is not relevant to modern times.

The rabbi replied calmly, “A while back I had to litigate a case. A merchant had ordered goods from a supplier, and specified that he wanted them delivered by November 1, in time for a special sale. That fall there were very heavy rains, and the roads were impassable, with the result that the order was not delivered when it should have been. The merchant sued the supplier, claiming that he had lost a great deal of money due to his failure to deliver on time. After studying all the facts, I ruled in favor of the merchant.

“The supplier protested, but I told him that I must apply the rules of the Torah, according to which the judgment was in favor of the merchant. Realizing the case was about to be closed, he made one final attempt to sway me.

“‘The Torah was given on Shavuos, wasn’t it?’ he pointed out. ‘Yes, of course’ I responded, eager to hear what argument he could have contrived.

‘There you have it!’ he exulted. ‘Shavuos does not occur in autumn, and that’s why the Torah law favors my opponent. If the Torah would have been given during the rainy season, the halachah would have favored my side.’”

After allowing the message to sink in for a second, the Rabbi added, “Don’t you recognize the simple truth that it is as absurd to restrict the Torah (Scriptures) to any one era as it is to make it seasonal?”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Onkelos was a member of the Roman royal family. His mother was Hadrian’s sister and his father was called Klonikas. He was very educated and well-versed in all the Roman and Greek philosophy and beliefs. He was blessed not only with an enquiring mind, a pure heart and a lofty soul.

Once, Onkelos spoke to his uncle, the emperor, Hadrian saying: ” I have studied for many years and have become familiar with all the languages of the Empire and seven sciences. But what have I gained from it all? It is time for me to go out into the world and start doing business. You know that I am not familiar with worldly things, whereas you the great Roman Emperor are well-versed in worldly affairs. I have therefore come to ask your advice as to what kind of material I should buy and sell?”

Hadrian was greatly flattered that his wise nephew should ask his advice and he said: “My vast treasures are at your disposal. Take as much as you need for business. I would advise you to seek material that is extremely inexpensive due to the fact that people do not realize its worth; material that few people are seeking: You will be able to buy it cheaply and after explaining its real value to people you will be able to make a nice profit!”

Onkelos the Prince soon left the imperial palace in Rome. He had heard that there were many treasures and wonderous goods to be found in the faraway city of Jerusalem, in the land of Judah. Once there, he searched the marketplace for goods and frequently spoke to many of the people he met. There was in the marketplace a necromancer who told Onkelos he could help him in his quest. The young Roman prince, Onkelos was curious and agreed to let the necromancer show him his destiny. The necromancer explained he would call upon three spirits for Onkelos to question and that within the answers will be his future.

After hearing the words spoken by the spirits, Onkelos took upon himself the religion of the persecuted Jewish people. Like the Moabite princess, Ruth, he left the ways of his fathers and gave himself over entirely to the holy words of the Torah (Scriptures). He set out to learn day and night until he became well-versed in all the secrets of the Torah (Scriptures).

After a short time Hadrian found out that his nephew had accepted the Jewish religion and had become one of the leading Jewish scholars in the holy city of Jerusalem. The Emperor was beside himself with rage, and he sent a company of soldiers to arrest Onkelos and to bring him in chains to Rome.

When the Roman soldiers arrived, Onkelos greeted them in a friendly manner and he talked to them telling them that we are taught, “You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18).  His words impressed them so much that the soldiers threw themselves at his feet and begged him to teach them, they soon joined the Jewish people, as he had done himself.

When Hadrian saw that his soldiers did not return, he sent another company of brave warriors with instructions to bring Onkelos in chains.

This time he gave orders not to have any discussions with Onkelos, but to arrest him on the spot and bring him to Rome, because Hadrian had heard what had happened to his first messengers.

Onkelos again warmly received the imperial messengers. “I know that the Emperor forbade you to have any discussions with me. You must obey the emperor’s orders; I also obeyed him; I will therefore ask you one question: you know very well what goes on in the Roman, imperial Court. The common soldier carries the torch for the officer; the officer carries it for the captain; the captain for the general and the general for the emperor. Tell me, for whom does the emperor carry the torch?”

“The emperor is not obliged to serve anyone,” they answered him. “He is the highest authority in the country!”

Though the soldiers did not speak with him, Onkelos continued, “Take a look the G-d of Israel, the Creator of heaven and earth, the G-d over everything, in spite of His greatness, still deemed it fit to lighten the way for His servants, the Jewish people as it is written ‘And the L-rd went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night’ (Exodus 13:21) for forty years in the wilderness.”

These words made a great impression on the soldiers, and they immediately gave up their mission and became faithful students of Onkelos.

Once more, Hadrian sent a company of troops with high officers at the head, with the express orders not to say one word to Onkelos and not to answer any questions, but to arrest him immediately, and bring him to Rome bound in chains.

The messengers arrived and started to carry out the emperor’s orders without delay. They led him out of his house. At the door Onkelos stopped, reached up to the doorpost, and joyfully kissed the Mezuzah.

The messengers gazed at him in wonder, and could not restrain themselves from asking him:

“What does that thing on the door symbolize, and why are you so happy at being taken to Rome, where your uncle will surely have you executed?”

“I laugh at foolish people. A king sits in his palace and has guards around him to protect him from danger. But the Jewish King, the L-rd of the World, the King above all kings allows his servants to sit quietly at home and He protects them from outside. That is the Mezuzah on our door!”

The royal messengers fell entirely under the influence of Onkelos’s words and it did not take long before they also became his faithful disciples.

When Hadrian saw that he would not be able to bring his nephew by force, he decided that there must be some special reason for all this. He had a strong desire to see his nephew, so he swore that no harm would befall him if he would come to visit him.

Onkelos started out for Rome. When he presented himself to the Emperor, he was surprised to see that Onkelos had lost much weight. Onkelos assured him that he had gained much Torah (Scriptures)  and wisdom. Hadrian then asked him why he had left his home, and his people and accepted the religion of a small nation that was persecuted and ill-treated by all the other nations of the world?

“I listened to your good advice,” Onkelos answered him with a smile. “You advised me to buy a material for which there are few customers. I traveled throughout the world and I could not find anything that has fewer customers than the Jewish people, their teachings and beliefs. I bought it and I found that I had made a bargain. The holy Jewish Prophets have promised that the poor persecuted Jewish people will become a nation of princes; that the kings throughout the world will consider themselves honored to serve them; and the Torah (Scriptures), which is now down-trodden, will be recognized by all nations, and Jerusalem will be the lighthouse of the whole world.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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So the leaders gathered all the people into the synagogue and they went from one synagogue to another, telling them the terrible news. A great sadness spread through the Jewish community, for no one believed it would be possible to get an apple from the Tree of Life in such a short time.

Now one of the three rabbis who had met with the sultan had a daughter named Leah. How she wished that such a wondrous apple could be found, so that the sultan’s daughter could recover, and the danger to all the Jewish people in Turkey would disappear.

Leah saw that her father was deeply worried by the sultan’s demands, so she said, “Surely, father, we must not give up hope. Miracles have happened before. Let us pray for one to happen for us. Tell me, is there anyone who knows the way to the Garden of Eden?”

“Only one of the thirty-six hidden saints,” her father replied. “It is said that there are thirty-six righteous ones upon whose shoulders that fate of the world rests. But no one knows where they can be found.”

“But, Father,” Leah said, “I have heard of an old Jewish mystic who lives alone in the forest. It is whispered that he might be one of the thirty-six.”

Now the rabbi remembered that he, too, had heard such things said about this old hermit. So he and his daughter set out at once to look for him.

It was not easy to find their way through that dark forest, but everyone did their best to assist the rabbi and his daughter, and finally they reached the old hermit’s house. They knocked on his door, and when he opened it, Leah was astonished to see a light surrounding his face.

The old hermit listened carefully as the rabbi explained what the sultan had demanded of them. Then he went to a shelf, took down an ancient book, and opened it. There, pressed between its pages, was a green leaf, perfectly preserved.

The old hermit took the leaf in his hand.

“This leaf has been pressed be­tween the pages of this book for many centuries. It is said to have been picked from one of the trees in the Garden of Eden. Let your daughter place this leaf on her pillow and she will dream of that glorious garden.”

“My daughter?” asked the astonished rabbi.

“Yes,” said the old hermit. “for she is the one destined to journey there.”

Neither Leah nor her father could believe their good fortune, yet they were mystified that the old hermit had given the precious leaf to Leah instead of to her father. Still, they both thanked the old hermit and set out to return to their home.

On their way, Leah and her father stopped at an inn, and before she went to sleep, Leah gently placed the ancient leaf on her pillow. Even though it was so very old, it looked as fresh as if it had been picked that very day. It also gave off a most wonderful aroma that filled the room.

Bathed in that beautiful scent, Leah closed her eyes, and soon she was sound asleep.

In her dream, Leah found herself in the most splendid garden she had ever seen. Every kind of fruit tree grew there, and the whole garden was filled with a beautiful, unforgettable scent. Leah suddenly realized that she had indeed traveled to the Garden of Eden. She knew that she must hurry, she must find the Tree of Life before it was too late. Tomorrow was the last day the sultan had given them to bring back the enchanted apple.

Leah looked up and saw that there was an angel sleeping in every tree. She called out to one, and when the angel opened its eyes, she asked for its help in finding the Tree of Life. The angel agreed to serve as her guide, but told her that it could take her only to the center of the garden. She would have to figure out for herself which of the two trees that grew there was the Tree of Life.

With the angel’s help, Leah soon found herself in the center of that wonderful garden. There two trees grew, each a mirror image of the other. Apples hung from the branches of both trees. She looked from one tree to the other for a clue as to which was the Tree of Life. But which one should she choose?

Then Leah happened to notice a serpent hidden in the branches of one of the trees, and she was certain that must be the Tree of Knowledge.

Without further hesitation, she plucked a ripe apple from the other tree, and in the same instant, she woke up.

Leah opened her eyes, surprised to find herself back in the inn. Then she saw it—a ripe and shining apple resting on her pillow right where the fragrant leaf had been. An apple from the Tree of Life! Somehow she had brought it back in her dream. Leah could barely believe her eyes. She re­alized that a miracle had truly taken place, and she jumped up, grabbed the apple, and showed it to her father, who had not slept a wink. His eyes opened wide when he saw it, and even wider when she told him her dream.

She shed tears of joy, for now she knew that they could still be saved.

Wasting not a moment, they set out for the sultan’s palace, and when they arrived, the rabbi presented the sultan with the apple. When the sultan saw the rabbi’s joy, he, too, was overjoyed. He himself brought the fragrant apple to his sick daughter, and held it under her nose. Slowly, she opened her eyes. The sultan then drew his knife and cut a small piece of the fruit and placed it between his daughter’s lips, and as soon as she began to eat it the color returned to her face, and she sat up. Within the hour she had indeed a miraculous recovery.

The sultan hugged his daughter and declared that day to be a holiday for all. Then the sultan publicly thanked the Jewish community for saving his beloved daughter, and never again did he threaten them.

As for Leah and her father, the sultan invited them to live in the palace, Leah and the sultan’s daughter became the best of friends. Leah never tired of telling her about her astonishing dream, and about the enchanted apple she had brought back. And the sultan’s daughter never tired of hear­ing this tale, for she, better than anyone else, knew that every word was true.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Once upon a time a certain boy went to sea aboard a ship. On the ship were people of 70 different nations. A violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up (Jonah 1:4) as giant waves crashed down on the ship.  The wind, the torrents of rain and the waves the washed over the deck of the ship caused even the bravest to fear for life.

The people cried to the captain, “come save us from this distress.”

It did not help in the least, in fact the storm grew more violent. The people tore the hair of their heads in the hair of their beards and begged the captain to save them from the storm.

When they saw that the captain could not help them at all, they said to one another, “there is no value in our trust and admiration of the captain and his skills.” Look at this young boy, when he saw the storm beginning he had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. (Jonah 1:5) The men went down to him and said:

“look at the distress and danger around us, how can you sleep? Come call upon your G-d, maybe He will save us so that we shall not be lost.”

The boy stood below the ship’s deck and prayed to the Holy One, blessed be He, saying, “I pray to You, L-rd of the universe. Let your power and might and great name be known this day and remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to whom You talk and now let all the people admit that You are a G-d of truth and let them know that you are a merciful and gracious G-d.”

The Holy One, blessed be He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. (Psalm 107:29), and caused a gentle wind to fill the sails.

When they came to land, each of them brought himself food, and they said to the boy, “buy yourself food as well.” “What are you asking of a poor boy like me?” Said he. “I have no money or wealth with which to buy.” You are not poor,” said they, “but very rich, but all of us people are poor for we cried to powers that did not respond but you, wherever you go, your G-d answers you.”

“You are indeed very foolish” Said he to them. “It seems to me that your gods who hang around your neck are very far away. But my G-d who seems to be far away from me when he is near at hand, as a Psalms says, ‘the L-rd is near to all who call upon him’ (145:18) Moses also said (Deuteronomy 4:7), ‘for what great people is there that has a G-d so close to them as the L-rd our G-d is whenever we cry to him.’” At this, they all began to declare, “your lips speak the truth.”

All blessings begin with “Blessed are You” – as though man were addressing an intimate friend. (Sefer Raziel haGadol , 13^th cent.) Blessed be he who comes in the name of the L-rd. (Psalms 118:26)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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One may ask: “If a person has done many things that are bad and hurtful, can they ever be forgiven?” The Holy Word teaches:

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins: return to Me; for I have redeemed you.   Seek you the L-rd while He may be found; call you upon Him while He is near. (Isaiah 44:22, 55:6)”

It is told that there was a certain man who had been wicked all his life, and he was well aware that it would be very hard for his repentance to be received in heaven. On one occasion he jokingly asked Rabbi Moshe ben Shem-Tov de Leon of blessed memory (1250-1305 c.e.) whether there was any hope for such a great sinner. The holy rabbi thought for some time and answered: “When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned” (Leviticus 5:5). The holy rabbi listened to everything the man had to say and then sadly ruled, “The only remedy and atonement for you is to accept the punishment of death as an atonement for your transgressions.”

Then the wicked man asked him: “If I do accept a sentence of death, shall I have a share in the Garden of Eden?” “Yes,” said the holy rabbi; and the wicked man pleaded: “Swear to me that my place will be near you!” Then Rabbi Moshe ben Shem-Tov de Leon swore to him that he would be near him in the Garden of Eden. When the man heard this, he took a deep breath and expressed, “I prayed to the L-rd my G-d and confessed: “O L-rd, the great and awesome G-d, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands (Daniel 9:4) hear my words that come from the depths of my heart.” The sinner with his broken heart gathered up his courage and followed him to the central shul (synagogue).

Once there, the rabbi ordered that hot lead should be brought to him. They brought the lead, and he puffed air at it with the bellows until the lead was boiling. Then he sat the wicked man on a bench and tied a cloth over his eyes and said to him: “Confess all your sins to our G-d and accept your death as a return for the sins with which you have angered your Creator all your life.” At this, the man burst into a great and exceedingly bitter gush of tears as he proclaimed, “I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.” (Psalm 38:18). Round about him stood many of the community’s elders and sages. And then the rabbi said to him: “Open your mouth wide, and I shall fill it with boiling lead.” And the man opened his mouth very wide in the presence of all the people who stood round about him, in order to accept the fullness of death and so gain life in the World to Come.

At this, the said rabbi took a spoonful of warm rose honey and dropped it into his mouth and said to him: “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. (Proverbs 28:13) May your many sins depart from you and your transgression be atoned!”

The man, his heart sincere and broken began to cry at once in bitter grief: “Holy rabbi! For the honor of our Maker, the King who is King above all kings, the Holy One, blessed be He slay me now indeed, so that I may not see the evil of losing my soul; for why should I live. My sins have mounted higher than my head, from the sole of my feet to the crown of my head, there is no sound place in me; so what have you done to me? Why have you deceived me?”

The holy rabbi answered him: “We are taught: “The L-rd is near to all those who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalms 145:18) For He cleanses a soul from sin, when he makes confession. (Psalms of Solomon 9:12) and “the spirit of man is the lamp of the L-rd, searching all his innermost parts.” (Proverbs 20:27). As long as the lamp of your spirit burns, there is time to make repairs. Do not dread and have no fear, for G-d has already seen all your deeds and has forgiven you. No go forth live by the Holy Words of the L-rd and  sin no more.”

Thereafter the man never left Rabbi Moshe ben Shem-Tov de Leon’s house of study and spent his days in fasting and true repentance.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3) Please share this story with others

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Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding….Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold on her; and happy is every one who holds her fast.

Proverbs 3:13, 17-18

Three close friends lived in a certain city. Together they decided that each one of them would travel to a different land and study a particular wisdom of that land. They agreed that upon concluding their studies, they would reunite and demonstrate what they had learned.

They did exactly that. Each one traveled to a distant land and pursued a different field of study.

After several years, the designated time arrived and the three friends came to the appointed meeting place. They were ecstatic to see each other once again, and once the initial joy had passed, they began to show off what they had learned.

“In the land that I was in,” said one of the friends, “I met an ex­pert craftsman who taught me how to fashion powerful binoculars that enable one to see extremely far distances…”

“I,” said the second friend, “met a remarkable coachmen who taught me how to construct a wagon capable of traveling at great speeds. It can travel the lengthy distance of several miles in the blink of an eye!”

“And I,” said the third friend, “met an elderly doctor who taught me how to concoct an amazing medication capable of healing every type of illness!”

As they were admiring each other’s wisdom, the first friend dis­played the binoculars he had made.

The friends took turns gazing through the powerful binoculars. Amazingly, they were able to see the capital city, which was a very long distance away. Looking inside the city, they observed a great commotion taking place. People were running through the streets in a panic, expressions of anguish and suffering etched upon their faces.

Adjusting the binoculars slightly the friends were able to discern the reason behind the commotion: The king’s daughter had taken ill, and the doctors had given up hope of finding a remedy. A procla­mation therefore went out calling upon anyone capable of lending assistance. In addition, whoever succeeded in curing the king’s daughter would receive an enormous sum of money as a reward.

“It is a pity that I am not in the capital right now,” said the friend who had been taught the art of healing. “Had I been there, I would have presented the king’s daughter with a remedy that would cure her instantly. However, I am too far away…”

“That is not a problem in the least,” remarked the second friend. “Why, the coach that I built could get you to the capital in a matter of minutes.”

The three friends boarded the remarkable coach, and, indeed, they arrived in the capital in the blink of an eye. They stopped at the palace gates and immediately presented the king’s daughter with the amazing remedy.

Lo and behold, upon tasting the medicine, her condition im­proved considerably. Before long, she underwent a total recovery!

At that point, however, the friends began to argue as to which one of them was entitled to the hefty reward that the king had offered.

“If not for my binoculars,” said the first friend, “you would never have known that the king’s daughter was sick.”

“So what?” answered the second friend. “If not for my coach, it would have taken you a month to get to the capital city”

“You are both correct,” said the third friend. “But what good would it have done you to know that the king’s daughter was sick? And once you would have gotten to the capital — what would you have done then? Truthfully, it was only my medication that made all the difference!”

The king listened to their claims and after consulting with his sagacious advisors, turned to the men and exclaimed, “It is cer­tainly true that if we are to judge on basis of what transpired in the past, it would be rather difficult to determine which one of you de­serves the reward. But if we take the future into account…Let us see,” continued the king, “From now on, we will have absolutely no use for your wondrous binoculars. The same thing applies to the spectacular coach. We may very well require more of this unique medicine, however. Therefore, the reward shall be granted to the provider of the medicine!”

There are three partners in the creation of a human being: the Holy One, blessed be He, a father, and a mother. Yet when we desire to know which one of the three a man must obey and respect the most, we must realize that once a child is born, his parents have fulfilled their part of the part­nership. Yet we are forever dependent on the Holy One, blessed be He, as He continuously provides us with life!

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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In the morning he told his family and servants that he must go on a journey. He ordered them to harness his carriage and dressed himself and said farewell to them and made his way to the forest. When he came there, he ordered his driver to wait for him; and he went into the forest where he found the dead man waiting. There the dead man ordered him to take off his fine garments, and instead he gave him patched and tattered old clothes to wear. His face also changed at once and became seamed and wrinkled, so that he seemed like a poor man who had been making the rounds of the houses for a very long time.

Then the dead man ordered him to go back to the city and study Torah in all the Houses of Study. He further instructed him not to tell anybody who he was. When he was hungry, he was not to take any food from any man but must go to his own home and beg for food there. He must sleep upon the ground and live and suffer for days and months until a year had passed. Then the man from the other world stopped speaking and vanished.

The rich man walked out of the forest and began walking, while his driver waited for him all day long. When he saw that he did not return, he searched the forest but did not find him; he returned home and told what had happened. They searched everywhere for the master of the palace but did not find him, so they thought he must have fallen at the hand of robbers. And they grieved him bitterly.

The rich man in his patched garments did everything the dead man told him to do. He spent his time in a House of Study, learning. When he became hungry, he went to his home, but he heard the outcry of the household on his account and wished to turn back. Yet a hidden force pushed him to the doorway. Shamefully, he asked for food, but the servant woman abused him, saying: “Don’t you know that here we give nothing to the poor? And besides, we are all distressed because our master is lost.”

The wealthy man greatly pained, because he could not say who he was and in addition he was suffering the pangs of hunger. Then he began to beg and plead for some bread; and after cursing him and abusing him, they gave him a few crusts on which he lived for several days.

Word spread in the city that a strange poor man had come there and was sitting and studying all the time, and took no food from anybody and requested food only from the home of the missing wealthy man; even though he received it only after suffering and abuse. They thought that he must be mad, and began to throw dust and earth after him. He spent the whole year in this poverty and accepted it in full regret, repentance so distressing that those who read about it must wonder and be aston­ished.

When the year was over he went back to the forest where the dead man was waiting for him. “Great is repentance, it cancels heavenly decrees (Song of Songs Rabbah 8:6),” said the dead man, “that you have merited to pass through this great test of yours. Now remove those disgraceful garments and put on your ex­pensive clothes which I have hidden until this time.” When the rich man did so and put on the rich clothes, his face began to shine. The dead man in­structed him to take the shameful clothes home with him, too; and he ended his words and vanished never to be seen again.

The rich man returned home a changed man. His family rejoiced at his returned and asked where he had been the past year. The rich man remained quiet and told them that all would become clear at the right time. His family and servants told him how a crazy man had come while he was away, always asking for food, and all that had happened to the fellow.

Then the rich man told his household to prepare a great feast of thanksgiving since they had thought that he was among the dead, and he had returned. He requested that everyone in the community especially the poor attend the meal. In the middle of the celebration, while all the guests were in good cheer, he slipped out of the great hall, took off his fine clothes and put on the torn rags and tatters, and appeared like that before them all. At first his household thought that this must be the same crazy man who used to visit them, and then they noticed that the rich man had vanished again. They began to worry once more, perhaps the crazy man had something to do with his disappearance.

Then the rich man revealed himself and told all those who had gathered there what had happened to him. A silence fell upon the feast as the rich man shared, “Give alms from your possessions, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor and the face of God will not be turned away from you. If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. For almsgiving delivers from death and keeps you from going into the Darkness. Indeed, almsgiving, for all who practice it, is an excellent offering in the presence of the Most High.” (Tobit 4:7-11)

His tale and lesson served to bring about a true blessing of the Holy Name. All the people there became com­pletely repentant, and after that he kept open house for the poor and the needy, day and night.

This story is found recorded on paper with an iron pen in an ancient register of a certain great city before G-d.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Many years ago, in a great city before G-d, there dwelt a certain man who was an outstanding scholar and very wealthy and charitable and was praised by all. In due course the lights went out at noon and the wheel of fortune turned for him. He lost his property and grew so poor that he had nothing left but his body. But the man accepted the judgment and left his city and set out and wandered through many lands.

On one occasion he lost his way for several days and had no food left and was weary and so starved that he thought his end had already come; and he prayed to the Holy One Blessed be He. While doing so, he saw that he was standing in front of a magnificent palace surrounded by a beautiful orchard. In this palace lived a most wealthy man who was also a great scholar; and he had built himself this palace in the outskirts of the city so as not to be troubled by the city affairs and business. In this palace he also had his House of Study, where wise men studied the holy words of Torah (Scriptures). The poor man entered the House of Study, and the students quickly discovered that he was a learned man and at home with the Torah (Scriptures). They began to ask him many questions, and he answered each one of them according to the Holy Word. News traveled quickly and many students told the wealthy man what a great scholar the wayfarer was and he also came to his House of Study. He turned to the poor traveler and began to question him, and several hours passed in this manner.

When the time for the morning meal came, each of the students went to his home to eat, and the rich man also went to eat, but did not invite the poor traveler. It should be added that the rich man’s household was also conducted on a large scale but its doors were closed to the poor, who received neither food nor even a single copper coin. The rich man looked on the poor as slaves, not as children of the Holy One, blessed be He.

When the rich man finished eating, he went on discussing Torah (Scriptures) with the traveler until the time came for the noonday meal. Again he did not invite him to join, though the finest foods had been prepared. The poor traveler began to faint from hunger. He could feel that he was starving, and he tried to go to the city to find something to eat but fell to the ground and died, all swollen with hunger. The townsfolk found a dead man, and they took him and purified him and buried him without know­ing who he was. The earth covered his body together with the rich man’s sin. But the Holy One, blessed be He knows all secrets and would sooner have the wicked become righteous than have him perish without leaving his wicked way; and He did not wish that the matter should be forgotten.

On one occasion the rich man sat at night in his House of Study, praying the midnight prayers mourning the destruction of the holy city of Jerusalem, though he was hardhearted, he was very religious and G-d-fearing. Hearing footsteps, he began to tremble, for he knew there was nobody with him, and he raised his voice and shout­ed: “Who goes there?” He was prepared to defend himself from the stranger in the dark.

Then he heard a voice: “Move away and do not touch me or you will perish.” He focused his eyes and then he saw a terrifying sight. The poor scholar was stand­ing in front of him just as he had appeared, but he was wearing the shrouds of the dead. The rich man began to tremble and wished to run away, but the dead man said: “Stay here, for I have something to say to you. If you go, you risk your life.”

And then the dead man told him: “I am the poor man you studied the holy words of Torah (Scriptures) with. You forgot the holy words, “If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns …. do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.” (Deuteronomy 15:7). Not once did you invite me to eat or share a meal, and I died of starvation in the street. I was buried and then I was brought before the Heavenly Court and it was said, ‘He who refuses a beggar the aid which he has the power to give, is accountable to justice.’ (Josephus, Against Apion ii: 27). There they have decided that I shall not come to my rest until I summon you for trial. “It would be fitting,” the dead man went on, “to have you perish in order to stand trial with me, but I have brought it about that instead you will take my place on earth and right the great wrong you have done to me and many like me, since you began and until this day. This you must do: Tomorrow come to the nearby forest where I shall wait for you and tell you the form your teshuvah (repentance) must take.”

Having said his say, the dead man vanished, and the rich man found himself alone in his House of Study, trembling with fear. With a heavy heart, he left the House of Study to go home and went to bed and began thinking of the vision again, turning this way and that on his bed like a sick man.

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And the heaven and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it He rested from all His work which God in creating had made. (Gen. 2: 1-3)

Shabbos, the holy Sabbath Day, is a time of rest. A time to refrain from all types of work. It has been celebrated by the Jewish people for thousands of years as a day to enrich the spirit and to strengthen faith.

Once there was a man who was so thirsty that he thought he would die, but he did not wish to ask anyone to bring him water on the holy Sabbath Day since all forms of work are prohibited. When others saw him suffering they brought him water. He did not wish to drink or benefit from their forbidden labors, and he asked: “Who asks you to profane the holy Sabbath Day on my behalf?”

A wise man responded to him: “Remember the teaching, ‘For the blood of your lives I will require. (Genesis 9:5)’ Don’t ever forget that one should “choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deut 30:19)

The man countered, “We are taught that ‘the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath’  (Exod. 31:16). All forms of work are forbidden on the holy Sabbath Day is learned from ‘while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks of wood upon the Sabbath day . . . and they stoned him with stones, and he died.’ ” (Num. 15:32 and 15:36).

The wise man thought for a moment or two and responded, “Great is the holy Sabbath Day for it is never put off unless there is a danger to human life. (Beitzah 22a) Read and learn the holy words ‘He shall live by them’ (Lev. 18:5)–he shall not die because of them. (B. Yoma 85a) To save a life, disregard a Shabbos, that the endangered may observe many Shabboses.  (Mekilta, Shemos 31:1).’ “ The wise man turned to the others and said, “to him that is thirsty, bring water.” (Isa. 21:14)

The man began to protest when the wise man continued, “Fur­thermore, if you do not drink, it means that they have profaned the Sabbath unnecessarily.”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Listen to more stories told by the Master Storyteller, Rabbi Rachmiel Tobesman – The Treasures of the King, the Princess and the Peat Digger, Seven Jewish stories, on iTunes and Amazon or Coins, Candles and Faith, eight stories of faith on iTunes and Amazon

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