A king wished to build a magnificent palace for himself, the likes of which had never before been seen. The king’s officers therefore hired a world-renowned architect who was known to be an expert in his field. 

The architect was brought before the king and, a short time later, presented him an wonderful blueprint for a palace that would be both enormous and awe-inspiring. 

The blueprint found favor in the eyes of the king, and he gave or­ders to begin construction at once. He had but one request to make of the architect, he wanted that the palace to be com­pleted on the anniversary of his ascension to the throne. He would then stage a great celebration to dedicate the new palace. 

The builders worked hard and spent much effort on each and every detail. When finished,  a magnificent new palace, whose beauty was unmatched by any other building, stood completed one month before the king’s deadline. 

In order to paint the palace walls, the king hired four master painters. Each one was assigned one wall and was instructed to paint it with vibrant and cheerful colors. 

Three out of the four painters began working immediately. They mixed colors together and covered the walls with many shapes and patterns. One of the painters, however, sat idly by and did not begin painting. 

“Why have you not begun working?” asked one of the painters. “If you do not start now, you will be unable to finish in time!” 

“Don’t worry,” responded the painter. “I will have plenty of time to finish.” 

Nearly one month later, the three painters had produced walls of sheer beauty; a fantastic collection of colors blended pleasantly into matching patterns that were amazing to behold. The fourth wall, however, stood embarrassingly empty of any color or magnificence whatsoever. 

One day before the king’s anniversary, the painter went to the palace and hung large mirrors on the fourth wall that reflected the other three walls. Now the fourth wall appeared to be painted as well, and it looked quite splendid. 

When the king entered the palace and beheld its sheer beauty, he was ecstatic. Wishing to show his appreciation for his workers’ ef­forts, the king ordered his servants to bring in three bags filled with gold coins and jewelry. 

He then instructed them to hang the bags on the three painted walls. 

“Here you go,” said the king to the painters. “Your reward is hanging on the wall that you painted.” 

“But what about my reward?” asked the clever fourth painter. “Your reward,” answered the king, “is reflected in the mirror that you hung on the wall…” 

The lesson that this parable imparts to us is clear – the reward is in proportion to the exertion (Pirkei Avos 5:26)

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Its a new season and Philmont is being staffed for the adventures that follow. Some will discover that the stories of the Philmont Rebbe, a maggid of day gone by will guide them on their treks. 

People of all ages enjoy stories more than any other form of entertainment. They laugh, cry, smile, and sigh as they enjoy age-old lessons and tales of communities throughout the world. They can travel through time with but a whisper.  

The Jewish storytelling rabbi (maggid), in days gone by, would travel from community to community to strengthen the heart and soul of Jewish people. The stories told of greatness, nobility, and wisdom while at the same time raising the hopes for a better tomorrow. 

One such maggid is Rabbi Rachmiel (Rock)  Tobesman who has shared and taught people from childhood through the golden years in many areas of the United States. He has been invited to teach educators and community leaders how to use the power of storytelling to improve the quality of services to the people of all backgrounds. As a traditional spiritual storyteller, Rachmiel Tobesman touches the heart and soul with stories long forgotten.

This maggid shares stories that contain wondrous, lofty, and healing messages that each person understands in their own way. The stories told by this maggid will arouse the heart and elevate spirituality so one can see the holy Sparks in every day deeds. If a person looks at the maggid and his stories with an open mind and heart, they will understand their messages and begin the process of healing on their spiritual journey.     

 The plain, simple meaning of the maggid’s stories strongly motivates a person toward the Holy One, Blessed be He. All the stories consist of mysteries, wonder, beauty, honor and spirituality, aside from their secret meanings, they have a great power to uplift everyone and help them on their spiritual journey

The Palm Beach Sun Times observed that

“Rabbi Tobesman weaves stories and spreads magic as the medieval wizard cast spells…. Everyone felt the wonder and excitement as he told stories long forgotten…. His stories kept everyone spell bound from young to old.”

He is the former Storyteller-in-Residence at the Walter’s Art Museum and was one of the featured storytellers at the CAJE (Coalition for Advancements in Jewish Education) conferences in  Maryland, Georgia, Washington, Ohio and New York. He has presented at the annual conferences of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), in Florida, Missouri and Washington, DC. He combines the skills of educator and maggid (spiritual storyteller) to touch the heart of all who listen. The St. Louis Jewish Times reported that

“Rabbi. Tobesman teaches through stories and tells Jewish stories in the tradition of the Breslover Chasidim. He stirs the memory and sparks the heart and soul of everyone.”

The plain, simple meaning of the spiritual storyteller’s stories strongly motivate a person toward the Holy One, blessed be He.  All the stories consist of mysteries, wonder, beauty, honor and spirituality, aside from their secret meanings, they have a great power to uplift everyone and help them on their spiritual journey.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Well Thursday night I went with my father to a reception at Scout HQ where the National Chaplain for the Jewish Committee spoke and than my father made a comment.

Can you believe it just a little comment. He tells stories to hundreds, teaches students and discusses religious stuff with no problem, but when it comes to being recognized for his work, he has nothing to say.

We went to the Council Dinner, I wore my Venturing uniform, where he was presented with the Silver Beaver. There was easily over 500 people there. There were a lot of cheers as my father stepped up onto the stage.

Would you believe they spelled “Rock” wrong? Here is the citation that put in the program book about my father:

 Rabbi Rachmiel “Rach” Tobesman

Rachmiel Tobesman came to Scouting as an adult. His motivation was to become a Scoutmaster under very special circumstances. He saw a need for fervently observant Jewish Boy Scouts to be able to participate in the outdoor program and still be consistent with their religious practices.

As an enthusiastic new leader. Rach brought maturity, passion and energy to this responsibility. Very quickly. Troop 13. sponsored by Ner Tamid Congregation was seen as successfully blending traditional standards and religious purpose. This successful combination established the groundwork for future units with the same focus.

As a unit leader, Rach combined his roles as a Rabbi. teacher, story teller and spiritual guide. Through his energy, he initially revitalized the Jewish Religious Retreat (kinus). As chair of the Jewish Committee. he worked to establish one combined truly ecumenical religious program involving all Scouts: Jewish, Catholic and Protestant. He has been so committed to his ministry that he is believed to be the only Rabbi who is a member of the National Catholic Committee on Scanting.

In 2005, Rach accepted the challenge to serve as a Mashgiach at the National Boy Scout Jamboree. In this role, he became the person who resolved both the religious and practical challenges of supervising and serving ten days worth of Kosher meals three times a day to Jewish and Muslim Scouts. Despite personal hardships, he proved that it could be done.

As a direct outcome of Rabbi Tobesman’s successes. he became a part of the Northeast Region Jewish Committee assuming responsibility for program planning for their annual conference. Similarly. he has served for a number summers as Chaplain at the Philmont Scout Ranch.

Rabbi Tobesman is creative and willing to serve God and our youth  in any way he can. He serves as an inspirational example of what it truly means to be a man of God. Daily he shows us how to combine an active. Scout presence and yet still be a humble and dedicated servant, cheerfully giving of his time and talents for the benefit of others.

Scoutmaster, Venture Crew Advisor, Roundtable Commissioner, District Committee, Wood Badge, Wood Badge Staff, National Jamboree Staff, Phil­mont Scout Ranch Chaplain, Philmont Training Center Faculty, Shofar Award, Interfaith Committee, Chair­man of Jewish Committee, Regional Jewish Committee

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When my father was younger he wrote for a lot of newspapers throughout the country. I think his articles are pretty good and makes one think. Here’s an excerpt from an article from 1984 that was in the Jewish Press.

Chanuka and the Fighters

The celebration of Chan­uka each year holds a mes­sage for the Jewish people throughout the world. A small group of Jewish reb­els led by the Maccabees rose up against the super­ior Hellenistic armies. The military victories of the Jewish people against the threats of religious supression ensured the freedom to  practice Judaism and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Yerushelayim.

The threat of Roman tyranny and paganism was challenged by Judea. The revolt against Rome lasted well over one hundred years before the Jewish fighters of Masada and Betar fell in battle and the Jewish people forced into. exile.

Many believe that the Jewish fighting spirit disappeared at. Betar. Some believe that with exile the Jewish people became fatalistic, and had no spirit. Religious martyrdom, flight and going like sheep to the slaughter commonly describe the reaction of the Jewish people to persecu­tion until the twentieth cen­tury.

The Jewish fighter sur­vived the Roman onslaught and championed Jewish causes many times throughout history. (the article talks about fights against Persia, Spain, and Crusaders. My father told about Jewish soldiers of the Khazar Empire, Berbers, Babylon and others)

And so the mighty tradi­tion continues up until our own days. Yehuda HaMaccabee and his brothers fought the Hellenistic threat to the Jewish people over twenty one centuries ago. Whenever the Jewish people have been  threatened the fighters have risen. The Jewish people have never been a fatalistic people who went like sheep to the slaughter.

On Chanuka, while we celebrate the victories of the Maccabees let us remember other heroes who rose to the threat of prejudice and hatred against the Jewish people.

The complete article is powerful and I wish he would write articles again.

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My father wrote this article in 1981 for a Jewish paper.

20th  Century Miracle

by Rachmiel Tobesman

The excitement of Hanukah with its songs, gifts and sizzling latkes warms many Jewish hearts. The joy and happiness goes beyond the beauty of flickering lights and songs. A triumphant joy is felt each time the story of Yehudah haMaccabee is told, the fight and victory of the Jewish rebels over the paganistic Syrian-Greeks showed how they fought  for what they believe.

The Nazi hordes descended upon Poland and conquered it in a very short time. The Jewish population of Poland had to be dealt with. In answer to the “judenfrage”, the Jewish question, the Nazis established pits of starvation and disease called ghettos.

In the capital city of Poland, Warsaw, the largest Jewish ghetto was established. The Nazi plan was not only to starve the Jewish people of food, but also their right to worship Hashem. The Jewish communities of Poland were known to be stubborn, and many did not follow the Nazi laws.

The Judenrate, Jewish Council, often collaborated with the Nazis claiming to save lives. The Judenrate tried to ban the holding of Hanukah parties without a permit from a special office set up for that purpose. The parties were held without permits, and the Judenrate did not make any profit for their Nazi masters.

Chaim Kaplan kept a diary in the Warsaw Ghetto. His diary was written in Hebrew. The entry about Hanukah 5701 was made on December 26, 1940. In it Chaim Kaplan relates: “Never before in Jewish Warsaw were there as many Hanukah celebrations as in the year of the wall….After 16 months of Nazi occupation we came to life again.^“

The joy of Hanukah was not only felt in the ghettos but also in the Nazi concentration camps. In Nieder-Orschel, part of the Buchenwald industrial/death complex, a 17 year old Jewish student from Bratislava, Simche Unsdorfer, with others set out to bring Hanukah to the camp.

In the concentration camp many people suffered from severe spiritual and physical distress. Simche Unsdorfer and a few friends thought that they could somehow light a Hanukah menorah to raise the morale and restore faith to the many men in the barracks.

With Hanukah just a few days away, a plan of action was adopted. The group drew lots. The first name…Grunwald…would have to somehow obtain oil for the ^“menorah.” The third name would have to hide the oil and be responsible for it until Hanukah. The fifth…Simche Unsdorfer…would light the menorah under his bunk.

The ^“menorah^“ was made from an old shoe polish tin with wicks made from blankets and oil for fuel. Finally Hanukah came.

December 11, 1944, was the first night of Hanukah. Simche Unsdorfer lit the menorah under his bunk and recited the three traditional blessings and all began to sing Ma’oz Tzur.

An unterstrumfuhrer (lieutenant) happened to smell the burning oil and burst into the barracks to find out who was burning it. As the unterstrumfuhrer was about to find the menorah the menorah under Simche Unsdorfer^‘s bunk, an air raid siren blared and the unterstrumfuhrer ran for shelter.

That night in Nieder-Orschel a Ness Gadol Haya Sham (A Great Miracle Happened There). Many of the men with their faith restored in Hashem looked to the liberation from the Nazi terror and paganism.

THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE December 18, 1981

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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