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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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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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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A King had an only son, the apple of his eye. The King wanted his son to be wise and sent his son to learn about many cultures and grow in wisdom, so he sent him to far-off countries with much silver and gold. Far away from home, the son spent all the money until he was penniless. In his sadness he decided to return to his father’s house and after much difficulty, he managed to arrive at the gate of the courtyard to his father’s palace.

The prince’s hardships had kept him away from his beloved father for a very long time. So long that he had actually forgot the language of his country and his father’s court. When he came to the gates of the palace, he was unable to identify himself to the guards. In utter hopelessness he began to cry out in a loud voice, and the King, who recognized the voice of his son, went out to him and brought him into the house, kissing him and hugging him.

We call out to Avinu Malkeinu (our Father and King) The King sends a soul down to this world in order enrich the world and to kindle a holy light. However, the soul becomes very distant and forgets everything to which it was familiar with above in the King’s court, and in the long exile it forgets even its own “language.” So it utters a simple cry to its Father in Heaven, as it is taught: “Look, their brave men cry aloud in the streets; the angels of peace weep bitterly.” (Isa. 33:7). This is prayer and the blowing of the shofar, a cry from deep within, expressing regret for the past and hope for the future. This cry elicits G-d’s mercies, and He demonstrates His abiding affection for His child and forgives him.

May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a sweet year and blessings

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Long ago it happened that a pious man (chasid) had a beautiful garden behind his house. One day he as he was enjoying the wonders in his garden, he found that a hole was made in the wall of the garden and he wanted to mend it; but he remembered that it was the Shabbos, the Sabbath day, and said, “If I repair the hole, I will have to break the rest of Sabbath day.” Thinking the matter over he left the hole open, for he would not break the laws of the holy Sabbath. Then a miracle happened to him, for a berry bush grew exactly over the spot where the gap had been made, and in this way covered the hole. It was a very big bush and spread it very wide. It produced three kinds of fruit and supported the pious man and his family. This the L-rd, blessed be He, did for him because he refrained from violating the Sabbath and did not repair the hole, but trusted that the L-rd would protect the garden though the hole was not filled up.

The moral is that if a man keeps Shabbos, the Sabbath Day, properly, the L-rd also watches over him.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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A King had an only son, the apple of his eye. The King wanted his son to be wise and sent his son to learn about many cultures and grow in wisdom, so he sent him to far-off countries with much silver and gold. Far away from home, the son spent all the money until he was penniless. In his sadness he decided to return to his father’s house and after much difficulty, he managed to arrive at the gate of the courtyard to his father’s palace.

The prince’s hardships had kept him away from his beloved father for a very long time. So long that he had actually forgot the language of his country and his father’s court. When he came to the gates of the palace, he was unable to identify himself to the guards. In utter hopelessness he began to cry out in a loud voice, and the King, who recognized the voice of his son, went out to him and brought him into the house, kissing him and hugging him.

We call out to Avinu Malkeinu (our Father and King) The King sends a soul down to this world in order enrich the world and to kindle a holy light. However, the soul becomes very distant and forgets everything to which it was familiar with above in the King’s court, and in the long exile it forgets even its own “language.” So it utters a simple cry to its Father in Heaven, as it is taught: “Look, their brave men cry aloud in the streets; the angels of peace weep bitterly.” (Isa. 33:7). This is prayer and the blowing of the shofar, a cry from deep within, expressing regret for the past and hope for the future. This cry elicits G-d’s mercies, and He demonstrates His abiding affection for His child and forgives him.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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A wealthy man was set to embark on a lengthy journey to a dis­tant land. He therefore packed many belongings, as well as food for the way, piling everything into his magnificent coach.

Before he set out on his journey, he called his loyal servant and explained, “I am leaving my home for an extended period of time, and I am ap­pointing you to faithfully watch over it. I have but one request: that you take extraordinary care of my private office, as its contents are very dear to me. Please take extra-special care of it!” The servant agreed, and the wealthy man boarded his coach and set off.

When the clouds of dust from the coach settled, the servant entered the house and thought, “I wonder why my master ordered that I carefully guard his pri­vate office, there must be an item of great value hidden inside.”

The servant entered the wealthy man’s office and found a huge wooden chest sitting in the corner. The chest immediately caught his eye.

The servant opened the chest and saw a beautiful trea­sure consisting of silver and gold, precious gems, and pearls. But much to his surprise, the entire treasure was cov­ered with mud.

“How odd,” the servant thought to himself. “On one hand, my master cautioned me to take special care of his precious treasure, yet on the other hand, he himself is so careless with it that he allows it to become filthy with mud.”

So it is with man. When the time will come for man to stand in judgment before the Heavenly Court, the innermost parts of his heart are examined. Were the thoughts in his heart pure, and did he serve G-d with love and honesty? For the heart is the most precious trea­sure contained within man’s body, and if it is revealed that his heart is covered with filth and mud, it is clue to the mundane thoughts that fill it.

How terrible will his humiliation and shame be at that moment.

Therefore, during Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur we beseech the Holy One, blessed be He “who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do” (Ps. 33:15) Create in me a pure heart, O G-d, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Ps. 51:10) — Master of the Universe, please make our hearts contain only love and awe for you and not any alien thoughts!

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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One prayer unites Jewish people around the world, Shema. Everyday in every Jewish community the words of the Shema are said: Hear O Israel, the L-rd is Our G-d, the Lord is One. 

Many rabbis and many more people have pondered over the first sentence of the Shema.  The Shema has become a declaration of the Jewish people, an affirmation of faith, a vital part of the prayer service, and meditation. 

Every Jewish person can have a relationship with G-d as it says in the Shema  “our G-d” Pesach is a time when Jewish people come together to read the Haggadah and celebrate this joyous holiday. 

Before begin­ning his own Seder, the holy rabbi of the village would wander about the cottages of the local people to see how they con­ducted their Seders, As he walked down the cobblestoned alleys he could hear from all sides the voices of simple Jewish families singing and reciting the narrative of the Haggadah. He once stopped still near the wooden shutters of one of the cottages and heard a voice reading aloud:  

The Torah speaks of four sons: one wise son, one wicked son, one simple son, and one who does not know how to ask questions.”  

And every time the reader came to the word for “one” — echad — he would cry it out aloud with prolonged concentration, just as people do when they say Shema Yisrael. 

The holy rabbi was delighted, and commented later that this simple villager had made out of the Four Sons of the Haggadah — including even the wicked son — a sublime prayer, a prayer as sacred as Shema Yisrael. 

Every year we read the words of the Haggadah: “All who are hungry, let them come and eat. All who are needy, let them come and celebrate the Passover with us.” Let all of our prayers come together so that all Jewish people can unite as one and say the Shema and bring peace so that we can all celebrate Pesach in the Holy City of Jerusalem next year.   

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Chazal state (Berachos 34b), “R’ Ahahu said: In the place where ba’alei teshuvah (a true penitent) stand, tzaddikim gemurim (the purely righteous who have been untainted by sin) do not stand.”

There was a king who reigned over his entire kingdom with justice and wisdom. On one occasion, the king wished to dis­cover his subjects’ true feelings regarding his rule, and so he disguised himself as a beggar, and went out in the streets.

As he roamed the alleyways, he was attacked by a band of cruel thieves. They wished to harm him, but one of the thieves, a spark of mercy for the beggar having flickered in his heart, fiercely de­fended him against his attackers, even helping him escape to safety.

The king returned to his palace and, some time later, arranged a lavish seudas hada’ah (lit., a feast of thanksgiving.), to which he in­vited all of the ministers and distinguished members of the kingdom. He also invited the thief who had saved him from the clutches of his partners.

The thief sat there in his simple attire and felt rather uncom­fortable in the presence of the ministers who were dressed so elegantly. The ministers as well stared at the thief in utter bewil­derment:

what place did this lowly individual have at the king’s feast?

The king noticed the puzzled expressions on the faces of the ministers. He therefore called over the thief and sat him down alongside him in a display of great honor. He then related to his guests what had transpired and how this thief had saved his life.

So too, it is in relation to repentance. The Torah states (Hoshea 14:2), “Return, Israel, unto Hashem your G-d.” When an individual repents and becomes a ba’al teshu­vah, he draws closer to Hashem like the thief who, through saving the king, repented and in effect anointed the king over the entire land. In a similar vein, when a ba’al teshuvah over­comes his yetzer hara, he annoints Hashem King of the world as a result. The prophet Joel taught that one should “Rend your heart, not your garments and turn to the L-rd” (Joel 2:13) In this world “a king of flesh and blood insists upon having his decrees carried out. Hashem, the Holy One, blessed be He, does not act so, for He desires one’s repentance, so that He can have any excuse to annul His decrees” (Rosh haShanah 57a). It is good when one thinks about repentance and follows it with action and deed.

For the sake of one true penitent, the whole world is pardoned. (Yoma 86b)

l’Shana Tova May Everyone Be Blessed with a Good and Sweet Year

May all your Tales end with Shalom

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In a certain city lived an very wealthy merchant who sold a lot of goods to the merchants living near his home town.

When it was time for the fair to be held, the merchant let everyone know that he wanted to travel to the fair so he could buy new and outstanding goods. For that reason the wealthy merchant urged all who owed him money to come and pay their debts.

Among those who owed him money was a merchant whose home had unfortunately burned down. All of his property had been consumed in the flames as well, leaving him penniless.

He was utterly distressed and ashamed at the thought of hav­ing to face the wealthy man. “How can I have the nerve to come before him empty-handed?” he asked.

“Just go to him and tell him the truth. There is nothing better than that!” advised his friends.

The merchant listened their advice and set out to see the wealthy man.

Sitting in the wealthy man’s waiting room, the poor merchant was unable to control himself and began to cry bitterly. The sound of the crying touched the wealthy man’s heart, and he asked to know why the poor man was crying. Soon after, the merchant’ s sad story was told to him.

The wealthy man felt pity for the unfortunate merchant; when the man was brought in to him he embraced him and and lovingly explained:

“Do not feel the least bit distressed. I hereby completely forgive you of your debt.” He then tore the bill of debt into shreds.

The merchant abundantly thanked the wealthy man and went on his way. The matter soon became known to the members of the community and. eventually spread to the public at large as well.

Among those who heard about it was a crook who decided to swindle the wealthy man.

He traveled to the wealthy man’s home, and upon taking a seat in the waiting room, began to wail loudly.

“What are you crying about?” shouted the wealthy man.

“I desperately need two thousand rubles,” he cried. “I beg of you, please give me the entire sum.”

“I am very sorry,” answered the wealthy man, “but I am simply unable to give you such a large amount of money.”

“But you forgave the other merchant from a debt of an equal amount,” insisted the disappointed crook.

“You fool,” said the wealthy man. “That individual owed me a great deal of money, and I knew that he did not have a penny to his name with which to repay me — what would I have gained had I not absolved his debt? Will I get my money back? That is why I forgave his debt. But as for you, I have absolutely no busi­ness with you – why should I acquiesce to giving you a sum of two thousand rubles? Should I give it to you simply because you are crying?”

The prayer, Unsaneh Tokef, speaks of many dire situations one may face during the year but concludes with the verse:

“But Repentance, Prayer and Tzedakah (charity) avert the severe decree.”

When a person repents honestly, he re­grets his misdeeds, and cries to the Holy One, blessed be He that He forgive him for his sins — G-d immediately forgives him. But if a foolish individual thinks to himself, “I will sin, repent, sin again, repent once again, and even cry over my sins after­wards” — his repentance will not be accepted!

May you all be inscribed and sealed for a good year in the Book of Life

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