The Deaf Man of the Shul
There was an old shul in the neighborhood that everyone went to. The people came and prayed and lived their lives. Now there was one man in the shul who was deaf, and to everyone’s surprise he came to shul each Shabbos.
He prayed with tear-filled eyes because his son was the chazzan (cantor). Though his voice he never heard and he prays with tear-filled eyes. Though he never heard his son’s voice, he would sit there enjoying every word.
The deaf man watched every motion, every gesture that his son made, and would stay until the vary end of the prayers no matter how long it took. And when the davening was over he was always the first to greet his son to tell him yasher koach , well done.
Now right before Yom Kippur and the sun was setting fast and everyone was waiting to begin Kol Nidre, but the chazzan (cantor) was not in the shul. There were many who began to worry and as the rabbi looked he saw the shul was full, but the deaf man’s seat was empty.
Suddenly the chazzan burst into the shul in his kittle and long tallis trailing behind. The people saw that he was wearing his white chazzan’s hat that he never wore before. As he’s rushing up to the beemah he stops at his father’s empty chair for just the briefest moment as he pulls his tallis over his head.
It was almost past time for the holy Kol Nidre service and the rabbi asked him why he was so late, but the chazzan answered he had to get ready for Yom Kippur. Silence fell throughout the shul as the chazzan took his place surrounded by the holy Torah ring. He took a deep breath and began to pray. His voice pierced the very gates of heaven and every heart was broken. Tears flowed so much that every sin was washed away and every soul was pure for Yom Kippur that year.
When the chazzan finished davening, the rabbi asked asked him, what was it he was thinking of That made him sing so well? The chazzan looked at him and a tear fell from his eye as he answered, “Well you know my father was deaf and last night he passed away and this is the first time that my father‘s heard me pray“
May all prayers be heard and everyone be inscribed and sealed for a good year
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
Click here for more storytelling resources
Vote on this post on Jblog
Share this:
