In today’s society many become trapped in their respective ways of life. Habits and ways of thinking become rigid preventing many from experiencing the various gifts and wonders that surround them. So often one become lost in the popular pursuit of science and philosophy of today, while other become trapped and immoveable in the rituals of yesterday, that neither can gain knowledge. Mibhar haPeninim reminds us that “Man is only wise while in search of wisdom, when he imagines he has attained it, he is a fool.” (#21  c.1050 ce)

It is like the unseeing, who become accustomed to their plight, not ever realizing that their lives can be improved.

The Blind Men

A number of blind men were brought to a house that had been prepared for them in all respects. In it everything had been placed in its most suitable position and arranged as best suited their requirements and needs. In it had been prepared beneficial ointments and a wise physician to treat them and improve their sight. But they disregarded the treatment of their eyes and paid no attention to the physician who was engaged in treating them, but went about the house doing harmful things because of their blindness.

Wherever they went they stumbled over those objects that had been prepared for their benefit and fell on their faces. Some of them were injured and some sustained fractures, and they suffered greatly and were in a very bad way. Then they complained about the house owner and the builder, and complained about his deeds, for to them he seemed to have done everything badly and wrongly, supposing that he had no good and kind intentions for them but had only wished to cause them injury and suffering. Indeed, this led them to lose faith in the goodness and kindness of the owner of the house.

Let us follow the teaching in Avos: “Who is wise? He who learns from everybody.” (4.1)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Story from the CD

 The Treasures of the King, the Princess and the Peat Digger

  The Peat Digger

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There was once a very wealthy man who used to think: “What benefit do I have of all my toil, and what use will my work and property be to me when I die?” People advised him to perform charity and kindness with his work and that would stay with him longer than any profit from all his work and would serve him as provi­sions for the way. For wealth does not remain and can swiftly be lost as the Book of Proverbs (23:5) says  “Turn your eyes upon it and it is gone “But he swore that he would give charity only to someone who had lost all his faith and despaired of this world.

One day he left the town and saw a poor man seated or a muckheap wearing nothing but rags and tatters, and he said to himself: “Surely this fellow must have given up all hope of anything good in the world and must be waiting for death, for he is in great distress with his poverty and can have no faith in the world wherein he lives.” So he gave him a hundred dinars. The poor man was exceedingly astonished and said to him:

“Why have you given me this large sum of money out of all poor folk of the town?” He answered: “Because I swore that I would give charity only to someone who has given up all hope of enjoying this world.”

Then the pauper answered him: “Only the wiseacre and the fool and the unbeliever will despair of having anything good in this world As for me, I trust in the Lord and the kindness of my Maker, and await His mercies at all times and seasons as the Psalmist said (145:9): ‘And His mercy is on all His works.’ Surely you remember the thanksgiving of Hannah: “He raises the needy from the dust, and lifts up the pauper from the dunghills” (I Sam. 2:8). Surely you know that nothing can prevent the Lord from lifting me up and making me wealthy and deliver ing me from this distress. Forsake this nonsense and put it away from you and you will feel good.”

But the rich man grumbled: “Did my reward for taking pity on you have to be that you abuse me and rebuke me?” “You,” answered the poor man, “thought that you were taking pity on me but it is not so, but you have slain me, for the only ones who despair of anything good in this world are the dead.” At this, the rich man said in his heart: “If so, I shall go to the graveyard, and there I shall bury this money with the dead who despair of anything good in this world.” And he did so.

Times changed, the rich man became poor and nothing was left him. When he realized his distress he went and dug in the graveyard in order to take out the money he had hidden there, in order to support himself. The watchman found him and arrested him and brought him before the governor of the city.

Now the governor of the city was the poor man from the muckheap. For he was of good stock; and when the previous governor of the city had died, the townsfolk had come together and made him their head and captain.

When the watchman brought the digger from the cemetery they reported: “Your honour, we found this man digging among the graves in order to strip the shrouds from the dead.” Now the governor recog­nized him but treated him as a stranger and spoke to him severely. Then the other answered: “Heaven forbid, my lord, for never in my life have I thought of such a shameful deed. But this is what has happened to me.” And he told him how he had come to bury the money in the graveyard.

Then the governor said to him: “I am the poor man who sat on the muckheap and whom you thought must be despairing of anything good in the world.” He rose and went to him and embraced him and kissed him. He ordered further that the money should be taken out of the graveyard and given to him. He also ordered that he should be given a meal and a gift from the governor’s house every day for the rest of his life.

Blessed be He who brings low and raises high, who makes poor and makes wealthy.

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There is a friction between the different Jewish communities that occaisionally erupts into bitter conflict, harsh words and sad rumour which weakens the Jewish people and prevents achdus (unity).

Many say Am Yisra-l Chai (the people of Isra-l Lives), but they are quick to qualify who is Jewish.

A simple man once approached a holy rabbi and asked, “Rebbe, why must there be so many different kinds of Jewish people? There are those whose Divine service is mainly focused on prayer, other groups who make Torah study their main focus, others who champion social issues and yet other groups who primarily serve Hashem with joy. Why must there be so many different factions amongst the Jewish people?”

“Instead of asking me,” responded the holy rabbi, “go and ask the Russian Tzar! Inquire as to why he needs so many types of soldiers. Some of his military are soldiers who fight on horse­back, others who fire the cannons; sailors who brave the sea; and infantrymen!

“The reason,” continued the holy rabbi, “is that each type of soldier serves the Tzar in his own unique way. A foot soldier is unable to fight on horseback; a soldier who mans the cannon is capable of doing battle over great distances; even the sol­diers who sound the trumpets have an important job, for their trumpet blasts strengthen the hearts of the soldiers in the battlefields.

“This is why” concluded the holy rabbi, “the Jewish community is divided into various groups as well. Each group contributes in its own unique way and together we will strengthen the Jewish people.”

Let us all hope that we can all see the day when all people can unite in the common cause of mercy, goodness, and brotherhood for on that day we will be surely blessed.

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In a time when science and technology are touted as knowledge, there is a true lack of wisdom. The ancients defined the world in the terms of mathematics and their five senses. Times have not changed since it was taught in Pirke Avos: “Who is wise? He who learns from everybody.” (4:1) One must take the time to see and understand what is around them, for knowledge is not wisdom.

Woe to them that see and know not what they see, that stand and know not where they stand.  (Chagigah 12a )

The stories told by the maggid (storytelling rabbi) touched many to the heart, mind and soul in the community. People began to see hope and return to the ways of Torah (Scriptures). Suddenly the maggid was confronted by a leader of the community, a clean-shaven man who not only refused to show the maggid any respect, but also sharply criticized him for the stories he told the people.The maggid now realized that his sermon had been on target and that this man’s disrespect was defensive.

The maggid answered the man’s biting words, “As I came into this village, I was greeted by an ox. ‘What reason do you have to greet me?’ I asked. ‘I have no reason to relate to you.’ The ox answered, ‘Yes, you do, you eat of my meat.’

“I was then greeted by a cow, and when I asked what relationship she had to me, the cow said, ‘You drink my milk.’ I was then greeted by a goat, who said, ‘We share a common feature, because you have a beard and I too have a beard.’

“But then I was greeted by a hog. ‘This is too much,’ I said. ‘You give me nothing. I don’t eat your meat and I don’t drink your milk. You don’t have a beard like I do. Why should I relate to you?’ “

Let us all hope we can rise above the science and popular philosophies of society to gain true knowledge and wisdom.

“All the streams run into the sea” (Eccles. 1:7). All of man’s wisdom is nowhere other than in the heart. “Yet the sea is not full” (ibid.)–the heart is never filled to capacity. You might suppose that when a man lets his wisdom go forth from his heart, it will never flow back to him. For this reason Scripture says, “Yet the streams flow back again” (Eccles. R. 1:7)

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The Treasures of the King, the Princess and the Peat Digger 

A collection of seven Jewish tales of faith, mystery, riddles and healing told by Rachmiel Tobesman. This maggid (religious storyteller) 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.

Listen to one of the stories on the cd by clicking the link below:

The Treasure

To get your cd, The Treasures of the King, the Princess and the Peat Digger, contact shana@projectshalom2.org

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