“May  the words of  my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, O L-rd, my Rock and Redeemer.”  Psalms (19:15).

It is told that a holy rabbi once had a valuable gem to sell. A merchant came to him while he was praying, as he was saying the Shema, “Hear, O Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One” (Deuteronomy 6:4), and the merchant said to him, “I am willing to buy your valuable gem for 500 dinars.” The rabbi did not answer him because he was praying “with all his heart, with all his soul and with all his might.” Deuteronomy 6:5). When the rabbi did not respond, the merchant supposed that he did not want to sell him the gem at that price, so he added, “let me have it for a thousand dinars.”

After the holy rabbi had finished praying to the Holy One, blessed be He, the rabbi told the merchant, “take the gem for the five hundred dinars you offered, for that was the price at which I intended let you have it.”

Based on Makkos 29a

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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