Listen to the short story, The Students Who Wanted to See Moshiach (Messiah), about how words and pride can prevent the coming of the Messiah
ST15 The Students Who Wanted to See Moshiach (Messiah)
Category: lashon harah
Speech, Wisdom and Protection
A holy rabbi was teaching a lesson to his students when an angry, vulgar and ignorant person insulted him in front of everyone. The holy rabbi did not answer or respond, but calmly went on with his studies as though nothing had occurred.
Many were quick to praise him for his remarkable restraint remembering, “He who hears himself cursed and remains silent is a saintly man.” (Midrash Tehillim 16:11). Others attributed the holy rabbi’s actions because one should “let yourself be cursed, rather than curse” (Sanhedrin 49a). The holy rabbi, however, attributed his control to a higher source than his own inner strength, explaining:
“Our Sages teach that silence acts as a ‘protective zone’ for wisdom. They are referring here to keeping quiet when unjustly attacked, as they state that ‘one who hears himself insulted and does not retaliate, is considered beloved by G-d’ (Shabbos 88b).’ ”
“It is written that ‘a safeguarding fence around wisdom is silence.’ (Pirke Avos 3:13), the holy rabbi continued, “then what does wisdom itself consist of?
“It must be,” he finished off, half-jokingly, “that wisdom itself is not to consider oneself slighted in the least when the assailant is someone who is not qualified to make such critical remarks.”
It wouldn’t hurt for all of us to maintain such wisdom, and to protect it with a sprinkle of silence.
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)
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Judge Others Favorably
We speak and learn so much about religion, values, prayer and ritual, yet forget the important aspects of faith. To live by the standards established in the holy words of the T’NaCh (Scriptures). We should look upon all around us favorably and give them the benefit of the doubt.
The rabbis taught about two thousand years ago: “In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor… with justice you shall judge your neighbor. (Lev. 19:15.) When you see a person doing what appears to be wrong, take a favorable view of his action.” (Shevu’os 30a)
Judging others favorably not only fulfills a religious requirement, it provides a number of benefits.
A 13th century Spanish rabbi wrote a book which systematically discusses the 613 commandments of the Torah (Scriptures) in which he “stated that each person is required to judge others favorably …promotes peace and friendship and therefore, the purpose of this mitzvah (the mitzvah to judge righteously) is to improve society with a sense of righteousness and provide peace by removing suspicion of one to another. (Sefer HaChinuch no. 235)
The Mishna in Pirkei Avot directs that “One should judge all people favorably.” (Avot 1:6) Rabbeinu Yonah (d. 1263), in his commentary to Avot 1 :6, writes that we should assume that they realize their mistakes and are working on trying to improve themselves. This concept is often associated with the prohibition against accepting evil speech and gossip.
Once upon a time a religious man ransomed a beautiful woman from prison, and when they came to the inn in the evening, he put the young woman to sleep at the foot of his bed. In the morning he immersed himself in the purifying waters, and then he went to teach his students. While he was teaching them he asked his students, “Did you suspect me of anything last night when you saw the young maiden lying at the foot of my bed?” They answered, “We did not suspect you of anything; we thought that you put her near you because you had among your students one whom you did not know, and you would not let her sleep in a separate room for fear that harm might come to her.”
Then the religious man asked, “Why did you think I went in the morning and immersed in the purifying waters?”
“What else do you believe we could have thought,” replied his students, “except that probably on the way you had touched something unclean which made it necessary for you to immerse in the purifying waters?”
Then he said, “I swear that it was exactly as you thought. And as for you–as you judged me on the scale of merit, so may He who is everywhere judge you on the scale of merit
Based on B. Shabbos 127b and Ma’asah Book #21
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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The Trap, Loshon haRa and the Wealthy Merchant
There was once a very wealthy merchant who liked to feel important, and so he made it a practice inform the authorities about the doings of other people within the community. He often talk badly of others just so he could be seen as important and wise. Everyone was afraid of him and no one dared to cross him, lest he report them to those in power. One day he seemed to have just disappeared.
A group of students gathered together to study with their holy teacher, when he said to them: “Did you know Lavan the merchant?” The students became silent and then one answered the holy rabbi: “It is like what is taught about those who are like him, “May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.” (Psalms 69:28) Then the holy rabbi told his students: “Bring me a trap!” They brought him a trap, and the holy rabbi placed it in a corner of the room and a mouse was caught in it at once.
Then the holy rabbi spoke to the mouse as his students watched, asking: “What did you think when you used to inform on people and betray them causing the wealth of so many good and upright people to be lost? One’s words must be words of honor and not words of shame, as it is said: ‘On that day you shall not be put to shame because of all your deeds…’ (Zepaniah 3:11) We are taught shaming another in public is like shedding blood. (Bava Metzia 58b)’ ” The mouse cried before him and begged him to pray to the Holy One, blessed be He so that he might be delivered from his sufferings and enter Gehenna. “Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away (Proverbs 6:33) One who says evil things about others has no portion in the World to Come. Go away, for you are not worthy even to enter Gehenna.” answered the rabbi. With that said, he opened the trap, and the mouse fled.
And when the students saw this, they were amazed.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)
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Loshon haRa – A Salty Conversation
Tam and Chacham once set out together on a journey to do a d’var mitzvah (a deed of religious importance) in a faraway country. They traveled to many places and were welcomed with much respect and honor.
In one village they stopped at an inn known for its high standards of kashrus (kosher). They were seated at a special table set with a linen tablecloth and fine dishes, for the woman who owned the inn recognized them to be important rabbis.
She had them served promptly, and when they finished the meal she approached them and asked, “So how did you like my food?” she asked the rabbis. “Oh, it was quite good,’ Chacham replied, ” but it could have used more salt.”
When the woman left the dining room, Tam turned white. “I can’t believe what you have just done. All my life I have avoided speaking or listening to loshon hara (unkind speech) and now the Holy One, blessed be He caused me to travel with you, and I have to suffer by hearing you speak loshon hara! I regret that I came here with you and I am convinced that the purpose of our trip is not a true d’var mitzvah after all. Otherwise this would not have happened.”
Seeing Tam’s reaction, Chacham became confused and upset. “What did I say that was so wrong?” he hesitated. “I said that the food was good — I only added that it needed some salt.”
“You simply don’t realize the power of words.” Sadly said Tam. “Our hostess probably doesn’t do her own cooking. Her cook could well be a poor widow who needs this job to support her children. Now, because of what you said, the owner will go back to the kitchen and complain to the cook that the food didn’t have enough salt. In self defense the poor widow will deny it and will say, “Of course I put enough salt in the food. I even tasted it before you served it.”
“The owner will then accuse her of lying and say, “Do you think that the rabbis out there are liars? You are the one who is lying!” They will argue, strong words will lead to even stronger words and the owner will get so angry that she will fire the poor cook. The woman will then be out of a job. Look how many aveiros (sins) you caused: (1) You spoke loshon hora; (2) you caused the owner and myself to listen to loshon hora; (3) you caused the owner to repeat the loshon hora and that is the sin of rechilus; (4) you caused the cook to lie; (5) because of you the owner caused pain to a widow, and (6) you caused an argument, another Torah violation.”
Chacham smiled at Tam and said softly and respectfully, “Tam, my friend, certainly things are not as grim as you believe. Maybe, you are exaggerating a little. You’re carrying this just a bit too far. A few simple words cannot possibly have done all that.”
Tam reminded Chacham, “We learn that ‘You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is of your brothers, or of your strangers who are in your land inside your gates.’ (Deuteronomy 24:14) “If you really believe that I have overstated the situation,” answered Tam as he stood up, “let’s go to the kitchen and see for ourselves.”
As they opened the door to the kitchen, they saw that the owner was indeed scolding the cook as the poor woman stood wiping the tears from her eyes. When Chacham saw what was happening he became pale and ran over to the cook, begged forgiveness and apologized profusely for any harm or distress he may have caused her. He pleaded with the owner to forgive and forget the incident and begged her to let the woman stay on the job. He even offered to pay her to keep the cook.
The innkeeper was really a kindly woman and she also wanted to fulfill Chacham’s request. “Of course, of course,“ she said hastily. “I only wanted to impress on her the need to be more careful. She is really a fine cook and she will remain here at her job.”
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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A Bird Shall Carry the Voice
Once a Jewish merchant was traveling through a strange land and as he traveled the road through a mountain pass, he was attacked by a robber, who took away everything he had. After the robber striped him of everything, he told the merchant: “Now I am going to take your life, for if I let you live, you will tell the sheriff about me and if caught, I will be hanged. For that reason I will kill you, and then I shall feel safe.” The Jewish merchant begged with weeping eyes: “Let me live and I will not report you. If you kill me, the birds will betray you and you will lose your life.”
The robber laughed and said: “Birds, report me? I see that you are making fun of me.” Sadly the Jewish merchant replied : “No, I am not making fun of you, but it says in our Scriptures:
`The birds which fly between heaven and earth will reveal the secret’ (Eccl. 10:20).
You see the bird on that tree over there? He will report your crime.” Then the robber grew angry and said: “You are surely making fun of me,” and he killed the hapless merchant.
The robber went his way and came to an inn, where he asked for food and drink. The innkeeper brought him a plate of roasted birds. When the robber saw the birds, he began to laugh. The innkeeper, who stood near the table, seeing that the guest was laughing, asked him: “Why are you laughing? Since you are laughing to yourself, it must be something clever, so tell me what it is about.” The robber, thinking that no one would concern himself about the death of the Jewish merchant, told the innkeeper the experience he had with the Jewish merchant, and how he had made fun of him and told him that the birds of heaven would report him. That’s why, seeing the birds on the plate, he laughed. The innkeeper thought that the Jewish merchant had spoken the truth and said to himself: “As he killed a Jewish merchant, he no doubt did other things too, and is surely a murderer. For that reason it is my duty to report him.”
The innkeeper went to the mayor and told him that there was a man in his inn who had committed a murder. The mayor said to him: “Go home and I will be there soon.” The innkeeper returned home and sat down by his guest. In a quarter of an hour the mayor came in with three men and said to the murderer: “You are under arrest.” The robber was very much frightened and almost died for fear. He was thrown into prison and tortured until he confessed to the murder of the Jewish merchant and other murders besides. Then he was broken on the wheel, and in this way the words of the Jewish merchant that the birds would report him, came true.
Based on Shalsheles haKabalah 56b-57a
No One Understood
The greatest gift that the Holy One, blessed be He gave to man was the ability to speak and communicate. Yet it is also the undoing of many, though we may speak the same language and believe that certain things need no explanation we still do not understand one another. It is so common in today’s world for people to talk at one another instead of to one another.
No One Understood
A shepherd was once strolling through a meadow behind his meandering sheep. As he walked, he played a merry tune on his flute. In an adjoining field, a harvester was cutting sweet clover and loading it upon a wagon to take home for cattle feed. The harvester and the shepherd did not know one another, nor could they communicate, since they spoke different languages. And so each tended to his own business, while casting curious glances at the other from time to time.
Noon came and the sun was at its blazing zenith. The shepherd looked longingly in the distance to see if his daughter was approaching with his lunch pail, as she did each day at this time. But there was no one in sight. A long time passed and he began worrying. “I must go home and see if everything is all right,” he said to himself.
He walked towards the harvester in the adjacent field. “Listen here, my friend,” he said, accompanying his words with elaborate gestures to make sure the other understood, “I must go home for a short while and leave the sheep here. I cannot take them with me because it would take too much time to herd them together and get them moving. If I go, I will run both ways and be back in a hurry. Please keep an eye on the sheep. Don’t let them run away. They are resting now. I am sure they will give you no trouble. They are easy creatures to handle.”
The harvester heard the words but did not understand a single one. He interpreted the shepherd’s gestures in a far different manner than intended: “You are harvesting all that hay that grows so plentifully in the field while my sheep lie here where the grass is scant. Won’t you cut some down for them, too?”
This aroused the harvester’s anger. “That is very impudent of you! You sit at your leisure under the tree and expect others to do your work for you under the blazing sun? Go! Begone with you!” and with that, he gave a wave of his hand.
This sign of dismissal was clear to the shepherd. He interpreted it to mean: “Go home, if you must. I will keep an eye on your sheep, since I am here anyway.”
His heart set at ease, the shepherd went home, stayed a while and returned a short while later. How happy he was to see the sheep grazing quietly and contentedly as if he had been there all the while.
“How decent it was of the harvester to look after them,” he thought to himself. “I must give him something in appreciation.” He looked about him and wondered what would be suitable.
His eyes fell upon a little lamb that limped a bit. If he sold it, it would not fetch much. But as a gift…
He tied a rope about its neck and began leading it to the adjoining field.
“Good day, my friend,” he said. “I wanted to thank you for the favor you did to me. Here, take this lamb as a sign of my gratitude.” He held the string out to the harvester.
The harvester did not understand a word, as before, and misconstrued the shepherd’s meaning. He thought he meant: “I asked you to watch my sheep and look what happened! This lamb became lame, thanks to you!”
The harvester was understandably insulted and turned to the shepherd. “How dare you come to me with complaints? Am Ito blame? You are the one who left the sheep untended. What do you want from me?”
The shepherd thought that the harvester was dissatisfied with the gift.
He picked up the lamb to show him that it was really a decent gift, indeed. `See,” he gestured, “it is fat and healthy. The only thing wrong with it is its leg. It will make a tasty meal, I am sure!” He again pointed to the broken foot as if to say that that was its only defect.
Seeing the shepherd harping on the broken foot convinced the harvester that the shepherd was again accusing him of being negligent. Fuming, he shouted, “Leave me be, idiot! What business is it of mine?” And he shoved the shepherd backwards.
Shocked by such coarse behavior, the shepherd stepped forward and pushed the harvester. Before long, the two were pummeling one another with heavy blows.
Along came a traveler, hot and dusty from the road. Noticing a horse wandering in the field untethered, he was curious to see if it belonged to anyone, since he wished to ride it a bit. Seeing no one about, he decided to climb on its back for the time being, and ask questions later. He rode on until he came upon the two quarreling men. When they saw the stranger, they ran up to him, grabbed hold of the reins, and asked him to dismount, so that he could resolve their dispute.
The rider, who did not understand either of the two, was sure that they were the owners of the horse demanding an explanation for his having appropriated their animal. Afraid of punishment, he leaped off and ran away.
The remaining two were sure that he had gone off to get help and were afraid of getting into trouble. Both fled as well; the shepherd urging his sheep forward and the harvester shouldering his tools.
The scene returned to its pastoral serenity, with only the horse left to graze upon the delicious clover.
As for the three men, each ran off in different directions, feeling disappointed and frustrated.
The shepherd could not understand why the harvester had been so insulted at the gift he had offered. Had he owed him anything to begin with?
The harvester did not understand why the shepherd blamed him for the sheep’s broken leg, when he had not been to blame.
And the traveler wondered why the two men had attacked him for taking a ride on an untethered horse. He had not meant to steal it!
Each of the three was convinced that he was right. How, then, had such a misunderstanding resulted?
The reason is very simple: Each one interpreted the other’s actions according to his own way of thinking. No one tried to understand what the other was saying. Lack of communication was to blame for this argument.
We do speak the same language as our friends and acquaintances. Nevertheless, we still misinterpret one another’s true meaning and intent. These misunderstandings can often lead to ill feelings, quarrels and even blows.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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The Raven and the Eagle
A hungry raven circled above a quiet river. Birds chirped merrily, and the wind blew pleasantly. It was a perfect spring day in an idyllic setting.
The raven had no interest in the beauty of nature. It was on the lookout for food. Anything would do — the carcass of a bird, a rabbit, or a field mouse.
You can imagine its joy when the smell of a dead cat reached its nostrils. The raven swooped off in the direction of the odor, cawing loudly in eager anticipation.
How happy it was when it came upon its prey.
Just as it was about to feed on this fat meal, a shadow fell across the ground. The raven looked up and saw an eagle flapping its great wings very slowly and swooping down towards him.
“I heard your cheery cawing,” said the king of birds. “Thank you for informing me of this juicy meal. And now, you may leave. I claim this carcass all for myself. If your life is dear to you, you would do well to remove yourself at once, unless you wish to become my dessert.”
Angry and disappointed, the raven lifted its wings and flew away, hunger gnawing at his belly.
“I’ve learned my lesson,” it said bitterly to itself. “It never pays to make too much noise.” For is it not taught:
“A bird of the air shall carry the voice.” (Ecclesiastes 10:20)
“Your secret is your prisoner. Once you reveal it, you are its prisoner.” (Mibhar haPeninim #321)
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)
Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us
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The Three Daughters and the Evil of Tale Bearing
Once upon a time there lived a pious man, who had three daughters. The first one was a thief, the second was lazy and the third was a liar, who never spoke the truth and who slandered people whenever she had an opportunity.
One day a religious man, who had three sons, came to the city and said : “You have three daughters and I have three sons. Let us make a match between them.” But the father of the girls said: “Let me alone. My daughters are not good enough for your sons, for each one has a bad habit.” The father of the boys asked: “What are their bad habits?” The father of the girls replied: “One is a thief, the second is lazy, and the third is a lair.” The father of the boys asked: “Have they no other bad habits than these? If so I will cure them. Leave it to me.” So they were betrothed, and he took the girls with him and married them to his sons.
As soon as the weddings were over, he gave to the thief the keys to all his money and satisfied her greed so that she had no reason to steal. To the second he gave many servants so that she should have nothing to do. And as to the third, he fulfilled all her wishes, so that she should not tell lies or slander anybody. And whenever the father-in-law left her house, he embraced and kissed her, for he hoped that by being good to her he would cure her of her evil quality and she would not slander any more.
One day the father came to see how his daughters were getting on. So he went to the first one and asked her how she was getting along with her husband, and how she was treated by her parents-in-law. She replied: “I thank you so much, father, for having given me in marriage to this man, for I have everything that my heart desires. And moreover, I have all the keys in my hand so that I do not have to steal.”
Then he went to his lazy daughter and asked her how she was getting on. And she also said: “I am so thankful to you, father, for having brought me here, for I need not lift a hand, I have many servants to tend to my every need, and my husband and parents-in-law all treat me very well.”
Then he came to the daughter who told lies to ask her how she was getting along, and she said: “You are a fine father! I thought you gave me one husband but it seems you gave me two, the father and the son. For no sooner does my husband leave the house than my father-in-law comes in and kisses me and hugs me and wants me to do his will. Dear father, if you do not believe it, come tomorrow morning and you will see it is true.”
Next morning the father came and she put him in a room where he could see what was going on. Her father-in-law came as usual and kissed her and embraced her and said to her: “My dear daughter-in-law, how are you getting on? Is there anything you want?” He did all this with the good intention of curing her of her bad habit, but her father who saw it, grew furious and rushed out of his chamber and killed him. Then he tried to get away, but when her two brothers-in-law came home and found their father lying dead, they killed their father-in-law.
Then the slanderer began to shout: “Murder! Murder!” and they understood it was through her that the tragedy had occurred. So they killed her too, and thus through slander three persons lost their lives.
You can see what an evil thing it is to go tale bearing and slandering and telling lies. The rabbis of old taught: Why is the evil tongue called a thrice-slaying tongue? Because it slays three persons: the person speaking, the person spoken to, and the person spoken of. And the proof? (Gen. R. 98:19; Y. Pesachim 1:1, 16a)
Listen well and learn how vicious is slander! It is more vicious than murder, adultery, and idolatry put together. In Scripture, each of these three transgressions is termed “great,” but slander is spoken of in the plural as “great things.” Thus, Cain said of murder, “My punishment is more great than I can bear” (Gen. 4:13); Joseph exclaimed of adultery, “How then can I do this great wickedness?” (Gen. 39:9); Moses said of idolatry, “Oh, this people have sinned a great sin” (Exod. 32:31). But of slander it is written, “The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaks great things” (Ps. 12:4), to tell you that slander is more vicious than the other three transgres sions. (MekiltaTehillim 52:2; B. Arachnin 15b)
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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The Worst of Curses
It is so hard to maintain faith in a society that is so focused on science, technology and material things. The simple answer is to ignore the voices that would lead one away from their faith. They can’t find the words to describe a sunrise or the majesty of a mountain, all they can do is speak of the technical aspects.
The beauty and wonder as seen and felt by those of faith cannot be explained. The magnificence of a simple act can leave lifelong impacts on this world and the next.
There was a man who used to curse and belittle a certain holy man, who was never unhappy. The man used to curse him and hope that he would lose his life and all his money. He also cursed him with the wish that he would commit many sins in order that he should lose his share in the World to Come. Then the holy man felt sad.
“Why did you become gloomy?” his students asked, and he said to them: “When he insulted me he did not affect me and I had no desire for honor. When a man dies he has no benefit from his honor. When he cursed me with the hope that I should not benefit from anything in this world—that all passes away in any case. But when he cursed me with the wish that I should not enjoy the World to Come, and that I should rebel against the Holy One, blessed be He then I was concerned for fear that he would cause injustice. And so I prayed that the voice of those who curse should not be heard, but rather the voice of those who bless.”
May all the voices that cause conflict, pain and curse be silenced and may we all join together in prayers of faith.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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