May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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The Mystery of the Dreidel
Category: Rabbi’s thoughts and teaching
The Gardener and the Bird of Wisdom
It is told that there was a man, who had a large garden in which he grew all that he needed. It was said that “every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food” (Gen. 2:9) was found in his garden. One day as he was working in the garden he saw a bird eating the fruit, and he caught the bird in a trap. He was so angry and furious with the bird that he took his knife in hand and prepared to slaughter it.
Suddenly the bird opened its mouth and spoke: “I see that you wish to slay me though I am very small and my lean body is ugly and smelly. Nothing in me can give you strength or satisfy your hunger. If you could control your anger and your rage I will give you good counsel.” “And what may that be?” the gardener said; and the bird of wisdom answered: “Promise me that you will spare me from death and let me go when I tell you all my good counsel.” “Why should I make such an promise?” asked the gardener. “When a man becomes angry, even if greatness has been decreed for him by Heaven, he is reduced from his greatness. (Pesachim 66b) Do not be foolish and listen to my words.” The bird responded, and the gardener heard the words.
Then the bird said: “Accept these words which I share with you and keep them in your bosom deep within your heart, for they are more useful and precious than gold, and worth far more than treasure untold. If you study and understand them they will guard you, and if you guard them they will serve you. These are worthy and precious thoughts we have received from our forefathers and birds of good faith these thousand years and more, and we have preserved them in our heart and passed them on to one another, one generation to the next. I am the last of them all and it is my duty to pass them to the oldest and wisest and most faithful of our kind.”
Phoenix Renewal and Teshuvah by Shoshanah Tobesman
The gardener asked in disbelief: “If your words are true, how did you fall into my trap?”
The bird answered: “Be it known to you that the sages have said once there is a decree no wisdom can change it or turn it away. ‘A bird does not fall into a trap without the will of the Holy One, Blessed be He.’ (Y. Shevi’is 9:1) Indeed, it was decreed that I should be caught, and were it not for these words which cannot be bought you would have made an end of me at once. You wish to hear these words of wisdom for your benefit, and so you require that they should not be lost forever; such being the way of any wise man, and that will keep you from destroying me and save me from death and let me go free.’ ”
The words of the bird interested the gardener, and he believed the bird and wished very much to hear the words of wisdom. The gardener said “If what you say is true then speak these words of wisdom.”
The bird began and explained: “Listen and give ear, and pay attention to the words of our elders and guard them well as they commanded their children and their childrens’ children. The oldest of my kind blessed each generation and taught: ‘I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days like the phoenix’ (Job 29:18) ‘ Listen my children, you must know that the great kings and princes of long, long ago left their children a heritage of fortified cities for age upon age with treasures of jewels and silver and gold. Yet I can leave you no more than sayings three which no ruler, no matter how upright they may be or how much wealth they gather, can purchase. For these saying three are more precious than the light of day. If you follow this wisdom, you will eat your fill both morning and eve, and if you act according to them they will benefit you greatly.’ So now listen to me as I speak these words of wisdom.
“I have heard my grandsire sweetly say that he had heard from his grandsire in some bygone day that these three words were engraved on a tablet belonging to Shem the Prophet who took it with them into the ark, and engraved it was on greenest jade and these are the words that were written:
My son, do not sorrow for what you have lost.
My son, do not seek what you cannot obtain.
My son, do not believe what cannot be.
These three sayings are beyond all wealth and value. Follow these words and you will proper greatly. Now I have told you the ancient wisdom of my kind, Let me go free.’ ” and the gardener set him free.
The bird flew off and perched on a tree that was higher than all the other trees in the garden and laughed at the gardener, saying: “You set me free, and you did not know that in my heart I have a precious gem stone that is beyond worth, and it is the only thing that makes me wise.” Hearing this, the gardener regretted what he had done and ran to the foot of the tree and started to climb it. But when he had climbed halfway, he fell and greatly harmed himself.
Then the bird looked down upon him and said: “Foolish man, you did not act according to the wise sayings I taught you even for a few moments.”
“I told you do not sorrow for what you have lost — yet you regretted having let me go.”
“I told you do not seek what you cannot obtain — yet you believed that I a precious gem stone that is beyond worth. I am but only a bird that flies and seeks food all day long and depends on the gifts of the Holy One, blessed be He.”
“I told you do not believe what cannot be — yet you thought that in my heart I have a precious gem stone and so you had to run after me till you fell and greatly harmed yourself.”
Though you have chosen to act without wisdom I will remind you: ‘There is gold, and abundance of costly stones; but the lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel. (Proverbs 20:15) The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in anger.’ (Proverbs 11:23)
Then the bird went its way to seek its food.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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The Storyteller, the Scoffer and Wisdom
The people gathered in the forest around a fire waiting for the storyteller to begin. He walked slowly as he wove his tale, an ancient story forgotten by most.
As the storyteller told the stories, he would at times, close his eyes. It was as though he were in the story and telling it as it unfolded. The words were indeed old, but the message was eternal.
The words of the storyteller filled each listener with wonder, mystery, and life. As he spoke, the listeners saw beyond this world.
There was one who thought the stories were childish and the storyteller a fraud. “What do you see when you close your eyes?” demanded the listener.
“I see the stories, feel their messages, and sometimes get lost in their mysteries. Many times, the stories touch my very inner being, my heart and soul.” Answered the storyteller.”
“That’s ridiculous!” countered the listener. “The stories you tell are for children, they’re from a time of superstition and for people without knowledge. The stories were used to control people and have no place in today’s society where people are educated and understand much more than any time in history.” The listener proudly refuted.
The storyteller was silent for a moment or two and then he seemed to drift off into another place. “what people see is a matter of perspective. For you see there once was a man who had a magnificent vision and began pursuing it.”
“Two others saw the first man’s vision and began to follow him. Time passed as it always does and the children of those who followed asked what was in the vision.”
“Sadly, the parents described what they saw, but what they described was merely the coattails of the man in front of them. The children did not see the magic or wonder of their parents’ vision. They could not see the colours or feel the warmth in their parents’ words, so, alas, they turned away from their parents’ vision. They felt the vision was not worth following.”
The storyteller asked the listener who raised his challenge, “So what did you think of the story?”
The challenger was quiet, he had no answer.
The storyteller looked at the listener for a moment and then continued, “We see that children deny what they have not experienced. We find parents who believe in what they have not experienced.”
The storyteller paused to allow the challenging listener time to think on his words, then he explained, “The question is not, what do I see when me eyes are closed, but what do you see when you open your eyes?”
The listener thought for some time and then discounted, “When I closed my eyes, I don’t see anything. So, there is nothing to see when I open them.”
The storyteller sadly answered, “What you see is your ignorance. You can’t see what you don’t want to see. When one can not find their ignorance, they can be certain they have lost their wisdom.”
The listener became angry and demanded, “You can’t answer my question so you make fun at me?”
With a gentle voice the storyteller began a story:
Once there was a fool who traveled the highways and roads to the king’s palace. All along the way, people laughed and treated the fool badly. “Why should a pathetic fool like you be going to the king?”
The fool just puffed up his chest and answered, “I am going to be the king’s teacher!” His comments only brought more laughter from the people along the way. After some time the fool finally arrived at the king’s Palace. He demanded to see the king.
The king was very amused that a fool wanted to see him and decided to have some fun at the fool’s expense. So he had the fool brought to the throne room. The room was filled with important people. “Why do you come before the king?” asked the king.
“I have come to be the royal teacher,” answered the fool in a very assertive way. The king was indeed amused. He laughed so hard tears fell down his cheeks. “And what can a fool teach me?”
“You see,” countered the fool, “like a student, you ask me questions.” Silence fell through the room as the king composed himself as he stared at the fool. “You’ve answered me with wit, but you have not answered my questions!”
“Only a fool has all the answers.” Replied the fool with a slight smile. The king was caught off guard and did not know how to respond, but finally he asked, “What would others say if they knew the king had a fool for a teacher?”
“Better to have a fool for a teacher than a fool for a king.”
When he heard this, the king, who was a good man, confessed, “now I feel like a fool.” “Absolutely not,” answered the man, “it is only a fool who has never felt like one.”
The storyteller explained, “One needs to listen with an open mind and allow the stories to do their work. They can take you anywhere at any time. They prepare the listener to face the challenges of life, to learn wisdom and strength, and faith.
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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Love for the King
Faith and belief are very powerful yet in today’s society it is all too often challenged by science and technology. So many become lost amid the many theories and gadgets that they have a hard time believing in anything based upon faith.
In a society that that offers so many diversions it is very hard to stay on the path of one’s beliefs. The morals of society are often at odds with those of faith. Truth be said we never know how the Holy One, blessed be He will use our small acts of love for His great purposes
There was a wise and kind king who was loved and respected by everyone in his kingdom. Now there was a villager who felt a deep love for the king, and this villager wanted more than anything to draw close to the king and to serve him.
One day, villager heard king’s palace needed a skilled person to like the stoves in the palace every morning. The villager was very qualified for this position, and he applied and was accepted for the job.
The villager did his work with his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, devoting all his energies into his job to make sure the king’s palace would be warm and comfortable. He carried out his job faithfully for many years, driven by his intense desire to serve the king.
As the villager grew older, he began to worry about what would happen when he would pass on. He knew that even if another person was hired to do his job, the other person would not do it with the same devotion and love for the king that he had. He tried to train some of the king’s other servants to carry out his work, but he quickly learned that they were lazy and indifferent, and did not share his desire to bring joy and happiness to the king.
He thought and he thought, until he decided that the only way he could ensure that the king would be served properly was if he were to marry and have children, whom he would raise with the same love and devotion to the king as he had. That his children would be endowed with knowledge and insight, and be competent to serve in the king’s palace. (Daniel 1:4) Then, after his death, his children would take over his role as the lighter of the king’s stoves, and he could rest assured that the work would be done the way he wanted it to be done.
The greatest blessing that can be given is that you should serve the King with the same feeling as the villager, who sole desire was to bring up a new generation of servants who would do the King’s will fully and with boundless love.”
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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A Tale of True Friendship
He who finds a faithful friend finds a treasure.
ben Sira 6:14
Once there were two merchants, one in Egypt and one in Babylon. They knew of one another but had never met in person. It came to pass that the Babylonian merchant once traveled to Egypt and when the Egyptian merchant heard of the arrival of his friend, he met him and brought him into his home. The Egyptian merchant treated his friend as though he was a member of his household and made feasts in his honour.
After sometime the Babylonian merchant became sick and his sickness worsened each day. The host brought the best of doctors and healers of Egypt. The doctors examined him, but could not recognize any of the sicknesses they knew. An old wise man told them that the sickness was not of the body, but of the heart, for the bedridden merchant was lovesick. When his host was told that his friend was ailing because of his love of a woman, he came to him and asked whether he loved any woman in his house. The sick merchant answered: “Show me all the women in your house and I shall show you the one who has captured my heart.” So the merchant showed him all his daughters but he did not choose any of them. The merchant had a young woman in his home who was very beautiful and who he hoped to marry. He brought her into the sick man’s room when the sick merchant saw her, he said: “This most beautiful of women is my life or death.” When his host heard these words, he prepared a fine wedding and gave his friend and wife much money and many gifts.
The world is like a water wheel: the buckets ascend full and descend empty. Who’s rich today may not be so tomorrow (Exodus Rabbah 31:14) and so it came about in due course that the wheel of fortune turned and the Egyptian merchant lost all his money and became very poor. “I shall go to my dear friend,” he sadly whispered to himself, “and I will ask him to take pity on me.” So he sadly set out to journey to his friend’s home in his tattered clothes. He arrived in Babylon at night but was afraid to go to his friend’s home for fear that he would not recognize him and would send him away, seeing him poor and needy.
He stayed in an old house outside of the city. While he was lying there reflecting over all that had happened to him, he lost hope. Suddenly he heard two men quarreling, and one of them killed the other and ran away. The murderer was pursued throughout the city, and guards came to the old house to see if the murderer was there. They found the Egyptian alone and asked him: “Who killed the man?” And he answered: “I did.” For he wished to die rather than to live in poverty, distress and shame.
He was arrested and put in prison. In the morning they brought him before the judges who sentenced him to die by hanging. They led him to the gallows tree. Many people came to see justice done, and among them was his merchant friend, for whose sake he had come to Babylon. The Babylonian merchant recognized his friend from Egypt and remembered all the favors he had done for him. He knew that he could never repay him for all of his success and happiness. So he said to the judges: “Why are you doing this? This man should not be sentenced to death. Where are you taking him? It was not he who did the killing but I did.
When the judges heard this, they arrested him and led him to the gallows tree. Now the true murderer was among the people and nobody recognized him. He watched all that was being done and thought to himself: “I killed the man, and now an innocent man will be punished? There must surely be a reason for this from the L-rd. The Holy One, blessed be He is just, and there is no evil in His ways nor any advantage to wickedness. Are we not taught ‘No one who practices deceit shall remain in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue in my presence.’ (Psalm 101:7) I fear that I may face a far harsher death than this. So I shall confess my crime and atone for myself and save this man from death.’ “
So the murderer came before the judges and cried in a loud voice: “Honest and faithful people, do not do evil in judgment and let not an innocent man be slain in place of a guilty one.” The confused judges asked, How are we to judge true when so many come forward and confess guilt?” The murderer answered, “The world stands on three things: on truth, on justice, and on peace, as is said, Execute truth, justice, and peace within your gates (Zechariah 8:16). when justice is done, truth is achieved, and peace is established. (Pirkei Avos 1:18; Y.Tamid 4:2, 68a). In truth, be it known to you that neither of these honorable men slew the murdered man. Know that one preferred death to life, while the other could not merely tell you to let him go so he said that he had murdered the man. The reason being that he loves his friend and their souls are entwined together as in the ancient days when “the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. (I Samuel 18:1). Indeed, honourable judges, let him go and let no innocent man be slain. I killed him and it is better for me to perish in this world and not in the next.”
When the judges heard the words of the murderer, they let the merchant go and they led the murderer to the gallows tree.
Then the Babylonian merchant came and brought the Egyptian merchant to his home and gave him garments and clothed him. The Babylonian honored him and made him master of his entire household, and gave him control over whatever was his.
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 Clever Wife
Long, long ago, there lived in an old town a happy couple named Avraham and Sarah. Although they loved one another very much, their happiness was not complete. They had been married for nearly ten years, but they had not been blessed with a child.
Sarah would often sit in her room and cry. She prayed every day to Hashem to grant her the blessing of having a son or a daughter. Avraham did his best to comfort her by telling her that Hashem heard her heart felt prayer and would answer them at the right time.
At the same time, he felt very sad when he came home and thought of Sarah’s pain. He would have given anything to have had a little son who might be taught the holy Torah which he loved so well.
The neighbours on their street were not too kind and they hurt Sarah. This made her sadness more bitter. people often said, in Avraham’s hearing, that children are a sign of Hashem’s blessing . Was it not true that the house which lacked the merry laughter of little children was under a curse or spell? Did not the holy Torah teach that it was a mitzvah to marry and have children? Would it not be better, he argued with himself, to divorce his wife, if, after being married for ten years, she had no child? She might marry another man and have children and so find her happiness. All these thoughts flashed again and again through his mind.
At last when the anniversary of their tenth marriage day arrived, Avraham said to his wife, ” Let us visit today our true friend and guide the holy rabbi to ask his advice on what we should do.”
When they came before the holy rabbi, Avraham, with tears in his eyes, said, “Holy Rabbi, my dear wife has been faithful and loving to me during the past ten years. It has pleased Holy One, blessed be He to hold back from us the blessing of children. I fear this is on account of my many sins. It seems to me that our home from now on will not be as happy as it should be; my wife cries everyday and I am sad because she is so unhappy. Is it not my duty to set her free?”
While Avraham was speaking, his wife wept. She knew that if he sent her away from his heart and home, her life would be really sad and lonely. Her deep sorrow touched the heart of her husband, who turned to her and cried, “My dear, sweet, beloved wife do not cry and grieve, for we must submit to the will of the Holy One, blessed be He. Do not think that I am not often sad, because we have no child to bring happiness to your long days. If I could only take away your sorrow and pain, I would most gladly do so. Listen, dearest, I faithfully promise to allow you to choose whatever you like best in our home and you may take it with you to your father’s house as a keepsake when you leave me for good. This will always be a visible token of the deep affection and true love which united us during the past ten years.”
The holy rabbi watched Avraham and Sarah understanding their sorrow. He knew that Avraham had made up his mind to divorce his worthy wife. Nothing would make him change his mind. With a mystical wisdom he spoke to them, “My dear children, I can only pity you, for I am deeply sorry to see how you are about to lose one another. Before you finally part, however, let me advise you to invite all your family and friends to a special seudah (meal), just as they gathered around you ten years ago at your marriage feast. Love united you and in love prepare to separate, if it must be.” Avraham and Sarah promised to follow the advice of the Rabbi and they returned home.
Sarah at once sent to all their friends and provided a most generous meal with music and wine. Her husband sat beside her as usual, and she took care that his wineglass was constantly filled. Good cheer made everyone very happy, and Avraham was determined to spend a jolly evening for the last time in the company of his wife, whom he really loved.
Sarah had carefully prepared her plans. Her husband had spoken to each of his guests, and soon all the excitement made him very tired and he fell deeply asleep. Without a moment’s delay, Sarah called her servants. She told them to lift up the armchair in which her husband sat asleep and to carry it at once to her father’s house in a neighbouring street.
Meanwhile Avraham, fast asleep, had been carried to his new quarters. He was put in a beautiful room, with Sarah at his side waiting for him to awaken. At dawn he woke up. Looking around with great surprise, he exclaimed, Where am I? “
Sarah took his hand and stroking it gently, she said to him, My beloved, you are in my father’s house.” “What am I doing here? “He cried.
“You are just waking up,” she answered, “you remember when we yesterday visited the holy rabbi, you faithfully promised me that I might choose anything I liked best in our home and take it with me when I left your roof. Last night I left your house and I took you with me, as there was nothing in your home, or, for the matter of that, in all the world so precious to me as your dear self. You were the choicest possession in our old home, and you are mine now and forever. You have, by your promise to me, given yourself over to me. Divorce or no divorce, you are my property, for I know very well you always keep your promise.”
Avraham saw the humour of the situation in which he found himself, and laughed again and again at the wisdom and love of his clever wife. “Well done,” he exclaimed, “we are now agreed that the question of divorce is solved. Once again are we united and this time forever. Nothing shall part us as long as we live.”
Like all good people they lived a very happy life. In time a son was born and later on a daughter was given to them, and they all rejoiced in one another’s happiness.
Based on Song of Songs Rabbah 1:4
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
Excerpted from, A Time to Separate, A Time to Come Together, abook written by Rabbi Rachmiel Tobesman that teaches children important skills to cope with the trauma and confusion so common when parents separate and divorce.
The book is available from the publisher at xlibris or on most book sites (Barnes and Noble, Booksamillion, etc) Just search “Tobesman”
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The Blessing of a Greeting
The act of saying shalom to another person can be interpreted in a couple of ways. Many believe that by simply saying shalom to another person. We are really asking, “are you at peace? Is everything okay?” By extending the greeting of shalom (peace), one shows empathy and offers the recipient of the greeting the opportunity to speak openly and at times, invent invite them to ask for help. Others believe that by extending the greeting of shalom. There is no question. They believe that we are bringing a blessing down from heaven bless the person with shalom (peace), and in this way, praying that everything should be well with the recipient of the greeting and all those close and dear to them.
Sadly, today most people do not have either of these intentions in mind when they greet one another. Their only intention is to acknowledge that they are aware of the other person’s presence, or to introduce a conversation.
The word “shalom” is a reference to the Holy One, blessed be He and should be taken very seriously. By greeting someone with shalom, one is extending a sincere blessing of peace and also invites blessings from heaven. This is learned from Abraham. When God assured him, “I will bless those who bless you.” (Genesis 12:3)
Greeting people with shalom (peace) is an aspect of “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). The importance of this greeting is further in the words of King David “seek peace and pursue it” (Psalms 34:14).
Throughout Jewish teachings it is taught that one should do their best to initiate greeting others. The act of extending a friendly, sincere greeting is so important that the rabbis of old taught, “one should act in peace with one’s brothers, relatives, and all others, even non-Jewish people one meets along the way. In this way one will be beloved in Heaven and well liked on Earth.” (Berachos 17a)
The holy rabbi had a habit of taking long walks through the forests near Esztergom (Hungary) where he would study and pray. He was well known to the many people he met by his smile and kindly ways. Everyone he met along his walks he would give a warm greeting. Every morning on his way to the forest he would pass a farm and greet its owner “Jó reggelt kívánok László úr (Good morning Mr. Laszlo).” At first the farmer ignored the rabbi and even turned his back on him, but the rabbi greeted him always with a smile and in a friendly way. One day the farmer returned the rabbi’s greeting with a slight nod of his head. After a time, the farmer would smile and nod at the rabbi, one day Mr. Laszlo asked the rabbi always greeted him.
The rabbi explained that the Torah teaches that we are to love your neighbor as yourself. Mr. Laszlo looked at the rabbi quizzically and asked what is Torah. The rabbi answered, “Torah it is the Jewish Scriptures.” The farmer was more confused and responded, “I heard from the priest that Jewish people don’t read the Scriptures and that the Gospel Matthew said that. (Matthew 19:19)” The rabbi patiently explained, “The Torah is older than the Scriptures the priest teaches from, but the teaching can be found in the Book of Leviticus. Leviticus 19:18)” Mr. Laszlo smiled and extended his hand to the rabbi and said, “I guess I have much to learn.”
Soon many refugees from Bohemia came to Esztergom in those dark days ahead of the Crusaders and the rabbi was not seen by the farmer. The Crusaders were drunk on blood and fell upon any Jewish person they could find. They even attacked the people in Esztergom to rob them of their food and valuables.
The farmer, afraid they might storm the church itself, ran to the church in the center of the town. He met with the priest and asked him if it was a sin to like a Jewish person. The priest explained, “The Jewish people do not share our beliefs, but we are taught by our Holy Scriptures that one of the most important lessons we need to learn is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39). Why do you ask me this at this time?”
Mr. Laszlo told the priest how the rabbi greeted him each time he walked to the forest. The priest smiled and said, “The rabbi is indeed a holy man and he is here in the church. Would you like me to take you to him?” The farmer was surprised and asked why was the rabbi in the church. The Priest said only two words, “Sicut Judæis” (A papal decree intended to protect the Jewish communities from the excesses of the Crusaders. The Pope emphasized that Jews were entitled to “enjoy their lawful liberty.”) The priest continued, “We will protect them to the best of our ability. Now follow me into the catacombs”
The rabbi was teaching some children when he saw the grim faced priest approach. “Béke legyen veletek (Peace be unto you). Has the time come?” The priest smiled as Mr. Lazslo came from behind his red robes and said, “Good morning rabbi.”
Suddenly there was the sound of shouts and the attack began. The priest and the farmer ran to defend the church, the Jewish people hidden in the catacombs, and the holy rabbi. As far as the eye could see were Crusaders who demanded that the priest surrender all the Jewish people within the church walls. “No, they are under my protection!” was the only answer given. The horde pushed forward to storm the church, when a blast from a war horn was heard. For a moment there was silence as the Crusaders believed that more had joined in their attack. A second blast of the war horn was followed by a hail of arrows towards the Crusaders, the army of King Coloman of Hungary had arrived.
The rabbi and the Jewish people of Esztergom were spared from the carnage of the day by a simple greeting, shalom.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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The Mother’s Prayer Book and a Boy’s Prayer
In a far away village there once lived a Jewish merchant who was held in high affection by the lord of the village. This Jewish merchant passed away and his wife followed him, leaving a little boy behind them. The lord of the village took pity on him and brought him up, treating him like a son. The lord always enjoyed the company of the child, and on one occasion he told him that his father and mother had been Jewish, but he had adopted him as his son and all his property and wealth would be the child’s. Meanwhile, he gave him the few belongings which his parents had left. Among them was the prayer book from which his mother had always prayed.
Now the Elul month came around, when it is the practice of the Jewish community in the village to gather together in order to say their prayers during the Days of Awe together with the congregation, since the splendor of the King is found in the multitude of the people. The boy asked some Jewish travelers where they were going, and they told him that they were going to the place where they could pray to G-d since their fate for the year would be decided on Rosh haShanah (New Year’s Day), which is a great and awesome occasion indeed. There they would pray with the whole community and G-d certainly would not reject their prayer. From that moment the spirit of the L-rd began to work within the boy.
That night the boy saw his father and mother in a dream, and they urged him to return to the faith of the Jewish people. This dream returned night after night. During the entire ten days of penitence he could not sleep and saw them both awake and in dreams, and they would not let him rest. The boy told all this to the lord, who tried to persuade him that dreams are meaningless.
When the eve of the holy Day of Atonement came, the boy saw wagon after wagon full of Jewish travelers proceeding to town and asked them what it was for. They told him this is the day we wait for, the day of pardon and forgiveness when our transgressions are atoned. The boy was very upset aria set out on foot to go to the old wooden shul (synagogue) in the village. He took his mother’s prayer book and came to synagogue while the Kol Nidre prayer was being sung. He saw all the people dressed in white garments, their prayer books in their hands, praying and asking for forgiveness for deeds of the past year, but he could not pray and began to cry aloud very bitterly; and there was a great commotion in heaven on high.
The boy, seeing that he could not pray, placed his mother’s prayer book on the shtender (bookstand) and cried: “Ribbono shel Olam, Master of the Universe, I do not know how to pray, I do not know what to say, here is the whole prayer book. Pick the right prayers and put them together so that I may grow to understand You.” The boy wept and his heart was broken, his prayer made an impact on the heavenly host and was accepted among the prayers of the upright and innocent; and his prayer opened the Gates of Mercy and blessings of life, peace and goodness showered down on the world.
May all be remembered and inscribed for a year of life, goodness and blessings
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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WHERE ARE THE BOOKS THAT WE WISH TO BE INSCRIBED IN?
And so that you will prolong your days (Dev0rim/Deuteronomy 11:9)
A young boy went with his father to the wooden shul (synagogue). At one point during the service, the boy turned to his father and asked” “When we say Avinu Malkeinu we ask the Holy One, blessed be He to inscribe us in the book of life, the book of redemption and salvation, the book of livelihood, the book of forgiveness and atonement, and the book of merits. Where are those book found and can we read them?”
The father looked at his son and answered: “My son, you ask a very good question, but I am at a loss on how to answer. Why don’t you go the rabbi and ask him your question?”
The boy took a deep breath and went up to the rabbi, who sat on a big chair in front of the synagogue. He stood a little afraid as he faced the rabbi and slowly asked his question. The rabbi looked at the young boy with kind eyes and remarked: “Such a big question from such a little boy, but a very good one.”
The rabbi began to explain:
The “book of life” is familiar to us from the Sages’ teaching that the book of life is opened during the Days of Awe. But where else do we find mention of any of the other books in which we hope to be inscribed?
With this idea, perhaps we can gain a better understanding of the teachings of
the holy rabbis that a person should always study Torah (Scripture) and not skip any part, for whoever completes such study merits that their days and years be lengthened. According to the parallel we noted between the fiveand the five “books,” we can suggest that by completing study of all of the Torah (Scriptures) a person acquires all the benefits that correspond to each of the Chumashim.
On the Talmud’s words, “his days and years are extended,” Ben Yehoyada notes that “days” refers to the quality of a person’s life, while “years” refers to the quantity or length of a person’s life. He uses this concept to explain the verse:
For through me your days will be increased, and they will increase years of life for you (Mishlei/Proverbs 9:11).
Your days will be increased is a promise to enhance a person’s quality of life, while and they will increase years of life for you is a promise to increase the length of a person’s life.
Those who talk during the reading of the Torah place themselves in the category of
And those who forsake Hashem will perish (Yeshayah/Isaiah 1:28).
If they were talking while the books of life, redemption, livelihood, forgiveness and merit were being read, how can they then come and pray to the Holy One, blessed be He to inscribe them in these very books?
May all be remembered and inscribed for a year of life, goodness and blessings
How to be Forgiven of Sin
You shall seek G-d, and you shall find Him, but you must search for Him wholeheartedly. In your distress, when all these things (sin) come upon you, in the end of days, you will return to the L-rd, your G-d, and listen to his voice. (Deuteronomy 4:29).
A man who had drifted away from faith came to a holy rabbi and gave him a long list of sins he had committed over the years, He told the holy rabbi that he had hoped by fasting frequently and punishing himself by sleeping on the ground and putting pebbles inside his shoes, he could be forgiven for his terrible deeds. He wondered whether all of his actions were sufficient to attain forgiveness for his sins.
The holy rabbi listened closely and studied the list of sins carefully. Then he remarked, “It appears that you have done a complete job. Truly a complete job.”
The young man was pleased that the rabbi appeared to have approved of his penance. “Then I am forgiven?” he asked.
“Not quite,” the holy rabbi said. “Is not the soul a guest in our body, deserving of our kind hospitality? Today it is here, tomorrow it is gone” (Leviticus Rabbah 34:3) The rabbi paused and thought for a moment then continued, “You began by committing sins to ruin your neshamah (soul). Having done that, you then directed your attention toward ruining your body as well. That is a complete job.”
The young man began to cry, “Rabbi, holy rabbi, I want to be forgiven of the terrible things I have done. I thought I was doing what is right, but now I see that I was wrong. What am I to do?”
The rabbi comforted the young man, “Begin a meal with words of Torah (Scriptures) and a benediction (blessing).” (Megillah 12b). The rabbi instructed the young man, “Eat three meals each day, pray from your heart and study the Holy Words. Remember that ‘through kindness and truth, sin is atoned’ (Proverbs 16:6) Do this and you will be forgiven by man and the Holy One, blessed be He.”
The young man looked upand asked, “how can this be?”
“We learn that ‘G-d created man in His own image’ (Genesis 1:27) Since man is created in the image of G-d, he has the ability to forgive and be divine in his deeds. For this reason we are taught, ‘Beloved is man who was created in the divine image.’ (Mishna Avos 3:14)” answered the holy rabbi.
According to many great rabbis, atonement does not require self-torment and punishment. Rather, one should understand the gravity of transgressing the Divine will, appreciate how injurious this is to oneself, and make a concerted effort to refine his character so that he is no longer likely to repeat the improper behavior. Self-punishment can mislead one to think that he has achieved atonement, whereas nothing in his character may have changed.
An old Jewish teaching tells us that “great is repentance: it brings healing to the world.” (Yoma 86a) Let us all hope that we can bring about a healing in the world.
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)