A Time to Remain Silent

Posted on Saturday, 4, August, 2012Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The holy rabbi was in the habit of strolling through the streets of the village every night. During his walks he listened as many “lifted up their voice, and cried, and the people wept that night” (Num. 14:1) praying from their broken hearts to the Holy One. Blessed be He.

One night after hearing a heartfelt prayer from a small house, the holy rabbi went to the house of a certain bank manager who had left the ways of his father. The banker considered himself a modern man, not someone held back by old and outdated ways.

The holy rabbi knocked on the door and was greeted by a servant, who was a bit confused. The servant could not understand why the holy rabbi would come to the house of the bank manager, but invited him in.

The host received his distinguished guest with all the respect and politeness. The holy rabbi, for his part, took the seat that was offered him and sat for quite some time without saying a word. Considering that it would disrespectful to ask the holy rabbi directly for the purpose of his visit, the host whispered his question to the attendant, but was made none the wiser.

After sometime, the holy rabbi bid the banker farewell, and rose to leave. As a mark of respect, the host accompanied him in silence all the way to his home, but at the last minute, when he was about to leave, his understandable curiosity got the better of him, and he turned to the holy rabbi: “Holy rabbi, pardon my question, but it would hardly have been proper for me to ask when we were in my home, so I am taking the liberty of asking now. Why did you honor me with a visit?”

“I went to your home in order to fulfill a mitzvah,” answered the holy rabbi, “and, thank G‑d, I was able to fulfill it.”

“Which mitzvah?” asked the bank manager.

The holy rabbi explained: “We are taught in the TaNaCh (Scriptures), ‘Who is a mighty one like unto You, O L-rd?’ (Ps. 89:9). Who is like You, mighty in self-restraint? Though You heard the insults and reviling of a scoundrel, yet You kept silent! Gittin 55b-57a; Genesis. Rabbah. 10:7. Our sages teach that ‘Just as it is a mitzvah to say that which will be heard, so is it a mitzvah not to say that which will not be listened to. For there is ‘a time to keep silence, and a time to speak’ (Ecclesiastes 3:7)

Now if I remain in my house and you remain in yours, what kind of a mitzvah is it that I refrain from telling you ‘that which will not be listened to’?

“In order to fulfill the mitzvah properly, one obviously must go to the house of the man who will not listen, and once there refrain from speaking to him. And that is exactly what I did.”

“Perhaps, Holy rabbi,” said the bank manager, “you would be so good as to tell me what this thing is? Who knows, perhaps I will listen?”

“I’m afraid not,” said the holy rabbi. “I am certain that you will not.”

“Why do you believe that I will not listen to what you have to say?” asked the banker.

The holy rabbi answered: “You have said you are a modern man and not bound by the old ways of our beliefs. We are taught that ‘the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time. (Amos 5:13).

The longer the holy rabbi refused, the greater grew the curiosity of the banker to know his secret, and he continued to press him to reveal “that which would not be listened to.”

“Very well,” said the holy rabbi at length. “A certain penniless widow owes your bank a great deal of money for the mortgage of her house. Within a few days your bank is going to sell her house by public sale, and she will be out on the street with nowhere to go. I had wanted to ask you to overlook her debt, but didn’t—because of the mitzvah of ‘not saying.’”

“Be realistic rabbi,” the bank manager answered in amazement. “Surely you realize that the debt is not owed to me personally, but to the bank, and I am only its manager, not its owner, and the debt runs to several hundred, and if so…”

The holy rabbi interrupted him: “It’s exactly as I said all along—that you would not want to hear. Even if I could ‘give you counsel, you will not listen to me.’ “(Jeremiah 38:15)

With that, the holy rabbi ended the conversation and entered his house.

The bank manager also went home—but the holy rabbi’s words found their way into his heart and gave him no rest. He remembered back many many years when he began in business and his father advised him to always remember that “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow” (Deut. 10:18). The banker paid all the money owed by the widow to save her house out of his very own pocket.

While thinking of his father, who left for the World of Truth many years earlier, the banker began to explore the ways of faith and became an observant man.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Cracked Bucket

Posted on Sunday, 22, July, 2012Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

In a small village there was a widow that supported herself and her children by carrying water from the nearby river to the Jewish homes. She had two water buckets which were attached to a sturdy yoke. Each day she would wake up early say a prayer to the Holy One, blessed be He, bless her children before she sent them off to learn the Holy Writings, then put the heavy yoke over her shoulders and went down to the river. At the river she would let down the yoke and filled her buckets with water. Once the buckets were filled she would lift the heavy yoke upon her shoulders and walk back to the village.

Everyday bucket on the right side of the yoke was fine and sturdy always filled when she returned to the village, but the bucket on the left had a small crack in it and by the time the woman arrived back in the village, a lot of the water was usually gone.

The cracked water bucket always felt very bad and was ashamed that he was cracked and wasn’t pulling his weight. One day he turned to the woman and apologized for being cracked.

The woman smiled gently and said, “Did you think I didn’t know that you had a crack, and water dripped from you? Look at the path from the river to the village. Do you see all the beautiful flowers that are growing on the side of the path? Those are the flowers that I planted there, that you watered every day as I walked from the river to the village. How many students have stopped and said a blessing over the beauty of the flowers? How many of those flowers brightened the Shabbos or Yom Tov table? How many words of Torah were said as holy men walked along the path?”

The woman continued, “Remember the words:

‘I went down to the garden of nut trees to look at the green plants in the valley, to see if the vines had blossomed or the pomegranates were in flower.’ (Song of Songs 6:11)

What do you think they mean? Let me explain “I went down into the garden of nuts” –this is the world; “to look at the green plants of the valley” — these are the righteous; “to see whether the vine had blossomed” –this is the houses of study or anywhere the Holy Words is learned; “and the pomegranates were in flower” (ibid.)–these are young children who sit occupied with the lessons of Torah (Scriptures) and are arrayed in row upon row, like the seeds of a pomegranate. (Song Rabbah 6:11, #1).

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Gifts and Fair Wages

Posted on Monday, 25, June, 2012Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

She stretches out her hand to the poor; yea, she reaches her hands to the needy.

Proverbs 31:20

The wife of a holy rabbi once gave a beautiful piece of cloth to a tailor so that he might sew her a dress. When the tailor finished the dress, he carried it to the holy rabbi’s wife, set it down and sighed deeply.

“What’s the matter?” the the holy woman asked. “Why are you so unhappy with the dress? It is truly beautiful and a credit to your skills”

In great pain, the tailor answered, “My daughter has become engaged to a fine young man. One day, seeing me sewing such a beautiful dress, the young man thought that it was for his bride. Learning that it would not be hers has filled him with sorrow.” The holy woman was filled with care and kindness that she picked up the dress and handed it to the tailor.

“This is a present for your daughter, the kallah (bride), for are we not taught, ‘Lift up your eyes round about and see; all these gather together and come to you. As I live, says the L-rd, you shall surely clothe yourself with them all as with an ornament and bind them on yourself like a bride. (Isaiah 49:18) ‘” she said warmly.

The tailor was speechless and gathered up the dress and thanked the holy woman for her gift. He was about to leave when the holy woman called him back as she took out her purse and handed the tailor 5 gold coins.

The confused tailor looked at her and asked, “What is this? You have graciously given my daughter this beautiful dress and her heart will be filled with joy.” The holy woman looked at the surprised tailor and answered, “You worked hard for a full week making this fine dress for me, and not for your daughter. With tired eyes and strained fingers you worked hard so that you might earn a little money for your family. Now I ask you, what will you and your family eat? Just because I gave you a gift for your daughter, does that mean that you should not be paid a fair wage for your work?” Should I violate that is taught: “The wages of one who is hired shall not abide with you all night until the morning.” (Leviticus 19:13)May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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A Story About The Book of Genesis

Posted on Thursday, 21, June, 2012Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

There once was a simple man of 70 years old who lived by his faith. He was very wealthy, but sadly was not blessed with a son. Every day he used to go to the synagogue as the children came out, he would embrace them and kiss them and say to them, “children, tell me what holy words you learned today.” Each and every one of them would recite what they had studied. Then he would bless them and say to them, “happy are you and happy are your fathers who merited sons to engage in Torah.” But in his heart he said, “alas for the one who has no son! What pleasure do I have in all of my property?” So he went and gave away all of his properties amongst the students of the sages, saying, “maybe I may yet have a share of the next world together with them.” And the mercies of the Holy One, blessed be He revolved so that the old man was blessed with a son.

When the child was five years old, he put him right on his shoulders and brought him to the house of study, where he said to the teacher, “with which book will you begin to teach my son?” “With the book of Leviticus,” said the teacher. But the boy’s father said to him, “start my son with the book of Genesis, for does not the ‘L-rd say, If not for My covenant of day and night, I would not have established the fixed order of heaven and earth (Jeremiah 33:25) and all that is, is contained in the Book of Genesis as it is taught, It’s measure is longer than the earth, and wider than the sea. (Job 11:9)

So day by day he rode him on his shoulders to the house of study. “How long are you going to tire yourself by carrying me on your shoulders?” Asked the young boy. “Let me be, for I know the way and I can go there alone.” “Go, my son, as you wish,” said his father.

It came about one day that one of the kings servants met him when he was alone and saw that he was very good-looking and dressed in fine clothes. So the servant stole him and took him away to the capital city. In the evening his father saw that his son had not returned, so he went to the teacher and asked, “where’s my son whom I sent to you?” “I do not know, for he did not come to study today.” Said teacher. When the father heard this he wailed and wept and cried to all, “have you seen a handsome boy, looking like this?” “We have not seen him,” the townspeople would say. When his father and mother heard this they wept and cried and wore sackcloth and ashes until their weeping reach the highest heavens.

The mercies of the Holy One, blessed be He were touched, and he sent a terrible sickness upon the king by who servant the boy was caught. And the king ordered that a book of remedies should be brought to him. And they brought it, but the angel Gabriel came and replaced it with the book of Genesis. The Kings sages opened it but could not read the book at all, and his servants said to him, “we believe that it must be a Jewish book.” They looked for a Jewish person to read it, but could not find any then the king’s servant said, “my lord king when I went to the Jewish village I stole a Jewish child from there. Maybe he can read the book.” “Go and fetch him to me immediately,” said the king. So he went and brought the boy before the king.

“My son, if you know how to read this book, then happy are you with happy are we.” Said the king. The boy saw the book, he cried out and wept and flung himself to the ground. “Have no fear of me, said the king. The boy answered, “I do not fear you but I was the only child of my father and mother, then the Holy One, blessed be He gave me to them in their old age, when they were 70 years old. This is the very book that my father taught me, so that is why I wept.” “Can you read it?” Asked the king. So he began reciting the whole of the first chapter. “And can you explain it?” Asked the king. Then the Holy One, blessed be He gave him understanding and knowledge to interpret the whole passage. When the king heard the wisdom and understanding, and how the Holy One, blessed be He created his world, he confessed and gave thanks to the Creator of all. Thereupon he was healed and sat up on his bed and said blessed is the L-rd who sent me healing by this lad.”

And the king said to him, “my son, ask what you want me to give you.” The boy answered, “my lord king, I ask you only to restore me to my mother my father.” So the king immediately ordered that the boy should be taken to his treasury and given silver, gold and jewels beyond measure, and that he should then be restored to his parents. This they did, and when his father and mother saw him they uttered praises and thanks giving to the Holy One, blessed be He.

May it be Your will, O L-rd our G-d, to establish peace among the disciples who engage in Your Holy Word.

(Berachos 16b-17a)Seder Elyahu zutta 10^th cent

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Shepherd’s Prayer

Posted on Tuesday, 12, June, 2012Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

There once was a Jewish shepherd who was very simple and very little understanding of Jewish ways. Everyday he would go out to the fields with the sheep and as he watched the flock, he would sit on a rock and play upon his flute.

As the Jewish Holidays neared he saw many people traveling on the road going to a nearby city. Each day more and more people traveled down the road. The shepherd asked the travelers what was so special that they were going to the city for.

“We are on the way to spend the holidays with a tzaddik,(a pious and holy man), and pray that the Holy One, blessed be He answer our prayers with goodness, mercy and health.”

“Why is this so important?” asked the shepherd.

“Come with us and see how special the holy rabbi is”

The boy was uncomfortable, for you see he did not know how to pray. He only knew that there is a G-d and that he was Jewish. Not knowing what to do, the boy went into the woods with his flute to think and play a soulful melody.

The shepherd left the woods and the fields behind him as he walked down the road to the city. He did not know what to expect. He felt everyone knew more than him. He could not pray and did not even know any Hebrew, the language of prayer.

He slowly made his way to the old wooden shul (synagogue) and saw that everyone was deep in prayer. The holy rabbi looked so sad. The shepherd carefully watched the holy rabbi who stood under his large tallis (prayer shawl) in front of the shul. It covered his head and body, and the boy saw him swaying gently back and forth. The shepherd began to sway as he thought to himself, “the grain in the field moves with the wind out of respect for the Creator of all things and this is how everything in the world is holy.”

The shepherd sat when everyone else sat he stood up when they stood up, but the holy rabbi was different. He seemed to be shivering and standing most of the time. The young boy felt that each person in the old wooden shul was able to pray to G-d but not him. At one point, every one was standing up and it was so quiet in the shul that the shepherd could actually hear his heart beating. He looked at the holy rabbi and saw on the floor a wet spot, the rabbi was crying.

He felt an urge to do something, but what could he do? He could not read Hebrew, he knew no prayer. With streams of his own tears, he pulled out his flute and played a soulful tune to the Holy One, blessed be He. As he began his melody, the people in the shul were shocked. The turned in anger to look at this terrible violation of the holiday and the service. As they shouted at him to stop this terrible thing, the boy looked terrified.

The holy rabbi, ran up to the boy and said, Sha shtil (quiet, be still) no one is to say anything harsh to this boy for it is because of him that the blessings of Heaven are possible this day.”

The people were awed of the tzaddik’s words, as he explained “All day we have prayed, but not one prayer ascended to the heavens. The gates of the heaven were closing as the holiday was ending when suddenly, this boy in his innocence and pure heart and tears began to play his flute. He prayed with all his heart, with all his soul and with all his might and the doors of heaven opened up and our prayers were accepted.”

“We should learn from this simple shepherd and his prayer.” He took the young boy by the hand with him to the front of the shul and together under the holy rabbi’s tallis they finished their prayers

Everyone can pray with true devotion. Let us just open ourselves up and let our prayers and thoughts rise to G-d, for He hears all prayers.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Son of Esau and the Son of Jacob

Posted on Monday, 21, May, 2012Monday, 8, January, 2024 by Rabbi

When the Second Temple still rose high in the Holy City of Jerusalem, Rabbi Eleazar ben Shammua was walking along the seashore. He saw a ship sinking, and indeed, everybody on board was drowned except for one man who was clinging to a plank. The billows flung him from wave to wave until, finally, they flung him ashore, naked and bare. When he reached the shore, he hid himself in the sand because he felt ashamed to be bare and naked.

Just then a caravan of Jewish travelers passed who were making the pilgrimage to the holy city of Jerusalem. The man approached and said to them, “Have pity on me, good friends, for surely we are brothers, the offspring of Esau son of Isaac, who was the father of your father Jacob. Take pity and have mercy on me and give me something to cover my nakedness from the loins to the knees, for it shames me to be naked like this after all my garments have sunk in the sea.”

Then the Jewish travelers answered him: “May all your people and kindred be like you!” And they went their way and had no pity on him. And indeed not only did they have no pity on him, but they even cursed him and all his nation.

When the man raised his eyes and saw Rabbi Eleazar ben Shammua walking along the seashore, he approached him and said: “I see that you are a respected elder among your people, and you know the respect in which all men should be held. I entreat you please to give me some garment in order to cover my flesh and conceal my embarrassment, for I am ashamed to remain naked as when I came forth from my mother’s womb; for all my clothes were lost at sea.”

Rabbi Eleazar at once took off one of his own garments and clad the man in it. He took him and led him to his home where he gave him food and drink; and he also gave him two hundred pieces of silver money. He also showed him great honor, accompanying him fourteen leagues until he brought him to his own place.

Sometime later the ruler of this city died, and the man who had been saved from the sea was appointed ruler in his place. He immediately decreed that all the Jewish people who lived there should be slain, because of the answer the Jewish travelers had given him when he asked for something to cover his nakedness, saying: “May all your people be naked like you!”

The Jewish people from that city went to Rabbi Eleazar at once and said to him: “Our teacher! you must go to the new ruler and plead with him on our behalf. Maybe your words will serve to deliver us from his evil intention.”

“Do you not know,” said Rabbi Eleazar, “that these rulers pay no attention to words but only to good red gold? You must give me some gift in ready money of which one may be proud in order to take it to him. Then I can speak to him, and maybe my words will be listened to and I can atone for your transgression.” So they gave Rabbi Eleazar four thousand gold pieces to take with him as a gift for the governor of the city.

So Rabbi Eleazar went to the ruler. He stood at the entrance to his palace and told the guard at the gate to inform the governor that an old Jewish rabbi wishes to speak with him. The guard went and told the ruler who instructed that he should be admitted.

As soon as Rabbi Eleazar entered and the ruler saw him, the ruler rose to his feet and received him with much honor, and asked: “What distresses you that you should have taken the trouble to come here?” To which Rabbi Eleazar replied: “My lord! I have come to beg you to have mercy on the Jewish people of this city and annul the decree you have proclaimed against them.”

“Can any falsehood be written in your Torah?” asked the ruler. “Heaven forbid,” answered Rabbi Eleazar. “Our Torah is the truth.” “And yet,” said the ruler, “your Torah states in Deuteronomy (23:4-5,7): ‘An Ammonite and a Moabite shall not enter the congregation of the Lord; … because they did not welcome you with bread and water,’ while the next verse goes on: ‘You shall not abominate an Edomite, for he is your brother.’ Now in that case why did they not take pity on me when they saw that I was bare and naked and had nothing? Am I not your brother from the sons of Esau? That is why they are worthy of death, because they transgressed the commandments of the Torah.”

At this, Rabbi Eleazar answered: “Even if they did do something that was not proper and not in accordance with their law, you should treat them with kindness as is fitting to a great man like you, and have mercy on them.”

“Do you not know,” said the ruler, “that the authorities never do any kindness except for a good high price?” And then Rabbi Eleazar told him: “See, I have four thousand gold pieces with me. I give them to you, and you will know how to act wisely with the authorities and have pity on them.”

“The four thousand gold pieces,” replied the ruler, “are yours as a gift from me in return for the two hundred silver coins which you gave me. As for the Jewish people of this city, I forgive them their transgression and annul my decree for your sake, because you took me to your home and gave me food and drink. And in return for the garment you gave me to cover my flesh when I was naked, go to my treasury and take seventy of the finest robes which suit you. And go in peace to your people, for I have already pardoned them for your sake.”

Koheles Rabbah 11:2

The blessings of peace should be shared by all the people we come in contact with. Let us all work to live what we believe and improve this world we all live in.

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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A True and Righteous Judgment

Posted on Tuesday, 8, May, 2012Wednesday, 9, August, 2023 by Rabbi

The ancient kings used to put on plain, dirty, mended clothes, to disguise themselves from their subjects, and would then go forth to see what was being done in their country. As the ancient law taught, “You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment; you shall not respect the person of the poor, nor favour the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbour.” (Leviticus 19:15)

Once, the king of Marrakesh and his viceroy went forth, disguised in torn and tattered garments. It was night, and they went to the marketplace to ask for alms from the Moslems who frequented the place. But no man gave them anything. They met one Jewish peddler, whose merchandise was old clothes, boots, and bottles, and he gave them one old coin. They had barely had time to thank him for his kindness when they heard an Arab woman say: “Jewish peddler! Come here! I have something to sell you!”

The Jewish peddler went to her, and immediately the woman tried to seduce him. “This we may not do for it is forbidden by the Torah (Scriptures) we live by and isn’t it forbidden by the Koran!” The woman let out a loud cry, and the Jewish peddler ran away.

The woman raised her voice and began to accuse the Jewish peddler falsely. “This Jewish peddler came to seduce me. He insulted me and attacked me.” The king and his viceroy heard the cries: “Come here Moslems and see what Jewish peddlers can do!^“

Soon people who heard the cries of the woman gathered and attacked the Jewish peddler. Who can tell what might have been the fate of the unfortunate peddler had the king and the viceroy not come forward and suggested: “Leave him alone! Do not kill him, ^“ Some answered, ^“This Jewish peddler is an evildoer and should be burned alive in the market place. Take him to the king for judgment. Let all the Jewish peddlers witness his burning and let them learn from his misdeeds!” The king reminded all present, “Justice, justice shall you pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20) from the king.

The Jewish peddler was led to the king’s palace for trial. In the mean-time he was placed in prison.

On the day of the trial a large crowd of people, men, women and children, gathered to see how the infidel would be tried for having insulted an Arab woman.

The king opened the trial saying: “Tell me all about the matter, the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

The woman began, saying that the Jewish peddler had attacked her and wished to violate her.

“Have you any witnesses?” the king asked her.

And the entire multitude shouted: “We are the witnesses! We saw all that came to pass! All that the woman has said is true.”

“I believe you,” the king said. “But tell me, do I see rightly at this moment, camels laden high with merchandise in the heavens? Do I see rightly?”

The people stared up into the sky and shouted: “It is true, our lord the king! There are camels laden with merchandise in the heavens.”

^“Count me the camels,^“ the king commanded them.

The entire multitude looked up into the heavens. One shouted five camels, another seven and a third ten. Every man declared a different number.

“It is well,” said the king. “Let it be as you have said.” And then, turning to the Jewish peddler, he said: “Lift up your eyes to the heavens and count the camels.”

The Jewish peddler stared into the sky but, of course, could see nothing.

“I believe what you have said, my lord the king,” he said. “I believe that you have seen camels laden with merchandise in the heavens, but I cannot see anything.”

The king turned once again to the multitude. “Look up into the heavens again. See if there are any stars there, though it is the full light of day. I pray you, count them for me!”

All those that were gathered there raised their eyes to the heavens and cried out: “It is true! There are stars in the heavens!” And one said “Five stars” and the other “Seven stars” and a third “Ten stars”. Each one of them declared a different number.

Then the king turned again to the Jewish peddler: “You, too, look up in-to the heavens! How many stars can -you see?”

The Jewish peddler did as he was bidden and looked up into the heavens, but he could see nothing.

“My lord the king,” he said. “I believe what you have said. But I am not able to see even a single star.”

The king took out of his pocket the worn penny he had been given by the Jewish peddler, when he was disguised and roaming the marketplace together with his viceroy. “Look at this coin,” he said to the Jewish peddler. “Is it of silver or of copper?”

Said the Jewish peddler: “It is of silver, my lord. It is good silver. It may well have been mine, a coin that I spent.”

^“You are right,^“ said the king. ^“It was yours. This coin you gave in charity to two poor men, just before this incident occurred.” The king continued, “These are the things that you shall do: speak the truth with your neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates.” (Zech 8:16)

Then the king and his viceroy brought the perjured witnesses to judgment. Each one of them was given many years in the royal prison and the woman who had falsely accused the Jewish peddler they sentenced to death for lying, gossip and dishonor ti Islam and trhe king. The Jewish peddler they found innocent.

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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Words of Wisdom Change a Thief

Posted on Sunday, 29, April, 2012Friday, 28, July, 2023 by Rabbi

One of the men who studied at the yeshiva of the holy MaHaRaL of Prague was very poor indeed. So poor was he that in his distress he decided to go around by night and see whether any door was open, so that he might go in and steal whatever he found. He made the rounds in this fashion from place to place throughout the night.

Early in the morning when most people were just waking up he would enter the house of study to hear the lessons of the holy rabbi. Indeed, he was the first to enter. He once heard the sage expound on the rule that no man should touch what has been prepared for his neighbors:

“Even if you see that thieves steal the money of their fellows, the Holy One, blessed be He returns to them what they lost in principle and interest. It is true that those who have taken money dishonestly would have obtained the same amount honestly and not by robbery if they had had confidence and faith. Sometimes, if they had been prepared to wait and not to take the money unlawfully, they would have benefited from it lawfully and with peace of mind. It is only the effect of their evil inclination that makes it seem to them as if they must steal in order not to perish from hunger.”

On one occasion when this man was going about to steal after his manner, he entered the home of a widow by night. He remember the teaching of the holy rabbi, “While forcing the lock, the burglar calls on divine aid.” (Machberos ch 11 (c.1300)) After he had gathered her belongings in order to take them and then recalled the teachings of his wise teacher, he said to himself: “Tonight I want to test the rabbi’s words and see how true they are.” So he did not take a single thing, neither large nor small. But then he stumbled upon a basket in which there were all kinds of fine dainties and a fat fowl. He said to himself: “I have not stolen valuables, at least let me eat what I see here. Why should this night be different?” But then he told himself again: “This time I have already decided not to steal anything. Maybe the rabbi’s words will be fulfilled after all and there will be some easement for me.” He went back to the house of study as usual.

After the prayers were over, the widow came to the rabbi and said to him: “Wise and learned sir, I am a rich woman but have been left alone, for my husband died at heaven’s decree. Now, last night I felt that thieves came to the house and wished to steal; but owing to heaven’s grace they stole nothing and left everything and went away. Now, I entreat you, seek me out a proper man who will be prepared to be my stay and support.” The rabbi told her: “My daughter, have no fear. I know a certain decent man. If you take my counsel, he will be your husband, and the two of you will live in peace.” Then the man was brought before the rabbi who said to him: “See, you have neither wife nor children. Take this woman as your wife.” The man listened to his teacher and betrothed the woman and married her. At the wedding feast she set before them all the fine foods and dainties and the fattened fowl she herself had prepared.

Then the man went to the rabbi and told him: “Indeed, it is fit and proper for you to teach, for the truth is in your mouth. Blessed is the L-rd who allowed me the privilege of sitting before you and hearing your pleasant words, which served me as a shield and buckler.”

And that man repented fully and entirely, and sat every night studying with the rabbi, who had foreseen all this, thanks to the Holy Spirit.

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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Blessings for Not So Good and Blessings for Good

Posted on Wednesday, 18, April, 2012Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

What is the intent of the verse, “In that day you will say, ‘I give thanks to You, O G-d, for you were angry with me, and now Your anger has diminished, and You have comforted me'” (Isaiah 12:1).

It once happened that two merchants agreed to set out on a journey to a faraway city to go to a fair to buy wares to sell in their village. They equipped themselves with all the needs and supplies for the voyage. Together they made their way to the harbor to board a ship. As they walk through the streets, one of them he stumbled and hurt his foot so badly that he was forced to cancel his trip.

The ship had weighed anchor and unfurled its sails and was ready to set sail and could not wait for the unfortunate merchant to be heal from his wound. So his companion went with all the other merchants, while the merchant who had fallen and became injured remained behind, bitter and angry. He was very angry at his bad luck because he had injured his leg and could not travel with the other merchants. His anger and bitterness of losing all the profit he might have made from the journey to such a point that he complained and freely cursed the ways of heaven.

After some time news came that the ship had sunk in the sea, and all the merchants with in it had drowned. When the injured merchant heard what had happened, he began to give thanks to the Holy One, blessed be He by whose kindness he had fallen and injured his leg. The merchant realized that if he had gone on the ship he would have been lost with all the other merchants. The merchant regretted all the curses and complaints he had made and repented for all the things he had said of heaven. The merchant began to praise and extol the wonders of heaven. That’s why it says in the Book of Isaiah, “Your anger has subsided and You have comforted me.”

What is meant by the verse, “G-d Who alone does wondrous things; blessed is His glorious Name forever” (Psalms 72:18,19)? Even the person for whom the miracle is performed is unaware of the miracle, only G-d knows it.

Nidah 31a

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Shepherd, his Flute and Prayer

Posted on Tuesday, 28, February, 2012Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Once upon a time there lived a king in a beautiful palace in the capital city of his country. He was surrounded by many servants and nobles, who served him with great honour, devotion, and loyalty.

One day, as he thought about all the honor the people in his court showed him, the king said to himself: “It’s no wonder that my servants and nobles respect me and serve me loyally, for they know I’m their king, and all the good that I do. But what of all my subjects who live faraway from my palace, in distant towns, villages and farms; do those people know I’m their king, that I care for them and their needs?^“

The king decided to go and find out for himself what the faraway people think of their king. He took off his royal robes and put on the clothes of a wanderer, and set off on his way. He went from town to town and from village to village, and everywhere he stopped and asked people what they thought of their king.

From the replies he received, he found out that few people thought of their king altogether. The further he travelled, the less interest people showed in their king, and the less they knew about him. Some people even spoke about the king in mocking tones.

Shocked and saddened, the king decided to return to his palace.

As he began his return journey, the sound of music reached his ears. Someone was playing on a flute, and the tune was so^, soft and tender that it filled the king’s heart with joy and lifted his spirit. He hurried to find out who the player was, and presently he came upon a young shepherd who was playing on his flute.

Seeing there was no one around, the king asked the shepherd for whom he was playing.

“I’m playing for my king,” he answered. “Have you ever seen the king?”

“No,” replied the shepherd.

“Do you know who the king is and what he does?”

“He is a shepherd.”

“Why do you think that?^“

“Because I’m a shepherd, and I love my little lambs and care for them. I watch over them and make sure they are safe from wolves or any kind of harm. I lead them to pastures where the grass is green and soft, and take them to a stream of sparkling fresh water. Now, I’m but a small shepherd, but the king is a big shepherd, looking after all the people in the country and making sure they are all provided with their needs! Wouldn’t you say he is a very great shepherd? That’s why I’m playing this melody in his honor!”

The king was overjoyed with this young shepherd and said to him:

“I am your king! From now on you’ll be my best friend. We’ll find some other shepherd to look after your sheep, and you will come with me to my palace. You will be my dearest companion and we shall be friends forever!”

When the king and the shepherd arrived at the palace, the king ordered royal robes for the shepherd and gave him the most honored place in the king’s court, next to the king himself.

Not long afterward, the shepherd, sad to say, offended the king. Sternly the king ordered him to leave his presence and return three days later for trial.

Now the shepherd realized how wicked he had been, and how ungrateful for all that the king had done for him. Not only had he not appreciated the king’s friendship and all the favors he had showered on him, but he had actually offended the king by his conduct. He felt that the king would have every reason to punish him severely.

The day of the trial arrived.

The shepherd put away his royal garments, put on the shepherd clothing he wore when he first met the king. He also took his flute with him.

Entering the king’s court, the remorseful shepherd fell on his knees before the king, saying:

“0 great and merciful king! I have no words to defend my wicked conduct. What can I possibly say to explain my inexcusable behavior toward my king who has been so good and kind to me? But, since I cannot find the right words, may it please the king to allow me to play on my flute’?”

The king nodded, and the shepherd began to play the tune which he played when he met the king for the first time. And he played it so well, and with such feeling, that the king was deeply moved. It reminded him of that day when he had felt so sad because most of his people throughout his kingdom seemed not to know, nor care, about their king, as he had discovered. Then he met this young shepherd who was the only one who gave him a feeling of joy and pride in being king… .

Filled with this heartwarming feeling, the king said:

“I forgive you, and we shall remain the best of friends as before!”

The power of prayer is beyond the understanding of many. Yet the ebb and flow of the words, melodies and devotion of the prayers can open one’s eyes to the wonder and magnificence of creation. The colors of the world come alive and a peek into the mysteries of the devine is possible.

Unfortunately too many people prayer from rote. The same old words with no feeling, no spark, just merely words on a page. One should offer their prayers and meditations not as a commandment of expectation of men learned by rote, for only prayers the express one’s own heart and mind can bring one close to the Holy One, blessed be He.

The Talmud teaches in Berachos 16b that R. Elazar, at the conclusion of his Shemoneh Esrei, used to recite the following:

May it be Your will, L-rd our G-d, that our lot should be one of love, brotherhood, peace, and friendship; that our territory should be filled with students; and that our end should be successful, so that at the end we should indeed see the things we hoped for all our lives, and set our share in Gan Eden (Garden of Eden), and set us aright with good friends and the right inclination in Your world. And may we get up in the morning and find our hearts yearning to fear Your name, and may our wants and desires come before You for the good.

Rav, upon completing the Shemoneh Esrei, used to add the following:

May it be Your will, L-rd our G-d, to grant us long life, a life of peace, a life of goodness, a life of blessing, a life of sustenance, a life of physical health, a life in which there is fear of sin, a life in which there is no shame nor humiliation, a life of wealth and honor, a life in which we will have love of Torah and fear of heaven, a life in which our heartfelt requests will be fulfilled for the good.

May all of our prayers be acceptable and bring strength of spirit, brotherhood, peace and blessing from the King above all Kings

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The holy rabbi was in the habit of strolling through the streets of the village every night. During his walks he listened as many “lifted up their voice, and cried, and the people wept that night” (Num. 14:1) praying from their broken hearts to the Holy One. Blessed be He.

One night after hearing a heartfelt prayer from a small house, the holy rabbi went to the house of a certain bank manager who had left the ways of his father. The banker considered himself a modern man, not someone held back by old and outdated ways.

The holy rabbi knocked on the door and was greeted by a servant, who was a bit confused. The servant could not understand why the holy rabbi would come to the house of the bank manager, but invited him in.

“I went to your home in order to fulfill a mitzvah,” answered the holy rabbi, “and, thank G‑d, I was able to fulfill it.”

“Which mitzvah?” asked the bank manager.

Now if I remain in my house and you remain in yours, what kind of a mitzvah is it that I refrain from telling you ‘that which will not be listened to’?

“In order to fulfill the mitzvah properly, one obviously must go to the house of the man who will not listen, and once there refrain from speaking to him. And that is exactly what I did.”

“Perhaps, Holy rabbi,” said the bank manager, “you would be so good as to tell me what this thing is? Who knows, perhaps I will listen?”

“I’m afraid not,” said the holy rabbi. “I am certain that you will not.”

“Why do you believe that I will not listen to what you have to say?” asked the banker.

The holy rabbi answered: “You have said you are a modern man and not bound by the old ways of our beliefs. We are taught that ‘the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time. (Amos 5:13).

The longer the holy rabbi refused, the greater grew the curiosity of the banker to know his secret, and he continued to press him to reveal “that which would not be listened to.”

“Be realistic rabbi,” the bank manager answered in amazement. “Surely you realize that the debt is not owed to me personally, but to the bank, and I am only its manager, not its owner, and the debt runs to several hundred, and if so…”

The holy rabbi interrupted him: “It’s exactly as I said all along—that you would not want to hear. Even if I could ‘give you counsel, you will not listen to me.’ “(Jeremiah 38:15)

With that, the holy rabbi ended the conversation and entered his house.

While thinking of his father, who left for the World of Truth many years earlier, the banker began to explore the ways of faith and became an observant man.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Everyday bucket on the right side of the yoke was fine and sturdy always filled when she returned to the village, but the bucket on the left had a small crack in it and by the time the woman arrived back in the village, a lot of the water was usually gone.

The cracked water bucket always felt very bad and was ashamed that he was cracked and wasn’t pulling his weight. One day he turned to the woman and apologized for being cracked.

The woman continued, “Remember the words:

‘I went down to the garden of nut trees to look at the green plants in the valley, to see if the vines had blossomed or the pomegranates were in flower.’ (Song of Songs 6:11)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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She stretches out her hand to the poor; yea, she reaches her hands to the needy.

Proverbs 31:20

The wife of a holy rabbi once gave a beautiful piece of cloth to a tailor so that he might sew her a dress. When the tailor finished the dress, he carried it to the holy rabbi’s wife, set it down and sighed deeply.

“What’s the matter?” the the holy woman asked. “Why are you so unhappy with the dress? It is truly beautiful and a credit to your skills”

The tailor was speechless and gathered up the dress and thanked the holy woman for her gift. He was about to leave when the holy woman called him back as she took out her purse and handed the tailor 5 gold coins.

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So day by day he rode him on his shoulders to the house of study. “How long are you going to tire yourself by carrying me on your shoulders?” Asked the young boy. “Let me be, for I know the way and I can go there alone.” “Go, my son, as you wish,” said his father.

May it be Your will, O L-rd our G-d, to establish peace among the disciples who engage in Your Holy Word.

(Berachos 16b-17a)Seder Elyahu zutta 10th cent

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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There once was a Jewish shepherd who was very simple and very little understanding of Jewish ways. Everyday he would go out to the fields with the sheep and as he watched the flock, he would sit on a rock and play upon his flute.

As the Jewish Holidays neared he saw many people traveling on the road going to a nearby city. Each day more and more people traveled down the road. The shepherd asked the travelers what was so special that they were going to the city for.

“We are on the way to spend the holidays with a tzaddik,(a pious and holy man), and pray that the Holy One, blessed be He answer our prayers with goodness, mercy and health.”

“Why is this so important?” asked the shepherd.

“Come with us and see how special the holy rabbi is”

The boy was uncomfortable, for you see he did not know how to pray. He only knew that there is a G-d and that he was Jewish. Not knowing what to do, the boy went into the woods with his flute to think and play a soulful melody.

The shepherd left the woods and the fields behind him as he walked down the road to the city. He did not know what to expect. He felt everyone knew more than him. He could not pray and did not even know any Hebrew, the language of prayer.

The holy rabbi, ran up to the boy and said, Sha shtil (quiet, be still) no one is to say anything harsh to this boy for it is because of him that the blessings of Heaven are possible this day.”

“We should learn from this simple shepherd and his prayer.” He took the young boy by the hand with him to the front of the shul and together under the holy rabbi’s tallis they finished their prayers

Everyone can pray with true devotion. Let us just open ourselves up and let our prayers and thoughts rise to G-d, for He hears all prayers.

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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Then the Jewish travelers answered him: “May all your people and kindred be like you!” And they went their way and had no pity on him. And indeed not only did they have no pity on him, but they even cursed him and all his nation.

The Jewish people from that city went to Rabbi Eleazar at once and said to him: “Our teacher! you must go to the new ruler and plead with him on our behalf. Maybe your words will serve to deliver us from his evil intention.”

So Rabbi Eleazar went to the ruler. He stood at the entrance to his palace and told the guard at the gate to inform the governor that an old Jewish rabbi wishes to speak with him. The guard went and told the ruler who instructed that he should be admitted.

At this, Rabbi Eleazar answered: “Even if they did do something that was not proper and not in accordance with their law, you should treat them with kindness as is fitting to a great man like you, and have mercy on them.”

Koheles Rabbah 11:2

The blessings of peace should be shared by all the people we come in contact with. Let us all work to live what we believe and improve this world we all live in.

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)

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 Jewish peddler went to her, and immediately the woman tried to seduce him. “This we may not do for it is forbidden by the Torah (Scriptures) we live by and isn’t it forbidden by the Koran!” The woman let out a loud cry, and the Jewish peddler ran away.

The woman raised her voice and began to accuse the Jewish peddler falsely. “This Jewish peddler came to seduce me. He insulted me and attacked me.” The king and his viceroy heard the cries: “Come here Moslems and see what Jewish peddlers can do!“

The Jewish peddler was led to the king’s palace for trial. In the mean-time he was placed in prison.

On the day of the trial a large crowd of people, men, women and children, gathered to see how the infidel would be tried for having insulted an Arab woman.

The king opened the trial saying: “Tell me all about the matter, the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

The woman began, saying that the Jewish peddler had attacked her and wished to violate her.

“Have you any witnesses?” the king asked her.

And the entire multitude shouted: “We are the witnesses! We saw all that came to pass! All that the woman has said is true.”

“I believe you,” the king said. “But tell me, do I see rightly at this moment, camels laden high with merchandise in the hea­vens? Do I see rightly?”

The people stared up into the sky and shouted: “It is true, our lord the king! There are camels laden with merchandise in the heavens.”

“Count me the camels,“ the king commanded them.

The entire multitude looked up into the heavens. One shouted five camels, another seven and a third ten. Every man declared a different number.

“It is well,” said the king. “Let it be as you have said.” And then, turning to the Jewish peddler, he said: “Lift up your eyes to the hea­vens and count the camels.”

The Jewish peddler stared into the sky but, of course, could see nothing.

“I believe what you have said, my lord the king,” he said. “I believe that you have seen camels laden with merchandise in the heavens, but I cannot see anything.”

The king turned once again to the multitude. “Look up into the heavens again. See if there are any stars there, though it is the full light of day. I pray you, count them for me!”

All those that were gathered there raised their eyes to the heavens and cried out: “It is true! There are stars in the hea­vens!” And one said “Five stars” and the other “Seven stars” and a third “Ten stars”. Each one of them declared a different number.

(Berachos 16b-17a)Seder Elyahu zutta 10^th cent

The woman raised her voice and began to accuse the Jewish peddler falsely. “This Jewish peddler came to seduce me. He insulted me and attacked me.” The king and his viceroy heard the cries: “Come here Moslems and see what Jewish peddlers can do!^“

“I believe you,” the king said. “But tell me, do I see rightly at this moment, camels laden high with merchandise in the heavens? Do I see rightly?”

^“Count me the camels,^“ the king commanded them.

“It is well,” said the king. “Let it be as you have said.” And then, turning to the Jewish peddler, he said: “Lift up your eyes to the heavens and count the camels.”

All those that were gathered there raised their eyes to the heavens and cried out: “It is true! There are stars in the heavens!” And one said “Five stars” and the other “Seven stars” and a third “Ten stars”. Each one of them declared a different number.

The king took out of his pocket the worn penny he had been given by the Jewish peddler, when he was disguised and roaming the marketplace together with his viceroy. “Look at this coin,” he said to the Jewish peddler. “Is it of silver or of copper?”