A Tale of True Friendship

Posted on Thursday, 17, October, 2013Saturday, 16, December, 2023 by Rabbi

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)

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The Blessing of a Greeting

Posted on Thursday, 3, October, 2013Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

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 Palace Owner Who Became a Beggar I

Posted on Tuesday, 20, November, 2012Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Many years ago, in a great city before G-d, there dwelt a certain man who was an outstanding scholar and very wealthy and charitable and was praised by all. In due course the lights went out at noon and the wheel of fortune turned for him. He lost his property and grew so poor that he had nothing left but his body. But the man accepted the judgment and left his city and set out and wandered through many lands.

On one occasion he lost his way for several days and had no food left and was weary and so starved that he thought his end had already come; and he prayed to the Holy One Blessed be He. While doing so, he saw that he was standing in front of a magnificent palace surrounded by a beautiful orchard. In this palace lived a most wealthy man who was also a great scholar; and he had built himself this palace in the outskirts of the city so as not to be troubled by the city affairs and business. In this palace he also had his House of Study, where wise men studied the holy words of Torah (Scriptures). The poor man entered the House of Study, and the students quickly discovered that he was a learned man and at home with the Torah (Scriptures). They began to ask him many questions, and he answered each one of them according to the Holy Word. News traveled quickly and many students told the wealthy man what a great scholar the wayfarer was and he also came to his House of Study. He turned to the poor traveler and began to question him, and several hours passed in this manner.

When the time for the morning meal came, each of the students went to his home to eat, and the rich man also went to eat, but did not invite the poor traveler. It should be added that the rich man’s household was also conducted on a large scale but its doors were closed to the poor, who received neither food nor even a single copper coin. The rich man looked on the poor as slaves, not as children of the Holy One, blessed be He.

When the rich man finished eating, he went on discussing Torah (Scriptures) with the traveler until the time came for the noonday meal. Again he did not invite him to join, though the finest foods had been prepared. The poor traveler began to faint from hunger. He could feel that he was starving, and he tried to go to the city to find something to eat but fell to the ground and died, all swollen with hunger. The townsfolk found a dead man, and they took him and purified him and buried him without knowing who he was. The earth covered his body together with the rich man’s sin. But the Holy One, blessed be He knows all secrets and would sooner have the wicked become righteous than have him perish without leaving his wicked way; and He did not wish that the matter should be forgotten.

On one occasion the rich man sat at night in his House of Study, praying the midnight prayers mourning the destruction of the holy city of Jerusalem, though he was hardhearted, he was very religious and G-d-fearing. Hearing footsteps, he began to tremble, for he knew there was nobody with him, and he raised his voice and shouted: “Who goes there?” He was prepared to defend himself from the stranger in the dark.

Then he heard a voice: “Move away and do not touch me or you will perish.” He focused his eyes and then he saw a terrifying sight. The poor scholar was standing in front of him just as he had appeared, but he was wearing the shrouds of the dead. The rich man began to tremble and wished to run away, but the dead man said: “Stay here, for I have something to say to you. If you go, you risk your life.”

And then the dead man told him: “I am the poor man you studied the holy words of Torah (Scriptures) with. You forgot the holy words, “If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns …. do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.” (Deuteronomy 15:7). Not once did you invite me to eat or share a meal, and I died of starvation in the street. I was buried and then I was brought before the Heavenly Court and it was said, ‘He who refuses a beggar the aid which he has the power to give, is accountable to justice.’ (Josephus, Against Apion ii: 27). There they have decided that I shall not come to my rest until I summon you for trial. “It would be fitting,” the dead man went on, “to have you perish in order to stand trial with me, but I have brought it about that instead you will take my place on earth and right the great wrong you have done to me and many like me, since you began and until this day. This you must do: Tomorrow come to the nearby forest where I shall wait for you and tell you the form your teshuvah (repentance) must take.”

Having said his say, the dead man vanished, and the rich man found himself alone in his House of Study, trembling with fear. With a heavy heart, he left the House of Study to go home and went to bed and began thinking of the vision again, turning this way and that on his bed like a sick man.

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)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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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One Small Taffeta

Posted on Thursday, 16, February, 2012Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

There was peace between Sultan Muhammad, king of the Turks, and his father-in-law Demetrius, king of the Morea. Sultan Muhammad sent many gifts of precious stones and pearls as befits a king to Demetrius his father-in-law because of his love for his daughter. Then Demetrius sent back to his son-in-law a certain fine golden chest that was closed and doubly sealed with his seals. He ordered his messenger that nobody was to open the chest except the king himself. King Demitrius sent the Sultan Muhammad a certain letter, saying, “Thank you, indeed. Your kindness and goodness has reached me and restored my soul; and now let my lord receive this blessing from your servant. So says Demetrius, who seeks your peace and well-being.”

The sultan was astonished at this closed and sealed golden chest and said to himself, “Maybe it contains precious stones and jewels which are few in number but of high quality and value.” So he opened the chest and in it he found one small taffeta.

The sultan “was furious, his anger boiling inside” (Esther 1:12) at this gift and he exclaimed to his people, “Do you see how this unbelieving wretch repays me, mocking me and sending me this single herb!” In his anger, he showed the taffeta to all his ministers and attendants and they were astonished but feared to say anything. The sultan ordered his people, “Prepare food and swords, for in seven days’ time we shall go to war against him, since he considers that I am worthless.”

The following day the holy rabbi of Canstantinople was seated and learning, as was his custom when the sultan sent for him and told him what had happened and showed him the herb. The sage inspected it with his wondrous wisdom and saw that this matter was of the Holy One, blessed be He. The holy rabbi realized that “the king’s anger is a messenger of death; the wise will calm him. (Proverbs 16:14) The wise man took a deep breath and explained to the sultan, “My lord sultan, listen to me, for you are a wise man and a mighty ruler. He has not sent you this without reason. What have your ministers and attendants said of it?”

“They have said nothing and looked not into this matter,” said the king.

Then the holy rabbi explained, “This small amount here is worth more than all the silver and gold and precious stones and pearls in the world. For my lord the sultan has sent him money, but he has sent my lord something that can deliver you from evil. For when my lord goes to hunt or in some place where there are wild and savage beasts, take the taffeta with you. As soon as any evil beast smells it, they will fall apart limb from limb. And the way to test it is to take it to a place where there are evil beasts.”

So a man whom the king held to be his enemy went and slept with it beneath him in a dangerous place. When he and the others who were with him woke up in the morning, they found that the wild beasts were scattered limb from limb.

When the sultan saw the wisdom of the rabbi, he gave praises to the Holy One, blessed be He. The sultan learned that “one who is slow to anger has great understanding.” (Proverbs 14:29)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Good Fortune and Bad Fortune (Part II)

Posted on Thursday, 12, January, 2012Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The guards refused to permit the young man, who was a stranger to them, into the royal palace, but the king heard what the young man said and commanded the guards: “Bring him in!”

“The Holy One, blessed be He has sent me to you,” the young man said to the king, “so that I may cure your daughter.”

“And what do you need in order to cure her?” asked the king.

“I need only a chamber in which only your daughter and I may be. I also need a basin of warm water and some clothes. I need nothing else.”

When the young man entered the chamber the king had set aside for him, he found the king’s daughter already seated there. She knew no man, for she had never even seen her father, having become blind when she was no more than an infant in her mother’s arms. The chamber the king had set aside for them was closed, and the king and the queen and many other people waited outside but they could see nothing of what went on within it.

In the chamber the young man said to the king’s daughter, “I have been sent by the Holy One, blessed be He to cure you.” He placed some of the leaves that he had brought with him in the water and he put water on her face. Suddenly she opened her eyes and she could see. The young man had her dress in new clothes escorted her out of the room. The joy of her father and mother knew no bounds.

“My son! My daughter!” the king and the queen cried out. They held a great banquet which was followed by a brilliant wedding. The young man was proclaimed heir to the throne.

Some time later the young woman said to her husband. “I want to ask my father to allow us to take a walk through the city and to see all of it together with you.”

When the king heard his daughter’s request, he said, “That is a fine plan,” and he gave the young couple a carriage with two horses and two slaves.

The young couple were driving through the city when they saw a man climbing up a mountain. The young man immediately recognized the climber as his older brother. “Take the carriage, one horse and one slave,” he said to his wife, “and drive home. I will remain here with one horse and the other slave.”

The woman began to weep for she was very much afraid: “No! No!” she cried, “you will run away from me and desert me!” Her husband promised her faithfully that he would not run away from her.

The woman went home, and meanwhile the young man on his horse together with his slave came closer and closer to his brother. As they neared the older brother they saw he suffered from leprosy. The young man returned with his horse and his brother to the city, he on foot and his brother mounted on the horse. Needless to say the older brother could not recognize his brother. How could he, for he was blind?

When they arrived at the palace the young man took his brother to the room where his wife used to live when she was still blind. “Bring me warm water and clothes,” he commanded his slaves. “Do not permit any man to enter the room.” To his brother he said pray with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might.

Suddenly the man was healed and the sight of his eyes was restored to him. Then the younger brother called one of his slaves and commanded him to dress his brother in fine clothes.

Then he commanded his servant, “This evening bring this man to the place where the king and all his ministers are seated. “But the older brother was full of fear, for he did not know what would befall him. Indeed he was certain that he would be killed.

In the meantime the young man went to his wife and said to her, ^“Ask your father to invite all of his ministers to come here this evening.^”

In the evening all the guests came to the banquet. They were eating and drinking and enjoying themselves when suddenly the young crown prince rose from his chair and said to the king, “Sire, I pray you listen to me, and listen all you who are seated here.” And he commanded the servants to bring the man he had cured of blindness into the room. They brought in his older brother, who was dressed in fine garments, but was trembling with fear for he did not know what was to be done to him.

“Come here!” the young man called out to him. “Who are you?” he asked him. “What is your name? Where do you come from? Have you a father? Have you a brother?”

To all of these questions the older brother replied, but to the last question he said: “I had a brother but he is now dead.”

“That is not true! You are a liar,” the young man cried out. All those present listened keenly to hear what he had to say, and he continued. “Look at me! Do you see me? Do you not recognize me? I am your younger brother.^“

The older brother was frozen with fear. But the young man said to him, “You have nothing to fear from me, as other people fear you. Only answer me this question: Whom does G-d love more —the good man or the evil?”

“The good man!” the older brother replied. “And I beg you to forgive me and not to do to me as I did to you.”

Then said the young man, “I shall do you no harm, for you are my brother, born of the same mother and the same father. Do not fear!”

The older brother bowed down to the younger, who said: “I shall do you no harm for our father of blessed memory commanded us never to quarrel.” And he called one of the servants and ordered him to give his brother gold and silver and a house and to send him from the city, in which the young man lived with his wife.

And the two lived together in happiness.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

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Rose Honey instead of Hot Lead

Posted on Friday, 30, December, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

One may ask: “If a person has done many things that are bad and hurtful, can they ever be forgiven?” The Holy Word teaches: “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins: return to Me; for I have redeemed you. Seek you the L-rd while He may be found; call you upon Him while He is near. (Isaiah 44:22, 55:6)”

It is told that there was a certain man who had been wicked all his life, and he was well aware that it would be very hard for his repentance to be received in heaven. On one occasion he jokingly asked Rabbi Moshe ben Shem-Tov de Leon of blessed memory (1250-1305 c.e.) whether there was any remedy for his ailment. The holy rabbi thought for some time and answered: “The only remedy and atonement for you is to accept the punishment of death as an atonement for your transgressions.”

Then the wicked man asked him: “If I do accept a sentence of death, shall I have a share in the Garden of Eden?” “Yes,” said the holy rabbi; and the wicked man pleaded: “Swear to me that my place will be near you!” Then Rabbi Moshe ben Shem-Tov de Leon swore to him that he would be near him in the Garden of Eden. When the man heard this, he gathered up his courage and followed him to the central shul (synagogue).

Once there, the rabbi ordered that hot lead should be brought to him. They brought the lead, and he puffed air at it with the bellows until the lead was boiling. Then he sat the wicked man on a bench and tied a cloth over his eyes and said to him: “Confess all your sins to our G-d and accept your death as a return for the sins with which you have angered your Creator all your life!” At this, the man burst into a great and exceedingly bitter gush of tears. Round about him stood many of the community’s elders and sages. And then the rabbi said to him: “Open your mouth wide, and I shall fill it with boiling lead.” And the man opened his mouth very wide in the presence of all the people who stood round about him, in order to accept the fullness of death and so gain life in the World to Come.

At this, the said rabbi took a spoonful of warm rose honey and dropped it into his mouth and said to him: “May your sin depart from you and your transgression be atoned!”

The man, his heart sincere and broken began to cry at once in bitter grief: “Holy rabbi! For the honor of our Maker, the King who is King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He slay me now indeed, so that I may not see the evil of losing my soul; for why should I live. My sins have mounted higher than my head, from the sole of my feet to the crown of my head, there is no sound place in me; so what have you done to me? Why have you deceived me?”

The holy rabbi answered him: “We are taught: “The L-rd is near to all those who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth (Psalms 145:18) and The spirit of man is the lamp of the L-rd, searching all his innermost parts. (Proverbs 20:27). As long as the lamp of your spirit burns, there is time to make repairs. Do not dread and have no fear, for G-d has already seen all your deeds.”

Thereafter the man never left Rabbi Moshe ben Shem-Tov de Leon’s house of study and spent his days in fasting and true repentance.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Keep Away from any False Word

Posted on Thursday, 15, December, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

There were once two brothers who lived in the South, and they were very wealthy. One of them married a wife, while the other devoted himself body and soul to serving the Holy One, blessed be He with all his heart and with all his soul. He went to the site of the Holy Temple and lived there, saying, “The Temple of the Holy One, blessed be He has been destroyed, so I shall likewise be destroyed and shall not take a wife, nor shall I rejoice in the world. Since the Temple of the Holy One, blessed be He is like a mourner, I shall also behave like a mourner.”

On many an occasion he used to go to his brother to wish him well. Once he went to his brother’s house to wish him well and did not find him there. Now that day his brother’s wife was washing clothes and had taken off all of her jewelry which was worth more than ten thousand dinars, and she placed it in front of her when her husband’s brother came to wish his brother well, he entered the courtyard and did not find him there. When his brother’s wife saw him, she felt ashamed in his presence and went away. In the courtyard grew a very tall tree, a kind of palm. A certain bird made its nest in the uppermost fronds of the tree. When she went away so her brother-in-law should not see her, she left her jewels behind. When the good man found nobody there, he went his way, but the bird came down, took the jewels and placed them in its nest.

When the husband returned from the market, he found his wife crying and tearing her hair. “Why are you crying?” He asked and she told him, “I was washing clothes and took my jewelry off and placed it down in front of me. A little later I looked for it but could not find it and I don’t not know who could’ve stolen it.” “Who entered the courtyard?” He asked. “The only one who came in that I know of,” said she, “was your brother and no one else could’ve taken.” “He abandoned and renounced all the contentment of this world,” said her husband, “and his inheritance and his money and all that belonged to him in order to go and serve the Holy One, blessed be He with full love, yet you say my brother was the one who stole your jewels?” At this, she advised, “take him before the sages and let him swear by an an oath.” He listened to his wife and went and looked for his brother and then led him to the sages and began to tell them the story, “this is what happened to the best of my knowledge.” They said to him, “if a man abandons all ease and contentment of this world, can he steal your wife’s jewels? Nobody like this saintly person is going to do such a thing.”

The matter came before Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, and he said to the pious brother, “what do you say? Will you take an oath?” And he answered, “Yes, I will swear truly and have no fear of anything.” Then Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai said to him, “Satisfy him with your money and do not take an oath.” But he answered, “No, sadly, I must take an oath in order that people should not say that I am to be suspected of wrong doing.” And he was prepared to take an oath even though G-d might punish him for doing so.

Then Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai said to him, “Come back to me tomorrow morning.” And when he himself went home, he prayed, “L-rd of the universe, you are well aware of all that is hidden and you know about this matter. Deliver him from his transgression.” Then he heard a divine echo, “Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai, go to his brother’s courtyard. There you will see a tree, and in the treetop you can find the thing of which the man has been suspected.” They went and found the jewelry there.

Rabbi Yochanan the Zakkai was very astonished at this. Since the pious brother had merely said that he would swear to the oath that he had not robbed or stolen had been suspected, how much more so one who swears falsely and profanes the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He that is why the Bible says, “And you shall not swear by My name falsely, and profane the name of your G-d” (Leviticus 19:12).

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 Rasha, the Chacham and the Snake

Posted on Thursday, 31, March, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

In one of the towns of Morocco there lived a wealthy Jewish merchant who was very wicked and had an evil heart. He did not want beggars and poor people to come to his house, so he built it outside the city. Around it he erected a high wall and at the only gate he placed wild dogs, who were as evil and wicked as their master. Without the walls he stationed two strong slaves who prevented the entry into the house of people whom the rich man did not like. Jewish people of the town said, “Since Haman haRasha there has been no one so wicked as he. Haman was not Jewish and this wealthy wicked man is Jewish.

One day a great chacham came to the town. He was a wandering messenger who collected money for the scholars in Eretz Yisrael who engaged in the study of the torah by day and by night. The chacham heard of the town and of the wealthy man who lived in it. However, when he came to the town he could only collect a small sum of money there. He was greatly astonished, and the people of the town told him, “It is true, among us lives a very rich Jewish merchant, but his house is surrounded by a wall and guarded by dogs and armed slaves, so that the owner of the house need not give alms to any man.”

“What is the name of this evil man?” asked the chacham. When he heard the name, he learned that sentence of death had been passed on the rich man and only he, the chacham, could save him.

The chacham told the people of the town nothing of what he had learned and went to the home of the wealthy Jewish merchant. By uttering Hashem’s holy name the road was shortened for him. When he reached the wealthy merchant’s home, he noted that together with him had come a giant snake, which was trying hard to out-distance him. What did the chacham do? He uttered Hashem’s holy name and the snake lay motionless, unable to move backwards or forwards.

The chacham from Eretz Israel came to the home of the wicked man, but the armed slaves tried to drive him away.

“I wish only to ask the master of the house one single question,” he said to them. But the guards refused to listen to him. Then once again the chacham uttered Hashem’s holy name and immediately he was within the house without the dogs even sensing that he had entered.

The wealthy man saw the chacham standing before him in the room and he uttered a cry, “Why have you entered this room in such plain and dirty clothes?” and he called to his dogs to set them on to the visitor. But the chacham seated himself on the floor and refused to move. He sat there unconcerned, while the dogs had been stricken with deafness and could not hear the call of their master. What could the rich man do? He was already weary of his own cries and he allowed the visitor to remain in the room and did not look at him.

Evening came. Out of his pocket the chacham took a prayer book and began to recite the mincha service. Just then the rich man’s servants began to set the table for the evening meal. The rich man, his wife and his children sat down at the table to eat. The holy man requested a piece of bread (of course he only pretended to be hungry for he was satisfied without eating), the size of what the rich man would give to his dogs. But the cruel rich man refused. The rich man’s family finished their meal and the chacham remained seated on the floor, his hand stretched out to ask for some morsel to eat. But the rich man forbade even his wife and children to give the chacham anything to eat.

When the remnants of the meal were gathered up from the table, the chacham once again asked for a piece of bread. The rich man threw some crumbs to the floor and said with contempt: “Take it before the dog gets it!” But the chacham persisted: “I shall accept it only from your hand.”

The woman and the children pleaded with the evil man until at last he gave the chacham a slice of bread.

The chacham rose to his feet, washed his hands, made the blessing over the bread, placed a morsel the size of an olive into his mouth and said to the rich man: “There is something I wish to reveal to you.”

The rich man became alarmed and the chacham said to him, “Send your wife and your children quickly away to a distant place, for they are in great danger tonight. And you, too, are not to sleep tonight. You must be awake throughout the night and you must not open the door.”

The frightened man did all that the chacham commanded him to do. The chacham remained seated on the floor reciting Psalms.

The giant snake began to crawl closer and closer to the house. Suddenly the rich man came up to the chacham and said: “My wife is crying out, asking me to open the door, for someone wishes to kill her.”

“Go back to your room,” the chacham commanded him. “Do not open the door.”

The rich man did as he was bidden. In a few minutes, however, he was back again, saying: “My children are crying out, ‘have mercy upon us for bandits wish to slay us!’ I shall open the door.”

“Do not open the door! Stay where you are!” commanded the chacham. The rich man obeyed, but soon he was back again. “My mother and all my other relatives have come and are pleading for mercy. I shall open the door.”

The chacham uttered a great shout and the rich man desisted, weeping all the time and asking for permission to open the door, otherwise they would all be killed.

And thus he pleaded throughout the night.

Dawn came at last. Then the chacham turned to the rich man and said, “Come and see what awaited you outside the house!”

The rich man looked upon a huge snake whose head was as big as a cask and which was as long as the entire wall encircling the house. But the snake was dead. Then the chacham told him: “The voices that you heard during the night were uttered by the snake. He spoke in the voice of your wife and he spoke in the voice of your children, for he had come to kill you all. But I foresaw all this and came here to save you. Had you not given me the piece of bread with your own hand then your end would have been bitter indeed, and the end of the members of your house would have been likewise.”

The rich man sent his slaves to bring back his wife and his children. When they returned he showed them the snake cut into pieces and told all that had come to pass during the night. The woman and the children had been so far away, that they could not know what had happened in the night.

From that night the wealthy rich man was a changed man. He gave alms generously to the poor and contributed large sums of money for Eretz Israel and for the scholars who engaged in the study of the torah.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Holy Water Carrier

Posted on Wednesday, 16, February, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The first friendly rays of sunlight would sneak through a missing slat in the faded shutters to announce a new day to the rugged boards that lined his tumbledown cottage — and Itzik the water-carrier knew it was time to be up. First, he would settle down next to his simple table and study a page or two of Torah. He said his morning prayers with all his heart and would then leave his simple home to go down to the bank of the river that twisted and turned through the fields surrounding his village. He would fill his two homemade pails, hoist them up to the long bar borne on his broad shoulders, trek uphill, and then down again. He did this for hours on end, bringing a day’s supply to his regular customers. He was not a wealthy man, but at least he earned enough to feed his family. He was content with his life, and loved by almost everyone.

Then one day, quite suddenly, everything changed. Itzik, the self-respecting water-carrier, was asking for tzedakah (charity) in his spare time. The quiet village quickly filled with whispers and curious looks. This did not prevent those same generous people from filling his little charity box — except for one very angry merchant. That someone who could support himself by his own efforts should decide one fine morning to grow fat at the expense of the hard work of others, was nothing less than shameful. He would inform the local rabbi in person!

A few days later, sure enough, a messenger of the rabbi sternly tapped his cane three times on Itzik”s creaking door, and summoned him to appear before the rabbi. Itzik set out at once, and was greeted warmly.

“Tell me, Itzik,” asked the rabbi, “are you managing to make a living?”

“Thanks be to G-d, day by day,” said Itzik, echoing the words of the Psalmist, “I’m happy with my lot, and manage with what I have.”

“Then why, may I ask, do you collect donations?”

Silence.

“Why don’t you answer my question?” The rabbi asked irritated; Itzik remained silent.

“Listen to me,” said the rabbi. “I must ask you to give me your word that you will stop collecting donations in the marketplace.”

Silence still.

The rabbi’s patience ran out and he raised his voice: “Has it occurred to you that it is disrespectful for you not to answer the questions of the rabbi of this village?”

Itzik blurted out three quiet words: “I can’t promise,” and looked at the floor in silence.

Now Itzik was not the only person in town to visit the rabbi that day. While their tense conversation was taking place, the richest man in town — “Moshe the Nagid,” the locals called him affectionately — calmly took a seat in the waiting room. He wanted to consult the rabbi on some important business matter. Surprised to hear the rabbi raising his voice, and what he overheard made him very upset. He became sick to his stomach and began to tremble until he was driven by his emotions and he burst uninvited into the rabbi’s study.

“Rebbe!” he exclaimed. “This man here is taddik nistar (hidden saint)!”

For a moment, the three stood in amazed silence. The rabbi, confused, looked first at the one, then at the other. This tightlipped water- carrier — a tzaddik nistar?

Moshe burst into bitter tears.

“Itzik,” he sobbed, “you’ve got nothing to hide. Tell the rabbi the whole story.” And with that, he slipped out of the room, leaving the rabbi the task of ordering Itzik to speak up.

Itzik took a deep breath. “I suppose you know,” he said, “that every day I visit the houses of all those who can afford the luxury; and bring them water right to the door. One of my old customers is Moshe the Nagid. One day, unexpectedly, he stops paying me, and says that when the account reaches a sizeable sum, he’ll pay me all at once. That’s fine by me — except that for two whole months he didn’t give me as much as one little kopek. Then one day Moshe wasn’t at home. So his good wife, begging your pardon, takes me aside and says: ‘Itzik,’ she says, ‘I want to tell you something, but on condition that you don’t breathe a word to a soul.’

“Okay, I won’t tell anyone”, I answered, and she told me her story.

“‘You know our big fancy business?’ she says.”Well, the bottom’s suddenly fallen out of it, and now we’re as poor as the poorest paupers in town. My husband is too ashamed to speak of it, but I can’t hide the truth any more. Our debt to you is growing, and I don’t know what’s going to come of us.’

“The tears of that poor soul broke my heart, and I decided there and then that I would do whatever I could to help them out — though without giving away their secret, of course. The next day I started collecting donations. Let people talk behind my back! Let people make fun of me! I wasn’t going to let that family go hungry!”

Itzik paused for breath, then added bashfully, “So I ask you
now, Rebbe, could I possibly have promised you to stop collecting:

The rabbi was in a daze. Before him stood the familiar brawny frame of a simple water-carrier who could barely translate the daily prayers or a simple chapter of Torah. Through the rabbi’s tears, he saw before him, in all his glory, the true love of a neighbour. Here was a man who had always held his head erect, yet was prepared to lower it in humiliation — so long as his fellow’s honor would be spared!

He sprang out of his chair, and embraced the embarrassed water-carrier.

“Would that there were many like you among Israel!” he exclaimed. “I pray to G-d that in the World of Truth I be allowed to share your lot in the inheritance that awaits the righteous!”

And with warm tears he kissed that suntanned brow.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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He who finds a faithful friend finds a treasure.

ben Sira 6:14

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)

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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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.

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).

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.”

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)

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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Having said his say, the dead man vanished, and the rich man found himself alone in his House of Study, trembling with fear. With a heavy heart, he left the House of Study to go home and went to bed and began thinking of the vision again, turning this way and that on his bed like a sick man.

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.

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.”

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 sultan was astonished at this closed and sealed golden chest and said to himself, “Maybe it contains precious stones and jewels which are few in number but of high quality and value.” So he opened the chest and in it he found one small taffeta.

“They have said nothing and looked not into this matter,” said the king.

So a man whom the king held to be his enemy went and slept with it beneath him in a dangerous place. When he and the others who were with him woke up in the morning, they found that the wild beasts were scattered limb from limb.

When the sultan saw the wisdom of the rabbi, he gave praises to the Holy One, blessed be He. The sultan learned that “one who is slow to anger has great understanding.” (Proverbs 14:29)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

The guards refused to permit the young man, who was a stranger to them, into the royal palace, but the king heard what the young man said and com­manded the guards: “Bring him in!”

“The Holy One, blessed be He has sent me to you,” the young man said to the king, “so that I may cure your daughter.”

“And what do you need in order to cure her?” asked the king.

“I need only a chamber in which only your daughter and I may be. I also need a basin of warm water and some clothes. I need nothing else.”

“My son! My daughter!” the king and the queen cried out. They held a great banquet which was followed by a brilliant wedding. The young man was proclaimed heir to the throne.

Some time later the young woman said to her husband. “I want to ask my father to allow us to take a walk through the city and to see all of it together with you.”

When the king heard his daughter’s request, he said, “That is a fine plan,” and he gave the young couple a carriage with two horses and two slaves.

The woman began to weep for she was very much afraid: “No! No!” she cried, “you will run away from me and desert me!” Her husband promised her faithfully that he would not run away from her.

Suddenly the man was healed and the sight of his eyes was restored to him. Then the younger brother called one of his slaves and commanded him to dress his brother in fine clothes.

Then he commanded his servant, “This evening bring this man to the place where the king and all his ministers are seated. “But the older brother was full of fear, for he did not know what would befall him. Indeed he was certain that he would be killed.

In the meantime the young man went to his wife and said to her, “Ask your father to invite all of his ministers to come here this evening.”

“Come here!” the young man called out to him. “Who are you?” he asked him. “What is your name? Where do you come from? Have you a father? Have you a brother?”

To all of these questions the older brother replied, but to the last question he said: “I had a brother but he is now dead.”

“That is not true! You are a liar,” the young man cried out. All those present listened keenly to hear what he had to say, and he continued. “Look at me! Do you see me? Do you not recog­nize me? I am your younger brother.“

The older brother was frozen with fear. But the young man said to him, “You have nothing to fear from me, as other people fear you. Only answer me this question: Whom does G-d love more —the good man or the evil?”

“The good man!” the older brother replied. “And I beg you to forgive me and not to do to me as I did to you.”

Then said the young man, “I shall do you no harm, for you are my brother, born of the same mother and the same father. Do not fear!”

And the two lived together in happiness.

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

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

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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?”

The guards refused to permit the young man, who was a stranger to them, into the royal palace, but the king heard what the young man said and commanded the guards: “Bring him in!”

In the meantime the young man went to his wife and said to her, ^“Ask your father to invite all of his ministers to come here this evening.^”

“That is not true! You are a liar,” the young man cried out. All those present listened keenly to hear what he had to say, and he continued. “Look at me! Do you see me? Do you not recognize me? I am your younger brother.^“