The Wonder Flute

Posted on Tuesday, 8, February, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

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 divine is possible.

Unfortunately too many people pray 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.

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.

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:

“O 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 Talmud teaches in Berachos 16b that Rav, at the conclusion of his Shemoneh Esrei, used to recite 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 awe 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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Who Was the Guest?

Posted on Wednesday, 5, January, 2011Monday, 19, September, 2022 by Rabbi

A Jewish innkeeper earned his living managing a small inn that stood on the crossroads leading to the big city. Every so often, a lone traveler or caravan would lodge at the inn; there they would eat to the heart’s content, rest from the long journey, and then continue on their way.

On one occasion, the Jewish innkeeper was falsely accused of committing a terrible crime against the state. While he was waiting for his trial, he was informed by reliable sources that if he were found guilty, he would spend the rest of his life in prison.

His loved ones advised him to travel to the capital where the king lived. There he would try his best to gain an audience with the king and present his case before him. The innkeeper’s friends reassured him, “The king is a man of truth and will certainly see that justice is served.

“But who will permit me to even approach the palace to begin with?” asked the innkeeper. “Why, the king’s guards have the palace surrounded.”

“You must try, nonetheless,” answered his friends.

The king had a habit every so often of putting on simple farmer’s clothing and travel around his kingdom seeing and listening carefully. In this way, he would get a sense of the mood and would know what the people were thinking.

On one such occasion, the king arrived at the inn managed by the Jewish innkeeper. There he received food and drink and slept on the floor like an ordinary person.

Sometime later, the innkeeper was told who his guest had been. Upon hearing that the king had stayed in his inn, the innkeeper took his head in his hands and cried, “Woe is me! The king was in my house, and I could have begged him to save my life…”

Every person can draw close to the Holy One Blessed, be He, the King above all kings, in this world, for here He is always within reach. One must seize the moment and draw as close to the Holy One Blessed, be He as he possibly can, for he will not have the opportunity to do so in the World to Come.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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He Is the Healer of the Brokenhearted

Posted on Monday, 15, November, 2010Sunday, 25, September, 2022 by Rabbi

In a certain city lived an expert goldsmith who was unmatched when it came to setting gems. Ministers, barons and nobles from all across the land would send him precious stones and pearls that he would set in place with the greatest precision and skill. He was very successful and became very wealthy.

One day, the man broke his hand. He was no longer able to continue as a goldsmith and therefore set out to collect charity

“It would not befit you to do such a thing,” remarked those closest to him. “Should a skilled worker such as yourself, whose expertise was sought after day and night by all the barons in the land — now go and collect charity?”

“But what else should I do?” lamented the man. “My hand is broken, and I can no longer practice the trade that I formerly excelled in.”

“What does that mean, ‘you can no longer practice’?” asked his friends in amazement. “Go to a doctor and he will heal you your hand will be as good as new!”

A person is obligated to spend the days of his life engaged in the study of the Holy books and the performance of acts of kindness, and he must never let himself weaken in this area. There are times, however, when his heart offers him bad advice and lures him after meaningless endeavors. He must not listen this destructive council; rather, he must pray for mercy from the One Who is the Healer of the brokenhearted (see Psalms 147:3) imploring Hashem (G-d), “Create a pure heart for me, 0 G-d, and a steadfast spirit renew within me”(Psalm 51:12)

Prayer is possible in all times. We learn that “Out of the depths have I called upon you oh L-rd” (Psalms 130:1) Even when the distractions of the world attempts to interfere with a person’s prayer, they must strengthen themselves refuse to allow their mind to he diverted from prayer.

This can be compared to a young boy who was standing in the marketplace, holding a basket of apples that he was trying to sell.

He was suddenly approached by an individual who began to snatch the apples from the basket. The boy screamed with all his might, “Help! Help!”

A wise man passed by and said to the boy, “Why are you screaming? Instead of simply screaming, you should also grab as many apples as you can, before this man succeeds in snatching all of the apples before you manage to grab any…”

Sometimes an individual stands in prayer and the forces of evil tries with all of his might to distract him in order that he should not be able to pray with concentration. He may already be halfway through his prayers and not have concentrated on a single word.

It is worthwhile for a person to try and snatch a little bit for himself and pray the remainder of his prayers with great concentration. For if he does not do so, he will be left with nothing for himself.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Humble Request of the King’s Son

Posted on Tuesday, 21, September, 2010Wednesday, 20, September, 2023 by Rabbi

A prince once angered his father, the king, by his disrespect and misbehavior. Furious, the king banished his son from the palace without giving him a penny. His son wandered from city to city, collecting alms and barely managing to take care of himself.

When he grew weary of collecting charity, he made his way to the house of an elderly villager and offered to perform any form of labor that he desired, be it in the house or the field.

The villager took the young boy into his home, and the man was not disappointed. The boy worked with great enthusiasm and performed any task that his master requested, whether it was working in the fields or tending to the animals. In exchange, the villager allowed the boy to board in his home, and he provided him with a meager meal as well.

One day, the villager died, and his estate fell into the hands of his son. Trouble soon arose, however, as the son was a wicked man who increased the workloads of all of the villager’s servants while at the same time decreasing their benefits.

Meanwhile, the king was in his palace in the capital city. He was sad and depressed over not having received any word of his son throughout the past several years, and not having any idea where he was or what he was doing. He therefore decided to travel around his kingdom and proclaim wherever he went that whoever had a request to make of the king or a grievance that needed to be settled was invited to come before him and state his claim.

Indeed, wherever the king went, long lines formed, consisting of the heavily burdened as well as dispute between parties, in order to relate their troubles to the king.

The king’s travels eventually brought him to the city in which his son resided. The son, as well, was among the individuals who lined up to speak with the king, and when it came his turn, he fell before the king and cried, “Your Highness! I work for a certain villager who forces me to do overbearing labor! I beg of you, order him to provide me with bread each day and not to oppress me so…”

The king fell on his son’s neck and exclaimed:

“Woe is me, that I must see you in such a state! Are you so heavily burdened that you have completely forgotten about your esteemed lineage? You are the son of a king, and your place is in the palace of kings. Instead of asking me for stale bread, ask me for permission to return to the palace!”

The Jewish people are the children of princes, kings and priests, but the darkness of exile and the oppression we have endured have caused us to forget this fact. We therefore stand in prayer and request no more than a slice of bread.

Restore us to You, O Lord, that we may be restored, renew our days as of old (Lamentations. 5:21).

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Prayer – A Matter of Life and Death

Posted on Tuesday, 24, August, 2010Sunday, 25, September, 2022 by Rabbi

A group of wealthy merchants went into an inn located near the crossroads. They asked the innkeeper to serve them food and drink, and knowing that his guests had the ability to pay, he hastened to set the table for them.

“What would you like to eat?” asked the innkeeper.

One of them answered, “I would like a good, thick meat broth.” “I would like to eat fresh fish,” said another.

A weak voice was suddenly heard coming from one corner of the inn, “Please serve me bread, for I am starving!”

The guest who had made the request was a beggar who had happened to enter the inn at the same time.

The innkeeper left the group of merchants and quickly placed bread before the beggar.

“Should this beggar be served before us?” asked the merchants. “Why, we are ordering a massive feast, yet you prefer to serve him first?”

“You,” responded the innkeeper, “are ordering delicacies for yourselves. This beggar, is asking for bread in order to survive. Who knows how long it has been since he has last had something to eat.”

There are times when individuals who pursue their cravings and desires stand in prayer and make various requests in order to increase their assets and prestige in the eyes of the world.

Then there is the individual who tearfully requests bread for his young children.

The Holy One, blessed be He will most certainly give his prayer preference and answer it immediately, for the man is pleading for his life and the lives of his children!

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Deaf Man of the Shul

Posted on Thursday, 24, September, 2009Friday, 4, October, 2019 by Rabbi

There was an old shul in the neighborhood that everyone went to. The people came and prayed and lived their lives. Now there was one man in the shul who was deaf, and to everyone’s surprise he came to shul each Shabbos.

He prayed with tear-filled eyes because his son was the chazzan (cantor). Though his voice he never heard and he prays with tear-filled eyes. Though he never heard his son’s voice, he would sit there enjoying every word.

The deaf man watched every motion, every gesture that his son made, and would stay until the vary end of the prayers no matter how long it took. And when the davening was over he was always the first to greet his son to tell him yasher koach , well done.

Now right before Yom Kippur and the sun was setting fast and everyone was waiting to begin Kol Nidre, but the chazzan (cantor) was not in the shul. There were many who began to worry and as the rabbi looked he saw the shul was full, but the deaf man’s seat was empty.

Suddenly the chazzan burst into the shul in his kittle and long tallis trailing behind. The people saw that he was wearing his white chazzan’s hat that he never wore before. As he’s rushing up to the beemah he stops at his father’s empty chair for just the briefest moment as he pulls his tallis over his head.

It was almost past time for the holy Kol Nidre service and the rabbi asked him why he was so late, but the chazzan answered he had to get ready for Yom Kippur. Silence fell throughout the shul as the chazzan took his place surrounded by the holy Torah ring. He took a deep breath and began to pray. His voice pierced the very gates of heaven and every heart was broken. Tears flowed so much that every sin was washed away and every soul was pure for Yom Kippur that year.

When the chazzan finished davening, the rabbi asked asked him, what was it he was thinking of That made him sing so well? The chazzan looked at him and a tear fell from his eye as he answered, “Well you know my father was deaf and last night he passed away and this is the first time that my father^‘s heard me pray^“

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The Prayer of the Religious Man and the General

Posted on Sunday, 1, March, 2009Sunday, 4, March, 2018 by Rabbi

We are taught that even if a man is greeted by the king while praying, he may not return the greeting. And even if a snake is wound around his heel, he may not interrupt his prayer.

Once upon a time a religious man was walking across a field when the time for prayer arrived. So he stood still and began to pray. As he was praying, a general came along riding on horseback and greeted him. But the religious man did not return the greeting and remained silent. The general waited until he had finished his prayers, then he said to him: “You scoundrel, why did you not return my greeting?

Is it not written in your Torah, “Take utmost care, and watch yourself scrupulously” (Deut. 4:9), and also, “Be most careful about yourselves” (Deut. 4:15)? Why, then, when I greeted you, did you not return my greeting?

If I should cut your head off, who would say anything to me?” The religious man replied: “Pray, listen to my answer.” And he began as follows: “Dear Sir, if you were standing before a human king of flesh and blood and speaking to him, and another man came along and addressed you, would you answer him?” The general replied: “No, I would not answer him.” Then the pious man continued: “And suppose you did answer him, what do you think would happen to you?” And the general replied: “I would be afraid that the king might have my head cut off.”

The pious man replied: “Behold now, if standing before a king of flesh and blood who lives today and tomorrow he is dead, you would be afraid of having your head cut off, how much more should I have been afraid, standing as I was before a king who is called the King above all Kings, who is not a being of flesh and blood, who lives forever and does not pass away! How, then, could I have answered your greeting? I had to fear that in His anger, He might have killed me.” When the general heard how well the pious man had answered, he was well pleased with him and said to him : “You have answered me very well.” So the religious man returned home in peace. Therefore, every person should say his prayers with proper devotion, and no evil will happen to him.

Based on B. Ber 32b-33a, Ma’asah Book #130

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Innkeeper’s Reward

Posted on Tuesday, 20, January, 2009Friday, 21, July, 2023 by Rabbi

So many people become lost in their search to serve the holy One, blessed be He. The service in and of itself is fairly uncomplicated. Simply put, “Serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind.” (I Chronicles 28:9)

The Innkeeper’s Reward

An officer traveled at the head of a large caravan in order to perform an important task that the king had assigned him. The sun set in the middle of their trip, and spotting an inn alongside the road, they headed directly towards it.

The innkeeper was delighted to merit the honor to host the king’s officer. He therefore tried his utmost to make his esteemed guests’ stay a pleasant one. In their honor, he arranged a table replete with various delicacies, and when they had eaten their fill, he prepared comfortable beds that would provide them with a good night’s sleep.

Upon rising in the morning, the officer asked the innkeeper how much he owed him for their stay, and the innkeeper requested a substantial sum of money.

The officer paid the full amount and thanked the innkeeper. He then took his place at the head of the caravan and continued his journey, quickly forgetting all about the inn and the innkeeper.

Several days later, he arrived at another inn, and this time as well, was showered with exceptional hospitality as the innkeeper went well beyond the call of duty. Wanting to please his guests, the innkeeper served them delicious food and beverages, and provided them with comfortable sleeping arrangements as well.

The next day, the officer approached the innkeeper and requested to pay for his stay. The innkeeper, however, would not hear of it.

“Absolutely not!” he said to the officer. “It is both a pleasure and an honor that a great individual such as yourself would choose to lodge at my inn! The honor you have accorded me will be my full compensation!”

Upon hearing the innkeeper’s heartfelt words, the officer was filled with tremendous affection for the simple man. He therefore commanded one of his servants to go and bring a particularly heavy chest from one of the wagons. Opening the chest, he removed magnificent jewelry and gems and presented them to the innkeeper.

“Here you go, my dear sir,” said the officer. “This is a small portion of the reward that you shall receive for the loyalty that you have shown me. In addition, if you ever need anything from the king, do not hesitate to turn to me!”

The officer went on his way but never forgot the innkeeper and his kindliness.

There are two types of people who serve Hashem (G-d).

There are those who serve Hashem (G-d) in the hope of receiving a reward. Hashem certainly looks upon his Divine service favorably, but in the end he only receives his due reward.

But there are others who serve Hashem (G-d) merely for the joy of serving King of All Kings. His reward is many times greater and brings Hashem much enjoyment.

This is what we are taught in Pirke Avos (Ethics of the Fathers) 1:3: “Be not as servants who serve the master for the sake of receiving [even a token) of reward, but rather, be like servants who serve the master not for the sake of receiving a reward”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Prayers from the Heart

Posted on Thursday, 8, January, 2009Thursday, 27, September, 2018 by Rabbi

A holy rabbi once taught that unless we believe the holy One, blessed be He renews creation every day, our prayers grow habitual and tedious. Sometimes we need to step back and reflect if our prayer is from the heart or is it from memory, by rote.

There was once a shepherd and did not know how to pray. Yet every day he said: “Ribbono Shel Olam, Master of the Universe! You know full well that if You have beasts to herd and were to give them to me I would tend them without charge though everybody pays me; for I love You.”

On one occasion a learned rabbi passed that way and found the shepherd praying. “Fool,” said he, “do not pray like that!” “And how should I pray?” asked the shepherd. At which point the learned man taught him the order of the blessings, and the ^“Hear, O Israel” prayer and the other prayers, in order that he should no longer say what he had been familiar to say. But after the rabbi went away, the shepherd forgot all that he had been taught and could not recite it. He was also afraid to say what he had formerly said, because the learned man had warned him not to.

Now in a dream at night the rabbi heard a voice that said to him: “If you do not tell him to say what he was accustomed to say before you met him, and if you do not go there, then know what evil is awaiting you. For you have robbed Me of one of those who is assured of the World to Come!” The rabbi went at once and told the man.

Now here there was neither knowledge of the Torah nor good deeds, merely one who thought to be good. The Holy One, blessed be He regarded this as a great thing, for the Merciful One always seeks the heart.

Sefer Chasidim

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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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 divine is possible.

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.

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.

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?”

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.

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:

“O 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’?”

Filled with this heartwarming feeling, the king said:

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

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

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)

A Jewish innkeeper earned his living managing a small inn that stood on the crossroads leading to the big city. Every so often, a lone traveler or caravan would lodge at the inn; there they would eat to the heart’s content, rest from the long journey, and then continue on their way.

On one occasion, the Jewish innkeeper was falsely accused of committing a terrible crime against the state. While he was waiting for his trial, he was informed by reliable sources that if he were found guilty, he would spend the rest of his life in prison.

His loved ones advised him to travel to the capital where the king lived. There he would try his best to gain an audience with the king and present his case before him. The innkeeper’s friends reassured him, “The king is a man of truth and will certainly see that justice is served.

“But who will permit me to even approach the palace to begin with?” asked the innkeeper. “Why, the king’s guards have the palace surrounded.”

“You must try, nonetheless,” answered his friends.

The king had a habit every so often of putting on simple farmer’s clothing and travel around his kingdom seeing and listening carefully. In this way, he would get a sense of the mood and would know what the people were thinking.

On one such occasion, the king arrived at the inn managed by the Jewish innkeeper. There he received food and drink and slept on the floor like an ordinary person.

Sometime later, the innkeeper was told who his guest had been. Upon hearing that the king had stayed in his inn, the innkeeper took his head in his hands and cried, “Woe is me! The king was in my house, and I could have begged him to save my life…”

Every person can draw close to the Holy One Blessed, be He, the King above all kings, in this world, for here He is always within reach. One must seize the moment and draw as close to the Holy One Blessed, be He as he possibly can, for he will not have the opportunity to do so in the World to Come.

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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One day, the man broke his hand. He was no longer able to con­tinue as a goldsmith and therefore set out to collect charity

“It would not befit you to do such a thing,” remarked those clos­est to him. “Should a skilled worker such as yourself, whose expertise was sought after day and night by all the barons in the land — now go and collect charity?”

“But what else should I do?” lamented the man. “My hand is broken, and I can no longer practice the trade that I formerly ex­celled in.”

“What does that mean, ‘you can no longer practice’?” asked his friends in amazement. “Go to a doctor and he will heal you your hand will be as good as new!”

Prayer is possible in all times. We learn that “Out of the depths have I called upon you oh L-rd” (Psalms 130:1) Even when the distractions of the world attempts to interfere with a person’s prayer, they must strengthen themselves refuse to allow their mind to he diverted from prayer.

This can be compared to a young boy who was standing in the marketplace, holding a basket of apples that he was trying to sell.

He was suddenly approached by an individual who began to snatch the apples from the basket. The boy screamed with all his might, “Help! Help!”

A wise man passed by and said to the boy, “Why are you scream­ing? Instead of simply screaming, you should also grab as many apples as you can, before this man succeeds in snatching all of the apples before you manage to grab any…”

Sometimes an individual stands in prayer and the forces of evil tries with all of his might to distract him in order that he should not be able to pray with concentration. He may already be halfway through his prayers and not have concentrated on a single word.

It is worthwhile for a person to try and snatch a little bit for himself and pray the remainder of his prayers with great concentration. For if he does not do so, he will be left with nothing for himself.

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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A prince once angered his father, the king, by his disrespect and misbehavior. Furious, the king banished his son from the palace without giving him a penny. His son wandered from city to city, collecting alms and barely managing to take care of himself.

When he grew weary of collecting charity, he made his way to the house of an elderly villager and offered to perform any form of labor that he desired, be it in the house or the field.

One day, the villager died, and his estate fell into the hands of his son. Trouble soon arose, however, as the son was a wicked man who increased the workloads of all of the villager’s servants while at the same time decreasing their benefits.

Indeed, wherever the king went, long lines formed, consisting of the heavily burdened as well as dispute between parties, in order to relate their troubles to the king.

The king fell on his son’s neck and exclaimed:

“Woe is me, that I must see you in such a state! Are you so heavily burdened that you have completely forgotten about your esteemed lineage? You are the son of a king, and your place is in the palace of kings. Instead of asking me for stale bread, ask me for permission to return to the palace!”

The Jewish people are the children of princes, kings and priests, but the darkness of exile and the oppression we have endured have caused us to forget this fact. We therefore stand in prayer and request no more than a slice of bread.

Restore us to You, O Lord, that we may be restored, renew our days as of old (Lamentations. 5:21).

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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A group of wealthy merchants went into an inn located near the cross­roads. They asked the innkeeper to serve them food and drink, and knowing that his guests had the ability to pay, he has­tened to set the table for them.

“What would you like to eat?” asked the innkeeper.

One of them answered, “I would like a good, thick meat broth.” “I would like to eat fresh fish,” said another.

One by one, the merchants proceeded to order tasty delicacies, each one requesting the dish that he craved.

A weak voice was suddenly heard coming from one corner of the inn, “Please serve me bread, for I am starving!”

The guest who had made the request was a beggar who had happened to enter the inn at the same time.

The innkeeper left the group of merchants and quickly placed bread before the beggar.

“Should this beggar be served before us?” asked the merchants. “Why, we are ordering a massive feast, yet you prefer to serve him first?”

“You,” responded the innkeeper, “are ordering delicacies for yourselves. This beggar, is asking for bread in order to survive. Who knows how long it has been since he has last had something to eat.”

There are times when individuals who pursue their cravings and desires stand in prayer and make various requests in order to increase their assets and prestige in the eyes of the world.

Then there is the individual who tearfully requests bread for his young children.

The Holy One, blessed be He will most certainly give his prayer preference and answer it immediately, for the man is pleading for his life and the lives of his children!

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

There was an old shul in the neighborhood that everyone went to. The people came and prayed and lived their lives. Now there was one man in the shul who was deaf, and to everyone’s surprise he came to shul each Shabbos.

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, the man broke his hand. He was no longer able to continue as a goldsmith and therefore set out to collect charity

“It would not befit you to do such a thing,” remarked those closest to him. “Should a skilled worker such as yourself, whose expertise was sought after day and night by all the barons in the land — now go and collect charity?”

“But what else should I do?” lamented the man. “My hand is broken, and I can no longer practice the trade that I formerly excelled in.”

A wise man passed by and said to the boy, “Why are you screaming? Instead of simply screaming, you should also grab as many apples as you can, before this man succeeds in snatching all of the apples before you manage to grab any…”

A group of wealthy merchants went into an inn located near the crossroads. They asked the innkeeper to serve them food and drink, and knowing that his guests had the ability to pay, he hastened to set the table for them.

An officer traveled at the head of a large caravan in order to perform an important task that the king had assigned him. The sun set in the middle of their trip, and spotting an inn alongside the road, they headed directly towards it.

“Here you go, my dear sir,” said the officer. “This is a small portion of the reward that you shall receive for the loyalty that you have shown me. In addition, if you ever need anything from the king, do not hesitate to turn to me!”

There are those who serve Hashem (G-d) in the hope of receiving a reward. Hashem certainly looks upon his Divine service favorably, but in the end he only receives his due reward.