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A Pot of Soup and the Yetzer Hara
There was an innkeeper who cooked meals for all her guests. Inevitably she ended up preparing food for all the laborers of the town as well, who flocked to her dining room to feast to their hearts’ content. She served food that was simple yet satisfying, and most importantly, very reasonably priced.
One day, the innkeeper prepared a large pot of soup. As mealtime drew nearer, she went to check on the food to determine whether or not it was ready to be served. As she made her way towards the pot, a foul odor filled her nostrils.
She quickly ascertained that the ingredients she had used to prepare the broth must have been slightly spoiled, and this was indeed the cause of the terrible smell. She was now faced with a problem: Mealtime was rapidly approaching — what would she serve her guests?
What could she do?
She took fragrant spices and sprinkled them generously into the steamy pot; it was not long before the smell of the spices overpowered the foul odor.
She served the soup to the laborers, and they ate heartily.
“This soup is wonderful!” exclaimed one of the laborers. “It truly smells like Gan Eden!”
Sitting next to him was a traveler with a sensitive palate who said, “You are mistaken.” “The food is completely spoiled; the smell is coming from spices that hide the foul stench…”
The yetzer hara tries to persuade a person to sin. The sin, however, emits a putrid odor, and the soul immediately perceives the trick and attempts to flee. But the yetzer hara clothes the wicked deed in a guise of temptation and appeal to conceal the foul stench.
The more putrid the odor, the more spices the yetzer hara deceitfully adds…
A person must arrive at the realization that the “food” is spoiled and that they must push it away with both hands!
Harira – Spiced Moroccan Vegetable Soup
A Muslim staple to break the daily fast of Ramadan, it has crossed over to the Moroccan Jewish tradition of breaking the fast of Yom Kippur, Tisha b’Av and other fast days. Although many cooks make this with meat, this is a pareve recipe.
Ingredients
4 tablespoons olive oil |
1 bunch parsley, chopped, divided |
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1-2 large onion, diced (about 2 cups) |
1 (15-ounce) can tomatoes, crushed, or 2 cups tomato sauce |
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3 stalks celery, diced (about 1 1/2 cups) |
7 cups broth or water |
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3 large carrots, peeled and cut in rounds |
1 cup dried chickpeas, soaked overnight and cooked or 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained |
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1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric |
1 cup green lentils |
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1 teaspoon ground cumin |
1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper |
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1 Teaspoon Zahtar |
2 tablespoons all-purpose unbleached flour |
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1/2 to 1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes |
1 large egg |
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Juice of 2 lemons (about 1/4 cup) |
Salt to taste |
Directions
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sauté the onion, celery, and carrots until the onion turns translucent and begin to brown, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add the turmeric, cumin, chile flakes, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 cup of the parsley and tomatoes
In a large stock pot add the broth or water and bring to a boil.
If using the soaked chickpeas, drain them and add to the pot. Simmer uncovered for 25 minutes, then add the lentils, another teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of pepper and continue simmering until the chickpeas and lentils are cooked, about 45 minutes more.
or
If using canned chickpeas omit the first 25 minutes of simmering and add with the lentils.
Whisk the flour, egg, and lemon juice into 2 cups of water. Stir into the soup. Simmer the soup about 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours more and serve.
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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A Tavern Owner’s Lesson
If one is a pleasure seeker but not a seeker of spiritual delight than the teaching, “If you allow your soul to take pleasure in base desire, it will make you the laughingstock of your enemies.” (Ben Sira 18:31)
A father wished to provide his son with an ample source of livelihood. He decided to buy him a tavern, as well as large barrels of wine and beer, which he placed in the tavern’s cellar.
“My dear son,” said the father. “You are permitted to allow anyone who wishes to drink in your tavern. I have but one warning for you: “You may have first-rate wine in your possession, but you are not to sip even the slightest amount.”
“Believe me,” continued the father, “I am speaking in your best interests leave the drinking to the drunkards of the town.!”
So it is with this world. The Holy One, blessed be He created the delights and pleasures of this world, and it is all intended to benefit people. The Holy One, blessed be He also instills wise counsel to us: “Do not waste your time with meaningless pleasures, ‘You shall be to me a kingdom of ministers and a holy nation!” (Exodus19:6) For “a fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing personal opinion.” (Proverbs 18:2)
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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How A Woman Became a Great Spiritual Leader
Shaindle Rivka was known as a holy woman of great knowledge and wisdom. People were constantly coming to her for advice and blessings. Many looked upon Shaindle Rivka as a great spiritual leader.
Tam and Chacham traveled to meet this holy woman. The rabbis were amazed at the love and reverence all the people of the village had for Shaindle Rivka. They sat from many long hours talking about the revealed and hidden aspects of Torah. During their conversation, Tam asked, “From where do you get your great power to do miracles?”
The holy Shaindle Rivka answered humbly, “For that, I have to thank Yankel Ganiff (Yankel the Thief)” Then she explained:
“On erev Yom Kippur, it was the custom for all the Jewish people in the village to come to my holy father to receive his blessing of gemar chasima tova, ‘May your heavenly decree be sealed for good!’ One year when I was still a little girl, I was standing in his room at that time. One of the men who entered was a certain unpleasant person named Yankel, who had a reputation as someone who makes his living by taking others’ property. He tried to avoid stealing from Jewish people, but that didn’t excuse his crooked ways. When his turn in line came to be before my holy father, he put out his hand to shake my father’s hand and receive a blessing, but my father quickly pulled his own hand back and refused to bless him.
“Yankel was determined and began to cry a flood of tears, as he pleaded and begged my holy father to bless him like all the other Jewish people. He even argued that he was not to blame if this was the livelihood that heaven had decreed for him! But my father denied that, saying that every person can choose for himself a decent and upright way to make a living and that heaven will provide for him! In the end, after much begging and crying, my father softened and had pity on Yankel. My father covered his holy hand with a cloth and then held Yankel’s hand and gave him a blessing. (Some exceptionally holy people may experience great pain when coming into physical contact with an exceptionally sinful person; that is why the holy rabbi covered his hand.)
“When I saw my holy father bless this thief,” said Shaindle Rivka, “I immediately went over to him and said, ‘If a person like this succeeded in receiving a blessing from you now, it must be a special time. So I want you to bless me too!’”
“‘What blessing do you want?’ he asked. “‘That my blessings be fulfilled!’ I said.
“And he blessed me!” concluded Shaindle Rivka.
It is told that Yankel completely repented and gave up stealing for a living after he received the holy rabbi’s blessing, and that after the holy rabbi’s death, he was found more than once crying his heart out in prayer.
Shaindle Rivka asked that her blessings come true, which is the power of a great spiritual leader. That is how she merited to do miracles and became very respected by many people. Why would a little girl ask for that, for the power of blessing? Perhaps because she realized that it was the outward sign of her father’s greatness.
But in explaining how she became a great spiritual leader, Shaindle Rivka humbly compared herself to an unworthy thief who, so to speak, stole a blessing from her father, the rebbe. Yet despite her holy humility, even as a little girl she was sensitive and realized that it was a time of special grace—when even a thief was accepted—and she was bold enough to ask for what she wanted. May we also be alert to times of grace and know what to ask for at the right moment.
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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A Daughter’s Memory
I was slowly eating breakfast at the college cafeteria when my father died on a remote trail, on the other side of the country.
He loved hiking trails and being outside, but I didn’t even know until two days later. With a busy class schedule and studying in the library I had forgotten to check my phone. When I finally managed to recharge my phone, I and saw all the missed calls and text messages.
My mother told me over the phone, such terrible news. I was so unprepared for such news. I am too young to be without a father, and yet here I sit so devastated.
My father lived through a war, was always willing to help others and taught people of all ages and yet he was gone.
All the answers to all the questions I hadn’t asked him yet, now lost forever, because I assumed he would always be there.
In my mind’s eye, I had seen him, old but never frail, many years from now, still ready whenever I needed him to console me, advise me, disapprove of my boyfriends. Instead, I found myself rushing back home, unable to stop the flow of tears that seemed to come without me even realizing it half the time.
I cried all the way back home, I cried my tears as meals were left untouched, I cried until it was time to say goodbye.
The sun was high in the sky, such a day that he would go hiking or fishing. I was so angry, it should have been raining, something to match the tears welling up in my eyes and so I cried some more.
People gathered I had never seen before came to say goodbye, and I heard others crying for him. The casket was draped with a flag, some of his veteran friends came and gently folded it and gave it to me. I was numb and my heart was breaking. I was so glad for the many people that shared this sadness with me, it is so heavy upon my shoulders I needed others to carry me for a while.
In the time after we said our goodbyes, my emotions went from one place to another. At times, I was angry at him for leaving, even though he never wanted to leave. Mostly, I was angry at myself for letting slip past so many opportunities to spend time with him, learn from him, talk to him.
I would never get another chance to do so, but I can still hear him talk to me. I know what he would say when I was challenged by life, his voice now has more authority than ever, because I now realize that he was more often right than I would admit.
A thing like this breaks your heart. It is beyond words, something that cannot be explained unless you have been there yourself. No one can imagine the pain of losing someone you love, but reality surpasses all imagination, and how I wish it wasn’t so.
My father loved to cook and he would tell such stories at the table. Everyone would become lost in the magic he wove and the lessons of the stories that before you knew it, it was the wee hours of the morning and everyone wanted more.
He taught me to a lot, yet kept many secrets. His wisdom may live on in me and I try to be a better person. He was here and touched so many people and I want you to know he lives on in his stories.
May his stories bring you 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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A King’s Wisdom for a Year
The people of a certain land had an unusual custom, Every year, they would go out to the main road that led to their country, and when they spotted a stranger approaching, they would crown him as their king. This newly appointed king would then decide all the matters of the land according to his wisdom.
At the year’s end, they would remove him from his throne and expel him from the country. Stripped of his royalty, he would leave just as he had come. The people would then go out to the main road once again and find themselves another traveler and crown him as the new king. This situation repeated itself year after year.
On one occasion, a poor traveler happened to be walking on the main road. While he lacked money, he possessed great wisdom and an amazing breadth of knowledge. Suddenly, he saw a massive parade, joyful and exuberant, heading his way. Before he even had a moment to understand the cause of the excitement, he was dressed in fine robes, and a royal crown was placed upon his head. He was brought directly to the royal palace in the capital city, where he was introduced as the new king for the coming year with an elaborate ceremony.
Thinking about the strange events that had taken place, the king summoned one of his ministers, who offered him a detailed explanation of the land’s custom.
“Amazing,” thought the king. “It seems that after a year, I will once again be a penniless beggar. How interesting…”
What did he do? He remembered, “If a person is wise to his own advantage, the fruits of his good sense will be praiseworthy” (Sirach 37:22), and over the course of the year, the king dispatched to his old home as much money, jewelry, merchandise, and items of great worth, as he was able to. “And the man became rich; he prospered more and more until he became very wealthy.” (Genesis 26:13)
When the year drew to a close, the people entered his room and brought him his old beggar’s clothing. They then expelled him from the country with a warning never to return.
The man returned home where the massive treasure which he had so carefully set aside for himself. Of him, it was said, “By your wisdom and your understanding, you have amassed wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries.” (Ezekiel 28:4) From that treasure, the man was able to support himself, and his family, providing them with a life of wealth and luxury for years to come.
People come to this world for a very limited length of time. There are times when they are totally immersed in the pleasures and very superficial aspects of this world and do not pay attention to the time that is quickly passing. Eventually, the years pass by, and one arrives in the World to Come emptyhanded, having nothing to show for their stay in this world.
This is not the case, however, with the wise man who possesses a great deal of foresight. In this world, he works in order to send ahead a treasure of mitzvos and good deeds, which will stand in his merit on the day of accounting. Sadly, “for those who despise wisdom and instruction are miserable. Their hope is vain, their labors are unprofitable, and their works are useless.” (Wisdom 3:11). “Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13)
Those who live their faith shall know blessings and bring good tidings to this world and the next
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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Holy Challah – a Story, Some Prayers and a Recipe
Every Shabbos and Yom Tov (holiday), except Pesach (Passover), Jewish women prepare and bake challahs. It is a a holy task filled with love and tradition. Every ingredient is gathered with the intent of elevating the festival meal to a higher level.
Women through the many generations in their preparations of bread/challah have elevated the Shabbos and Yom Tov tables to the level of the mizbeach (alter) in the Bais haMikdash (Holy Temple). With the destruction of the Bais haMikdash, the altar became the table at which the family gathered to eat its meals. We learn that “In the days of the Temple, the altar served to atone for us; now it is our table that atones for us.” (Chagiga 27a).
So one may ask, how is making challah holy?
Prayers and rituals have come down to us from countless women. Every step in the preparation of challah elevates plain bread into a holy source of spiritual nourishment. The Torah (Scriptures) speaks of the creation of mankind saying, “then the L-rd G-d formed man from the dust of the earth, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7) It is important to realize that when the Holy One, blessed be He “formed man from the dust of the earth”, He created people from the physical world. When He “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” He created people from elements of the spiritual realm. At this point something truly amazing happened, “and the man became a living being.”
In other words people exist in the physical world and the spiritual world and have the ability to take the mundane everyday stuff from the physical world and elevate it to a spiritual and holy level.
Challah, Prayers and Meditation
INGREDIENTS
4-1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting |
1/4 cup olive oil |
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1 tablespoon yeast |
3-6 tablespoons sugar or honey |
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2 teaspoons salt |
4 eggs, at room temperature |
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1/2 cup lukewarm water |
1 egg yolk, at room temperature |
DIRECTIONS AND PRAYERS
Before Beginning to prepare the challah say:
Thank you Hashem for all the blessings you have given me and my family. Thank-you for always protecting us and doing what is best for us.
Please Hashem help me prepare this challah with holiness and love.
Pour 4 1/4 cups of flour into a large bowl and say:
Please Hashem help me to separate the good from the bad, help me to get rid of my negative character traits and my Yetzer Hara, help me to focus on the positive and incorporate positive character traits so that I may be an example to my family.
Combine 2 teaspoons of salt with the flour
In a separate bowl wisk together 4 eggs, ½ cup of water and ¼ cup olive oil until well blended.
Add sugar or honey to taste and say:
Please Hashem, help me to have a sweet din(judgement) help me to have Ayin Tova ( a good eye) help me and my family to have a sweet life, to always be able to love. Help me to help others and to do chesed (acts of loving kindness).
Mix well and then add 1 tablespoon of yeast and say:
Help me to have simcha and nachas (happiness and joy) in my home and in my life. Grant us your protection (as yeast in Hebrew is called shimarim which translates to protection) now and always. Please Hashem, allow me to feel joy for others as well. Bless me with an inner peace so I can continue doing mitzvos for those around me.
Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and knead until you have a sticky dough that clings to the bottom of the bowl, (5 to 7 minutes). The dough may seem a bit wet and sticky but have faith—it’s supposed to be.
Dust your hands generously with flour, then scrape the sticky, elastic dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Dust the top of the dough lightly with flour and knead briefly into a soft, smooth ball. Lightly grease a large bowl with oil or nonstick cooking spray. Place the dough in the bowl, flip it over once so the top is lightly oiled, and then cover the bowl with a damp dish towel. Allow the dough to rise in a warm, draft-free spot until it’s puffy and doubled in size, 2 to 3 hours. (see note below)
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and dust with flour. It will deflate.
Pinch off a piece of dough the size of a large olive and set aside.
Cut the dough into four even pieces, and then stretch and roll each piece into a rope about 16 – 20-inches long. Lay the ropes parallel to one another (vertically). Pinch them tightly together at the top, and then fan them out. If the ropes shrink a bit, just work them back into their original length.
Begin by taking the strand farthest to the right and weave it toward the left through the other strands using this pattern: over, under, over. Take the strand furthest to the right and repeat the weaving pattern again: over, under, over. Repeat this pattern, always starting with the strand farthest to the right, until the whole loaf is braided. Tuck the ends under to give the loaf a finished look.
Carefully transfer the braided loaf to a lightly oiled baking sheet. Cover the loaf loosely with a damp towel and let it rise in a warm, draft-free spot until about 1 1/2 times the size (1 to 2 hours). Toward the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. (Note that the loaf will continue to rise significantly in the oven.)
Take the small piece of challah dough and say:
Baruch ata adonoy eloheinu Melech haOlam asher kideshanu b’mitzvosav v’tzivanu l’hafrish challah.
Blessed are You O L-rd our G-d King of the Universe who has made us holy with His commandments, and commanded us to separate challah.
“May it be Your Will, Eternal, our G-d, that the commandment of separating challah be considered as if I had performed it with all its details and ramifications. May my elevation of the challah be comparable to the sacrifice that was offered on the altar, which was acceptable and pleasing. Just as giving the challah to the Kohein in former times served to atone for sins, so may it atone for mine and my family, and make me like a person reborn without sins. May it enable me to observe the holy Sabbath (or Festival of…) with my husband (and our children) and to become imbued with its holiness. May the spiritual influence of the mitzvah of challah enable our children to be constantly sustained by the hands of the Holy One, blessed is He, with His abundant mercy, loving-kindness, and love. Consider the mitzvah of challah as if I have given the tithe. And just as I am fulfilling this mitzvah with all my heart, so may Your compassion be aroused to keep me from sorrow and pain, always.
Wrap it in a piece of foil and set in the oven.
In a small bowl, beat the remaining egg and brush the beaten egg generously over the risen dough. (Note: If you like, sprinkle poppy or sesame seeds onto the challah before putting it in the oven.) Place the baking sheet atop another baking sheet; this will prevent the bottom crust from browning too much. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until the crust is a rich brown color and the internal temperature is between 190°F and 200°F on an instant-read thermometer. Remove the bread from the oven and place it on a rack to cool. Challah is best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers will keep for a few days in a sealed plastic bag.
Note: When baking yeast breads, rising times are only a guide; the temperature in your kitchen, the humidity level outdoors, and how you knead the dough will all affect the rising time.
While the Challah is baking add a short prayer:
Ribbono shel olam, Master of the Universe. I beg You that when the (husband or man of the house) says the blessing over these challahs, he has the same holy intentions I have now when I’m kneading and baking them!
Husband and wife are partners in the Jewish spiritual quest of becoming holy. Traditionally, the woman bakes the challahs for Shabbos and Yom Tov, and the man makes the blessing over them at the table. If both have holy intentions, in the baking and the blessing, the bread flies up to heaven as it is eaten.
May your prayers ascend to the highest levels and be answered with joy and 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
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A Lesson from a Thief
Tam and Chacham were learning together once when they came upon the pasuk (verse) in parsha Kedoshim (portion of holiness): “you shall not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor.” (Leviticus 19:16). This speaks about the holy obligation of saving one from prison or captivity, for terrible things could befall them.
Chacham explained in great detail the importance of ransoming captives. He emphasized that the redemption of captives precedes sustaining the poor and clothing them, and there is no mitzvah as great as redeeming captives. (Shulchan Arukh, Yoreh De’ah 252:3)
Tam reminded Chacham: “that the most important thing is that no matter what one does, ‘all depends on deeds’ (Pirke Avos 3:15). For study without practice does not enrich one. ‘Anyone who undertakes to fulfill faithfully one precept is worthy of the Holy Spirit’ ” (Mekilta to Exodus 14:31)
Chacham listened to what Tom said and thought for a brief moment and countered that: “one should never expose themselves to danger. A miracle may not occur. (Shabbos 32a). In other words, when one is in danger. One must not rely on miracles (Yevamos 121b), so there is no need to leave the safety and security of the house of study.”
Tam replied to Chacham, “Every moment that one delays in freeing captives, in cases where it is possible to expedite their freedom, is considered to be tantamount to murder.” (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 252:3)
Tam and Chacham set out together to collect money for the special mitzvah of pidyon shvuyim (redemption of captives). They traveled through many towns and villages, but were very unsuccessful in their efforts. They soon grew sad and very disappointed. Tam wondered out loud: “surely I have done something wrong, but I don’t know what it is.” Chacham added: “this has been a tremendous waste of time, I could have stayed where I was and devoted my time to prayer and study. It would have been better for me to remain in the house of study. I shall return at once.”
As Chacham was preparing to leave, a thief was captured and dragged through the streets. The thief was being pelted by rotten vegetables and an occasional stone. Tam said to the thief: “look what you have brought upon yourself. You are publicly shamed and I hope that you will give up your thieving ways.”
The thief straightened himself up, and stood at his full height, took a deep breath and responded: “what do you mean, shamed? If I failed today, I will try tomorrow, and then the day after. I will keep trying until I succeed.”
Tam and Chacham were stunned by the shameless reply of the thief.
The more Tam thought about what the thief said he began to realize that the thief had actually taught him a lesson — to succeed in doing a mitzvah and to have faith that if I am unsuccessful today, I shall succeed tomorrow.”
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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Why Do the Trees Whistle?
Tu biShvat – The new Years of the Trees is a holiday that is often minimalized. It is much more than merely the “Jewish Arbor Day” as it is frequently referred to by modern thinkers. It is a celebration of trees. It is hard from many to understand that trees are central in Jewish thought, which closely relates to man’s relationship with the natural environment, the understanding of Torah (Scriptures), Jewish ethics and the Jewish lifestyle and life cycle.
There are two kinds of trees. One kind of tree bears fruit that is good to eat, whereas the other, the pine trees, grow fruit that can’t be eaten.
When the wind blows and passes among the trees the pine trees whistle in a loud voice. However, the fruit trees are quiet and can hardly be heard.
The fruit trees were asked: “Why don’t you make a noise when wind blows? Why don’t you whistle like the pine trees?”
The fruit trees answered: “We have heavy and tasty fruit. We can’t sway in the wind, for we might damage our fruit. We don’t have to make a noise
because even when we are quiet, people come to us to enjoy our fruit”.
The pine trees were asked: “Why do you whistle and make a noise when the wind blows? Why aren’t you quite like the fruit trees?’’
The pine trees answered: “We have light fruit that can’t be eaten. We sway with every little breeze. If we did not whistle and make a noise – no one would pay attention to us or see us…”
People are like that too. Those who are good and wise, and are liked by all, are quiet and modest. They voice their opinions quietly and peacefully. But, people who are empty and foolish, and have nothing to offer – they shout and speak in the loudest of voices so that all will pay attention to them. If they did not scream – they would not be seen.
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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Distractions
Throughout a person’s entire life, his yetzer hara – evil inclination lies in ambush. It attempts to steer them away from the path of holiness and goodness. One must use every method at their disposal in order to defeat the evil inclination.
This can be compared to two countries that had been waging a terrible war for many years. One day the king of one of the countries decreed that whoever could settle their longstanding quarrel and restore peace between them would be handsomely rewarded; the person would be deserving of spending an hour inside the king’s Treasury, free to take whatever their heart desired.
Some time afterward, a wise man approached the king and suggested a wonderful plan to end the seemingly unending war. The king followed the wise man’s advice, and soon peace was restored between the two countries. As promised, a day was set for the wise man to come to the palace in order to collect his reward.
As the day drew nearer, the king became worried and very concerned. During that one hour, it was possible that the wise man could claim many of the king’s most treasured items. Troubled by this thought, the king asked his counselors for advice.
“Your Highness,” said one of the counselors, “it has become known to that this man really enjoys music. What I suggest is that you place the kingdom’s finest musicians inside the royal treasury. When the man enters to claim his reward, the musicians will begin to play; he will be mesmerized by the beautiful music which will take his mind away from the royal treasures.”
The king was very pleased with the shrewd advice, and the plan was set into action.
When the man arrived at the palace, the massive doors to the treasury room were opened before him. He requested permission to enter, and it was granted, but as soon he stepped into the treasury he was frozen in place, captivated by the wonderful music, the man stood there for a moment, but immediately reminded himself why he was there in the first place. The man collected his thoughts and dashed for the inner chamber of the treasury.
He began searching through the treasures but was once again distracted by the music.
He decided to listen to the fascinating melodies for only a brief moment. But one moment turned into two, and two into three.
“Don’t forget why you’ve come here!” he scolded himself. The music was just so pleasant to listen to, until finally he heard the officer of the treasury announced, “The hour has passed and your time has passed”.
“But” sadly answered the man, “I haven’t taken anything yet.”
“Nothing that you say now will do you any good,” replied the officer. “The time allotted by the king has passed!” And so, the man returned home, heartbroken, and disappointed over his missed opportunity that he let slip away by allowing his thoughts to be distracted.
Every person received an extraordinary gift from the Holy One, blessed be He. Throughout one’s lifetime on this world, they have the opportunity to gather good deeds and blessings.
Along comes the wicked advisor the yetzer hara (evil inclination) which tempts one with many different amusements that draws a person’s heart away from the Torah (Scriptures), holy writings and the performance of good deeds.
When the time eventually arrives for one to stand before the Heavenly Court, they sadly become aware how they wasted their precious time listening to meaningless “melodies.”
By then, unfortunately, it will be far too late.
It is so important that every individual to constantly remind themselves every day and every hour of their purpose in this world. They must not allow the yetzer hara – evil inclination to distract them from studying the Torah (Scriptures), holy writings and fulfilling its precepts and good deeds. Each person has the ability to aspire to goodness and holiness. One needs to live and practice what is learned from the Torah (Scriptures), holy writings and fulfilling its precepts and performing good deeds.
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)