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)

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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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