Shabbos (the Sabbath) is a Wellspring of Blessing and a Healing

It was early winter and the cold winds were blowing, a young mother took her feverish child to the doctor at the other end of the village.

She waited until called in and the doctor checked the child who seemed to be very sick. After some time the doctor explained to the young mother, “I am sorry, there is nothing I can do for your child. He is very sick.”

The woman left the doctor’s office and was crying softly as she made her way back to her home. “Why are you crying?” asked an older woman. The young mother explained that her child was very sick and the doctor had given up on healing him. The young mother’s heart was broken and she hoped and prayed that her child would get better.

“Why don’t you go to the holy rabbi that lives in the nearby forest? If you leave now, and follow the path, you’ll find him soon.” The young mother thanked the older woman and listened to her advice.

The trees grew tall and the forest was filled with many strange and frightening things. The young mother held her child tight and began to walk the path. She heard the sounds of animals and it frightened her. She kept walking until she saw in a clearing a small shack. She ran towards it and knocked on the door.

The holy rabbi answered the door and invited the young mother to sit by a table. He brought her a cup of hot tea and asked her if she was hungry. The young mother politely declined the holy rabbi’s offer of food. The young mother broke down crying and with a pleading voice she said, “Please, my baby is ill can you give a bracha (blessing) that he will recover?”

She stood before the great holy rabbi holding her baby in her hands. The holy rabbi took the baby into his arms and comforted the mother:

“Vein nisht mein tuchteral, (don’t cry my daughter), if you agree to always have your Shabbos table set with fresh challah and Kiddush wine early and light your Shabbos neiros (Sabbath candles) early as well, Shabbos which brings bracha will most definitely heal your child.”

The young mother thanked the holy rabbi and accepted upon herself to honor Shabbos by greeting it early and lighting the candles early as well.

Some months later when she brought the child back to the doctor for another visit, the doctor exclaimed: “This cannot be the same child that I saw a few months ago, he is a healthy boy, while the other child was ill.”

Shabbos which brings bracha (blessing) had indeed brought bracha and a refuah shleima (complete healing) to the child.

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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