anWhoever is kind to the poor lends to the L-rd and he will reward them for what they have done. (Proverbs., 19:17)
Once there was a very wealthy man who was always ready to help anyone in need. He was very successful and for many years all went well with him and his dear ones. “The world is like a fountain-wheel. the buckets ascend full and descend empty — Who’s rich today may not be so tomorrow.” (Exodus Rabbah 31:14) After some time, his business slowly began to fail, and the wealthy man lost his entire fortune.
To provide for the daily needs of his wife and children, he worked in the fields as a laborer and was paid by the day. The work was long and hard, but a good heart and a willing spirit enabled him to overcome all hardships. He even spared a coin of his wages to help those who were in a worse plight than he found himself.
Now it happened one day while he was ploughing a field when a stranger approached and greeted him, saying, “Peace be to you and to all your house.”
He replied, ” Peace be also to you and yours.”
The stranger then continued, ” Friend, I come to tell you that you are destined to regain your fortune and to live in prosperity for a period of six years during your life here on earth. It is yours to choose when this period shall begin; shall it be now or later in life? “
Astonished at the strange words that he had heard, the laborer looked at the stranger to see if he was dreaming. ” Good stranger,” he answered “are you a prophet or a magician that you speak in this way? I fear you are as poor as I am. Go your way in peace, for I cannot help you today, for I am penniless at the moment. I should be happy to give you some coin for your happy news and well wishes, but I cannot give what I do not have. Go in peace and may Heaven send you blessings.”
The stranger went away and the labourer continued his work without thinking any more of the strange meeting. After a short time, the stranger returned and repeated the offer, only to be refused. When, the stranger returned a third time he urged the unwilling labourer to accept his gift by believing in the promise. The poor worker, tired from his hard daily struggle in the fields, at last consented to speak with his wife before deciding. A glimmer of hope in the possibility of the promise had touched him to his very core.
” Perhaps, after all,” he thought, ” the Master of Mercy has sent this messenger to help me in my distress and now the poverty that has harassed me and my dear ones will be replaced by wealth and success.”
He ran home as quickly as his legs would carry him and told his wife all that happened. The man told his wife about how the stranger kept coming to him. He said to his wife, ” If we believe that the stranger is speaking the truth and that I am to be rich for a period of six years, when do you advise me to choose our time of prosperity – now or later in life? “
After a moment’s consideration she advised her husband, “Now, now” Her husband returned to the field without further delay and found the stranger waiting for his decision. When the laborer told him his wish to enjoy there and then the promised wealth and prosperity, the stranger opened his purse and took out two silver coins.
“Here, my friend,” he said, “take these two silver coins and return them to me in six years when I return to you. Do not forget I shall require my two silver coins to be restored to me when I come to claim it.”
After the laborer received the coins, he thanked the stranger and promised to return the gift as agreed. In a second, the stranger disappeared.
“Very strange,” he observed “there is some mystery about this stranger, he seems to come from nowhere and to return to the same place.”
No sooner had the labourer placed the silver coins in his pocket than he felt a sudden change coming over him. His sadness and sorrow melted way and a new feeling of happiness, and confidence arose in his heart. He bowed his head and thanked the Holy One, blessed be He for His blessings.
Meanwhile, wonderful events were happening in his home. His eldest son was planting the garden at the back of their house, when he saw gold glittering in the sunlight. He dug deeper and deeper and found a treasure that had been lying hidden there all the years of their poverty. The young man cried aloud in his joy. His mother and his brothers came to see what the confusion was about. As soon as she saw what was happening, she sent her youngest son to his father. She instructed her son, “Do not fail to tell him that the Holy One, blessed be He has given us back our fortune.”
The pious man and his good wife decided to make good use of their wealth as long as it was entrusted to their care. They were very happy because they could now assist the less fortunate. The wife said to her good husband, ” My dear, we must not forget that our good fortune will not last forever. We are to be wealthy for six years. During this time we shall feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and assist the needy. We shall be happy in realizing that we have made good use of our trust.”
The husband said, “Indeed, ‘a lesson of kindness is on your tongue. (Proverbs 31:26)”
The youngest son was told by his mother to keep an account of their own expenses and an account of the money given in to help others.
The six years passed quickly. One day the stranger came to their house, and after receiving a warm welcome turned to his host and said, “The six years have passed, and I have come to ask you to return my two silver coins.”
The holy man said, “Your request is quite fair and just. Yet, before I return the silver coins allow me to consult my wife before I return your coins.”
The man turned to his wife and asked her, ” Beloved wife, please advise me how am I to repay our debt to our generous benefactor here? “
” Let me,” she cried, ” settle accounts with him.” Turning to him she said, “I will show you how we have spent the fortune entrusted to our care through your kindness. Behold the account books.”
The kind stranger looked with deep interest at the long lists recording the money spent in charity. ” You have indeed,” he responded, “spent plenty of money.”
The wife continued, ” if you do believe for a moment that your money might be entrusted to better guardians, take away then your gift. If, on the other hand, you are satisfied with the way we have used the wealth placed in our care, then let us continue to hold our trust.”
The stranger agreed with the couple and explained, “He who donates much to those in need become richer because of it, since he opens up a channel for Hashem’s blessing to reach him. (Zohar III 110b)
The stranger was Eliyahu haNovi (Elijah the Prophet), zichrona l’brachah – may his memory be a blessing, blessed the good couple and told them enjoy the wealth they knew so well how to use. In a moment, he left and the happy couple kept his coins and passed them onto their eldest son as a family heirloom.
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)
