A Tale of True Friendship

Posted on Thursday, 17, October, 2013Saturday, 16, December, 2023 by Rabbi

He who finds a faithful friend finds a treasure.

ben Sira 6:14

Once there were two merchants, one in Egypt and one in Babylon. They knew of one another but had never met in person. It came to pass that the Babylonian merchant once traveled to Egypt and when the Egyptian merchant heard of the arrival of his friend, he met him and brought him into his home. The Egyptian merchant treated his friend as though he was a member of his household and made feasts in his honour.

After sometime the Babylonian merchant became sick and his sickness worsened each day. The host brought the best of doctors and healers of Egypt. The doctors examined him, but could not recognize any of the sicknesses they knew. An old wise man told them that the sickness was not of the body, but of the heart, for the bedridden merchant was lovesick. When his host was told that his friend was ailing because of his love of a woman, he came to him and asked whether he loved any woman in his house. The sick merchant answered: “Show me all the women in your house and I shall show you the one who has captured my heart.” So the merchant showed him all his daughters but he did not choose any of them. The merchant had a young woman in his home who was very beautiful and who he hoped to marry. He brought her into the sick man’s room when the sick merchant saw her, he said: “This most beautiful of women is my life or death.” When his host heard these words, he prepared a fine wedding and gave his friend and wife much money and many gifts.

The world is like a water wheel: the buckets ascend full and descend empty. Who’s rich today may not be so tomorrow (Exodus Rabbah 31:14) and so it came about in due course that the wheel of fortune turned and the Egyptian merchant lost all his money and became very poor. “I shall go to my dear friend,” he sadly whispered to himself, “and I will ask him to take pity on me.” So he sadly set out to journey to his friend’s home in his tattered clothes. He arrived in Babylon at night but was afraid to go to his friend’s home for fear that he would not recognize him and would send him away, seeing him poor and needy.

He stayed in an old house outside of the city. While he was lying there reflecting over all that had happened to him, he lost hope. Suddenly he heard two men quarreling, and one of them killed the other and ran away. The murderer was pursued throughout the city, and guards came to the old house to see if the murderer was there. They found the Egyptian alone and asked him: “Who killed the man?” And he answered: “I did.” For he wished to die rather than to live in poverty, distress and shame.

He was arrested and put in prison. In the morning they brought him before the judges who sentenced him to die by hanging. They led him to the gallows tree. Many people came to see justice done, and among them was his merchant friend, for whose sake he had come to Babylon. The Babylonian merchant recognized his friend from Egypt and remembered all the favors he had done for him. He knew that he could never repay him for all of his success and happiness. So he said to the judges: “Why are you doing this? This man should not be sentenced to death. Where are you taking him? It was not he who did the killing but I did.

When the judges heard this, they arrested him and led him to the gallows tree. Now the true murderer was among the people and nobody recognized him. He watched all that was being done and thought to himself: “I killed the man, and now an innocent man will be punished? There must surely be a reason for this from the L-rd. The Holy One, blessed be He is just, and there is no evil in His ways nor any advantage to wickedness. Are we not taught ‘No one who practices deceit shall remain in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue in my presence.’ (Psalm 101:7) I fear that I may face a far harsher death than this. So I shall confess my crime and atone for myself and save this man from death.’ “

So the murderer came before the judges and cried in a loud voice: “Honest and faithful people, do not do evil in judgment and let not an innocent man be slain in place of a guilty one.” The confused judges asked, How are we to judge true when so many come forward and confess guilt?” The murderer answered, “The world stands on three things: on truth, on justice, and on peace, as is said, Execute truth, justice, and peace within your gates (Zechariah 8:16). when justice is done, truth is achieved, and peace is established. (Pirkei Avos 1:18; Y.Tamid 4:2, 68a). In truth, be it known to you that neither of these honorable men slew the murdered man. Know that one preferred death to life, while the other could not merely tell you to let him go so he said that he had murdered the man. The reason being that he loves his friend and their souls are entwined together as in the ancient days when “the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. (I Samuel 18:1). Indeed, honourable judges, let him go and let no innocent man be slain. I killed him and it is better for me to perish in this world and not in the next.”

When the judges heard the words of the murderer, they let the merchant go and they led the murderer to the gallows tree.

Then the Babylonian merchant came and brought the Egyptian merchant to his home and gave him garments and clothed him. The Babylonian honored him and made him master of his entire household, and gave him control over whatever was his.

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)

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The Blessing of a Greeting

Posted on Thursday, 3, October, 2013Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The act of saying shalom to another person can be interpreted in a couple of ways. Many believe that by simply saying shalom to another person. We are really asking, “are you at peace? Is everything okay?” By extending the greeting of shalom (peace), one shows empathy and offers the recipient of the greeting the opportunity to speak openly and at times, invent invite them to ask for help. Others believe that by extending the greeting of shalom. There is no question. They believe that we are bringing a blessing down from heaven bless the person with shalom (peace), and in this way, praying that everything should be well with the recipient of the greeting and all those close and dear to them.

Sadly, today most people do not have either of these intentions in mind when they greet one another. Their only intention is to acknowledge that they are aware of the other person’s presence, or to introduce a conversation.

The word “shalom” is a reference to the Holy One, blessed be He and should be taken very seriously. By greeting someone with shalom, one is extending a sincere blessing of peace and also invites blessings from heaven. This is learned from Abraham. When God assured him, “I will bless those who bless you.” (Genesis 12:3)

Greeting people with shalom (peace) is an aspect of “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). The importance of this greeting is further in the words of King David “seek peace and pursue it” (Psalms 34:14).

Throughout Jewish teachings it is taught that one should do their best to initiate greeting others. The act of extending a friendly, sincere greeting is so important that the rabbis of old taught, “one should act in peace with one’s brothers, relatives, and all others, even non-Jewish people one meets along the way. In this way one will be beloved in Heaven and well liked on Earth.” (Berachos 17a)

The holy rabbi had a habit of taking long walks through the forests near Esztergom (Hungary) where he would study and pray. He was well known to the many people he met by his smile and kindly ways. Everyone he met along his walks he would give a warm greeting. Every morning on his way to the forest he would pass a farm and greet its owner “Jó reggelt kívánok László úr (Good morning Mr. Laszlo).” At first the farmer ignored the rabbi and even turned his back on him, but the rabbi greeted him always with a smile and in a friendly way. One day the farmer returned the rabbi’s greeting with a slight nod of his head. After a time, the farmer would smile and nod at the rabbi, one day Mr. Laszlo asked the rabbi always greeted him.

The rabbi explained that the Torah teaches that we are to love your neighbor as yourself. Mr. Laszlo looked at the rabbi quizzically and asked what is Torah. The rabbi answered, “Torah it is the Jewish Scriptures.” The farmer was more confused and responded, “I heard from the priest that Jewish people don’t read the Scriptures and that the Gospel Matthew said that. (Matthew 19:19)” The rabbi patiently explained, “The Torah is older than the Scriptures the priest teaches from, but the teaching can be found in the Book of Leviticus. Leviticus 19:18)” Mr. Laszlo smiled and extended his hand to the rabbi and said, “I guess I have much to learn.”

Soon many refugees from Bohemia came to Esztergom in those dark days ahead of the Crusaders and the rabbi was not seen by the farmer. The Crusaders were drunk on blood and fell upon any Jewish person they could find. They even attacked the people in Esztergom to rob them of their food and valuables.

The farmer, afraid they might storm the church itself, ran to the church in the center of the town. He met with the priest and asked him if it was a sin to like a Jewish person. The priest explained, “The Jewish people do not share our beliefs, but we are taught by our Holy Scriptures that one of the most important lessons we need to learn is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39). Why do you ask me this at this time?”

Mr. Laszlo told the priest how the rabbi greeted him each time he walked to the forest. The priest smiled and said, “The rabbi is indeed a holy man and he is here in the church. Would you like me to take you to him?” The farmer was surprised and asked why was the rabbi in the church. The Priest said only two words, “Sicut Judæis” (A papal decree intended to protect the Jewish communities from the excesses of the Crusaders. The Pope emphasized that Jews were entitled to “enjoy their lawful liberty.”) The priest continued, “We will protect them to the best of our ability. Now follow me into the catacombs”

The rabbi was teaching some children when he saw the grim faced priest approach. “Béke legyen veletek (Peace be unto you). Has the time come?” The priest smiled as Mr. Lazslo came from behind his red robes and said, “Good morning rabbi.”

Suddenly there was the sound of shouts and the attack began. The priest and the farmer ran to defend the church, the Jewish people hidden in the catacombs, and the holy rabbi. As far as the eye could see were Crusaders who demanded that the priest surrender all the Jewish people within the church walls. “No, they are under my protection!” was the only answer given. The horde pushed forward to storm the church, when a blast from a war horn was heard. For a moment there was silence as the Crusaders believed that more had joined in their attack. A second blast of the war horn was followed by a hail of arrows towards the Crusaders, the army of King Coloman of Hungary had arrived.

The rabbi and the Jewish people of Esztergom were spared from the carnage of the day by a simple greeting, shalom.

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)

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The Rabbi and the Sheikh

Posted on Sunday, 29, January, 2012Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

There was a holy rabbi who lived in the city of Damascus. He was a righteous man, perfect in his faith, and so well versed in all the seven wisdoms that there was no one to compare with him in that generation except a certain Ishmaelite sheikh who had a complete knowledge of the six wisdoms. The Ishmaelite surpassed the wise rabbi in one way: Anyone who had a sick person in his family used to go to the sheikh and beg him to pray for the sick. The sheikh would pray alone for about half an hour and would then say: “This one will live and that one die.” When the holy rabbi heard this, he was astonished and asked: “Can this Ishmaelite sheikh really be more holy and pure than I am, for the Books of Life and Death to be revealed to him? Do I not serve the L-rd and engage in His Holy Word and commandments all day long? Why could not I be like this Ishmaelite?”

So the rabbi called the beadle of the community and charged him: “Go to the sheikh and tell him: The rabbi has heard of your good name and wishes to visit and greet you, if you will permit him.” Now this Ishmaelite was greater than all the princes, and all the great princes used to send him gifts so that they would merit seeing him; they would come and prostrate themselves before him to obtain his blessing, while he never emerged from his palace and never showed himself to the ordinary people at all.

The beadle of the community went to the sheikh and repeated all that the rabbi had said to him, and the sheikh replied: “I have also heard what a wise man your holy rabbi is and wish to see him. Go and tell him that he may certainly come without delay.”

The beadle went back to the holy rabbi and told him the words of the sheikh; and he left to see the sheikh.

As soon as the sheikh saw him, he saw a new friend. The sheikh welcomed the rabbi with much honor and courtesy, gave him a seat and asked about his health. As they spoke, the sheikh asked the rabbi: “I have heard that you are a wise man, do you know anything about mystical wisdom?” The rabbi answered: “The Holy One, blessed be He has granted me a little of that knowledge.” The sheikh and the rabbi shared much wisdom and grew close to one another. They would meet once every week.

When the rabbi visited the sheikh they would speak of matters of wisdom until the sheikh realized that the rabbi was fully versed in all the seven branches of wisdom. Then he requested the rabbi to teach him that branch which he did not know. The rabbi answered: “I shall teach you if you teach me another branch of wisdom.” And the sheikh asked: “Which one is that?”

The rabbi answered: “I refer to your ability to pray for the sick so that the Books of Life and Death are open to you. That is a branch of knowledge I do not possess. If you instruct me concerning this, then I shall teach you the branch of knowledge that is hidden from you.”

The sheikh sadly replied, “You ask something very difficult and I cannot possibly reveal this to any creature in the world.” “Nor is it possible that I can reveal the wisdom and knowledge that is hidden to you” responded the rabbi. “Be it as you say, but it will be too difficult for you, and I fear that you will not be able to perform it” added the sheikh. The rabbi thought for a moment and assured the sheikh, “I am prepared to undertake even the most difficult task, and I shall do whatever you tell me.”

“Very well go home, and prepare yourself for a fast of two consecutive days. While you are fasting, immerse yourself every morning and evening and be very cautious in your deeds and in the meal that follows take care not to eat meat or drink wine. After you have eaten, go and immerse yourself again and put on white linen” instructed the sheikh.

When the rabbi heard the words of the sheikh, he eagerly replied: “I shall do what you say.” “Then go in peace, and come back on the third day and I shall tell you this great secret.” The rabbi went home and did all the sheikh had told him. He immersed himself and put on white garments; he did this during the two days of his fasting. He continued to fast on the third night, too. After he finished praying next morning, he went to the sheikh, who hurried to meet him and said: “Enter, blessed of the L-rd, for from your face it is clear that you have done all I told you.” “I am still fasting,” said the rabbi. “You are doing well,” said the sheikh, “and now come with me and I shall show you this secret.

So the rabbi followed the sheikh to a certain chamber, the key of which he never entrusted to anybody. The sheikh opened the door and both entered together, closing the door behind them so that no other person might approach. In the room there was another doorway by which they entered into a most beautiful orchard. In the middle was a cistern full of fresh water which came from the rivers Abana and Pharpar (see II Kings 5:12). Beside this pool was a bench on which were prepared two robes, one for the rabbi and the other for the sheikh. The sheikh said to the rabbi: “Let us take off our clothes and immerse ourselves before we approach the hallowed place.” So they took off their clothes and both immersed themselves within the pool. Then they changed their clothes and went together to the far end of the orchard, the rabbi wondering all the while what would happen. When he raised his eyes, he saw a most beautifully constructed building with pure silver doors on which all kinds of fine drawings, the like of which is not to be found in royal palaces. When the sheikh went to open the doors of this building, he told the rabbi: “Take care to enter this house in fear and trembling, and whatever you see me do, do the same.” Then he opened the door, and the rabbi saw a magnificent hall and facing it a small and most beautiful shrine, in front of which was a curtain embroidered with wondrous jewels and pearls. The sheikh entered the hall trembling and prostrated himself seven times towards the shrine. The rabbi trembled exceedingly and wondered whether there could be some idol or other pagan object of worship there. He closed his eyes, and said the words of the Psalm (16:8): “I have set the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”

Then he too prostrated himself as the sheikh had done, and a great awe descended on him.

And the sheikh said to him in a low voice and a broken heart: “Approach this shrine and open it, and there you will find what you seek.” The rabbi at once approached and opened the doors of the shrine, which were made of purest gold and encrusted with precious stones. Within the shrine he saw a most perfect and most beautiful tablet on which was engraved the shape of the Menorah in a very beautiful fashion. Above it was written in Hebrew: “I have set the Lord always before me!” And the letters of the Name of the L-rd were very large indeed. When the rabbi saw this, he rejoiced very much because he had not prostrated himself for no purpose. He stepped backwards and prostrated himself, and they both went out together.

Then the rabbi said to the sheikh: “You told me that I would find what I am seeking there, yet nothing more was revealed to me than what I saw.” The sheikh answered: “Brother, you should know that those large letters which you saw are the Name of that One who spoke and the world came about. When somebody comes to entreat me to pray for a sick person in his home, I immerse myself and in fear and trembling I enter this building you have seen. There I pray before the shrine, and after the prayer is over I open its door. If I see that the letters of the Holy Name are bright and shining, I know that the person will live. But if I see cloud and mist around the Name, I know that he must die. Now consider my affection for you, my brother, if I have revealed to you what I have never revealed to any other man.”

When the rabbi returned home he wept bitterly, saying: “Woe unto us for every day we pray, yet an Ishmaelite knows the holiness of the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He. This sheikh has achieved all this great honor, yet he fears and dreads the hour when he enters into the presence of the Holy Name. Alas, as for us, what shall we answer and say, since we ought to do far more than this and indeed be filled with trembling when we utter the Name of the L-rd.”

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, O L-rd, my Rock, and my Redeemer. (Psalms 19:14)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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One Small Tafetta

Posted on Sunday, 8, May, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

There was peace between Sultan Muhammad, king of the Turks, and his father-in-law Demetrius, king of the Morea. Sultan Muhammad sent many gifts of precious stones and pearls aplenty as befits a king to Demetrius his father-in-law because of his love for his daughter. Then Demetrius sent back to his son-in-law a certain fine golden chest that was closed and doubly sealed with his seals. And he ordered his messenger that nobody was to open the chest except the king himself. And he sent him a certain letter, saying, “Thank you, indeed. Your kindness and goodness have reached me and restore my soul; and now let my lord receive this blessing from your servant. So says Demetrius, who seeks your peace and well-being.”

The sultan was astonished at this closed and sealed golden chest and said to himself, “Maybe it contains precious stones and jewels which are few in number but of high quality and value.” So he opened the chest and in it he found one little taffeta.

The sultan was infuriated at this gift and said to his people, “Do you see how this unbelieving wretch repays me, mocking me and sending me this single herb!” And he showed the taffeta to all his ministers and attendants. They were astonished but feared to say anything; and the king instructed his people, “Prepare food and swords, for in seven days’ time we shall go to war against him, since he considers that I am worthless.”

Now the following day the holy Rabbi Eliyahu Mizrachi was seated and learning, as was his custom. And the sultan sent for him and told him what had happened and showed him the herb. The sage inspected it with his wondrous wisdom and saw that this matter was of Hashem. And he said unto the sultan, “My lord sultan, listen to me, for you are a wise man and a mighty ruler. He has not sent you this without reason. What have your ministers and attendants said of it?”

“They did not say anything,” said the king.

Then the rabbi explained, “This small amount here is worth more than all the silver and gold and precious stones and pearls in the world. For my lord the sultan has sent him money, but he has sent my lord something that can deliver you from evil. For when my lord goes to hunt or in some place where there are wild and savage beasts, take the taffeta with you. As soon as any evil beast smells it, they will fall apart limb from limb. And the way to test it is to take it to a place where there are evil beasts.”

So a man whom the king held to be his enemy went and slept with it beneath him in a dangerous place. When he and the others who were with him woke up in the morning, they found that the wild beasts were scattered limb from limb.

And when the sultan saw the wisdom of the rabbi, he gave praises to the Holy One, blessed be He. And it was a sign and a wonder.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Faith: The King and the Storm

Posted on Tuesday, 27, April, 2010Sunday, 25, September, 2022 by Rabbi

There are many levels of faith one must face daily. As one travels his path, the world affects his faith. Sometimes one uses their beliefs to insulate themselves from the world. This does not build faith.

There once was a king who loved to go hunting. One day the king gathered his friends and advisers to go hunting. They followed many trails and paths through the woodland.

In late afternoon skies dark and the skies were streaked by lightning and the thunder roared as heavy rain fell in torrents. The wind blew strong the king’s friends and advisers scattered in all directions leaving the king alone. The king was afraid as he had never been alone before, but he was determined to find his way out of the forest. So he began to walk. He had no idea where he was going and was quite lost.

The day turned to night and the night creatures came out. The king was terrified as he had never been in the dark by himself before, but he kept walking through the forest. After some hours he saw the distance a light any hiked toward it as he got closer he saw it was a tumbledown shack.

The king went to the door and knocked. The door was opened quickly by a middle-aged man who invited the wet tired stranger into his house. He did not know the stranger was the King.

The man ushered him into a roaring fire to warm himself. The king stood by that fire until he was quite dry.

The man came to his guest and said, “I don’t have much, but I can offer you kasha.” The king ate the kasha, a tasted finer that any dish served to him in the palace. He savored each spoonful.

As the king finished eating, the man noted, “You must be tired. You sleep in my bed and I will sleep upon the floor.” The bed was nothing but a mattress stuffed with straw. This simple, plain bed was so comfortable that the king had the soundest sleep he’d ever had.

The storm passed sometime during the night. The skies were clear and the wind was calm.

The king was awakened by the smell of cooking food and fresh brewed tea. He ate and sipped the tea and felt the calm and happy.

About midmorning there was a knock at the door of the tumbledown shack. The man answered the door and the king overheard an advisor at the door.

“Have you seen the King?” No, I have not.” Will you help us find the king for this is very grave for the kingdom?” I will help by all means said the man.

Hearing this, the king came to the door and told the advisor he was safe. The advisor told the king,”Your majesty I have a carriage for you, guards and an escort to bring you back to the palace.” “I won’t go with you” “Your highness the kingdom can not endure without you.” I will not go with you” Your majesty the throne can not remain empty.” “Go back to the palace and I will see you there”

The king returned to his tea and conversation with the man. He left the tumbledown shack and returned to his palace in the man’s buckboard. They rode into the capital city and up to the very gates of the palace.

The king insisted the man come into the palace and wait by the throne room doors. He quickly ran and changed into his royal robes. He went into the throne room and beckoned that the doors be opened. The man entered the great hall and began to walk toward the king and the king waved him forward. He came before the first step in front of the throne and there were whispers and chatter throughout the room. The king waved him forward, and he went up to the step. The whispers became louder, but the king waved the man closer. The man went up to the second step and the king asked him to stand before him on the highest step before him and the king told him to stand by its right hand.

One of the king’s advisers burst forth and exclaimed:

“Who is this man that he should stand at the king’s right hand?”

“He is my friend” the king answered.

“He has no noble blood, education, wealth were standing. He is a nobody. He’s a beggar and his clothes are an offense to the king! Why should he stand at the king’s right hand?” The adviser responded.

The noise became louder as everyone was talking. The king’s stared from one side of the throne room the other and silence fell throughout the room

The king began:

“you who call yourselves my friends and advisers scattered and left me by myself because of some wind, rain, thunder and lightning. This man knew not who I was yet he treated me royally. He would treat any one who came to his door with the same honor, dignity and respect. This indeed is a true friend was he is not afraid to act upon what is in heart.”

No one dared to speak a word in the throne room that day and the king continued, “From this day forward you who call yourselves my friends and advisers are banished from the palace.

The king appointed the man to be his only adviser.

So it is with those in relation to faith. There are those who are very exacting in their fulfillment of religious obligations and rituals but lack faith. Therein is the issue, they become so involved the mechanics of religion they take faith for granted.

Faith can only be manifest to those who are simple and humble in their beliefs. For they grow stronger every day in their faith.

By doing mitzvahs (religious deeds) from the heart and through one’s awe of Hashem the words “he who does not exalt himself will be exalted by Hashem.” (Mo’ed Katan 28) will come true.

The Inheritance of the Youngest Brother

Posted on Tuesday, 15, December, 2009Sunday, 16, June, 2024 by Rabbi

A certain rich man had ten sons. He swore that on the day of his death he would give each of them one hundred gold coins. In due course he lost part of his money and all he had left was nine hundred and gold coins. So he gave the nine hundred to nine sons, and the youngest one said to him:

“Father, what shall I do? How can you leave me penniless?”

The Rich man thought for a moment or two and answered his youngest son:

“I swore to give each one of you one hundred gold coins and I could not break my oath. But only fifty are left me, and I have taken thirty of them for shrouds when I die, so I shall give you the other twenty. For I never thought that the money would be lost to me. But I have ten companions. I shall give them to you and they are better than a thousand dinars. And he instructed his companions about his youngest son, and then he died and was buried.

The nine sons went off to do business, each going his own way, and the youngest one was left at a complete loss, not knowing what he should do. Meanwhile he spent nineteen gold coins and only had one gold coins left. Then he said:

what use can those ten friends my father left me be, when he told me that they would be better than a thousand gold coins? But he took counsel and invited them to his home and spent the last dinar for a feast. They ate and drank with him and said to one another: “This is the only one of all the brothers who keeps his father’s affection for us. We have to keep that affection too and not let him go, but show him kindness for his deeds.”

So each of them gave him a cow in calf and money. The cows gave birth and he sold them, and gathered his money together and tried his hand at commerce. The Lord blessed him and made him richer than his father. Then he said: “My father said truly that friends are better than all the money in the world.”

Therefore a man should increase friends and honor and keep them. It is well to remember that he “who finds a faithful friend finds a treasure. (ben Sira 6:14)

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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Man Should Honour and Keep Friends

Posted on Sunday, 18, October, 2009Monday, 21, August, 2023 by Rabbi

A certain wealthy man had ten sons. He swore that on the day of his death he would give each of them one hundred dinars. In due course he lost part of his money and all he had left was nine hundred and fifty dinars. So he gave one hundred dinars to each f his oldest nine sons, and the youngest one said to him: “Father, what shall I do? How can you leave me penniless?” And his father said to him: “I swore to give each one of you one hundred dinars and I could not break my oath. But only fifty are left me, and I have taken thirty of them for shrouds when I die, so I shall give you the other twenty. For I never thought that the money would be lost to me, but I have ten companions. I shall give them to you and they are better than a thousand dinars. The old father told his companions about his youngest son, and then he died and was buried.

The nine sons went off to trade, each going his own way, and the youngest one was left at a complete loss, not knowing what he should do. Meanwhile he spent nineteen dinars and only had one dinar left. Then asked himself, what use can those ten friends my father left me be, when he told me that they would be better than a thousand dinars? So he decided to invite them to his home and spent the last dinar for a feast. They ate and drank with him and said to one another: “This is the only one of all the brothers who keeps his father’s affection for us. We have to keep that affection too and not let him go, but show him kindness for his deeds.”

So each of them gave him a cow in calf and money. The cows gave birth and he sold them, and gathered his money together and tried his hand at commerce. The L-rd blessed him and made him richer than his father. Then he said: “My father said truly that friends are better than all the money in the world.”

Therefore a man should increase friends and honor and keep them. And it was in this sense that Ben Sira said: “There will be many who ask after your well being, but reveal your secret only to one in a thousand.”

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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True Friends Are A Gift

Posted on Tuesday, 1, September, 2009Monday, 3, October, 2011 by Rabbi

Is there a blessing greater than good friends? “Either friends or death,” ringingly declares the Talmud (Ta’anis, 23a). The sages insist that isolation is a betrayal of G-d’s design. People need one another to thrive.

The Bible is a book of deep friendships: Jonathan and David’s, Ruth and Naomi’s. Each illustrates the depth of true friendship, which involves not only love but also the willingness of one to make sacrifices for the interests of the other. True friendship is not selfish and does not disappear when the friend is in trouble. Who does not understand the sadness of false friends as they eat with you, celibrate and share your happiness and good times, but are absent when you are in need. When you fall, where are your friends?

True friends don’t leave.

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Deep friendship is mysterious. It is not always based on a community of interests or a similarity of goals. If love depends on something temporary, once the temporary thing passes away, love also passes away; but if love does not depend on something short-lived, it will never pass away. What love depends on something temporary? The love of Amnon for Tamar. (2 Samuel 13) And what love did not depend on something short-lived? The love of David and Jonathan. (2 Samuel 1:26. Pirke Avos 5:16)

Among the glorious gifts celebrated by our tradition is this peculiar and lasting love, the true friend.

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