The Rasha, the Chacham and the Snake

Posted on Thursday, 31, March, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

In one of the towns of Morocco there lived a wealthy Jewish merchant who was very wicked and had an evil heart. He did not want beggars and poor people to come to his house, so he built it outside the city. Around it he erected a high wall and at the only gate he placed wild dogs, who were as evil and wicked as their master. Without the walls he stationed two strong slaves who prevented the entry into the house of people whom the rich man did not like. Jewish people of the town said, “Since Haman haRasha there has been no one so wicked as he. Haman was not Jewish and this wealthy wicked man is Jewish.

One day a great chacham came to the town. He was a wandering messenger who collected money for the scholars in Eretz Yisrael who engaged in the study of the torah by day and by night. The chacham heard of the town and of the wealthy man who lived in it. However, when he came to the town he could only collect a small sum of money there. He was greatly astonished, and the people of the town told him, “It is true, among us lives a very rich Jewish merchant, but his house is surrounded by a wall and guarded by dogs and armed slaves, so that the owner of the house need not give alms to any man.”

“What is the name of this evil man?” asked the chacham. When he heard the name, he learned that sentence of death had been passed on the rich man and only he, the chacham, could save him.

The chacham told the people of the town nothing of what he had learned and went to the home of the wealthy Jewish merchant. By uttering Hashem’s holy name the road was shortened for him. When he reached the wealthy merchant’s home, he noted that together with him had come a giant snake, which was trying hard to out-distance him. What did the chacham do? He uttered Hashem’s holy name and the snake lay motionless, unable to move backwards or forwards.

The chacham from Eretz Israel came to the home of the wicked man, but the armed slaves tried to drive him away.

“I wish only to ask the master of the house one single question,” he said to them. But the guards refused to listen to him. Then once again the chacham uttered Hashem’s holy name and immediately he was within the house without the dogs even sensing that he had entered.

The wealthy man saw the chacham standing before him in the room and he uttered a cry, “Why have you entered this room in such plain and dirty clothes?” and he called to his dogs to set them on to the visitor. But the chacham seated himself on the floor and refused to move. He sat there unconcerned, while the dogs had been stricken with deafness and could not hear the call of their master. What could the rich man do? He was already weary of his own cries and he allowed the visitor to remain in the room and did not look at him.

Evening came. Out of his pocket the chacham took a prayer book and began to recite the mincha service. Just then the rich man’s servants began to set the table for the evening meal. The rich man, his wife and his children sat down at the table to eat. The holy man requested a piece of bread (of course he only pretended to be hungry for he was satisfied without eating), the size of what the rich man would give to his dogs. But the cruel rich man refused. The rich man’s family finished their meal and the chacham remained seated on the floor, his hand stretched out to ask for some morsel to eat. But the rich man forbade even his wife and children to give the chacham anything to eat.

When the remnants of the meal were gathered up from the table, the chacham once again asked for a piece of bread. The rich man threw some crumbs to the floor and said with contempt: “Take it before the dog gets it!” But the chacham persisted: “I shall accept it only from your hand.”

The woman and the children pleaded with the evil man until at last he gave the chacham a slice of bread.

The chacham rose to his feet, washed his hands, made the blessing over the bread, placed a morsel the size of an olive into his mouth and said to the rich man: “There is something I wish to reveal to you.”

The rich man became alarmed and the chacham said to him, “Send your wife and your children quickly away to a distant place, for they are in great danger tonight. And you, too, are not to sleep tonight. You must be awake throughout the night and you must not open the door.”

The frightened man did all that the chacham commanded him to do. The chacham remained seated on the floor reciting Psalms.

The giant snake began to crawl closer and closer to the house. Suddenly the rich man came up to the chacham and said: “My wife is crying out, asking me to open the door, for someone wishes to kill her.”

“Go back to your room,” the chacham commanded him. “Do not open the door.”

The rich man did as he was bidden. In a few minutes, however, he was back again, saying: “My children are crying out, ‘have mercy upon us for bandits wish to slay us!’ I shall open the door.”

“Do not open the door! Stay where you are!” commanded the chacham. The rich man obeyed, but soon he was back again. “My mother and all my other relatives have come and are pleading for mercy. I shall open the door.”

The chacham uttered a great shout and the rich man desisted, weeping all the time and asking for permission to open the door, otherwise they would all be killed.

And thus he pleaded throughout the night.

Dawn came at last. Then the chacham turned to the rich man and said, “Come and see what awaited you outside the house!”

The rich man looked upon a huge snake whose head was as big as a cask and which was as long as the entire wall encircling the house. But the snake was dead. Then the chacham told him: “The voices that you heard during the night were uttered by the snake. He spoke in the voice of your wife and he spoke in the voice of your children, for he had come to kill you all. But I foresaw all this and came here to save you. Had you not given me the piece of bread with your own hand then your end would have been bitter indeed, and the end of the members of your house would have been likewise.”

The rich man sent his slaves to bring back his wife and his children. When they returned he showed them the snake cut into pieces and told all that had come to pass during the night. The woman and the children had been so far away, that they could not know what had happened in the night.

From that night the wealthy rich man was a changed man. He gave alms generously to the poor and contributed large sums of money for Eretz Israel and for the scholars who engaged in the study of the torah.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Wisdom and Partnership

Posted on Wednesday, 9, March, 2011Wednesday, 26, July, 2023 by Rabbi

Three close friends lived in a particular city. Together they decided that each one of them would travel to a different land and study a particular wisdom of that land. They agreed that they would reunite and demonstrate what they had learned upon concluding their studies.

They did exactly that. Each one traveled to a distant land and pursued a different field of study.

After several years, the designated time arrived, and the three friends came to the appointed meeting place. They were ecstatic to see each other once again, and once the initial joy had passed, they began to show off what they had learned.

“In the land that I was in,” said one of the friends, “I met an expert craftsman who taught me how to fashion powerful binoculars that enable one to see extremely far distances…”

“I,” said the second friend, “met a remarkable coachman who taught me how to construct a wagon capable of traveling at great speeds. It can travel the lengthy distance of several parsaos in the blink of an eye!”

“And I,” said the third friend, “met an elderly doctor who taught me how to concoct an amazing medication capable of healing every type of illness!”

As they admired each other’s wisdom, the first friend displayed the binoculars he had made.

The friends took turns gazing through the powerful binoculars. Amazingly, they could see the capital city, which was a very long distance away. Looking inside the city, they observed a great commotion taking place. People were running through the streets in a panic, expressions of anguish and suffering etched upon their faces.

Adjusting the binoculars slightly, the friends were able to discern the reason behind the commotion: The king’s daughter had taken ill, and the doctors had given up hope of finding a remedy. A proclamation, therefore, went out calling upon anyone capable of lending assistance. In addition, whoever succeeded in curing the king’s daughter would receive an enormous sum of money as a reward.

“It is a pity that I am not in the capital right now,” said the friend who had been taught the art of healing. “Had I been there, I would have presented the king’s daughter with a remedy that would cure her instantly. However, I am too far away…”

“That is not a problem in the least,” remarked the second friend. “Why, the coach that I built could get you to the capital in a matter of minutes.”

The three friends boarded the remarkable coach, and, indeed, they arrived in the capital in the blink of an eye. They stopped at the palace gates and immediately presented the king’s daughter with the amazing remedy.

Lo and behold, upon tasting the medicine, her condition improved considerably. Before long, she underwent a total recovery!

At that point, however, the friends began to argue as to which one of them was entitled to the hefty reward that the king had offered.

“If not for my binoculars,” said the first friend, “you would never have known that the king’s daughter was sick.”

“So what?” answered the second friend. “If not for my coach, it would have taken you a month to get to the capital city.”

“You are both correct,” said the third friend. “But what good would it have done you to know that the king’s daughter was sick? And once you would have gotten to the capital — what would you have done then? Truthfully, it was only my medication that made all the difference!”

The king listened to their claims and, after consulting with his sagacious advisors, turned to the men and exclaimed, “It is certainly true that if we are to judge based on what transpired in the past, it would be rather difficult to determine which one of you deserves the reward. But if we take the future into account…Let us see,” continued the king, “From now on, we will have absolutely no use for your wondrous binoculars. The same thing applies to the spectacular coach. We may very well require more of this unique medicine, however. Therefore, the reward shall be granted to the provider of the medicine!”

From this story, one can gain a very powerful insight. There are three partners in the creation of a person: G-d, a father, and a mother. Yet when one wants to know which one of the three a man must obey and respect the most, one must realize that once a child is born, his parents have fulfilled their part of the partnership. Yet one is forever dependent on G-d, as He continuously to provides us with life!

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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The Holy Water Carrier

Posted on Wednesday, 16, February, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The first friendly rays of sunlight would sneak through a missing slat in the faded shutters to announce a new day to the rugged boards that lined his tumbledown cottage — and Itzik the water-carrier knew it was time to be up. First, he would settle down next to his simple table and study a page or two of Torah. He said his morning prayers with all his heart and would then leave his simple home to go down to the bank of the river that twisted and turned through the fields surrounding his village. He would fill his two homemade pails, hoist them up to the long bar borne on his broad shoulders, trek uphill, and then down again. He did this for hours on end, bringing a day’s supply to his regular customers. He was not a wealthy man, but at least he earned enough to feed his family. He was content with his life, and loved by almost everyone.

Then one day, quite suddenly, everything changed. Itzik, the self-respecting water-carrier, was asking for tzedakah (charity) in his spare time. The quiet village quickly filled with whispers and curious looks. This did not prevent those same generous people from filling his little charity box — except for one very angry merchant. That someone who could support himself by his own efforts should decide one fine morning to grow fat at the expense of the hard work of others, was nothing less than shameful. He would inform the local rabbi in person!

A few days later, sure enough, a messenger of the rabbi sternly tapped his cane three times on Itzik”s creaking door, and summoned him to appear before the rabbi. Itzik set out at once, and was greeted warmly.

“Tell me, Itzik,” asked the rabbi, “are you managing to make a living?”

“Thanks be to G-d, day by day,” said Itzik, echoing the words of the Psalmist, “I’m happy with my lot, and manage with what I have.”

“Then why, may I ask, do you collect donations?”

Silence.

“Why don’t you answer my question?” The rabbi asked irritated; Itzik remained silent.

“Listen to me,” said the rabbi. “I must ask you to give me your word that you will stop collecting donations in the marketplace.”

Silence still.

The rabbi’s patience ran out and he raised his voice: “Has it occurred to you that it is disrespectful for you not to answer the questions of the rabbi of this village?”

Itzik blurted out three quiet words: “I can’t promise,” and looked at the floor in silence.

Now Itzik was not the only person in town to visit the rabbi that day. While their tense conversation was taking place, the richest man in town — “Moshe the Nagid,” the locals called him affectionately — calmly took a seat in the waiting room. He wanted to consult the rabbi on some important business matter. Surprised to hear the rabbi raising his voice, and what he overheard made him very upset. He became sick to his stomach and began to tremble until he was driven by his emotions and he burst uninvited into the rabbi’s study.

“Rebbe!” he exclaimed. “This man here is taddik nistar (hidden saint)!”

For a moment, the three stood in amazed silence. The rabbi, confused, looked first at the one, then at the other. This tightlipped water- carrier — a tzaddik nistar?

Moshe burst into bitter tears.

“Itzik,” he sobbed, “you’ve got nothing to hide. Tell the rabbi the whole story.” And with that, he slipped out of the room, leaving the rabbi the task of ordering Itzik to speak up.

Itzik took a deep breath. “I suppose you know,” he said, “that every day I visit the houses of all those who can afford the luxury; and bring them water right to the door. One of my old customers is Moshe the Nagid. One day, unexpectedly, he stops paying me, and says that when the account reaches a sizeable sum, he’ll pay me all at once. That’s fine by me — except that for two whole months he didn’t give me as much as one little kopek. Then one day Moshe wasn’t at home. So his good wife, begging your pardon, takes me aside and says: ‘Itzik,’ she says, ‘I want to tell you something, but on condition that you don’t breathe a word to a soul.’

“Okay, I won’t tell anyone”, I answered, and she told me her story.

“‘You know our big fancy business?’ she says.”Well, the bottom’s suddenly fallen out of it, and now we’re as poor as the poorest paupers in town. My husband is too ashamed to speak of it, but I can’t hide the truth any more. Our debt to you is growing, and I don’t know what’s going to come of us.’

“The tears of that poor soul broke my heart, and I decided there and then that I would do whatever I could to help them out — though without giving away their secret, of course. The next day I started collecting donations. Let people talk behind my back! Let people make fun of me! I wasn’t going to let that family go hungry!”

Itzik paused for breath, then added bashfully, “So I ask you
now, Rebbe, could I possibly have promised you to stop collecting:

The rabbi was in a daze. Before him stood the familiar brawny frame of a simple water-carrier who could barely translate the daily prayers or a simple chapter of Torah. Through the rabbi’s tears, he saw before him, in all his glory, the true love of a neighbour. Here was a man who had always held his head erect, yet was prepared to lower it in humiliation — so long as his fellow’s honor would be spared!

He sprang out of his chair, and embraced the embarrassed water-carrier.

“Would that there were many like you among Israel!” he exclaimed. “I pray to G-d that in the World of Truth I be allowed to share your lot in the inheritance that awaits the righteous!”

And with warm tears he kissed that suntanned brow.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Wonder Flute

Posted on Tuesday, 8, February, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The power of prayer is beyond the understanding of many. Yet the ebb and flow of the words, melodies and devotion of the prayers can open one’s eyes to the wonder and magnificence of creation. The colors of the world come alive and a peek into the mysteries of the divine is possible.

Unfortunately too many people pray from rote. The same old words with no feeling, no spark, just merely words on a page. One should offer their prayers and meditations not as a commandment of expectation of men learned by rote, for only prayers the express one’s own heart and mind can bring one close to the holy One, blessed be He.

Once upon a time there lived a king in a beautiful palace in the capital city of his country. He was surrounded by many servants and nobles, who served him with great honour, devotion, and loyalty.

One day, as he thought about all the honor the people in his court showed him, the king said to himself: “It’s no wonder that my servants and nobles respect me and serve me loyally, for they know I’m their king, and all the good that I do. But what of all my subjects who live faraway from my palace, in distant towns, villages and farms; do those people know I’m their king, that I care for them and their needs?”

The king decided to go and find out for himself what the faraway people think of their king. He took off his royal robes and put on the clothes of a wanderer, and set off on his way. He went from town to town and from village to village, and everywhere he stopped and asked people what they thought of their king.

From the replies he received, he found out that few people thought of their king altogether. The further he travelled, the less interest people showed in their king, and the less they knew about him. Some people even spoke about the king in mocking tones.

Shocked and saddened, the king decided to return to his palace.

As he began his return journey, the sound of music reached his ears. Someone was playing on a flute, and the tune was so, soft and tender that it filled the king’s heart with joy and lifted his spirit. He hurried to find out who the player was, and presently he came upon a young shepherd who was playing on his flute.

Seeing there was no one around, the king asked the shepherd for whom he was playing.

“I’m playing for my king,” he answered. “Have you ever seen the king?”

“No,” replied the shepherd.

“Do you know who the king is and what he does?”

“He is a shepherd.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because I’m a shepherd, and I love my little lambs and care for them. I watch over them and make sure they are safe from wolves or any kind of harm. I lead them to pastures where the grass is green and soft, and take them to a stream of sparkling fresh water. Now, I’m but a small shepherd, but the king is a big shepherd, looking after all the people in the country and making sure they are all provided with their needs! Wouldn’t you say he is a very great shepherd? That’s why I’m playing this melody in his honor!”

The king was overjoyed with this young shepherd and said to him:

“I am your king! From now on you’ll be my best friend. We’ll find some other shepherd to look after your sheep, and you will come with me to my palace. You will be my dearest companion and we shall be friends forever!”

When the king and the shepherd arrived at the palace, the king ordered royal robes for the shepherd and gave him the most honored place in the king’s court, next to the king himself.

Not long afterward, the shepherd, sad to say, offended the king. Sternly the king ordered him to leave his presence and return three days later for trial.

Now the shepherd realized how wicked he had been, and how ungrateful for all that the king had done for him. Not only had he not appreciated the king’s friendship and all the favors he had showered on him, but he had actually offended the king by his conduct. He felt that the king would have every reason to punish him severely.

The day of the trial arrived.

The shepherd put away his royal garments, put on the shepherd clothing he wore when he first met the king. He also took his flute with him.

Entering the king’s court, the remorseful shepherd fell on his knees before the king, saying:

“O great and merciful king! I have no words to defend my wicked conduct. What can I possibly say to explain my inexcusable behavior toward my king who has been so good and kind to me? But, since I cannot find the right words, may it please the king to allow me to play on my flute’?”

The king nodded, and the shepherd began to play the tune which he played when he met the king for the first time. And he played it so well, and with such feeling, that the king was deeply moved. It reminded him of that day when he had felt so sad because most of his people throughout his kingdom seemed not to know, nor care, about their king, as he had discovered. Then he met this young shepherd who was the only one who gave him a feeling of joy and pride in being king… .

Filled with this heartwarming feeling, the king said:

“I forgive you, and we shall remain the best of friends as before!”

The Talmud teaches in Berachos 16b that Rav, at the conclusion of his Shemoneh Esrei, used to recite the following:

“May it be Your will, L-rd our G-d, to grant us long life, a life of peace, a life of goodness, a life of blessing, a life of sustenance, a life of physical health, a life in which there is fear of sin, a life in which there is no shame nor humiliation, a life of wealth and honor, a life in which we will have love of Torah and awe of heaven, a life in which our heartfelt requests will be fulfilled for the good.”

May all of our prayers be acceptable and bring strength of spirit, brotherhood, peace and blessing from the King above all Kings

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Treasure of the Heart

Posted on Sunday, 30, January, 2011Tuesday, 20, February, 2024 by Rabbi

A wealthy man was set to embark on a lengthy journey to a distant land. He therefore packed many belongings, as well as food for the way, piling everything into his magnificent stagecoach.

Prior to his journey, he summoned his loyal servant and exclaimed, “I am leaving my home for an extended period of time, and I am appointing you to faithfully watch over it. I have but one request: that you take extraordinary care of my private office, as its contents are very dear to me. Please take extra-special care of it!” The servant agreed, and the wealthy man boarded his stagecoach and set off.

When the clouds of dust that the stagecoach had generated had settled, the servant entered the house and thought, “I am extremely curious as to why my master was so adamant that I guard his private office; an item of great value must be hidden inside.”

The servant entered the wealthy man’s office and a huge wooden chest sitting in the corner immediately caught his eye.

The servant opened the chest and beheld a most fabulous treasure consisting of silver and gold vessels, precious gems, and pearls. But much to his bewilderment, the entire treasure was covered with mud.

“How odd,” the servant thought to himself. “On one hand, my master cautioned me to take special care of his precious treasure, yet on the other hand, he himself is so careless with it that he allows it to become filthy with mud.”

So it is with man when the time comes to stand in judgment before the Heavenly Court, the innermost chambers of his heart are examined: Were the thoughts in his heart pure, and did he serve G-d with reverence and honesty? For the heart is the most precious treasure contained within man’s body, and if it is revealed that his heart is covered with filth and mud, it is a clue to the common thoughts that fill it.

How terrible will his humiliation and shame be at that moment.

Therefore, one should ask the Holy One, blessed be He each and every day, ” Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the L-rd rejoice. (1 Chronicles 16:10) May He turn our hearts to Him, to walk in obedience to Him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. (1 Kings 8:58) My shield is G-d Most High, who saves the upright in heart. (Psalm 7:10) But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. (Psalm 13:5)”

“Master of the World, please make our hearts contain only love and a feeling of service for You and not any alien thoughts!”

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

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two.

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A Woman of Valor Who can Find?

Posted on Friday, 21, January, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Once there were two brothers, one of them rich and the other poor. The poor man was married to a very beautiful wife.

One day the poor brother came to his brother to ask him for a loan. The rich man refused to help him. Even when strangers tried to persuade the rich man to help his poor brother, he would say that he had no brother.

One day the rich man went out for a walk in the town, and in the course of his wanderings came to the poor quarter of the town. Through the window of one of the buildings he saw the face of a beautiful woman. “Whose wife is that?” he asked the people there.

“That is your brother’s wife,” he was told.

And the rich man fell in love with the woman and desired her greatly. By day and by night he thought of how he could get her.

One day the rich man sent for his poor brother. He gave him money and said to him: “Why do you not ask rue for anything?” And he flattered his poor brother and invited him and his wife to his house, and did them many favours. After sonic time he gave his brother goods to trade with in a far country, to earn sonic money. At first the poor man refused to leave his wife, but the rich brother promised him that she would remain under his protection. And so the poor brother set out on his journey with a quiet heart.

On the following day the rich man sent his sister-in-law vegetables, fruit and meat and told her that he would come to eat dinner at her house. She could not tell him not to come, but while he was in the house she conducted herself in the most proper manner. Every day the rich man used to bother her and send her gifts but she remained unimpressed. One day the woman decided to end matters with the rich man. She invited him to her house, but left before he came. He waited for her for a long time and then rose and left the house in anger. He nursed the insult in his heart and decided that he would revenge himself on the woman who had offended him.

One day, early in the morning, the rich man left his house and on his way met a poor man. He gave him money and said to him: “In return for the money that I have given you I want you to steal into the hall of such and such a house and remain there.” Needless to say, this house was no other than the house of his sister-in-law. Then the rich man went to one of the synagogues in the city and invited the men he found there to a bris milah which, he said, was taking place in that same building. The men opened the door and there in the hall they saw a man standing. “What are you doing here?” they asked him. “Since the departure of this woman’s husband I have always been here,” the poor man answered. For this was what the rich man had ordered him to say, in return for the money that he had given him.

The men believed the poor man, and they dragged the woman and drove her out of the town to be stoned. The townspeople showered her with curses, taunts and stones.

All the woman’s pleadings were in vain as she was pelted with stones. She wished to explain to the men and her rich brother-in-law that she was not guilty of what they suspected, but they refused to listen to her stoned her. She was a righteous woman and out of the depths she cried[2] to the heaven for help. She stood tall as she was indeed innocent of the shameful deed she was accused of. Her brother-in-law asked: “are you so brazen that you stand before us with pride?” The woman looked at the people around her with tears in her eyes and answered: “All my life I wondered when I could love G-d “with all my soul”[3], even if He take my life. Now the opportunity has come and I will fulfill it with joy.”[4] Her brother-in-law and the people buried her with the stones they threw.

Sometime later, a rabbi and his wife were traveling towards the town. They were childless. They heard the sound of moaning from beneath the pile of stones and began to dig until they found the poor woman lying on the ground with bleeding wounds.

They helped her up, bandaged her wounds and decided to take her with them. In their hearts they thought: “Perhaps the deed we did today will merit our prayers for a child to be answered.

After some time the couple was blessed with a child and they asked the woman to be the child’s nurse. The woman, of course, was very grateful to the couple, for they had rescued her and she was a faithful nurse.

In the house of this rabbi there was a student who fell in love with the beautiful woman. He asked her to marry him but she refused, for she was faithful to her husband. The student became angry at her refusal to marry him and decided to punish her. He killed the baby while everyone was asleep, and then ran away.

In the morning the parents were very angry with the woman they had trusted. The rabbi who drew his strength from Heaven, told his wife that the woman should not be punished. “It is the will of G-d,” he said. “We must let her go, bearing the dead child.”

The woman was sad and hopeless. She had been driven from every place because of false accusations. She wandered into the desert, hungry and thirsty, and in her arms she carried the dead child. Suddenly she saw an old man with a long beard and flowing robes, who told her that he was the Prophet Elijah, may his memory be a blessing, and that she had nothing to fear. He gave her a vial water that revived the child, for the water was from the Garden of Eden and, indeed, the child came stirred and again breathed as life renewed in him. He gave her another potion that could cure all ills. He also gave her some advice: she must disguise herself as a man, establish a big place for travelers to rest and cure the sick who came to her. She asked when she could return to living a normal and proper life, and the prophet told her that woman was endowed with more intelligence than men[5] and she would know the right time when it came.

The woman took the advice of the Prophet Elijah, may his memory be a blessing, and put on men’s clothes and set up a rest stop for travelers. Soon, travelers with all sorts of problems were cured at the rest stop and they paid her well and she became very wealthy. The rabbi’s son, helped the woman with all she did. The woman made sure that the young man studied all the Hoy Writings.

Some of the sick who came to her she knew, but never once did she let anyone see through her disguise. One day, she was surprised at who came to the rest stop. One was her wicked brother-in-law, another was her husband who had become heartsick after he had been told that his wife had died. He never believed the tales of her being unfaithful. There was the poor man who had stood in the hall of the woman’s house and who falsely about her, and the rabbi and his wife also came, and lastly, there was the student who had wanted to marry her and whom she had refused. All were stricken with different sicknesses and hope that she could heal them.

The woman placed these patients in different rooms so that they should not see each other but they could hear each other. One condition the woman laid down to all those who came to be treated by her was that before receiving treatment they must confess and reveal all their sins.

First among those who confessed was her rich brother-in-law who told what he had not been honest in his business dealings. She looked at him and reminded him that unless he was completely honest, he could not be cured. He then admitted to his evil scheme. Then the poor man who had stood in the hall told his story admitted he was paid by the rich man to falsely testify against her. The husband heard these things and he was very angry with those who had slandered his wife. The couple who had driven out the woman after the death of their only child, and the student who had killed the child, all confessed their actions. The rabbi and his wife, when they heard the tale of the student, deeply regretted their hasty action in blaming their nurse who was really blameless.

When they had all confessed, the woman made herself known to them. She cured her husband who had returned to her, and to the old couple she restored their son who had in the meantime grown up and was a promising scholar.

She did not cure the three others for it is written: “Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate”[6] and they remained sickly to the end of their days.

[1] A Woman of Valor Who can Find? Proverbs 31:10

[2] Psalm 130:1

[3] Deuteronomy 6:5

[4] T.Berachos 61b

[5] T. Niddah 45b

[6] Psalm 101:5

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Who Was the Guest?

Posted on Wednesday, 5, January, 2011Monday, 19, September, 2022 by Rabbi

A Jewish innkeeper earned his living managing a small inn that stood on the crossroads leading to the big city. Every so often, a lone traveler or caravan would lodge at the inn; there they would eat to the heart’s content, rest from the long journey, and then continue on their way.

On one occasion, the Jewish innkeeper was falsely accused of committing a terrible crime against the state. While he was waiting for his trial, he was informed by reliable sources that if he were found guilty, he would spend the rest of his life in prison.

His loved ones advised him to travel to the capital where the king lived. There he would try his best to gain an audience with the king and present his case before him. The innkeeper’s friends reassured him, “The king is a man of truth and will certainly see that justice is served.

“But who will permit me to even approach the palace to begin with?” asked the innkeeper. “Why, the king’s guards have the palace surrounded.”

“You must try, nonetheless,” answered his friends.

The king had a habit every so often of putting on simple farmer’s clothing and travel around his kingdom seeing and listening carefully. In this way, he would get a sense of the mood and would know what the people were thinking.

On one such occasion, the king arrived at the inn managed by the Jewish innkeeper. There he received food and drink and slept on the floor like an ordinary person.

Sometime later, the innkeeper was told who his guest had been. Upon hearing that the king had stayed in his inn, the innkeeper took his head in his hands and cried, “Woe is me! The king was in my house, and I could have begged him to save my life…”

Every person can draw close to the Holy One Blessed, be He, the King above all kings, in this world, for here He is always within reach. One must seize the moment and draw as close to the Holy One Blessed, be He as he possibly can, for he will not have the opportunity to do so in the World to Come.

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The Worst of Curses

Posted on Monday, 26, October, 2009Sunday, 22, July, 2018 by Rabbi

It is so hard to maintain faith in a society that is so focused on science, technology and material things. The simple answer is to ignore the voices that would lead one away from their faith. They can’t find the words to describe a sunrise or the majesty of a mountain, all they can do is speak of the technical aspects.

The beauty and wonder as seen and felt by those of faith cannot be explained. The magnificence of a simple act can leave lifelong impacts on this world and the next.

There was a man who used to curse and belittle a certain holy man, who was never unhappy. The man used to curse him and hope that he would lose his life and all his money. He also cursed him with the wish that he would commit many sins in order that he should lose his share in the World to Come. Then the holy man felt sad.

“Why did you become gloomy?” his students asked, and he said to them: “When he insulted me he did not affect me and I had no desire for honor. When a man dies he has no benefit from his honor. When he cursed me with the hope that I should not benefit from anything in this world—that all passes away in any case. But when he cursed me with the wish that I should not enjoy the World to Come, and that I should rebel against the Holy One, blessed be He then I was concerned for fear that he would cause injustice. And so I prayed that the voice of those who curse should not be heard, but rather the voice of those who bless.”

May all the voices that cause conflict, pain and curse be silenced and may we all join together in prayers of faith.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Life has a Plain Wrapper

Posted on Thursday, 19, March, 2009Tuesday, 19, January, 2021 by Rabbi

So often one looks at the outer trappings of world and misses the deeper meaning of life. The physical beauty of the world often clouds the perception of what is good and wholesome. Major signs of change in T’NaCh (Bible) where often plain unassuming things:

burning bush to communicate to Moses
Mt. Sinai is a small low mountain
shepherd that become leaders (Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Solomon, etc)

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So often one must try to understand the most basic, unattractive, plain things contain the meanings of the important aspects of their lives.

Once upon a time the daughter of the Emperor asked Rabbi Yoshua ben Chananiah, “Is it not very strange that there is so much Torah (scriptural learning) in you and you are so terribly ugly? So much wisdom in such a disgusting vessel!”

“Let me ask, where do you keep your wine? In what kind of vessels?” Rabbi Yoshua inquired. The daughter of the Emperor answered, “We keep our wine in simple earthenware vessels, because for many years past wine has always been kept in earthen vessels.”

Rabbi Yoshua suggested, “You are very wealthy people, you ought to keep your wine in vessels of silver only, the ordinary people keep it in earthen jars.” So she went and told the Emperor, who poured all the wine into silver jars. Within a short time the wine turned sour, and they reported to the Emperor that all his wine had turned into vinegar. Then the Emperor asked his daughter, “Who advised you to pour the wine into silver jars?” The princess replied, “Rabbi Yoshua ben Chananiah.” So the Emperor sent for Rabbi Yoshua and asked him, “Why did you give such advice to my daughter so that all my wine has turned to vinegar?” Rabbi Yoshua replied, “As she spoke to me so I spoke to her. She said to me, what a pity such great learning is in such a contemptible vessel. So I said to her, ‘Why do you keep wine in a cheap vessel?’ I also said that as the Torah does not stay with a man of handsome appearance, so wine does not keep in a silver vessel.” The Emperor said, “But there are many good looking men who possess learning.” Then Rabbi Yoshua replied, “If they were not so handsome they would be more learned still, for a man of handsome appearance is not a man of modesty, and therefore he forgets the Torah which he has learned.”

Based on Taanis 7a-b; Nedarim 50b and Ma’asah Book #35

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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Torah the Best Merchandise

Posted on Wednesday, 11, March, 2009Thursday, 15, February, 2018 by Rabbi

Once upon a time a ship carrying merchants and all their goods sailed over the sea, and among the passengers was a teacher. The merchants began to talk about the wares which they carried with them, and what they intended to buy. Finally they asked the teacher what merchandise he had, and he answered: “I carry all my goods with me.” The merchants searched the whole ship for his wares, for they thought that he had precious stones, but they could find nothing. So they laughed at him and said that he had no merchandise at all. The teacher replied:

“Why are you laughing at me? The goods which I carry are of greater value than any which you have in the ship’s hold.”

As they continued traveling on the high seas, they were attacked by pirates, who robbed them of all the merchandise which they had in the ship. When they landed, they found themselves quite poor and had nothing to eat or drink or any clothes to put on. The teacher, however, went into the town and entered the bet hamidrash (House of Study). When the people heard him speak wonders of Scriptures, they at once brought him clothes and gave him a large amount of money. The good people of the town also followed him out of the city.

When the merchants saw the great honor which was shown to the Jewish teacher, they begged his pardon for having laughed at him, and asked him to request the townspeople to give them something to eat so that they might not die of hunger, for he had seen that they had been robbed of their property. And the teacher replied:

“Did I not tell you that my merchandise was more valuable than yours? For you have lost your property, but mine is still with me. Furthermore, one who buys and sells does not always gain, sometimes he gains and sometimes he loses, and even when he gains he is not sure that the profit will remain with him, but the Torah remains forever, in this world and in the next. I was right, therefore, about the goods which I had with me.”

Tanhuma, Terumah, #2

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“What is the name of this evil man?” asked the chacham. When he heard the name, he learned that sentence of death had been passed on the rich man and only he, the chacham, could save him.

The chacham from Eretz Israel came to the home of the wicked man, but the armed slaves tried to drive him away.

“I wish only to ask the master of the house one single question,” he said to them. But the guards refused to listen to him. Then once again the chacham uttered Hashem’s holy name and immediately he was within the house without the dogs even sensing that he had entered.

When the remnants of the meal were gathered up from the table, the chacham once again asked for a piece of bread. The rich man threw some crumbs to the floor and said with contempt: “Take it before the dog gets it!” But the chacham persisted: “I shall accept it only from your hand.”

The woman and the children pleaded with the evil man until at last he gave the chacham a slice of bread.

The chacham rose to his feet, washed his hands, made the blessing over the bread, placed a morsel the size of an olive into his mouth and said to the rich man: “There is something I wish to reveal to you.”

The rich man became alarmed and the chacham said to him, “Send your wife and your children quickly away to a distant place, for they are in great danger tonight. And you, too, are not to sleep tonight. You must be awake throughout the night and you must not open the door.”

The frightened man did all that the chacham commanded him to do. The chacham remained seated on the floor reciting Psalms.

The giant snake began to crawl closer and closer to the house. Suddenly the rich man came up to the chacham and said: “My wife is crying out, asking me to open the door, for someone wishes to kill her.”

“Go back to your room,” the chacham commanded him. “Do not open the door.”

The rich man did as he was bidden. In a few minutes, however, he was back again, saying: “My children are crying out, ‘have mercy upon us for bandits wish to slay us!’ I shall open the door.”

“Do not open the door! Stay where you are!” commanded the chacham. The rich man obeyed, but soon he was back again. “My mother and all my other relatives have come and are pleading for mercy. I shall open the door.”

The chacham uttered a great shout and the rich man desisted, weeping all the time and asking for permission to open the door, otherwise they would all be killed.

And thus he pleaded throughout the night.

Dawn came at last. Then the chacham turned to the rich man and said, “Come and see what awaited you outside the house!”

The rich man sent his slaves to bring back his wife and his children. When they returned he showed them the snake cut into pieces and told all that had come to pass during the night. The woman and the children had been so far away, that they could not know what had happened in the night.

From that night the wealthy rich man was a changed man. He gave alms generously to the poor and contributed large sums of money for Eretz Israel and for the scholars who engaged in the study of the torah.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Three close friends lived in a particular city. Together they decided that each one of them would travel to a different land and study a particular wisdom of that land. They agreed that they would reunite and demonstrate what they had learned upon concluding their studies.

They did exactly that. Each one traveled to a distant land and pursued a different field of study.

After several years, the designated time arrived, and the three friends came to the appointed meeting place. They were ecstatic to see each other once again, and once the initial joy had passed, they began to show off what they had learned.

“In the land that I was in,” said one of the friends, “I met an ex­pert craftsman who taught me how to fashion powerful binoculars that enable one to see extremely far distances…”

“I,” said the second friend, “met a remarkable coachman who taught me how to construct a wagon capable of traveling at great speeds. It can travel the lengthy distance of several parsaos in the blink of an eye!”

“And I,” said the third friend, “met an elderly doctor who taught me how to concoct an amazing medication capable of healing every type of illness!”

As they admired each other’s wisdom, the first friend dis­played the binoculars he had made.

“It is a pity that I am not in the capital right now,” said the friend who had been taught the art of healing. “Had I been there, I would have presented the king’s daughter with a remedy that would cure her instantly. However, I am too far away…”

“That is not a problem in the least,” remarked the second friend. “Why, the coach that I built could get you to the capital in a matter of minutes.”

The three friends boarded the remarkable coach, and, indeed, they arrived in the capital in the blink of an eye. They stopped at the palace gates and immediately presented the king’s daughter with the amazing remedy.

Lo and behold, upon tasting the medicine, her condition im­proved considerably. Before long, she underwent a total recovery!

At that point, however, the friends began to argue as to which one of them was entitled to the hefty reward that the king had offered.

“If not for my binoculars,” said the first friend, “you would never have known that the king’s daughter was sick.”

“So what?” answered the second friend. “If not for my coach, it would have taken you a month to get to the capital city.”

“You are both correct,” said the third friend. “But what good would it have done you to know that the king’s daughter was sick? And once you would have gotten to the capital — what would you have done then? Truthfully, it was only my medication that made all the difference!”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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 few days later, sure enough, a messenger of the rabbi sternly tapped his cane three times on Itzik”s creaking door, and sum­moned him to appear before the rabbi. Itzik set out at once, and was greeted warmly.

“Tell me, Itzik,” asked the rabbi, “are you managing to make a living?”

“Thanks be to G-d, day by day,” said Itzik, echoing the words of the Psalmist, “I’m happy with my lot, and manage with what I have.”

“Then why, may I ask, do you collect donations?”

Silence.

“Why don’t you answer my question?” The rabbi asked irritated; Itzik remained silent.

“Listen to me,” said the rabbi. “I must ask you to give me your word that you will stop collecting donations in the marketplace.”

Silence still.

The rabbi’s patience ran out and he raised his voice: “Has it occurred to you that it is disrespectful for you not to answer the questions of the rabbi of this village?”

Itzik blurted out three quiet words: “I can’t promise,” and looked at the floor in silence.

“Rebbe!” he exclaimed. “This man here is taddik nistar (hidden saint)!”

For a moment, the three stood in amazed silence. The rabbi, confused, looked first at the one, then at the other. This tightlipped water- carrier — a tzaddik nistar?

Moshe burst into bitter tears.

“Itzik,” he sobbed, “you’ve got nothing to hide. Tell the rabbi the whole story.” And with that, he slipped out of the room, leaving the rabbi the task of ordering Itzik to speak up.

“Okay, I won’t tell anyone”, I answered, and she told me her story.

Itzik paused for breath, then added bashfully, “So I ask you now, Rebbe, could I possibly have promised you to stop collecting:

He sprang out of his chair, and embraced the embarrassed water-carrier.

“Would that there were many like you among Israel!” he ex­claimed. “I pray to G-d that in the World of Truth I be allowed to share your lot in the inheritance that awaits the righteous!”

And with warm tears he kissed that suntanned brow.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

The power of prayer is beyond the understanding of many. Yet the ebb and flow of the words, melodies and devotion of the prayers can open one’s eyes to the wonder and magnificence of creation. The colors of the world come alive and a peek into the mysteries of the divine is possible.

Once upon a time there lived a king in a beau­tiful palace in the capital city of his country. He was surrounded by many servants and nobles, who served him with great honour, devotion, and loyalty.

From the replies he received, he found out that few people thought of their king altogether. The further he travelled, the less interest people showed in their king, and the less they knew about him. Some people even spoke about the king in mocking tones.

Shocked and saddened, the king decided to return to his palace.

Seeing there was no one around, the king asked the shepherd for whom he was playing.

“I’m playing for my king,” he answered. “Have you ever seen the king?”

“No,” replied the shepherd.

“Do you know who the king is and what he does?”

“He is a shepherd.”

“Why do you think that?”

The king was overjoyed with this young shepherd and said to him:

“I am your king! From now on you’ll be my best friend. We’ll find some other shepherd to look after your sheep, and you will come with me to my palace. You will be my dearest companion and we shall be friends forever!”

When the king and the shepherd arrived at the palace, the king ordered royal robes for the shepherd and gave him the most honored place in the king’s court, next to the king himself.

Not long afterward, the shepherd, sad to say, offended the king. Sternly the king ordered him to leave his presence and return three days later for trial.

The day of the trial arrived.

The shepherd put away his royal garments, put on the shepherd clothing he wore when he first met the king. He also took his flute with him.

Entering the king’s court, the remorseful shepherd fell on his knees before the king, saying:

“O great and merciful king! I have no words to defend my wicked conduct. What can I possibly say to explain my inexcusable behavior toward my king who has been so good and kind to me? But, since I cannot find the right words, may it please the king to allow me to play on my flute’?”

Filled with this heartwarming feeling, the king said:

“I forgive you, and we shall remain the best of friends as before!”

“In the land that I was in,” said one of the friends, “I met an expert craftsman who taught me how to fashion powerful binoculars that enable one to see extremely far distances…”

As they admired each other’s wisdom, the first friend displayed the binoculars he had made.

Lo and behold, upon tasting the medicine, her condition improved considerably. Before long, she underwent a total recovery!

A few days later, sure enough, a messenger of the rabbi sternly tapped his cane three times on Itzik”s creaking door, and summoned him to appear before the rabbi. Itzik set out at once, and was greeted warmly.

Itzik paused for breath, then added bashfully, “So I ask you
now, Rebbe, could I possibly have promised you to stop collecting:

“Would that there were many like you among Israel!” he exclaimed. “I pray to G-d that in the World of Truth I be allowed to share your lot in the inheritance that awaits the righteous!”

Once upon a time there lived a king in a beautiful palace in the capital city of his country. He was surrounded by many servants and nobles, who served him with great honour, devotion, and loyalty.

The servant opened the chest and beheld a most fabulous treasure consisting of silver and gold vessels, precious gems, and pearls. But much to his bewilderment, the entire treasure was covered with mud.