Sefer Tehillim, the Book of Psalms is treasured by people throughout the world. It is a living book which includes wide range of human emotions and experiences. It has always been a faithful companion and source of spiritual strength, giving voice to prayer, comfort in misfortune and light in darkness. Sadly too many take the Book of Psalms for granted by merely reciting the Psalms mechanically – by rote.
Gray clouds hung in the sky as the rain poured down from the heavens. A cold wind blew from the east, chilling everyone to the bone. The Chevra Kadisha and a small group of Jewish people were escorting the body of Mottel, the town’s water carrier, to his final resting place in the cemetery.
For thirty years, Mottel would carry two buckets on his shoulders, and walk down the hill to draw water from the river. He would then trudge back up the hill, with the heavy weight on his shoulders, and deliver this water to the people in the village. He did this each day, year after year, never complaining. His work was hard and he barely earned enough to support his family.
Looking out the window of the study hall, a young student was surprised to see his aged teacher and holy rabbi, outside in this weather, accompanying Mottel’s funeral procession. The holy rabbi, was after all, a very busy man.
Later that evening, the young student said to his teacher, “I was very surprised to see you walked the whole way to the cemetery and stayed for the whole funeral. I know how busy you are, and how hard it is for you to leave the beis medresh. (House of Learning)”
“Do not be surprised, young man,” the holy rabbi answered. “When the funeral procession passed by the shul (synagogue), I saw thousands of angels singing Tehillim (Psalms) with beautiful voices. In the center of all those angels was one angel, larger than the rest, who appeared to be David haMelech (King David). How could I not accompany them?”
“Why would Mottel, a simple water carrier, be accompanied to his grave by David haMelech and so many angels singing Tehillim?” thought the young student. “What was so special about him?” That night, he prayed to Hashem (G-d) to reveal to him the secret of the water carrier.
In the middle of that same night, the water carrier came to the student in a dream.
“It is true,” he explained, “in your world I was, indeed, a very simple man. I could neither read nor write. But, as a child, I learned the entire first Sefer (book) of Tehillim by heart. Each day as I worked, I prayed as best as I could many times saying, “Ribbono shel olam (Master of the Universe) and then I would utter a verse of Tehillim” and at other instances, “Tatte hartziger… (Heartfelt father) I trust in You and I shelter in the shadow of Your wings.” Other occasions I would simply sigh, “Oy gevald, zisser foter in himmel, (Oh my, sweet father in heaven) … Tyerer tatte (precious father)…Lieber foter, derbarmdiger tatte, (Living Father, merciful Father)
After work, I would recite the entire first Sefer in the beis medresh. I would say it slowly with very deep feelings. That is why I merited such a special honor. David haMelech the author of Tehillim came to my funeral with the angels that I created through my daily reading of Tehillim.”
The student learned a lesson that he’d repeat many times to his students — the power of prayer is very mighty, even for a very simple man.
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) Please share this story with others
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
Click here for more storytelling resource
Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)