Listen to the short story, The L-rd Provides, There are many gifts in the world and all are provided by the Holy One, blessed be He. To many times these gifts are taken for granted and a king learns the meaning of “the L-rd Provides.”
Tag: Jewish Stories
The Right Medicine – Doctor or Faith
Once there was a Jewish merchant who was very prosperous. He had always enjoyed good health, but one day he suddenly fell sick. He did not know what was wrong with him and even with the different remedies he took, he became worse from day to day. He saw a doctor, who prescribed a certain medicine, but that did not help him either: Finally, he decided to see the greatest doctor in town, who was known as the Specialist, he was known as the greatest doctor in the whole region.
The Specialist gave the patient a very thorough examination, asked him many questions, and then told him he was sorry he could not help him. “Only G-d can help you,” he said gravely.
The poor Jewish merchant was very upset with the doctor’s findings.
Then he remembered hearing that in the nearby small town, there was a holy rabbi who had helped many people. So he set off to visit the holy rabbi, hoping that he could help.
Arriving at the rabbi’s house he found many other Jewish people waiting to see him. Luckily (perhaps because he looked so worried), he was admitted to see the rabbi almost immediately.
When he came into the presence of the holy rabbi, he could not hold back his tears, and poured out his heart describing his desperate condition, begging the rabbi to help him for the sake of his wife and children.
The rabbi replied: “A doctor’s job is to heal, and not to make his patient feel worse. Actually your condition is not at all serious; it is just a kind of fever and will pass.”
Astonished, the Jewish merchant asked, “But rabbi, holy rabbi if it is a fever, shouldn’t I be shivering?”
“So you will shiver,” answered the rabbi, reassuringly.
The Jewish merchant could hardly believe what he had heard and was, of course, overjoyed.
No sooner had he left the holy rabbi than he felt cold, and began to shiver slightly. And, as he continued on his way home, the shivering increased. As soon as he got home, he went straight to bed, feeling hot and cold all over, and shivering without a stop.
He stayed in bed for a few days, then suddenly the shivering stopped. He felt so much better that he was soon able to get out of bed, feeling like a new man!
Some time later, as the Jewish merchant was walking down the street, he came face to face with the Specialist, who recognized him at once. “Aren’t you the patient who came to see me some time ago, critically ill?” the Specialist asked him.
“Yes, sir,” answered the man.
“I am certainly delighted to see you looking so well,” the Specialist continued. “Tell me, my friend, what happened to bring about such an unexpected recovery, and what medicine did you take?”
The Jewish merchant told him that after the Specialist had given him up, he went to see a holy rabbi, who told him that his illness was nothing but a kind of fever.
“That I also knew,” said the doctor. “But a fever can be extremely dangerous unless it develops into hot and cold shivering. For that is the way the body can rid itself of the sickness. The trouble with you was that you showed no signs of shivering. I knew of no medicine that could bring about such shivering. That is why I told you I could not help you.”
“As a matter of fact, when the rabbi told me I had a fever, I asked him, ‘if I have a fever, would I not be shivering:’, to which he replied, ‘So you will shiver.’ And sure enough, no sooner did I leave the holy rabbi’s presence than I began to shiver, and the shivering steadily increased and became violent. I got into bed and shivered hot and cold for several days. Then, with G-d’s help, I recovered completely from my illness.”
“`With G-d’s help’ you said. Wasn’t that what I also told you, `I cannot help you, only G-d can help you !”‘ the Specialist exclaimed happily.
All smiles, the Specialist and the Jewish merchant shook hands, wishing each other good health.
Added the Specialist: “Some day I hope to see this holy rabbi, but not in a professional capacity. No doubt he can do more for me than I for him.”
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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From the Depths I Call Unto You
Three men were traveling together in a distant country. Suddenly, the skies grew dark, and a great storm arose; the wind howled, thunder echoed across the land, the lightning flashed, and the downpour of rain filled the men with fear. They saw a cave at the foot of a nearby mountain and quickly ran to it to get out of the storm. They started a small fire to warm themselves and stayed there all night. The storm passed in the night, and in the morning, the men gathered together their belongings and were ready to continue their journey.
During the night, a huge heavy rock had fallen from the mountain and sealed the mouth of the cave. The three men tried to push the rock away, but they could not even budge the rock.
Now, the travelers grew afraid, for they had no food and were far away from any help. After a while, darkness and hunger caused them much despair, and so they began to pray to the Holy One, blessed be He, that He have mercy and aid them lest they perish.
The first one remembered, “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Psalm 50:15). He then prayed in the merit of all his good and just deeds.
The rock moved about the length of a finger,
Then the second one began to pray and recalled, “In my distress, I called upon the L-rd..” (2 Samuel 22:7) and poured out his heart and related even greater deeds of charity and of righteousness.
The rock moved about the length of a hand.
Finally, the third one said: “Then with much grief and anguish of heart I wept, and with groaning began to pray: (Tobit 3:1).” Then he began to pray, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O L-rd.” (Psalm 130:1) he continued, “I don’t know where to begin or what to say, but I pray to You from my heart.” His words echoed throughout the cave.
The rock moved entirely from the mouth of the cave, and the three travelers went forth in peace and continued their journey.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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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 Noble Physician
Abba Umna, a Jewish physician, was as celebrated for his piety and humanity as for his medical skill. One may ask what were the righteous deeds of the doctor? It was said that when he would see patients, he would bring in men separately from women, for reasons of modesty. Also he had a special garment that he would have women dress in so that he would not see her exposed.
He made no distinction between rich and poor, and was particularly attentive to students and scholars from whom he could never accept the least reward for his professional services. He considered learned men as fellow-workers whose functions were even more important than his own, since they had the power to cure the diseases of the mind. He did not want to embarrass anyone from coming to him because of money so he had a box where patients would place the coins that he would take as his fee. In this manner, one who had money would leave money there, while one who did not have money was not embarrassed.
His practices and fame spread far and wide. Abaye, who was the head of the Academy, heard of it. Anxious to determine whether everything reported of that noble physician was true, he sent to him two of his disciples, who were slightly ill. The physician received them kindly, gave them some medicine, and requested them to stay in his house overnight. The offer was readily accepted.
They remained till the next morning, when they departed, taking with them a piece of tapestry which had served as a covering to the couch on which they had slept. This they took to the marketplace, and waited until their kind host arrived. They then pretended to offer the tapestry for sale, and asked him how much he thought it was worth. Abba Umna mentioned a sum.
“Do you not think it is worth more?”
“No,” answered the physician, “this is the very sum I gave for one much like it.”
“Why, good man,” exclaimed the students, “this belongs to you. We took it from your house.
Now tell us, we beg you, after missing it, were you not angry with us ?”
“Certainly not. You know that a Jewish person must not impute evil intentions to anyone, nor judge ill of a neighbor for a single act. Since I was satisfied that no ill use would be made of it, let it ever be so. Sell it and distribute the money to the many poor and needy people of the town.”
“Please tell us, what did you suspect of us? You knew that we had taken your tapestry, and yet you did not say anything.” The doctor answered:
“I said to myself, certainly an unexpected opportunity for a ransom of prisoners became available for the students, and they required immediate funds, but they were too embarrassed to say so to me or to ask for money. Instead, they took the tapestry.”
The students responded: “Now that we have explained the situation, let the Master take back the tapestry.” The doctor explained:
“From that moment when I realized the tapestry was missing, I put it out of my mind and committed it for charity. As far as I am concerned, it is already designated for that purpose, and I cannot take the tapestry back.”
The students followed his wishes, departed from him with admiration and thanks, and, by the report of their experience, increased his well-earned fame.
The most noble trait in Abba Umna’s character was that he never accepted any remuneration from the poor, and even provided them with everything, during their illness, that could contribute to their comfort; and when, by his skill and care, he had restored them to health, he would give them money and say,
“Now, my friends, go and purchase bread and meat; these are the best and only medicines you require.”
(Based on Ta’anis 21b)
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Ahavas Chinam, Sinas Chinam and the Beis haMikdash
A Tale of Ahavas Chinam
Two brothers lived on two sides of a mountain. One was very wealthy but had no children, one had many children but was very poor.
The wealthy brother thought, I have so much and my brother has so little, let me secretly cross the mountain in the middle of the night and bring my brother extra crop. The poor brother said, I derive so much happiness from my children, let me secretly bring my brother some of my crop so he could have a little extra joy in this world.
Every night each of the brothers would secretly cross the mountain to bring their brother food. Every morning the brothers would inspect their stock to learn nothing was missing. Neither could explain the phenomena but they thanked the Holy One, blessed be He for His kindness and continued in their good will.
These nightly activities went on for years, until one night on top of the mountain, the brothers met. In that instant, in the dark of night, the glow of brotherly love lit up the mountain sky. They each understood what the other had been doing and fell into each other’s arms in a loving embrace. They Holy One. blessed be He looked upon this expression of brotherly love and declared, “On this spot of mutual love I wish to dwell. Here My Holy Temple will be built.”
The main message of this ancient tale is one of brotherly love and ahavas chinam. We learn in Tehillim (Psalm 133:1) “Hinei matov u’mah naim, sheves achim gam yachad, Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.” How appropriate that so many assume that the site of the Temple, which was destroyed because of sinas chinam, among other reasons, should have been chosen because of brotherly love.
A Tale of Sinas Chinam
There was a man who made a party. He instructed his servants to invite his friend Kamtza. His servants erred and invited his enemy Bar Kamtza. When Bar Kamtza arrived at the party the host was furious. He instructed his servants to throw him out.
Bar Kamtza, being very embarrassed pleaded with his host to allow him to stay and even offered to pay for his meal. The host wouldn’t hear of it, Bar Kamtza must leave. The guest begged him not to create a scene and offered to pay for half of the whole party. No way. He upped his proposition and offered to finance the entire price of the party but the host was still adamant.
Bar Kamtza was totally humiliated. He looked around and saw a room full of friends, at the head table were all the Rabbis. No one said a thing. In anger Bar Kamtza said, “Since the Rabbis were sitting there and did not stop him, this shows that they agreed with him. I will go and inform against them to the government”. One thing led to the other and Jerusalem was destroyed. (Gittin 55b-56a)
From these two stories we learn a simple lesson of history. It was love of two men which caused Jerusalem to be built and hate between men which caused it to be destroyed.
Yerushalayim means city of peace. It came about through peace, its purpose is peace and was destroyed due to the lack of it.
Because of the love of brothers Jerusalem was selected. Because of causeless hate – Jerusalem was destroyed.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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A Song and a Shabbos Promise
Hinda Rivka was gathered up with the Jewish community of Czechowa and forced to make the journey to the a nearby labour camp. She knew full well that many who went on this journey never returned. She seemed to have an inner light that shined with peace and a resolve to remain strong in her faith. Only with such an mindset, she felt, could she maintain her religious lifestyle and cling ever closer to her Creator —her primary motivation in all she did.
Hinda Rivka’s dignity stood revealed from the moment she arrived at the camp. Every morning, she drank only a small portion of her allotted water and used the rest to wash her hands and say a blessing. She saved a measure of her daily bread to barter for a small siddur (prayerbook), from which she whispered her prayers to the Master of the Universe. She frequently shared her precious siddur to others so they too could pray.
The weeks before Pesach, Hinda Rivka and her friends began to save bits of potato and other vegetables, in order to be able to survive the festival without eating chametz. On Yom Kippur, they hid their bread rations until nightfall, but one of the Nazis heard that some girls were fasting and seized the reserved bread so that the girls were forced to fast not one, but two days.
Hinda Rivka was a simple girl with strong faith who steadfastly refused to work on Shabbos at any price. Though many of the other girls were taken out and killed for taking such a stand, her single-mindedness in this area was astonishing. She many times worked a double shift on weekdays instead.
When a truck came to transport inmates from place to place, and it appeared as though the trip would afford opportunity for escape, Hinda Rivka refused to go as it involved traveling on Shabbos. She remained behind in the camp. In her heart, she clung to the promise that had been made to her by the holy Piltzer Rebbe (Chanoch Gad Yustman) a promise that she would be saved in the merit of her Shabbos observance.
She worked in a munitions factory. It was hard backbreaking labour. Throughout the long hours of work, Hinda Rivka would in her pleasant voice sing a Yiddish song entitled “G-tt un Zein Mishpot Is Gerecht” (G-d Is Correct in His Judgment) The chorus of this song may be translated as follows: “G-d, Your decrees are just. The Creator knows what He is doing. No one is punished for naught.”
Her rescue from the Holocaust came about as a result of her Shabbos observance: The death transports were carried out on Shabbos, the day on which Hinda Rivka did not work. The lights from her Shabbos candles and sacrifices burned bright.
She left war torn Poland and went to Jerusalem where she lived for a number of years. As she lay on her deathbed, she called the chevra kaddisha and lifted her hands and sang and sang, “G-tt un Zein Mishpot Is Gerecht” (G-d Is Correct in His Judgment) and then said out loud Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad.
A Gut’n Shabbos mit brochah und Shalom
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(A Good Shabbos with Blessings and Peace)
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ST2 The Rich Man, His Gold and Hope
ST1 The King and the Storm
a short story of friendship and faith – The King and the Storm – What is a friend? This is a lesson learned by a king during a hunting trip with his “friends.”
A tale based on the Scripture, “He who loves purity of heart, and grace is on his lips, the king shall be his friend” (Proverbs:22:11)
The Story Tour podcast is now available on ITunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/story-tour/id1406607471
The Sultan and King David
One night the Turkish sultan disguised himself as a merchant and walked about his capital city. When he entered the Jewish quarter, he heard loud singing. As he went closer, he saw that the people were dancing in a great circle. He heard the words of a song, “Dovid Melech Yisrael; Chai, Chai, V’kayam” and asked about the song and was told that the words were “David, king of Israel, lives and endures. (Rosh Hashanah 25a)”
When the sultan heard this, it confirmed his suspicions that the Jewish people were not loyal to him, but to their own king.
The next day the sultan demanded that a holy rabbi who was one of the leaders of the community to answer for the disloyalty of the Jewish community. The rabbi insisted that King David had died long ago, but the sultan would not listen. He demanded that the holy rabbi bring him a gift that could come only from King David. If the rabbi did not, he would banish all the Jewish people and destroy their property throughout his kingdom.
The holy rabbi was very afraid of the treat made by the sultan against the Jewish people. He knew that he had to prepare himself to ask for guidance from heaven. It was clear that only a miracle could make it possible for him to fulfill the king’s command. So he fasted for three days, immersed himself in the mikveh seven times, and prayed with all his heart. Finally he heard a heavenly voice announce that he must travel to the city of Luz in the Holy Land. There he would find King David, who, in truth, was still alive. So too did the heavenly voice reveal the holy name that would make it possible for him to go there.
Now the way to the city of Luz is one of the most closely guarded secrets. The histories of the city, reaching back to the very beginng, are filled with every detail of learning and life. Yet these same histories, though complete, do not record a single death, nor a single flood or fire. All who live inside its walls have never known death, the Angel of Death is powerless and can do them no harm.
Now that heaven had opened a path for him, the holy rabbi set out on his journey. He pronounced the holy name that had been revealed to him, and in a single breath he found himself inside the walls of that city. There he saw an old, old man, far older than any he had ever seen before. He asked the old man if King David could be found there. And the old man said: “No. King David lives in a cave out in the desert, near a spring. Once a year a flock of birds fly in that direction, and today is the day they will arrive here. Follow the birds to the spring, and immerse yourself in the waters before you enter the cave.”
The holy rabbi thanked the old man and left the city. Just as he stepped outside the gates of the ancient city of Luz, he heard a rumble like thunder as thousands of birds filled the sky. Once more he pronounced the holy name that had brought him to that place, and he found himself flying as fast as that flock to the spring the old man had spoken of, with the cave nearby.
The holy rabbi immersed himself in that spring and then entered the cave. There he saw King David reclining on a couch. Above him hung his harp and on a stand sat his crown of the kingdom. King David welcomed him, for he too had heard a heavenly voice announcing the rabbi’s visit. He knew of the danger facing the Jewish people of Turkey.
King David brought forth two pitchers of water and gave them to The holy rabbi. He told him to wash his hands in the waters of the first pitcher. And the instant the waters touched the rabbi’s hands, his skin grew white as snow, as happens with leprosy. The rabbi was very frightened, but King David told him not to worry, just to pour the water of the other pitcher over his hands. And as soon as he did this, The holy rabbi’s skin was restored to its healthy state. Then King David said: “Now that you know the power of the waters in these pitchers, take them to the sultan. He will understand that this gift could come from no one but me. For the waters of the first pitcher are from Gehenna, and those of the second are from the Garden of Eden.”
When The holy rabbi took his leave of King David, he pronounced the holy name for the third and final time. And in an instant he found himself back in the land of Turkey, before the palace of the sultan. There he was granted an audience, and he gave the sultan the two pitchers that he had received from King David.
The sultan wanted to know what was so precious about the water in those pitchers. The holy rabbi suggested that the sultan pour the water from the first over his hands. When the sultan did, his skin turned leprous and the sultan was horrified. He knew that if anyone found out, his reign would be over. People would see the disease as a a sign that he was no longer fit to rule. The sultan pleaded with the holy rabbi to cure him. The rabbi assured him that he would cure him if he promised not to harm the Jewish people of Turkey in any way. The sultan quickly vowed to do so, and the rabbi told him to wash his hands in the water of the second pitcher. And as soon as the sultan did, he recovered. Then the sultan knew that none could have sent him those enchanted waters but King David himself, and never again did he threaten the Jewish people of his kingdom.
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Sharing Gan Eden With a Cook
The most important thing is not study but action. (Pirke Avos 1:17)
It is told that a holy rabbi prayed that the Holy One, blessed be He show him his place in Gan Eden (Heaven). One night in a dream he saw that he would be seated next to a cook. This surprised him, and he thought to himself, “I have studied Torah day and night, yet my place is beside a cook.” After the dream, he decided: “I shall go and find him and ask him what he has done so special.”
He went and found that the cook was a very wealthy man. He became a guest of the cook and stayed with him for eight days, and the cook showed him great honor and respect. The holy rabbi requested the cook meet him in a field outside of the city and asked him: “Please tell me what you have been doing that is so special.”
The cook thought for a moment and then slowly answered, “By reason of my many sins I have studied very little Torah. All my life I have been a cook. At first I was poor but I have grown wealthy. Every Shabbos (Sabbath) eve since I began cooking, I have distributed meat to the poor at my expense and I give a great deal in charity.” The holy rabbi listened and then asked, “Please tell me whether you have done anything more than that.”
Then the cook slowly began, “I’ll tell you about something I was once the local tax collector for this city. When a ship arrived, I collected any goods I thought proper as a tax. Once a ship came here, and I collected the dues. After my collec¬tion the captain came to me and said: ‘If you wish to purchase what is in the hold on my ship, I’ll sell it to you.’ ‘Tell me what it is,’ said I requested. ‘I shall not tell you,’ the captain answered, ‘until you have bought it and paid for it. And if you do not buy it, I shall not sell it at all.’ ‘In that case,’ I agin requested, ‘tell me how much it is, and I shall decide.’ “Ten thousand in gold,’ the captain told me; and I told him: ‘Show me the goods, and I shall pay it.’ ‘I shall only give it,’ he answered ‘if you give me twenty thousand in gold.’ ‘Show it to me,’ said I, ‘and I shall pay.’ ‘I shall not give it to you,’ he said then, ‘unless I receive forty thousand in gold.’
“When I saw that he was raising the price all the time, I decided that it must be something very valuable, so I agreed to pay him the gold. ‘Give it to me,’ said he, ‘before I show you.’ And I gave him forty thousand in gold.
“Immediately he brought out from the ship’s lower hold two hundred Jewish souls whom he had captured, and said to me: `If you had not purchased them today, I would have slain them and flung them into the sea. “Now he handed them over to me, and I brought them home. I fed them and gave them to drink and anointed them with oil and clothed them. I also enabled those who were unwedded to wed one another.
Among the refugees was an exceedingly beautiful maiden, and I took pity on her and gave her to my son, and he wedded her. Then I invited all my townsfolk to the wedding feast. When the guests sat down to eat, I stood among them and saw that a young man who had been among the cap¬tives was weeping. ‘Why are you weeping?’ said I to him; but he did not wish to tell me. Finally, I led him to a room, and there he told me that the day they had been taken captive was the very day on which he should have wedded that maiden. ‘If you are prepared to divorce her,’ said I to him, ‘I shall pay you a hundred pieces of silver.’ ‘My lord,’ said he to me, ‘I desire her more than all the silver and gold in the world, but what can I do if your son has stood under the bridal canopy with her.’
“At this, I went to my son and told him: ‘Divorce her.’ And I gave her to that young man and made them wealthy. This is the thing I have done.”
Then the holy rabbi said to him: “Blessed be the Ever Present who has privileged me to be seated beside you in Gan Eden!”
So let a man engage in Torah and good deeds at all times, and practice charity. For money is not his but belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He, as the Prophet Haggai said: “The silver is Mine, the gold is Mine, says the Lord” (2:8). And it is also written in the Book of Psalms: “For God judges; this one He brings down, and that one He lifts up” (75:8).
(based on Tanchuma, Mavo 68)
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