Debts and Faith

Posted on Tuesday, 6, September, 2011Sunday, 23, July, 2023 by Rabbi

A wealthy merchant made known that anyone in his city in need of a loan should come to him, and he would receive the entire sum that he needed.

Upon hearing of the wealthy merchant’s offer, many people came to his home. The wealthy merchant sat at his desk with his notepad open in front of him. He gave each person the sum of money that he needed and then jotted down the amount in his notepad. Sometime later, the wealthy merchant realized that of all the people he had lent money to, not one had paid him back.

It happened that one of the people who had borrowed money truly did not have the means of repaying the debt. He decided to go to the wealthy merchant and explain why he was late in returning his money. He hoped that the man would be kindhearted and understand his situation.

We are all indebted to the Holy One, blessed be He for the abundance of kindness that He showers upon us at each and every moment. But due to our small stature and limited skills and faith, we are incapable of repaying that debt. What we can do, though, is speak to others and inspire them regarding matters of faith, reminding them that they, too, are indebted to the Holy One, blessed be He.

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 Shepherd’s Flute

Posted on Tuesday, 30, August, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Many times we ask: “What is prayer?” It is indeed a difficult question to answer, but are we not taught: Only that man’s prayer is answered who lifts his hands with his heart in them. Taanis 8a

Another thought: Every word of your prayer is like a rose which you pick from its bush. You continue until you have formed a bouquet of blessings until you have pleated a wreath of beauty and glory to G-d.

A shepherd once grappled with the question of payer:

There once was a Jewish shepherd who was very simple and had very little understanding of Jewish prayer and traditions. Everyday he would go out to the fields with the sheep and as he watched the flock, he would sit on a rock and play upon his flute.

As the Jewish Holidays neared he saw many people traveling on the road going to the nearby city. Each day more and more people traveled down the road. The shepherd asked the travelers what was so special that they were going to the city for.

“We are on the way to a holy rabbi, to spend the holidays with the tzaddik,(a pious and righteous man), and pray that the Holy One, blessed be He answer our prayers with goodness, mercy and health.”

“Why is this so important?” asked the shepherd.

“Come with us and see how special the holy rabbi is”

The boy was uncomfortable, for you see he did not know how to pray. He only knew that he was Jewish and that there is a G-d who provides for all our needs. Not knowing what to do, the boy went into the woods with his flute to think and play a soulful melody. He thought and thought for a long time and decided to go with the people to meet this special rabbi.

The shepherd left the woods and the fields behind him as he walked down the road to the city. He did not know what to expect. He felt everyone knew more than him. He could not pray and did not even know the language of prayer.

He slowly made his way to the old wooden shul (synagogue) and saw that everyone was deep in prayer. The holy rabbi looked so sad. The shepherd carefully watched the holy rabbi who stood under his large tallis (prayer shawl) in front of the shul. It covered his head and body, and the boy saw him swaying gently back and forth. The shepherd began to sway as he thought to himself, “the grain in the field moves with the wind out of respect for the Creator of all things and this is how everything in the world is holy.”

The shepherd sat when everyone else sat he stood up when they stood up, but the holy rabbi was different. He seemed to be shivering and standing most of the time. The young boy felt that each person in the old wooden shul (synagogue) was able to pray to G-d but not him. At one point, every one was standing up and it was so quiet in the shul that the shepherd could actually hear his very own heart beating. He looked at the holy rabbi and saw on the floor a wet spot, the rabbi was crying. He felt an urge to do something, but what could he do? He could not read Hebrew, he knew no prayer. With streams of his own tears, he pulled out his flute and played a soulful tune to the holy One, blessed be He.

As he began his melody, the people in the shul (synagogue) were shocked. They turned in anger to look at this terrible violation of the holy prayer service. As they shouted at him to stop this terrible thing, the boy looked terrified. The holy rabbi, ran up to the boy and said, “Sha shtil (quiet, be still) no one is to say anything harsh to this boy for it is because of him that the blessings of Heaven are possible this day.”

The people were awed of the tzaddik’s words, as he explained “All day we have prayed, but not one prayer ascended to the heavens. The gates of the heaven were closing as the holiday was ending when suddenly, this boy in his innocence and pure heart and tears began to play his flute. He prayed with all his heart, with all his soul and with all his might and the doors of heaven opened up and our prayers were accepted.”

“We should learn from this simple shepherd and his prayer.” He took the young boy by the hand and led him to the front of the shul (synagogue) and together under the holy rabbi’s tallis they finished their prayers.

Everyone can pray with true devotion. Let us just open ourselves up and let our prayers and thoughts rise to G-d, for He hears all prayers.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The New Fabric and Faith

Posted on Thursday, 11, August, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

In a certain city lived the owner of a fabric mill who had successfully developed a new type of fabric. It was a remarkable fabric, strong, soft to the touch and appealing to the eye.

The fabric became very popular, and many people gathered outside his mill to buy it. It became so popular, that he was simply unable to manufacture enough of the fabric to meet the overwhelming demand.

While there were many individuals who actually preferred their old clothes, which were still in excellent condition, they nevertheless, purchased the new fabric and had clothing sewn from it, as they wanted to keep up with the styles.

One who observed a group of people wearing clothing made from the new fabric, would have no way of knowing which of them truly enjoys wearing the clothing and which of them is wearing those clothes just to be fashionable.

However, there is one way to discern a weaver’s true motives. If the person meets the inventor and makes an effort to thank him for his innovative achievement, even telling him how pleased they are with the fabric, it is an indication that the person is truly pleased.

But then there are those who greet the inventor with a sour face and treat him rather poorly. Given the opportunity, they will even go so far as to blame him over the fact that he caused them to spend a great deal of money. Such individuals are wearing the fabric only to appear fashionable.

One can distinguish between the Divine service of various individuals, in the very same manner. There are those who perform the mitzvos (religious duties) out of Heavenly fear and love for the Creator. Then there are those who perform the mitzvos by rote, simply for the sake of discharging an obligation. The only way to discern between them is by observing the manner in which they carry out the mitzvos. One who fulfills them with joy and excitement and tries to be as meticulous as possible, falls under the category of one who truly loves the Holy One,blessed be He. But if not…

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Tisha B’Av and Teshuvah

Posted on Monday, 8, August, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Tisha B’Av, the Fast of the Ninth of Av is a day of mourning to commemorate the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people, many of which coincidentally have occurred on the ninth of Av.

Tisha B’Av primarily commemorates the destruction of the first and second Holy Temples which stood in the holy city of Jerusalem, both of which were destroyed on the ninth of Av (the first by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E.; the second by the Romans in 70 C.E.). It is also appropriate to consider on this day the many other tragedies of the Jewish people, many of which occurred on this day, most notably the expulsion of the Jewish people from Spain in 1492.

Though we remember the tragedies and are saddened by them, it is a time of joy. One should not be overcome by the sadness, but remember that the Holy One, blessed be He hears the prayers from our broken hearts and provides us with many opportunities.

It once happened that some rabbis walked through the holy city of Jerusalem everyday, and when they came upon the Western Wall they would remember the Holy Temple and cry.

One day as they approached the place of the destroyed Holy Temple, they saw a strange sight. There was a man singing and dancing. The rabbis went to the man and asked him, “don’t you know what this spot is?” The man answered not, he just continued to sing and dance. “Have you no respect? Do you not mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple?” The man answered not, he just continued to sing and dance. The rabbis became angry and began to scold the man.

The man stopped his singing and dancing, turned and faced the rabbis. “Rabbis, holy rabbis, you ask about my behavior, but understand not. I sing and dance because it says in the Holy Torah that we should love G-d with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our might. See the greatness of G-d who takes his anger out on wood and stone and lets us do teshuvah (repent), continue to do good deeds and study Torah.”

The rabbis left the man to his singing and dancing and realized that Torah is the basis of life.

May all your
tales end with Shalom (peace)

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According to the Exertion Is the Reward

Posted on Wednesday, 27, July, 2011Sunday, 29, October, 2023 by Rabbi

A king wished to build a magnificent palace for himself, the likes of which had never before been seen. The king’s officers therefore hired a world-renowned architect who was known to be an expert in his field.

The architect was brought before the king and, shortly thereafter, presented him an extraordinary blueprint for a palace that would be both enormous and awe-inspiring.

The blueprint found favor in the eyes of the king, and he gave orders to commence construction at once. He had but one request to make of the architect, however: He desired that the palace be completed on the anniversary of his ascension to the throne. He would then stage a gala celebration, during which the new palace would be dedicated.

The builders expended much effort and, indeed, a glorious new palace, whose beauty was unmatched by any other edifice, stood completed one month before the designated time.

In order to paint the palace walls, the king hired four expert painters. Each one was assigned one wall and was instructed to paint it with vibrant and cheerful colors.

Three out of the four painters began working immediately. They mixed colors together and decorated the walls with many wonderful designs and patterns. One of the painters, however, sat carelessly by and did not begin painting.

“Why have you not begun working?” asked one of the painters. “If you do not start now, you will be unable to finish in time!”

“Don’t worry,” responded the painter. “I will have plenty of time to finish.”

Nearly one month later, the three painters had produced walls of sheer beauty; a fantastic kaleidoscope of colors blended harmoniously into matching patterns that were amazing to behold. The fourth wall, however, stood embarrassingly empty of any color or magnificence whatsoever.

One day before the king’s anniversary, the painter went to the palace and hung large mirrors on the fourth wall that reflected the other three walls. Now the fourth wall appeared to be painted as well, and it looked quite splendid.

When the king entered the palace and beheld its sheer beauty, he was ecstatic. Wishing to show his appreciation for his workers’ efforts, the king ordered his servants to bring in three bags filled with gold coins and jewelry.

He then instructed them to hang the bags on the three painted walls.

“Here you go,” said the king to the painters. “Your reward is hanging on the wall that you painted.”

“But what about my reward?” asked the clever fourth painter. “Your reward,” answered the king, “is reflected in the mirror that you hung on the wall…”’

The lesson of this story is quite clear – “the reward is in proportion to the exertion” (Pirkei Avos 5:26)

May the L-rd reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the L-rd, (Ruth 2:12)

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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Rags to Riches

Posted on Sunday, 3, July, 2011Tuesday, 18, June, 2024 by Rabbi

A king’s son was once walking along the way when he reached a fork in the road. Suddenly, a band of thieves attacked him, intent on murdering him. Much to his good fortune, however, a poor man dressed in rags happened to be walking along the road at that very moment. When he saw the thieves, he gathered up his courage and in a display of great strength, set upon the thieves with his walking stick and saved the king’s son.

Upon hearing of the poor man’s brave deeds, the king had him summoned before him. When the poor man arrived, the king thanked him and exclaimed, “As a reward for having saved my son, I hereby permit you to spend an entire day in the royal treasury; you may take anything that your heart desires.”

When the gates of the royal treasury were opened for the poor man, he joyously fell upon the massive piles of gold and diamonds and began to gather all that he could.

When evening settled in and the poor man left the royal treasury, he had completely changed. In one day, he had gone from being a destitute beggar to a very wealthy man. The next day, this former poor man went into business, and in a short while he became extremely successful. He now became one of the wealthiest men in the land, and he completely forgot about his former life of poverty.

Every year, the former poor man staged a huge feast on the day that he had been blessed with the good fortune of entering the royal treasury. He invited all of his friends and relatives to the feast, and it was a custom that lasted for many years.

One year in the middle of the feast, the wealthy man turned to his friends and asked, “Which day of my life do you think was the happiest of all for me?”

“It must be this very day,” responded the guests. “This day on which you have made a feast for all of your friends must be the happiest day of your life! After all, on this day your palace is decorated, your servants surround you, and all of the distinguished individuals in the land accord you great honor!”

Jewish Feast

“You are mistaken,” said the wealthy man. “While this day is certainly one of great joy, it is but a remembrance of the day on which I was remade, literally transformed from a lowly beggar in ragged clothing to a man possessing enormous wealth. That day was the happiest of my life:

“I spent that entire day,” he continued, “inside the royal treasury. I felt neither hunger nor weariness; rather, it was as if my complete being was focused on only one goal — amassing the valuables that lay inside the treasury. The more valuables I amassed, the more joy I reaped. I have yet to experience a happier day than that one.”

So it is with us, the Holy One, blessed be He grants a person life as a gift. Throughout his life, man has the ability to amass as many good deeds and acts of kindness as his heart desires.

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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Shavuous: Seasonal Torah

Posted on Friday, 3, June, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

We tell stories of yesteryear of the assault of the maskillim (the “enlightened” ones) on the more traditional Orthodox Jewish communities. They frowned upon faith, but adopted a national culture to better to better “fit in”. Someone once suggested to one of the Torah authorities that modifications in halachah (Jewish law) are needed because the Torah was given thousands of years ago and is not relevant to modern times.

The rabbi replied calmly, “A while back I had to litigate a case. A merchant had ordered goods from a supplier, and specified that he wanted them delivered by November 1, in time for a special sale. That fall there were very heavy rains, and the roads were impassable, with the result that the order was not delivered when it should have been. The merchant sued the supplier, claiming that he had lost a great deal of money due to his failure to deliver on time. After studying all the facts, I ruled in favor of the merchant.

“The supplier protested, but I told him that I must apply the rules of the Torah, according to which the judgment was in favor of the merchant. Realizing the case was about to be closed, he made one final attempt to sway me.

“‘The Torah was given on Shavuos, wasn’t it?’ he pointed out. ‘Yes, of course’ I responded, eager to hear what argument he could have contrived.

‘There you have it!’ he exulted. ‘Shavuos does not occur in autumn, and that’s why the Torah law favors my opponent. If the Torah would have been given during the rainy season, the halachah would have favored my side.'”

After allowing the message to sink in for a second, the Rabbi added, “Don’t you recognize the simple truth that it is as absurd to restrict the Torah (Scriptures) to any one era as it is to make it seasonal?!”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Kochava, the Wonder Child

Posted on Tuesday, 24, May, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Long ago, there lived a rabbi and his wife who had no children. They prayed every day for a child of their own, but their prayers were never answered.

Now it is said that the sky opens at midnight on the night of Shavuos, and any prayers or wishes made at that time come true. So one Shavuos the rabbi and his wife decided to stay awake, so that their prayers would be certain to reach G-d’s ears.

To their amazement, at midnight the sky parted like the waters of the Red Sea, and for one instant the world was filled with the glory of heaven. And in that instant both the rabbi and his wife wished for a child. That night the rabbi’s wife dreamed of a wonder child, a girl who would be born to them clutching a precious jewel. In the dream the rabbi’s wife was told that the child must keep the jewel with her at all times, for her soul was inside it. And if she ever lost that jewel, she would fall into a deep sleep from which she would not awaken until the jewel was returned.

The next morning, the rabbi’s wife told her husband the dream, and he was much amazed. And, indeed, things occurred exactly as foretold, and nine months later a beautiful baby girl was born to them. In her right hand she clutched a precious jewel, which seemed to glow with a light of its own. The rabbi and his wife named their daughter Kochava, which means “star,” and the rabbi set the jewel in a necklace for her to wear around her neck.

One day, when Kochava was only three years old, she picked up her mother’s flute. She had never played a flute before, but the moment she put it to her lips, beautiful melodies poured forth. Not only could she play any musical instrument, but at a very early age, she taught herself to paint lovely pictures, to write the letters of the alphabet, and to read books. Her favorites were the books on her father’s shelves that told stories of the ancient days when Abraham and Moses walked in the world.

As the years passed, Kochava grew into a beautiful girl. Her lustrous black hair shone in the sunlight. Her dark eyes sparkled like the dazzling jewel she wore around her neck. Her skin was as smooth as the outside of a peach, and her smile brought happiness to everyone who met her.

Now the rabbi and his wife realized that their daughter was truly a wonder child, as the dream had promised, and they gave thanks to G-d. But in their hearts was the fear that someday she might be separated from her necklace and lose her soul. That is why the rabbi and his wife watched carefully over Kochava and rarely let her leave home.

One day the rabbi and his wife learned that the queen was going to visit the bathhouse that very day and that she had invited all the women of the village to come there. Kochava asked her mother if she, too, could go, for she had never seen the queen. At first her mother was afraid, but at last she agreed to let her go.

When the two arrived at the bathhouse, the women looked at Kochava in amazement. “Where did she come from? Why, she is more beautiful than the queen!” they exclaimed.

When the queen heard this, she grew angry. “Who is this girl?” she asked her servants. They replied that Kochava was a Jewish girl of great beauty and that it was said that she could play any musical instrument set before her.

The queen demanded to see Kochava for herself. And when she realized that the girl’s beauty did indeed outshine her own, she was filled with jealousy, and with the sudden fear that her son, the prince, might see Kochava and fall in love with her. And that would be a terrible thing, for she wanted the prince to marry a princess, not a poor Jewish girl.

The queen had one of her servants bring forth a flute and commanded the girl to play it. At once Kochava played a melody so beautiful it brought tears to everyone’s eyes. Everyone’s, that is, except the queen’s. Then the queen commanded that the girl play a violin, and after that a harp. And from every instrument that Kochava touched, beautiful melodies poured forth. When the queen saw that Kochava truly had a great talent, she ordered: “This girl must return with me at once to my palace to serve as one of my royal musicians.”

The rabbi’s wife was heartsick at the thought of Kochava’s going off to live in the palace, yet she knew they must obey the queen. But before Kochava left, her mother took her aside and whispered that she should never, ever take off her necklace, nor should she tell anyone that it held her soul. Then the mother and daughter kissed good-bye, and Kochava rode off in the royal carriage with the queen.

Now the queen had no intention of letting Kochava be a musician, for in :hat way her son, the prince; might see her. Alas, as soon as they reached the palace, she shut Kochava in the dungeon and ordered that she be left to starve.

So it was that the confused girl found herself imprisoned and frightened for her very life. She would have died of hunger had not the prison guard, overwhelmed by her beauty and gentleness, brought her food in secret. In her dark cell, Kochava wept for her mother and father, and prayed to be saved from the evil queen.

One day the queen went down to the dungeon to see for herself if Kochava was still alive. As she walked into the dark cell, she was surprised to see a glowing light. When she looked closer, she realized that the light was coming from the jewel Kochava wore around her neck, and that the girl was, indeed, still alive.

“Give me that necklace!” the queen demanded. “I want it for myself.” Kochava was terrified, for she remembered her mother’s warning. But the queen, not waiting for Kochava to obey, pulled it off herself. And the moment she did, Kochava sank into a deep sleep.

The queen was delighted. “Ah, I’m rid of her for good,” she cried. Then she ordered the prison guard to bury Kochava far away from the palace where no one could ever find her. But when the guard reached the wood far from the palace, he saw that Kochava was still breathing, and he realized that she was only asleep. So he brought her to a but he knew of in that forest, and left her there. Day after day, Kochava slept a long, dreamless sleep, and no one except the guard knew she was there.

One afternoon, when the prince was out riding in the woods, he saw that very but and decided to stop there and rest. When the prince entered, he was astonished to find a sleeping girl, and he lost his heart to her the moment he saw her. The prince wanted to tell her of his love, but when he realized that she would not wake up, he was very sad. So the prince put a guard outside the but to protect the sleeping beauty. Every day he came to visit her, and every day he shed tears because she could not be awakened.

As the days passed, the queen noticed the sadness of her son, and one day she asked him what was wrong. He told his mother that he was in love with a beautiful young girl.

“Is she a princess?” asked the queen.

“Surely,” said the prince, “she is a princess.”

“In that case,” said the queen, “would you like to give her a gift to show your love?”

“Oh, yes,” said the prince, “I would like that very much.”

“Then I know just the gift for a beautiful princess,” replied the queen. “It is something very special.” And she brought forth the jewel that she had taken from Kochava. The prince took the necklace to the sleeping girl at once, and the moment he put it around her neck, she woke up.

“Who are you?” asked Kochava as she looked around the small hut. “And where am I?”

The prince told Kochava how he had found her and how she had awakened at the very instant he had placed the necklace around her neck.

Kochava looked at the jewel and remembered how the queen had snatched it from her. “Where did you get this?” she asked.

That is how Kochava learned that the one who had saved her was none other than the queen’s son. And when the prince learned of his mother’s evil deed, he realized that Kochava’s life was in danger. He decided to leave the girl in the hut while he hurried back to the palace.

When he arrived, he went straight to the queen. “Mother, I have great news,” he said. “I’d like to get married.”

“I can see how much you love this princess,” said the queen. “I will give orders for the wedding preparations to begin at once!”

Every servant worked night and day. The cooks prepared a magnificent feast, the gardeners cut huge bouquets of roses, and the maids polished the silver goblets until they shone. By the seventh day everything was ready. All the people of the kingdom were invited to the wedding. They gathered at the palace and whispered to one another, “Who is the bride ?” For not even the queen had seen her. But when the bride arrived, she was wearing seven veils, and no one could tell who she was.

Among the guests at the wedding were the rabbi and his wife, who had come hoping they might see their daughter, Kochava, from whom they had not heard since the day the queen had taken her to the palace.

At last the wedding vows were spoken, and the guests waited breathlessly as the prince lifted the veils, one by one. And as he lifted the seventh veil, everyone gasped at Kochava’s great beauty. Everyone, that is, except the rabbi and his wife, who could not believe their eyes, and the queen, who thought she was seeing a ghost. Screaming with terror, she ran from the palace as fast as she could and never was seen again.

So it was that the prince and his new bride became the rulers of the kingdom, and Kochava was reunited with her father and mother. At the palace Kochava continued to play music and make people happy with her songs. And the love that Kochava and the prince had for each other grew deeper over the years, and they lived happily ever after.

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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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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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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A wealthy merchant made known that anyone in his city in need of a loan should come to him, and he would receive the entire sum that he needed.

It happened that one of the people who had borrowed money truly did not have the means of repaying the debt. He decided to go to the wealthy merchant and explain why he was late in returning his money. He hoped that the man would be kindhearted and understand his situation.

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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Many times we ask: “What is prayer?” It is indeed a difficult question to answer, but are we not taught: Only that man’s prayer is answered who lifts his hands with his heart in them. Taanis 8a

Another thought: Every word of your prayer is like a rose which you pick from its bush. You continue until you have formed a bouquet of blessings until you have pleated a wreath of beauty and glory to G-d.

A shepherd once grappled with the question of payer:

There once was a Jewish shepherd who was very simple and had very little understanding of Jewish prayer and traditions. Everyday he would go out to the fields with the sheep and as he watched the flock, he would sit on a rock and play upon his flute.

As the Jewish Holidays neared he saw many people traveling on the road going to the nearby city. Each day more and more people traveled down the road. The shepherd asked the travelers what was so special that they were going to the city for.

“We are on the way to a holy rabbi, to spend the holidays with the tzaddik,(a pious and righteous man), and pray that the Holy One, blessed be He answer our prayers with goodness, mercy and health.”

“Why is this so important?” asked the shepherd.

“Come with us and see how special the holy rabbi is”

The shepherd left the woods and the fields behind him as he walked down the road to the city. He did not know what to expect. He felt everyone knew more than him. He could not pray and did not even know the language of prayer.

“We should learn from this simple shepherd and his prayer.” He took the young boy by the hand and led him to the front of the shul (synagogue) and together under the holy rabbi’s tallis they finished their prayers.

Everyone can pray with true devotion. Let us just open ourselves up and let our prayers and thoughts rise to G-d, for He hears all prayers.

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)

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In a certain city lived the owner of a fabric mill who had successfully developed a new type of fabric. It was a remarkable fabric, strong, soft to the touch and appealing to the eye.

The fabric became very popular, and many people gathered outside his mill to buy it. It became so popular, that he was simply unable to manufacture enough of the fabric to meet the overwhelming demand.

While there were many individuals who actually preferred their old clothes, which were still in excellent condition, they nevertheless, purchased the new fabric and had clothing sewn from it, as they wanted to keep up with the styles.

One who observed a group of people wearing clothing made from the new fabric, would have no way of knowing which of them truly enjoys wearing the clothing and which of them is wearing those clothes just to be fashionable.

However, there is one way to discern a weaver’s true motives. If the person meets the inventor and makes an effort to thank him for his innovative achievement, even telling him how pleased they are with the fabric, it is an indication that the person is truly pleased.

But then there are those who greet the inventor with a sour face and treat him rather poorly. Given the opportunity, they will even go so far as to blame him over the fact that he caused them to spend a great deal of money. Such individuals are wearing the fabric only to appear fashionable.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Tisha B’Av, the Fast of the Ninth of Av is a day of mourning to commemorate the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people, many of which coincidentally have occurred on the ninth of Av.

Though we remember the tragedies and are saddened by them, it is a time of joy. One should not be overcome by the sadness, but remember that the Holy One, blessed be He hears the prayers from our broken hearts and provides us with many opportunities.

It once happened that some rabbis walked through the holy city of Jerusalem everyday, and when they came upon the Western Wall they would remember the Holy Temple and cry.

The rabbis left the man to his singing and dancing and realized that Torah is the basis of life.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

A king wished to build a magnificent palace for himself, the likes of which had never before been seen. The king’s officers therefore hired a world-renowned architect who was known to be an expert in his field.

The architect was brought before the king and, shortly thereafter, presented him an extraordinary blueprint for a palace that would be both enormous and awe-inspiring.

The builders expended much effort and, indeed, a glorious new palace, whose beauty was unmatched by any other edifice, stood completed one month before the designated time.

In order to paint the palace walls, the king hired four expert painters. Each one was assigned one wall and was instructed to paint it with vibrant and cheerful colors.

Three out of the four painters began working immediately. They mixed colors together and decorated the walls with many wonderful designs and patterns. One of the painters, however, sat carelessly by and did not begin painting.

“Why have you not begun working?” asked one of the painters. “If you do not start now, you will be unable to finish in time!”

“Don’t worry,” responded the painter. “I will have plenty of time to finish.”

Nearly one month later, the three painters had produced walls of sheer beauty; a fantastic kaleidoscope of colors blended harmo­niously into matching patterns that were amazing to behold. The fourth wall, however, stood embarrassingly empty of any color or magnificence whatsoever.

One day before the king’s anniversary, the painter went to the palace and hung large mirrors on the fourth wall that reflected the other three walls. Now the fourth wall appeared to be painted as well, and it looked quite splendid.

When the king entered the palace and beheld its sheer beauty, he was ecstatic. Wishing to show his appreciation for his workers’ efforts, the king ordered his servants to bring in three bags filled with gold coins and jewelry.

He then instructed them to hang the bags on the three painted walls.

“Here you go,” said the king to the painters. “Your reward is hanging on the wall that you painted.”

“But what about my reward?” asked the clever fourth painter. “Your reward,” answered the king, “is reflected in the mirror that you hung on the wall…”’

The lesson of this story is quite clear – “the reward is in proportion to the exertion” (Pirkei Avos 5:26)

May the L-rd reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the L-rd, (Ruth 2:12)

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

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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When the gates of the royal treasury were opened for the poor man, he joyously fell upon the massive piles of gold and diamonds and be­gan to gather all that he could.

Every year, the former poor man staged a huge feast on the day that he had been blessed with the good fortune of entering the royal trea­sury. He invited all of his friends and relatives to the feast, and it was a custom that lasted for many years.

One year in the middle of the feast, the wealthy man turned to his friends and asked, “Which day of my life do you think was the hap­piest of all for me?”

“You are mistaken,” said the wealthy man. “While this day is cer­tainly one of great joy, it is but a remembrance of the day on which I was remade, literally transformed from a lowly beggar in ragged clothing to a man possessing enormous wealth. That day was the happiest of my life:

So it is with us, the Holy One, blessed be He grants a per­son life as a gift. Throughout his life, man has the ability to amass as many good deeds and acts of kindness as his heart desires.

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

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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If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

“The supplier protested, but I told him that I must apply the rules of the Torah, according to which the judgment was in favor of the merchant. Realizing the case was about to be closed, he made one final attempt to sway me.

“‘The Torah was given on Shavuos, wasn’t it?’ he pointed out. ‘Yes, of course’ I responded, eager to hear what argument he could have contrived.

‘There you have it!’ he exulted. ‘Shavuos does not occur in autumn, and that’s why the Torah law favors my opponent. If the Torah would have been given during the rainy season, the halachah would have favored my side.'”

After allowing the message to sink in for a second, the Rabbi added, “Don’t you recognize the simple truth that it is as absurd to restrict the Torah (Scriptures) to any one era as it is to make it seasonal?!”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Long ago, there lived a rabbi and his wife who had no children. They prayed every day for a child of their own, but their prayers were never answered.

Now it is said that the sky opens at midnight on the night of Shavuos, and any prayers or wishes made at that time come true. So one Shavuos the rabbi and his wife decided to stay awake, so that their prayers would be certain to reach G-d’s ears.

As the years passed, Kochava grew into a beautiful girl. Her lustrous black hair shone in the sunlight. Her dark eyes sparkled like the dazzling jewel she wore around her neck. Her skin was as smooth as the outside of a peach, and her smile brought happiness to everyone who met her.

When the two arrived at the bathhouse, the women looked at Kochava in amazement. “Where did she come from? Why, she is more beautiful than the queen!” they exclaimed.

When the queen heard this, she grew angry. “Who is this girl?” she asked her servants. They replied that Kochava was a Jewish girl of great beauty and that it was said that she could play any musical instrument set before her.

May all your
tales end with Shalom (peace)

Nearly one month later, the three painters had produced walls of sheer beauty; a fantastic kaleidoscope of colors blended harmoniously into matching patterns that were amazing to behold. The fourth wall, however, stood embarrassingly empty of any color or magnificence whatsoever.

When the gates of the royal treasury were opened for the poor man, he joyously fell upon the massive piles of gold and diamonds and began to gather all that he could.

Every year, the former poor man staged a huge feast on the day that he had been blessed with the good fortune of entering the royal treasury. He invited all of his friends and relatives to the feast, and it was a custom that lasted for many years.

One year in the middle of the feast, the wealthy man turned to his friends and asked, “Which day of my life do you think was the happiest of all for me?”

“You are mistaken,” said the wealthy man. “While this day is certainly one of great joy, it is but a remembrance of the day on which I was remade, literally transformed from a lowly beggar in ragged clothing to a man possessing enormous wealth. That day was the happiest of my life:

So it is with us, the Holy One, blessed be He grants a person life as a gift. Throughout his life, man has the ability to amass as many good deeds and acts of kindness as his heart desires.

“Give me that necklace!” the queen demanded. “I want it for myself.” Kochava was terrified, for she remembered her mother’s warning. But the queen, not waiting for Kochava to obey, pulled it off herself. And the moment she did, Kochava sank into a deep sleep.