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.
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)
