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Tag: language

A Cry to the King

Posted on Sunday, 10, September, 2017Monday, 19, September, 2022 by Rabbi

There once was a wise king who had a son he loved very much. The king knew that one day his son would ascend the throne and wear the royal crown and so he wanted him to learn about the world and government. He sent his son to learn wisdom and skills from the many lands throughout the world.

The king made sure that his son had everything he needed including gold and silver as well as a well provisioned ship. With a pain in his heart, the king watched as the ship faded in the distance.

The prince, being young, lost his fortune as he traveled through many lands. Many years passed and one day the prince realized that he was without any means to take care of his needs. Sadly, he decided to return to his father’s palace and began his long hard journey home. After a long time, he arrived at the courtyard gate to his father’s palace.

In the long time he had traveled, he had forgotten how the language was spoken in his native country, and he was unable to identify himself to the guards. He was tired, confused and hopeless and in his despair he began to cry out in a loud voice. The King, who happened to be walking the battlements, recognized the voice of his beloved son. Hearing the crying of his son, the King went out to him and brought him into the palace, welcoming him with tight embraces and kisses.

Shofr Sounds

We see from this story that: The King is G d. The prince is the Jewish people, who are called the “Children of the living God.” (Hosea 1:10). The King sends a soul down to this world in order “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your G-d (Micah 6:8) and to fulfill the words of Torah and mitzvos.

However, the soul becomes very distant and forgets everything to which it was accustomed to above, and in the long exile it forgets even its own “language.” So it utters a simple cry to its Father in Heaven. This is the blowing of the shofar, a cry from deep within, expressing regret for the past and determination for the future. This cry brings about G d’s mercies, and He demonstrates His abiding affection for His child and forgives him.

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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Posted in Holiday, Holidays, Rabbi's thoughts and teaching, Rosh haShanah, Rosh haShanah, Stories, UncategorizedTagged Jewish Stories, Judaism, language, Rabbi Rock, Rachmiel Tobesman, Rosh haShanah, Rosh Hashanah Stories, ShofarLeave a Comment on A Cry to the King

No One Understood

Posted on Sunday, 12, December, 2010Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The greatest gift that the Holy One, blessed be He gave to man was the ability to speak and communicate. Yet it is also the undoing of many, though we may speak the same language and believe that certain things need no explanation we still do not understand one another. It is so common in today’s world for people to talk at one another instead of to one another.

No One Understood

A shepherd was once strolling through a meadow behind his meandering sheep. As he walked, he played a merry tune on his flute. In an adjoining field, a harvester was cutting sweet clover and loading it upon a wagon to take home for cattle feed. The harvester and the shepherd did not know one another, nor could they communicate, since they spoke different languages. And so each tended to his own business, while casting curious glances at the other from time to time.

Noon came and the sun was at its blazing zenith. The shepherd looked longingly in the distance to see if his daughter was approaching with his lunch pail, as she did each day at this time. But there was no one in sight. A long time passed and he began worrying. “I must go home and see if everything is all right,” he said to himself.

He walked towards the harvester in the adjacent field. “Listen here, my friend,” he said, accompanying his words with elaborate gestures to make sure the other understood, “I must go home for a short while and leave the sheep here. I cannot take them with me because it would take too much time to herd them together and get them moving. If I go, I will run both ways and be back in a hurry. Please keep an eye on the sheep. Don’t let them run away. They are resting now. I am sure they will give you no trouble. They are easy creatures to handle.”

The harvester heard the words but did not understand a single one. He interpreted the shepherd’s gestures in a far different manner than intended: “You are harvesting all that hay that grows so plentifully in the field while my sheep lie here where the grass is scant. Won’t you cut some down for them, too?”

This aroused the harvester’s anger. “That is very impudent of you! You sit at your leisure under the tree and expect others to do your work for you under the blazing sun? Go! Begone with you!” and with that, he gave a wave of his hand.

This sign of dismissal was clear to the shepherd. He interpreted it to mean: “Go home, if you must. I will keep an eye on your sheep, since I am here anyway.”

His heart set at ease, the shepherd went home, stayed a while and returned a short while later. How happy he was to see the sheep grazing quietly and contentedly as if he had been there all the while.

“How decent it was of the harvester to look after them,” he thought to himself. “I must give him something in apprecia­tion.” He looked about him and wondered what would be suitable.

His eyes fell upon a little lamb that limped a bit. If he sold it, it would not fetch much. But as a gift…

He tied a rope about its neck and began leading it to the adjoining field.

“Good day, my friend,” he said. “I wanted to thank you for the favor you did to me. Here, take this lamb as a sign of my gratitude.” He held the string out to the harvester.

The harvester did not understand a word, as before, and misconstrued the shepherd’s meaning. He thought he meant: “I asked you to watch my sheep and look what happened! This lamb became lame, thanks to you!”

The harvester was understandably insulted and turned to the shepherd. “How dare you come to me with complaints? Am Ito blame? You are the one who left the sheep untended. What do you want from me?”

The shepherd thought that the harvester was dissatisfied with the gift.

He picked up the lamb to show him that it was really a decent gift, indeed. `See,” he gestured, “it is fat and healthy. The only thing wrong with it is its leg. It will make a tasty meal, I am sure!” He again pointed to the broken foot as if to say that that was its only defect.

Seeing the shepherd harping on the broken foot convinced the harvester that the shepherd was again accusing him of being negligent. Fuming, he shouted, “Leave me be, idiot! What business is it of mine?” And he shoved the shepherd backwards.

Shocked by such coarse behavior, the shepherd stepped forward and pushed the harvester. Before long, the two were pummeling one another with heavy blows.

Along came a traveler, hot and dusty from the road. Noticing a horse wandering in the field untethered, he was curious to see if it belonged to anyone, since he wished to ride it a bit. Seeing no one about, he decided to climb on its back for the time being, and ask questions later. He rode on until he came upon the two quarreling men. When they saw the stranger, they ran up to him, grabbed hold of the reins, and asked him to dismount, so that he could resolve their dispute.

The rider, who did not understand either of the two, was sure that they were the owners of the horse demanding an explanation for his having appropriated their animal. Afraid of punishment, he leaped off and ran away.

The remaining two were sure that he had gone off to get help and were afraid of getting into trouble. Both fled as well; the shepherd urging his sheep forward and the harvester shouldering his tools.

The scene returned to its pastoral serenity, with only the horse left to graze upon the delicious clover.

As for the three men, each ran off in different directions, feeling disappointed and frustrated.

The shepherd could not understand why the harvester had been so insulted at the gift he had offered. Had he owed him anything to begin with?

The harvester did not understand why the shepherd blamed him for the sheep’s broken leg, when he had not been to blame.

And the traveler wondered why the two men had attacked him for taking a ride on an untethered horse. He had not meant to steal it!

Each of the three was convinced that he was right. How, then, had such a misunderstanding resulted?

The reason is very simple: Each one interpreted the other’s actions according to his own way of thinking. No one tried to understand what the other was saying. Lack of communica­tion was to blame for this argument.

We do speak the same language as our friends and acquaintances. Nevertheless, we still misinterpret one another’s true meaning and intent. These misunderstandings can often lead to ill feelings, quarrels and even blows.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Posted in Derech Eretz, Faith, language, lashon harah, Rabbi's thoughts and teaching, Stories, UncategorizedTagged communication, Jewish Stories, Jewish Storytelling, language, Loshon hara, Rachmiel Tobesman, speech, Spirituality1 Comment on No One Understood

The Raven and the Eagle

Posted on Wednesday, 1, December, 2010Wednesday, 20, December, 2023 by Rabbi

A hungry raven circled above a quiet river. Birds chirped merrily, and the wind blew pleasantly. It was a perfect spring day in an idyllic setting.

The raven had no interest in the beauty of nature. It was on the lookout for food. Anything would do — the carcass of a bird, a rabbit, or a field mouse.

Raven

You can imagine its joy when the smell of a dead cat reached its nostrils. The raven swooped off in the direction of the odor, cawing loudly in eager anticipation.

How happy it was when it came upon its prey.

Just as it was about to feed on this fat meal, a shadow fell across the ground. The raven looked up and saw an eagle flapping its great wings very slowly and swooping down towards him.eagle

“I heard your cheery cawing,” said the king of birds. “Thank you for informing me of this juicy meal. And now, you may leave. I claim this carcass all for myself. If your life is dear to you, you would do well to remove yourself at once, unless you wish to become my dessert.”

Angry and disappointed, the raven lifted its wings and flew away, hunger gnawing at his belly.

“I’ve learned my lesson,” it said bitterly to itself. “It never pays to make too much noise.” For is it not taught:

“A bird of the air shall carry the voice.” (Ecclesiastes 10:20)

“Your secret is your prisoner. Once you reveal it, you are its prisoner.” (Mibhar haPeninim #321)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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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Posted in Derech Eretz, language, lashon harah, Rabbi's thoughts and teaching, Stories, UncategorizedTagged ecclesiastes 10:20, Jewish Stories, language, moral tales, Rabbi Rock, raven, speech, stories about secrets2 Comments on The Raven and the Eagle

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