Ardavan, the king of Persia, believed that the fulfilment of one’s life was to be as rich and wealthy as possible. The leader of the Jewish people during the reign of Ardavan was Rabbi Yehuda haNasi, or as most people called him, Rebbe. Rebbe was an extremely wealthy man. Therefore, when Ardavan became the owner of a diamond that was so perfect it surpassed evaluation, he sent it to Rebbe. He also sent along a message saying, “Send me something that is as valuable as this.”
Ardavan felt that he had attained total fulfillment by owning this stone and wanted to see if Rebbe could outdo him.
Rebbe understood the underlying meaning of Ardavan’s message; therefore, he wrote a mezuzah and sent it to Ardavan. (The mezuzah is a piece of parchment with specific paragraphs of the Torah [Deut. 6,4-9, 11, 13-21] written on it. The Torah commands us to place it on the doorpost of each room in which a person lives.) Rebbe’s intention was to convey to Ardavan the idea that the fulfillment of man was not through earthly wealth but could only be achieved through spiritual media. The mezuzah, with which we observe a commandment of the Torah, is one way to reach a high level. To study the Torah itself is an even higher level of spiritual greatness. Spiritual experience, not physical experience, is the only true fulfillment of man on this earth.
The king sent back a message, “I gave you a priceless object, and you returned something worth a folar (a small soiled coin).
Rebbe then replied, “The Torah explains the value and greatness of even a small commandment.” He went on to explain that spiritual development is greater than physical fulfillment.
Ardavan, the king of Persia, believed that the fulfilment of one’s life was to be as rich and wealthy as possible. The leader of the Jewish people during the reign of Ardavan was Rabbi Yehuda haNasi, or as most people called him, Rebbe. Rebbe was an extremely wealthy man. Therefore, when Ardavan became the owner of a diamond that was so perfect it surpassed evaluation, he sent it to Rebbe. He also sent along a message saying, “Send me something that is as valuable as this.”
Ardavan felt that he had attained total fulfillment by owning this stone and wanted to see if Rebbe could outdo him.
Rebbe understood the underlying meaning of Ardavan’s message; therefore, he wrote a mezuzah and sent it to Ardavan. (The mezuzah is a piece of parchment with specific paragraphs of the Torah [Deut. 6: 4-9, 11, 13-21] written on it. The Torah commands us to place it on the doorpost of each room in which a person lives.) Rebbe’s intention was to convey to Ardavan the idea that the fulfillment of man was not through earthly wealth but could only be achieved through spiritual media. The mezuzah, with which we observe a commandment of the Torah, is one way to reach a high level. To study the Torah itself is an even higher level of spiritual greatness. Spiritual experience, not physical experience, is the only true fulfillment of man on this earth.
The king sent back a message, “I gave you a priceless object, and you returned something worth a folar (a small soiled coin).
Rebbe then replied, “The Torah explains the value and greatness of even a small commandment.” He went on to explain that spiritual development is greater than physical fulfillment.
Rabi Yehudah replied: “All of your desirable things are not compared unto her (the mezuzah, symbolizing the knowledge of G-d). Moreover, you sent me something that I must guard, whereas I sent you something that guards you while you are asleep, and while you are awake, as it says ‘When you walk, it shall lead you (in this World); When you lie down, it shall watch over you (in the hour of death); and when you awake, it shall talk with you”’ (in the World to Come) (Proverbs 6:22; Midrash Rabbah 35).
Ardavan was still skeptical about all this when suddenly a demon came flying into the room and settled itself in the body of Ardavan’s only daughter. Ardavan was very disturbed about the welfare of his only child and called in all the medical and spiritual doctors of his kingdom. But nothing helped. Ardavan saw that his daughter’s condition was deteriorating rapidly and so he decided to give one last try. He took the mezuzah Rebbe had written for him and put it up on the doorpost of the sick child’s room. The demon immediately left her weakened body.
Ardavan realized the wisdom of the mezuzah in the teaching, “When you walk, it will lead you; when you lie down, it will watch over you; and when you awake, it will talk with you.” (Proverbs 6:22)
With the gratitude and blessings of King Ardavan Rebbe then kept the beautiful and expensive diamond.
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)