Tag: Pesach Stories
“You Shall Remember that You Were a Slave in the Land of Egypt”
(Deuteronomy 5:15)
The requirement to recall “that you were a slave in Egypt” enables an individual to avoid feelings of conceit and pride. For “when pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with the humble. (Proverbs 11:2) To what can this be compared?
There once was a king who set out on a hunting trip. As he was exploring the fields in the hope of finding game, he came upon a shepherd in a meadow who was sitting next to his flock of sheep and playing a flute.
The king was delighted by the pleasant tunes that were coming from the flute, and he found himself unable to move from his place. After some time had passed, the shepherd finished his melody. The king approached the shepherd and began to speak with him and discovered that he was very wise.
The king was amazed by the shepherd’s complexity of thought, and he invited him to come with him to his palace. The shepherd agreed and went with the king.
From then on, the shepherd lived in the royal palace, and the king asked his advice regarding all matters. In time, the shepherd rose to become one of the king’s closest advisors.
Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who is able to stand before jealousy (Proverbs 27:4) and the other advisors were jealous and filled with hatred towards the shepherd who was so beloved by the king. They decided to tell terrible stories about him, informing the king that his trusted advisor had stolen from the royal treasury.
The king summoned the shepherd and questioned him, but he managed to convince all those who were present that he was an honest and upright individual. However, the jealous advisors still managed to persuade the king to conduct a search of the shepherd’s quarters, in hopes of finding some evidence of theft.
They all went together to search the shepherd’s quarters, but found nothing more than a modestly furnished home, lacking any luxuriousness whatsoever. They went from room to room finding nothing suspicious, until they came to a room that was sealed by both lock and bolt.
“What is inside this room?” asked the king.
The shepherd fell to his knees and began to plead with the king:
“Your Highness, I beg of you, do not ask me to show you what lies beyond this door! I am embarrassed by what you will find there.”
The shepherd’s pleas only served to strengthen the king’s suspicions, and he demanded that the door be opened.
When the door was opened, they glanced around the room but saw nothing more than the old clothing of a shepherd and a flute. The king and his officers were confused.
“Your Highness,” explained the former shepherd. “from the day that I came to your palace, I have not grown the least bit proud or conceited over the importance that I have achieved. This is due to my daily visits to this room, when I sit here and play my flute, recalling my days as a simple shepherd.”
So it is that remembering “that you were a slave in Egypt” will prevent a Jewish person from becoming arrogant. For whenever he feels himself swelling with pride, he will recall his days as a lowly slave in Egypt and the haughtiness will thus be banished from his heart. “A person’s pride will bring humiliation, but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” (Proverbs 29:23)
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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Matzah and Shalom Bayis (Peace in the Family)
Pesach with all of its many preparations, is a holiday of peace. The seder conducted with shalom bayis (peace in the family) is the goal of every Jewish family.
The rabbi’s wife was busy in the kitchen with all the last-minute preparations for the Seder, when there was a knock at the door. A young girl who was helping prepare for the seder at the Holy Rabbi’s house answered the knock at the door. Someone had come to the home of the holy rabbi with a request for matzah for the seder. Seeing a stack of matzos wrapped up in a napkin, the young girl who opened the door innocently gave them away and hurried back to work.
A short time later, the rabbi’s wife realized the matzahs were none other than the special ones that which had been baked that same day with holy intentions. The matzahs were prepared with all manner of careful precautions against chometz. They were baked for the holy rabbi’s Seder. There was no way to get the special matzahs back. She felt her heart sag within her. How could she tell her husband of the mishap and cause him spiritual anguish? There was only one thing to do. She took a bundle of plain, ordinary matzos, deftly wrapped them up in the very same napkin, and pretended to know nothing of the whole affair. And that same evening, her husband conducted the Seder with the ordinary matzos.
Soon after Pesach (Passover) was over, a young couple visited the holy rabbi seeking a divorce.
“What makes you want to divorce your wife?” he asked the husband.
The young man answered that his wife had refused his request to cook for him during Pesach in separate utensils without shruyah — for it is the custom of certain pious folk to avoid allowing even baked matzah to come in contact with water throughout the festival.
Hearing this, the holy rabbi called for his wife and said, “Tell me the whole truth, please. What kind of matzos were placed before me at the Seder table?”
The rabbi’s wife was afraid to speak up, so she held her peace.
“Do tell me, please,” he reassured her; “have no fear.”
The rabbi’s wife mumbled the truth: “Ordinary matzos …” And she proceeded to to tell her husband the whole story.
The tzaddik now turned to the over-zealous young husband standing before him, “Look here, my son,” he said. “On the first night of Pesach I ate plain, ordinary matzah not the special ones that were prepared for the seder.” The holy rabbi continued, “I pretended not to know nor sense the difference, in order that I should not be brought to expressing hard feelings or harsh words to my beloved wife – G-d forbid — and you want to divorce your wife because of shruyah?!”
The holy rabbi then restored harmony between them, and they left him in peace.
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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Creating a Prayer – Shema and Pesach
One prayer unites Jewish people around the world – the Shema. The words of the Shema – Hear O Israel, the L-rd is Our G-d, the Lord is One – are said everyday.
Many rabbis and many more people have thought about the first sentence of the Shema. The Shema is a declaration of the Jewish people. It is an affirmation of faith, a vital part of the prayer service, and a meditation.
Every Jewish person can have a relationship with G-d as it says in the Shema “our G-d”. Pesach is a time when Jewish people come together to read the Haggadah and celebrate this joyous holiday.
One year, before beginning his own Seder, the holy rabbi of the village wandered through the village. He listened as people conducted their own Seders. As he walked down the cobble stoned alleys he heard the voices of simple Jewish families singing and reciting the narrative of the Haggadah. He stopped near the wooden shutters of one of the cottages and heard a voice reading aloud:
The Torah speaks of four sons: one wise son, one wicked son, one simple son, and one who does not know how to ask questions.”
Every time the reader came to the word for “one” — echad — he would cry it out aloud with prolonged concentration, just as people do when they say Shema Yisrael.
The holy rabbi was delighted at this approach. He commented later that this simple villager made out of the Four Sons of the Haggadah — including even the wicked son — a beautiful prayer. A sacred prayer as the Shema Yisrael.
Every year we read the words of the Haggadah: “All who are hungry, let them come and eat. All who are needy, let them come and celebrate the Passover with us.”
Let all of our prayers come together so that all Jewish people can unite as one and say the Shema and bring peace so that we can all celebrate Pesach in the Holy City of Jerusalem next year.
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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Like a Rose Among the Thorns
Shir haShirim, The Song of Songs is read in many Synagogues on Shabbos Chol haMoed.
Sometimes the meanings of the words are hard to understand. The verse says: Like a rose among the thorns (2:2), but what can this mean?
One may think that a tavern would seem to be a most unpromising place in which to serve one’s Maker. So, at least, was the conflict that raged inside a simple Jewish tavern keeper who came to pour out his heart to the holy rabbi who was visiting the village. Since he earned his living by pouring drinks for all kinds of vulgar people, and had no choice but to hear their coarse language and see their improper behavior, he was afraid that he might become common by his contact with them.
The holy rabbi smiled and said: “It seems that you want to fulfill your function of being faithful and proper by being given a sack full of gold coins, being seated in a clean and splendid palace, dressed in silken garments with an impressive fine hat upon your head, with shelves on all sides filled with holy books — and then you will be able to serve the Almighty with your prayer and study proceeding from a clear and pure mind. But you may take my word for it: if the Holy One, blessed be He wants individuals to serve Him without any distractions or obstacles — why, for that he’s got hundreds of thousands of angels! The real delight that He finds in This World comes from those who are surrounded on all sides with difficulties and hardships, until it almost seems to them that they have been forced into a gutter — and even with this their minds cleave firmly to their Creator, and they anxiously yearn for the happy opportunity of one single moment when they’ll be able at last to address just a few words to Him. This longing no angel can experience! Do not complain about your livelihood. On the contrary, give thanks to Him for having given you the privilege of serving Him in this manner — to stand all day long in a place of impurity, and yet in your heart of hearts to cling to the wellspring of holiness and faith!”
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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The Passover Haggadah Says Whoever Elaborates on the Story is Praised
Every year at Passover time we are reminded that “whoever tells at length about the leaving from Egypt, increases his own praise. Because the more one recognizes and appreciates the great miracles performed on his behalf, the more his own worth becomes apparent.”
It once happened that….
A ship transported many merchants to a distant land to sell their wares. The ship’s passengers included all sorts of merchants, each with his own merchandise: flour, fabrics, art objects, and precious stones.
Out at sea, a pirate vessel approached the ship. The pirates commanded the ship’s captain to veer from his course and follow their vessel, as a captive ship.
Fear descended upon all the ship’s passengers, for the pirates were infamous for their cruelty.
The fearless captain immediately gathered his crew together and told them how to behave at this difficult time. The sailors obeyed his orders. Some climbed up the main mast and stretched out the sails. Some stood on the deck, swords and boarding hooks in hand, and some descended to the belly of the ship and fired cannons at the pirate’s ship.
When the pirates saw the captain’s and the sailors’ courage, heard the sound of cannons, they turned around and hastily sailed away.
Although all of the merchants felt great happiness. This was not felt equally by each and every one of them. The relief of a merchant whose sacks of flour have been saved cannot be compared to the rejoicing of one whose precious jewels have been saved.
Without knowing which merchant had the most valuable cargo, one could guess it by seeing which merchant expressed his relief more than others that the ship had been saved. The more elaborate the merchant’s appreciation of the rescue, the more valuable his wares.
When the haggadah says, “and whoever elaborates on the story is praised” it speaks about the person who elaborately recounts the story of the leaving from Egypt, he reveals true faith. “Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Psalm 95:2)
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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The King and the Wall
The hagaddah says:
“…even if we were all wise, all of us clever, all elders of our people, all fully versed in the Torah, we would still be obligated to recall the leaving from Egypt.”
It is the retelling of the story and the strengthening of faith that will bring us closer to the time when we will no longer be slaves.
There was once a city that was very well fortified. It was enclosed by a thick stone wall, thought to be impenetrable.
A wise king decided to conquer this fortified city. After inspecting the fortifications, he sent his mightiest soldiers to bring down the wall and attack the city. These soldiers fell.
He next sent a second wave of less mighty soldiers, and then a third wave, and so on. Before long, his entire army had been depleted, and the wall had not come down.
But the king did not give up. Once again, he circled the city, inspecting its walls “How can you expect to capture this city if all your mighty soldiers are gone?” he was asked. The wise king smiled. “If you look closely, you will see that though the soldiers could not breach the wall, they did succeed in cracking and weakening it. It is no longer strong and impenetrable. Now, with even the weak and wounded I can bring down the wall.” The king then sent his few remaining and weakest soldiers into battle and conquered the city.
Though the armies of the King did not succeed in bringing the Mashiach (Messiah), all the great Tzaddikim (Saints and holy people) of the previous generations did succeed in cracking the wall.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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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
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A Rabbi’s Holy and Simple Seders
One Passover, a rabbi conducted his first Seder with great spiritual inspiration. He carried out each of the Kabbalistic intentions and felt as if he were soaring through the heavens. He never remembered carrying out such an exhilarating Seder.
On the following night, he rabbi lay down to rest after the evening prayers to gather his strength. Suddenly, he was overcome by a deep sleep. Without realizing, he slept for several hours, waking only a half hour before midnight.
The rabbi was accustomed to finish the afikoman before midnight on the second night as well and, therefore, had to rush through the entire Seder. He had no time for mystic thoughts. With little more than the simple meanings of the words in mind, he read the Haggadah and ate the matzah, maror, and afikoman.
He felt crushed, How could he have conducted such a Seder, particular after yesterday’s heights?
After Pesach, the rabbi went to visit his master and teacher in a faraway city. When the rabbi greeted his teacher, his teacher replied:
“I watched your Seders, my student. The first night, shockingly low, soaring through the heavens, pheh…
“The second night, wonderful. The simple meaning of the Haggadah, the earnest desire to fulfill G-d’s command. How could anyone conduct a holier Seder!”
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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This year, we are slaves…
The haggadah says, “This year, we are here; next year, in the Land of Israel. This year, we are slaves; next year, free men!”
We are still in exile today. The exile of Egypt was a difficult one, with bricks, mortar, and back breaking work. While today’s is one of abundance and wealth, so much so that sadly, people often do not realize that they are still in bitter Exile. It is like:
A prince rebelled against his father. The irate king exiled his son to a place far from the palace, decreeing that the rebellious prince must do hard labor and working with is hands.
Now the prince had never done any work at all, and he was completely unaccustomed to hard labor and working with is hands. He immediately sent his father a letter, begging for forgiveness and promising faithfully that he would never again do anything to challenge or disrespect him.
The letter touched the king’s heart, and he granted to the prince’s request and returned him to the palace as before.
Sadly, after a while, the prince forgot all that had happened and again rebelled against his father. The angry king exiled the prince once again, to the same land and to the same hard physical work.
When the king’s son saw that he was truly in a terrible situation, he wrote to his father once more, begging for mercy and forgiveness, and promising that he would never repeat his wicked actions.
The king received this letter and thought to himself, “My son writes to me now only because he finds himself in great distress, and not because he truly wishes to he close to me. If I forgive him and return him to the palace, he will once again sin against me.
“So instead, I will release him from the hard physical work in his exile—but not return him to the palace. Instead, I will support him there, in his exile, bountifully and pleasantly. Now, if my son truly wishes to return to my home, he will send me a letter with that request. But if he does not send me such a letter, I will know that he is not really devoted to me, and that all of his requests to return stemmed only from the hardships that he suffered there.”
When the Jewish people were in Egypt, the Egyptians burdened them with hard labor and working with is hands. The Jewish people cried out to Hashem, Who hurried to redeem them and take them out of Egypt. Sadly, after the Jewish people returned to the Land of Israel, they sinned against Him. As a result, the Holy One, blessed be He exiled them among the nations, where today many of them enjoy pleasant and easy lives.
If, from this comfortable exile, the Jewish people still cry out to Hashem and beg to return, this is a clear sign of their sincere, desire for Hashem’s love, But if they do not ask to return from this exile, it is a sign that they seek only a life of ease and comfort.
Long Seder….Long Meal….Long Exile
Pesach was approaching quickly and everyone was preparing for the holiday. Once, two Jewish beggars were traveling together. One beggar told the other to go to the shul (synagogue), and the Jewish householders would have pity on him and invite him to a seder.
And so it was, both beggars were invited to seders. The evening started with Kiddush, and the one beggar thought to himself, “Good wine means good food.”
This was soon followed by karpas (green vegitable), and the beggar thought to himself, “A good meal begins with an appetizer.”
After a long while, people washed and the blessings were said and the matzah was served, and the beggar thought to himself, “It’s about time the meal was served, I’m just about starved.”
Then the maror (bitter herbs – usually horseradish) was served. The beggar took a full teaspoon and his mouth felt as though it was on fire. He quickly ran from the house.
“How was your Seder?” asked one beggar to the other. The disgruntled beggar then told him what had happened.
“Fool!” replied the one beggar. “If you had waited just a little longer, you would have had a fine meal, as I had.”
The same is true when we want to come close to the Holy One, blessed be He. After all the effort to begin, we are given a little bitterness. This bitterness is needed to purify the body. But we might think that this bitterness is all there is to serving G-d, so we run away from it. This is a mistake. If we would only wait just a short while — if we would allow ourselves to be purified — then we would experience every joy and delight in the world in our closeness to G-d.
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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)