The King’s Two Sons

Posted on Wednesday, 23, February, 2022Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

A king had two sons; one was very proud, always bragging, and full of conceit. The other was extremely humble, modest, and pleasant.

One day, the king decided to send his sons to different lands in order to see if they would be able to add them to his kingdom. The king was hoping that his sons could influence the leaders in the different lands to peacefully agree to accepting his rule.

The arrogant and proud son arrived at the land to which his father had sent him, and he began to treat the leaders and people harshly. The prince refused to listen to anyone and make unreasonable and selfish demands.

When the people of the land saw the king’s conceited son and determined what type of person he was, they immediately understood his intentions and drove him out of their country in disgrace. “When his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him.” (Daniel 5:20)

On the other hand, when the second son arrived in the land to which he was sent, he quickly won the heart of its inhabitants with his pleasant manner. He learned their concerns and patiently listened to their needs, and it was not long before they asked him to rule over them.

A proud and arrogant person is quickly recognized for what they are and therefore able to rule for only a short while. Yet a person who possesses the quality of humility — even if he may not be noticed immediately is soon noted for his pleasant nature and is willingly accepted as a ruler.

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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Work and Pride

Posted on Sunday, 1, November, 2020Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The great sages were porters, smiths, hewers of wood and drawers of water (RaMBaM Yad: Matanos Aniyim 10:18). Only manual work can make you blessed (Midrash Tehillim 23:3)

A rabbi was told about a person who had no income, and was asked to help raise funds for him. “The man is literally dying of hunger,” he was told by a concerned member of the community.

The rabbi thought for a moment or two and answered, “I don’t understand. He is a healthy and capable person. Surely he could find a job to earn enough to meet his needs.”

“Sadly, none of the jobs open to him are proper for him,” responded the concerned member of the community. “He is a very proud person, and the jobs that are available are menial and he feels they are beneath his dignity.”

“Well then,” the rabbi said, dismissing the cause, “in that case, it is not true that he is dying of hunger. He is really dying of pride.”

Some people are unable to tell between the two. Their sense of personal pride and standing dominates them so keenly, that they can not consider many possible choices.

The Talmud requires that one should take even the most menial job rather than resort to living off others. “Skin hides in the market place for wages; do not say ‘I am a great person, this is a disgrace for me’ (Pesachim 113b).”

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. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

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ST17 A Pile of Dust

Posted on Wednesday, 24, October, 2018Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Listen to a short story about pride

A Pile of Dust

makes one wonder, “How can a plain pile of dust blow itself up so mightily until it becomes a proud mountain? “

Click the title below to read this short story

A Pile of Dust

The rabbi has tried to add at least one or two new stories and one podcast each week, with the hope of strengthening faith and understanding through the many readers and communities. Due to rising expenses and the need to work longer hours and harder, his stories have become less frequent.

What was originally started as a way to share old and forgotten tales of faith costing almost nothing and representing a few hours a week of time commitment evolved into a project demanding a lot of time and expense. The highest cost is the time cost – working on this site many hours a week. This is all very good, and we’re delighted at the steady growth in popularity of the Story Tour Blog, but please don’t let us become victims of our own ‘success’!

No income from the Story Tour Blog has been realized, but expenses have grown such as web-hosting, software and other web-based development costs. Our goal is to raise $5000.00 which would allow us to improve the Story Tour Blog. If you feel you’ve received some value, or would like to help support the site’s ongoing presence, please share. Any donation would be much appreciated and will help to keep the site online and growing.

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Who’s So Great?

Posted on Thursday, 23, November, 2017Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Leaders from all corners of the country came together in the capital city to find a way to have the harsh anti-Semitic laws abolished. Religious schools were being closed and the excessive tax on candles made every day life for the Jewish community very difficult. The leaders hoped to find a way to ease the pain of the many people affected by the unfair laws.

Some of the community leaders took advantage of meeting to boast of their many accomplishments and to remind others how important they were. One holy rabbi sat and listened to the ongoing bragging and was justifiably upset especially since the focus should have been on finding ways to have the oppressive laws abolished.

When the holy rabbi stood before the community leaders, he decided to teach a strong lesson:

“The donkeys once came before the Ribbono shel Olam, Master of the Universe with a complaint: Why had He assigned them the role of being beasts of burden? Couldn’t He have allotted them a better role in life? Why not give them the power of speech so that they could accomplish things with their thoughts just as humans do, instead of being limited to physical labor?

“G-d agreed that they had a legitimate point, and told them that He would experiment by giving the wisest of them the capacity to talk, which He did with Bilaam’s donkey. But lo and behold! As soon as the creature was empowered to speak, what did it announce? ‘Am I not your donkey, which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I been in the habit of treating you this way?’ (Numbers 22:30).”

“G-d therefore decided, ‘If all a donkey can talk about is his own great achievements, he is better off being silent.’ People might be tempted to spiritual pride — tempted to think to ourselves, Look how valuable I am to the Holy One, blessed be He and look what He has done through me!’ ”

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)

New – Listen to the stories every Wednesday evening on the Story Tour Podcast on

Google Play or ITunes

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Computers, Pride and the Twice Sewn Coat

Posted on Friday, 5, September, 2014Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

You can listen to The Twice Sewn Coat by clicking here

Rosh haShanah is quickly approaching and the preparation for the review by the Holy One, blessed be He for us to be inscribed in the Book of Life can be overwhelming. In this time before this holiday of deep retrospection and review of our actions for the past year, we pledge ourselves to improve ourselves and the greater community.

In a world so filled with science and technology where one depends on computers, cell phones and other electronics it is easy to get lost in the constant streaming and instant resources. Some feel that we are much better than those of past generations. A student recently was assigned to write a three paragraph essay about the world without computers and other electronics. He was bewildered and could not imagine such a world.

In our pride we have forgotten how to talk, be personable, or simply be courteous. Today’s society, in its pride, has become less human. In this time leading up to Rosh haShanah, let’s try to touch and interact with the world around us and not be proud of our electronic prowess and its effects upon our society.

We learn from the Holy Writings:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are My ways your ways” (Isa. 55:8). When a man has a vessel, he rejoices in it as long as it is whole and useful; when it is broken, he has no use for it. Now, what is the Holy One’s precious vessel? Man’s heart. When the Holy One sees a man proud in heart, He has no use for him, as is said, “Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the L-rd” (Prov. 16:5). But when the heart is broken, He says, “This one is Mine,” as is said, “The L-rd is near to them that are of a broken heart” (Ps. 34:19).

There once lived a master Jewish tailor. Even the nobility, for miles around, came to have their clothing fashioned by his talented hand.

Once, a nobleman came to the tailor bring with him a bolt of cloth. Handing it to the tailor, he said, “This is very fine and expensive material; it comes all the way from the East. I want you to sew me a suit of clothes, but I want it to be well cut and tailored, to do justice to the fabric.”

“Am I not a master tailor?” laughed the tailor, as he received the material.

A few days later, when the tailor brought the suit for its first fitting, the nobleman was displeased with the result. “You’ve ruined the fine cloth!” he ranted. In a fit of anger, he threw the cloth at him and chased him out of his house.

After this incident, the tailor lost his good name. The other noblemen stopped patronizing him and he was soon starving. When his wife saw how poor they had become, she urged her husband to visit the holy rabbi of the town. “Many people are helped by him. Go to him; he will tell you what to do.”

The tailor followed his wife’s advice and went to the rabbi.

After the holy rabbi heard the tailor pour out his sad tale, he said to him, “This is what you must do. Take the very suit that you sewed for the nobleman. Rip out the seams, but sew them back in the same place. Then take the suit to him again.”

The tailor laughed inwardly at this suggestion, but followed it nevertheless. He had nothing to lose. When the suit was completed for the second time, he took it back to the poritz for his approval. This time, the nobleman was very pleased with the result. He praised the tailor highly and even gave him a gift of appeasement.

The tailor returned to the holy rabbi and told him what had happened.

“I realized,” said the holy rabbi, “that when you first sewed the garment, you felt a sense of exaggerated pride, as if your skill was beyond question. A thing done from pride lacks grace. That is why it failed to please the count. When you came to me, bowed and meek, no longer so self-confident in your skill, I told you to rip out the stitches and begin all over again. The second time you sewed it with humility and submission. And then the same garment suddenly became appealing!”

Listen to a video of this story at The Twice Sewn Coat

May we all be blessed with a coming year of hope and goodness

Me we all be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life.

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)

New – Listen to the stories every Wednesday evening on the Story Tour Podcast on

Google Play or ITunes

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. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

A Pile of Dust

Posted on Friday, 23, April, 2010Sunday, 25, September, 2022 by Rabbi

If you see a man wise in his own eyes? there is more hope of a fool than of him. (Proverbs 26:12)

A very holy rabbi came to town for a visit. The whole town, led by their most honored scholars, turned out to gaze upon this man of G-d. As for the saintly guest himself, he did not as much as turn to face them. He simply stood looking through a window at a certain high mountain. Those who had assembled there longed to hear at least some holy thoughts from his holy lips — but he remained in his place in intense meditation.

Now among all those present there was a certain young man whose scholarship and distinguished lineage were equaled only by his conceit. He was always ready to show everyone his vast knowledge and engage in debate over the revealed and hidden meanings of TaNaCh (Scriptures). He became angry because the holy rabbi was not showing the assembled scholars the anticipated honor and reverence which were their due, in his opinion.

This was too much for the young man to swallow.

“Esteemed sir,” he began, “would you perhaps be so good as to explain why, you are gazing so intently at that hill — which is, after all, only a pile of dust?”

“That is precisely what amazes me,” replied the holy rabbi. “How can a plain pile of dust blow itself up so mightily until it becomes a proud mountain? “

The arrogant young man had learned his lesson as he remembered:

“Be not wise in your own eyes; fear HaShem, and depart from evil (Proverbs 3:7)

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)

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. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

A king had two sons; one was very proud, always bragging, and full of conceit. The other was extremely hum­ble, modest, and pleasant.

One day, the king decided to send his sons to different lands in order to see if they would be able to add them to his kingdom. The king was hoping that his sons could influence the leaders in the different lands to peacefully agree to accepting his rule.

The arrogant and proud son arrived at the land to which his father had sent him, and he began to treat the leaders and people harshly. The prince refused to listen to anyone and make unreasonable and selfish demands.

On the other hand, when the second son arrived in the land to which he was sent, he quickly won the heart of its inhabitants with his pleasant manner. He learned their concerns and patiently listened to their needs, and it was not long before they asked him to rule over them.

A proud and arrogant person is quickly recognized for what they are and therefore able to rule for only a short while. Yet a person who possesses the quality of humility — even if he may not be noticed immediately is soon noted for his pleasant nature and is willingly accepted as a ruler.

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. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

The great sages were porters, smiths, hewers of wood and drawers of water (RaMBaM Yad: Matanos Aniyim 10:18). Only manual work can make you blessed (Midrash Tehillim 23:3)

A rabbi was told about a person who had no income, and was asked to help raise funds for him. “The man is literally dying of hunger,” he was told by a concerned member of the community.

The rabbi thought for a moment or two and answered, “I don’t understand. He is a healthy and capable person. Surely he could find a job to earn enough to meet his needs.”

“Sadly, none of the jobs open to him are proper for him,” responded the concerned member of the community. “He is a very proud person, and the jobs that are available are menial and he feels they are beneath his dignity.”

“Well then,” the rabbi said, dismissing the cause, “in that case, it is not true that he is dying of hunger. He is really dying of pride.”

Some people are unable to tell between the two. Their sense of personal pride and standing dominates them so keenly, that they can not consider many possible choices.

The Talmud requires that one should take even the most menial job rather than resort to living off others. “Skin hides in the market place for wages; do not say ‘I am a great person, this is a disgrace for me’ (Pesachim 113b).”

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. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

Listen to a short story about pride

A Pile of Dust

makes one wonder, “How can a plain pile of dust blow itself up so mightily until it becomes a proud mountain? “

Click the title below to read this short story

The rabbi has tried to add at least one or two new stories and one podcast each week, with the hope of strengthening faith and understanding through the many readers and communities. Due to rising expenses and the need to work longer hours and harder, his stories have become less frequent.

You can simply send a donation securely and instantly by clicking the link below

When the holy rabbi stood before the community leaders, he decided to teach a strong lesson:

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)

New – Listen to the stories every Wednesday evening on the Story Tour Podcast on

Google Play or ITunes

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. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

You can listen to The Twice Sewn Coat by clicking here

We learn from the Holy Writings:

There once lived a master Jewish tailor. Even the nobility, for miles around, came to have their clothing fashioned by his talented hand.

Once, a nobleman came to the tailor bring with him a bolt of cloth. Handing it to the tailor, he said, “This is very fine and expensive material; it comes all the way from the East. I want you to sew me a suit of clothes, but I want it to be well cut and tailored, to do justice to the fabric.”

“Am I not a master tailor?” laughed the tailor, as he received the material.

A few days later, when the tailor brought the suit for its first fitting, the nobleman was displeased with the result. “You’ve ruined the fine cloth!” he ranted. In a fit of anger, he threw the cloth at him and chased him out of his house.

The tailor followed his wife’s advice and went to the rabbi.

After the holy rabbi heard the tailor pour out his sad tale, he said to him, “This is what you must do. Take the very suit that you sewed for the nobleman. Rip out the seams, but sew them back in the same place. Then take the suit to him again.”

The tailor returned to the holy rabbi and told him what had happened.

Listen to a video of this story at The Twice Sewn Coat

May we all be blessed with a coming year of hope and goodness

Me we all be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life.

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)

New – Listen to the stories every Wednesday evening on the Story Tour Podcast on

Google Play or ITunes

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. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

If you see a man wise in his own eyes? there is more hope of a fool than of him. (Proverbs 26:12)

This was too much for the young man to swallow.

“Esteemed sir,” he began, “would you perhaps be so good as to explain why, you are gazing so intently at that hill — which is, after all, only a pile of dust?”

“That is precisely what amazes me,” replied the holy rabbi. “How can a plain pile of dust blow itself up so mightily until it becomes a proud mountain? “

The arrogant young man had learned his lesson as he remembered:

“Be not wise in your own eyes; fear HaShem, and depart from evil (Proverbs 3:7)

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)

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. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

A king had two sons; one was very proud, always bragging, and full of conceit. The other was extremely humble, modest, and pleasant.