In today’s society, there are many distractions and pressures on people to conform to the views of the trendy. Every day, we hear about attacks on religion. There is a great movement against beliefs and, in certain circles, a massive attack upon morality. Within the many traditions, customs, and teachings of the Jewish community are codes of conduct, ethics, and even modes of dress. Society labels modesty as outdated and archaic, religious conduct as aloof, standoffish, and anti-social, and ethics are viewed as unnecessary in today’s “enlightened” world.
The pressures to conform to the popular ways of dress, the technology that demeans the importance of belief in G-d, and the reinterpretation of what is proper behaviour makes a religious lifestyle difficult. The pressure to leave Jewish beliefs and values is very great. True there may not be forced conversion by the sword today, but the pressure is still there. So many people feel that to acquiese to the prevaling beliefs is easier than holding onto the Jewishness.
When confronted with these many pressures many do not know how to respond. The challenges are not new and the responses are the same as they were in the 14th century Spain.
The Parable of the Two Precious Stones
There was a story of King Don Pedro the Aged and his advisor, Nicolao de Valencia. Nicolao came before the king one day and said: “Sire, I have heard that it is your noble desire to go to war against your enemies. Now why should my lord proceed against those enemies who are abroad and leave those who are at home? They are the Jewish people who hate us so much and in whose books it is written that they must not greet us peaceably.” Then the king answered: “Have you actually heard this with your own ears?” And Nicolao answered: “I have heard this from one of them who has come to our faith.” “He,” said the king, “is not worthy of belief, for one who changes his faith will find it easy to change the facts. And furthermore, hate based on religion is only doubtful hate, for it aims only to show his love of his new faith.” But Nicolao answered: “All I am concerned for is their arrogance, for to your very face, sire, they will say that your faith is false!”
“Let us summon one of the wise men of the Jewish community and ask him,” said the king. When he appeared before him, the king said to him: “What is your name?” And he answered: “Ephraim Sancho.” “It would seem,” laughed the king, “that you must be a graft, and the lower half of you which bears the sign of the covenant bears your name Ephraim, while from the upper half you are a Christian because you admit to the name of Sancho.” To that the Jew replied: “Your majesty, Sancho is the name of my family, and it was actually Santzi, but it has been corrupted by the people of the city.”
“Do I seek to wed your daughter,” asked the king, “that you are telling me of your family?” “Your majesty, I added Sancho for a mark of distinction, for there are many men named Ephraim in the streets, and if your majesty asked me my name, I had to assume that you wished to know who I am in particular.”
“Let that be,” said the king, “for what caused me to bring you here. It is in order to declare which of the two faiths is better, the faith of Jesus or yours.” And the sage replied: “My faith is better for me, since I am what I am, for I was a slave to slaves in Egypt and God brought me forth from there with signs and wonders (Pesach Haggadah); but your faith is better for you because of its constant and prolonged authority and duration.”
“I ask you,” said the king, “about the faiths in themselves and as such, not in respect of their followers.” To this the wise man answered: “If it seems fit to you, your majesty, I shall answer you after three days of reflection.” And the king said: “Let it be so.”
When the three days past, the wise man came before the king looking very upset and disturbed. “Why do you look so downcast?” asked the king. The wise man answered, “Because I was cursed today and groundlessly so, and I beseech you, your majesty, to take up my suit.
This is what happened, about a month ago my neighbor went on a long journey but left two precious stones for his two sons. Now the two brothers have come to me and requested me to tell them what the singular character of each stone is and the difference between them. ‘Who knew that better than your father?’ I said to them. ‘There is no greater expert than he in all that concerns precious stones and the art of cutting them. For this reason he is known to be an expert in gems. Send for him and let him tell you the truth!’ And because I gave them that reply, they cursed me and beat me.’ ” “Why,” exclaimed the king, “they cursed you without cause, and they deserve to be punished!”
Then the wise man answered,
“Your majesty, let your own ears hear the words you uttered! Consider, Aisov and Yaacov were brothers and each one of them was given a certain jewel, and now your majesty asks which of them is better? Let the king send a messenger to our Father in heaven, for He is the greatest expert in gems, and He will tell you the difference between the stones!”
“Do you see, Nicolao,” exclaimed the king, “the wisdom of the Jewish people? This sage is indeed worthy of honor and gifts. Your counsel is evil and it is written, “false witnesses are despised by even their own employers.” (Sanhedrin 29a). As for you, you deserve to be punished for uttering falsehood about the Jewish community.”
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)