Its Not Always What It Appears to Be

Posted on Saturday, 9, May, 2015Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

We rely so much on how we see and understand the world. We trust our senses to define the world and understand what is around us by our limited knowledge and wisdom. Therefore we often feel we know who other people are and what the events of our lives are about forgetting “If you wish to be pure in mind, guard your senses. (Apocrypha, Patriarchs, Reuben 6:1)

Sadly, the truth is, we can only understand a very little about the world and people around us. With our limited understanding can we really be aware of the depth, gifts and beauty of another person? Can we begin to fathom the Divine Wisdom and Purpose hidden in everything around us?

There once was a young man who studied Torah every day and with each new lesson he challenged himself farther. After a time he became known as a genius of the revealed and hidden Torah. When the time came, he married the daughter of a holy rabbi. There was much joy in the home of the young rabbi and his wife. Together they learned and built a home based on Torah.

A year went by and everything seemed to go well when one day the young rabbi grew very sick. The best doctors were called, but sadly, not one of them could do anything to help him. So the father of the young rabbi went to the holy rabbi, (the young rabbi’s father-in-law) and begged him, “Rabbi, I’m afraid for my son he became sick and no one seems to be able to help him. Please pray for my son. You know how much he is learned, how devoted he is to Torah. Surely if someone as holy as you reminds heaven of his greatness, he will be found worthy, and he will live!”

The father was shocked. “Rabbi, what are you saying? My son is young, yet he already knows the revealed and hidden Torah by heart!”

The holy rabbi looked at the troubled father and shook his head, murmuring under his breath, “he’s done nothing. Nothing at all.” No matter how much the troubled father praised his son and tried to convince the rabbi how accomplished the young man was, the holy rabbi’s did nothing but to criticize him. The poor father just couldn’t understand what was going on.

The holy rabbi went into his study and locked the door. He placed two candles on his reading table, wrapped himself in his tallis (prayer shawl) and began to pray:

A few days later, the most wonderful thing happened. The young man got up out of bed, his appeared to be completely healed. His father was overjoyed, but he was still troubled about his meeting with the holy rabbi. He spoke to his son, “I know your father-in-law is a great rabbi in a very holy man, but to tell you the truth, I really don’t understand him. I went with him with so much respect for to ask him to pray for you. And I praised you so much I was sure that if he reminded the Heavenly Court of your learning and knowledge you would be found worthy of the greatest miracles. Yet he wouldn’t even listen to me. No matter what I said he just replied, “you call that learning? It’s nothing, nothing at all.”

The looked at his father and smiled, “Wonders of Wonders, father, is he not a truly holy rabbi. Such wisdom, you thought that by praising you would help me. But really the opposite was true. You see, every person comes into this world to accomplish one special task. To make one special fixing or change in the world, and once he has done this, there is no longer any need for him to stay here in olam hazeh – this world.

“My father-in-law knew that I had only come into this world to learn Torah, and that if Heaven thought that I already learned everything I needed to know, there was no way to save my life. So when he kept answering, ‘what, you call this learning? It’s nothing!’ he was actually saying to Heaven, This young man has only begun to accomplish his task. His work isn’t finished yet – there is no more he needs to learn. Heavenly court you have to give him more time

And this is what saved my life….

And so you see — what do we know? You never know….

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) If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

“You Shall Remember that You Were a Slave in the Land of Egypt”

Posted on Wednesday, 8, April, 2015Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

(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:

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)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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

Please share this story with other

Two Merchants, Silver and the Witness of the Tree

Posted on Sunday, 22, February, 2015Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

There were once two merchants whose names were Tam and Chacham. Now Tam was a very simple and hard-working man who was always saying Psalms and greeted everyone with a good word and a smile. Chacham was very knowledgeable in the ways of buying and selling and was always trying to get more wealth. Tam and Chacham were friends and frequently traveled together and often shared space at the markets.

One day, after the market closed, the two merchants took to the road. When they stopped for the night they counted their profits and discovered they had between them over 1000 silver coins. When they arrived at the next market Tam suggested they divide the profits equally. Chacham thought for a moment and answered his friend, “there are many in the market who would try to take our money and then we will have nothing. Let us hide the money under a tree and if we need money we can get it and divide it equally.”

The two merchants found a large oak tree, dug a hole and buried their bag of silver coins. The very next day, while Tam was in the marketplace Chacham came and took the money from the hiding place.

A few days past and Tam decided that it was time to divide the money. He found Chacham the two of them went to the oak tree in the forest. They dug beneath the tree and found nothing.

Chacham became very angry and said, “is this the way friends treat one another? Return the money and we will go our separate ways and never speak of this again.”

Tam was shocked and confused. “I have not been to this place since we buried our profits.”

Chacham became even angrier and demanded they go to the holy rabbi of the village for justice. The holy rabbi listened to Chacham as he presented his account of the situation and asked, “are there any witnesses to the truth of what you are saying?”

Chacham thought for a moment and entered the holy rabbi, “the oak tree under which we buried the silver shall be the witness.” Chacham looking very serious continued, “let us ask the old oak tree who stole the silver.”

The holy rabbi was surprised that the words of Chacham, but agreed to go with the two merchants to the old oak tree in the forest.

That night Chacham went to see one of his close friends and persuaded him to hide in a hollow of the oak tree. “When the rabbi asks, who stole the money?” He told his friend to respond, “you must say that Tam took it.”

The next day the two merchants in the holy rabbi went into the forest. They went to the old oak tree where they had hidden the money. The rabbi walked around the tree three times then asked, “tell us if you can, who stole the bag of silver coins?”

A voice came from inside the tree, “Tam came in the night and took the money.”

The holy rabbi was wise and asked Chacham if there were any other witnesses. Chacham thought for a moment and answered the moon is also a witness for no case can be determined without two witnesses let us ask the moon when it had seen. The holy rabbi was again surprised by Chacham’s answer.

The holy rabbi lifted his arms toward the moon and said, It is written, “The heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment” (Isa. 51:6). I remind you that before asking for justice from you, we should ask for justice for ourselves, for it is said, “The moon shall be confounded and the sun ashamed” (Isa. 24:23). Tell us if you can, who stole the bag of silver coins.”

The holy rabbi and the two merchants waited quietly for the moon to bear witness of what happened that night to the silver coins hidden beneath the old oak tree. The wind whispered, but the moon remained silent.

The rabbi saw some men who were working in the forest and ask them to set the tree on fire. The flames began to climb up the trunk of the tree when a voice cried out, “let me out! Let me out! I don’t want to burn to death!”

They dragged a man out of the hollow of the old oak tree. He was singed and very afraid, but he confessed that it was his friend Chacham who had stolen the money.

Tam was given all of the money and Chacham was punished by his own words, his own trickery and the judgment of the holy rabbi.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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

Please share this story with others

The Story Tour Blog has grown to over 250 short stories about faith. Many visitors to the Story Tour Blog have requested that the stories be gathered together into a book. 72 of these special tales are now available in the new book

Story Tour: The Journey Begins

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

for more information about this special book, please see the Story Tour: The Journey Begins page

Different Kinds of Prayer

Posted on Sunday, 30, November, 2014Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

In a village there lived a very wealthy man who thought that he should be chosen to lead the congregation in prayer because of his importance to everyone in the village. No one in the village was pleased with the idea, but on the other hand they were afraid of what might happen to them if they were to challenge the powerful wealthy man. So they put their troubled heads together and decided to send a delegation to ask the holy rabbi who lived in a nearby town for some advice. The holy rabbi suggested that the wealthy man, the self-appointed prayer leader should come to him for a blessing.

When in due course the self-appointed baal tefillah (prayer leader) of the village came to the holy rabbi to receive his blessing before undertaking the weighty responsibility of leading his community in prayer, the holy rabbi asked him’ “why should you lead the community in prayer?” The wealthy man took a deep breath and began to explain how he gave a lot of tzedakah (charity), he had built many homes in the village and that he employed most of the villagers.

The holy rabbi listened and then explained, “As you know, the Torah speaks of three kinds of prayer.

There is

‘the prayer of Moshe Rabbeinu’ (Moses our Teacher);

There is

‘the prayer of King David’; and

There is

‘the prayer of a poor man.’

Now Moshe Rabbeinu was indeed ‘slow of speech and slow of tongue.’ (Exodus 4: 10) — but he was the father of the prophets and the teacher of all Israel. King David — why, he is called ‘the sweet singer of Israel.’ (2 Samuel 23:1) And as for the poor man, his heart is humble, and we know from Psalms that ‘a broken and contrite heart, O G-d, You will not despise.’ (Psalm 51:17)

“Now the baalei tefillah of our days who lead their congregations in prayer likewise fall into these same three categories. There are those who are not very musical, but they are righteous — so their prayers are accepted like ‘the prayer of Moshe.’ Then there are those who are perhaps not quite so righteous, but in their melodiousness they ‘exalt God with their throats’ — so their prayers are accepted like ‘the prayer of David.’ Finally, there are those who are neither righteous nor musical, but since they are poor and their hearts are humble, their prayers are accepted like ‘the prayer of a poor man.’

“Now as for you,” concluded the tzaddik, “we cannot say that you are especially righteous; nor can we say that you are musical; and neither (thank G-d) are you a poor man. So if you want to lead your community in prayer. I will have to pray that you now merit to fit into one of these three levels. There is no need for me to explain to you that to ask heaven to make you a tzaddik a sweet singer all of a sudden would be a vain prayer. The only way I can help you, therefore, is by asking heaven to make you poor, and then at least your prayer ‘the prayer of a poor man’…”

No, sir!” exclaimed the wealthy man in alarm. “I definitely don’t want to lead the prayers anymore!”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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

Please share this story with others

Cd’s of some of these stories are available through most of the online outlets (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ITunes, etc) Just search “Tobesman”. The CD’s are great gifts for the upcoming holidays

A Woman of Valour Saves From Death

Posted on Sunday, 31, August, 2014Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Eishes chayil mi yimtza, A Woman of Valor, who can find? (Proverbs 31:10)

There was a holy rabbi who had a beautiful daughter and many wanted to marry her. The rabbi had raised his daughter in all the ways of holiness and wanted her marry a student of holiness. He wished to know who would be his future son-in-law, so he fasted for three days and then went to the mikvah and on the night of rosh chodesh, Elul, he prayed and asked the Holy One, blessed be He to reveal the young man to him. Eliyahu haNovi (Elijah the Prophet) appeared to him and told him that his son-in-law would be a student of holiness who was destined to die on the first anniversary of his wedding. His wife would remain a widow, and she would have no children, for such was the decree of Heaven.

In the morning the holy rabbi’s heart was full of grief but he kept what had been revealed to him a secret and decided that he would journey to the Holy Land, to the resting places of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and Rachel, to have the decree annulled.

The rabbi with his wife and daughter set out on their long journey. They traveled for a long time and at twilight on the third day, they came to a great forest. They sat down by a shady tree, next to which a spring bubbled forth. After they had eaten they lay down to rest from their strenuous journey.

The holy rabbi rose at midnight to say tikun chatzos, he heard the sound of a weak voice, coming from some distance away. He decided to follow the sound and soon a small light shining through the trees about a bowshot away. The rabbi walked towards the light and found a hut made of woven branches and leaves, lit up within by two lights. The rabbi peered through the branches and saw two men -one a blind old man who lived in eternal darkness, and the other a young man of about twenty, who was very handsome to look at. Both of them were saying the tikun chatzos.

The rabbi stood and watched in awe the two hermits for a short time, before he gathered up his courage and entered the hut.

“Shalom Aleichem (Peace be unto you), my masters,’’ he said.

“Aleichem Shalom (Upon you be peace), our master and teacher,” they answered.

The three of them joined together saying tikun chatzos, and then studied the torah until the morning star rose.

Then the old man asked the rabbi: “How did you come to be in this forest?”

The rabbi told him that he was traveling to the Holy Land, with his wife and daughter.

The rabbi returned to his wife and daughter and brought them to the hut, and the three of them remained there. The rabbi and the old man studied the torah, the woman cooked and baked, the daughter drew water, and the young man cut wood. Each day the heart and soul of the young man melted as he looked at the holy rabbi’s daughter.

One day the old blind man asked the holy rabbi: “Let your daughter be the bride of my son and it shall be guaranteed that both of us will see our grandchildren after us.”

The rabbi did not wish to reveal his secret to the old man, and a few days later the young couple were married according to the laws of Moses and Israel.

For a whole year the young couple lived happily in the lonely hut in the forest. A few days before the year was out the rabbi revealed to his daughter the dream he had had. He told her that the death of her husband was about to happen and made her swear that she would not reveal the secret to any man.

After she had heard about her father’s dream, the young woman fasted and prayed for three days. “Ribono shel olam, Master of the Universe” she said. “If you have decreed that my husband must die take my life too, for I would rather have death than a life without him.”

On the first anniversary of his marriage the husband went out to the forest, as was his way, to cut wood, but this time his wife followed him. On that day the sun was dark in the heavens and no living thing was to be seen. The winds did not whisper and the birds were silent. At noon, the Angel of Death appeared with a large slaughterer’s knife in his hand. He wielded the knife over the head of the husband who sank dead to the ground.

When the woman saw that her husband was dead, she turned to the Angel and said: “Angel! I insist in the name of the one who sent you that you tell me why you have robbed me of my husband. ‘The days of our years are three score and ten’ (Psalm 90:10), and my husband is only twenty-one.’ “

The Angel of Death replied: “Poor foolish woman! It is the decree of the Creator, and I cannot disobey it. Be it known that ‘he that goes down to the grave shall come up no more’ (Job 7:9)”

“If that is so,” said the woman, “then I will ask you to fulfil my only wish.”

“Whatever you ask me to do, I will do,” said the Angel. “But I cannot restore your husband to life.”

“I do not ask you to restore my husband to life,” said the woman. “But I will ask you to restore the sight of the eyes of my father-in-law.”

“It sall be so,” promised the Angel of Death.

Then she addressed the Angel of Death again: “Promise me, I beg you, that it shall be granted my father-in-law to see a grandson or great-grandson playing by his side.

“It shall be so!” the Angel of Death promised again

Then said the woman: “I am the wife of the son of my father in-law. I am the only one who is capable of giving birth to sons and daughters who will carry on his seed. If you indeed wish to honour your promise then you must restore my husband to life, for my husband had no children, and without his children my father-in-law will have no grandchildren or great-grandchildren. ‘Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world’ (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:9). If you rob me of my husband, you rob me and my husband of my children, and my father-in-law of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. You will break your promise and in one stroke you will destroy whole worlds.’ “

The Angel of Death was at a loss as to what he should do. He had no choice but to restore the woman’s husband to life. “Let it be know to all the you are indeed an Eishes Chayil, a woman of noble character and wisdom” as he prepared to leave. The moment the Angel of Death rose into the heavens the woman’s husband stood once again on his feet.

The woman and her husband returned to their hut and found the old man reciting the benediction: “Blessed be he who opens the eyes of the blind.” They all rejoiced at the miracles that had been wrought for them and recited the blessing: “Baruch atah Adoshem, m’chaiyay hameisim. (Blessed are You G-d who revives the dead.)”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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***

Please share this story with others

The Trap, Loshon haRa and the Wealthy Merchant

Posted on Sunday, 17, August, 2014Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

There was once a very wealthy merchant who liked to feel important, and so he made it a practice inform the authorities about the doings of other people within the community. He often talk badly of others just so he could be seen as important and wise. Everyone was afraid of him and no one dared to cross him, lest he report them to those in power. One day he seemed to have just disappeared.

A group of students gathered together to study with their holy teacher, when he said to them: “Did you know Lavan the merchant?” The students became silent and then one answered the holy rabbi: “It is like what is taught about those who are like him, “May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.” (Psalms 69:28) Then the holy rabbi told his students: “Bring me a trap!” They brought him a trap, and the holy rabbi placed it in a corner of the room and a mouse was caught in it at once.

Then the holy rabbi spoke to the mouse as his students watched, asking: “What did you think when you used to inform on people and betray them causing the wealth of so many good and upright people to be lost? One’s words must be words of honor and not words of shame, as it is said: ‘On that day you shall not be put to shame because of all your deeds…’ (Zepaniah 3:11) We are taught shaming another in public is like shedding blood. (Bava Metzia 58b)’ ” The mouse cried before him and begged him to pray to the Holy One, blessed be He so that he might be delivered from his sufferings and enter Gehenna. “Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away (Proverbs 6:33) One who says evil things about others has no portion in the World to Come. Go away, for you are not worthy even to enter Gehenna.” answered the rabbi. With that said, he opened the trap, and the mouse fled.

And when the students saw this, they were amazed.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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***

Please share this story with others

The Envious Man and the Covetous Man

Posted on Thursday, 7, August, 2014Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. (Job 5:2)

There were two men, one covetous and the other envious. And they hated one another and complained of their Maker who knew their ill nature. Greatly they complained and sadly they cried. The covetous man would say: “See how bitter and bad are all the works of G-d who brings the mighty low. Why am I so poor and needy when he has made that greedy man, my enemy and neighbor, rich, who dwells not far from me. My heart aches and longs to be in his place!” The envious man in his hatred would say: “G-d will not turn your way nor will He listen to you, and if ever you were to try to be a leader set on high, so surely I would die!” Now the Angel of the L-rd found them, and as soon as he saw them, he summoned them and said: “Why is it that you wish to make such demands? Surely you should be ashamed to speak against your Creator and argue like this before Him, both of you! I have been sent to you this day to give each one of you a message and grant a wish. This is what I give you. Whatever each of you may request, in a moment he gets, but his friend shall have double of the same.”

They heard the words of the heavenly messenger and said: “We are your servants indeed and you will be our master. Be kind toward us now, for you have consoled us.” And after they had spoken, the angel went away wherever the spirit bore him, and no eye ever saw him and all his traces were unknown. Then they saw and understood that he was an angel of the L-rd and had spoken words of truth.

The covetous man wanted twice as much and was as poisoned by his desires and said: “You ask!” But the envious man said to him: “How shall I ask anything when you will double what I desire and take the first-born’s double share though you are the last, and you will have the advantage. How can I set out to better your fate and cause you to have more? If you speak properly, then speak up before me!”

The covetous man felt a fury at heart and turned on him with anger and hit him with a high hand, saying: “You ask at once, and I shall gain after you, for if not I shall destroy you and slay you here and now!” Now when the other saw his hope was lost, he entreated him, saying: “Good sir, please let me be, and I shall ask the first and you shall obtain double afterwards, as long as there is peace between you and me.” The covetous man moved away.

Then envious man began to pray: “0 L-rd, Hear the words of your servant and pay the reverse of Your kindness, so that he may receive what he deserves. Blind me in just one eye but two eyes of my foe, and break one of my arms but give him twice before I go!” And so it came about and darkness dread fell on them both for they became blind, and finally the second received all this twofold, for his prayer was fulfilled.

For he looked at the other and behold both his eyes were dark, while his hands both hung helpless from his sleeves. And both of them remained that way in shame and reproach, and they lost all their covetousness and envy and hatred.

Each person is blessed with certain gifts, but resentment leads him to act foolishly, and envy for what others have slays hope and blessings.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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

Faith: A Story of Two Merchants

Posted on Friday, 18, July, 2014Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

What is the meaning of the verse, “In that day you will say, ‘I give thanks to You, O G-d, for you were angry with me, and now Your anger has diminished, and You have comforted me'” (Isaiah 12:1).

It once happened that two merchants, who were good friends, agreed to set out on a journey to a faraway city to go to a fair to buy wares to sell in their village. They equipped themselves with all the needs and supplies for the voyage. Together they made their way to the docks to board a ship. As they walked through the streets, one of them stumbled and hurt his leg so badly that he was unable to go on the journey.

The ship had weighed anchor and unfurled its sails and was ready to set sail and could not wait for the unfortunate merchant to heal from his wound. So his friend went with all the other merchants, while the merchant who had fallen and became injured remained behind, bitter and angry. He was very angry at his bad luck because he had injured his leg and could not travel with the other merchants. His anger and bitterness of losing all the profit he might have made from the journey was so great that he complained and freely cursed the ways of Heaven.

After some time news came that the ship had sunk in the sea, and all the merchants with in it lost. When the injured merchant heard what had happened, he began to give thanks to the Holy One, blessed be He by whose kindness he had fallen and injured his leg. The merchant realized that if he had gone on the ship he would have been lost with all the other merchants. The merchant regretted all the curses and complaints he had made and repented for all the things he had said of Heaven. The merchant began to praise and extol the wonders of Heaven. That’s why it says in the Book of Isaiah, “Your anger has subsided and You have comforted me.”

What is meant by the verse, “G-d Who alone does wondrous things; blessed is His glorious Name forever” (Psalms 72:18,19)? Even the person for whom the miracle is performed is unaware of the miracle, only G-d knows it.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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

Please share this story with others

Shavuous, Mount Sinai and Pride

Posted on Monday, 26, May, 2014Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Shavuous is a time we remember receiving the holy Torah at Mount Sinai. It is said in the holiday prayers, Chag Hashavuous hazeh, z’man matan toraseinu (the Feast of Weeks, the season of the Giving of our Torah), yet this is not a time of pride.

It is written: “With him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit (Isa. 57:15)…. for behold, the Holy One, blessed be He, ignored all the mountains and heights and caused His Shechinah to abide upon Mount Sinai, but did not elevate Mount Sinai up to Himself.” (Sotah 5a)

There was excitement in the town, as a holy rabbi came to visit. The holy rabbi went into the old wooden shul (synagogue), pulled a holy book from the shelf and began to study. Slowly the holy rabbi pushed the book aside, stood up and walked to the window and began to stare at the mountains.

It seemed as though the whole town turned out to catch a glimpse of the holy rabbi. All of the important people and the most learned of the scholars came into the shul (synagogue) just to meet the holy rabbi hoping to grasp his hand and wish him shalom (peace) and maybe get a blessing from him.

The holy rabbi did not turn to face them. He just stood looking through the window at the high mountains in the distance. Everyone who had gathered in the old wooden shul had hoped to hear some lessons or wisdom from his holy lips, but the rabbi remained gazing out the window in deep meditation.

Among all those who came into the old wooden shul was a young man whose learning and prominent family were equaled only by his pride and self-importance. He was very rigid in his approach to study and prayer and as he looked at the holy rabbi he assumed that the rabbi was not showing the proper honor and respect due to the many dignitaries and scholars who had come out to meet him.

The longer the young man stood, the angrier he became. The young man could see no reason for the rabbi’s behavior and so he began: “Rabbi, would you please explain why you are gazing so intensely at that hill, which is, after all, only a pile of dust?”

The holy rabbi took a deep breath and then slowly answered: “that is indeed what amazes me, how can a plain pile of dust blow itself up so mightily until it becomes a proud mountain?…”

The young proud and conceited man had learned his lesson as he prayed:

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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

Please share this story with family and friends

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

Three Friends and Remarkable Wisdom

Posted on Tuesday, 6, May, 2014Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Three close friends lived in a certain city. Together they decided that each one of them would travel to a different land and study a particular wisdom of that land. They agreed that upon concluding their studies, they would reunite and demonstrate what they had learned.

They did exactly that. Each one traveled to a distant land and pursued a different field of study.

After several years, the designated time arrived and the three friends came to the appointed meeting place. They were ecstatic to see each other once again, and once the initial joy had passed, they began to show off what they had learned.

“In the land that I was in,” said one of the friends, “I met an expert craftsman who taught me how to fashion powerful binoculars that enable one to see extremely far distances…”

“I,” said the second friend, “met a remarkable coachmen who taught me how to construct a wagon capable of traveling at great speeds. It can travel the lengthy distance of several parsaos in the blink of an eye!”

“And I,” said the third friend, “met an elderly doctor who taught me how to concoct an amazing medication capable of healing every type of illness!”

As they were admiring each other’s wisdom, the first friend displayed the binoculars he had made.

The friends took turns gazing through the powerful binoculars. Amazingly, they were able to see the capital city, which was a very long distance away. Looking inside the city, they observed a great commotion taking place. People were running through the streets in a panic, expressions of anguish and suffering etched upon their faces.

Adjusting the binoculars slightly the friends were able to discern the reason behind the commotion: The king’s daughter had taken ill, and the doctors had given up hope of finding a remedy. A proclamation therefore went out calling upon anyone capable of lending assistance. In addition, whoever succeeded in curing the king’s daughter would receive an enormous sum of money as a reward.

“It is a pity that I am not in the capital right now,” said the friend who had been taught the art of healing. “Had I been there, I would have presented the king’s daughter with a remedy that would cure her instantly. However, I am too far away…”

“That is not a problem in the least,” remarked the second friend. “Why, the coach that I built could get you to the capital in a matter of minutes.”

The three friends boarded the remarkable coach, and, indeed, they arrived in the capital in the blink of an eye. They stopped at the palace gates and immediately presented the king’s daughter with the amazing remedy.

Lo and behold, upon tasting the medicine, her condition improved considerably. Before long, she underwent a total recovery!

At that point, however, the friends began to argue as to which one of them was entitled to the hefty reward that the king had offered.

“If not for my binoculars,” said the first friend, “you would never have known that the king’s daughter was sick.”

“So what?” answered the second friend. “If not for my coach, it would have taken you a month to get to the capital city”

“You are both correct,” said the third friend. “But what good would it have done you to know that the king’s daughter was sick? And once you would have gotten to the capital — what would you have done then? Truthfully, it was only my medication that made all the difference!”

The king listened to their claims and after consulting with his wise advisors, turned to the men and exclaimed, “It is certainly true that if we are to judge on basis of what transpired in the past, it would be rather difficult to determine which one of you deserves the reward. But if we take the future into account…Let us see,” continued the king, “From now on, we will have absolutely no use for your wondrous binoculars. The same thing applies to the spectacular coach. We may very well require more of this unique medicine, however. Therefore, the reward shall be granted to the provider of the medicine!”

There are three partners in the creation of a human being: the Holy One, blessed be He, a father, and a mother. Yet when we desire to know which one of the three a man must obey and fear the most, we must realize that once a child is born, his parents have fulfilled their part of the partnership. Yet we are forever dependent on the Holy One, blessed be He, as He continuously to provides us with 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)

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

Please share this story with others