The Rabbi, the Cook and the Garden of Eden

Posted on Tuesday, 11, February, 2014Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

It is not study that is so important as much as deeds done.

It is told that Rabbi Shimon once prayed that the Holy One, blessed be He show him his place in Eden. One night in a dream he saw that he would be seated next to a cook. This surprised him, and he thought to himself, “I have occupied myself in the study of Torah day and night, yet my place is beside a cook.” After the dream, he decided: “I will go and find this cook and ask him what he has done so special.”

He searched for some time and found that the cook was a very wealthy man. He became a guest of the cook and stayed with him for eight days, and the cook showed him great honor. Rabbi Shimon asked the cook to walk with him in the field outside of the village and asked him: “Please tell me what you have been doing that is so special.”

The cook thought for a moment and then slowly answered, “Rabbi, I am just a simple man who by reason of my many sins have studied very little Torah. All my life I have been a cook. At one time I was very poor but by the blessings of Heaven, I have grown wealthy. Every Friday since I began cooking, I have distributed meat, challah and wine to the poor at my expense and I give a great deal in charity. I try to follow the teaching of ‘Sanctifying the Sabbath with food, drink, clean clothes and pleasure. (Deuteronomy Rabbah 3:1)’ “Rabbi Shimon listened and then asked, “Please tell me whether you have done anything more than that.”

Then the cook thought for a moment and reluctantly shared: “Please understand that I am the tax collector for this city. When a ship comes, I collect a tax on any goods in the hold of the ship. Once a ship came here, and I collected the tax.”

“After the captain paid the tax, he came to me and said: ‘If you wish to purchase what is in the hold on my ship, I’ll sell it to you.’ “

“Tell me what it is” I said to him.

“I shall not tell you,” the captain answered, “until you have bought it and paid for it. And if you do not buy it, I shall not sell it at all.”

“In that case,” I replied, “tell me how much it is, and I shall decide.”

“Ten thousand in gold,” the captain told me; and I told him: “Show me the goods, and I shall pay it.”

“I shall only give it,” the captain answered “if you give me twenty thousand in gold.”

“Show me your merchandise and I shall pay.”

“I shall not give it to you unless I you pay me forty thousand in gold.”

“When I saw that he was raising the price all the time, I decided that it must be something very, very valuable, so I agreed to pay him the gold. The captain ordered, ‘you must pay me in full before I will show you what is in the hold of my ship.’ I paid him in good gold.’ “

“Immediately he brought out from the ship’s lower hold two hundred Jewish souls whom he had captured, and said to me: ‘If you had not purchased them today, I would have slain them and flung them into the sea.’ Now he handed them over to me, and I brought them to my home. I fed them and gave them to drink and provided them clean clothes. I also assisted those who were single to wed one another.”

Among the refugees was a very beautiful young girl, and I took pity on her and gave her to my son, and he was betrothed to her. I invited all my townsfolk to the wedding feast. When the guests sat down to eat, I stood among them and saw that a young man who had been among the captives was crying. ‘Why are you crying?’ I asked, but he did not wish to tell me. Finally, I led him to a room away from everyone else, and there he told me that the day they had been taken captive was the very day on which he should have wedded that beautiful young girl. ‘If you are prepared to divorce her,’ said I to him, ‘I shall pay you a hundred pieces of silver.’ ‘My lord,’ said he to me, ‘I desire her more than all the silver and gold in the world, but what can I do if your son stands under the bridal canopy with her.’ “

“At this, I went to my son and told him: ‘Divorce her.’ My son looked at me and said, ‘Father I understand not your reasons, but I respect your wisdom and I shall do as you ask.’ I gave her to that young man and I made them wealthy according to the way of our people that ‘when you let him go free, you shall not let him go empty, and you shall furnish them liberally.’ (Deuteronomy 15:13). This is the thing I have done.’ “

Then Rabbi Shimon said to him: “Blessed be the One who sees all hidden things who has favored me to be seated beside you in Eden!”

So let a man engage in Torah (Scripture) and good deeds at all times, and practice charity. For money is not his but belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He, as the Prophet Haggai said: “The silver is Mine, the gold is Mine, says the Lord” (2:8). And it is also written in the Book of Psalms: “For God judges; this one He brings down, and that one He lifts up” (75:8).

Happy is he who performs a good deed, that may tip the scale for him and the world. (Kiddushin 40b)

(based on Tanchuma, Mavo 68)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Personally Tended Garden

Posted on Tuesday, 21, January, 2014Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Everyday students would walk past the house of their teacher, a holy rabbi, and see him carefully tending to a garden. He pulled weeds, loosened soil and watered the plants, while all the time quietly saying something.

“Rabbi, sorry to bother you” began one of the students. “Would you let us care for the garden? We feel it’s not proper for you a great teacher and holy rabbi to be doing such work.”The rabbi looked up from the garden towards his students and explained, “man’s dignity is not greater than G-d’s. If the Holy One, blessed be He can cause the winds to blow, clouds to rise, rain to descend, the earth to produce, and tables to be set, certainly a rabbi can do simple things. (Kiddushin 32b) Besides I prefer to care for the garden myself.”

Some days later the students again saw the rabbi on his knees carefully tending the garden. One of the students thought out loud, “What can be so important about tending a few plants? Our teacher is spending so much time on it.”

“Perhaps working the garden helps him to relax” another student offered.

“That can not be” answered another student. “There must be a worthy reason for the holy rabbi to devote so much time to such a simple task.”

The students decided to find out, and one of them approached their beloved teacher with their question.

“I was once walking with one of my teachers, a true light to the generation, through fields and then in a forest,” the rabbi explained. “We were discussing various Torah (Scriptural) topics, and I wasn’t paying too much attention to the surrounding trees and bushes. I concentrated on each and every word my teacher spoke.”

“Suddenly, my holy teacher stopped the lesson and pointed to a plant we were passing by. ‘In plants, as in sleeping bodies, there is life.’ (ibn Daud, Emuna Rama 15 (1168)) Listen well and remember the things I tell you this day. My teacher pointed at a small green plant and said, ‘This one can be eaten’, He pointed to another plant. ‘This one is poisonous.’ “

“We walked some more and he continued the lessons from the Torah (Scripture). Several times throughout the lesson, my teacher stopped and pointed out many plants that could be eaten. He then said something that left me a bit confused, ‘You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you.’ (Psalm 128:2).

“I was a bit puzzled by my teacher’s interruptions, but I didn’t question him because he was my teacher, a true light to the generation. I made sure to remember what he had told me that day, for I was certain that he had some reason for telling me this.

“Shortly after that, we were forced to leave the village as anger, hatred and violence made it unsafe for Jewish people to remain. The hordes with their battle cry ‘Hierosylma Est Perdita’ (Hip Hip, Jerusalem is Lost). I hid in the forest, and I had almost no food with me. The hunger was almost unbearable. One day, I happened to glance down at the forest floor, and I recognized one of the plants that my holy teacher had pointed out to me, many months earlier. I lived almost entirely on those plants during that terrible time, and they saved my life.”

“I feel its necessary to show my appreciation to the plants that saved my life, and therefore, I care for them personally. I ask you to remember, ‘Just as water makes plants grow, so the words of the Torah (Scripture) nurture everyone who labours over them as they require’. (Song of Songs Rabbah 1:19)”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Loshon haRa – A Salty Conversation

Posted on Sunday, 12, January, 2014Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Tam and Chacham once set out together on a journey to do a d’var mitzvah (a deed of religious importance) in a faraway country. They traveled to many places and were welcomed with much respect and honor.

In one village they stopped at an inn known for its high standards of kashrus (kosher). They were seated at a special table set with a linen tablecloth and fine dishes, for the woman who owned the inn recognized them to be important rabbis.

She had them served promptly, and when they finished the meal she approached them and asked, “So how did you like my food?” she asked the rabbis. “Oh, it was quite good,’ Chacham replied, ” but it could have used more salt.”

When the woman left the dining room, Tam turned white. “I can’t believe what you have just done. All my life I have avoided speaking or listening to loshon hara (unkind speech) and now the Holy One, blessed be He caused me to travel with you, and I have to suffer by hearing you speak loshon hara! I regret that I came here with you and I am convinced that the purpose of our trip is not a true d’var mitzvah after all. Otherwise this would not have happened.”

Seeing Tam’s reaction, Chacham became confused and upset. “What did I say that was so wrong?” he hesitated. “I said that the food was good — I only added that it needed some salt.”

“You simply don’t realize the power of words.” Sadly said Tam. “Our hostess probably doesn’t do her own cooking. Her cook could well be a poor widow who needs this job to support her children. Now, because of what you said, the owner will go back to the kitchen and complain to the cook that the food didn’t have enough salt. In self defense the poor widow will deny it and will say, “Of course I put enough salt in the food. I even tasted it before you served it.”

“The owner will then accuse her of lying and say, “Do you think that the rabbis out there are liars? You are the one who is lying!” They will argue, strong words will lead to even stronger words and the owner will get so angry that she will fire the poor cook. The woman will then be out of a job. Look how many aveiros (sins) you caused: (1) You spoke loshon hora; (2) you caused the owner and myself to listen to loshon hora; (3) you caused the owner to repeat the loshon hora and that is the sin of rechilus; (4) you caused the cook to lie; (5) because of you the owner caused pain to a widow, and (6) you caused an argument, another Torah violation.”

Chacham smiled at Tam and said softly and respectfully, “Tam, my friend, certainly things are not as grim as you believe. Maybe, you are exaggerating a little. You’re carrying this just a bit too far. A few simple words cannot possibly have done all that.”

Tam reminded Chacham, “We learn that ‘You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is of your brothers, or of your strangers who are in your land inside your gates.’ (Deuteronomy 24:14) “If you really believe that I have overstated the situation,” answered Tam as he stood up, “let’s go to the kitchen and see for ourselves.”

As they opened the door to the kitchen, they saw that the owner was indeed scolding the cook as the poor woman stood wiping the tears from her eyes. When Chacham saw what was happening he became pale and ran over to the cook, begged forgiveness and apologized profusely for any harm or distress he may have caused her. He pleaded with the owner to forgive and forget the incident and begged her to let the woman stay on the job. He even offered to pay her to keep the cook.

The innkeeper was really a kindly woman and she also wanted to fulfill Chacham’s request. “Of course, of course,^“ she said hastily. “I only wanted to impress on her the need to be more careful. She is really a fine cook and she will remain here at her job.”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Money, Listening and Justice

Posted on Monday, 6, January, 2014Tuesday, 17, October, 2023 by Rabbi

Two men came before the holy rabbi to resolve a monetary dispute. The non-Jewish man claimed that the Jewish man had borrowed money from him, but the Jewish man denied that he owed the other man anything. The holy rabbi sensed that the non-Jewish man was truthful.

The holy rabbi listened to both men and after hearing the arguments of both sides, he told them that he had to leave for a little while, and asked them to discuss the matter between themselves in the meantime.

The arbitration was held in the local synagogue, and the two men thought that the rabbi they asked to judge the merits of their dispute had left the synagogue.

The holy rabbi had not left; he had gone up to the women’s section, and was listening to every word the two men were saying.

A heated argument erupted between them, and holy rabbi heard the non-Jewish man talking at the Jewish man as ‘He fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was ashamed.’ (2 Kings 8:11) “Aren’t you ashamed? You know very well that you borrowed money from me, and how can you claim that you don’t owe me anything?”

“It’s true that I borrowed money from you, “the Jewish man responded, “but I’m under a lot of financial stress right now, and I don’t have the money to pay back.”

The holy rabbi went back down into the synagogue and ruled in favor of the non-Jewish man, reprimanding the Jewish man for his shameful behavior he said: “To rob a non-Jewish person is more dreadful than to rob a Jewish person, for such actions involves also the desecration of G-d’s Holy Name.”

Later, he explained that he had derived this strategy of leaving the two men alone and listening in to their conversation from the verse,

“Listen among your brethren and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger who is with him” (Deuteronomy 1:16) which implies that in order to judge fairly, a judge has to listen to what the litigants say to each other.

As the men were leaving the holy rabbi and the synagogue the non-Jewish man was remarked:

“Happy are those who maintain justice, and he who does righteousness at all times. (Psalm 106: 3) and let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream (Amos 5:24).” in such holy places through such holy people.”

The simple meaning of the verse is that a judge has to listen to both sides equally, and not give preferential treatment to one side.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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New Year’s Day – Rosh haShanah and Blessings

Posted on Tuesday, 17, December, 2013Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The snow and wind blew while sounds of celebration were heard from outside the wooden synagogue. It was the eve of the secular New Year’s. Many men were gathered around tables studying the holy words of Torah.

Suddenly the door to the holy rabbi’s private room opened and the holy rabbi himself came out and greeted everyone:

“L’Shana Tovah Tikasevu v’Techasemu!” (May you all be inscribed and sealed for a good year!)

With that the holy rabbi went back into his room and closed the door. Everyone who was studying the holy words of Torah were very surprised. Surely the holy rabbi knew that this was not Rosh haShanah, but the secular New Year? Why then did he extend such a greeting.

Some time later, the door opened and the holy rabbi again greeted the men studying the holy words of Torah. Hours passed and the holy rabbi offered the greeting a third time.

Puzzled by the holy rabbi’s behavior, the men went to one of the holy rabbi’s students and asked him to go to his master’s room and ask about the meaning of his strange actions through the night.

The student went and knocked on the door of his teacher, the holy rabbi and entered. The holy rabbi looked up from his studies and greeted his student: “Shalom Aleichem” the student answered: “Aleichem Shalom.” The Rabbi continued: “what brings you to my study at such a late hour?”

The student looked at his teacher, cleared his throat and asked: “many have been studying Torah tonight and you greeted them as though it was Rosh haShanah. This seems a little out of the ordinary. What is the holy reason for your greetings, this night of all times?”

The holy rabbi thought for a moment, smiled and explained:

“Last Rosh Hashanah, the Day of Judgment for all the Jewish people and the world, the Jewish people prayed with intensity in their synagogues. Their prayers and the sounds of the shofar ascended to the heavens. Moved by the waves of heartfelt pleas, the Holy One, blessed be He, left his Throne of Justice to ascend the Throne of Mercy. There he wrote a decree which stated that the coming year would be a year of health and happiness for all Jewish people and peoples of the world.

When Yom Kippur, the fearful Day of Atonement, came and He saw how all of the Jewish people fasted and wept and poured out their hearts in prayer as “all are judged on Rosh haShanah and the verdicts is sealed on the Day of Atonement.” (Rosh haShanah 16a) The Holy One, blessed be He lifted the pen to sign the decree of blessings for all of the people in the world.

At that moment, the Dark Accusing One approached to protest: “yes, O L-rd, on Yom Kippur they fast and have remorse, dressed in white as the angels in heaven. What of all the rest of the year when they are filled with sins and wickedness?”

The decree was not signed.

When the Jewish people gathered together boards and scraps of wood to build succas for the holiday of Succos (the Feast of Tabernacles), prepared to eat and sleep in the succas, the defending angel appealed:

“Ribbono Shel Olam, Master of the Universe, You see these succas which even the poorest of Your children are building with so much joy, according to Your command “You shall dwell in booths for seven days” (Leviticus 23:42) and in the days of old “on the Festival of Tabernacles Israel would offer up seventy bullocks, one for each of the seventy nations of the world, and prayed that they might live in peace.” (Pisikta Kahana 175b). Have You heard them pray, ufros aleinu succas sh’lomecha (spread over us the shelter of Your peace). Please sign the decree now.

And so it would have been, had not the Dark Accusing One not objected: “yes, for the boards, which are here today and gone tomorrow. But for themselves – for their homes, their businesses, their entertainment – they erect strong buildings of brick and stone and glass that last forever!”

Then came Simchas Torah, the Jewish people embraced the Torah and danced with it in their synagogues in boundless joy. Again, the Defending Angel argued that the Holy One, blessed be He, should sign the decree: “See, oh G-d, how your children are happy with Your Holy Word, the Torah!”

The Dark Accusing One intervened: “yes, for one night they dance merrily with your Torah, their heads turned and their spirits lifted by a drop of schnapps. But in a more sober mood when their minds are clear, do they fulfill the mitzvahs, which are written in the Torah?”

The decree was not signed.

Every window was filled with light during Chanukah. It seemed as though the light of the first day touched every soul. The words of the morning prayer, “v’chol ayin lecha tetzapeh” (every eye longs for you) were realized.

The Defending Angel argued that the Holy One, blessed be He, should sign the decree:

“Look, and see how Your children are bringing Your holy light into the world. For indeed ‘the spirit of man is the candle of the L-rd.’ ” (Proverbs 20:27)

The dark accusing one interjected: “true, they kindle lights and may touch the soul with holiness, but are they honest and holy in the marketplace or with other people?”

The decree was not signed.

And so it is that the judgment written in favor of the Jewish people and all the peoples of the world on Rosh haShanah has remained unsigned all these many weeks until tonight. For when the New Year began and with it started all of the drunkenness, the shouting and brawls that usually occur on that night, the Defending Angel approached G-d and said: “O Lord, see how they begin the New Year tonight. Listen to the screams and noise as well as the sounds of discord, look at the shamelessness and the corruption – and remember how Your children began the New Year on Rosh haShanah, with prayer, with repentance, and with holiness.”

To this, the Dark Accusing One could not say single word.

And so it was that, after some four months of delay, the Holy One, blessed be He, at last signed the good decree for the Jewish people and the world.

“Therefore,” the holy rabbi concluded, “I greet you tonight with L’Shana Tovah Tikasevu v’Techasemu!,” (May you all be inscribed and sealed for a good year!)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Mystery of the Dreidel

Posted on Thursday, 21, November, 2013Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Gardener and the Bird of Wisdom

Posted on Sunday, 10, November, 2013Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

It is told that there was a man, who had a large garden in which he grew all that he needed. It was said that “every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food” (Gen. 2:9) was found in his garden. One day as he was working in the garden he saw a bird eating the fruit, and he caught the bird in a trap. He was so angry and furious with the bird that he took his knife in hand and prepared to slaughter it.

Suddenly the bird opened its mouth and spoke: “I see that you wish to slay me though I am very small and my lean body is ugly and smelly. Nothing in me can give you strength or satisfy your hunger. If you could control your anger and your rage I will give you good counsel.” “And what may that be?” the gardener said; and the bird of wisdom answered: “Promise me that you will spare me from death and let me go when I tell you all my good counsel.” “Why should I make such an promise?” asked the gardener. “When a man becomes angry, even if greatness has been decreed for him by Heaven, he is reduced from his greatness. (Pesachim 66b) Do not be foolish and listen to my words.” The bird responded, and the gardener heard the words.

Then the bird said: “Accept these words which I share with you and keep them in your bosom deep within your heart, for they are more useful and precious than gold, and worth far more than treasure untold. If you study and understand them they will guard you, and if you guard them they will serve you. These are worthy and precious thoughts we have received from our forefathers and birds of good faith these thousand years and more, and we have preserved them in our heart and passed them on to one another, one generation to the next. I am the last of them all and it is my duty to pass them to the oldest and wisest and most faithful of our kind.”

Phoenix Renewal and Teshuvah by Shoshanah Tobesman

The gardener asked in disbelief: “If your words are true, how did you fall into my trap?”

The bird answered: “Be it known to you that the sages have said once there is a decree no wisdom can change it or turn it away. ‘A bird does not fall into a trap without the will of the Holy One, Blessed be He.’ (Y. Shevi’is 9:1) Indeed, it was decreed that I should be caught, and were it not for these words which cannot be bought you would have made an end of me at once. You wish to hear these words of wisdom for your benefit, and so you require that they should not be lost forever; such being the way of any wise man, and that will keep you from destroying me and save me from death and let me go free.’ ”

The words of the bird interested the gardener, and he believed the bird and wished very much to hear the words of wisdom. The gardener said “If what you say is true then speak these words of wisdom.”

The bird began and explained: “Listen and give ear, and pay attention to the words of our elders and guard them well as they commanded their children and their childrens’ children. The oldest of my kind blessed each generation and taught: ‘I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days like the phoenix’ (Job 29:18) ‘ Listen my children, you must know that the great kings and princes of long, long ago left their children a heritage of fortified cities for age upon age with treasures of jewels and silver and gold. Yet I can leave you no more than sayings three which no ruler, no matter how upright they may be or how much wealth they gather, can purchase. For these saying three are more precious than the light of day. If you follow this wisdom, you will eat your fill both morning and eve, and if you act according to them they will benefit you greatly.’ So now listen to me as I speak these words of wisdom.

“I have heard my grandsire sweetly say that he had heard from his grandsire in some bygone day that these three words were engraved on a tablet belonging to Shem the Prophet who took it with them into the ark, and engraved it was on greenest jade and these are the words that were written:

My son, do not sorrow for what you have lost.

My son, do not seek what you cannot obtain.

My son, do not believe what cannot be.

These three sayings are beyond all wealth and value. Follow these words and you will proper greatly. Now I have told you the ancient wisdom of my kind, Let me go free.’ ” and the gardener set him free.

The bird flew off and perched on a tree that was higher than all the other trees in the garden and laughed at the gardener, saying: “You set me free, and you did not know that in my heart I have a precious gem stone that is beyond worth, and it is the only thing that makes me wise.” Hearing this, the gardener regretted what he had done and ran to the foot of the tree and started to climb it. But when he had climbed halfway, he fell and greatly harmed himself.

Then the bird looked down upon him and said: “Foolish man, you did not act according to the wise sayings I taught you even for a few moments.”

“I told you do not sorrow for what you have lost — yet you regretted having let me go.”

“I told you do not seek what you cannot obtain — yet you believed that I a precious gem stone that is beyond worth. I am but only a bird that flies and seeks food all day long and depends on the gifts of the Holy One, blessed be He.”

“I told you do not believe what cannot be — yet you thought that in my heart I have a precious gem stone and so you had to run after me till you fell and greatly harmed yourself.”

Though you have chosen to act without wisdom I will remind you: ‘There is gold, and abundance of costly stones; but the lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel. (Proverbs 20:15) The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in anger.’ (Proverbs 11:23)

Then the bird went its way to seek its food.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Storyteller, the Scoffer and Wisdom

Posted on Tuesday, 22, October, 2013Monday, 30, October, 2023 by Rabbi

The people gathered in the forest around a fire waiting for the storyteller to begin. He walked slowly as he wove his tale, an ancient story forgotten by most.

As the storyteller told the stories, he would at times, close his eyes. It was as though he were in the story and telling it as it unfolded. The words were indeed old, but the message was eternal.

The words of the storyteller filled each listener with wonder, mystery, and life. As he spoke, the listeners saw beyond this world.

There was one who thought the stories were childish and the storyteller a fraud. “What do you see when you close your eyes?” demanded the listener.

“I see the stories, feel their messages, and sometimes get lost in their mysteries. Many times, the stories touch my very inner being, my heart and soul.” Answered the storyteller.”

“That’s ridiculous!” countered the listener. “The stories you tell are for children, they’re from a time of superstition and for people without knowledge. The stories were used to control people and have no place in today’s society where people are educated and understand much more than any time in history.” The listener proudly refuted.

The storyteller was silent for a moment or two and then he seemed to drift off into another place. “what people see is a matter of perspective. For you see there once was a man who had a magnificent vision and began pursuing it.”

“Two others saw the first man’s vision and began to follow him. Time passed as it always does and the children of those who followed asked what was in the vision.”

“Sadly, the parents described what they saw, but what they described was merely the coattails of the man in front of them. The children did not see the magic or wonder of their parents’ vision. They could not see the colours or feel the warmth in their parents’ words, so, alas, they turned away from their parents’ vision. They felt the vision was not worth following.”

The storyteller asked the listener who raised his challenge, “So what did you think of the story?”

The challenger was quiet, he had no answer.

The storyteller looked at the listener for a moment and then continued, “We see that children deny what they have not experienced. We find parents who believe in what they have not experienced.”

The storyteller paused to allow the challenging listener time to think on his words, then he explained, “The question is not, what do I see when me eyes are closed, but what do you see when you open your eyes?”

The listener thought for some time and then discounted, “When I closed my eyes, I don’t see anything. So, there is nothing to see when I open them.”

The storyteller sadly answered, “What you see is your ignorance. You can’t see what you don’t want to see. When one can not find their ignorance, they can be certain they have lost their wisdom.”

The listener became angry and demanded, “You can’t answer my question so you make fun at me?”

With a gentle voice the storyteller began a story:

Once there was a fool who traveled the highways and roads to the king’s palace. All along the way, people laughed and treated the fool badly. “Why should a pathetic fool like you be going to the king?”

The fool just puffed up his chest and answered, “I am going to be the king’s teacher!” His comments only brought more laughter from the people along the way. After some time the fool finally arrived at the king’s Palace. He demanded to see the king.

The king was very amused that a fool wanted to see him and decided to have some fun at the fool’s expense. So he had the fool brought to the throne room. The room was filled with important people. “Why do you come before the king?” asked the king.

“I have come to be the royal teacher,” answered the fool in a very assertive way. The king was indeed amused. He laughed so hard tears fell down his cheeks. “And what can a fool teach me?”

“You see,” countered the fool, “like a student, you ask me questions.” Silence fell through the room as the king composed himself as he stared at the fool. “You’ve answered me with wit, but you have not answered my questions!”

“Only a fool has all the answers.” Replied the fool with a slight smile. The king was caught off guard and did not know how to respond, but finally he asked, “What would others say if they knew the king had a fool for a teacher?”

“Better to have a fool for a teacher than a fool for a king.”

When he heard this, the king, who was a good man, confessed, “now I feel like a fool.” “Absolutely not,” answered the man, “it is only a fool who has never felt like one.”

The storyteller explained, “One needs to listen with an open mind and allow the stories to do their work. They can take you anywhere at any time. They prepare the listener to face the challenges of life, to learn wisdom and strength, and faith.

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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Love for the King

Posted on Monday, 21, October, 2013Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Faith and belief are very powerful yet in today’s society it is all too often challenged by science and technology. So many become lost amid the many theories and gadgets that they have a hard time believing in anything based upon faith.

In a society that that offers so many diversions it is very hard to stay on the path of one’s beliefs. The morals of society are often at odds with those of faith. Truth be said we never know how the Holy One, blessed be He will use our small acts of love for His great purposes

There was a wise and kind king who was loved and respected by everyone in his kingdom. Now there was a villager who felt a deep love for the king, and this villager wanted more than anything to draw close to the king and to serve him.

One day, villager heard king’s palace needed a skilled person to like the stoves in the palace every morning. The villager was very qualified for this position, and he applied and was accepted for the job.

The villager did his work with his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, devoting all his energies into his job to make sure the king’s palace would be warm and comfortable. He carried out his job faithfully for many years, driven by his intense desire to serve the king.

As the villager grew older, he began to worry about what would happen when he would pass on. He knew that even if another person was hired to do his job, the other person would not do it with the same devotion and love for the king that he had. He tried to train some of the king’s other servants to carry out his work, but he quickly learned that they were lazy and indifferent, and did not share his desire to bring joy and happiness to the king.

He thought and he thought, until he decided that the only way he could ensure that the king would be served properly was if he were to marry and have children, whom he would raise with the same love and devotion to the king as he had. That his children would be endowed with knowledge and insight, and be competent to serve in the king’s palace. (Daniel 1:4) Then, after his death, his children would take over his role as the lighter of the king’s stoves, and he could rest assured that the work would be done the way he wanted it to be done.

The greatest blessing that can be given is that you should serve the King with the same feeling as the villager, who sole desire was to bring up a new generation of servants who would do the King’s will fully and with boundless love.”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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A Tale of True Friendship

Posted on Thursday, 17, October, 2013Saturday, 16, December, 2023 by Rabbi

He who finds a faithful friend finds a treasure.

ben Sira 6:14

Once there were two merchants, one in Egypt and one in Babylon. They knew of one another but had never met in person. It came to pass that the Babylonian merchant once traveled to Egypt and when the Egyptian merchant heard of the arrival of his friend, he met him and brought him into his home. The Egyptian merchant treated his friend as though he was a member of his household and made feasts in his honour.

After sometime the Babylonian merchant became sick and his sickness worsened each day. The host brought the best of doctors and healers of Egypt. The doctors examined him, but could not recognize any of the sicknesses they knew. An old wise man told them that the sickness was not of the body, but of the heart, for the bedridden merchant was lovesick. When his host was told that his friend was ailing because of his love of a woman, he came to him and asked whether he loved any woman in his house. The sick merchant answered: “Show me all the women in your house and I shall show you the one who has captured my heart.” So the merchant showed him all his daughters but he did not choose any of them. The merchant had a young woman in his home who was very beautiful and who he hoped to marry. He brought her into the sick man’s room when the sick merchant saw her, he said: “This most beautiful of women is my life or death.” When his host heard these words, he prepared a fine wedding and gave his friend and wife much money and many gifts.

The world is like a water wheel: the buckets ascend full and descend empty. Who’s rich today may not be so tomorrow (Exodus Rabbah 31:14) and so it came about in due course that the wheel of fortune turned and the Egyptian merchant lost all his money and became very poor. “I shall go to my dear friend,” he sadly whispered to himself, “and I will ask him to take pity on me.” So he sadly set out to journey to his friend’s home in his tattered clothes. He arrived in Babylon at night but was afraid to go to his friend’s home for fear that he would not recognize him and would send him away, seeing him poor and needy.

He stayed in an old house outside of the city. While he was lying there reflecting over all that had happened to him, he lost hope. Suddenly he heard two men quarreling, and one of them killed the other and ran away. The murderer was pursued throughout the city, and guards came to the old house to see if the murderer was there. They found the Egyptian alone and asked him: “Who killed the man?” And he answered: “I did.” For he wished to die rather than to live in poverty, distress and shame.

He was arrested and put in prison. In the morning they brought him before the judges who sentenced him to die by hanging. They led him to the gallows tree. Many people came to see justice done, and among them was his merchant friend, for whose sake he had come to Babylon. The Babylonian merchant recognized his friend from Egypt and remembered all the favors he had done for him. He knew that he could never repay him for all of his success and happiness. So he said to the judges: “Why are you doing this? This man should not be sentenced to death. Where are you taking him? It was not he who did the killing but I did.

When the judges heard this, they arrested him and led him to the gallows tree. Now the true murderer was among the people and nobody recognized him. He watched all that was being done and thought to himself: “I killed the man, and now an innocent man will be punished? There must surely be a reason for this from the L-rd. The Holy One, blessed be He is just, and there is no evil in His ways nor any advantage to wickedness. Are we not taught ‘No one who practices deceit shall remain in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue in my presence.’ (Psalm 101:7) I fear that I may face a far harsher death than this. So I shall confess my crime and atone for myself and save this man from death.’ “

So the murderer came before the judges and cried in a loud voice: “Honest and faithful people, do not do evil in judgment and let not an innocent man be slain in place of a guilty one.” The confused judges asked, How are we to judge true when so many come forward and confess guilt?” The murderer answered, “The world stands on three things: on truth, on justice, and on peace, as is said, Execute truth, justice, and peace within your gates (Zechariah 8:16). when justice is done, truth is achieved, and peace is established. (Pirkei Avos 1:18; Y.Tamid 4:2, 68a). In truth, be it known to you that neither of these honorable men slew the murdered man. Know that one preferred death to life, while the other could not merely tell you to let him go so he said that he had murdered the man. The reason being that he loves his friend and their souls are entwined together as in the ancient days when “the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. (I Samuel 18:1). Indeed, honourable judges, let him go and let no innocent man be slain. I killed him and it is better for me to perish in this world and not in the next.”

When the judges heard the words of the murderer, they let the merchant go and they led the murderer to the gallows tree.

Then the Babylonian merchant came and brought the Egyptian merchant to his home and gave him garments and clothed him. The Babylonian honored him and made him master of his entire household, and gave him control over whatever was his.

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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It is not study that is so important as much as deeds done.

Then the cook thought for a moment and reluctantly shared: “Please understand that I am the tax collector for this city. When a ship comes, I collect a tax on any goods in the hold of the ship. Once a ship came here, and I collected the tax.”

“After the captain paid the tax, he came to me and said: ‘If you wish to purchase what is in the hold on my ship, I’ll sell it to you.’ “

“Tell me what it is” I said to him.

“I shall not tell you,” the captain answered, “until you have bought it and paid for it. And if you do not buy it, I shall not sell it at all.”

“In that case,” I replied, “tell me how much it is, and I shall decide.”

“Ten thousand in gold,” the captain told me; and I told him: “Show me the goods, and I shall pay it.”

“I shall only give it,” the captain answered “if you give me twenty thousand in gold.”

“Show me your merchandise and I shall pay.”

“I shall not give it to you unless I you pay me forty thousand in gold.”

“When I saw that he was raising the price all the time, I decided that it must be something very, very valuable, so I agreed to pay him the gold. The captain ordered, ‘you must pay me in full before I will show you what is in the hold of my ship.’ I paid him in good gold.’ “

Then Rabbi Shimon said to him: “Blessed be the One who sees all hidden things who has favored me to be seated beside you in Eden!”

Happy is he who performs a good deed, that may tip the scale for him and the world. (Kiddushin 40b)

(based on Tanchuma, Mavo 68)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Everyday students would walk past the house of their teacher, a holy rabbi, and see him carefully tending to a garden. He pulled weeds, loosened soil and watered the plants, while all the time quietly saying something.

Some days later the students again saw the rabbi on his knees carefully tending the garden. One of the students thought out loud, “What can be so important about tending a few plants? Our teacher is spending so much time on it.”

“Perhaps working the garden helps him to relax” another student offered.

“That can not be” answered another student. “There must be a worthy rea­son for the holy rabbi to devote so much time to such a simple task.”

The students decided to find out, and one of them approached their beloved teacher with their question.

“I was a bit puzzled by my teacher’s interruptions, but I didn’t question him because he was my teacher, a true light to the generation. I made sure to remem­ber what he had told me that day, for I was certain that he had some reason for telling me this.

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)

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Tam and Chacham once set out together on a journey to do a d’var mitzvah (a deed of religious importance) in a faraway country. They traveled to many places and were welcomed with much respect and honor.

In one village they stopped at an inn known for its high stan­dards of kashrus (kosher). They were seated at a special table set with a linen tablecloth and fine dishes, for the woman who owned the inn recognized them to be important rabbis.

She had them served promptly, and when they finished the meal she approached them and asked, “So how did you like my food?” she asked the rabbis. “Oh, it was quite good,’ Chacham replied, ” but it could have used more salt.”

Seeing Tam’s reaction, Chacham became confused and upset. “What did I say that was so wrong?” he hesitated. “I said that the food was good — I only added that it needed some salt.”

Chacham smiled at Tam and said softly and respectfully, “Tam, my friend, certainly things are not as grim as you believe. Maybe, you are exag­gerating a little. You’re carrying this just a bit too far. A few simple words cannot possibly have done all that.”

The innkeeper was really a kindly woman and she also wanted to fulfill Chacham’s request. “Of course, of course,“ she said hastily. “I only wanted to impress on her the need to be more careful. She is really a fine cook and she will remain here at her job.”

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)

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Two men came before the holy rabbi to resolve a monetary dispute. The non-Jewish man claimed that the Jewish man had bor­rowed money from him, but the Jewish man denied that he owed the other man any­thing. The holy rabbi sensed that the non-Jewish man was truthful.

The holy rabbi listened to both men and after hearing the arguments of both sides, he told them that he had to leave for a little while, and asked them to discuss the matter between themselves in the meantime.

The arbitration was held in the local synagogue, and the two men thought that the rabbi they asked to judge the merits of their dispute had left the synagogue.

The holy rabbi had not left; he had gone up to the women’s sec­tion, and was listening to every word the two men were saying.

“It’s true that I borrowed money from you, “the Jewish man responded, “but I’m under a lot of financial stress right now, and I don’t have the money to pay back.”

Later, he explained that he had derived this strategy of leaving the two men alone and listening in to their conversation from the verse,

“Listen among your brethren and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger who is with him” (Deuteronomy 1:16) which implies that in order to judge fairly, a judge has to listen to what the litigants say to each other.

As the men were leaving the holy rabbi and the synagogue the non-Jewish man was remarked:

“Happy are those who maintain justice, and he who does righteousness at all times. (Psalm 106: 3) and let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream (Amos 5:24).” in such holy places through such holy people.”

The simple meaning of the verse is that a judge has to listen to both sides equally, and not give preferential treatment to one side.

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)

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The snow and wind blew while sounds of celebration were heard from outside the wooden synagogue. It was the eve of the secular New Year’s. Many men were gathered around tables studying the holy words of Torah.

Suddenly the door to the holy rabbi’s private room opened and the holy rabbi himself came out and greeted everyone:

“L’Shana Tovah Tikasevu v’Techasemu!” (May you all be inscribed and sealed for a good year!)

With that the holy rabbi went back into his room and closed the door. Everyone who was studying the holy words of Torah were very surprised. Surely the holy rabbi knew that this was not Rosh haShanah, but the secular New Year? Why then did he extend such a greeting.

Some time later, the door opened and the holy rabbi again greeted the men studying the holy words of Torah. Hours passed and the holy rabbi offered the greeting a third time.

Puzzled by the holy rabbi’s behavior, the men went to one of the holy rabbi’s students and asked him to go to his master’s room and ask about the meaning of his strange actions through the night.

The student went and knocked on the door of his teacher, the holy rabbi and entered. The holy rabbi looked up from his studies and greeted his student: “Shalom Aleichem” the student answered: “Aleichem Shalom.” The Rabbi continued: “what brings you to my study at such a late hour?”

The student looked at his teacher, cleared his throat and asked: “many have been studying Torah tonight and you greeted them as though it was Rosh haShanah. This seems a little out of the ordinary. What is the holy reason for your greetings, this night of all times?”

The holy rabbi thought for a moment, smiled and explained:

At that moment, the Dark Accusing One approached to protest: “yes, O L-rd, on Yom Kippur they fast and have remorse, dressed in white as the angels in heaven. What of all the rest of the year when they are filled with sins and wickedness?”

The decree was not signed.

When the Jewish people gathered together boards and scraps of wood to build succas for the holiday of Succos (the Feast of Tabernacles), prepared to eat and sleep in the succas, the defending angel appealed:

And so it would have been, had not the Dark Accusing One not objected: “yes, for the boards, which are here today and gone tomorrow. But for themselves – for their homes, their businesses, their entertainment – they erect strong buildings of brick and stone and glass that last forever!”

Then came Simchas Torah, the Jewish people embraced the Torah and danced with it in their synagogues in boundless joy. Again, the Defending Angel argued that the Holy One, blessed be He, should sign the decree: “See, oh G-d, how your children are happy with Your Holy Word, the Torah!”

The Dark Accusing One intervened: “yes, for one night they dance merrily with your Torah, their heads turned and their spirits lifted by a drop of schnapps. But in a more sober mood when their minds are clear, do they fulfill the mitzvahs, which are written in the Torah?”

The decree was not signed.

Every window was filled with light during Chanukah. It seemed as though the light of the first day touched every soul. The words of the morning prayer, “v’chol ayin lecha tetzapeh” (every eye longs for you) were realized.

The Defending Angel argued that the Holy One, blessed be He, should sign the decree:

“Look, and see how Your children are bringing Your holy light into the world. For indeed ‘the spirit of man is the candle of the L-rd.’ ” (Proverbs 20:27)

The dark accusing one interjected: “true, they kindle lights and may touch the soul with holiness, but are they honest and holy in the marketplace or with other people?”

The decree was not signed.

To this, the Dark Accusing One could not say single word.

And so it was that, after some four months of delay, the Holy One, blessed be He, at last signed the good decree for the Jewish people and the world.

“Therefore,” the holy rabbi concluded, “I greet you tonight with L’Shana Tovah Tikasevu v’Techasemu!,” (May you all be inscribed and sealed for a good year!)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

“That can not be” answered another student. “There must be a worthy reason for the holy rabbi to devote so much time to such a simple task.”

“I was a bit puzzled by my teacher’s interruptions, but I didn’t question him because he was my teacher, a true light to the generation. I made sure to remember what he had told me that day, for I was certain that he had some reason for telling me this.

In one village they stopped at an inn known for its high standards of kashrus (kosher). They were seated at a special table set with a linen tablecloth and fine dishes, for the woman who owned the inn recognized them to be important rabbis.

Chacham smiled at Tam and said softly and respectfully, “Tam, my friend, certainly things are not as grim as you believe. Maybe, you are exaggerating a little. You’re carrying this just a bit too far. A few simple words cannot possibly have done all that.”

The innkeeper was really a kindly woman and she also wanted to fulfill Chacham’s request. “Of course, of course,^“ she said hastily. “I only wanted to impress on her the need to be more careful. She is really a fine cook and she will remain here at her job.”

Two men came before the holy rabbi to resolve a monetary dispute. The non-Jewish man claimed that the Jewish man had borrowed money from him, but the Jewish man denied that he owed the other man anything. The holy rabbi sensed that the non-Jewish man was truthful.

The holy rabbi had not left; he had gone up to the women’s section, and was listening to every word the two men were saying.