Passover, Smugglers and Guards

Posted on Sunday, 17, April, 2016Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

This story was originally posted in 2009, so we dusted it off and polished it just a little.

Passover is one of the most celebrated holidays among the Jewish people. Every year they clean their homes and remove unleavened products, chometz. As they celebrate the Seder, the story of the leaving of Egypt and slavery is told as family and friends enjoy fellowship, prayer and good food in the service of the Holy One, blessed be He.

no-chometz

It was late in the afternoon before the beginning of Passover, and the holy rabbi was wandering through the streets of the Jewish quarter when he came upon some smugglers. From one he quietly asked how much for some tobacco, from another he inquired about the availability of smuggled brocades and imported embroideries. No matter what item he wanted, it was available for the right price.

When he asked if the smugglers could get him some bread or whiskey, they became upset and one stepped forward and said: “Rabbi, are you trying to insult me? The Passover Seder will be starting in just a few hours and no Jewish person would have even a speck of chametz left in his home or business.”

Not one merchant was able to come up with even a crumb of bread or drop of alcohol. No matter the price offered, not one merchant was willing or able to come up with even a crumb of bread or drop of alcohol. The town had removed its chometz and was ready to fullfill the religious requirements of the Seder meals and the Passover holiday.

Thrilled with the results of his failed quest, the rabbi looked up to heaven and declared: “Ribbono shel olam (Master of the Universe), look down with pride at Your people! The Czar has border guards and tax-commissioners dedicated to his commands. The law-enforcement and justice systems are devoted to tracking down and punishing smugglers and black-marketers and yet anything one could possibly want is freely available. Compare this with the faith and devotion of Your children. It has been over 3000 years since you commanded us to observe Passover. No police, no guards, no soldiers, no jail-and yet every Jewish person keeps your laws to the utmost!

“Mi K’amcha Yisrael – Who is like Your nation, Israel?”

Matzah Kosher

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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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

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Will I be Able to Ask the Mah Nishtanah?

Posted on Thursday, 14, April, 2016Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The storm clouds spread across the skies as the bloodthirsty hordes burst into the city and surrounded the bishops tower. Standing above the barred door a strong voice was heard, “the people in this tower or under my protection. Go on and shed not innocent blood!”

The armed mob responded, “hand them over! They are cursed and deserve to die!”

The bishop’s voice boomed, “what have they done, but practice their beliefs? All they ask is for peace.”

“We shall give them the peace of the grave” came a response as a mailed fist urged the crowd forward.

In the lowest level of the tower there was a single cell, in it sat the last Jewish family of York, with one Jewish child. Until a time of peace comes there won’t be another Seder such as this.

The young boy takes a deep breath and begins, “Taty, ich fregen…, Father I ask, why do we suffer so much more than everyone else in the world?” This question travels one into the world to the other that ascends to the very heavens. The lone child in the lowest level of the tower in York is asking the King of all Kings the deepest of all questions. His father slowly begins to answer, “Avadim hayinu, we were slaves….”, Sadly the story is so long and has no end until the time of peace comes.

The young boy continues, “Taty, can I ask one more question of my own? Will you answer my questions at next year’s Seder? Will I be alive to ask the Mah Nishtanah? Will any Jewish voice be heard anywhere in the world to ask the Mah Nishtanah?” Silence fell in the heavens as the young boy asked Mah Nishtanah, but when he asked his own question, tears flowed freely throughout the heavens.

With a deep breath and a strong voice, the young boy’s father answered, “Ki v’sheim kodshechah nishbato lo, by Your Holy Name You promised to him shelo yichbeh neiro l’olam va’ed, that his light would never go out.

The father spoke to his son, “I don’t know if you will ask the Mah Nishtanah next year. I don’t know if I will be here to answer your questions. There is one thing I am sure of the, there will always be at least one holy child to ask the Mah Nishtanah, because the Holy One. blessed be He promised us there would always be a young voice to be heard.”

Mah-Nishtanah-from-the-Srajevo-Haggadah2

When the rabbis of old originally asked Mah Nishtanah (Talmud Yerushalmi, Pesachim, 60b; Talmud Bavli, Pesachim, 116a) it was during the time of the Romans and their brutality, the Mah Nishtanah was asked and the Jewish people patiently waited for Moshiach. As the armies marched across Europe during the Crusades and countless thousands of people suffered terribly the Mah Nishtanah was asked and the Jewish people patiently waited for Moshiach. When the Black Death swept through the land and the Jewish communities were blamed, the Mah Nishtanah was asked and the Jewish people patiently waited for Moshiach. When King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella signed the fateful papers authorizing the Inquisition and expulsion, the Mah Nishtanah was asked and the Jewish people patiently waited for Moshiach. When Bogdan Chelminicki and his hordes massacred and destroyed whole Jewish communities, the Mah Nishtanah was asked and the Jewish people patiently waited for Moshiach. In the hopeless ghettos of Lodz, Bialystok, Częstochowa and Warsaw where death and destruction were common, the Mah Nishtanah was asked and the Jewish people patiently waited for Moshiach.

The question is raised, “When will the Messiah come? Today, if you listen to his voice.” (Sanhedrin 98a). The secret is hidden from man, but it is also revealed to him, because the coming of the Messiah depends not only on God’s grace but also on man’s deeds. Our task is to bend our will to God’s will in order that we might heal those breaches that separate the man from his fellow man and that rammed a man within himself.

Until that day comes lets us say with a full heart, “I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah (Moshiach), and though he may tarry, still I await him every day.” (Maimonides, 13 principles of faith).

The Mah Nishtanah will be said at every Seder now and in the time of Moshiach – the Messiah.

May your Seder welcome Eliyahu haNovi (Elijah the Prophet) and may he bring us

good tidings that we should be worthy of receiving the Messiah in our own lifetime.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Shema and Pesach

Posted on Sunday, 10, April, 2016Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

This was originally posted in April 2011, this is based on that post with some changes.

One prayer unites Jewish people around the world, the Shema. Everyday in every Jewish community the words of the Shema are said: Hear O Israel, the L-rd is Our G-d, the Lord is One.

Many rabbis and many more people have pondered over the first sentence of the Shema. The Shema has become a declaration of the Jewish people, an affirmation of faith, a vital part of the prayer service, and meditation.

Every Jewish person can have a relationship with G-d as it says in the Shema “our G-d” Pesach is a time when Jewish people come together to read the Haggadah and celebrate this joyous holiday.

Before beginning his own Seder, the holy rabbi of the village would wander about the cottages of the local people to see how they conducted their Seders, As he walked down the cobblestoned alleys he could hear from all sides the voices of simple Jewish families singing and reciting the narrative of the Haggadah. He once stopped near the wooden shutters of one of the cottages and heard a voice reading aloud:

Passover Four Sons

The Torah speaks of four sons: one wise son, one wicked son, one simple son, and one who does not know how to ask questions.”

And every time the reader came to the word for “one” — echad — he would cry it out aloud with prolonged concentration, just as people do when they say Shema Yisrael.

The holy rabbi was delighted, and commented later that this simple villager had made out of the Four Sons of the Haggadah — including even the wicked son — a sublime prayer, a prayer as sacred as the Shema.

There are always the scholars and learned in the community, but too many people drift away, and some never learned much, others search for meaning in Judaism, while a few corrupt or even ridicule Jewish teachings to their own purposes. No matter where one looks they will always find in the Jewish community the wise who follow the ways of Judaism, the wicked who deny their Jewishness, the simple who know they are Jewish and have limited understanding and those who do not even know how to ask questions to begin their search.

Every year we read the words of the Haggadah: “All who are hungry, let them come and eat. All who are needy, let them come and celebrate the Passover with us.” Let all of our prayers come together so that all Jewish people can unite as one and say the Shema and bring peace so that we can all celebrate Pesach in the Holy City of Jerusalem next year.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Prayers and True Gratitude

Posted on Sunday, 27, March, 2016Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

We learn in the Torah/Scriptures that after Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, they returned to their father, Jacob, in Canaan and told him that Joseph was still alive, and then began describing his important position as a viceroy and advisor to the Pharaoh in Egypt. Jacob was stunned and exclaimed, “Enough! My son Joseph yet lives” (Genesis 45:28).

It once happened that a woman was walking on the beach with her little son picking up seashells when the sky grew dark, the wind blew fiercely and the ocean churned as a violent storm broke out. Without warning, a huge wave crashed into the shore and swept the child out to the sea. The panic-stricken mother fell to her knees and began a tearful prayer to G-d:

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O L-rd, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14) Please bring my son back to me safely.”

Moments later, another wave crashed into the beach and placed the young child, unharmed, at her feet.

The grateful woman, at first overwhelmed, held her beloved child close for some time, unable to utter a word. Then, in joy, she turned her tearful eyes toward heaven and cried:

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 9:1) Oh, thank You Merciful One, thank You for Your kindness. My gratitude to You is eternal.”

Suddenly, she took a good look at the child, then lifted her eyes again upward, and in a demanding tone called out:

“But You forgot that he was wearing a hat!”

When the brothers wished to tell him “Joseph is still alive! He is even ruler over all the land of Egypt (genesis 45: 26),” Jacob interrupted, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. (Genesis 45: 28) Everything else is unnecessary.”

We often receive many gifts and blessings from the Holy One, blessed be He, and may even express some level of thanks, yet we still remain dissatisfied, because things are not exactly the way we would like them to be. We could all use a lesson in true gratitude.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3) Please share this story with friends, family and others. Feel free to leave us a comment or two.

Another Purim ?

Posted on Sunday, 20, March, 2016Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

It was during the time when Alphonso V of Aragon ruled that there were in the city of Saragossa twelve handsome synagogues supported by the prosperous Jewish community, who were so well treated by the king that, whenever he visited the city of Saragossa, all the rabbis went out to honour him, each carrying, in its case, the Torah belonging to his synagogue. Several wealthy merchants objected that it was dishonour for the Torah to be carried out to flatter the vanity of a non-Jewish king, and since no reading of the Torah was involved, they pressured the rabbis to leave the Torahs in the holy arks of the synagogues on such occasions, and going out with the empty cases.

King Alphonso V ruled over several cities where many Jewish people lived happily under his fair reign. In Saragossa, the capital city, the large Jewish community took every opportunity of showing the king their loyalty and appreciation. So, whenever the king celebrated special occasions he would parade through the Jewish quarter, the leaders of the Jewish community would go out to meet him, carrying the beautiful Sefer-Torah cases with their silver ornaments, as a special gesture in honour of the king.

All this show of honour pleased the king greatly, and all would have been well had there not been a man in the king’s court who hated the Jewish people and resented the king’s friendly feelings towards them. This man’s name was Marcus of Damascus, and he hoped to anger the king against his Jewish subjects while at the same time, gaining favor for himself.

When by chance Marcus learned that the Jewish leaders went to meet the king carrying empty cases, he felt he had found the opportunity he was looking for, and told the king that the Jewish community disrespected him. The king was easily convinced by the report of Marcus that his Jewish subjects meant to mock him by carrying empty cases when they went out to greet him at his parades. When Marcus saw how angry he had made the king against the Jewish community, he quickly suggested that the king give an order to have all the Jewish people be driven out of Aragon.

Even though the king was very angry, he had not intended doing anything so drastic to the Jewish community, and he asked:

“I understand they have, a powerful G-d. Would He not punish me for hurting His people?”

“The Jewish people cannot expect mercy or consideration from their G-d. Since they live very comfortably under your reign, they have drifted away from their beliefs and practices and do not obey His commandments,” said Marcus with conviction.

“But if I banish the Jewish people from my kingdom, won’t the country suffer? After all they pay taxes and are valuable citizens.”

“The Jewish people are so scattered that you wouldn’t even notice their absence,” urged Marcus.

“But is it fair to punish all the Jewish people? What about those who are innocent of any wrongdoing?” offered the king.

“Your Majesty should know that they are all the same. They all stick together in all they do, and so they are all equally to blame for the disrespect they have shown you. Besides, it is the heads of the community who come out to greet you in the procession, so surely there is no excuse for them,” finished Marcus, barely hiding a smile on his face, feeling sure he had won the argument.

“Look here Marcus, I am indeed very angry with the Jewish people and agree that they must be severely punished, if what you say is true. But I want to be fair to them, for they have so far always shown themselves to be loyal subjects. I’ll make a deal with you. At the next parade, when the Jewish community comes out to meet me, I’ll have you riding by my side. I give you the authority to open their holy cases and, if they are found to be empty, you may carry out your plan against them. On the other hand, if what you say is untrue, then the punishment will be turned against yourself. Are you prepared to take that chance? I do not intend to be made a fool of by anyone.^“

Marcus, who was quite sure that he had the right information, readily agreed. He was already picturing himself riding beside the king, sitting beside the king, and being second to the king in everything. But how true it is that “pride comes before a fall.”

The night before the royal parade, the shamash (beadle) of the main Jewish synagogue in Saragossa could not fall asleep. He was thinking about the king’s visit to the Jewish quarter, and he was worried. He tossed and turned and was weighed down by a dreadful feeling that something terrible was threatening the Jewish community. He felt an urge to run out and warn the heads of the kehilla (community), but thought that they would laugh at him, for everything was so nice and peaceful for them. Finally he fell into an uneasy sleep. He dreamt that an old, grey-bearded, stately man appeared before him, saying: “Arise! Waste no time. Danger threatens all the Jewish people in Saragossa. Hurry to the synagogue and quickly put the Torah-Scrolls inside their cases. But say not a word to anyone!”

Before the shamash had a chance to say any-thing, the vision disappeared. He quickly awoke, shivering with fright. He pulled on some clothes and ran all the way to the synagogue, stumbling in the dark. He realized that the man in his dream must be none other than Elijah the Prophet, and that his dream was no nightmare, but a serious warning which he must see to without delay.

What the shamash did not know was that he was not the only one to whom Elijah had appeared in the night. The prophet had in fact passed on the same warning to the other beadles in the city of Saragossa. They had likewise hurried to their synagogues and secretly put the Torahs inside their cases, anxiously awaiting develop

The following morning, when the sound of the trumpets was heard in the city, heralding the beginning of the royal parade, the heads of the Jewish community, as always, went out to greet the king. As the royal carriage stopped receive the greetings of the heads of the Jewish community, Marcus, who was sitting by the side of the king said:

“Your Majesty surely wishes to see what is inside these things that the Jewish leaders are carrying.” “As the king’s minister I order you to open the cases.”

The Jewish people were horrified at the unexpected request, for they knew that it was usual for them to bring only the empty cases, and leave the Torahs in the synagogues. What would the king say, or do? They had no choice but to obey, so with sinking hearts they opened up the cases and, to their wonderment and relief beheld the Sifrei-Torah inside, for all to see!

The king seemed quite surprised, and as for that villain Marcus, the look of expectancy and triumph disappeared from his face, which had now turned pale with fright. He tried to speak, but no words came. Instead, the king burst upon him in rage. “Traitor! Deceiver! This time you have out-smarted yourself and you shall suffer the penalty of your own vicious scheme! Have him hanged immediately!” the king ordered, and the scheming Marcus received the end he so richly deserved.

As for the Jewish communities of Aragon the king declared publicly that he had every confidence in their loyalty. And, as a sign of his good will towards them, he ordered that they be freed from paying taxes for the next three years.

When the Jewish leaders learned the full story of their narrow escape, their relief and joy can better be imagined than described. They all humbly thanked G-d for His benevolence towards them. They realized their dependence upon Him and resolved to serve Him with greater devotion in the future. They further decided to keep the 17th and 18th days of Sh’vat—the anniversary of their miraculous deliverance (in the year 1420)—as days of prayer and joyous thanks to Hashem, so that their children and future generations would remember the story of how they had been miraculously saved from destruction at the hands of a cruel enemy.

This, then, is the story of The “Purim” of Saragossa.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3) Please share this story with your friends, family and others and leave us a comment or two.

Anger, Business and Charity

Posted on Monday, 29, February, 2016Sunday, 23, July, 2023 by Rabbi

“Rachman? You collect money from him?”

The holy rabbi nodded. “He’s one of my most generous contributors.”

The holy rabbi had taken upon himself the difficult task of collecting money for those in need. From village to village, from house to house, he hiked, asking for donations. Now he was sitting, enjoying a rare moment of rest in the home of Simcha, a prominent merchant in the Jewish community.

Simcha asked the holy rabbi, “Do you know that Rachman is not Jewish?”

The holy rabbi stared at the merchant. He knew that Rachman was a well-to-do businessman who often gave him large sums of money for charity, was not a religious Jewish person. That was no problem, indeed the holy rabbi rejoiced in the opportunity to give a non-observant Jewish person the merit of such a great mitzvah. Involving a non-Jewish merchant and collecting charity was entirely different, raising many questions and problems into an already very sensitive and complicated community.

Holy rabbi had no idea that Rachman was not Jewish. Now that he’d found out, he decided he would no longer stop at the wealthy merchant’s shop. Better to stay away then to become involved in some type of misunderstanding or worse scandal.

Some weeks went by since the holy rabbi’s visit, when there was a rapping on Simcha’s door. The angry words of Rachman and the pounding on the door echoed throughout the house.

The feeling of uneasiness, Simcha slowly open the door. His neighbor, Rachman, stood in front of him, his face red and his eyes flashing.

“I will not have it, I will tell you!” He shouted. “What right did you have to interfere in my business?”

Startled, puzzled, and very frightened, Simcha stared at his angry neighbor. “What in the world are you talking about?”

“The holy rabbi! Why did you tell him to stop taking my money don’t you believe that ‘almsgiving delivers from death and keeps you from going into the Darkness? (Tobit 4:10)”

His face tuning red from anger, Rachman gave Simcha an ultimatum: “Man is worthy of being called man only if he is charitable. (Genesis Rabbah 8:15) get the holy rabbi to come back, or else!”

When the holy rabbi came the Simcha’s house a short time later, the frightened Simcha told him about the strange meeting with Rachman and begged him to return to Rachman’s shop. Realizing that not visiting the non-Jewish merchant would create more problems than going to him, the holy rabbi agreed, and once again Rachman became a regular donor.

Many months later, when peace had been restored between the two neighbors, Simcha found the courage to ask Rachman why he’s been so angry that the holy rabbi was not visiting. “Why is it so important to you to give money to Jewish charities?”

“Is it not written in your holy books that when the Master of All Blessings told Abraham to take his only son to a holy place that he answered: “Both are only sons – Isaac is the only son I have from his mother, and Ishmael is the only son I have from her who is his mother.”

G-d answered him: “The son whom you love,”

Abraham: “Master of the Universe, are there separate compartments in one’s innermost self for love? I love both of them.” (Sanhedrin 89b, Tanhuma, Va-yera, 22)

You denied me a special privilege and holy deed,” Rachman replied. “Divided as we may be by religion, we are united by charity (Rashi). From the time I began giving money to the holy rabbi my business prospered, and once he stopped coming. Blessings upon my house and business stopped. If matters in my house and business are to succeed,” he explained, “I need the holy rabbi to help by accepting the charity I can give.”

As the neighbors parted, Rachman said a prayer:

Merciful G-d, you deal charitably with everyone. Be charitable to me and let me be numbered among those who give charity. Remove the evil from my heart, let me give charity joyously and with a kindly expression. Let me have no bad feelings when I hand my gifts to those in need. Let me open my hands and give them sufficient for all of their needs. That my heart go out to the hungry, needy and let me close those who are naked.

The merit of my charity, bless me, O Merciful One, to help me express myself to you perfectly in all of my prayers. Let my prayers be pure and acceptable. Let me have no outside thoughts when I pray, so that no barrier will intervene between my prayers and you.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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How Old Are You?

Posted on Sunday, 21, February, 2016Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

A holy rabbi was sitting walking through the woods with his grandson when the young boy asked, “Zaidie (grandfather), how old are you?”

The holy rabbi looked at his grandson with great love but did not answer. He just continued walking down the path pointing out some of the wonders along the way. After a while, seeing that no answer was coming, the boy went off to do other things and the question was quickly forgotten.

When they arrived back at the holy rabbi’s house, they sat down to eat and discuss the afternoon adventure. The young by was so excited about everything he did, he couldn’t stop talking about it. The holy rabbi left his grandson for a brief time and took some money out of his pocket, put it in an envelope, sealed it, and handed it his grandson.

“Thank you, Zaidie” the boy said as he put the envelope into his pocket.

The holy rabbi was surprised by his grandson’s actions and so he asked him why he didn’t open the envelope to see how much money was in it.

“Every gift from you, Zaidie, is very dear to me,” he replied. “The amount doesn’t really matter:”

“Listen to your words, that is the answer to your earlier question!” the holy rabbi explained. The Holy One, blessed be He gave us great gifts like the Torah (Scriptures) that “written by the finger of G-d.” (Exodus 31:18), a special peace where “no one shall make you afraid” (Leviticus 26:6) and the shield of salvation that supports us and makes us great (Psalm 18:35).

“Do we not learn that “Loving the L-rd your G-d, obeying Him, and holding fast to Him; for that means life to you and length of days.’ (Deuteronomy 30:20) Life is a very dear gift from the Holy One, blessed be He. Can we even begin to value how precious each and every second is? Should I start counting how much time He has given me? As you yourself have just said – ‘the amount doesn’t really matter:’ “

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

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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What Is the True Value?

Posted on Tuesday, 9, February, 2016Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Life was very difficult in the village where people worked hard. Sadly sometimes food was not plentiful and people went hungry. They may have had a roof over their head, but it frequently leaked. So was life.

Yossele’s life was hard. He’d wake up at dawn run to the old wooden shul say prayers (that he knew) and listen to a lesson from the holy rabbi. He’d rush off to his stall in the marketplace and sell vegetables, but success never smiled on him. He fell behind on his rent for the stall and the farmers were asking for more money for the vegetables he sold, He didn’t want to lose his business and so he borrowed a hundred gold coins from Mordechai haGibor the wealthy merchant in order to keep his stall in the marketplace.

Each day Yossele had fewer and fewer customers and business got worse. “What will I do?” he asked his wife, Bracha Sarah. “I owe a hundred gold coins to Mordechai haGibor and I don’t even have two copper coins to rub together. How will I pay him back?”

Bracha Sarah was very wise. She sat down with her husband and thought for a time and then advised him, “It’s very clear what you need to do. Go talk to the holy rabbi. He will surely give you good advice.”

People came to the holy rabbi every day with questions about halachah and everyday sort of things to receive his wise advice.

The next morning Yossele waited until everyone had left the shul and then went to the holy rabbi, and told him his problem. ”Yes, your problem is very difficult,” The holy rabbi said as he stroked his long beard. “But I will see what I can to help you.”

That same afternoon, after Minchah, the holy rabbi went to visit the wealthy merchant, Mordechai haGibor. “Rabbi, holy rabbi. What a wonderful surprise!” exclaimed Mordechai haGibor as he answered the door. “I am so honored and happy that you have come to visit me.” The wealthy merchant had his wife bring out fresh pastries and drinks for the holy rabbi. ”Your visit is worth more to me than you know,” Mordechai haGibor with a wide smile on his face continued. “Why, your visit is worth even a thousand gold coins.”

The holy rabbi laughed and said. “Businessmen have a way of exaggerating. I am sure you do not really mean that. How could my visit be worth that much to you? I don’t bring you business or even customers.”

“I mean it,” replied Mordechai haGibor. “The wonderful feeling I have from your visit is really worth that much to me.”

“Then I believe your kind words,” said the holy rabbi. “Take a moment and listen to what I have to say. There is a poor vegetable seller in the market named Yossele, who owes you a hundred gold coins. Instead of the thousand gold coins that this visit is worth, just forgive Yossele the hundred gold coins he owes you. This way, you save nine hundred gold coins, and you will help Yossele more than you can imagine.”

“Consider it done,” said Mordechai haGibor, ripping up Yossele’s loan contract and freeing him from his debt. “Do we not learn ‘do not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, (Ezekiel 18:7) So I’ll tell you what I’ll do. All the vegetables I need for my kitchen I will buy from Yossele so that he shall have steady business.” Finished the wealthy mearchant

“This guarantees you a special place in the World to Come,” the holy rabbi told him as he left.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

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What Do We Know?

Posted on Sunday, 27, December, 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? “Without understanding no knowledge; without knowledge no understanding. “ (Mishnah Avos 3:17)

There once was a young man who studied Torah (Scriptures) every day and with each new lesson he challenged himself farther. He followed the instruction, “This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful.” (Joshua 1:8)

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!”

But the holy rabbi only answered, “you call him learned? You call him devoted? What he’s done is nothing. Nothing at all!”

The father was shocked. “Rabbi, what are you saying? My son is young, yet he already knows the revealed and hidden Torah by heart! Are we not taught, “A house where Torah is studied at night will not be ruined.” (Eruvin 18b)

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:

Compassionate and Merciful G-d, show us Your love and heal us. Send complete healing to all Your holy people who are sick. In particular to Yitzchak Yaakov ben (the son of) Sarah.

Master of the Universe! You are “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” (Psalm 103:8) I humbly ask, has this child completed his holy task, is his purpose in this life yet fulfilled? May we remember and realize as it is written: “For the Lord is compassionate and merciful; he forgives sins and saves in time of distress. (Sirach 2:11) Master of the World who is Most Compassionate and Merciful. Please remember these tender children and lengthen their days with benevolence and their years with pleasantness, in order that they toil in Your Torah and its commandments all their days. Amen

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)

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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3) Please share this story with others and leave us a comment or two.

Chanukah Lights and the Blessings of Sight

Posted on Tuesday, 8, December, 2015Friday, 8, December, 2023 by Rabbi

Chanukah is the Festival of Lights and it holds a lot of power. When one sees somebody else’s light we see hope and promise and this leads to Berachos (blessings), and this leads to hope that people will see blessings over each other’s lights. It is said about Chanukah says “mitzvahs ner Chanukah ish u’beiso” (Succah 46a) — the mitzvah of the light of Hanukkah is for a man and his whole household.

Chanukah is all about the eyes. When you want to visualize someone you are thinking about, you don’t think of their back or their arms or legs. You visualize their face, because their face is the most important thing. In today’s society with all of the distractions people’s faces become lost in the crowd. Many times the essence of a person becomes lost.

It was a cold wintery night and the cold winds were blowing the snow about when a someone came to see the very holy rabbi. This person looked so crude, his clothes was tattered and he smelled. He didn’t even have a human face. The holy rabbi’s young son answered the knock at the door. He didn’t even want to let the man into the house, but he did, and he decided, “I’ll keep the door a little bit open to hear what my father says.”

So this unkempt man spoke to the holy rabbi, who quickly realized that this person was the one of the crudest people in the world. So he said to the crude man: “My dear friend, your soul needs a lot of fixing. I’ll tell you something very simple. Everyday slowly say the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) and I want you to promise me that every day for a few minutes you’ll forget the whole world and just think about what you can do for another person. Think if you can do one favor for another person and please come back next year.”

One year to the day later, there was a knock on the door of the holy rabbi’s house. The holy rabbi’s young son answered the knock at the door. The man at the door was shining from the top of his hat to the bottoms of his shoes. He really had changed and had a different face.

What part of a person shines, or stands apart from everything else? It’s not the arms or legs, it’s the face. In the small light of the Chanukah lights we see each person’s face and the beauty within.

The menorah (seven branched) is a symbol of the five senses and the power of the soul, all functioning in the service of Him who is blessed. (Perokim b’Hatzlachah, RaMbaM)

The lights of Chanukah reminds us of the light that is deep within ourselves and the potential for goodness that each person has. The light is a gift that enables one to dee the true beauty of faith and the belief in hopes for tomorrow.

May we all be blessed to see the beauty of the world around us and may the small lights of Chanukah shine bright with blessings of peace within and without each person..

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

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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Please share this story with others

The Season of Lights – Chanukah is coming very quickly as it begins at Sundown On December 7, 2023.

Most people in the Jewish communities throughout the world can rattle off a list of Chanukah traditions such as lighting the menorah each night; playing dreidel games; eating foods cooked in oil (latkes and Sufganiot); and exchanging gifts.

An age old tradition is telling stories in the glow of the Chanukah menorah. The stories tell of greatness, nobility, and wisdom while at the same time raising the hopes for a better tomorrow.

The very backdrop to the spiritual stories is attractive to its readers allowing one to peek into the beliefs, and lifestyles of a vanishing age of a faraway world and reminding them that the messages are eternal – just as strong today as they were yesterday.

The book, Story Tour: The Journey Begins will remind readers of forgotten stories of faith that strengthen and reaffirm hope for a better world.

Buy a copy of Story Tour: The Journey Begins as a gift for someone special today. Story Tour: The Journey Begins is available from the publisher, Xlibris, Booksamillion, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon