Mottel the Vassertreyger

Posted on Wednesday, 8, June, 2016Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Mottel the Vassertreyger worked all day carrying water to all his customers. He was not very learned and tried to study the holy books, but he just couldn’t understand the words. He had a big heart and tried to live according to the traditions of the Jewish people. Sadly, there were those who made fun of him because he didn’t know a lot of Torah, he stumbled through his prayers and never learned Talmud.

If anyone needed water for Shabbos, Yom Tov or for any holy purpose, Mottel would bring them all they needed without charge. There was alte Chaya Sora who always had her fill of water and Mottel refused to accept even the smallest coin from her. Mottel always made sure the two barrels at the shul were always full.

Rarely was he called up to the Torah on Shabbos as he would stumble through the blessings. But when a strong person would be needed for hagbah, he’d open the holy Torah on the bimah (reading table), spread his arms and lift the Sacred Scroll as high as he could. When he would hold the wooden handles and the congregation would sing “Ve-zos ha-torah asher sam mosheh lifnei benei yisrael, al pi Adoshem b’yad mosheh” (And this is the Torah which Moses set before the children of Israel, according to the commandment of the L-rd by the hand of Moses.) the words would wrap around his heart. A tear would form in his eye as he felt the parchment feel his joy and Mottel could almost see each word, sometimes each letter of the Law rise off the holy Torah scroll to dance around him.

Mottel came to the shul for Leil Tikkun Shavuous (the custom of engaging in all-night Torah study the first night of Shavuous) but could not understand the studies, but waited patiently for the stories and songs of the night. Each story and song touched Mottel’s heart. He knew that the words to the Torah song “etz chayim hi lamachazikim ba, Vesomecheha me’ushar. Deracheha – darechei noam, Vechol nesivosecha shalom (It is a tree of life to them that grasp it, and of them that uphold it every one is rendered happy. (Proverbs 3:18) Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.) was about him.

The Ten Commandments were read from the Torah on Shavuous and Mottel felt the holy words deep inside. Then someone called him for hagbah, he was chosen to hold the Torah high so everyone could see it, just like Moshe did on Mount Sinai.

Mottel the Vassertreyger can feel the fire of G-d’s Word. Mottel didn’t know a lot of Torah, he stumbled through his prayers and never learned Talmud. Mottel doesn’t need to. The words know him.

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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The Water Carrier, Psalms and Prayer

Posted on Sunday, 8, November, 2015Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Sefer Tehillim, the Book of Psalms is treasured by people throughout the world. It is a living book which includes wide range of human emotions and experiences. It has always been a faithful companion and source of spiritual strength, giving voice to prayer, comfort in misfortune and light in darkness. Sadly too many take the Book of Psalms for granted by merely reciting the Psalms mechanically – by rote.

Gray clouds hung in the sky as the rain poured down from the heavens. A cold wind blew from the east, chilling everyone to the bone. The Chevra Kadisha and a small group of Jewish people were escorting the body of Mottel, the town’s water carrier, to his final resting place in the cemetery.

For thirty years, Mottel would carry two buckets on his shoulders, and walk down the hill to draw water from the river. He would then trudge back up the hill, with the heavy weight on his shoulders, and deliver this water to the people in the village. He did this each day, year after year, never complaining. His work was hard and he barely earned enough to support his family.

Looking out the window of the study hall, a young student was surprised to see his aged teacher and holy rabbi, outside in this weather, accompanying Mottel’s funeral procession. The holy rabbi, was after all, a very busy man.

Later that evening, the young student said to his teacher, “I was very surprised to see you walked the whole way to the cemetery and stayed for the whole funeral. I know how busy you are, and how hard it is for you to leave the beis medresh. (House of Learning)”

“Do not be surprised, young man,” the holy rabbi answered. “When the funeral procession passed by the shul (synagogue), I saw thousands of angels singing Tehillim (Psalms) with beautiful voices. In the center of all those angels was one angel, larger than the rest, who appeared to be David haMelech (King David). How could I not accompany them?”

“Why would Mottel, a simple water carrier, be accompanied to his grave by David haMelech and so many angels singing Tehillim?” thought the young student. “What was so special about him?” That night, he prayed to Hashem (G-d) to reveal to him the secret of the water carrier.

In the middle of that same night, the water carrier came to the student in a dream.

“It is true,” he explained, “in your world I was, indeed, a very simple man. I could neither read nor write. But, as a child, I learned the entire first Sefer (book) of Tehillim by heart. Each day as I worked, I prayed as best as I could many times saying, “Ribbono shel olam (Master of the Universe) and then I would utter a verse of Tehillim” and at other instances, “Tatte hartziger… (Heartfelt father) I trust in You and I shelter in the shadow of Your wings.” Other occasions I would simply sigh, “Oy gevald, zisser foter in himmel, (Oh my, sweet father in heaven) … Tyerer tatte (precious father)…Lieber foter, derbarmdiger tatte, (Living Father, merciful Father)

After work, I would recite the entire first Sefer in the beis medresh. I would say it slowly with very deep feelings. That is why I merited such a special honor. David haMelech the author of Tehillim came to my funeral with the angels that I created through my daily reading of Tehillim.”

The student learned a lesson that he’d repeat many times to his students — the power of prayer is very mighty, even for a very simple man.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Are We There Yet

Posted on Thursday, 8, October, 2015Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Each day we pray, “Redeem us speedily for the sake of Your Name.” (Shemonah Esrai) Every day we await the time when “every man will sit under his vine and beneath his fig tree and no one will make him afraid.” (Micah 4:4)

The Jewish people prays, waits and hopes for the Messiah to come and redeem the world from fear and pain, from hunger and sickness, and the devastating conflicts between the wealthy and the poor. The long and difficult exile filled with pain and suffering will come to an end.

A young man was studying the end of the Book of Daniel tried to unravel the mysterious verses predicting the “end of days.” He came to the holy rabbi of the village with the age old question, “When is the Messiah going to come? Will it be soon?”

The holy rabbi sat in deep thought for some time. He was keenly aware that many of his colleagues were very critical of predicting a date, mentioning that the Talmud pronounces a curse on those who attempt to compute the day of the redemption.

The closed his eyes and seemed to drift between thoughts, took a deep breath and began:

“A merchant set out on a long journey with his young son to a market in the big city. In those days, the trip by horse and buggy took many days, and after a few hours, the child would ask, “Papa, how far is it to the big city?” The father looked at his son who quickly understood that his father was displeased with the question. His father changed the subject and they talked and learned together. The young boy soon understood he was not to ask about how long the trip was taking.”

“After several days travel the boy heard his father ask the driver, “Do we still have much to go until we get to the big city?” Puzzled, he then asked why he had been reprimanded when he had presented the same question.”

“The father responded, “Earlier in the trip, when I knew we were still very far from our destination, I did not wish to tell you how distant we were, because I knew you would become impatient and cause me problems. Now that I sense we are approaching the area, I feel free to ask just how close we are.’ ”

The holy rabbi took a deep breath and continued, “The Talmud was written two-thousand years ago, and the sages knew we were destined for a long stay in exile. Now that we are obviously so close to the redemption, however, it is permissible and even natural to ask, ‘How far is it to the big city? ‘ “

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Different Kinds of Prayer

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

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

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

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

There is

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

There is

‘the prayer of King David’; and

There is

‘the prayer of a poor man.’

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

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

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

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

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Mother’s Prayer Book and a Boy’s Prayer

Posted on Tuesday, 10, September, 2013Monday, 19, September, 2022 by Rabbi

In a far away village there once lived a Jewish merchant who was held in high affection by the lord of the village. This Jewish merchant passed away and his wife followed him, leaving a little boy behind them. The lord of the village took pity on him and brought him up, treating him like a son. The lord always enjoyed the company of the child, and on one occasion he told him that his father and mother had been Jewish, but he had adopted him as his son and all his property and wealth would be the child’s. Meanwhile, he gave him the few belongings which his parents had left. Among them was the prayer book from which his mother had always prayed.

Now the Elul month came around, when it is the practice of the Jewish community in the village to gather together in order to say their prayers during the Days of Awe together with the congregation, since the splendor of the King is found in the multitude of the people. The boy asked some Jewish travelers where they were going, and they told him that they were going to the place where they could pray to G-d since their fate for the year would be decided on Rosh haShanah (New Year’s Day), which is a great and awesome occasion indeed. There they would pray with the whole community and G-d certainly would not reject their prayer. From that moment the spirit of the L-rd began to work within the boy.

That night the boy saw his father and mother in a dream, and they urged him to return to the faith of the Jewish people. This dream returned night after night. During the entire ten days of penitence he could not sleep and saw them both awake and in dreams, and they would not let him rest. The boy told all this to the lord, who tried to persuade him that dreams are meaningless.

When the eve of the holy Day of Atonement came, the boy saw wagon after wagon full of Jewish travelers proceeding to town and asked them what it was for. They told him this is the day we wait for, the day of pardon and forgiveness when our transgressions are atoned. The boy was very upset aria set out on foot to go to the old wooden shul (synagogue) in the village. He took his mother’s prayer book and came to synagogue while the Kol Nidre prayer was being sung. He saw all the people dressed in white garments, their prayer books in their hands, praying and asking for forgiveness for deeds of the past year, but he could not pray and began to cry aloud very bitterly; and there was a great commotion in heaven on high.

The boy, seeing that he could not pray, placed his mother’s prayer book on the shtender (bookstand) and cried: “Ribbono shel Olam, Master of the Universe, I do not know how to pray, I do not know what to say, here is the whole prayer book. Pick the right prayers and put them together so that I may grow to understand You.” The boy wept and his heart was broken, his prayer made an impact on the heavenly host and was accepted among the prayers of the upright and innocent; and his prayer opened the Gates of Mercy and blessings of life, peace and goodness showered down on the world.

May all be remembered and inscribed for a year of life, goodness and blessings

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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WHERE ARE THE BOOKS THAT WE WISH TO BE INSCRIBED IN?

Posted on Monday, 2, September, 2013Monday, 19, September, 2022 by Rabbi

And so that you will prolong your days (Dev0rim/Deuteronomy 11:9)

A young boy went with his father to the wooden shul (synagogue). At one point during the service, the boy turned to his father and asked” “When we say Avinu Malkeinu we ask the Holy One, blessed be He to inscribe us in the book of life, the book of redemption and salvation, the book of livelihood, the book of forgiveness and atonement, and the book of merits. Where are those book found and can we read them?”

The father looked at his son and answered: “My son, you ask a very good question, but I am at a loss on how to answer. Why don’t you go the rabbi and ask him your question?”

The boy took a deep breath and went up to the rabbi, who sat on a big chair in front of the synagogue. He stood a little afraid as he faced the rabbi and slowly asked his question. The rabbi looked at the young boy with kind eyes and remarked: “Such a big question from such a little boy, but a very good one.”

The rabbi began to explain:

The “book of life” is familiar to us from the Sages’ teaching that the book of life is opened during the Days of Awe. But where else do we find mention of any of the other books in which we hope to be inscribed?

With this idea, perhaps we can gain a better understanding of the teachings of

the holy rabbis that a person should always study Torah (Scripture) and not skip any part, for whoever completes such study merits that their days and years be lengthened. According to the parallel we noted between the fiveand the five “books,” we can suggest that by completing study of all of the Torah (Scriptures) a person acquires all the benefits that correspond to each of the Chumashim.

On the Talmud’s words, “his days and years are extended,” Ben Yehoyada notes that “days” refers to the quality of a person’s life, while “years” refers to the quantity or length of a person’s life. He uses this concept to explain the verse:

For through me your days will be increased, and they will increase years of life for you (Mishlei/Proverbs 9:11).

Your days will be increased is a promise to enhance a person’s quality of life, while and they will increase years of life for you is a promise to increase the length of a person’s life.

Those who talk during the reading of the Torah place themselves in the category of

And those who forsake Hashem will perish (Yeshayah/Isaiah 1:28).

If they were talking while the books of life, redemption, livelihood, forgiveness and merit were being read, how can they then come and pray to the Holy One, blessed be He to inscribe them in these very books?

May all be remembered and inscribed for a year of life, goodness and blessings

From the Depths

Posted on Thursday, 1, August, 2013Thursday, 27, June, 2024 by Rabbi

There was once a poor man who was regularly supported by the generous gifts of a wealthy man. One day, the poor man went to the wealthy man’s house to receive his daily portion. His desires got the best of him, and he wanted a fine coat he saw in the house. Every day, he wanted the coat more and more until one day, he stole the coat from the wealthy man who had taken care of his needs.

When the wealthy man realized that his fine coat was stolen by the poor man, he grew angry and clearly told the poor man that from that day on, he was no longer welcome in his home ever again. The wealthy man was so angry and disappointed that he told the poor man that the usual gifts were canceled indefinitely.

Without the wealthy man’s assistance, the situation in the poor man’s home worsened each day until he was no longer able to provide bread for his children. Left with no other choice, the poor man decided to take action.

He knew that each day, the wealthy man would walk through the forest near the town. One day, the poor man went to the forest before the wealthy man’s walk. He looked around and found a small cave; he then hid inside and waited.

When he heard the wealthy man coming, he yelled loudly, “Please save me! Please take pity on me!”

“Who are you?” asked the wealthy man. “Approach me, and I will help you to the best of my ability.”

“This I cannot do,” answered the poor man, “for I am embarrassed to show my face before you.”

The wealthy man repeated his request several times, but the poor man refused to leave his hiding place.

“I am ashamed,” said the poor man. “I am unable to leave this cave and face you, for I stole a coat from your home, and I am wearing it…”

The wealthy man answered, “Come forward and face me for I am ashamed at my anger that led me to do such a thing as to cause you shame. Keep the coat, it is yours.”

“How can you forgive me for betraying your trust and stealing from you? Asked the poor man.

In my anger, I forgot my responsibility to you. For are we not taught that ‘the L-rd G-d made garments of skins for the man and for his wife, and clothed them.’ (Genesis 3:20) How can I do less than the All Merciful One who sees to the needs of all His creation?”

The poor man came out of the cave, and the wealthy man embraced the poor man and invited him to share a meal with him. As they were eating, they were joined by an old man who listened to their tale and offered, “It is indeed a shame that all people can not learn the lesson you have. Let us pray together. They prayed, and before the old man left, he reminded the poor man and the wealthy man, “Forgive your neighbor…and then, when you pray, your sins will be forgiven you.” (Ben Sira 28:2)

Every day, people stand in prayer and say, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O L-rd!” (Psalms 130:1). People conceal themselves in hiding places and cry out, “O L-rd, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy.” (Psalms 130:2) So often, people are ashamed and humiliated to appear before You, our L-rd, King of all Kings. Please listen to our prayers because we are ashamed. One of the principles of repentance is to pursue deeds of kindness and truth as well as Torah (Scripture) study, as it is written: “By true love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for… “(Proverbs 16:6)

As we pray daily, let us all remember, “He who forgives will himself be forgiven” (Yoma 23a), and may we all be forgiven of sin and showered with blessings of the Holy One, blessed be He.

May all our prayers lead to peace

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Tisha B’Av and Teshuvah

Posted on Sunday, 14, July, 2013Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Tisha B’Av, the Fast of the Ninth of Av is a day of mourning to commemorate the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people, many of which coincidentally have occurred on the ninth of Av.

Tisha B’Av primarily commemorates the destruction of the first and second Holy Temples which stood in the holy city of Jerusalem, both of which were destroyed on the ninth of Av (the first by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E.; the second by the Romans in 70 C.E.). It is also appropriate to consider on this day the many other tragedies of the Jewish people, many of which occurred on this day, most notably the expulsion of the Jewish people from Spain in 1492.

Though we remember the tragedies and are saddened by them, it is a time of joy. One should not be overcome by the sadness, but remember that the Holy One, blessed be He hears the prayers from our broken hearts and provides us with many opportunities.

It once happened that some holy men walked through the holy city of Jerusalem and when they came upon the ruins of the Holy Temple they sat down on the ground, tore their clothes in mourning and cry.

One day as they approached the place of the destroyed Holy Temple, they saw a strange sight. There was a man singing and dancing. The holy men went to the man and asked him, “don’t you know what this spot is?” The man answered them not, he just continued to sing and dance. “Have you no respect? Do you not mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple?” The man still did not answer, he just continued to sing and dance. The holy men became angry and began to scold the man.

The man stopped his singing and dancing, turned and faced the rabbis. “Rabbis, holy rabbis, you ask about my behavior, but understand not. I sing and dance because it says in the Holy Torah that we should love G-d with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our might. See the greatness of G-d who takes his anger out on wood and stone and lets us do teshuvah (repent), continue to do good deeds and study His Holy Word.”

The rabbis left the man to his singing and dancing and realized that Torah is the basis of life.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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