Wolves and Prayer

Posted on Monday, 24, June, 2013Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Remove from your heart all worldly concerns when you stand to pray, carefully prepare your heart in the presence of the Holy One.

Iggeres haRamban 1268

A rabbi once stood in deep prayer, and a wolf came and took his son who stood beside him, but he went on praying. When he finished one of his students said to him, “Rabbi, did you not notice when the wolf came and took your son away?” “May all be well with my son,” said he, “as surely as I did not notice it.”

The rabbi began to teach, “Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.” (Zephaniah 3:3) This is justice without faith, those who live by what they believe are like the words,

“Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge. (Job 9:15)

For indeed, prayer, righteousness and repentance annul the evil decree. (J Tannis 2.1)

Before the rabbi finished his words, the wolf came and returned the child. “What did the wolf do to you?” Asked his father. The child answered, “he took me into a room and where I heard a kind of echo saying to him, “I did not send you for this one over the son of another””

Before the boy had finished, they heard people weeping and wailing, “Wolf has bitten the son who followed the ways of his father, a great sinner.”

The holy rabbi looked at his students and explained:

All living beings associate with their own kind, and a man will have fellowship with his kind. What fellowship shall wolf have with lamb? Such is the wicked to the righteous

Ben Sira 13:16-17

Blessed is he who alone performs great miracles!

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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A Poor Boy’s Blessings At Sea

Posted on Monday, 21, January, 2013Friday, 26, July, 2024 by Rabbi

Once upon a time a certain boy went to sea aboard a ship. On the ship were people of 70 different nations. A violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up (Jonah 1:4) as giant waves crashed down on the ship. The wind, the torrents of rain and the waves the washed over the deck of the ship caused even the bravest to fear for life.

The people cried to the captain, “come save us from this distress.”

It did not help in the least, in fact the storm grew more violent. The people tore the hair of their heads in the hair of their beards and begged the captain to save them from the storm.

When they saw that the captain could not help them at all, they said to one another, “there is no value in our trust and admiration of the captain and his skills.” Look at this young boy, when he saw the storm beginning he had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. (Jonah 1:5) The men went down to him and said:

“look at the distress and danger around us, how can you sleep? Come call upon your G-d, maybe He will save us so that we shall not be lost.”

The boy stood below the ship’s deck and prayed to the Holy One, blessed be He, saying, “I pray to You, L-rd of the universe. Let your power and might and great name be known this day and remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to whom You talk and now let all the people admit that You are a G-d of truth and let them know that you are a merciful and gracious G-d.”

Prayer

The Holy One, blessed be He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. (Psalm 107:29), and caused a gentle wind to fill the sails.

When they came to land, each of them brought himself food, and they said to the boy, “buy yourself food as well.” “What are you asking of a poor boy like me?” Said he. “I have no money or wealth with which to buy.” You are not poor,” said they, “but very rich, but all of us people are poor for we cried to powers that did not respond but you, wherever you go, your G-d answers you.”

“You are indeed very foolish” Said he to them. “It seems to me that your gods who hang around your neck are very far away. But my G-d who seems to be far away from me when he is near at hand, as a Psalms says, ‘the L-rd is near to all who call upon him’ (Psalms 145:18) Moses also said (Deuteronomy 4:7), ‘for what great people is there that has a G-d so close to them as the L-rd our G-d is whenever we cry to him.'” At this, they all began to declare, “your lips speak the truth.”

All blessings begin with “Blessed are You” – as though man were addressing an intimate friend. (Sefer Raziel haGadol , 13^th cent.) Blessed be he who comes in the name of the L-rd. (Psalms 118:26)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Blessings of the Boy Who Went to Sea

Posted on Thursday, 1, November, 2012Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Once upon a time a certain boy went to sea aboard a ship. On the ship were people of 70 different nations. A great storm arose on the sea and giant waves crashed down on the ship. The wind, the torrents of rain and the waves the washed over the deck of the ship caused even the bravest to fear for life. The people cried to the captain, “come save us from this distress.” It did not help in the least, in fact the storm grew more violent. The people tore the hair of their heads in the hair of their beards and begged the captain to save them from the storm.

When they saw that the captain could not help them at all, they said to one another, “there is no value in our trust and admiration of the captain and his skills. Look at this young boy, when he saw the storm beginning he went down below deck and fell fast asleep. The men went down to him and said, “look at the distress and danger around us, how can you sleep? Come call upon your G-d, maybe He will save us so that we shall not be lost.”

The boy stood below the ship’s deck and prayed to the Holy One, blessed be He, saying, “I pray to You, L-rd of the universe. Let your power and might and great name be known this day and remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to whom You talk and now let all the people admit that You are a G-d of truth and let them know that you are a merciful and gracious G-d.”

The Holy One, blessed be He calmed the sea at once, and caused a gentle wind to fill the sails.

When they came to land, each of them brought himself food, and they said to the boy, “buy yourself food as well.” “What are you asking of a poor boy like me?” Said he. “I have no money or wealth with which to buy.” You are not poor,” said they, “but very rich, but all of us people are poor for we cried to powers that did not respond but you, wherever you go, your G-d answers you.”

“Fools!” Said he to them. “It seems to me that your gods who hang around your neck are very far away. But my G-d seems to be far away from me when he is near at hand, as a Psalms says, ‘the L-rd is near to all who call upon him’ (145:18) Moses also said (Deuteronomy 4:7), ‘for what great people is there that has a G-d so close to them as the L-rd our G-d is whenever we cry to him.'” At this, they all began to declare, “your lips speak the truth.”

All blessings begin with “Blessed are You” – as though man were addressing an intimate friend. (Sefer Raziel haGadol , 13^th cent.) Blessed be he who comes in the name of the L-rd. (Psalms 118:26)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Listen to more stories told by the Master Storyteller, Rabbi Rachmiel Tobesman – The Treasures of the King, the Princess and the Peat Digger, Seven Jewish stories, on iTunes and Amazon or Coins, Candles and Faith, eight stories of faith on iTunes and Amazon

The King Hears the Cry

Posted on Monday, 10, September, 2012Sunday, 14, September, 2014 by Rabbi

A King had an only son, the apple of his eye. The King wanted his son to be wise and sent his son to learn about many cultures and grow in wisdom, so he sent him to far-off countries with much silver and gold. Far away from home, the son spent all the money until he was penniless. In his sadness he decided to return to his father’s house and after much difficulty, he managed to arrive at the gate of the courtyard to his father’s palace.

The prince’s hardships had kept him away from his beloved father for a very long time. So long that he had actually forgot the language of his country and his father’s court. When he came to the gates of the palace, he was unable to identify himself to the guards. In utter hopelessness he began to cry out in a loud voice, and the King, who recognized the voice of his son, went out to him and brought him into the house, kissing him and hugging him.

We call out to Avinu Malkeinu (our Father and King) The King sends a soul down to this world in order enrich the world and to kindle a holy light. However, the soul becomes very distant and forgets everything to which it was familiar with above in the King’s court, and in the long exile it forgets even its own “language.” So it utters a simple cry to its Father in Heaven, as it is taught: “Look, their brave men cry aloud in the streets; the angels of peace weep bitterly.” (Isa. 33:7). This is prayer and the blowing of the shofar, a cry from deep within, expressing regret for the past and hope for the future. This cry elicits G-d’s mercies, and He demonstrates His abiding affection for His child and forgives him.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Cracked Bucket

Posted on Sunday, 22, July, 2012Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

In a small village there was a widow that supported herself and her children by carrying water from the nearby river to the Jewish homes. She had two water buckets which were attached to a sturdy yoke. Each day she would wake up early say a prayer to the Holy One, blessed be He, bless her children before she sent them off to learn the Holy Writings, then put the heavy yoke over her shoulders and went down to the river. At the river she would let down the yoke and filled her buckets with water. Once the buckets were filled she would lift the heavy yoke upon her shoulders and walk back to the village.

Everyday bucket on the right side of the yoke was fine and sturdy always filled when she returned to the village, but the bucket on the left had a small crack in it and by the time the woman arrived back in the village, a lot of the water was usually gone.

The cracked water bucket always felt very bad and was ashamed that he was cracked and wasn’t pulling his weight. One day he turned to the woman and apologized for being cracked.

The woman smiled gently and said, “Did you think I didn’t know that you had a crack, and water dripped from you? Look at the path from the river to the village. Do you see all the beautiful flowers that are growing on the side of the path? Those are the flowers that I planted there, that you watered every day as I walked from the river to the village. How many students have stopped and said a blessing over the beauty of the flowers? How many of those flowers brightened the Shabbos or Yom Tov table? How many words of Torah were said as holy men walked along the path?”

The woman continued, “Remember the words:

‘I went down to the garden of nut trees to look at the green plants in the valley, to see if the vines had blossomed or the pomegranates were in flower.’ (Song of Songs 6:11)

What do you think they mean? Let me explain “I went down into the garden of nuts” –this is the world; “to look at the green plants of the valley” — these are the righteous; “to see whether the vine had blossomed” –this is the houses of study or anywhere the Holy Words is learned; “and the pomegranates were in flower” (ibid.)–these are young children who sit occupied with the lessons of Torah (Scriptures) and are arrayed in row upon row, like the seeds of a pomegranate. (Song Rabbah 6:11, #1).

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Listen to more stories told by the Master Storyteller, Rabbi Rachmiel Tobesman – The Treasures of the King, the Princess and the Peat Digger, Seven Jewish stories, on iTunes and Amazon or Coins, Candles and Faith, eight stories of faith on iTunes and Amazon

The Shepherd’s Prayer

Posted on Tuesday, 12, June, 2012Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

There once was a Jewish shepherd who was very simple and very little understanding of Jewish ways. Everyday he would go out to the fields with the sheep and as he watched the flock, he would sit on a rock and play upon his flute.

As the Jewish Holidays neared he saw many people traveling on the road going to a nearby city. Each day more and more people traveled down the road. The shepherd asked the travelers what was so special that they were going to the city for.

“We are on the way to spend the holidays with a tzaddik,(a pious and holy man), and pray that the Holy One, blessed be He answer our prayers with goodness, mercy and health.”

“Why is this so important?” asked the shepherd.

“Come with us and see how special the holy rabbi is”

The boy was uncomfortable, for you see he did not know how to pray. He only knew that there is a G-d and that he was Jewish. Not knowing what to do, the boy went into the woods with his flute to think and play a soulful melody.

The shepherd left the woods and the fields behind him as he walked down the road to the city. He did not know what to expect. He felt everyone knew more than him. He could not pray and did not even know any Hebrew, the language of prayer.

He slowly made his way to the old wooden shul (synagogue) and saw that everyone was deep in prayer. The holy rabbi looked so sad. The shepherd carefully watched the holy rabbi who stood under his large tallis (prayer shawl) in front of the shul. It covered his head and body, and the boy saw him swaying gently back and forth. The shepherd began to sway as he thought to himself, “the grain in the field moves with the wind out of respect for the Creator of all things and this is how everything in the world is holy.”

The shepherd sat when everyone else sat he stood up when they stood up, but the holy rabbi was different. He seemed to be shivering and standing most of the time. The young boy felt that each person in the old wooden shul was able to pray to G-d but not him. At one point, every one was standing up and it was so quiet in the shul that the shepherd could actually hear his heart beating. He looked at the holy rabbi and saw on the floor a wet spot, the rabbi was crying.

He felt an urge to do something, but what could he do? He could not read Hebrew, he knew no prayer. With streams of his own tears, he pulled out his flute and played a soulful tune to the Holy One, blessed be He. As he began his melody, the people in the shul were shocked. The turned in anger to look at this terrible violation of the holiday and the service. As they shouted at him to stop this terrible thing, the boy looked terrified.

The holy rabbi, ran up to the boy and said, Sha shtil (quiet, be still) no one is to say anything harsh to this boy for it is because of him that the blessings of Heaven are possible this day.”

The people were awed of the tzaddik’s words, as he explained “All day we have prayed, but not one prayer ascended to the heavens. The gates of the heaven were closing as the holiday was ending when suddenly, this boy in his innocence and pure heart and tears began to play his flute. He prayed with all his heart, with all his soul and with all his might and the doors of heaven opened up and our prayers were accepted.”

“We should learn from this simple shepherd and his prayer.” He took the young boy by the hand with him to the front of the shul and together under the holy rabbi’s tallis they finished their prayers

Everyone can pray with true devotion. Let us just open ourselves up and let our prayers and thoughts rise to G-d, for He hears all prayers.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Blessings for Not So Good and Blessings for Good

Posted on Wednesday, 18, April, 2012Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

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

It once happened that two merchants agreed to set out on a journey to a faraway city to go to a fair to buy wares to sell in their village. They equipped themselves with all the needs and supplies for the voyage. Together they made their way to the harbor to board a ship. As they walk through the streets, one of them he stumbled and hurt his foot so badly that he was forced to cancel his trip.

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

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

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

Nidah 31a

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Shepherd, his Flute and Prayer

Posted on Tuesday, 28, February, 2012Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Once upon a time there lived a king in a beautiful palace in the capital city of his country. He was surrounded by many servants and nobles, who served him with great honour, devotion, and loyalty.

One day, as he thought about all the honor the people in his court showed him, the king said to himself: “It’s no wonder that my servants and nobles respect me and serve me loyally, for they know I’m their king, and all the good that I do. But what of all my subjects who live faraway from my palace, in distant towns, villages and farms; do those people know I’m their king, that I care for them and their needs?^“

The king decided to go and find out for himself what the faraway people think of their king. He took off his royal robes and put on the clothes of a wanderer, and set off on his way. He went from town to town and from village to village, and everywhere he stopped and asked people what they thought of their king.

From the replies he received, he found out that few people thought of their king altogether. The further he travelled, the less interest people showed in their king, and the less they knew about him. Some people even spoke about the king in mocking tones.

Shocked and saddened, the king decided to return to his palace.

As he began his return journey, the sound of music reached his ears. Someone was playing on a flute, and the tune was so^, soft and tender that it filled the king’s heart with joy and lifted his spirit. He hurried to find out who the player was, and presently he came upon a young shepherd who was playing on his flute.

Seeing there was no one around, the king asked the shepherd for whom he was playing.

“I’m playing for my king,” he answered. “Have you ever seen the king?”

“No,” replied the shepherd.

“Do you know who the king is and what he does?”

“He is a shepherd.”

“Why do you think that?^“

“Because I’m a shepherd, and I love my little lambs and care for them. I watch over them and make sure they are safe from wolves or any kind of harm. I lead them to pastures where the grass is green and soft, and take them to a stream of sparkling fresh water. Now, I’m but a small shepherd, but the king is a big shepherd, looking after all the people in the country and making sure they are all provided with their needs! Wouldn’t you say he is a very great shepherd? That’s why I’m playing this melody in his honor!”

The king was overjoyed with this young shepherd and said to him:

“I am your king! From now on you’ll be my best friend. We’ll find some other shepherd to look after your sheep, and you will come with me to my palace. You will be my dearest companion and we shall be friends forever!”

When the king and the shepherd arrived at the palace, the king ordered royal robes for the shepherd and gave him the most honored place in the king’s court, next to the king himself.

Not long afterward, the shepherd, sad to say, offended the king. Sternly the king ordered him to leave his presence and return three days later for trial.

Now the shepherd realized how wicked he had been, and how ungrateful for all that the king had done for him. Not only had he not appreciated the king’s friendship and all the favors he had showered on him, but he had actually offended the king by his conduct. He felt that the king would have every reason to punish him severely.

The day of the trial arrived.

The shepherd put away his royal garments, put on the shepherd clothing he wore when he first met the king. He also took his flute with him.

Entering the king’s court, the remorseful shepherd fell on his knees before the king, saying:

“0 great and merciful king! I have no words to defend my wicked conduct. What can I possibly say to explain my inexcusable behavior toward my king who has been so good and kind to me? But, since I cannot find the right words, may it please the king to allow me to play on my flute’?”

The king nodded, and the shepherd began to play the tune which he played when he met the king for the first time. And he played it so well, and with such feeling, that the king was deeply moved. It reminded him of that day when he had felt so sad because most of his people throughout his kingdom seemed not to know, nor care, about their king, as he had discovered. Then he met this young shepherd who was the only one who gave him a feeling of joy and pride in being king… .

Filled with this heartwarming feeling, the king said:

“I forgive you, and we shall remain the best of friends as before!”

The power of prayer is beyond the understanding of many. Yet the ebb and flow of the words, melodies and devotion of the prayers can open one’s eyes to the wonder and magnificence of creation. The colors of the world come alive and a peek into the mysteries of the devine is possible.

Unfortunately too many people prayer from rote. The same old words with no feeling, no spark, just merely words on a page. One should offer their prayers and meditations not as a commandment of expectation of men learned by rote, for only prayers the express one’s own heart and mind can bring one close to the Holy One, blessed be He.

The Talmud teaches in Berachos 16b that R. Elazar, at the conclusion of his Shemoneh Esrei, used to recite the following:

May it be Your will, L-rd our G-d, that our lot should be one of love, brotherhood, peace, and friendship; that our territory should be filled with students; and that our end should be successful, so that at the end we should indeed see the things we hoped for all our lives, and set our share in Gan Eden (Garden of Eden), and set us aright with good friends and the right inclination in Your world. And may we get up in the morning and find our hearts yearning to fear Your name, and may our wants and desires come before You for the good.

Rav, upon completing the Shemoneh Esrei, used to add the following:

May it be Your will, L-rd our G-d, to grant us long life, a life of peace, a life of goodness, a life of blessing, a life of sustenance, a life of physical health, a life in which there is fear of sin, a life in which there is no shame nor humiliation, a life of wealth and honor, a life in which we will have love of Torah and fear of heaven, a life in which our heartfelt requests will be fulfilled for the good.

May all of our prayers be acceptable and bring strength of spirit, brotherhood, peace and blessing from the King above all Kings

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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From the Depths

Posted on Thursday, 23, February, 2012Saturday, 24, September, 2022 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 in order to receive his everyday portion. His desires got the best of him, and he wanted a fine coat he saw in the house. Everyday he wanted the coat more and more until one day he stole the coat from the weralthy 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 that was near the town. One day, the poor man went to the forest before the time of 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…”

Every day people stand in prayer and say, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O L-rd!” (Ps. 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!” (Ps. 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 (Torah study), as it is written: ” By true love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the L-RD one turns away from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Price of Shema

Posted on Sunday, 19, February, 2012Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, O L-rd, my Rock and Redeemer.” Psalms (19:15).

It is told that a holy rabbi once had a valuable gem to sell. A merchant came to him while he was praying, as he was saying the Shema, “Hear, O Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One” (Deuteronomy 6:4), and the merchant said to him, “I am willing to buy your valuable gem for 500 dinars.” The rabbi did not answer him because he was praying “with all his heart, with all his soul and with all his might.” Deuteronomy 6:5). When the rabbi did not respond, the merchant supposed that he did not want to sell him the gem at that price, so he added, “let me have it for a thousand dinars.”

After the holy rabbi had finished praying to the Holy One, blessed be He, the rabbi told the merchant, “take the gem for the five hundred dinars you offered, for that was the price at which I intended let you have it.”

Based on Makkos 29a

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)

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

Please share this story with others

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

Remove from your heart all worldly concerns when you stand to pray, carefully prepare your heart in the presence of the Holy One.

Iggeres haRamban 1268

The rabbi began to teach, “Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.” (Zephaniah 3:3) This is justice without faith, those who live by what they believe are like the words,

“Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge. (Job 9:15)

For indeed, prayer, righteousness and repentance annul the evil decree. (J Tannis 2.1)

Before the rabbi finished his words, the wolf came and returned the child. “What did the wolf do to you?” Asked his father. The child answered, “he took me into a room and where I heard a kind of echo saying to him, “I did not send you for this one over the son of another””

Before the boy had finished, they heard people weeping and wailing, “Wolf has bitten the son who followed the ways of his father, a great sinner.”

The holy rabbi looked at his students and explained:

All living beings associate with their own kind, and a man will have fellowship with his kind. What fellowship shall wolf have with lamb? Such is the wicked to the righteous

Ben Sira 13:16-17

Blessed is he who alone performs great miracles!

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

The people cried to the captain, “come save us from this distress.”

It did not help in the least, in fact the storm grew more violent. The people tore the hair of their heads in the hair of their beards and begged the captain to save them from the storm.

“look at the distress and danger around us, how can you sleep? Come call upon your G-d, maybe He will save us so that we shall not be lost.”

The Holy One, blessed be He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. (Psalm 107:29), and caused a gentle wind to fill the sails.

All blessings begin with “Blessed are You” – as though man were addressing an intimate friend. (Sefer Raziel haGadol , 13th cent.) Blessed be he who comes in the name of the L-rd. (Psalms 118:26)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

The Holy One, blessed be He calmed the sea at once, and caused a gentle wind to fill the sails.

All blessings begin with “Blessed are You” – as though man were addressing an intimate friend. (Sefer Raziel haGadol , 13th cent.) Blessed be he who comes in the name of the L-rd. (Psalms 118:26)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Listen to more stories told by the Master Storyteller, Rabbi Rachmiel Tobesman – The Treasures of the King, the Princess and the Peat Digger, Seven Jewish stories, on iTunes and Amazon or Coins, Candles and Faith, eight stories of faith on iTunes and Amazon

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Everyday bucket on the right side of the yoke was fine and sturdy always filled when she returned to the village, but the bucket on the left had a small crack in it and by the time the woman arrived back in the village, a lot of the water was usually gone.

The cracked water bucket always felt very bad and was ashamed that he was cracked and wasn’t pulling his weight. One day he turned to the woman and apologized for being cracked.

The woman continued, “Remember the words:

‘I went down to the garden of nut trees to look at the green plants in the valley, to see if the vines had blossomed or the pomegranates were in flower.’ (Song of Songs 6:11)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Listen to more stories told by the Master Storyteller, Rabbi Rachmiel Tobesman – The Treasures of the King, the Princess and the Peat Digger, Seven Jewish stories, on iTunes and Amazon or Coins, Candles and Faith, eight stories of faith on iTunes and Amazon

There once was a Jewish shepherd who was very simple and very little understanding of Jewish ways. Everyday he would go out to the fields with the sheep and as he watched the flock, he would sit on a rock and play upon his flute.

As the Jewish Holidays neared he saw many people traveling on the road going to a nearby city. Each day more and more people traveled down the road. The shepherd asked the travelers what was so special that they were going to the city for.

“We are on the way to spend the holidays with a tzaddik,(a pious and holy man), and pray that the Holy One, blessed be He answer our prayers with goodness, mercy and health.”

“Why is this so important?” asked the shepherd.

“Come with us and see how special the holy rabbi is”

The boy was uncomfortable, for you see he did not know how to pray. He only knew that there is a G-d and that he was Jewish. Not knowing what to do, the boy went into the woods with his flute to think and play a soulful melody.

The shepherd left the woods and the fields behind him as he walked down the road to the city. He did not know what to expect. He felt everyone knew more than him. He could not pray and did not even know any Hebrew, the language of prayer.

The holy rabbi, ran up to the boy and said, Sha shtil (quiet, be still) no one is to say anything harsh to this boy for it is because of him that the blessings of Heaven are possible this day.”

“We should learn from this simple shepherd and his prayer.” He took the young boy by the hand with him to the front of the shul and together under the holy rabbi’s tallis they finished their prayers

Everyone can pray with true devotion. Let us just open ourselves up and let our prayers and thoughts rise to G-d, for He hears all prayers.

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

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

Nidah 31a

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)

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

Once upon a time there lived a king in a beau­tiful palace in the capital city of his country. He was surrounded by many servants and nobles, who served him with great honour, devotion, and loyalty.

From the replies he received, he found out that few people thought of their king altogether. The further he travelled, the less interest people showed in their king, and the less they knew about him. Some people even spoke about the king in mocking tones.

Shocked and saddened, the king decided to return to his palace.

Seeing there was no one around, the king asked the shepherd for whom he was playing.

“I’m playing for my king,” he answered. “Have you ever seen the king?”

“No,” replied the shepherd.

“Do you know who the king is and what he does?”

“He is a shepherd.”

“Why do you think that?“

The king was overjoyed with this young shepherd and said to him:

“I am your king! From now on you’ll be my best friend. We’ll find some other shepherd to look after your sheep, and you will come with me to my palace. You will be my dearest companion and we shall be friends forever!”

When the king and the shepherd arrived at the palace, the king ordered royal robes for the shepherd and gave him the most honored place in the king’s court, next to the king himself.

Not long afterward, the shepherd, sad to say, offended the king. Sternly the king ordered him to leave his presence and return three days later for trial.

The day of the trial arrived.

The shepherd put away his royal garments, put on the shepherd clothing he wore when he first met the king. He also took his flute with him.

Entering the king’s court, the remorseful shepherd fell on his knees before the king, saying:

“0 great and merciful king! I have no words to defend my wicked conduct. What can I possibly say to explain my inexcusable behavior toward my king who has been so good and kind to me? But, since I cannot find the right words, may it please the king to allow me to play on my flute’?”

Filled with this heartwarming feeling, the king said:

“I forgive you, and we shall remain the best of friends as before!”

The power of prayer is beyond the understanding of many. Yet the ebb and flow of the words, melodies and devotion of the prayers can open one’s eyes to the wonder and magnificence of creation. The colors of the world come alive and a peek into the mysteries of the devine is possible.

The Talmud teaches in Berachos 16b that R. Elazar, at the conclusion of his Shemoneh Esrei, used to recite the following:

Rav, upon completing the Shemoneh Esrei, used to add the following:

May all of our prayers be acceptable and bring strength of spirit, brotherhood, peace and blessing from the King above all Kings

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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 that was near the town. One day, the poor man went to the forest before the time of 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!”

All blessings begin with “Blessed are You” – as though man were addressing an intimate friend. (Sefer Raziel haGadol , 13^th cent.) Blessed be he who comes in the name of the L-rd. (Psalms 118:26)

All blessings begin with “Blessed are You” – as though man were addressing an intimate friend. (Sefer Raziel haGadol , 13^th cent.) Blessed be he who comes in the name of the L-rd. (Psalms 118:26)

Once upon a time there lived a king in a beautiful palace in the capital city of his country. He was surrounded by many servants and nobles, who served him with great honour, devotion, and loyalty.

“Why do you think that?^“

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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