Faith: A Story of Two Merchants

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

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

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

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

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

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

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Rabbi, the Cook and the Garden of Eden

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Tell me what it is” I said to him.

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

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

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

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

“Show me your merchandise and I shall pay.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(based on Tanchuma, Mavo 68)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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To Give Tzedakah or Loans

Posted on Tuesday, 7, January, 2014Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Once there was a holy rabbi who had many, many students. His students learned much from their teacher, but could not understand why their beloved teacher disappeared every Thursday night. No matter how many people wanted to see him, he was nowhere to be found. None of his students or other rabbis in the community had any idea where he had gone.

One Thursday afternoon some of his students decided to try to find out what was going on and what their holy teacher was doing. The students hid in some bushes outside of the synagogue hoping to see their holy teacher. When he left on his secret business, after waiting for several hours, they saw the holy rabbi come out and hurried away. The curious students followed him.

The holy rabbi moved quickly through the streets and the students were always not far behind. Soon he entered one of the poorest areas of the town. He was immediately surrounded by so many needy people asking for tzedakah (charity). The students watched the holy rabbi’s actions and noticed that he didn’t just give some money to a better and then walk on, he stopped by each poor person and said: “my friend I would be so happy to help you, but I really can’t give you any charity. I can only give you this money as a loan.”

The beggar looked at him in surprise. “Alone? Rabbi, holy rabbi you would really give me alone?”

The holy rabbi would look at the poor man in front of him and smile as he answered: “yes, of course. Would you accept a loan for me? I have so much faith in you, I know you’ll be able to pay me back.”

With a peaceful face each beggar would happily accept some rubles as a loan, and the holy rabbi would go on his way.

After watching the holy rabbi do this for a while, the students decided they had seen enough. They went back to the synagogue and gathered around the table where they learned holy lessons from the rabbi and waited for him. When the holy rabbi finally returned very late that night, they confronted him with what they have learned:

“Holy teacher, we have to admit we followed you tonight and saw that you were doing. But really, how could you tell all those poor people. You were giving them loans? You know full well they’ll never be able to repay you. Why didn’t you just give them some tzedakah (charity) and let it go at that.”

“Why? I’ll tell you why! It’s not just that those beggars don’t have any money. They’ve also lost all of their hope, all of their faith that their lives can ever be better. They’re so broken, and too many are in despair.”

“Do you know what that means to them. When I, the holy rabbi, offer them a loan? It means that I believe in them… Even though they fallen to the lowest place, I have faith that they can get back on their feet again”

“Listen to me! I’ve taught you a lot of Torah. But this is the most important thing I’ll ever tell you. It’s not enough to hand a beggar a few coins. You have to give them back their self-respect, to show them that you believe in them, even if-especially if-they no longer believe in themselves.”

The holy rabbi paused for a moment or two and then continued: “Are we not taught: ‘who gives the poor money is blessed six-fold, who gives him morale is blessed seven-fold.’ (Baba Basra 9b) May each and every person who gives the poor a means to strengthen themselves physically, emotionally and spiritually be blessed.’ ”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Money, Listening and Justice

Posted on Monday, 6, January, 2014Friday, 21, March, 2025 by Rabbi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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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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New Year’s Day – Rosh haShanah and Blessings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The decree was not signed.

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

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

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

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

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

The decree was not signed.

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

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

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

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

The decree was not signed.

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

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

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

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

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Mystery of the Dreidel

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

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Gardener and the Bird of Wisdom

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

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

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

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

Phoenix Renewal and Teshuvah by Shoshanah Tobesman

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

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

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

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

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

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

My son, do not seek what you cannot obtain.

My son, do not believe what cannot be.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then the bird went its way to seek its food.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Love for the King

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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A Tale of True Friendship

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

He who finds a faithful friend finds a treasure.

ben Sira 6:14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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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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The Clever Wife

Posted on Sunday, 6, October, 2013Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Long, long ago, there lived in an old town a happy couple named Avraham and Sarah. Although they loved one another very much, their happiness was not complete. They had been married for nearly ten years, but they had not been blessed with a child.

Sarah would often sit in her room and cry. She prayed every day to Hashem to grant her the blessing of having a son or a daughter. Avraham did his best to comfort her by telling her that Hashem heard her heart felt prayer and would answer them at the right time.

At the same time, he felt very sad when he came home and thought of Sarah’s pain. He would have given anything to have had a little son who might be taught the holy Torah which he loved so well.

The neighbours on their street were not too kind and they hurt Sarah. This made her sadness more bitter. people often said, in Avraham’s hearing, that children are a sign of Hashem’s blessing . Was it not true that the house which lacked the merry laughter of little children was under a curse or spell? Did not the holy Torah teach that it was a mitzvah to marry and have children? Would it not be better, he argued with himself, to divorce his wife, if, after being married for ten years, she had no child? She might marry another man and have children and so find her happiness. All these thoughts flashed again and again through his mind.

At last when the anniversary of their tenth marriage day arrived, Avraham said to his wife, ” Let us visit today our true friend and guide the holy rabbi to ask his advice on what we should do.”

When they came before the holy rabbi, Avraham, with tears in his eyes, said, “Holy Rabbi, my dear wife has been faithful and loving to me during the past ten years. It has pleased Holy One, blessed be He to hold back from us the blessing of children. I fear this is on account of my many sins. It seems to me that our home from now on will not be as happy as it should be; my wife cries everyday and I am sad because she is so unhappy. Is it not my duty to set her free?”

While Avraham was speaking, his wife wept. She knew that if he sent her away from his heart and home, her life would be really sad and lonely. Her deep sorrow touched the heart of her husband, who turned to her and cried, “My dear, sweet, beloved wife do not cry and grieve, for we must submit to the will of the Holy One, blessed be He. Do not think that I am not often sad, because we have no child to bring happiness to your long days. If I could only take away your sorrow and pain, I would most gladly do so. Listen, dearest, I faithfully promise to allow you to choose whatever you like best in our home and you may take it with you to your father’s house as a keepsake when you leave me for good. This will always be a visible token of the deep affection and true love which united us during the past ten years.”

The holy rabbi watched Avraham and Sarah understanding their sorrow. He knew that Avraham had made up his mind to divorce his worthy wife. Nothing would make him change his mind. With a mystical wisdom he spoke to them, “My dear children, I can only pity you, for I am deeply sorry to see how you are about to lose one another. Before you finally part, however, let me advise you to invite all your family and friends to a special seudah (meal), just as they gathered around you ten years ago at your marriage feast. Love united you and in love prepare to separate, if it must be.” Avraham and Sarah promised to follow the advice of the Rabbi and they returned home.

Sarah at once sent to all their friends and provided a most generous meal with music and wine. Her husband sat beside her as usual, and she took care that his wineglass was constantly filled. Good cheer made everyone very happy, and Avraham was determined to spend a jolly evening for the last time in the company of his wife, whom he really loved.

Sarah had carefully prepared her plans. Her husband had spoken to each of his guests, and soon all the excitement made him very tired and he fell deeply asleep. Without a moment’s delay, Sarah called her servants. She told them to lift up the armchair in which her husband sat asleep and to carry it at once to her father’s house in a neighbouring street.

Meanwhile Avraham, fast asleep, had been carried to his new quarters. He was put in a beautiful room, with Sarah at his side waiting for him to awaken. At dawn he woke up. Looking around with great surprise, he exclaimed, Where am I? “

Sarah took his hand and stroking it gently, she said to him, My beloved, you are in my father’s house.” “What am I doing here? “He cried.

“You are just waking up,” she answered, “you remember when we yesterday visited the holy rabbi, you faithfully promised me that I might choose anything I liked best in our home and take it with me when I left your roof. Last night I left your house and I took you with me, as there was nothing in your home, or, for the matter of that, in all the world so precious to me as your dear self. You were the choicest possession in our old home, and you are mine now and forever. You have, by your promise to me, given yourself over to me. Divorce or no divorce, you are my property, for I know very well you always keep your promise.”

Avraham saw the humour of the situation in which he found himself, and laughed again and again at the wisdom and love of his clever wife. “Well done,” he exclaimed, “we are now agreed that the question of divorce is solved. Once again are we united and this time forever. Nothing shall part us as long as we live.”

Like all good people they lived a very happy life. In time a son was born and later on a daughter was given to them, and they all rejoiced in one another’s happiness.

Based on Song of Songs Rabbah 1:4

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Excerpted from, A Time to Separate, A Time to Come Together, abook written by Rabbi Rachmiel Tobesman that teaches children important skills to cope with the trauma and confusion so common when parents separate and divorce.

The book is available from the publisher at xlibris or on most book sites (Barnes and Noble, Booksamillion, etc) Just search “Tobesman”

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

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

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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

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

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

“Tell me what it is” I said to him.

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

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

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

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

“Show me your merchandise and I shall pay.”

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

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

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

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

(based on Tanchuma, Mavo 68)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The beggar looked at him in surprise. “Alone? Rabbi, holy rabbi you would really give me alone?”

The holy rabbi would look at the poor man in front of him and smile as he answered: “yes, of course. Would you accept a loan for me? I have so much faith in you, I know you’ll be able to pay me back.”

With a peaceful face each beggar would happily accept some rubles as a loan, and the holy rabbi would go on his way.

“Why? I’ll tell you why! It’s not just that those beggars don’t have any money. They’ve also lost all of their hope, all of their faith that their lives can ever be better. They’re so broken, and too many are in despair.”

“Do you know what that means to them. When I, the holy rabbi, offer them a loan? It means that I believe in them… Even though they fallen to the lowest place, I have faith that they can get back on their feet again”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The decree was not signed.

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

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

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

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

The decree was not signed.

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

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

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

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

The decree was not signed.

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

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

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

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

If you enjoyed this story or it made you think please click “like”

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

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

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

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

My son, do not seek what you cannot obtain.

My son, do not believe what cannot be.

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

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

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

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