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)
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)

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

The Rabbi and the Sheikh

Posted on Sunday, 29, January, 2012Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

There was a holy rabbi who lived in the city of Damascus. He was a righteous man, perfect in his faith, and so well versed in all the seven wisdoms that there was no one to compare with him in that generation except a certain Ishmaelite sheikh who had a complete knowledge of the six wisdoms. The Ishmaelite surpassed the wise rabbi in one way: Anyone who had a sick person in his family used to go to the sheikh and beg him to pray for the sick. The sheikh would pray alone for about half an hour and would then say: “This one will live and that one die.” When the holy rabbi heard this, he was astonished and asked: “Can this Ishmaelite sheikh really be more holy and pure than I am, for the Books of Life and Death to be revealed to him? Do I not serve the L-rd and engage in His Holy Word and commandments all day long? Why could not I be like this Ishmaelite?”

So the rabbi called the beadle of the community and charged him: “Go to the sheikh and tell him: The rabbi has heard of your good name and wishes to visit and greet you, if you will permit him.” Now this Ishmaelite was greater than all the princes, and all the great princes used to send him gifts so that they would merit seeing him; they would come and prostrate themselves before him to obtain his blessing, while he never emerged from his palace and never showed himself to the ordinary people at all.

The beadle of the community went to the sheikh and repeated all that the rabbi had said to him, and the sheikh replied: “I have also heard what a wise man your holy rabbi is and wish to see him. Go and tell him that he may certainly come without delay.”

The beadle went back to the holy rabbi and told him the words of the sheikh; and he left to see the sheikh.

As soon as the sheikh saw him, he saw a new friend. The sheikh welcomed the rabbi with much honor and courtesy, gave him a seat and asked about his health. As they spoke, the sheikh asked the rabbi: “I have heard that you are a wise man, do you know anything about mystical wisdom?” The rabbi answered: “The Holy One, blessed be He has granted me a little of that knowledge.” The sheikh and the rabbi shared much wisdom and grew close to one another. They would meet once every week.

When the rabbi visited the sheikh they would speak of matters of wisdom until the sheikh realized that the rabbi was fully versed in all the seven branches of wisdom. Then he requested the rabbi to teach him that branch which he did not know. The rabbi answered: “I shall teach you if you teach me another branch of wisdom.” And the sheikh asked: “Which one is that?”

The rabbi answered: “I refer to your ability to pray for the sick so that the Books of Life and Death are open to you. That is a branch of knowledge I do not possess. If you instruct me concerning this, then I shall teach you the branch of knowledge that is hidden from you.”

The sheikh sadly replied, “You ask something very difficult and I cannot possibly reveal this to any creature in the world.” “Nor is it possible that I can reveal the wisdom and knowledge that is hidden to you” responded the rabbi. “Be it as you say, but it will be too difficult for you, and I fear that you will not be able to perform it” added the sheikh. The rabbi thought for a moment and assured the sheikh, “I am prepared to undertake even the most difficult task, and I shall do whatever you tell me.”

“Very well go home, and prepare yourself for a fast of two consecutive days. While you are fasting, immerse yourself every morning and evening and be very cautious in your deeds and in the meal that follows take care not to eat meat or drink wine. After you have eaten, go and immerse yourself again and put on white linen” instructed the sheikh.

When the rabbi heard the words of the sheikh, he eagerly replied: “I shall do what you say.” “Then go in peace, and come back on the third day and I shall tell you this great secret.” The rabbi went home and did all the sheikh had told him. He immersed himself and put on white garments; he did this during the two days of his fasting. He continued to fast on the third night, too. After he finished praying next morning, he went to the sheikh, who hurried to meet him and said: “Enter, blessed of the L-rd, for from your face it is clear that you have done all I told you.” “I am still fasting,” said the rabbi. “You are doing well,” said the sheikh, “and now come with me and I shall show you this secret.

So the rabbi followed the sheikh to a certain chamber, the key of which he never entrusted to anybody. The sheikh opened the door and both entered together, closing the door behind them so that no other person might approach. In the room there was another doorway by which they entered into a most beautiful orchard. In the middle was a cistern full of fresh water which came from the rivers Abana and Pharpar (see II Kings 5:12). Beside this pool was a bench on which were prepared two robes, one for the rabbi and the other for the sheikh. The sheikh said to the rabbi: “Let us take off our clothes and immerse ourselves before we approach the hallowed place.” So they took off their clothes and both immersed themselves within the pool. Then they changed their clothes and went together to the far end of the orchard, the rabbi wondering all the while what would happen. When he raised his eyes, he saw a most beautifully constructed building with pure silver doors on which all kinds of fine drawings, the like of which is not to be found in royal palaces. When the sheikh went to open the doors of this building, he told the rabbi: “Take care to enter this house in fear and trembling, and whatever you see me do, do the same.” Then he opened the door, and the rabbi saw a magnificent hall and facing it a small and most beautiful shrine, in front of which was a curtain embroidered with wondrous jewels and pearls. The sheikh entered the hall trembling and prostrated himself seven times towards the shrine. The rabbi trembled exceedingly and wondered whether there could be some idol or other pagan object of worship there. He closed his eyes, and said the words of the Psalm (16:8): “I have set the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”

Then he too prostrated himself as the sheikh had done, and a great awe descended on him.

And the sheikh said to him in a low voice and a broken heart: “Approach this shrine and open it, and there you will find what you seek.” The rabbi at once approached and opened the doors of the shrine, which were made of purest gold and encrusted with precious stones. Within the shrine he saw a most perfect and most beautiful tablet on which was engraved the shape of the Menorah in a very beautiful fashion. Above it was written in Hebrew: “I have set the Lord always before me!” And the letters of the Name of the L-rd were very large indeed. When the rabbi saw this, he rejoiced very much because he had not prostrated himself for no purpose. He stepped backwards and prostrated himself, and they both went out together.

Then the rabbi said to the sheikh: “You told me that I would find what I am seeking there, yet nothing more was revealed to me than what I saw.” The sheikh answered: “Brother, you should know that those large letters which you saw are the Name of that One who spoke and the world came about. When somebody comes to entreat me to pray for a sick person in his home, I immerse myself and in fear and trembling I enter this building you have seen. There I pray before the shrine, and after the prayer is over I open its door. If I see that the letters of the Holy Name are bright and shining, I know that the person will live. But if I see cloud and mist around the Name, I know that he must die. Now consider my affection for you, my brother, if I have revealed to you what I have never revealed to any other man.”

When the rabbi returned home he wept bitterly, saying: “Woe unto us for every day we pray, yet an Ishmaelite knows the holiness of the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He. This sheikh has achieved all this great honor, yet he fears and dreads the hour when he enters into the presence of the Holy Name. Alas, as for us, what shall we answer and say, since we ought to do far more than this and indeed be filled with trembling when we utter the Name of the L-rd.”

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, O L-rd, my Rock, and my Redeemer. (Psalms 19:14)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

The Iron Wedding Necklace

Posted on Monday, 23, January, 2012Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

….our daughters as corner-stones carved after the fashion of a palace. (Psalms 144:12)

Many years ago, in the city of Chevron there was a holy caretaker who was in charge of the keys that opened the gate of the Cave of Machpelah. He was a poor widower who had an only daughter who was kind-hearted and beautiful. The time came when young girl reached marriageable age and was betrothed to a fine young man.

The poor caretaker worked hard to save money for all of the needs of his daughter’s wedding. He bought her a fine assortment of clothes and household things for her wedding day. In the midst of his happiness, The caretaker remembered that the traditions of their community demanded he provide his beautiful daughter with a gold necklace to wear at her wedding. Sadly, he did not have enough money left to buy such a beautiful necklace for his beloved daughter. The holy caretakers heart was heavy that he would disappoint his daughter and he became very sad. The golden necklace was a matter of great pride among the women throughout the city of Chevron, and poor girls lacking the proper dress had been known to cry bitterly for shame on their wedding days, some girls even ran away because they were so embarrassed. The holy caretaker was beside himself about what to do. He didn’t tell his daughter anything, for he did not want her to be sad.

As the wedding day approached, one night the caretaker’s daughter had a dream that she was standing at the gate of the Cave of Machpelah preparing to enter so that she could pray. Because every day, morning and evening, the Jewish people say, “In the cave of Machpelah, ‘Hear, O Israel [our father].’ What you commanded us we still practice: ‘The Lord is our G-d, the L-rd is One.’ ” (Deuteronomy 6:4) (Pesachim 56a; Genesis Rabbah 98:4)

In the dream, she was, holding the keys to the gate when an old woman with long flowing hair dressed in white came up to her. The old woman’s face shined with light that warmed the girl to her very heart. The woman raised her hand and touched the caretaker’s daughter’s hair and she said to her, “This big chain, with these keys to this holy place, should be your necklace at your wedding. This necklace holds a hundred times more merit than any necklace of gold and jewels.”

Then the old woman disappeared. The caretaker’s daughter awoke and, remembering her dream, decided not to tell anyone about it.

The wedding day finally came, and the caretaker’s face was gray with sadness about not having a fine gold necklace for his daughter. Many of his daughter’s friends came to help her get ready for the wedding. After she was dressed in her wedding clothes, she called her father over, asking him if she could speak with him alone. With a warm smile on her face, she said, “Father, dear father please give me the keys to the Cave of Machpelah. They will be my wedding necklace. They have much more merit than any gold or jewels.”

The caretaker was surprised by his daughter’s request as he ran to get the keys and gave them to his daughter. Wearing the iron chain with the keys of the Cave of Machpelah, The caretaker’s daughter was radiant. People said she was more beautiful with the necklace of iron than brides of the past with gold and jewels.

From that day, Hebron’s brides wore this special “Necklace of Iron” instead of gold and jewels at their wedding.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Good Fortune and Bad Fortune (Part II)

Posted on Thursday, 12, January, 2012Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The guards refused to permit the young man, who was a stranger to them, into the royal palace, but the king heard what the young man said and commanded the guards: “Bring him in!”

“The Holy One, blessed be He has sent me to you,” the young man said to the king, “so that I may cure your daughter.”

“And what do you need in order to cure her?” asked the king.

“I need only a chamber in which only your daughter and I may be. I also need a basin of warm water and some clothes. I need nothing else.”

When the young man entered the chamber the king had set aside for him, he found the king’s daughter already seated there. She knew no man, for she had never even seen her father, having become blind when she was no more than an infant in her mother’s arms. The chamber the king had set aside for them was closed, and the king and the queen and many other people waited outside but they could see nothing of what went on within it.

In the chamber the young man said to the king’s daughter, “I have been sent by the Holy One, blessed be He to cure you.” He placed some of the leaves that he had brought with him in the water and he put water on her face. Suddenly she opened her eyes and she could see. The young man had her dress in new clothes escorted her out of the room. The joy of her father and mother knew no bounds.

“My son! My daughter!” the king and the queen cried out. They held a great banquet which was followed by a brilliant wedding. The young man was proclaimed heir to the throne.

Some time later the young woman said to her husband. “I want to ask my father to allow us to take a walk through the city and to see all of it together with you.”

When the king heard his daughter’s request, he said, “That is a fine plan,” and he gave the young couple a carriage with two horses and two slaves.

The young couple were driving through the city when they saw a man climbing up a mountain. The young man immediately recognized the climber as his older brother. “Take the carriage, one horse and one slave,” he said to his wife, “and drive home. I will remain here with one horse and the other slave.”

The woman began to weep for she was very much afraid: “No! No!” she cried, “you will run away from me and desert me!” Her husband promised her faithfully that he would not run away from her.

The woman went home, and meanwhile the young man on his horse together with his slave came closer and closer to his brother. As they neared the older brother they saw he suffered from leprosy. The young man returned with his horse and his brother to the city, he on foot and his brother mounted on the horse. Needless to say the older brother could not recognize his brother. How could he, for he was blind?

When they arrived at the palace the young man took his brother to the room where his wife used to live when she was still blind. “Bring me warm water and clothes,” he commanded his slaves. “Do not permit any man to enter the room.” To his brother he said pray with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might.

Suddenly the man was healed and the sight of his eyes was restored to him. Then the younger brother called one of his slaves and commanded him to dress his brother in fine clothes.

Then he commanded his servant, “This evening bring this man to the place where the king and all his ministers are seated. “But the older brother was full of fear, for he did not know what would befall him. Indeed he was certain that he would be killed.

In the meantime the young man went to his wife and said to her, ^“Ask your father to invite all of his ministers to come here this evening.^”

In the evening all the guests came to the banquet. They were eating and drinking and enjoying themselves when suddenly the young crown prince rose from his chair and said to the king, “Sire, I pray you listen to me, and listen all you who are seated here.” And he commanded the servants to bring the man he had cured of blindness into the room. They brought in his older brother, who was dressed in fine garments, but was trembling with fear for he did not know what was to be done to him.

“Come here!” the young man called out to him. “Who are you?” he asked him. “What is your name? Where do you come from? Have you a father? Have you a brother?”

To all of these questions the older brother replied, but to the last question he said: “I had a brother but he is now dead.”

“That is not true! You are a liar,” the young man cried out. All those present listened keenly to hear what he had to say, and he continued. “Look at me! Do you see me? Do you not recognize me? I am your younger brother.^“

The older brother was frozen with fear. But the young man said to him, “You have nothing to fear from me, as other people fear you. Only answer me this question: Whom does G-d love more —the good man or the evil?”

“The good man!” the older brother replied. “And I beg you to forgive me and not to do to me as I did to you.”

Then said the young man, “I shall do you no harm, for you are my brother, born of the same mother and the same father. Do not fear!”

The older brother bowed down to the younger, who said: “I shall do you no harm for our father of blessed memory commanded us never to quarrel.” And he called one of the servants and ordered him to give his brother gold and silver and a house and to send him from the city, in which the young man lived with his wife.

And the two lived together in happiness.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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

Good Fortune and Bad Fortune (Part I)

Posted on Tuesday, 10, January, 2012Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Once upon a time there was an old man who was a widower with two sons who had been brought up without the love of their mother. When the sons were grown up (the older twenty-two years old and the younger eighteen) their father dreamed a dream in which he was told that within seven days he would die. The father called his two sons and said to them, “Within a few days I shall die. I pray you put me on a mare and let her go as she wishes, while you follow her. Wherever the mare stops, there you will bury me.”

The older son did not even want to listen to what his father was saying about his death and went away. But the younger son remained, weeping bitterly. “Remember what I say to you, my son!” the father said to the younger son. “After you have done what I have commanded you to do, you must obey your older brother. Whatever he commands you to do, you must do. For you, my son, are better than he. You must not disobey him.”

A few days after the death of the father the older brother came and said to his younger brother, “Our father is dead. Now you must give me all the money that there is in the house. And all that is in the house is mine.”

The younger son said only, “Whatever money there is in the house is yours.”

Some days passed and the older brother came again, “This house in mine,” he said. “I wish to sell the house!”

Then the younger brother replied, “Brother, as there is a G-d above us, help me at least to find a place where I may sleep. Do not leave me without a roof over my head. Do not sell the whole house!”

But his brother said to him, “There is room outside! You can sleep there, and do not speak to me any more.”

“It seems this is the will of the Holy One, blessed be He,” the young man said. “Do as you wish.” He left his home, and his brother sold the house.

Some time later the older brother returned to the city. All the inhabitants were afraid of him and showed him great respect, for he was very wealthy and they feared that he might do them evil. But in their hearts they hated him.

The older brother entered the place where his younger brother was sleeping, and said to him, “How are you, brother? There is a secret matter between us. Tell me, my brother, you say, “There is a G-d above.’ Whom does He desire, you or me? The evil or the good?”

The young man feared his brother greatly and said, “G-d wishes the evil.”

“I must ask people about this matter,” the older brother said. And he called one of the passers-by. “Come here! Whom does G-d love more, the good man or the wicked?”

This man too feared him and answered : “G-d loves the wicked more!”

“Now I have won,” said the older brother. “And now seeing that G-d loves me I will put out my brother’s eyes.” And without delay he did as he had said and threw his brother’s eyes away.

The blind younger brother wandered through fields and through deserts, but all the time he said, “This is the will of the Holy One, blessed be He. He is G-d in heaven above, and earth beneath,” (Joshua 2:11) and in this way he wandered and wept, feeling his way in the darkness.

One day he chanced to be in a forest and stumbled into a, tree. In that forest there were many wild beasts and poisonous snakes, but they did him no harm, for a cloud went before him and behind him and protected him. The young man placed his head between his hands, and suddenly he found himself up above on a tree.

In the tree were two doves, sisters, one of them blind. All the time the young man could hear them talking to each other and he could understand what they were saying. The dove that could see said to the dove that was blind, “Take a leaf of this tree, pass it over your eyes and you will see again.”

And indeed the young man heard how the sight of the blind dove was restored and how it flew away. So the young man also took a leaf of the tree, passed it over his eyes and prayed: “The earth, O L-rd is full of Your mercy (Ps. 119:64) L-rd, L-rd, G-d merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth, (Ex.34:6) heal me, O L-rd and I shall be healed.” (Jer. 17:14) Suddenly he could see everything. The light of his eyes had been restored. The young man took off his shirt and filled them with leaves from the miraculous tree. Then he climbed down and said to himself, “If I go back on this road, that is where my brother is. I will go in a direction where no man knows me.”

The young man came to a city, where he found out that the king had a young daughter, who, though very beautiful, was blind. The king had decreed that whoever could heal his daughter so that she could see would have her hand in marriage and receive half the kingdom as dowry, but if the man who sought her failed to cure her, then his head would be cut off.

The young man went to the palace to save the daughter of the king. The guards laughed at him, “You have no clothes. You have nothing. How will you, a beggar, cure her of her blindness?”

The young man smiled and said nothing, but the guards denied him entrance to the palace. The young man told the guards: “G-d created medicines out of the earth, and let not a wise man reject them. (Ecclesiasticus (ben Sira) 38:2)). I will, with the help of heaven, cure the king’s daughter.”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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

Rose Honey instead of Hot Lead

Posted on Friday, 30, December, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

One may ask: “If a person has done many things that are bad and hurtful, can they ever be forgiven?” The Holy Word teaches: “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins: return to Me; for I have redeemed you. Seek you the L-rd while He may be found; call you upon Him while He is near. (Isaiah 44:22, 55:6)”

It is told that there was a certain man who had been wicked all his life, and he was well aware that it would be very hard for his repentance to be received in heaven. On one occasion he jokingly asked Rabbi Moshe ben Shem-Tov de Leon of blessed memory (1250-1305 c.e.) whether there was any remedy for his ailment. The holy rabbi thought for some time and answered: “The only remedy and atonement for you is to accept the punishment of death as an atonement for your transgressions.”

Then the wicked man asked him: “If I do accept a sentence of death, shall I have a share in the Garden of Eden?” “Yes,” said the holy rabbi; and the wicked man pleaded: “Swear to me that my place will be near you!” Then Rabbi Moshe ben Shem-Tov de Leon swore to him that he would be near him in the Garden of Eden. When the man heard this, he gathered up his courage and followed him to the central shul (synagogue).

Once there, the rabbi ordered that hot lead should be brought to him. They brought the lead, and he puffed air at it with the bellows until the lead was boiling. Then he sat the wicked man on a bench and tied a cloth over his eyes and said to him: “Confess all your sins to our G-d and accept your death as a return for the sins with which you have angered your Creator all your life!” At this, the man burst into a great and exceedingly bitter gush of tears. Round about him stood many of the community’s elders and sages. And then the rabbi said to him: “Open your mouth wide, and I shall fill it with boiling lead.” And the man opened his mouth very wide in the presence of all the people who stood round about him, in order to accept the fullness of death and so gain life in the World to Come.

At this, the said rabbi took a spoonful of warm rose honey and dropped it into his mouth and said to him: “May your sin depart from you and your transgression be atoned!”

The man, his heart sincere and broken began to cry at once in bitter grief: “Holy rabbi! For the honor of our Maker, the King who is King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He slay me now indeed, so that I may not see the evil of losing my soul; for why should I live. My sins have mounted higher than my head, from the sole of my feet to the crown of my head, there is no sound place in me; so what have you done to me? Why have you deceived me?”

The holy rabbi answered him: “We are taught: “The L-rd is near to all those who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth (Psalms 145:18) and The spirit of man is the lamp of the L-rd, searching all his innermost parts. (Proverbs 20:27). As long as the lamp of your spirit burns, there is time to make repairs. Do not dread and have no fear, for G-d has already seen all your deeds.”

Thereafter the man never left Rabbi Moshe ben Shem-Tov de Leon’s house of study and spent his days in fasting and true repentance.

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

Prayer, Scales and Rain

Posted on Monday, 24, October, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

One can always find comfort in their service to the Holy One, blessed be He as their emunah (faith) is strengthened.

One should serve the Holy One, blessed be He with modesty and humility. We learn in Kedushas Levi: “It is right that a person should be modest in their service of the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is written in the Morning Prayers, “Let a man fear the Lord in private….” But in order to lift up the holy sparks that are hidden in others, it may be necessary to reveal his own fear of the Holy One, blessed be He, for by this means he may turn them also to the fear of the Holy One, blessed be He. And this was the purpose of Israel’s wandering through the desert.””

One’s service to the Holy One, blessed be He is private and is no concern of others for no one can duplicate the service of one’s heart.

Many many years ago there was a drought in Eretz Yisrael. The skies were clear and the sun shined brightly. Water was scarce and the children cried from thirst.

The holy rabbi of Sfas called for a community fast and everyone was to be in the shul (synagogue) to prayer that haKadosh Baruch Hu (the Holy One, blessed be He) be merciful and bless the land with life giving rain.

The people prayed and fasted, but the skies stayed clear and no rain came.

That night as the rabbi slept he dreamed that the rains would come if the shopkeeper would lead the morning prayer.

In the morning when the rabbi woke, he dismissed the dream because the shopkeeper was not very learned and was not knowledgeable enough to lead the community in prayer. That day the sun’s heat was great

The same dream came to the rabbi again that night. This time he knew there was something special about the shopkeeper.

As everyone gathered in the shul (synagogue) in the morning, the rabbi called the shopkeeper and told him to lead everyone in prayer.

The shopkeeper looked at the rabbi and saw that he was serious and could not understand why he was to lead the prayer. The rabbi knew he could not even read all of the words of the morning prayers. The shopkeeper looked into the rabbi’s eyes once more and then burst out of the shul.

Many saw the shopkeeper as he ran out of the shul with his tallis (prayer shawl) waving behind. After sometime he returned carrying something hidden in his tallis. He went up to the aron kodesh (cabinet where the Torah scrolls are kept).

The shopkeeper opened the aron kodesh, kissed the sefer Torah and then removed from under his tallis the scales from his shop. Silence fell over the shul as the shopkeeper raised his hands towards the shamayim and began “Ribbono shel olam, Master of the Universe, hear me now. If I have ever mistreated anyone in my shop, let these scales be witness against me. Every day when I look at these scales I see Your holy name. As I look at the right pan I see a “yud”, the right pan and arm, a “hay”; the center post, a “vov”; and the left arm and pan, a “hay”. When I see Your holy name I think of the Torah and the many wonders You have provided to b’nai Yisrael. In your infinite mercy please grant the rains so that the people of Israel can sing your praises.

The skies grew dark and the rains came. The people wondered and asked the holy rabbi why this simple shopkeeper’s prayer was answered and not that of the community.

The holy rabbi answered that one should serve The Holy One, blessed be He with modesty and humility and many times our daily avodah becomes mechanical and it done by rote. The shopkeeper sees the greatness of The Holy One, blessed be He everyday and therefore serves him always in the words of the shema, “b’chol levavacha, uva’chol nasfshacha, uva’chol me’odecha (with all your heart, and all your soul and all your might)”

Let us all pray we can find comfort in our daily prayers as did the simple shopkeeper did many years ago in Sfas.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Listening and Justice

Posted on Monday, 17, October, 2011Friday, 21, March, 2025 by Rabbi

Listen to the cases between one person and another, and judge righteously between every man and stranger among you. (Deuteronomy 1:16)

Everything is written in the Holy Scriptures, and a person who bases his conduct and lifestyle on its teachings is fortunate.

There once were two merchants, one Jewish and one not, and they came before the village rabbi to settle a monetary dispute. The non-Jewish merchant claimed that the Jewish merchant had borrowed money from him, but the Jewish merchant denied that he owed him anything. The holy rabbi sensed that the non-Jewish merchant was truthful.

After hearing both sides’ arguments, he told them he had to leave for a few minutes and asked them to discuss the matter between themselves in the meantime.

Both merchants had gone to the local synagogue, and both thought that the holy rabbi had left.

But in truth, the holy rabbi had not left. He had gone up into the women’s section and was listening to every word both of the merchants were saying.

A heated argument erupted between them, and the holy rabbi heard the non-Jewish merchant shouting at the Jewish merchant, “Are you not ashamed of yourself? You know very well that you borrowed the 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 merchant responded, “but I am under a lot of financial stress right now, and I don’t have the money to pay you back.”

Justice

The holy rabbi went back down into the synagogue and ruled in favor of the non-Jewish merchant, rebuking the Jewish merchant for his contemptible behavior.

Later, he explained that he had derived the strategy of leaving the merchants alone and listening to their conversation from the direction of, “Hear the cases between one person and another and judge righteously between every man and stranger among you, (Deuteronomy 1:16) implies that in order to judge fairly, a judge has to listen to what both sides say to each other.

The simple meaning of the verse is that a judge has to listen to both sides equally and not give preferential treatment to one side. For we learn to “Execute truth, justice, and peace within your gates” (Zech. 8:16)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling; click here to contact us.

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know your thoughts or feelings 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.

Torah/Scriptures More Valuable than Wealth

Posted on Wednesday, 14, September, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

One day, a great rabbi and teacher traveled abroad. Along the way he met a man who greeted him and the rabbi returned the greeting. Then the man asked: “Holy rabbi, where do you come from?” The rabbi answered: I come from a town where there are only scholars and scribes.” Then the man asked: “Would it be the will of G-d that you could live in our city, I would gladly give you 100,000 gold coins, pearls and precious stones.”

The rabbi thought for a moment and replied: “My dear son, if you would give me all the money and all the jewels that are in the whole world, I would not live in a place in which there is no Torah (Scripture). I would live only where there is study of the Holy Word; for when a man dies, there goes with him neither gold nor silver nor precious stones, but the Torah (Scriptures) accompanies him to the other world, as we find it written in the verse of the Bible (Prov. 6:22): “When you go into the other world, it (the Scriptures) will guide you and will follow you even to your grave, where it will keep guard over you, and when you wake up, in the other world, it will plead for you before the L-rd!” Therefore I ask not for money; as King David said in his book of Psalms. G-d said to David: “Your study of the Law is much dearer to Me than 100,000 gold coins” (Ps. 119:72). And G-d says further: “All the silver and all the gold are Mine, and I can make rich whomever I wish” ‘ (Hag. 2:8).

Therefore a person should always study the Torah (Scriptures) and not run after silver or gold. For even when a person thinks he has much money, G-d can cause him to lose it in the twinkling of an eye. And when a person studies the Torah, G-d can make him rich. Therefore every man should try to increase his knowledge of the Torah (Scriptures) and should trust and confide in G-d Almighty, who can always provide for him.

based on Avos 6:8

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Debts and Faith

Posted on Tuesday, 6, September, 2011Sunday, 23, July, 2023 by Rabbi

A wealthy merchant made known that anyone in his city in need of a loan should come to him, and he would receive the entire sum that he needed.

Upon hearing of the wealthy merchant’s offer, many people came to his home. The wealthy merchant sat at his desk with his notepad open in front of him. He gave each person the sum of money that he needed and then jotted down the amount in his notepad. Sometime later, the wealthy merchant realized that of all the people he had lent money to, not one had paid him back.

It happened that one of the people who had borrowed money truly did not have the means of repaying the debt. He decided to go to the wealthy merchant and explain why he was late in returning his money. He hoped that the man would be kindhearted and understand his situation.

We are all indebted to the Holy One, blessed be He for the abundance of kindness that He showers upon us at each and every moment. But due to our small stature and limited skills and faith, we are incapable of repaying that debt. What we can do, though, is speak to others and inspire them regarding matters of faith, reminding them that they, too, are indebted to the Holy One, blessed be He.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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

“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).

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) Click here for more storytelling resources

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)

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

The beadle of the community went to the sheikh and repeated all that the rabbi had said to him, and the sheikh replied: “I have also heard what a wise man your holy rabbi is and wish to see him. Go and tell him that he may certainly come without delay.”

The beadle went back to the holy rabbi and told him the words of the sheikh; and he left to see the sheikh.

The rabbi answered: “I refer to your ability to pray for the sick so that the Books of Life and Death are open to you. That is a branch of knowledge I do not possess. If you instruct me concerning this, then I shall teach you the branch of knowledge that is hidden from you.”

Then he too prostrated himself as the sheikh had done, and a great awe descended on him.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, O L-rd, my Rock, and my Redeemer. (Psalms 19:14)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

….our daughters as corner-stones carved after the fashion of a palace. (Psalms 144:12)

Then the old woman disappeared. The caretaker’s daughter awoke and, remembering her dream, decided not to tell anyone about it.

From that day, Hebron’s brides wore this special “Necklace of Iron” instead of gold and jewels at their wedding.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

The guards refused to permit the young man, who was a stranger to them, into the royal palace, but the king heard what the young man said and com­manded the guards: “Bring him in!”

“The Holy One, blessed be He has sent me to you,” the young man said to the king, “so that I may cure your daughter.”

“And what do you need in order to cure her?” asked the king.

“I need only a chamber in which only your daughter and I may be. I also need a basin of warm water and some clothes. I need nothing else.”

“My son! My daughter!” the king and the queen cried out. They held a great banquet which was followed by a brilliant wedding. The young man was proclaimed heir to the throne.

Some time later the young woman said to her husband. “I want to ask my father to allow us to take a walk through the city and to see all of it together with you.”

When the king heard his daughter’s request, he said, “That is a fine plan,” and he gave the young couple a carriage with two horses and two slaves.

The woman began to weep for she was very much afraid: “No! No!” she cried, “you will run away from me and desert me!” Her husband promised her faithfully that he would not run away from her.

Suddenly the man was healed and the sight of his eyes was restored to him. Then the younger brother called one of his slaves and commanded him to dress his brother in fine clothes.

Then he commanded his servant, “This evening bring this man to the place where the king and all his ministers are seated. “But the older brother was full of fear, for he did not know what would befall him. Indeed he was certain that he would be killed.

In the meantime the young man went to his wife and said to her, “Ask your father to invite all of his ministers to come here this evening.”

“Come here!” the young man called out to him. “Who are you?” he asked him. “What is your name? Where do you come from? Have you a father? Have you a brother?”

To all of these questions the older brother replied, but to the last question he said: “I had a brother but he is now dead.”

“That is not true! You are a liar,” the young man cried out. All those present listened keenly to hear what he had to say, and he continued. “Look at me! Do you see me? Do you not recog­nize me? I am your younger brother.“

The older brother was frozen with fear. But the young man said to him, “You have nothing to fear from me, as other people fear you. Only answer me this question: Whom does G-d love more —the good man or the evil?”

“The good man!” the older brother replied. “And I beg you to forgive me and not to do to me as I did to you.”

Then said the young man, “I shall do you no harm, for you are my brother, born of the same mother and the same father. Do not fear!”

And the two lived together in happiness.

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)

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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

A few days after the death of the father the older brother came and said to his younger brother, “Our father is dead. Now you must give me all the money that there is in the house. And all that is in the house is mine.”

The younger son said only, “Whatever money there is in the house is yours.”

Some days passed and the older brother came again, “This house in mine,” he said. “I wish to sell the house!”

Then the younger brother replied, “Brother, as there is a G-d above us, help me at least to find a place where I may sleep. Do not leave me without a roof over my head. Do not sell the whole house!”

But his brother said to him, “There is room outside! You can sleep there, and do not speak to me any more.”

“It seems this is the will of the Holy One, blessed be He,” the young man said. “Do as you wish.” He left his home, and his brother sold the house.

Some time later the older brother returned to the city. All the inhabitants were afraid of him and showed him great respect, for he was very wealthy and they feared that he might do them evil. But in their hearts they hated him.

The older brother entered the place where his younger brother was sleeping, and said to him, “How are you, brother? There is a secret matter between us. Tell me, my brother, you say, “There is a G-d above.’ Whom does He desire, you or me? The evil or the good?”

The young man feared his brother greatly and said, “G-d wishes the evil.”

“I must ask people about this matter,” the older brother said. And he called one of the passers-by. “Come here! Whom does G-d love more, the good man or the wicked?”

This man too feared him and answered : “G-d loves the wicked more!”

“Now I have won,” said the older brother. “And now seeing that G-d loves me I will put out my brother’s eyes.” And without delay he did as he had said and threw his brother’s eyes away.

The blind younger brother wandered through fields and through deserts, but all the time he said, “This is the will of the Holy One, blessed be He. He is G-d in heaven above, and earth beneath,” (Joshua 2:11) and in this way he wandered and wept, feeling his way in the darkness.

The young man went to the palace to save the daughter of the king. The guards laughed at him, “You have no clothes. You have nothing. How will you, a beggar, cure her of her blindness?”

The young man smiled and said nothing, but the guards denied him entrance to the palace. The young man told the guards: “G-d created medicines out of the earth, and let not a wise man reject them. (Ecclesiasticus (ben Sira) 38:2)). I will, with the help of heaven, cure the king’s daughter.”

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)

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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

At this, the said rabbi took a spoonful of warm rose honey and dropped it into his mouth and said to him: “May your sin depart from you and your transgression be atoned!”

Thereafter the man never left Rabbi Moshe ben Shem-Tov de Leon’s house of study and spent his days in fasting and true repentance.

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

One can always find comfort in their service to the Holy One, blessed be He as their emunah (faith) is strengthened.

One’s service to the Holy One, blessed be He is private and is no concern of others for no one can duplicate the service of one’s heart.

Many many years ago there was a drought in Eretz Yisrael. The skies were clear and the sun shined brightly. Water was scarce and the children cried from thirst.

The holy rabbi of Sfas called for a community fast and everyone was to be in the shul (synagogue) to prayer that haKadosh Baruch Hu (the Holy One, blessed be He) be merciful and bless the land with life giving rain.

The people prayed and fasted, but the skies stayed clear and no rain came.

That night as the rabbi slept he dreamed that the rains would come if the shopkeeper would lead the morning prayer.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
Click here for more storytelling resources

The guards refused to permit the young man, who was a stranger to them, into the royal palace, but the king heard what the young man said and commanded the guards: “Bring him in!”

In the meantime the young man went to his wife and said to her, ^“Ask your father to invite all of his ministers to come here this evening.^”

“That is not true! You are a liar,” the young man cried out. All those present listened keenly to hear what he had to say, and he continued. “Look at me! Do you see me? Do you not recognize me? I am your younger brother.^“