Enlightenment, Faith and Torah/Scriptures

Posted on Sunday, 12, May, 2013Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Today, many try to modernize various aspects of the basic beliefs of religion. They claim that the Torah/Scriptures is antiquated and needs to be reviewed and updated to be relevant in today’s society. It is indeed sad that the timeless values that have been the cornerstone of countless communities and societies have come under attack by those who claim to be enlightened.

We tell stories of yesteryear of the assault of the maskillim (the “enlightened” ones) on the more traditional Orthodox Jewish communities. They frowned upon faith, but adopted the national culture of the countries where they lived to better “fit in”.

A maskil (elightened one) once suggested to one of the great rabbis of his generation that modifications in halachah (Jewish law) are needed because the Torah/Scriptures was given thousands of years ago and is not relevant to modern times.

The rabbi replied calmly, “A while back I had to litigate a case. A merchant had ordered goods from a supplier, and specified that he wanted them delivered by November 1, in time for a special sale. That fall there were very heavy rains, and the roads were impassable, with the result that the order was not delivered when it should have been. The merchant sued the supplier, claiming that he had lost a great deal of money due to his failure to deliver on time. After studying all the facts, I ruled in favor of the merchant.

“The supplier protested, but I told him that I must apply the rules of the Torah, according to which the judgment was in favor of the merchant. Realizing the case was about to be closed, he made one final attempt to sway me.

“‘The Torah was given on Shavuos, wasn’t it?’ he pointed out. ‘Yes, of course’ I responded, eager to hear what argument he could have contrived.

‘There you have it!’ he exulted. ‘Shavuos does not occur in autumn, and that’s why the Torah law favors my opponent. If the Torah would have been given during the rainy season, the halachah would have favored my side.'”

After allowing the message to sink in for a second, the Rabbi added, “Don’t you recognize the simple truth that it is as absurd to restrict the Torah (Scriptures) to any one era as it is to make it seasonal?”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Onkelos and the Mezzuzah

Posted on Thursday, 4, April, 2013Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Onkelos was a member of the Roman royal family. His mother was Hadrian’s sister and his father was called Klonikas. He was very educated and well-versed in all the Roman and Greek philosophy and beliefs. He was blessed not only with an enquiring mind, a pure heart and a lofty soul.

Once, Onkelos spoke to his uncle, the emperor, Hadrian saying: ” I have studied for many years and have become familiar with all the languages of the Empire and seven sciences. But what have I gained from it all? It is time for me to go out into the world and start doing business. You know that I am not familiar with worldly things, whereas you the great Roman Emperor are well-versed in worldly affairs. I have therefore come to ask your advice as to what kind of material I should buy and sell?”

Hadrian was greatly flattered that his wise nephew should ask his advice and he said: “My vast treasures are at your disposal. Take as much as you need for business. I would advise you to seek material that is extremely inexpensive due to the fact that people do not realize its worth; material that few people are seeking: You will be able to buy it cheaply and after explaining its real value to people you will be able to make a nice profit!”

Onkelos the Prince soon left the imperial palace in Rome. He had heard that there were many treasures and wonderous goods to be found in the faraway city of Jerusalem, in the land of Judah. Once there, he searched the marketplace for goods and frequently spoke to many of the people he met. There was in the marketplace a necromancer who told Onkelos he could help him in his quest. The young Roman prince, Onkelos was curious and agreed to let the necromancer show him his destiny. The necromancer explained he would call upon three spirits for Onkelos to question and that within the answers will be his future.

After hearing the words spoken by the spirits, Onkelos took upon himself the religion of the persecuted Jewish people. Like the Moabite princess, Ruth, he left the ways of his fathers and gave himself over entirely to the holy words of the Torah (Scriptures). He set out to learn day and night until he became well-versed in all the secrets of the Torah (Scriptures).

After a short time Hadrian found out that his nephew had accepted the Jewish religion and had become one of the leading Jewish scholars in the holy city of Jerusalem. The Emperor was beside himself with rage, and he sent a company of soldiers to arrest Onkelos and to bring him in chains to Rome.

When the Roman soldiers arrived, Onkelos greeted them in a friendly manner and he talked to them telling them that we are taught, “You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). His words impressed them so much that the soldiers threw themselves at his feet and begged him to teach them, they soon joined the Jewish people, as he had done himself.

When Hadrian saw that his soldiers did not return, he sent another company of brave warriors with instructions to bring Onkelos in chains.

This time he gave orders not to have any discussions with Onkelos, but to arrest him on the spot and bring him to Rome, because Hadrian had heard what had happened to his first messengers.

Onkelos again warmly received the imperial messengers. “I know that the Emperor forbade you to have any discussions with me. You must obey the emperor’s orders; I also obeyed him; I will therefore ask you one question: you know very well what goes on in the Roman, imperial Court. The common soldier carries the torch for the officer; the officer carries it for the captain; the captain for the general and the general for the emperor. Tell me, for whom does the emperor carry the torch?”

“The emperor is not obliged to serve anyone,” they answered him. “He is the highest authority in the country!”

Though the soldiers did not speak with him, Onkelos continued, “Take a look the G-d of Israel, the Creator of heaven and earth, the G-d over everything, in spite of His greatness, still deemed it fit to lighten the way for His servants, the Jewish people as it is written ‘And the L-rd went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night’ (Exodus 13:21) for forty years in the wilderness.”

These words made a great impression on the soldiers, and they immediately gave up their mission and became faithful students of Onkelos.

Once more, Hadrian sent a company of troops with high officers at the head, with the express orders not to say one word to Onkelos and not to answer any questions, but to arrest him immediately, and bring him to Rome bound in chains.

The messengers arrived and started to carry out the emperor’s orders without delay. They led him out of his house. At the door Onkelos stopped, reached up to the doorpost, and joyfully kissed the Mezuzah.

The messengers gazed at him in wonder, and could not restrain themselves from asking him:

“What does that thing on the door symbolize, and why are you so happy at being taken to Rome, where your uncle will surely have you executed?”

“I laugh at foolish people. A king sits in his palace and has guards around him to protect him from danger. But the Jewish King, the L-rd of the World, the King above all kings allows his servants to sit quietly at home and He protects them from outside. That is the Mezuzah on our door!”

The royal messengers fell entirely under the influence of Onkelos’s words and it did not take long before they also became his faithful disciples.

When Hadrian saw that he would not be able to bring his nephew by force, he decided that there must be some special reason for all this. He had a strong desire to see his nephew, so he swore that no harm would befall him if he would come to visit him.

Onkelos started out for Rome. When he presented himself to the Emperor, he was surprised to see that Onkelos had lost much weight. Onkelos assured him that he had gained much Torah (Scriptures) and wisdom. Hadrian then asked him why he had left his home, and his people and accepted the religion of a small nation that was persecuted and ill-treated by all the other nations of the world?

“I listened to your good advice,” Onkelos answered him with a smile. “You advised me to buy a material for which there are few customers. I traveled throughout the world and I could not find anything that has fewer customers than the Jewish people, their teachings and beliefs. I bought it and I found that I had made a bargain. The holy Jewish Prophets have promised that the poor persecuted Jewish people will become a nation of princes; that the kings throughout the world will consider themselves honored to serve them; and the Torah (Scriptures), which is now down-trodden, will be recognized by all nations, and Jerusalem will be the lighthouse of the whole world.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Palace Owner Who Became a Beggar II

Posted on Tuesday, 20, November, 2012Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

In the morning he told his family and servants that he must go on a journey. He ordered them to harness his carriage and dressed himself and said farewell to them and made his way to the forest. When he came there, he ordered his driver to wait for him; and he went into the forest where he found the dead man waiting. There the dead man ordered him to take off his fine garments, and instead he gave him patched and tattered old clothes to wear. His face also changed at once and became seamed and wrinkled, so that he seemed like a poor man who had been making the rounds of the houses for a very long time.

Then the dead man ordered him to go back to the city and study Torah in all the Houses of Study. He further instructed him not to tell anybody who he was. When he was hungry, he was not to take any food from any man but must go to his own home and beg for food there. He must sleep upon the ground and live and suffer for days and months until a year had passed. Then the man from the other world stopped speaking and vanished.

The rich man walked out of the forest and began walking, while his driver waited for him all day long. When he saw that he did not return, he searched the forest but did not find him; he returned home and told what had happened. They searched everywhere for the master of the palace but did not find him, so they thought he must have fallen at the hand of robbers. And they grieved him bitterly.

The rich man in his patched garments did everything the dead man told him to do. He spent his time in a House of Study, learning. When he became hungry, he went to his home, but he heard the outcry of the household on his account and wished to turn back. Yet a hidden force pushed him to the doorway. Shamefully, he asked for food, but the servant woman abused him, saying: “Don’t you know that here we give nothing to the poor? And besides, we are all distressed because our master is lost.”

The wealthy man greatly pained, because he could not say who he was and in addition he was suffering the pangs of hunger. Then he began to beg and plead for some bread; and after cursing him and abusing him, they gave him a few crusts on which he lived for several days.

Word spread in the city that a strange poor man had come there and was sitting and studying all the time, and took no food from anybody and requested food only from the home of the missing wealthy man; even though he received it only after suffering and abuse. They thought that he must be mad, and began to throw dust and earth after him. He spent the whole year in this poverty and accepted it in full regret, repentance so distressing that those who read about it must wonder and be astonished.

When the year was over he went back to the forest where the dead man was waiting for him. “Great is repentance, it cancels heavenly decrees (Song of Songs Rabbah 8:6),” said the dead man, “that you have merited to pass through this great test of yours. Now remove those disgraceful garments and put on your expensive clothes which I have hidden until this time.” When the rich man did so and put on the rich clothes, his face began to shine. The dead man instructed him to take the shameful clothes home with him, too; and he ended his words and vanished never to be seen again.

The rich man returned home a changed man. His family rejoiced at his returned and asked where he had been the past year. The rich man remained quiet and told them that all would become clear at the right time. His family and servants told him how a crazy man had come while he was away, always asking for food, and all that had happened to the fellow.

Then the rich man told his household to prepare a great feast of thanksgiving since they had thought that he was among the dead, and he had returned. He requested that everyone in the community especially the poor attend the meal. In the middle of the celebration, while all the guests were in good cheer, he slipped out of the great hall, took off his fine clothes and put on the torn rags and tatters, and appeared like that before them all. At first his household thought that this must be the same crazy man who used to visit them, and then they noticed that the rich man had vanished again. They began to worry once more, perhaps the crazy man had something to do with his disappearance.

Then the rich man revealed himself and told all those who had gathered there what had happened to him. A silence fell upon the feast as the rich man shared, “Give alms from your possessions, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor and the face of God will not be turned away from you. If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. For almsgiving delivers from death and keeps you from going into the Darkness. Indeed, almsgiving, for all who practice it, is an excellent offering in the presence of the Most High.” (Tobit 4:7-11)

His tale and lesson served to bring about a true blessing of the Holy Name. All the people there became completely repentant, and after that he kept open house for the poor and the needy, day and night.

This story is found recorded on paper with an iron pen in an ancient register of a certain great city before G-d.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Palace Owner Who Became a Beggar I

Posted on Tuesday, 20, November, 2012Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Many years ago, in a great city before G-d, there dwelt a certain man who was an outstanding scholar and very wealthy and charitable and was praised by all. In due course the lights went out at noon and the wheel of fortune turned for him. He lost his property and grew so poor that he had nothing left but his body. But the man accepted the judgment and left his city and set out and wandered through many lands.

On one occasion he lost his way for several days and had no food left and was weary and so starved that he thought his end had already come; and he prayed to the Holy One Blessed be He. While doing so, he saw that he was standing in front of a magnificent palace surrounded by a beautiful orchard. In this palace lived a most wealthy man who was also a great scholar; and he had built himself this palace in the outskirts of the city so as not to be troubled by the city affairs and business. In this palace he also had his House of Study, where wise men studied the holy words of Torah (Scriptures). The poor man entered the House of Study, and the students quickly discovered that he was a learned man and at home with the Torah (Scriptures). They began to ask him many questions, and he answered each one of them according to the Holy Word. News traveled quickly and many students told the wealthy man what a great scholar the wayfarer was and he also came to his House of Study. He turned to the poor traveler and began to question him, and several hours passed in this manner.

When the time for the morning meal came, each of the students went to his home to eat, and the rich man also went to eat, but did not invite the poor traveler. It should be added that the rich man’s household was also conducted on a large scale but its doors were closed to the poor, who received neither food nor even a single copper coin. The rich man looked on the poor as slaves, not as children of the Holy One, blessed be He.

When the rich man finished eating, he went on discussing Torah (Scriptures) with the traveler until the time came for the noonday meal. Again he did not invite him to join, though the finest foods had been prepared. The poor traveler began to faint from hunger. He could feel that he was starving, and he tried to go to the city to find something to eat but fell to the ground and died, all swollen with hunger. The townsfolk found a dead man, and they took him and purified him and buried him without knowing who he was. The earth covered his body together with the rich man’s sin. But the Holy One, blessed be He knows all secrets and would sooner have the wicked become righteous than have him perish without leaving his wicked way; and He did not wish that the matter should be forgotten.

On one occasion the rich man sat at night in his House of Study, praying the midnight prayers mourning the destruction of the holy city of Jerusalem, though he was hardhearted, he was very religious and G-d-fearing. Hearing footsteps, he began to tremble, for he knew there was nobody with him, and he raised his voice and shouted: “Who goes there?” He was prepared to defend himself from the stranger in the dark.

Then he heard a voice: “Move away and do not touch me or you will perish.” He focused his eyes and then he saw a terrifying sight. The poor scholar was standing in front of him just as he had appeared, but he was wearing the shrouds of the dead. The rich man began to tremble and wished to run away, but the dead man said: “Stay here, for I have something to say to you. If you go, you risk your life.”

And then the dead man told him: “I am the poor man you studied the holy words of Torah (Scriptures) with. You forgot the holy words, “If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns …. do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.” (Deuteronomy 15:7). Not once did you invite me to eat or share a meal, and I died of starvation in the street. I was buried and then I was brought before the Heavenly Court and it was said, ‘He who refuses a beggar the aid which he has the power to give, is accountable to justice.’ (Josephus, Against Apion ii: 27). There they have decided that I shall not come to my rest until I summon you for trial. “It would be fitting,” the dead man went on, “to have you perish in order to stand trial with me, but I have brought it about that instead you will take my place on earth and right the great wrong you have done to me and many like me, since you began and until this day. This you must do: Tomorrow come to the nearby forest where I shall wait for you and tell you the form your teshuvah (repentance) must take.”

Having said his say, the dead man vanished, and the rich man found himself alone in his House of Study, trembling with fear. With a heavy heart, he left the House of Study to go home and went to bed and began thinking of the vision again, turning this way and that on his bed like a sick man.

A Story About The Book of Genesis

Posted on Thursday, 21, June, 2012Thursday, 22, September, 2022 by Rabbi

There once was a simple man of 70 years old who lived by his faith. He was very wealthy, but sadly was not blessed with a son. Every day he used to go to the synagogue as the children came out, he would embrace them and kiss them and say to them, “children, tell me what holy words you learned today.” Each and every one of them would recite what they had studied. Then he would bless them and say to them, “happy are you and happy are your fathers who merited sons to engage in Torah.” But in his heart he said, “alas for the one who has no son! What pleasure do I have in all of my property?” So he went and gave away all of his properties amongst the students of the sages, saying, “maybe I may yet have a share of the next world together with them.” And the mercies of the Holy One, blessed be He revolved so that the old man was blessed with a son.

When the child was five years old, he put him right on his shoulders and brought him to the house of study, where he said to the teacher, “with which book will you begin to teach my son?” “With the book of Leviticus,” said the teacher. But the boy’s father said to him, “start my son with the book of Genesis, for does not the ‘L-rd say, If not for My covenant of day and night, I would not have established the fixed order of heaven and earth (Jeremiah 33:25) and all that is, is contained in the Book of Genesis as it is taught, It’s measure is longer than the earth, and wider than the sea. (Job 11:9)

So day by day he rode him on his shoulders to the house of study. “How long are you going to tire yourself by carrying me on your shoulders?” Asked the young boy. “Let me be, for I know the way and I can go there alone.” “Go, my son, as you wish,” said his father.

It came about one day that one of the kings servants met him when he was alone and saw that he was very good-looking and dressed in fine clothes. So the servant stole him and took him away to the capital city. In the evening his father saw that his son had not returned, so he went to the teacher and asked, “where’s my son whom I sent to you?” “I do not know, for he did not come to study today.” Said teacher. When the father heard this he wailed and wept and cried to all, “have you seen a handsome boy, looking like this?” “We have not seen him,” the townspeople would say. When his father and mother heard this they wept and cried and wore sackcloth and ashes until their weeping reach the highest heavens.

The mercies of the Holy One, blessed be He were touched, and he sent a terrible sickness upon the king by who servant the boy was caught. And the king ordered that a book of remedies should be brought to him. And they brought it, but the angel Gabriel came and replaced it with the book of Genesis. The Kings sages opened it but could not read the book at all, and his servants said to him, “we believe that it must be a Jewish book.” They looked for a Jewish person to read it, but could not find any then the king’s servant said, “my lord king when I went to the Jewish village I stole a Jewish child from there. Maybe he can read the book.” “Go and fetch him to me immediately,” said the king. So he went and brought the boy before the king.

“My son, if you know how to read this book, then happy are you with happy are we.” Said the king. The boy saw the book, he cried out and wept and flung himself to the ground. “Have no fear of me, said the king. The boy answered, “I do not fear you but I was the only child of my father and mother, then the Holy One, blessed be He gave me to them in their old age, when they were 70 years old. This is the very book that my father taught me, so that is why I wept.” “Can you read it?” Asked the king. So he began reciting the whole of the first chapter. “And can you explain it?” Asked the king. Then the Holy One, blessed be He gave him understanding and knowledge to interpret the whole passage. When the king heard the wisdom and understanding, and how the Holy One, blessed be He created his world, he confessed and gave thanks to the Creator of all. Thereupon he was healed and sat up on his bed and said blessed is the L-rd who sent me healing by this lad.”

And the king said to him, “my son, ask what you want me to give you.” The boy answered, “my lord king, I ask you only to restore me to my mother my father.” So the king immediately ordered that the boy should be taken to his treasury and given silver, gold and jewels beyond measure, and that he should then be restored to his parents. This they did, and when his father and mother saw him they uttered praises and thanks giving to the Holy One, blessed be He.

May it be Your will, O L-rd our G-d, to establish peace among the disciples who engage in Your Holy Word.

(Berachos 16b-17a)Seder Elyahu zutta 10^th cent

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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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)

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Shavuous: Seasonal Torah

Posted on Friday, 3, June, 2011Saturday, 24, September, 2022 by Rabbi

We tell stories of yesteryear of the assault of the maskillim (the “enlightened” ones) on the more traditional Orthodox Jewish communities. They frowned upon faith, but adopted a national culture to better to better “fit in”. Someone once suggested to one of the Torah authorities that modifications in halachah (Jewish law) are needed because the Torah was given thousands of years ago and is not relevant to modern times.

The rabbi replied calmly, “A while back I had to litigate a case. A merchant had ordered goods from a supplier, and specified that he wanted them delivered by November 1, in time for a special sale. That fall there were very heavy rains, and the roads were impassable, with the result that the order was not delivered when it should have been. The merchant sued the supplier, claiming that he had lost a great deal of money due to his failure to deliver on time. After studying all the facts, I ruled in favor of the merchant.

“The supplier protested, but I told him that I must apply the rules of the Torah, according to which the judgment was in favor of the merchant. Realizing the case was about to be closed, he made one final attempt to sway me.

“‘The Torah was given on Shavuos, wasn’t it?’ he pointed out. ‘Yes, of course’ I responded, eager to hear what argument he could have contrived.

‘There you have it!’ he exulted. ‘Shavuos does not occur in autumn, and that’s why the Torah law favors my opponent. If the Torah would have been given during the rainy season, the halachah would have favored my side.'”

After allowing the message to sink in for a second, the Rabbi added, “Don’t you recognize the simple truth that it is as absurd to restrict the Torah (Scriptures) to any one era as it is to make it seasonal?!”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Worthless Assistant

Posted on Wednesday, 6, October, 2010Sunday, 25, September, 2022 by Rabbi

“Fear not, Abram, I am a shield for you, your reward is very great.” (Gen. 15:1).

As a young student wished to meet a holy rabbi who was looked upon as one of the gadolei hador (leaders of the generation), and learn from him.

The journey for the young student was very long and expensive, far beyond his ability to pay. Since he could not afford to travel as a passenger, he hired himself out as a Wagoner’s assistant. The driver needed someone to accompany him on the long, long trip and he welcomed the offer.

Everything was fine until the young student took a turn at the reins. Sensing a new, inexperienced driver, the horses bolted. They galloped full speed ahead. The wagon and its passengers pitched from side to side. When the wagoner had regained control of the horses, he turned furiously on his assistant:

“Don’t you know the first thing about horses? Don’t you even have enough sense to hold on to the reins, you good-for-nothing?”

And, for good measure, he gave his young assistant a number of resounding blows.

At long last, the journey was over and they had reached the village where the holy rabbi lived. And when the young man left his employer, the wagoner barely said good-bye. He was glad to be rid of his worthless assistant.

The young student made his way at once to the home of the holy rabbi lived where a different welcome awaited him. The young man’s reputation had gone before him. The more the holy rabbi spoke with him, the more impressed he became and he begged the young gaon (genius) to honor the people of the village with a lesson that Shabbos.

The news flew through the city. Everyone in the village gathered in the small wooden shul (synagogue) to hear the genius speak. And the wagoner was present, too.

When the young student walked up to the platform, the wagoner nearly fainted. He recognized the inefficient young helper who had earned his anger on the long trip. He remembered how he had scolded him, shouted at him, and even struck him! He grew flushed and pale with embarrassment as he recalled his behavior.

He trembled like a leaf throughout the lesson. After an eternity, when it was finally over, the wagoner dragged himself up to the front of the synagogue and threw himself at the feet of the young man, weeping, “Please forgive me!”

“You have nothing to feel bad about, my dear man,” the young student comforted him. “Had you scolded me about my Torah scholarship, had you struck me for being an am haaretz (ignorant boor), you would, perhaps, have been guilty of disrespect for the Torah. But you rebuked me for being a poor driver. On that account, you were perfectly justified. In truth, I know nothing about horses.”

May all your Tales end with Shalom

How to Carry a Stone Heart

Posted on Tuesday, 4, May, 2010Sunday, 25, September, 2022 by Rabbi

A king sent his son to a distant land so that he would gain knowledge from its elders and wise men. After several years of study, the son returned to the palace filled with worldly wisdom.

The king wished to test his son’s newfound knowledge. He therefore presented him with an enormously heavy rock and instructed him to carry it up to the roof of the palace. There was one condition, however: he was to carry it all on his own, without receiving the slightest assistance.

“But father,” wondered the son, “even ten men would not have the strength necessary to lift such a huge rock! How, then, can I be expected to carry this rock to the roof all by myself?”

“Is this why I sent you away to study wisdom?” asked the father. “After all that you have learned, do you still not know how to lift this rock?”

The son was not ashamed to admit that he had absolutely no idea. “It’s actually very simple,” said the king. “All you have to do is take a hammer and smash the rock into little pieces…”

The Holy One, blessed be He wants man to serve Him wholeheartedly, with holiness and purity. The problem is that our hearts are made of stone…Man has but one choice: He must take a hammer (the Torah/Scriptures and good deeds) and smash his stone heart! The Torah/Scriptures are called a stone, as in the verse “The tables of stone, and the law and the commandment” (Exod. 24:12); the impulse to evil is likewise called a stone, as in the verse “I will take away the heart of stone out of your flesh” (Ezek. 36:26). Thus, since Torah is a stone, and the impulse to evil a stone, let one stone guard against the other stone. (Lev. R. 35:5)

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

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A Search in Judaism: A Tale of True Love

Posted on Friday, 16, April, 2010Sunday, 25, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The Jewish way of life is filled with wonder, beauty and love. So many times people become so involved in the mechanics of the “religion” we call Judaism that they lose sight of the warmth, excitement and enjoyment of life. To be Jewish you must commit yourself completely as it says in the Torah and we say everyday in the Shema, “with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might.”

To be Jewish is not to blindly follow a “religion” it is to live and experience life. To see and feel the world around us as we go about our daily lives. Being Jewish is a lifestyle that enables us to see the world in a holy context. The most mundane of tasks becomes part of our service. Everything can be raised to a higher level. As we go about our daily lives we unravel mysteries that can only be seen through faith and belief.

Many search for meaning in their faith, and expect an epiphany or great signs to “show them the way.” They become so intent on the search they don’t see, feel, hear or experience the many things in their everyday life that speak of great faith. Love is a powerful element in faith. Love of G-d, love of family, love of fellow man, love of all creatures and the very creation surround us everywhere. We just need to seize the opportunity.

A Tale of True Love :

The Son of a Sage and a Princess

The wife of a rabbi was barren. One night in a dream the rabbi saw an angel who told him that his wife would bear him a son. And so it came to pass. But on the day following the birth of his son, the rabbi had to go on a long journey. Before he left the rabbi commanded his wife to teach the child, whose name would be Shlomo, to read and write. And, indeed, the woman did as her husband had bidden her, and the boy learned much, and when he was fifteen ‘years old he was more learned than his father who was a great sage.

One day the lad climbed onto the roof of their house, and suddenly an eagle flew over the roof and snatched the boy. The eagle took the boy in its flight to a city in which not one Jewish person lived. And the eagle put the boy down in the king’s garden. When the boy awoke he found himself in a strange garden. The servants of the palace saw him and they wanted to know how he had come there.

“Who are you?” they asked him.

“I am the son of a rabbi,” he told them.

“I have expelled all the Jewish people from my country,” the king said to him. “But I will let you stay with me, for it is holy One, blessed be he who has brought you here.”

“But I cannot live here without other Jewish people,” the boy said.

“For your sake I will permit all the Jewish people to return,” the king said to him. “Let them live here together with you.

And the king kept his promise and allowed a number of Jewish families to return to the city. They built themselves a synagogue, and the lad sat in it from morning till night, studying the torah.

Now this king had an only daughter and, as the boy’s room was just beneath that of the princess, she would listen to his voice as he studied night after night. The princess did not know anything about Jewish people and their ways, and she used to ask herself, “Why does this young man read without a pause, day and night?”

One day she could no longer restrain herself. It was after midnight when she rose and went to a place facing the boy’s room. At first she tried to speak to him, but he did not even answer her, for he thought that it was a spirit that was speaking to him. He began to utter the Holy Name until the princess left the threshold of his room and went up to the dome of the roof. There she found one of the servants and she told him about the boy who did not wish to speak to her. “Who is this young man who does not even wish to speak to me?” she complained.

The servant went down to the boy’s room to speak to him of the girl who had stood on the threshold of his room. The Jewish boy asked her pardon saying that he had thought the young girl was a spirit. “Had I known she was a princess I would gladly have replied to her.”

So the princess returned to the boy’s room and said to him: “I wish to learn the things that you are studying. And also I would like to know why you study so much.”

The boy replied: “The Jewish people engage in the study of the torah so that we may be found worthy of the resurrection of the dead and of the world to come.”

“If that is the case, then I too wish to study and to observe the laws of your religion,” the princess said. And so every night the princess used to study until she began to eat only kosher food and then she became converted. She proposed to the boy that he take her for his wife, and he made only one condition, that she observe the commandments of the Jewish religion.

To this the princess agreed. The couple set the day of their marriage and the girl took a Hebrew name, Miriam.

One day, when the young man was on the roof of the palace, the same eagle that had snatched him was seen in the skies. Once again it seized the boy and restored him to his mother. The boy opened his eyes and, behold, he was in his mother’s house, but Miriam, the princess, was no longer at his side.

Some days passed and the lad fell ill because of his great love for Miriam, and she, too, fell ill because of her love for him. From day to day the state of the boy steadily became worse. He became very thin and it was soon clear that he would not live long. One day his father asked him, “My son, what has over-taken you?”

At first the boy refused to tell his father all that had befallen him, but finally he told him about the princess who had become Jewish. He was about to marry her when the eagle had come and borne him away.

The father promised his son that he would do all he could to find the princess and bring her to him. Leaving his son on his sickbed he took ship and set forth on that distant journey to find Miriam.

The king, Miriam’s father, sent messengers throughout his kingdom, commanding them, “You must find a doctor who can cure my daughter.”

When the boy’s father heard of the sick princess he understood that it was she who was the Miriam he was seeking, and he resolved to present himself as a physician. And so he asked the king to allow him to remain with his daughter. He prepared a broth of doves which he gave to the princess and, as she was drinking the broth, he whispered in her ear, “Miriam!” The girl opened her eyes wide and the father continued in a whisper: “I am the father of Shlomo!” And the princess soon began to recover and everyone thought that the cure had been effected thanks to the doves’ broth.

When the princess was well enough to walk, the father and his daughter-in-law made plans to leave secretly so that they could return to Shlomo.

The father went to the king and said: “Sire, you know that your daughter is an invalid and that if she sickens again she will die. Allow her, therefore, to travel together with me for a few days and I will cure her entirely.”

The king agreed and gave him much money and his royal ship.

The father took the princess and both set out for the town in which Shlomo lived. But the same moment that the princess and the father crossed the threshold of the house the boy died.

The princess wept bitterly and complained to the father: “You Jews believe in the resurrection of the dead. I too believe in it and for that reason I gave up my faith and took on the Jewish religion. But if my beloved Shlomo does not rise from the dead, your religion is worth nothing at all.”

Then the father whispered, “Blessed be He and blessed be His Name!” And straight away Shlomo’s spirit returned to him. “Rise, Shlomo!” the father said to him. “Miriam has come!”

The wedding was celebrated by the wise father. Miriam remained strong and true in her faith and never returned to her father’s home.

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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We tell stories of yesteryear of the assault of the maskillim (the “enlightened” ones) on the more traditional Orthodox Jewish communities. They frowned upon faith, but adopted the national culture of the countries where they lived to better “fit in”.

A maskil (elightened one) once suggested to one of the great rabbis of his generation that modifications in halachah (Jewish law) are needed because the Torah/Scriptures was given thousands of years ago and is not relevant to modern times.

“The supplier protested, but I told him that I must apply the rules of the Torah, according to which the judgment was in favor of the merchant. Realizing the case was about to be closed, he made one final attempt to sway me.

“‘The Torah was given on Shavuos, wasn’t it?’ he pointed out. ‘Yes, of course’ I responded, eager to hear what argument he could have contrived.

‘There you have it!’ he exulted. ‘Shavuos does not occur in autumn, and that’s why the Torah law favors my opponent. If the Torah would have been given during the rainy season, the halachah would have favored my side.'”

After allowing the message to sink in for a second, the Rabbi added, “Don’t you recognize the simple truth that it is as absurd to restrict the Torah (Scriptures) to any one era as it is to make it seasonal?”

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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Onkelos was a member of the Roman royal family. His mother was Hadrian’s sister and his father was called Klonikas. He was very educated and well-versed in all the Roman and Greek philosophy and beliefs. He was blessed not only with an enquiring mind, a pure heart and a lofty soul.

After a short time Hadrian found out that his nephew had accepted the Jewish religion and had become one of the leading Jewish scholars in the holy city of Jerusalem. The Emperor was beside himself with rage, and he sent a company of soldiers to arrest Onkelos and to bring him in chains to Rome.

When Hadrian saw that his soldiers did not return, he sent another company of brave warriors with instructions to bring Onkelos in chains.

This time he gave orders not to have any discussions with Onkelos, but to arrest him on the spot and bring him to Rome, because Hadrian had heard what had happened to his first messengers.

“The emperor is not obliged to serve anyone,” they answered him. “He is the highest authority in the country!”

These words made a great impression on the soldiers, and they immediately gave up their mission and became faithful students of Onkelos.

Once more, Hadrian sent a company of troops with high officers at the head, with the express orders not to say one word to Onkelos and not to answer any questions, but to arrest him immediately, and bring him to Rome bound in chains.

The messengers arrived and started to carry out the emperor’s orders without delay. They led him out of his house. At the door Onkelos stopped, reached up to the doorpost, and joyfully kissed the Mezuzah.

The messengers gazed at him in wonder, and could not restrain themselves from asking him:

“What does that thing on the door symbolize, and why are you so happy at being taken to Rome, where your uncle will surely have you executed?”

“I laugh at foolish people. A king sits in his palace and has guards around him to protect him from danger. But the Jewish King, the L-rd of the World, the King above all kings allows his servants to sit quietly at home and He protects them from outside. That is the Mezuzah on our door!”

The royal messengers fell entirely under the influence of Onkelos’s words and it did not take long before they also became his faithful disciples.

When Hadrian saw that he would not be able to bring his nephew by force, he decided that there must be some special reason for all this. He had a strong desire to see his nephew, so he swore that no harm would befall him if he would come to visit him.

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 wealthy man greatly pained, because he could not say who he was and in addition he was suffering the pangs of hunger. Then he began to beg and plead for some bread; and after cursing him and abusing him, they gave him a few crusts on which he lived for several days.

His tale and lesson served to bring about a true blessing of the Holy Name. All the people there became com­pletely repentant, and after that he kept open house for the poor and the needy, day and night.

This story is found recorded on paper with an iron pen in an ancient register of a certain great city before G-d.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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

Having said his say, the dead man vanished, and the rich man found himself alone in his House of Study, trembling with fear. With a heavy heart, he left the House of Study to go home and went to bed and began thinking of the vision again, turning this way and that on his bed like a sick man.

So day by day he rode him on his shoulders to the house of study. “How long are you going to tire yourself by carrying me on your shoulders?” Asked the young boy. “Let me be, for I know the way and I can go there alone.” “Go, my son, as you wish,” said his father.

May it be Your will, O L-rd our G-d, to establish peace among the disciples who engage in Your Holy Word.

(Berachos 16b-17a)Seder Elyahu zutta 10th cent

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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

based on Avos 6:8

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

“The supplier protested, but I told him that I must apply the rules of the Torah, according to which the judgment was in favor of the merchant. Realizing the case was about to be closed, he made one final attempt to sway me.

“‘The Torah was given on Shavuos, wasn’t it?’ he pointed out. ‘Yes, of course’ I responded, eager to hear what argument he could have contrived.

‘There you have it!’ he exulted. ‘Shavuos does not occur in autumn, and that’s why the Torah law favors my opponent. If the Torah would have been given during the rainy season, the halachah would have favored my side.'”

After allowing the message to sink in for a second, the Rabbi added, “Don’t you recognize the simple truth that it is as absurd to restrict the Torah (Scriptures) to any one era as it is to make it seasonal?!”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

“Fear not, Abram, I am a shield for you, your reward is very great.” (Gen. 15:1).

As a young student wished to meet a holy rabbi who was looked upon as one of the gadolei hador (leaders of the generation), and learn from him.

The journey for the young student was very long and expensive, far beyond his ability to pay. Since he could not afford to travel as a passenger, he hired himself out as a Wagoner’s assistant. The driver needed someone to accompany him on the long, long trip and he welcomed the offer.

“Don’t you know the first thing about horses? Don’t you even have enough sense to hold on to the reins, you good-for-nothing?”

And, for good measure, he gave his young assistant a number of resounding blows.

At long last, the journey was over and they had reached the village where the holy rabbi lived. And when the young man left his employer, the wagoner barely said good-bye. He was glad to be rid of his worthless assistant.

The news flew through the city. Everyone in the village gathered in the small wooden shul (synagogue) to hear the genius speak. And the wagoner was present, too.

He trembled like a leaf throughout the lesson. After an eternity, when it was finally over, the wagoner dragged himself up to the front of the synagogue and threw himself at the feet of the young man, weeping, “Please forgive me!”

May all your Tales end with Shalom

A king sent his son to a distant land so that he would gain knowledge from its elders and wise men. After several years of study, the son returned to the palace filled with worldly wisdom.

The king wished to test his son’s newfound knowledge. He therefore presented him with an enormously heavy rock and in­structed him to carry it up to the roof of the palace. There was one condition, however: he was to carry it all on his own, without re­ceiving the slightest assistance.

“But father,” wondered the son, “even ten men would not have the strength necessary to lift such a huge rock! How, then, can I be expected to carry this rock to the roof all by myself?”

“Is this why I sent you away to study wisdom?” asked the father. “After all that you have learned, do you still not know how to lift this rock?”

The son was not ashamed to admit that he had absolutely no idea. “It’s actually very simple,” said the king. “All you have to do is take a hammer and smash the rock into little pieces…”

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 Tale of True Love :

The Son of a Sage and a Princess

“Who are you?” they asked him.

“I am the son of a rabbi,” he told them.

“I have expelled all the Jewish people from my country,” the king said to him. “But I will let you stay with me, for it is holy One, blessed be he who has brought you here.”

“But I cannot live here without other Jewish people,” the boy said.

“For your sake I will permit all the Jewish people to return,” the king said to him. “Let them live here together with you.

And the king kept his promise and allowed a number of Jewish families to return to the city. They built themselves a synagogue, and the lad sat in it from morning till night, studying the torah.

The servant went down to the boy’s room to speak to him of the girl who had stood on the threshold of his room. The Jewish boy asked her pardon saying that he had thought the young girl was a spirit. “Had I known she was a princess I would gladly have replied to her.”

So the princess returned to the boy’s room and said to him: “I wish to learn the things that you are studying. And also I would like to know why you study so much.”

The boy replied: “The Jewish people engage in the study of the torah so that we may be found worthy of the resurrection of the dead and of the world to come.”

His tale and lesson served to bring about a true blessing of the Holy Name. All the people there became completely repentant, and after that he kept open house for the poor and the needy, day and night.

(Berachos 16b-17a)Seder Elyahu zutta 10^th cent

The king wished to test his son’s newfound knowledge. He therefore presented him with an enormously heavy rock and instructed him to carry it up to the roof of the palace. There was one condition, however: he was to carry it all on his own, without receiving the slightest assistance.