The lack of faith caused by science is not old. It is such an age-old matter that “Asa in the thirty-ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet until his disease was severe; yet in his disease, he did not seek the L-rd, but sought help from physicians. (2 Chronicles 16:12) He did not put his faith in the Holy One, blessed be He. This disease would lead to his death just two years later (2 Chronicles 16:13)

In a time when doctors guide people in their cures and treatment of the body, the needs of the soul are often forgotten. The doctor’s esteem and pride grow in the eyes of the people. If a patient dies, he merely collects his fee and goes on to the next patient. “Both the doctor and the Angel of Death kill, but the former charges a fee.” (Sefer haMevakesh, 1264 ce) Just as disease ravages the body, lack of faith devastates the soul.  Many time spiritual teachers and leaders are overlooked as unscientific and backward.

Once there was a king whose son became deathly ill. The court physician could not find any way to heal him, nor could the other experts who were called in. The king became so desperate that he sent royal messengers to proclaim throughout the land that anyone who could help should come to the palace at once. It didn’t matter to the king whether one was a doctor, a magician, or a sorcerer. The main thing was that the prince be cured.

Usually no one was allowed into the private chambers of the palace, but the king instructed the guards to let any expert into the prince’s room to examine him, if only it might help him get better.

One doctor in the capital was very wise, but he was not at all popular because of his spiritual approach to the treatment of his patients. He did things differently than the other doctors, so they thought him odd and at times backwards. People admitted that he knew a great deal, but they were wary his strange ways and stayed away from him.

When the prince first became ill, this doctor had not gone to the palace to help. He was quite sure that he could cure the boy with a common herb that grew along every riverbank. The many doctors who had come from near and far would argue with him and not seriously consider his treatment of the prince. He asked himself why should he go argue with the medical authorities if they would refuse to listen to him?

The prince’s condition worsened, and the situation had changed. The king had opened the doors of the palace to every knowledgeable doctor in the kingdom. Now there was a way to examine the prince without everyone arguing with him.

So the doctor said a prayer to the Heavenly Healer and went in to examine the prince in person. He saw that he had indeed been right about the cure. Eager to save the prince, he went to speak to the king.

When he got to the throne room, he found the king was surrounded by doctors and professors from many lands. Some of them had even brought whole cases of rare medicines with them.

The king might have been willing to listen to him, but the other doctors would surely make fun of his diagnosis and the common, everyday medicine he wanted to prescribe. He had to think of some way to make the others agree with him and recommend his treatment to the king.

What did he do?

First he asked permission to speak to the king and all the physicians in the room. Then he told them what he thought the problem was. Finally, he explained which medicine would cure the prince’s illness. He further explained to the king that the herb had to be prepared by a great expert who could grind it up just the right way. The king must search for a gifted pharmacist who was skilled at preparing rare, exotic medications. Only then could he be sure that the prince would be cured.

The doctor did not fail to mention that such an expert would deserve a generous reward for his work.

As the physicians stood listening, each thought to himself, “Surely the king will ask me to do the job since I have such a fine reputation. Therefore, I must urge the king to accept this fellow’s advice.”

And so it was that everyone suddenly agreed with the strange doctor, even though they did not like him his odd ways and spiritual approaches. They all encouraged the king to give the suggested cure a try, thinking of the hefty reward they would earn for preparing the herb.

But much to their disappointment, to prepare the medicine the king chose none other than the strange doctor himself.

“You must be the greatest expert of all!” the king declared. “Of all the doctors I have consulted, only you proposed this cure. No one can compare to you. So you yourself will be the one to prepare the herb.”

The doctor knew that his skill and treatment was not the source of the cure, but he was just a messenger of the Holy One, blessed be He. To this doctor and those like him was attributed, “Honour physicians for their services, for the L-rd created them; (Ben Sira 38:1)

Sadly today so many put their faith in science and technology that they do not recognize or even forget that any treatment or cure must help the body as well as the soul. “He who sins against his Maker will be defiant towards the physician. (Ben Sira 38:15)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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

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

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