A certain rich man had ten sons. He swore that on the day of his death he would give each of them one hundred gold coins. In due course he lost part of his money and all he had left was nine hundred and gold coins. So he gave the nine hundred to nine sons, and the youngest one said to him:

“Father, what shall I do? How can you leave me penniless?”

The Rich man thought for a moment or two and answered his youngest son:

“I swore to give each one of you one hundred gold coins and I could not break my oath. But only fifty are left me, and I have taken thirty of them for shrouds when I die, so I shall give you the other twenty. For I never thought that the money would be lost to me. But I have ten companions. I shall give them to you and they are better than a thousand dinars. And he instructed his companions about his youngest son, and then he died and was buried.

The nine sons went off to do business, each going his own way, and the youngest one was left at a complete loss, not knowing what he should do. Meanwhile he spent nineteen gold coins and only had one gold coins left. Then he said:

what use can those ten friends my father left me be, when he told me that they would be better than a thousand gold coins? But he took counsel and invited them to his home and spent the last dinar for a feast. They ate and drank with him and said to one another: “This is the only one of all the brothers who keeps his father’s affection for us. We have to keep that affection too and not let him go, but show him kindness for his deeds.”

So each of them gave him a cow in calf and money. The cows gave birth and he sold them, and gathered his money together and tried his hand at commerce. The Lord blessed him and made him richer than his father. Then he said: “My father said truly that friends are better than all the money in the world.”

Therefore a man should increase friends and honor and keep them. It is well to remember that he “who finds a faithful friend finds a treasure. (ben Sira 6:14)

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