….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