Part II The Curse of the Werewolf

Part 3 will be posted tomorrow

One Shabbos (Saturday) afternoon, he went to sleep, but his wife started nagging him, “Dear husband, how come you have so much money all at once? We were so poor earlier that you left town.”

Her husband answered, “The Holy One, blessed be He sent me some luck during my travels.”

His wife didn’t believe him. She kept harassing him until he gave in and told her the secret. That was very foolish of him. King Solomon once warned, “I found more bitter than death the woman who is a trap, whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are fetters.” (Ecclesiastes 7:26). This happened to the good rabbi. If the rabbi had refused to tell her the secret, he would have spared himself a lot of trouble, but because he told the secret of the ring, which made all wishes come true, he suffered terribly a short time later.

The moment that evil woman heard about the ring, she thought to herself, “If only I can get the ring away from him, he’ll never see it again.”

She was simply dying to get the ring, but she knew she couldn’t get it without his consent. So she said to him, “Dear husband, give me the ring for a while, I want to see it.”

But the rabbi knew how wicked she was, and he wouldn’t let her have the ring. So she started yelling, “I can see you don’t love me anymore. Otherwise you wouldn’t be afraid to trust me with the ring.”

She plagued him day and night, until he had to give her the ring.

The moment she had it, she stuck her head under the covers and whispered, “I wish that my husband be turned into a werewolf and let him run around in the forest with the wild beasts.”

Scarcely had she uttered her wish when the good rabbi leaped out of the window and dashed off into the deep forest. Soon, he started to terrorize people in the forest. He caused so much confusion that people feared walking through the forest. Everyone was scared of the werewolf. He built himself a dry den to live in. He caused so much terror that the char coal-burners all ran away from the forest because they were frightened of him.

Let’s leave the wolf for a moment and see about what was happening in his home with the students.

When the time came, that Shabbos (Sabbath) afternoon, for the rabbi to teach his lesson to the students, his wife, may her name be forgotten, told them, “The rabbi won’t be able to teach his lesson today because he doesn’t feel well.”

The students believed her and went back to their homes. The next day, they came for their lesson again, and the wife stated, “The rabbi left on a journey and didn’t tell me where he was going. I think he will return at the end of four years.”

She pretended she was very sad, but she was very glad the rabbi was gone and she had the magic ring.

Now, when poor people came, she would send them away empty handed. This was a terrible time for the poor, they sorely missed the kind hearted rabbi. The wicked woman grew very rich, as she used the magic ring. She got herself everything she desired, and there was no end to her wealth.

No one could understand what had become of the rabbi and where he had suddenly vanished to. Nor could anyone find out. People only hoped that he would come home soon.

Now let’s leave the evil woman for a while and describe the plight of the poor rabbi, who was running around in the shape of a wolf. He caused terrible suffering and fear among the people. For there was no animal stronger than the werewolf. The town sent for the charcoal-burners and asked then whether they would be willing to go after the werewolf and destroy him. The charcoal-burners refused, saying the werewolf was stronger than iron, and as smart as a human being.

Hearing this, the king went hunting for the werewolf in the forest, but he couldn’t catch him. They dug pits and set traps in the forest, but nothing helped.

Now there lived a charcoal-burner in the woods, whom the werewolf never bothered. In fact, he became friendly with him and always hung around his hut, although other men kept clear of the forest because they were so afraid of him.

One day, the king issued a proclamation that whoever would overcome the wolf and capture him, dead or alive, would marry the king’s daughter and inherit the kingdom. The king had an adviser who was unmarried, and he was very strong and heroic, and had displayed his skill and might in many tournaments.

This adviser said to the king, “Your Majesty, if you intend to keep your word, then I will undertake a quest to kill the wolf. You know that I have been tested in battle and have shown a great deal of strength always carrying the day in my fights. I take on this quest in your honour.”

The king promised he would keep his word. The adviser took his weapons and armed himself well. He belived he would kill the wolf. First he went to the charcoal-burner, who was friendly with the wolf, and said to him, “My friend, show me where the wolf’s den is or where he hunts.”

When the charcoal-burner saw that the royal adviser was intent on killing the wolf, he was deeply distressed, for he feared for the adviser’s life since he himself had almost been killed by the werewolf.

So the charcoal-burner warned the adviser, “My lord, when the wolf sees you, you will be doomed no matter how great you are.”

The adviser answered, “Never mind. just show me where the wolf is. I came here to try and kill the wolf.”

The charcoal-burner replied, “My lord, I beg you, do not go on, or you will meet an untimely death.”

The adviser commanded, “Don’t hold me up! This is what has to be.”

So the charcoal-burner offered, “Then G-d have mercy on your soul!”

He led the adviser to where the wolf was hunting. Armed with his sword and spear the adviser slowly crept toward the werewolf, thinking he would kill him as soon as he was close enough.

When the wolf saw that his life was in danger, he leaped to the side and sprang upon the adviser’s back. He forced the advisor to the ground and was about to kill him.

When the charcoal-burner saw what was happening, he chased the wolf away from the adviser, but the adviser wouldn’t stop. He still wanted to kill the wolf. The charcoal-burner wouldn’t allow it.

When the adviser tried to attack the wolf a third time, the wolf became so fierce that he wanted to tear him to shreds. The adviser pleaded with G-d to save him from the wolf. He swore he wouldn’t go after him anymore. The wolf let go, and began wagging his tail, showing acceptance. The wolf would not stay away from him, and he trotted after him the way a loyal dog trots after his master. The adviser wanted lose the wolf for he was terribly frightened, but the wolf kept following him.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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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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