Part I The Betrothal and Concern

In the days of the MaHaRaL (Rabbi Loew ben Bezalel) of Prague, a very wealthy merchant lived in that community. He had a son who was a prodigy as a student, and when he was only twelve years old, he was one of the outstanding pupils of the rabbi, who treated him like a son. Now among the foreign merchants who did business with this wealthy man there were two who always purchased large quantities of goods through him and enabled him to make much profit. When they came to do their business, they entertained themselves with this bright boy as long as they were in the city, and from time to time they gave him gifts because his answers so pleased them; and his father paid no attention to this.

Once when they were at ease with the wealthy merchant and were on very friendly terms with the boy, one of the two magnates asked the merchant whether he would be prepared to entertain a pleasant hope and would consider an excellent match for his son with the daughter of a very wealthy person. She was his only child and she was outstanding in looks, behavior and wisdom. Since her father had no other child, she would inherit all his wealth and property; and who will share all these treasures if not the son of the proud merchant if only he wedded her.

The merchant set out to make inquiries about this wealthy man with only one daughter, and people told him that indeed he had gold and riches. He also learned that the foreign longed to wed his daughter to a man who devoted himself to the Torah and holy study. Yet not all this quieted his mind; he sought the counsel of the holy MaHaRaL of Prague who taught his son. The rabbi spoke in favor of the match, saying that it would be a fit and proper one for him to make.

When he returned home, the two merchants asked him whether he had made all due inquiries. He answered what was on his mind. Then one of the merchants went on: “In that case, you should know that I myself am the very person whose praises from afar resounded in your ears.” Without any delay, the two wealthy merchants went together with the boy’s father to the great rabbi, with whom the prospective bridegroom was studying. They shook hands and agreed on a marriage, as was the custom. They wrote an engagement contract and happily wished one another “Mazal Tov! Good luck), Mazal Tov” They made a feast and there was great rejoicing. The bridegroom delivered a beautifully reasoned dvar Torah – a Torah lesson.

The two wealthy merchants agreed to stay a few days longer, entertaining themselves with the bridegroom. When their time came to depart, they requested his father to send the boy with them so that he could also be introduced to the bride and her mother. He was reluctant to do so. He was anxious to send his beloved son such a great distance away from him before the wedding. The merchants strongly encouraged him, and the bride’s father, begged him to do this for the sake of his wife and only daughter, in order that they might see this precious choice with their own eyes. He could not harden his heart any more, and he went to ask the advice of the rabbi, who also agreed that the bridegroom might be sent there and stay until he was thirteen years old. So the bridegroom’s father consented and gave them his son, and they parted in peace.

The men set out on their way and brought the boy to a distant land where there was a big tower. They conducted him through all the rooms, and each of them was more splendid than the other. He went all over the tower and could see no people, especially neither the bride nor her mother. He had imagined that the rabbi and the leaders of the city would come to meet him and debate with him in Torah, but nothing happened. The door of the castle was locked, and no one appeared except the man who said he was the father of the bride. He visited and conversed with the boy two or three times a day.

At long last, the boy could not restrain himself and asked him, “Why is it that I do not see anybody or anything in the house?” Then the man took him by the hand and led him through one room after another until they came to a small room that was very brightly lit up and was full of ancient books and the works of early and recent authorities. “What more do you want, my son?” he asked. “Here are precious books. Study whatever you wish as much as you desire.”

Now let us pause a while and turn from what befell this darling youth and tell of the distress of his father. The father his only son so greatly and found in him the desire of all his soul and the life of his spirit. Every day he would wait to receive a letter from his beloved son, but none came. Weeks turned to months and his hopes were futile, for neither letter nor message came from his son. He raised his eyes aloft and wept bitterly countless times before the rabbi, who put heart into him and gave him ample hope, saying that all was well with the child. In spite of the rabbi’s assurances, the father could not calm himself and was torn with grief. Many people who knew the father were outraged and in their hearts complained about the rabbi, because he had agreed to it all.

Indeed, the grief and heartbreak of the father and mother are beyond description. They looked miserable, they could not sleep, and they cried constantly. The rabbi could not rest either; he prayed and entreated the Holy One, blessed be He all the time and grew restless with his effort. He was very angry with himself for having made such an error, and he shook the very foundations of the heavens with fasting, weeping and prayer.

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