There was a woman who cautioned her reckless daughter, saying: “If you act shamelessly, do so only in secret in order that your husband should never know it, just as I myself did. For I have ten children, of whom only one is your father’s.”

Her husband heard her as she spoke to her daughter and kept his anger and pain to himself. He determined to remain quiet but remembered every word his faithless wife had said.

At his death he willed that all his wealth and property should be given only to one of his children, but he did not state to which, for he did not know which one was his own child.

After his death, all ten of his children began to argue with one another. One said: “The property is mine!” While others said: “All the wealth is mine” So they came to Rabbi Bana’ah to judge between them as to who was heir to the wealth and property left by the father. He listened and instructed the ten sons: “Do what I tell you, for this is a matter which no man can properly judge. Go to your father’s grave and fling stones and beat it until he reveals which of you it was to whom he was leaving his wealth and property.”

When they heard this, nine of them went and began beating the grave with sticks. One man who really was his son said: “Heaven forbid that I should strike at my father! Far better for me to lose the all the property and wealth than shame my father.” The young man continued, We are taught, ‘Honor your father and your mother, as the L-rd your G-d has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you’ (Deuteronomy 5:16).” When Rabbi Bana’ah, the judge, saw this, he awarded him the all the wealth and property.

So consider how this accorded with the words of Job (24:15): “And the eye of the adulterer watches for night, saying, No eye shall see me; and in secret he sets his face.” One who dwells in secret sets an end to the thing, so that it is revealed in the future. Therefore let your children be taught about modesty and purity.

Based on Bava Basra 58a

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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