There once lived a holy man who was very poor in a small shack in the forest.  There was not a morsel of food, firewood, or a drop of oil to be found in the holy man’s shack. He prayed and studied the holy words day and night. When it grew dark, he would recite his prayers and lessons by heart in soft, reverent words.

One midnight, while wrapped in study and prayer, he suddenly noticed a light coming from a hole in the wall. As he moved closer, the light bright­ened. He got up from his little cot, went close to the wall, and he found a large precious stone, glowing with light which flooded the room. The good man did not understand where it had come from or to whom it belonged, and he was greatly surprised.

That night he dreamed that Eliyahu haNovi (Elijah the Prophet), who it is always good to remember, ap­peared and said: “There are two ways before you. Either the stone which you found may remain in your possession, and you and your family will be­come very wealthy; or you may leave it where it is, and the Holy One blessed be He will grant you children and grandchildren who will be devoted to the Torah, and whose wisdom will enlighten all mankind.” The holy man, without hesitation answered: “Neither gold nor silver nor precious stones shall be my portion, but the Torah revealed and hidden, which I dearly love.”

And he awakened from his sleep and saw streams of light issuing from the hole, and when he came near to it, the precious stone was no longer there.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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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

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