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(Interesting note: This year is Shmitta, and after reading and discussing this story it would be nice to point out that even though G-d told us not to plant during the seventh year, He doesn't expect us to starve! He promised thousands of years ago that if we keep Shmitta, in the sixth year of the cycle, we'd get triple the produce: enough for the sixth, seventh and eighth years. I recently asked some farmers up in the Golan, (not even religious ones!) and they told me that they had an incredible harvest this past year. And this despite the fact that it was technically a drought last winter! Strange, but true: G-d's still keeping his promises, as long as we hold up our end of the bargain!)
The story comes in two parts: you can give it out as pre-reading, then reading, and have a post-reading discussion as well.
“The days went by and the Royal Treasurer could not understand what the King had done. Being a curious kind of fellow, it really bothered him. He was afraid to ask the King, lest he become angry with him, but finally, his curiosity got the better of him. On that morning, he asked the King:
Pre-reading for weaker readers:
Discussion:
The days passed. The Royal Treasurer could not understand what the King did. He was very, very curious, but he was afraid to ask the King. He didn't want the King to be angry.
Here's a nice lesson idea for Tu B'Shvat: a “food for thought” idea, a short brainstorming session, a parable and a discussion afterwards. It's not about trees per se, but about the unusual connection G-d has with Jewish people and the land of Israel. There are two versions here: one for higher level readers, and a simplified, glossed one for weaker readers. The story is sure to provoke a lively discussion and it has a good moral.
A rather nasty goy (gentile), was once taunting an Israeli Jew.
Discussion: Do you think the goy has a good point? If Hashem really loves us so much, then why didn't he make us a rich country?
“You think you guys are the 'chosen people', don't you? What a joke! Don't you realize that your whole country is one big worthless rock?”
“How can you say that?” asked the Jew indignantly.
“Because it is! You have no natural resources: no oil, jewels, minerals, or anything valuable at all! 'Chosen people' indeed! Do you realize that if G-d had told Abraham to look to the right instead of to the left when He was giving him his country, you'd have gotten maybe Saudi Arabia? Just think of all the oil you'd have had! You'd be rich!
Instead, you're a poor, little country. You don't even have enough water: you have only tiny Lake Kinneret, and every year you have to pray that it will rain enough to water your crops! You guys are pathetic!” (îñëðéí)
Story continued
The Jew listened to the goy's taunting, a small smile playing on his lips. “Nu, you've got a point,” he told the goy. “But there's another way to look at the situation. Let me tell you a little story.
There was once a rich and powerful King who had two sons. The elder son was rather a rotter: lazy, disrespectful, and spoiled. He was always fighting with people, and couldn't hold down a job. He never married, and lived by sponging off of his father.
The younger son was a doll: pleasant to be with, helpful, responsible and industrious. He had a good job, he had married, and had already presented the proud King with two lovely grandchildren.
The two sons lived far away, but had come home to the palace to spend a long weekend with the King and Queen. At last, it was time to go, and the sons came separately to the throne room to bid their father good-bye.
The elder son said “good-bye” and then said to his father 'Can you give me $5,000? I'm a bit short this month.' The king didn't say anything to his son, but turned to his Royal Treasurer. 'Write down his request,' he said, and he bid his son farewell.
Soon the younger son came with his wife and children and they kissed the King good-bye. The King hugged his son and waited.
'Thanks so much for everything, Dad. And, uh, Dad', he said, blushing, 'I need some money, please. Our washing machine broke down last week and we had to buy a new one. And the children need new clothes and shoes for the winter. A thousand dollars right now would help us very much.'
The King turned to his Royal Treasurer. 'Write that down,' he said and bid his son farewell.
After everyone had left, the King turned to his Royal Treasurer.
'My elder son asked me for $5,000: take from the royal treasury $10,000 and give it to him. My younger son needs $1000: run and give him $500.! Be quick! They're both leaving the palace now!'
'B—but, sire!' the Royal Treasurer tried to argue.
'Don't argue! Just do as I say!' commanded the King. And the puzzled Royal Treasurer ran to carry out his orders.”
Discussion: What was the difference between how the older son asked for money and how the younger son asked? Why was the Royal Treasurer puzzled? Why do you think the King did what he did? (After talking it over, give out the conclusion.)
Story cont'd: Conclusion
'Sire, could I ask His Majesty a question?'
The King happened to be in rather a good mood that day. 'Certainly. What would you like to know?'
'I am most puzzled about the gifts you gave your two sons on their last visit.'
'Why, what is so puzzling?' asked the King, with a twinkle in his eye.
'I know you're disappointed in your elder son: yet you gave him $10,000: double what he asked for! And I know you adore your younger son, and he asked for so little, and yet you gave him only half of what he wanted! Why did you do that?'
The King sighed.
'I'll tell you, since you really want to know. You see, my elder son causes me great pain. Whenever he comes to visit, he reminds me how disappointing he is: lazy, irresponsible and selfish. I know he only comes to visit when he wants money from me, and that's why I gave him double what he asked. This way, he won't come back so soon to ask me for more!
But my younger son! It's so wonderful when he comes. I get such pleasure from him! I know he's so busy that he can't visit more often, so that's why I gave him only half of what he wanted. That way, he'll have to come to visit me again sometime soon, to ask for more!'”
Discussion:
What's the message of the story? How does it tie into what kind of country G-d gave us, His “chosen people”? (G-d loves us more than any other nation, and He wants to hear from us all the time. But He knows us very well: He knows that we rarely think about Him unless we really need him! So He gave us a country with no natural resources: we are completely dependent on Him for everything: even for water. Unlike most countries in the world, every single winter we have to beg him, “Please, send us rain!” This “reminds” us to “keep in touch!” (And during Shmitta, we're reminded even more of our dependence on Him!)
And that's why we're not “Saudi Arabia”: Hashem wants to hear from us-- as often as possible!
A not-nice goy was laughing at a Jew from Israel.
“You think you're the 'chosen people', don't you? What a joke! Your whole country of Israel is one big worthless ((çñø òøê rock!”
“That's not true!” cried the Jew.
“It is true! Israel has nothing! You have no oil, (, (ðôèno jewels, no minerals, no gas! You have nothing at all! 'Chosen people, indeed!' G-d gave everything to the Arabs! Think! If Hashem had told Avrohom to look to the right instead of to the left when He was giving you your country, you'd have gotten Saudi Arabia instead of Israel! You'd have all that oil! You'd be rich!
Instead, you're a poor little country. You don't even have enough water:
you have only tiny Lake Kinneret. Every year you have to pray you'll get enough rain. You guys are pathetic! (îñëéðéí) And he laughed again.
The Jew listened to the goy, and he smiled. “Nu, he said, “you've got a point. But let me tell you a little story.
There was once a rich and powerful King. He had two sons.
The elder son was not nice at all. He was lazy, disrespectful (çñø ðéîåñ, (çåöôï and spoiled. He was always fighting with people and he had no job. He never married, and he lived by taking money from his father.
The younger son was a doll. He was nice to everybody, and he worked hard at a good job. He was married, and gave the King two beautiful grandchildren.
The two sons lived far away. One weekend they came home to visit the King and Queen. At last, it was time to go.
The elder son came to his father and said, 'Good-bye, Dad. I'm going home. Can you give me $5000? I don't have any money.'
The King didn't say anything to his son, but turned to his Royal Treasurer. (âæáø ùì äîìê) 'Write down what my son asked for,' he said, and he told his son good-bye.
Soon the younger son came with his wife and children, and they kissed the King good-bye.
'Thanks so much for everything, Dad! And, uh, Dad', he said, blushing, (îñîé÷) 'I need some money, please. Our car broke down and we had to fix it. $1000 would help us very much.'
The King turned to his Royal Treasurer. 'Write that down,' he told him. Then he said good-bye to his son.
After they had all left, the King turned to his Royal Treasurer.
'My elder son asked me for $5,000: give him $10,000. My younger son needs $1000: run and give him $500! Be quick!'
'B—but, sire!' the Royal Treasurer tried to argue.
'Don't argue! Just do as I say!' commanded the King. And the puzzled (ðáåê îçåñø äáðä) Royal Treasurer ran to do what the King said.”
Story cont'd: Ending:
One day, the King was in a good mood. 'I'll ask him today,' thought the Royal Treasurer.
'Sire, could I ask the King a question?'
'OK. What do you want to know?'
'I am most puzzled about the money you gave your two sons.'
'Why?'
'I know you don't like your elder son; but you gave him $10,000, double (ëôåì) what he asked for. And I know you love your younger son, and he asked for so little. But you gave him only half of what he wanted! Why??!
The King sighed. (ðàðç)
'I'll tell you. My elder son makes me very unhappy. When he comes to visit, I remember how bad he is. He is lazy and spoiled and disrespectful. He only visits when he wants money. That's why I gave him double! This way, he won't come back so soon to ask me for more!
But my younger son! I love him so much! I know that he's always so busy that he can't visit more often. That's why I gave him only half of what he wanted. That way, he'll have to come to visit me again soon, to ask for more!
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