Sometime All You Have to Do is Ask for Help
2002 Boaz Rauchwerger
Once in a while a story comes along that illustrates an important life lesson in a very simple and profound manner. When I was a little boy, growing up in Israel, my family wasn't very religious. However, I grew up with a strong spiritual foundation.
Now, as an adult, I go to services at a synagogue once in a while. It seems to tie my soul back to my roots. One Friday evening, the Rabbi told the following story and it taught me a lesson I shall never forget.
The very religious Jews refer to their Rabbis as Rebbes. They are held in very high esteem and usually have a group of young men that they are mentoring in the teachings of the Holy Books, the Torah.
This story takes place in a small village in a European countryside a long time ago. It was a Friday afternoon as a Rebbe was concluding a biblical lesson for a small group of his students. He then instructed them that they must walk to a nearby village. They didn't question their leader and they all started walking.
A while later they came to the outskirts of another village. There was a dilapidated shack by the side of the road. The Rebbe knocked on the door. A poorly dressed man answered and, as he recognized the Rebbe, he said, "To what do I owe this honor that you would knock on my door?"
The Rebbe responded by saying, "We've come for Sabbath dinner." The man ashamedly related that he was very poor and that he had very little to offer his guests. Behind him could be seen a woman, apparently his wife, holding a baby.
The Rebbe walked into the shack and said, "That's all right. Whatever you have will be fine." The man put a loaf of bread and a jug of milk on the table as the Rebbe and his followers sat down. The cupboard doors were open and there was nothing inside.
The Rebbe instructed his followers to eat of the bread and drink the milk. Seeing that this was all that the family had, the followers refused. Since they weren't partaking, the Rebbe went ahead, eating the bread and drinking the milk.
He then asked the man for some blankets so that he and his followers could sleep on the floor for the night. The baby, hungry for the milk that was now gone, could be heard crying itself to sleep.
In the morning, the Rebbe told the man that he would like for him to prepare a festive Sabbath lunch for himself and his followers. "I don't have anything, said the man." At which the Rebbe responded, "That's all right. We're going to go outside and pray. I'm sure you'll think of something."
Trying to be respectful to the religious leader, the man went into the village and sold his shack so he could get the money to pay for the lunch. There was plenty of food on the table that noontime. The Rebbe and his followers happily consumed everything. There was nothing left for the man, his wife and the baby. After lunch, the Rebbe thanked the man for his wonderful hospitality and he and his followers left.
The man was dumbfounded. The next morning he and his family would have to move because he had sold his shack to make the lunch. Distraught, he went outside and dropped to his knees below a large oak tree. He spoke openly to God, stating that he had never been very religious, that he didn't know what to do, and that he needed help.
Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around he saw an old woman, dressed in rags. She lived in the hills and frightened most of the people in the village when she came around. He had always been kind to her when he saw her.
She said, "Follow me." Confused, he asked, "Why?" She insisted, "Just follow me." He did and she led him up into the hills. They came to a cave and he followed her inside. This was where she lived. She pointed to a rock and asked him to lift it. He was then told to lift a chest out of a hole in the ground and to open it. It was full of gold, silver and diamonds. The man was shocked by the contents of the chest. She then instructed him to put it back in the ground and to cover it with the rock. She told him that she had left word in the village that, if anything ever happened to her, he was to receive the treasure chest.
"To what do I owe this?" he asked. "It doesn't matter," she said, "just go back home." He went back home and that night he and his family went to sleep knowing they would have to find another place to stay the next day.
The following morning there was news in the village. The old woman had died. The man inherited the treasure chest and became the richest man in town. A few weeks later, now living in a grand home with servants, the man traveled in a wonderful carriage to the village of the Rebbe.
Finding the Rebbe, he told him about the old woman and the treasure. He asked the Rebbe for some clarification. The Rebbe said, "It's really quite simple. In difficult moments, all God wants us to do is to simply ask for help."
A Daily Affirmation of Assistance
When I need help, I ask for it. When others ask, I respond.
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