Happy Hanukkah 2019
Modified from a traditional Hasidic tale from Chelm by Jordan
Told my Jordan Michels
(Click to play)
Long ago, or maybe now, there was town called Chelm. It is said to be in Eastern Poland, but I’ve been to Poland and I couldn’t find it. I’ve never met anyone from Chelm, or even anyone who claims they’ve been there. But I did meet someone once who said they once knew someone who said they had been there.
Yet, Chelm is special. Not only because it is full of astoundingly wise people (because, really, wise guys and gals are everywhere). No, what really makes Chelm special is stories like this one.
There is a miraculous vision in this story, although it is not the miracles that make this story so special. This story has true love in it, although It’s not love that makes this story stand out. No, it ordinary people finding inspiration and meaning in ordinary life that makes the stories of Chelm worth telling.
On the edge of Chelm, beside the road that leads out into the world and back again, stands a large, rambling wooden building. Hanging from a pine post is a sign so faded it can only be read if you squint your eyes just so, and then only if you already know what it says, The Inn of the Two Brothers. But the people of Chelm have a different name from this. You’re probably wondering what and why. Listen and you will learn.
Avram and Reuven were the two brothers. They wanted to be rich.
“You know Reuven, It’s not so much that I want to be rich? I’m just tired of being poor!”
Like many poor dreamers, Avram and Reuven spent most of the time thinking up get rich quick schemes and very little time actually working. So, they remained poor.
For example, one day while enjoying a bagel Reuven exclaimed, “Everyone loves bagels. We could start a bagel business.”
But Avram knew how much work making bagels invoved. “There are already three good bagel bakers in Chelm. It’s out of the question!”
Reuven persisted… “I know! Every Bagel needs holes for the middle. Otherwise it is just a roll. Maybe, we could supply holes to all the bagel bakers of Chelm.”
Avram agreed, “That, brother, is great idea.”
But try as they might they could not procure a single source for bagel holes.
But I digress. It is another scheme all together that I want to share with you tonight.
One cold Sabbath as winter approached the brothers sat in Shul. They appered to be dozing as usual, but when asked, Avram always said, “I am deep in prayer.” Rav Shimon giving his D’rasha. The brothers stirred when when the Rebbe began speaking of their favorite holiday.
“Hanukkah is celebrated at the time of year when the days are short and the nights are long. But Hanukkah wants, not only the shortest days, it waits for the darkest nights. Tonight is the full moon. But the middle of Hanukah is always at Rosh Chodesh, the head of the month, the new moon.
Hanukkah tests our faith in the return of light; that the moon will return and again fill the night sky with its magical glow; that we may again walk the streets in safety, security and beauty. At Hanukah we renew our faith that spring and summer will come; that the ice will melt and that the water and Earth will warm; that the plants will grow, and another harvest will follow. Mostly Hanukkah is a testament and celebration of our faith that Shalom, peace and harmony, will come to our people, to our country and to the world.”
Well, this talk inspired Avram; not so much about light and peace, but more about money. By that afternoon, while enjoying a bagel, an idea hatched.
“What if we could influence the moon? People would pay a lot of money to make sure the Moon would return after Hanukkah begins.”
Reuven was skeptical, “How can we control the moon?”
“Reuven you are right; we will need to steal it.”
“Yes! Brilliant! People will come from all over to rent our moon.”
Avram added, “Rooms will be in great demand. The people could stay at the inn. We could double our prices.”
Reuven wondered, “But, how can we catch the moon?”
Not to be so easily thwarted Avram said, “The moon can’t be all that high. We’ll use ladders. You can climb up and grab it.”
“Me?”
Avram was ready, “Well, you can’t expect me to climb the ladder with my bad knee can you?”
So, that very evening the brothers tied their three rickety ladders together and leaned them up against the inn. Reuven climbed to the roof. From the roof he pulled on the ladder. From the ground Avram pushed on the ladder, and finally the ladder was on the roof.
Reuven dragged the ladder to the highest peak and propped it up on the chimney. And there he sat and waited for the moon to rise and position itself high up by the top of the ladder. He carefully climbed to the top and reached to grab the moon.
“I can’t feel anything! Only the wind. If I could just get a bit higher. Let me get up on the very last rung. Still Nothing! I’ll just get up on my tippy toes and reach a bit further. Still nothing!”
Then it happened. Reuven lost his balance and fell on to the roof. He rolled down to the edge of the roof where he teetered for just a moment before rolling off the roof.
As he fell time seemed to stop and images flashed before his eyes. First he saw a bagel. He thought this was odd, but then, he had missed his dinner in all the excitement. The loop of the bagel went around and around like an eternity. He thought of his life, an endless chain of cause and effect. Then he thought of all time going back to the creation, all leading to this very point in time.
Then his eyes were drawn to the center of the bagel and his whole vision was the bagel hole, darkness and emptiness, and he thought of the great void, from which all creation emanates.
A light filled the void and slowly took on the appearance of a gold coin. Reuven thought of how rich they would become of just one of there schemes were to succeed. But then he understood that true wealth come from the Eternal One. That all sustainance and abundance is a gift from God and all will return to God.
And then the light brightened and the vision was of a great full moon.
Then thump, he hit the ground. But the thump was more of splash. Luckily, a big puddle from the rains a couple days before slowed his fall. There the stunned Reuven lie in the puddle.
“Oy vey Gevalt. Baruch Hashem, I don’t think I broke anything. But there must be a better way to catch the moon.”
As he lie there stunned from the fall he wondered about the meaning of the strange visions he saw during his fall. The last vision of the moon still filled his mind. “But wait, it’s not just in my mind. There it is.” The moon was bright in his eyes. Suddenly he realized the moon was there in the puddle.
“Hmm. The moon loves to refresh itself in the water on its journey across the sky. It always stops at the lake and the ponds and puddles for a refreshing drink.” Suddenly, an idea took shape.
The very next day the brothers stopped at Shmuel the barrel maker’s shop.
“Shmuel, we need your strongest oak barrel with a solid tight lid.”
After a bit of haggling they purchased a lightly used barrel at wholesale on credit.
They brought it home and set it out under the sky. They filled it with water and waited for dark.
Avram instructed Reuven, “When the moon is just a little higher wait it for it to dip in to the barrel and trap it with the lid.”
Reuven stood by anxiously holding the lid at the ready. When the image of full round moon appeared in the still barrel Avram shouted, “Now!”
“I got it! I got it! Give me the hammer and nails. There, that should hold it!”
Avram said, “Well done. Let’s move the barrel into the barn and hide it with blankets.”
And so they did.
As the moon of Kislev waned the brothers began to spread the word that the Moon might not be coming back after Hanukkah.
“Word on the street has it that the moon may be indefinitely detained. Fortunately, we have connections and for a small fee we might be able to make an arrangement with the moon. We truly wish it didn’t have to be this way; but it is what it is, if you know what I mean”
The town’s folk thought the Brothers had lost their minds and paid little heed.
Reuven felt it first. “I’m a little worried that no one has come to rent the moon. Maybe we should tell them that we know the moon won’t come back because we are holding it captive.”
Avram thought such directness might upset a few people. “Perhaps, a better approach is just to sell the idea. Maybe a nice brochure and a photo would help. But first we better check to make sure the moon is well get a shoot a few photos of it. Grab a crowbar and I’ll get the camera and let’s take a look.”
The brothers went into the barn and lifted off the blankets. With great effort they loosened the lid of the barrel and slowly pried it open.
Reuven shouted “I don’t see it! Maybe the moon swam to the bottom.”
Avram thought for a minute. “Let’s pour the water out and we will uncover it.” Slowly they tipped the barrel and poured a little water out at a time. In a few minutes the barrel was empty.
Reuven shouted, “The Moon is gone! Maybe it escaped.”
Avram said, “With all those nails, impossible. It must have been stolen! Let’s put out signs offering a reward for the return of our moon.”
When the wise people of Chelm saw the signs they realized what the brother’s plan had been.
And that is how the Inn of the Two Brothers became known as the Inn of the Stolen Moon. But it was only meant as a joke. They knew the moon had not been stolen. More than this, in their great wisdom they knew it would take more than Avram and Reuven’s schemes, in fact, it would take more wisdom than existed in all of Chelm and beyond to stop their moon from returning each month.
And whenever this story is told to open hearted wise people like you, the faith of the world grows; that the moon light will return; that spring and warmth will again come; that there will be food next year; and that most important of all, Shalom will someday fill the world.