Short email this week - wouldn't want to distract you from the blazing record-breaking heat.

This week, instead of a thought, I want to share a story in keeping with my 10,000 Story theory. The theory goes that a nuanced tradition is passed on through the telling of ten thousand stories, in our case Jewish tradition is taught by telling ten thousand Jewish stories.

Rabbi Chanina and the Rock (no, not that Rock)

Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa watched all the people going up to Jerusalem, taking with them fine gifts and offerings for the Temple.

How he longed to go with them, and bring some wonderful gift for G‑d. Alas, Rabbi Chanina was very poor. He had nothing he could offer to G‑d.

He wandered sadly till he was all alone in a deserted field. Suddenly he saw an interesting stone on the ground. It was very large and beautiful.

“What a splendid idea!” thought Rabbi Chanina. “I will take this stone to the Holy Temple as my gift to G‑d!”

Rabbi Chanina ran home to get his tools. He cut the stone and polished it till its colors shone beautifully.

At last it was fit to decorate the Holy Temple.

But how would he ever get it there? He looked for someone to help. He would need five strong men to carry it, and they would have to be paid. What was Rabbi Chanina to do? He barely had five gold coins as his whole life’s savings.

Suddenly five men appeared as if out of nowhere. “We will help you carry this stone,” they said. “Can you give us each one gold coin?”

That was exactly how much money Rabbi Chanina could afford.

“Yes,” he agreed at once. “I will give you that much!”

“You must also help us to carry the stone,” the men said.

As the men lifted the stone, Rabbi Chanina placed his hand under it too. It felt miraculously light. Suddenly, he found himself in Jerusalem, standing right there in the Holy Temple. “Here, I’ll pay you,” he said to the men, but they had all vanished!

Rabbi Chanina hurried to speak with the Sages who sat in the Temple. They smiled. “Those men must have been angels sent to help you!” they said. So Rabbi Chanina gave the money to poor Torah students instead and thanked G‑d for helping him.

This story teaches us many interesting lessons.

It speaks to giving gifts to G-d, it teaches about recognizing our unique abilities to see the potential beauty in what others might see as ordinary.

One of my favorite lessons from this story is what it teaches us about trying to achieve something impossible.

We must do our part. Even if there are angels waiting to carry our rock for us, we must put a hand into the effort.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Mendy & Mussy

p.s. As always, we would love to chat with you over coffee or drinks, about Judaism, or just life - reply to this email.

  Upcoming: 

The White Party - presented by Loewy Law Firm - August 25th - first batch almost sold out - price rises when it does

9/18: Mega Challah Bake

challahatx.com

📖 Read:

15 Facts You Should Know About Elijah the Prophet

🌱 Chai Society: 

Special thanks to our Chai Society members:

Yankee Andrusierׁ • Carolina Bueno • Marc Cooper • Nate Firebaugh • Paulina Flasch • Matt Ford • Sara Guccione • Ari & Sandra Hoffman • Michael Nadel • Chaim & Amanda Pollak • Daniel Speiss

Together, we’re High Energy!

Shabbat Pinchas

Light your candles at 8:13 pm

in Austin, TX

Special thanks to our Chai Society members - the monthly giving circle.

Follow us on social media: Twitter | Facebook| Instagram

Support Chabad YJP's mission to build community and curate epic experiences for young Jews in Austin! yjpaustin.org/donate