A Rabbi's Lesson

This short story, from A Treasury of Jewish Inspirational Stories by Lawrence J. Epstein, was shared at Temple Beit Torah about a month ago. In my opinion, this short thought sums up so much of what it means to be Jewish.

A Rabbi's Lesson

A rabbi was trying to call a well-to-do congregant, someone who was always too busy when the rabbi called. The rabbi driven to desperate measures, finally left a message with the congregant's secretary, saying, "Please call me. A mutual relative of ours has died and has left us a large inheritance." Naturally, almost as soon as the message was left, the congregant excitedly returned the call, wanting to know the details.

The rabbi calming replied that the relative was Moses and that the large inheritance that had been left was the Ten Commandments. The rabbi wanted to know if the congregant truly wished to share in that inheritance. The congregant, surprised, understood what the rabbi was doing and agreed that, indeed, the Ten Commandments was his inheritance.