The Traveler, His Gold and the Rabbi’s Men
A wealthy commercial traveler was about to set out yet again, but this time for three months. “Rabbi,” he implores, “please can you safeguard my gold?” “Wait,” replies the rabbi and he returns with two men. “These are my amanuenses. Show me the gold in front of them as holy witnesses and return at any time to retrieve your cherished property.” They end the little ceremony with a schnapps.
Three months later, the traveler returns home. “Rabbi,” he says, “with great gratitude I thank your eminence for safeguarding my gold while I was away. I traveled successfully with an easy heart and I am happy that I can say I will endow the temple in the new year.”
“That’s very nice to hear. But what gold are you talking about?”
“What gold? The gold your two helpers witnessed as I delivered it into your hands for safekeeping!”
“Wait here.” The rabbi returns with his two secretaries in tow.
“I ask you both,” says the rabbi, “with the utmost seriousness and gravity: did this man three months ago give me gold to safeguard?”
Both men shake their heads and say, “No!”
The traveler is stunned. The rabbi dismisses the two men and when they have left the room, the rabbi goes over to a cabinet, unlocks it and takes from it the bag of gold, which he places into the hands of the now crying traveler.
“Count it!”
The traveler does. “It is all here. But, rabbi, why, WHY?”
“I just wanted you to see the kind of people I have to deal with.”