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Rabbi Amnon’s Prayer

Everyone knew that Rabbi Amnon was a wise and kind man. Even the duke enjoyed talking with him. “Amnon,” he would say, “it's a pity that you are a Jew and cannot go to Heaven.”

“You know, my lord,” Rabbi Amnon would answer, “Jews believe that God rewards all good people.” The answer only angered the duke. “Amnon,”  he finally exploded, “convert now or die!”

“Give me three days to decide,” Rabbi Amnon begged. The duke agreed, thinking that he would finally listen. After three days, though, Rabbi Amnon did not return. Finally soldiers were sent to arrest him.

“Why didn’t you bring me your answer?” the duke raged.

“I was wrong,” Rabbi Amnon sighed,  “I should have said: Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Ehad (Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One). For that, I must be punished...”

“And punish you I shall,” cried the duke. After hours of torture at the hands of the duke’s soldiers, Rabbi Amnon was brought to the synagogue, crippled and dying. It was Rosh HaShana, and the congregation was about to recite the Kedusha.
“Please,” he gasped, “open the ark so that I can say one last prayer.” The people gathered around to listen. “U’netane tokefY” Rabbi Amnon finished his prayer and died, but his prayer has become part of the Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur service.

Rabbi Amnon’s Prayer – U’Netane Tokef

On Rosh HaShana it is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed: how many shall pass away and how many shall be created; who shall live and who shall die; who at his appointed time and who before it; who by fire and who by water; who by the sword and who by wild beasts; who from hunger and who from thirst; who by earthquake and who by plague; who by strangling and who by stoning; who shall rest and who shall wander; who will be tranquil and who harassed; who will be at ease and who afflicted; who will become poor and who rich; who will be brought down and who raised up. But teshuva, tefilla and tzedaka will prevent the evil decree.

A Tale of Two Brothers

A long time ago, on a lonely mountain, lived an old man and his two sons. Even though the boys were forever arguing, they loved their father very much and would never do anything to hurt him. They didn’t want him to know that they always quarreled. When their father died, their arguments just got worse, until finally they decided to divide their property down the middle.

The older son was already married and had many children who helped him in the fields. He soon became very wealthy. His brother never married and had a hard time making a living as a farmer. Without his father and brother to help him, he became poor, though he always had enough to eat.

One night, the older brother couldn’t sleep. “My brother and I have argued so much, but still, he is my brother, and my father would have wanted me to help him. I hear that he’s become poor. I have more than enough grain here to feed my family. Why don’t I take some over to my brother. I won’t tell him it’s from me. I’ll do it when nobody is watching. That way, he’ll never know where the grain came from.”

That same night, the younger brother also couldn’t fall asleep. “My brother and I never really got along, but still, he’s my brother and my father would have wanted me to help him. He has such a big family, he can’t possibly have enough to feed them all. I don’t have very much grain, but I certainly have more than enough for myself. Why don’t I take some over to my brother. I won’t tell him it’s from me. I’ll do it when nobody is watching. That way, he’ll never know where the grain came from.”

When the brothers woke up the next morning, they were surprised to find that they had exactly the same amount of grain as they did the day before. They both decided to bring more grain to each other the next night, and the next night, and the next night. No matter how much grain they would bring each other, the next day they always had the exact same amount as before.

One night as both brothers were coming to the fence they saw each other carrying a bag of grain. They immediately understood what had been happening every night. Without saying anything, they each dropped their grain and ran to the fence. They hugged each other and apologized for all their years of fighting.

People say that when God saw what happened, he decided that one day he would build his home, the Temple, there. And in His home He would forgive people’s sins, just like the brothers forgave each other.