Parables play a very important role in Jewish literature. Many Torah concepts have been made simple
by our sages through the medium of parables. A parable transforms an idea from the abstract to reality. That is why the Midrash constantly uses parables to explain the Torah.
The following parable, by the Magid of Dubna, gives us food for thought at this time of the year, as we take stock of our accomplishments of the year, 5772, and make resolutions for the New Year, 5773.
A poor man sat by the ocean, thinking of his family's sad plight. A ship arrived at the dock and many jubilant sailors descended from the ship. He inquired about their excitement. In reply, one of the sailors pulled out of his pocket a handful of precious stones. "We found an island where diamonds and precious stones were strewn all over the place. Each of us collected as
many diamonds as we could. This is why we are so happy."
"Please tell me how to get there!" the poor man begged. The sailor described to him the exact location of this wonderful island. The poor man ran home, sold everything he had, and bought a ticket to the island. He bade his family farewell, hoping to return one day with great wealth.
After much hardship on the ocean he finally arrived at the island. Indeed, the island was full of diamonds. He decided to buy a big boat, fill it with diamonds and return home a very wealthy man.
He filled his pockets with diamonds and tried to pay for the boat with them. "We have so many of these stones," the people laughed. "These have no value here," he was told. But, someone advised him, "There is a certain fish that is a delicacy to the inhabitants of the island. If you catch enough of this fish you will be able to save enough money to buy a boat.
So, he went about catching this fish. He mastered the art of fishing and developed a very successful business.
After many years, he remembered that he left a wife and children back home. He decided it was time to go home. He now had enough money to buy a ship.
However, after so many years he forgot the reason for his original travel to the island. He too, like everyone else on the island, forgot the value of diamonds and regarded them as cheap stones. To him, the fish which made him wealthy was the most valuable commodity he could think of. He loaded the ship with fish and set sail back home.
After weeks on the ocean he finally made it home. He docked the ship and ran as fast as he could to his family whom he has not seen for so many years. His wife and children were so happy to see him. He told them how wealthy they will now be, for he brought with him something so valuable that they will now be rich.
Anxiously they all went to see the boat full of this precious commodity. But when they came to the ship, a terrible stench of rotten fish greeted them. "This is your wealth?" they asked bitterly. "To bring back some rotten fish you spent all these years on the Island?"
In great embarrassment and frustration, he realized how he wasted his time and effort all these years.
Then, reaching into his pocket, he found a diamond which he had completely forgotten about.
"Wow! this is a precious diamond!" they all exclaimed. "Did you bring any more of these?" they asked. He searched his pockets and found a few more precious stones.
With the few diamonds that he brought, his family was able to live a comfortable life. His great regret now was why he forgot the purpose of his journey to the Island. How could he have forgotten what true value was? Had he remembered, he would have brought back a ship loaded with diamonds.
Similarly, our soul comes to this world to "collect diamonds" -- in the form of mitzvot and good deeds. In fact, the scriptures tell us that Torah and mitzvot are even more precious than diamonds.
Unfortunately, we forget the purpose of our mission in this world. We forget what true wealth is. Instead, we become influenced by our environment of material possessions and lose track of our true mission.
In the World-to-Come, monetary wealth and financial success have no value.
Instead, we are asked, "How did you use your wealth? Where are the true diamonds - the mitzvot and good deeds that you accomplished?"
Like the poor man who wasted his time gathering fish instead of diamonds, we too, must make sure that we do not miss the great opportunity in this world to acquire more and more mitzvot.
As we usher in the New Year, it is worthwhile to reflect on our true mission in life.
We must remember that each good deed we accomplish, every time we study Torah and each act of charity we do, we are collecting diamonds for which the reward is enormous and everlasting!
