By Rabbi Elimelech Biderman
A parable is told about a very poor person who couldn’t eke out a living; whatever he tried failed. He decided to visit the sar hamazalos (the angel appointed over mazel) to ask him what he should do to find his mazal.
As he was walking to the sar hamazalos (the angel of good fortune), he saw a beautiful, large tree, but the tree had no fruits on it.
Ask the Sar Why I Can’t Grow Fruit
The tree said, “When you talk with the sar hamazalos, mention me as well. Ask him why I have such a bad mazal, and can't grow fruit.”
“No problem,” the man replied. “When I meet with the sar hamazalos, I'll ask him.”
The man walked further and met a princess who was banished from her palace. She also requested, “When you meet with the sar hamazalos, ask him why my mazal is to be cast out of the castle. Ask him what I should do to return to my greatness.”
“I will do that” the man replied, and he walked further. He met a lion. It was lying on the ground, ill and in pain. The lion said, “When you meet the sar hamazalos, ask him what I can do to cure myself.”
“I will do so,” the man promised, and he went to the sar hamazalos.
Returned with Answers for the Trio
When he returned, he had answers for the trio. He saw the tree and said, “The sar hamazalos told me that there’s a box filled with gold and diamonds near your roots, and that is blocking the nutrients in the ground from reaching your branches. When someone will dig up the treasure, you will bear fruit.”
The tree pleaded, “Please dig up the treasure. You will become wealthy and I will be cured."
“No! No!” the man said. “I don’t have time for that. I am too busy looking for my mazal.”
He walked further and found the princess. “I spoke with the sar hamazalos. He said that you will return to your greatness when you marry. Your husband will be the king and you will be the queen.”
The princess pleaded, “Please marry me. I will return to the palace, and you will become the king and very wealthy...”
“I’m really sorry,” the man replied, “But I am too busy for that. I need to find my mazal.”
Then he met the lion. “Did the sar hamazalos tell you what I should do to be cured?” the lion asked.
“Yes he did”, the man replied. “Your remedy is to eat the brain of someone who throws away every opportunity that comes his way.”
[Guess what unfortunately happened?]
Reprinted from the May 19, 2024 email of the Torah Times. Printed from Machon Be’er Emunah.
