Story of the Month: Who Goes First into Heaven

As retold by Diann Joy Bank from her book, A Pot of Mitzvot: 18 Jewish Folktales

The gate angel in heaven stood at the entrance holding his large golden-bound book. Inside his book was a list of every soul that had lived on earth. Dressed in his white flowing gown, standing on a floor of white soft clouds, the gate angel’s long white hair was blowing softly in the gentle breeze.

Standing side by side stood three souls that had just arrived at the gates of heaven. The gate angel announced, “I must decide who is the most holy to enter heaven first. It is the highest honor to go first into heaven.”

The gate angel opened his book to see what was written about each soul’s life on earth. The three souls stood patiently waiting to hear the gate angel’s decision. Then the angel asked each soul, “Tell me, what was your highest mitzvah--good deed--when you lived on earth?”

One soul, the most learned, was a student of Torah and Talmud-- Jewish most sacred books.

The second soul was the most observant in his daily way of life.

The third soul, wearing a flowered apron, looked at the angel with a sweet smile and said, “I was a Bubbe--Jewish grandma--to all the children in my shtetl--Jewish village.”

The learned soul wore a worn shirt and pants and carried a heavy backpack filled with books. He stepped close to the gate angel’s face, folded his arms and began to brag. “I am the most pious of all. From morning till night, I studied all the Jewish books of learning. I never let anyone come into my home for idle talk. I never wasted my time to even walk outside. I deserve to be the first to enter heaven,” boasted the learned student.

The next soul, the observant one, wearing his kippah--Jewish observant skullcap--and tallis-- Jewish prayer shawl--that hung down to his knees, stepped forward and stared into the gate angel’s eyes. Holding his siddur,--Jewish prayer book--he shouted, “I deserve to enter heaven first. I am the most observant. Did I ever miss saying my prayers three times a day at shul--Jewish synagogue? Never!” He continued to bellow for all to hear, “I was never distracted nor spoke to anyone at shul. Did I ever miss observing each and every Jewish holiday to its fullest? Never! I am the most pious of all.”

The Bubbe stood silently. Her face had soft wrinkles. There was a twinkle in her eyes, and she had a glowing smile. She spoke in a gentle voice, “I’m neither a learned soul nor an observant soul. I gathered all the children to teach them how to plant a garden to grow food for those that were hungry in our shtetl. Each day I taught them to take care of G-d’s

creatures. I don’t need to go first into heaven.” After the Bubbe spoke, the gate angel saw a joyous look in her eyes.

The gate angel closed his large golden bound book. To the learned soul, he asked, “Did you ever invite anyone to your home to teach them one of the holy books of learning?” Not speaking a word, the student held his head down, shaking it from side to side.

To the observant soul, the gate angel asked, “Did you ever invite someone from your shul for a meal at your home?” He also held his head down, shaking it from side to side, not saying a word.

Then the gate angel turned toward the old Bubbe and said, “Bubbe, you are the humblest. To learn to be humble is the highest mitzvah of all. You deserve to enter first through the gates of heaven.” And so, she did.

2024 MO-TELL Quilt Raffle

As a part of our fundraising, MO-TELL has a wonderful quilt to raffle. This hand pieced quilt by Marsha Stifel Mellendorf is an Irish chain pattern in red and navy with squares having multi-colored flowers on a navy background. The field is “Civil War muslin tan” color.

The quilt is professionally machine-stitched in an overall oak leaf pattern. This twin-sized quilt measures 52” X 80”. The backing is a wheat print, and the quilt has a sleeve that makes it perfect as a wall hanging.

Tickets for the raffle are as follows: one ticket for $5,three tickets for $10,five tickets for $15,

and ten tickets for $20.

Members will receive a mailing regarding the raffle. Email Linda Kuntz at Lindakkuntz@yahoo.com if you need more raffle tickets.

Please help in this endeavor to fulfill the MO-TELL mission as we partner with the Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites.

Tickets are for sale now through September 9. You DO NOT need to be present to win.

The drawing for the quilt will be at the September 10, 2024 MO-TELL Zoom program “Hauntings.” The winner will be notified through email.

Rich Tales & White Lies: Lake of the Ozarks State Park

An Evening of Rich White Storiesat Lake of the Ozarks State Park Campground

My wife Alice and I showed up at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park Campground in the early afternoon to scope out the venue for the 7:00 pm storytelling performance. We found the amphitheater was small enough that the PA system we had along would not be needed. We didn’t see any notices about the storytelling, and I was a little concerned.

We returned a little before 6:00 pm to the Campground Store where we met Candy Hawk, the Park Specialist who was handling the storytelling. Candy informed me that she had walked the campground on Friday night and invited everyone she found outside to the storytelling on Saturday. She was in the process of repeating that walk-thru again this evening to contact as many campers as possible. A little after 6:00 pm, Alice and I drove down to the amphitheater and then walked around the campground talking to some campers and inviting them to the storytelling.

By 6:45, Alice and I were at the amphitheater when two men we had talked to earlier showed up, closely followed by four women who we had also talked to. When Candy showed up, I was a little worried at the size of the audience. Then at around 6:55, the people Candy had invited started strolling in. We ended up with a nice size audience of 41 (ages 6 to about 80) thanks almost exclusively to the work Candy had put into promoting the event.

I told a variety of stories including a fairy tale, a folk tale, a tall tale and a historic story. The audience was attentive and joined in to make the storytelling a pleasure. To close out the program I asked whether they would rather hear a story of “An Owl and an Eagle”, a traditional folk tale, or “Aunt Eddy”, a tall tale. “Aunt Eddy” won out and proved to be a fun

wrap up to an enjoyable evening.