The Two Princesses

There are some whose observance of Judaism stems from a desire to impress others rather than from a deep internal desire to truly come close to Hashem.  The great Rabbi Nissim Yagen osb”m told a story the Dubno Maggid related when he visited an ornately decorated synagogue in a European metropolitan city, whose congregants did not observe Shabbat or keep the laws of kashrut according to tradition.  The congregation proudly displayed their Torah scrolls with pure silver handles and fine handcrafted woodwork throughout the main sanctuary.  The president of the synagogue asked the Maggid what he thought of the synagogue with all of its grandeur.  “I am a Maggid (a story teller) and, with your permission, I would like to answer your question in front of the congregation with a story. . .”

The Maggid tells:

There once lived a king who had twin daughters, Rachel and Leah.  The daughters reached marriageable age and started courting.  They soon found their soul-mates; Rachel a prince from another kingdom and Leah a scholar.  Grand weddings were held for both of the king’s daughters after which they left their parent’s kingdom to live with their new husbands.

After a year had passed, the queen urged the king to pay their daughters a visit.  However, a king and queen do not just visit anywhere, and so they sent messengers to announce their arrival.  They landed at the airport of the prince’s kingdom and were greeted with great fanfare.  The royal orchestra played music with great joy as the king and queen disembarked from their plane.  Red carpets covered their path to an awaiting limousine.  Along the roads to the prince’s palace, subjects lined the streets and cheered gleefully in honor of the parents of their beloved princess.

When they arrived at the palace, the king and queen were met by the prince and princess.  Their daughter wore a stunning dress adorned with fine diamonds.  They were then ushered to the dining room, and seated at a beautifully set table containing the finest delicacies imaginable. 

After dinner, they met privately with their daughter.   The king praised the prince and the wealth of his kingdom.  However, to his surprise, the princess began to cry.  “Mother and father, I am miserable.  Please take me back home with you.” said the dejected princess.

The king and queen did not understand.  “Look at all of the wealth and fine possessions that you have.  How can you leave all of this?!” they asked.

“The prince pays no attention to me,” cried the princess.  “He does not depart from royal matters to spend time with me.  Whatever I ask him to do, he does the opposite.  I tried to explain how I feel, but he just accuses me of complaining.  He says that I am ungrateful for the ‘good’ he does for me.  All of the wealth in the world cannot do anything for me.  I want someone who will listen to me.  I want a real husband!” cried the princess bitterly.  The despondent king and queen tried what they could to reconcile their daughter’s marriage.

The king and queen then set out to visit Princess Leah.  The king sent messengers ahead to arrange for their arrival.  However, this time, as they disembarked from their plane, there was no welcoming party.  One of their servants quickly arranged for a local car service to take them to the address that they were given for Princess Leah’s residence.  The driver took them to a small town with winding roads.  The king thought that he must be lost.  “Driver!  Are you sure you know where you are going?”

“My apologies your royal highness but this is the address that you gave me,” said the driver as he pulled up in front of a small but well-kept house.  The king was shocked at the thought that his daughter, the princess, could live in such simple accommodations.

A boy was playing in front of the house with plain but clean clothing.  “Young boy!” said the driver to the child, “We are looking for Princess Leah.  Where does she live?”

The child respectfully stood up and said with a bright smile “Right here, sir!”

“Driver!” ordered the king, “Stay here.  We will be back soon.”  The child led the king and queen to the small house where they found their daughter inside running a small nursery.  “Princess Leah!” exclaimed the king, “Thank G-d, we found you just in time.  There is a car waiting outside.  We are on a rescue mission to get you out of here!   And where is your husband?!”

“Father, mother”, said the princess, as she quickly stood up in their honor, “I am so happy to see you!  My husband is learning in the house of study.  And why would you need to rescue me?” asked the princess inquisitively. “I am very happy!”

“You are happy?” asked the astonished king, “To work while your husband spends his days in the house of study?! To live in this simple home?  My queen!  Our daughter has gone insane!”

“Father, mother” said Princess Leah, “I am happier than I’ve ever been.  I have a loving, loyal husband who listens to me and takes care of my needs.  I have a real husband.  I am not going anywhere.”

The king and queen recognized that their daughter’s feelings were sincere and that she was truly content.  They stopped trying to convince her to leave and returned to their kingdom…

The daughters in the story represent the Torah.  The Torah is crying, it is calling out to us, “I don’t want your fancy coverings.  I don’t want to be left in the ark.  I want you to listen to me, to bring me into your hearts and to your everyday lives.  I want a real relationship with you.”  When we keep the Torah’s commandments we are fulfilling our mission on Earth, doing the will of our Creator and connecting with Him in the deepest and most meaningful way.  For some the “window dressings” are excuses not to observe, for others they are the externalities that one must shed to truly serve Hashem.