Long ago,[i] in a far-off town lived a kind merchant named Shai. Unfortunately, misfortune after misfortune seemed to befall Shai. No matter what Shai did, bad luck seemed to follow. A ship laden with Shai’s supplies sunk in the Ocean. Shai’s faithful horse broke its foot. And just when Shai’s canal boat business was looking to succeed, the railroad came to town. No job seemed to work out. There was never enough money to feed and take care of the family.
One day walking by the city’s docks, Shai heard a rumor about riches found on a far-off island. The island was so remote that it took a yearlong boat trip just to get there. The journey and the hardship were well worth it because the island was covered with diamonds and jewels. The diamonds were so plentiful that they lined the streets. And these diamonds were for the taking. If Shai could get to this island and collect some diamonds, the family and the community would be taken care of for a lifetime or longer!
Shai began preparations for the long and risky voyage. Bags packed, the family informed, and then the waiting began. Only one boat a year would travel to the far-off island. The boat would toot its horn three times and just minutes later would set off for the yearlong voyage.
A few weeks later, three toots bellowed from the port. Shai rushed to say goodbye to the family, gave them big hugs, and readied for the three year’s journey.
The travel was arduous with horrible waves and many bouts of seasickness, but finally the island could be seen in the distance. Shai looked with anticipation and excitement for the riches that would be found there. As everyone disembarked from the boat, Shai saw diamonds everywhere. The rumor was true! There were so many diamonds on the island; they even paved the streets with them.
Shai was shocked! People were oblivious to the diamonds. They walked right over them; they ignored them. It was such lunacy! These diamonds would bring such riches to each person’s life.
Shai immediately sat down in the middle of the street and put pocketful after pocketful of diamonds into a bag. And then Shai noticed something strange. Everyone was pointing and laughing. “What’s the rush? You have a full year to collect diamonds. Enjoy your time here.”
Shai didn’t know what to think but decided to pocket two of the smallest diamonds. For Shai was so hungry after the long journey. At the nearest restaurant, Shai ordered the most expensive item on the menu, a fancy 12-ounce steak. When the bill came, Shai proudly paid with one of those tiny, beautiful diamonds. “Keep the change!”
Once
again, people laughed and pointed!
“Those jewels are worthless here.”
“What is
the currency here? What is valuable to
you?”
“Shmaltz”
“Shmaltz?”
“Yes,
shmaltz, chicken fat! Fat used for
cooking and frying."
“What do
you mean shmaltz? At home, shmaltz
smells, it’s disgusting, it’s not even worthy of putting on the table. How can shmaltz be valuable?”
“Shmaltz is a luxury here! It’s so hard to obtain fat on our faraway island. Anyone who can produce, store, and sell shmaltz will make a killing!”
As Shai began washing dishes (you need to pay for that expensive dinner somehow), a plan was hatched on how shmaltz could be developed, produced, and sold.
Soon, Shai became immersed in the shmaltz business. The merchant skills from home came in quite handy. First a small batch of chicken fat was produced. Soon an assembly line was created. A factory built and dozens of employees began to work there. Overnight, Shai became one of the richest people on that island.
Like all the others, Shai often forgot the purpose of this voyage! Every once in a while, Shai would look down and see the diamonds. They’d sparkle and gleam in the sun. Shai remembered that they were important, but here on the island, it was all about shmaltz! Shai stepped over the diamonds, oblivious to their worth. Instead, Shai doubled down on shamltz, continuing to build a bigger and bigger supply of fat!
And just like that (as often happens in these stories), days became months, and months became a year. Shai remembered that the boat would be returning to port shortly. “Listen for the three toots of the horn” as I’ll only have minutes to board the ship for the return trip home.
Shai began preparations for the voyage. Bags readied, friends and co-workers informed, and the shamltz packed up in barrels ready for transport.
One Friday afternoon, three toots were heard bellowing from the port. People began running to the boat. Shai hurried as friends helped load barrel after barrel of shamaltz on board, dozens of barrels, worth millions on the island. All of the inhabitants waved goodbye to Shai as the boat departed.
The voyage lasted months. Slowly a smell began emanating from the hold of the ship. A stench that something might be wrong, but Shai continued to be oblivious. “I can’t wait to share my riches with my family. They will be so excited to see all of this shmaltz!”
As the boat returned to Shai’s hometown, the entire community came out to greet the ship. Barrel after barrel was unloaded from the hold. With each new barrel, Shai’s family became even more and more excited. “Oh my, the richest we will receive!”
Shai came down the gangplank with thunderous applause! Roses were thrown at Shai’s feet, the entire community excited to see the treasure found inside those barrels!
Shai gave a very long and drawn-out speech and then with a flourish, excitingly opened the first barrel: “Now, I present to you, my three year’s work, the riches of riches … shmaltz!”
“Shmaltz?”
The
family went over to look inside the barrel, but they couldn’t get close enough to
see because of the smell. The stench was
so powerful that the barrels needed to be thrown away immediately!
The family was confused. Where were the diamonds? What about the jewels that were supposed to make our lives worth living?
Shai was mortified, realizing immediately the mistakes and failures of the years away. Shai was humiliated.
It was at this moment that Shai felt something in a pocket. The two small, beautiful diamonds that were put there on the first day on the island. The local jeweler whistled! “These two diamonds are worth a fortune. They will feed your family for a full year!”
Shai’s family was so excited about these two small diamonds. Yet, Shai was mournful. “I had the ability to spend my time mining diamonds and yet foolishly, I only grabbed a couple of jewels. Instead of collecting diamonds, I spent my time and efforts with shmaltz… doing absolutely nothing.”
The great rabbi, the Chofetz Chaim, teaches that the reason we came into this world is to collect diamonds – which he defines as the mitzvot – the commandments and responsibilities of being a part of our Jewish community.
And yet, it’s so easy to be influenced by those that surround us. It’s simpler to lose site of the responsibilities we have for our Jewish community and human family. When so many in our world focus their energy on shmaltz, on what’s trivial, it’s easy to be influenced by them and by their perceived riches.
There are so many diamonds in our world – diamonds that line our streets, our homes, and our lives. There are diamonds, mitzvot, that involve chesed, kindness. Mitzvot such as visiting the sick, helping the poor, working against injustice, providing tzedakah, consoling the bereaved, and lifting up all those in need.
There are diamonds, mitzvot, that involve our Jewish community. The study of Torah, the learning of our Jewish tradition, the gathering together in prayer, the building and strengthening of our synagogue.
The Chofetz Chaim reminds us that our days are filled with choices. Diamonds and shmaltz are everywhere, always competing at every turn, at every decision. And yet, we have so much time. Minutes that add up to hours, days, and even years. How do we want to live our days? Do we wish to spend our time focusing on shmaltz or do we wish to search for the jewels: righteous deeds, works of tikkun olam, study of Torah, celebrating Jewish holidays, and uplifting our community.
A few
diamonds here are there are lovely but imagine what we each could achieve if we
made diamonds our life work. Shana Tova!
[i] Adapted
from “Diamonds in the Street” found in The Maggid Speaks by Rabbi
Paysach J. Krohn, p 253 as well as version of the story told by Rabbi Dan
Milner
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