Rabbi Hanina once saw the people of his town bringing a variety of offerings and gifts to Jerusalem. He said, “Everyone is taking gifts and offerings up to Jerusalem and I and taking nothing.” So Rabbi Hanina went to the outskirts of town and found a beautiful stone. He cut it, shaped it, and polished it so I was truly a sight to behold. He then declared, “I hereby promise to take this up to Jerusalem.” But the stone was too heavy for him to carry on his own. So he tried to find workers to carry it. He found five workers. He asked, “Will you take this stone up to Jerusalem?” They answered, “If you will pay us, we will take it up to Jerusalem for you.” When he discovered that he had no money with him, the workers left. God, observing the predicament in which Rabbi Hanina found himself, arranged for five angels in human form to appear when they appeared, Hanina asked, “Will you take the stone for me?” They responded, “We will take it up for you on the condition that you to help with carrying.” Rabbi Hanina, lacking any alternative, decided he must also pitch in. So he placed his hands on the stone practice fingers around it. Suddenly, he found himself standing in Jerusalem. He looked around, trying to find the people who offered to help him. But he could not find them. He then went into the Temple
and entered the chamber where in the Sanhedrin court held its sessions and explained had had taken place. The rabbis they advised him to give up his search for these individuals, who were not human. Then Rabbi Hanina understood that they were angel sent from heaven to help him carry stone and to teach him an important lesson about personal involvement.
Comments