There was once a Jew named Itzik. He was a devout Jew who observed the 613 commandments. He attended shul devotedly and served on the committee that ran it. Itzik performed acts of lovingkindness to help the poor and the sick. He donated to create dowries for poor brides. He was a mensch in every respect.
Jewish free loan society of Dolne, Poland
(credit: Eilat Gordin Levitan – Dolne Page)
But Itzik was a relatively poor man and his capacity to do good was severely limited by his lack of wealth. So he began to think: “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I would win the lottery! Just think of all the good deeds I could perform! I could replace the shul’s leaking roof, feed the sick and hungry, provide wedding feasts for poor newlyweds.”
So Itzik began perusing the newspaper each week to discover his name among the lucky winners. He didn’t win the first week. So he said to himself: “God didn’t want me to win this week. But for sure he understands the great good I can do with my winnings and he’ll make me a winner next week.” When next week’s winners were announced, he again was not among them. This time he addressed God directly: “Lord, please remember how my entire life is devoted to You and to doing good for my fellow man. Please heed my call and make me a winner.” When next week’s winners were announced again he wasn’t among them. This time Itzik was bereft and addressed God again: “Lord, I don’t understand why you haven’t answered my prayer. Don’t you understand how much good I can if you make me a winner? What on earth can I have done wrong to again be a loser?”
A booming voice from heaven replied: “Itzik, BUY A TICKET!!”
Besides being humorous and entertaining, this story reveals a deep truth about Judaism and social justice. You can talk a good game when it comes to doing good. You can have the purest motives and the deepest convictions, but if you don’t “play” in the sense of doing actual good deeds then you’re doing a disservice. You must engage with the world to do real good.
I came for the humor, but what touched me most was the treasure I found through the Eilat Gordin Levitan link. It led to a translated yizkor book from Radashkovich—the shtetl where my maternal grandmother’s family lived. I visited there in 2000 with my mother, sister, and cousin. Seeing it all online now feels deeply personal. Thank you for the unexpected gift.
@Lottery: My son translated the Yizkor books for my wife’s family. It was an amazing experience to compare it to what she knew via family word of mouth. It also started him on a geneological journey for both mine and my wife’s family. We hope to make our first trip to eastern/central Europe in the next few yrs. I’m sure you saw the movie, A Real Pain.
“Want to win the lottery? Buy a ticket!”—a classic line wrapped in humor, but carrying a deeper truth. Dreams don’t work without a step forward. Just like Lottery Sambad, it’s a gentle nudge: take the chance, believe a little, and maybe, just maybe, the universe will meet you halfway—with a smile and a surprise.
@Lottery: Thank you. Glad to hear you appreicate the story. I can’t remember where I heard it. Wish I could.
I enjoyed the humor, but I was very pleasantly surprised to find that when I clicked on the Eilat Gordin Levitan link there was loads of information, including a translated yizkor book, from Radashkovich, the shtetl north Minsk where my maternal granmother’s family came from. I traveled there with my mother, one of my sisters and one of my mother’s cousins in 2000. It’s exciting that so much of this information is now on the web. Thanks for the pointer!!