The Twelve Pools

While the Beis Hamikdosh was still standing, all the yidden would come together in Yerushalayim three times a year, for the Yomim Tovim. From this came the name “shalosh regalim.”

Now just imagine: all the yidden coming together! You would need a lot of food, housing, and water, etc.

One year, there was a very big problem. There was not enough water. It was very hot and most of the wells had dried up.

This was a very big problem, because there are so many things that you need water for. Besides drinking, you use water for washing your hands, negel vasser, cooking, cleaning, and so on. There was also simchas beis hashoeivah, where water was poured on the mizbayach instead of wine.

Many people became worried. There was not one cloud in the sky. People started davening to Hashem. They needed water.

There was a tzaddik whose name was Nakdimon ben Gurion. He decided that not only would he daven for rain, but he would do his best to acquire water.

Nakdimon decided that he would take a walk at the outskirts of Yerushalayim, and look for water. Maybe he would find a well, a pool, or maybe a river that still had water!

So, Nakdimon went outside and started walking down the street. As he was looking around, Nakdimon suddenly saw … water! Twelve pools full of water. The pools were next to a big, fancy mansion.

Nakdimon said to himself: “These pools belong to one of the Roman Generals. Maybe I could buy water from him. Then, everybody would have enough water!”

Although Nakdimon did not have enough money to buy so much water, he decided that he could at least try. “This is the right thing to do and Hashem will help me,” he thought to himself.

So, Nakdimon approached the mansion and asked one of the guards if he could see the owner of the house. The guards let Nakdimon in to speak to the General.

Nakdimon came in and found the General sitting by his desk.

Nakdimon said: “General, I see that in your gardens you have twelve pools and they are full of water.” “Of course, of course,” exclaimed the General. “I know all about my pools. Now what do you want?”

“I am sure that you are aware,” said Nakdimon, “that there are many yidden coming to Yerushalayim for the Yomim Tovim. You also know that is very hot outside, and there is a shortage of water. Would we be able to use your water?”

“Sure, but I want something for it,” replied the General. “Okay,” said Nakdimon. “I will give you a kikar of gold for each pool.”

“HA! HA! Do you have so much gold that you are able to pay that much?” asked the General.

“To tell you the truth, I do not.” answered Nakdimon. “So, let’s make a deal. If your pools are not refilled in thirty days, then I will have to pay you the money. That means that if it rains before the thirty days are over—and your pools are refilled—I do not have to pay you the money. A deal?”

“Yes! Okay—a deal! How are you going make sure that my pools are refilled, anyway?!” laughed the General.

Nakdimon went back to Yerushalayim and told everybody that he had found water.

Sukkos came, and then there was simchas beis hashoeivah, and after that Simchas Torah. The Yomim Tovim were so lebidik, and so many yidden were there. Now, people were leaving and the thirty day deadline to restore the water was almost over.

But, still, there was not one cloud in the sky. How would Nakdimon get twelve kikars of gold? He decided that the only thing he could do was daven to Hashem and hope for the best.

Every morning Nakdimon looked out of his window. Not a cloud in the sky. “When will it rain?” thought Nakdimon. “If it does not rain, we will have to come up with twelve kikars of gold, and that is a great sum of money!”

Finally, it was the thirtieth day, the last day for the rain to refill the pools.

The General awoke and looked out of the window. “HA! HA! No rain! I will be so rich. The only one richer than me will be the emperor! This is wonderful. You know what? I will make a party tonight! I will invite all my friends to show off all my gold.”

The General ordered his servants to invite all his friends to the biggest party ever. “Oh, and go remind the Jew that today he must pay up,” he added with a laugh.

The servants set off to do what the General had ordered. One of the servants went up to Nakdimon’s door and gave a loud knock. “Open up! This is very important!”

Nakdimon opened the door and was surprised to see the General’s servant there. “Why are you here?” he asked. “It is only the morning. The thirtieth day is not over yet.”

Without answering, the servants left Nakdimon’s house. They went back to the General to give him Nakdimon’s message. The General shouted: “Oh! I can’t wait any longer! Yeah, but he is right. The thirtieth day is not over yet.”

Later on in the day, the General realized that he was very hot. He said: “Let me go take a bath, so that I will not be hot at my party tonight!” So, the General went off to the bath house.

At the same time that the General left his house, Nakdimon left his house too. But Nakdimon wasn’t going to the bath house. Nakdimon was going to daven to Hashem in the Beis Hamikdosh.

While the General was in the bath house, he was oblivious to what was going on outside. There were big winds. Clouds rolled in, and it had started to rain. All the yidden were dancing in the rain!

The General finally finished his bath and got dressed for the party. As the General was walking home, he realized that something was amiss. “Oh, no!” he cried. “It’s raining! That means—

“Wait a minute. That doesn’t mean anything, because it’s the end of the day! So, I get my water, and I also get twelve kikars of gold! That means that I have two reasons to celebrate!” The General was so excited.

As the General was walking, he thought he saw someone that looked familiar. It was Nakdimon. He came closer and Nakdimon greeted the General: “Hi General! How are you? Do you see that it is raining? Your water has been returned to you!”

The General laughed: “Yeah! Sure, my pools have been refilled, but it is too late; it’s already nighttime! Bring the gold tonight. We’re having a party!”

“Wait a minute, General. When does the sun shine? At night, or during the day?” asked Nakdimon.

“Well, during the day, of course,” answered the General with a smile. “Now, why ask such a silly question?”

“Wait,” said Nakdimon. Suddenly, the clouds moved apart, and the sun shone. This was a miracle! “General, if it is nighttime,” continued Nakdimon, “then why is the sun shining? It is still daytime!”

What do we learn from this story?

Hashem can always help.