A Beginner’s Guide to Jewish Parables & Folklore

Jewish parables, or “mashalim,” are short stories that have been used for millennia to convey moral lessons. They can be found in various sources, including the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, and the Midrash, as well as in the teachings of prominent rabbis and Jewish philosophers.

My favourite Jewish parables, though, come from folklore. Almost all of them are humorous, ironic, or end with an unexpected twist. I’ll share some here. You’ll love them.

If you want to skip the history and go straight to the best parables, they’re at the bottom of the article.

A Brief History of Jewish Parables

Jewish parables can be traced back thousands of years, with each period having its own style. The earlier parables are profound in a simpler sort of way. As the storytelling tradition evolved, the stories became wittier and more nuanced.

The Biblical Period

The Biblical period refers to the era when the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) was written and compiled. This period spans from the time of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) until the end of the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BCE.

Here are a few noteworthy parables from the Biblical period:

1. Nathan’s Parable of the Ewe Lamb (2 Samuel 12:1-4): The prophet Nathan tells King David about a rich man who takes a poor man’s only ewe lamb to prepare a feast for his guest.
2. Jotham’s Parable of the Trees (Judges 9:7-15): Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, tells a story of the trees seeking a king to rule over them. The olive tree, fig tree, and vine all refuse the offer, while the thornbush accepts, but with a warning of destruction if the trees don’t follow it faithfully.
3. The Parable of the Vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7): The prophet Isaiah tells the story of a vineyard owner who carefully cultivates his vines but ends up with wild grapes instead of a bountiful harvest. The parable represents the people of Israel, who, despite God’s care and guidance, have failed to live up to their potential and have produced “wild grapes” of injustice.
4. The Parable of the Plowman (Proverbs 20:4): This parable describes a lazy farmer who doesn’t plow his field during the right season and, as a result, is left with nothing to harvest.
5. The Parable of the Watchman (Ezekiel 33:1-9): The prophet Ezekiel presents a parable about a watchman responsible for warning the city when danger approaches. If the watchman fails to sound the alarm, the blood of the fallen will be on his hands. If the people refuse to listen, the fault is theirs.

These parables are harsh and serious, with straightforward lessons. The only difficult thing about them is the archaic language they’re written in.

The Second Temple Period

The Second Temple period takes place between the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem in 538 BCE and its destruction by the Romans in 70 CE. It was a time of cultural, religious, and political turmoil, including the rise of various Jewish sects and the emergence of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The Second Temple period doesn’t have many standalone parables. However, some apocryphal texts have allegories and symbolic narratives that are similar in spirit to parables. Here are a few of them:

1. The Animal Apocalypse (1 Enoch 85-90): In the Book of Enoch, there’s a section known as the “Animal Apocalypse.” It tells the history of Israel as a fable with anthropomorphized animal characters.
2. The Parable of the Two Ways (Didache 1-6): The Didache, or “Teaching of the Twelve Apostles,” is an early Christian text. It isn’t Jewish, but it contains Jewish teachings. The opening section of the Didache presents a parable of two ways: the way of life and the way of death.
3. The Wisdom of Solomon: An allegory about the pursuit of wisdom and righteousness. It isn’t quite a parable, but it’s full of symbolism. For example, Wisdom 7:24-26 portrays wisdom as a radiant woman: “For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things. For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her. For she is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness.”

The Rabbinic Period

The Rabbinic period is when Jewish parables and folklore truly began to flourish. The period spanned from the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE until around the 6th century CE. It saw the emergence of the rabbinic sages, who were responsible for the development and preservation of Jewish law, ethics, and traditions.

This period produced several key Jewish texts, such as the Mishnah, the Talmud, and various Midrashic collections, all of which are rich in parables and allegorical stories. Here are a few notable parables from the Rabbinic period:

1. The Parable of the Lost Princess (Midrash Rabbah, Shir HaShirim 5:1): In this parable, a king’s daughter is taken captive by an evil sorcerer. The king sends his faithful servant to search for her and bring her back.
2. The Parable of the Palace and the King (Midrash Rabbah, Bereshit 39:1): A man walks in the wilderness and sees a palace illuminated by torches. He wonders if the palace has an owner. The owner of the palace, the king, responds to him.
3. The Parable of the Banquet (Avot de-Rabbi Natan 31b): A king invites his subjects to a banquet but does not specify the time. Some guests come quickly and wait. Others continue going about their business.
4. The Parable of the Four Guests (Avot de-Rabbi Natan 28a): Four guests enter a beautiful palace. One guest is amazed by the palace’s beauty, another takes delight in the feast, the third guest is envious of the palace’s owner, and the last guest is thankful for the invitation.
5. The Parable of the Shipwreck (Talmud, Berakhot 5b): A ship is caught in a storm and begins to sink. The passengers scramble to save themselves, but one passenger starts drilling a hole beneath his seat. When the others protest, he replies that he is only drilling under his own seat, not theirs.

These parables from the Rabbinic period address various aspects of Jewish life and thought, such as faith, ethics, community, and the relationship between the individual and the divine.

The Medieval Period

The Medieval period of Jewish history spans from the end of the Rabbinic period (around the 6th century CE) to the dawn of the modern era (approximately the 18th century CE). The period was rich with Jewish scholarship, philosophy, and mysticism, particularly in Spain, France, and Germany.

Parables continued to be a popular way of teaching spiritual lessons and sharing Jewish folklore. Here are a few notable ones:

1. The Parable of the King and the Slave (Rabbi Shlomo Ibn Gabirol, “Mivchar HaPeninim”): A king sends a slave to buy precious stones, but the slave spends the money on worthless pebbles instead. The king forgives the slave and gives him another chance to buy the gems.
2. The Parable of the Apple Tree (Rabbi Bachya ibn Pakuda, “Chovot HaLevavot”): A man finds an apple tree that bears both sweet and bitter fruit. He realizes the tree’s roots are split, with one half drawing nourishment from a fresh spring and the other half from a briny source.
3. The Parable of the Palace and the Jewel (Rabbi Moses Maimonides, “The Guide for the Perplexed”): A man hears about a magnificent palace that houses a priceless jewel. He embarks on a journey to find the palace and the jewel, overcoming many obstacles and hardships along the way.
4. The Parable of the Fish and the Ocean (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, “Mesillat Yesharim”): A fish asks another fish where it can find water, and the second fish replies that they are both swimming in the ocean.
5. The Parable of the King and the Three Servants (Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, “Rabbi Nachman’s Stories”): A king gives three servants a single coin and tells them to use it to fill a room. The first servant buys straw, the second buys sticks, but the third servant buys a small amount of incense. When the king enters the room, the scent of the incense fills the entire space.

The Modern Period

The Modern Period of Jewish history spans from the 18th century to now. This was the era of Enlightenment (Haskalah). It was the time of Hasidism, Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Judaism. It birthed the State of Israel.

Stories continued to play an important role in Jewish culture, with many rabbis and scholars creating new parables and folktales. Here are some of the more important ones:

1. The Parable of the Ladder (Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk, 19th century): A man dreams of a ladder with many rungs. Some climb it quickly while others take their time, but all are advancing. When the man wakes up, he realizes the ladder represents life, and the rungs represent the challenges we face.
2. The Parable of the Two Birds (Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, “Likutey Moharan” 2:67): Two birds are perched on a tree. The first bird eats sweet fruit. The second bird copies the first, but its fruit is bitter.
3. The Parable of the Diamond and the Coal (Rabbi Sholom DovBer Schneersohn, the 5th Lubavitcher Rebbe, 19th-20th century): A diamond and a lump of coal are buried deep underground. The diamond brags of its beauty and value, while the coal remains humble. When they are both brought to the surface, the diamond has little to offer, but the coal warms people’s homes and cooks their food.
4. The Parable of the Precious Stone (Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook, 20th century): A man finds a precious stone covered in dirt and grime. He cleans the stone and polishes it until it shines brightly.
5. The Parable of the Orchestra (Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, 21st century): An orchestra consists of many different instruments, each with a unique sound. They create beautiful music when played together in harmony.

My Favourite Jewish Parables

The older, more influential parables are insightful, yes, but they lack the wit that makes the best Jewish folktales so engaging. Here are ten of my favourites. I won’t spoil them. They’re fantastic.