A Piece of Chocolate: The Moment He Finally Understood Judaism

Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Malach recounted the story of a wealthy Jew who lived far from Torah and mitzvot. One day he attended a seminar organized by Arachim and returned home a complete baal teshuva.

When people later asked him what had influenced him so deeply, which lecture had touched his heart and brought him closer to Judaism, he surprised them with his answer:

"Not a single lecture convinced me. One piece of chocolate brought me back."

He then explained.

"I own a large factory that produces pralines and chocolates. I often take premium sweets with me, and whenever I meet children I give them out generously. In this way I also do a bit of advertising for my products, because every child who tastes them immediately becomes a loyal fan."

The Child Who Said No

"At the seminar I did the same thing," he continued. "I brought many fine chocolates and handed them out to the children. Then I noticed one boy who still hadn’t received any and wasn’t coming forward like the others. I approached him and asked, 'My dear child, did you get a chocolate?' He said no.

"I asked him if he wanted one, and he said yes. I gave him several chocolates, and he happily took them."

The boy caught his attention, and he decided to watch what would happen next.

"I understood that he was the son of one of the lecturers. He went over to his mother, showed her the chocolates, and asked if he could eat them. She carefully examined them and then said, 'No.'
"And the boy, without a word, without arguing, without asking questions, quietly threw all the chocolates into the trash."

What Yiddishkeit Looks Like

"My eyes filled with tears," the man continued.

"I thought to myself: I’ve been sitting here for days listening to lectures explaining what Judaism is, and nothing really entered my heart. But now, in just two minutes, I saw with my own eyes what Yiddishkeit truly is.

"A child who can say no to something he wants, that is Yiddishkeit."

"That moment drew me in and made me a complete baal teshuva."

He continued:
"I thought to myself: I am already sixty years old. When was the last time I told myself no about something I really wanted? Was there ever even one time when I truly controlled my desires?"

"Seeing that child give up the chocolate because it did not have kosher certification filled me with awe. That moment changed my life."

The Real Measure of a Jew

Rabbi Malach concluded:
"There is a powerful lesson here. A person’s true Yiddishkeit is measured by self-control, by the ability to say no when the desire burns strongly.

Whether it is guarding one’s eyes, restraining oneself, or holding back from speaking lashon hara, this is the essence of Judaism."