Moshiach's Hat

By Rabbi Yitzchok Feigenbaum --------------------------------------- T'was the night of the geulah, and in every single shteibel, sounds of Torah could be heard, coming from every kind of Yeidel. This one in English, some in Hebrew, some in Yiddish, some saying pshat, and some saying chiddush. And up in shomayim, the Aibishter decreed, "The time has come for My children to be freed. Rouse the Mashiach from his heavenly berth, have him get in his chariot and head down to Earth." The Moshiach got dressed, and with a heart full of glee, went down to the Earth, and entered the first shteibel he did see. "I'm the Moshiach, Hashem has heard your plea, your geulah has come, it is time to go free!" They all stopped their learning, this was quite a surprise, And they looked at him carefully with piercing sharp eyes. "He's not the Mashiach!" said one with a grin, "Just look at his hat, at the pinches and brim!" "That's right!", cried another with a grimace and a frown, "Whoever heard of Mashiach with a brim that is down?!" "Well", thought Mashiach, "If that is the rule, I'll turn my brim up before I go to the next shule!" So he walked on right over to the next shule in town, confident to be accepted since his brim was no longer down. "I'm the Mashiach!", he cried as he began to enter. But the Jews there wanted to know first, if he was left, right, or center. "Your clothes are so black!" they cried out in a fright. "You can't be Mashiach -- you're much too far right! If you want to be Mashiach, you must be properly outfitted." So they replaced his black hat with a kipa that was knitted. Wearing his new kipa, Mashiach went out and he said, "No difference to me what I wear on my head." So he went to the next shule, for his mission was dear, But he was getting a bit frustrated with the Yidden down here. "I'm the Mashiach!" he cried, and they all stopped to stare. And a complete eerie stillness filled up the air. "You're the Mashiach?! Just imagine that. Whoever heard of Mashiach without a black hat?!" "But I do have a hat!" the Mashiach then said. So he pulled it right out and plunked it down on his head. Then the Shule started laughing, and one said, "Where's your kop? You can't have Mashiach with a brim that is up! If you want to be Mashiach, and be accepted in this town, put some pinches in your hat, and turn that brim down!" Mashiach walked out and said, "I guess my time hasn't really come, I'll just have to return to where I came from. So he went to his chariot, but as he began to enter, all sorts of Jews appeared, from left, right, and center. "Please wait, do not leave, it's all THEIR fault!" they said And they pointed to each other, and to what was on each other's head. Mashiach just looked sad, and said, "You don't understand." And then started up his chariot to get out of this land. "Yes, it's very wonderful, that all of you learn Torah, But you seem to have forgotten, a crucial part of our mesorah." "What does he mean? What's he talking about?" And they all looked bewildered, and all began to shout. Mashiach looked back and answered, "The first place to start, is to shut up your mouths, and open up your heart. To each of you, certain Yidden seem too frum or too frei but ALL Yidden are beloved, in the Aibeshter's eye." And on his way up he shouted, "If you want me to come, try working a little harder on some ahavas chinam."