Fritz Loses His Wits – Rebbe Nachman’s Stories Animated

Now available on YouTube – in English, Hebrew, Spanish, Russian and French:

The Bitter Herb

Once a Jew and a German gentile were traveling as hoboes together. The Jew told the German to make believe that he was a Jew (since their language was similar), and the Jews would have pity on him. Since Passover was approaching, he taught him how to act (when he is invited to a Seder). He told him that at every Seder, Kiddush is made, and the hands are washed. However, he forgot to tell him about the bitter herb. He was invited to a house, and being very hungry from all day, looked forward to the fine foods that had been described by the Jew. However, first they gave him a piece of celery dipped in salt water, and other things served at the Seder. They then began to recite the Haggadah and he sat there longing for the meal. When the matzah was served, he was very happy. Then they gave him a piece of horseradish for the bitter herb. It was bitter to taste, and he thought that this was the entire meal. He ran from the house, bitter and hungry, saying to himself, “Cursed Jews! After all that ceremony, that’s all they serve to eat!” He went to the synagogue and fell asleep. After a while, the Jew arrived, happy and full from a good meal. “How was your Seder?” he asked. The other told him what had happened. “Stupid German!” replied the Jew. “If you had waited just a little longer, you would have had a fine meal, as I had.” The same is true when one wants to come close to God. After all the effort to begin, one is given a little bitterness. This bitterness is needed to purify the body. But the person might think that this bitterness is all there is to serving God, so he runs away from it. But if he waited a short while, and allowed his body to be purified, then he would feel every joy and delight in the world in his closeness to God.