One day, Rachel mounted a rickety, old ladder to retrieve a pot, which was stored on the flat rooftop. At that moment a rung became dislodged and the girl fell to the ground, striking her mouth on a rock. Her brothers and sisters ran to help, but to their horror, blood was gushing from her mouth. Rachel stood up and ran into the house. Rachel had knocked out her front tooth. From that day on, Rachel's life wasn't the same. Always sensitive, Rachel now suffered terribly from the teasing of the village girls, who giggled every time she opened her mouth to speak. She gradually stopped joining the other girls in their work and games, and she was careful to never laugh or speak in public, lest she become the butt of their thoughtless jokes.
As her despair deepened, her distraught parents racked their brains for a way to make their beloved daughter happier. Despite the fact that they could barely put food on the table, Rachel's parents scraped together enough money to make her a false tooth. They couldn't afford the best dentist, and the false tooth made matters worse instead of better; it didn't fit well, and it was also too dark. Instead of improving her appearance, it made her look even worse. Soon, Rachel resembled a dejected, old woman.
As the months and years passed, all the other girls married. Only Rachel had no suitor, for who would be interested in a sad, withdrawn girl who never smiled. Her parents were heartbroken, but what could they do? A large dowry, which might attract a match, was far out of their reach. Finally they had an idea. Rachel had an uncle, her mother's youngest brother, who lived near Jerusalem. He was as poor as they, but he was a kind, hard working man, who would make a good husband for Rachel. He responded favorably to their message, and agreed to their suggestion. Of course, he remembered Rachel as a sunny little girl, who fluttered around the house like a cheerful butterfly.
His happy anticipation quickly turned to shock when he arrived to find a drab, worn-out looking woman who was presented as his betrothed. "No," he flatly refused. He would not honor his promise. Without further word, he quickly departed from the village.
The family was devastated, and the shocking news traveled through the village and even further. Finally, word of the shameful debacle reached the ears of Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha. Rabbi Yishmael was a saintly man who loved his fellow Jews more than anything else in life. He was especially devoted to the mitzva of dowering poor Jewish brides. He was touched by the girl's tragic situation and he offered to take the girl into his home. "My wife will take good care of her, and before long, the young man will sorely regret having refused her," he told Rachel's parents.
Rachel's parents accepted his offer and she was received like a daughter in the wealthy home of this kind family who spared no effort to make her comfortable. For the first time in her life she ate nourishing meals and was pampered with exotic lotions and fine soaps. It wasn't long before her cheeks glowed and her new found happiness radiated outward. Still, there was the problem of the tooth. Rabbi Yishmael ordered an expert dentist to make her a new tooth, this time of gold. Rachel was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. In those days gold teeth were a mark of beauty and high station. When the tooth was finished Rachel just stood before the mirror and stared in astonishment at the beauty who looked back at her.
The following week Rabbi Yishmael sent for her uncle, saying, "There is a lovely young woman I would like you to meet. I think she would make a fine wife for you. Why don't you come and meet her?"
The young man was very pleased that Rabbi Yishmael had thought of him, and he lost no time in arriving. When he entered the room and saw the attractive woman who sat next to Rabbi Yishmael's wife, an involuntary smile crept across his face, for he recognized his niece at once, but she was completely transformed. How could the person who had seemed so forlorn and undesirable before have changed so completely into a radiant, happy young woman? His thoughts were interrupted by Rabbi Yishmael's voice saying, "Isn't this the same young woman you vowed not to marry?"
The rabbi's comment caught the young man off guard, and he protested, "I made a mistake! In truth I would like to marry her very much!" When she heard his words, Rachel's face lit up with happiness.
As he smiled at her joy, Rabbi Yishmael was assailed by a stab of sorrow. He suddenly envisioned all the other poor Rachels he would never know and couldn't help. In a quiet voice he said to the young man, "I absolve you of the vow which you made by mistake. You may marry Rachel, and I pray that G-d grant you many years filled with happiness and peace." And so it was.
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