Diamonds not chicken fat.

The story is told of a man who traveled to a faraway land where diamonds of every shape color and size literally littered the streets. He filled his suitcases with them to capacity. He then dragged his precious suitcases to a restaurant where he ordered the most expensive meal.

He offered the waiter a huge diamond as payment. "What is this stone doing here??" The waiter snapped at the fellow. "These have no value here! Here we value chicken fat. And if you haven't enough chicken fat, you will have to wash dishes to work off your debt!"

The man thought it was a joke. But, as he was dragged to the kitchen, it becomes apparent that here is one place where diamonds are useless.

Time passed, the man worked hard and he finally had a collection of chicken fat. He was wealthy. It was time to return home.

As his yacht neared the dock, he saw his family waiting. "Yuck" they cried. "It smells like chicken fat!"

"Yes. The yacht is filled with chicken fat," he answered with proud delight. "We are rich!!"

"But where are the diamonds??" asked the wife, horrified. "You forgot the real purpose of your trip. You were supposed to collect diamonds, not chicken fat! Do you have even one diamond with you??!"

He rummaged through his bags. And indeed he found one tiny diamond.

With that one small diamond, he managed to pay off all the debts his family incurred during his absence.

The story is a parable for the descent of the soul into the body. When the soul comes into the world, it is told, "Be righteous and do not be wicked"--follow G-d's commandments, for they are as precious as diamonds. Collect them, cherish them. Garner as many as you can during your short stay.

But often, the soul gets confused. It forgets its mission and its promise. The soul begins to collect "chicken fat," it gets involved in the mundane pursuits of this world, all the while thinking the chicken fat is what has true and lasting value.

But finally, the day comes when the soul returns from its journey. In the Heavenly Court, it is asked, "Have you a few precious diamonds, some mitzvot to show for your years on earth?"

Ashamedly, the soul searches until it finds a few things: a kind word; a prayer; some charity he gave, a blessing he recited; a Torah class attended.

And oh, how the soul wishes that it would have remembered its purpose and the reason for its descent.