A Story for Shabbat: The King of Fish and a Lesson in Justice

Rabbi Chaim Abulafia the First, whose yahrzeit (anniversary of passing) falls on the 6th of Nissan, was a holy man, deeply immersed in both the revealed and hidden dimensions of Torah. Even in his old age, he never stopped speaking words of Torah. Eventually, he made aliyah (moved to the Land of Israel) and chose to settle in Tiberias, by the Sea of Galilee.

From the moment Rabbi Chaim arrived, the Jewish community there began to feel a new sense of peace and protection. Their Muslim neighbors respected his presence and kept to themselves, largely because the Rabbi had warned them clearly: if they harmed the Jews under his care, there would be consequences. Only once did an Arab resident dare harass a Jewish family. The punishment that followed was so firm that no one in the area ever tried again.

Among the Muslims living in Tiberias was an older man named Abu Hani, who declared himself the king of the fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. No one appointed him. He simply took the title and no one dared argue with him.

He ruled the fishermen with a heavy hand. Abu Hani decided who could fish where, how much they could sell, and even which market stalls they could use. Everyone followed his orders, including the Jews who made their living from fishing. As long as you respected Abu Hani’s rules, he usually gave you a spot you could rely on.

One day, a young, energetic Arab arrived in the market. Abu Hani introduced him as his nephew and immediately gave him a prime fishing spot. The problem was, this location already belonged to a Jewish fisherman who had been fishing there for years long before Abu Hani ever claimed the sea as his kingdom. The two men got into a heated argument. The Jew tried to defend his rights, but the young man called his powerful uncle to settle the matter.

Abu Hani stormed in and ordered the Jewish fisherman to leave the spot immediately. “If you want,” he said, “you can come before sunrise. But after sunrise, this area belongs to my nephew.” The Jew looked at him and replied, “Who made you king of the Sea of Galilee and its fish? Maybe I should decide where and how much you get to fish!”

It was the first time anyone had challenged Abu Hani to his face. The self-proclaimed king realized he had to act swiftly to protect his authority. In a rage, he kicked over the bucket of fresh fish the Jew had worked hard to gather that morning, sending it all flying into the waters of the Sea of Galilee.

Heartbroken and humiliated, the Jewish man left the shore and walked straight to the beit midrash (study hall) of Rabbi Chaim Abulafia. Tears filled his eyes as he poured out his frustration and sorrow over what had happened.

Rabbi Chaim listened with compassion and then gently reassured him: “Within two days, Hashem will take care of this matter.”

And indeed, the wheels of divine justice began to turn quickly.

By Thursday, Abu Hani looked deeply troubled. Something strange was happening to his merchandise. The fish he brought to market were rotting, turning yellow and smelling awful. No one wanted to buy from him. Customers turned away and bought from other vendors. He was forced to throw out all his stock and wash down his stall using water from the very sea he ruled.

But the problem didn’t go away. The next day, the same thing happened. Live fish he caught died mysteriously on the way to the market. Fish caught by his workers arrived stale and spoiled. It was as if a silent curse had settled over his entire operation.

Abu Hani wasn’t a fool. He quickly understood that this wasn’t just bad luck. Something unnatural was at work. He realized it must have something to do with what he had done to the Jew.

Without hesitation, he sent several of his sons to seek forgiveness. They found the Jewish fisherman and assured him that he would never be disturbed again. His place to fish, they said, was now protected not just by force, but by honor and would remain his forever.