The Scratch in the Ruby

Every year for his birthday, the king invites the entire kingdom to get a glimpse of a beautiful ruby of magnificent color and splendor. For the rest of the year the ruby is tucked away in a box, making this tradition extra special and joyous. But one year, everybody’s joy turns to horror when they find a large scratch on the ruby! What will they do about it? Jerry Kaye, director emeritus of the URJ’s Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute camp tells this story, and reveals an important lesson about dealing with flaws. You can find a written version of this story in The Jewish Story Finder, 2nd edition, as story 569, The Blemish on the Diamond.