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Many years ago, in a little village in Central Europe, there lived a boy named Daniel. He was fair of face, and was kind and helpful. but, alas he was not good at his studies at school.

Although he tried, he did not speak well, he did not read well and, in fact, his family despaired of him ever learning his letters.

His family tried to help him, his friends tried to help him, his neighbors tried to help him. Even the rabbi tried...and tried...and tried, but Daniel just could not speak clearly, and could not read. Everyone tried, and Daniel tried the hardest, but it was no use.

There were, however, things that Daniel did very well. He tended sheep for his father, he brought water from the town pump and wood from the woodpile for his mother, and he shared his toys with his brothers and sisters.

There was one other thing that Daniel did often, not very well, mind you, but often - and he did it with all his heart. Daniel played on a shiny silver flute that was a Hanukkah present from his grandparents.

Daniel took the flute where ever he went. He carried it with him to tend the sheep. He took it with to chop wood in the forest. He took it with to cheder. He even took it to bed with him and slept with the flute under his pillow.

Whenever Daniel was feeling sad, or lonely, or tired, he would take out his silver flute and play a little tune. You might not recognize it as a tune, but Daniel knew it was his tune, and it made him feel better.

Daniel felt particularly sad when he went to synagogue with his parents and brothers and sisters. No matter how hard he tried, he could not read the siddur as the other boys and girls did and he could not even say clearly the short prayer he had tried to memorize.

When Daniel went to synagogue with his folks, he felt particularly sad. No matter how hard he tried,he could not read the prayers from the siddur as the other boys and girls did and he could not even remember the Shema prayer he had tried to memorise from school. And when the whole congregation sang parts of the service, Daniel would try hard to join in, but he could not quite catch onto the words or the tune. Year after year Daniel tried, but he was just not able to sing the songs and read the prayers like the others.

One year, a well known Rabbi came to their village forYom Kippur to lead the service in the synagogue. Daniel, of course went to the synagogue with his siblings and father. After about an hour of sitting in synagogue next to his father, Daniel started to get restless.

Everyone was praying so hard, with such fervor, but though Daniel tried he could not follow the words or sing the songs. Reaching into his pocket, he wanted to take out his silver flute, but his father gave him such a look that he quickly put it away.

After a while, the Rabbi, who had noticed Daniel's unsuccessful efforts to be part of the service, began the Neilah, which is the concluding service. He asked God to forgive those who were truly sorry for their past mistakes.

At this moment, Daniel could bear it no more. He, too, wanted to be part of the service. He pulled out his silver flute and blew a great, loud very beautiful note.

Everyone stopped. Everyone looked around. Where had this sound come from? And on Yom Kippur!

Daniel knew of course. His brothers and sisters guessed. His parents looked rather embarrassed.

But the Rabbi had seen Daniel blow that beautiful note on his flute. A big smile appeared on his face. The Rabbi cut the final prayer short and then stopped. Looking at Daniel he said, "We Jews believe that each of us prays in his or her own special way. And if a prayer comes from the heart, it does not matter to God if it comes in words, or if it comes in song, or even if it comes through the sound of a flute,"

The Rabbi then turned to the congregation and said, " Each of us is important in his own different way. The note that Daniel played on his flute comes from his heart and G-d understands that it was a prayer, and it may be that all our prayers were accepted because Daniel tried so hard and was so sincere in wanting to reach God.

And the kind Rabbi smiled. And the congregation was glad. And Daniel's mother and father and brothers and sisters were very happy. Daniel hugged his flute, looked around at all the people beaming at him, and for the first time in all the years he had been coming to the synagogue, he was truly joyous. Daniel had found a way to connect with God.