There was a poor man who went to the marketplace, hoping to earn or beg some money. He lamented his fate, for he would far rather spend his time studying the Torah.

While he wandered about, eyes downcast, a man called out "Sholom aleichem!" and he answered "Aleichem sholom!" and looked at the man who had called to him. The man had a long, soft beard and a holy appearance.

"Who are you?" the poor man asked.

"I'm the Messiah," the old man said. "You look upset. What is the matter?"

So the poor man related his troubles, and the Messiah nodded in sympathy. "Worry no more," the Messiah said, and gave the poor man a sack. "It looks plain, but it is a very special sack. Reach in, and you can pull out your heart's desire. And, if you ever get into trouble with anyone, just say "Swallow him, little sack", and it will do so."

The poor man thanked the Messiah profusely and ran home to show his wife this marvelous gift. From that moment forward, their household was prosperous and happy.

But, as is often the case, the man forgot the lofty goals he had once held. Now that he had the money to be generous, he forgot to make charitable donations. Now that he had the time, he forgot to study the Torah.

When he was very old, and felt death approaching, the man had his heirs bring the sack to him. And when the Angel of Death appeared, he cried out: "Little sack, little sack, swallow the Angel of Death!"

The Angel of Death disappeared. As the minutes and hours passed, God grew impatient and sent the angels Gabriel and Michael to earth to find the Angel of Death.

They came to the man's house, where he lay in bed free of fear of death, and asked him where the Angel of Death had gone. He refused to answer, but they kept questioning him, and at last he took out the sack. "Little sack," he said, "swallow the angel Michael."

And with that, Michael disappeared into the sack. Gabriel flew back to heaven and told God what had happened. The Messiah remembered the poor man he had given the sack. "Let me go down and speak to this man."

So the Messiah descended, and went to the man's house. "You need to explain your behavior," the Messiah said. "You can't simply keep ordering the sack to swallow angels."

And then, wanting to be left in peace, the man said: "Little sack, swallow the Messiah."

The sack did indeed swallow him. And that is why the Messiah doesn't come.

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