Maggid Of Kozienice Rav Yisroel ben Shabbethai
The simple man was very impressed with these stories and the following morning he told his wife that he was preparing a sumptuous feast for erev Yom Kippur.
The Long Sleep
A rock sprang up near the place where Choni lay fast asleep and the rock grew up high in the form of a tent, until it encircled him completely.
The Rich Who Appear As Poor
The agent, watching his behavior, thought to himself, “Could this man, who appears so poor, have so much oil to sell? Surely the people in town were making fun of me.”
Neglecting The Shul
Now I know why Hashem punished us with the confiscation of our shul.
The Wedding
The groom was happy about the fulfillment of the pledge and the wedding ceremony was held. They danced and made merry the entire night.
Rabbi Chaim Tzanzer
He would often ask: “Why is it that all the tractates of the Talmud begin with page two and not page one?”
Poverty Tests The Man
When his students saw the mule, they decided to clean it and smooth it for their teacher.
Honoring One’s Father And Mother
Before the startled eyes of the people, she rushed at her son and began to beat and slap him.
Shmuel HaKatan
Shmuel HaKatan shook his head and said: “No, what happened here today is a sign not of great love. On the contrary, it is a bad omen.”
The Age Of Haskala
Rushing over to the table, he saw a precious diamond, magnificent in its sparkling beauty, inside the fish.
The Downtrodden People
“Don’t worry,” said the king, “what could it be worth, two or three talents of gold? I’ll give you ten talents of gold, so you can forget about it.”
The Miracles Of Pesach
This is the story of a staff, the most miraculous staff that was ever created. It was none other than the staff that Moshe used to perform all the amazing miracles in Egypt.
The Wicked Herod
Herod or Hordos — as he is known in the Talmud — was a usurper who seized the throne of the Chashmonaim and caused a terrible tragedy to befall the Jewish people.
A Jester Saved The Jews
They all gathered in the main synagogue to formulate a plan of action. At the height of the discussion, someone suggested using Nachumka.
The Chozeh Of Lublin
One of the most remarkable men in chassidic lore was Rav Yaakov Yitzchak Horowitz, known as the Chozeh of Lublin.
Rav Yaakov Yitzchak was responsible...
Rav Heshel Of Krakow
What is so great about being able to fill a kiddush cup from a bottle of wine? Let us see if you can use your wisdom to fill the kiddush cup from an empty bottle.
The Study Of Torah Is Not Enough
The life of our sages was never an easy one. Although persecuted by the Romans, they continued to devote all their efforts to the study of Torah and doing good deeds.
Always Give A Person The Benefit Of The Doubt
Chazal taught: He who judges his associates (in questionable acts) with favor will be judged with favor from Above.
Rav Zvi Hirsch Of Rimanov
When he was not yet 10 years old, tragedy struck and he lost both his parents. Alone in the world, he was fortunate to have a cousin, Reb David of Tarnow, who took him in.
Despises A Liar
‘Look at that hypocrite; he does not have a kosher home. He eats treif, it is a mitzvah to complain about him to the government.’
Willing To Be Insulted
Not only did Rav Avraham give tzedakah himself, but he also sought to get others to give as well.
The Esrogim
Nadav was lifted on the horse and he hung on for dear life as the soldiers charged swiftly through the city streets.
Outwitting The Rich Wine Dealer
“No, I am just passing through,” replied Hershel, “and I wanted to see how the wine business prospered in this city.”
Rav Ephraim Zalman Margolis
Rav Ephraim Zalman would therefore dress modestly – he would not purchase silk or satin clothes, which were very expensive, although he could well afford it.
The Unmerciful Doctor
I’ll pay you whether you cure her or kill her, shouted the loyal husband.
A Jester Saved The Jews
When Catherine annexed the city of Shklob, she appointed a general to govern as a reward for the many heroic campaigns he fought on her behalf.
Rav Avraham Abush (Conclusion)
I ask myself how I dared to accept the lofty position of rav in this community when I know that I am not worthy of it.
The Pilgrimage To Jerusalem
Rabi Yehoshua attempted to reassure the hesitant man, “Fear not, my son. Your home and your possessions will be safe..."
The True World’s Righteousness
“I wanted you to have a taste of the cold,” answered Rav Chaim. “This way, you too can feel the intense cold and realize the suffering of this man and his wife, who are now residing in a bitterly cold house.”
Not The Correct Charity
With that type of charity you shouldn’t come unto G-d. It is not sufficient; you must also try to help other poor people.