Complains To The King (Continued From Last Week)
Realizing that he couldn’t fulfill Avram’s request, Nimrod then decided upon another line of reasoning.
The Return Of Shimon ben Shetach
When Alexander Yannai, king of Judea, was prevented by the sages from becoming the high priest, he issued an order that all the sages of Israel be killed. Many were and the remainder fled. Rabi Shimon ben Shetach, considered the greatest of them all, was saved by his sister, Queen Shlomit Alexandra.
The Great Civil War
After the Chasmonaim defeated the Greeks their descendants assumed the throne of Eretz Yisrael and ruled over Bnei Yisrael. In the first years of their reign, they followed the path of Hashem and He was good to them.
Rashi And A Descendant
Though he wanted a child more than anything in the whole world, Rav Yitzchak never complained, but continued to live his life according to the dictates of the Torah.
Yannai and Rabi Shimon
The Return Of The Sage
When Rabi Simeon ben Shetach saw that he had found favor in the eyes of King Yannai (after he appointed him Nasi of the Sanhedrin), he approached the king and said:
“If I have found favor in your eyes will you grant me a wish? Something sorely vexes me that only you can rectify.”
Stories Of The Dubno Maggid
The Gaon Rabi Yaakov, known throughout Europe as the Dubno Maggid, was a brilliant orator and scholar. He was never at a loss for...
The Translation Of The Torah (Continued from last week)
Ptolemy, King of Egypt, had requested of Elazar Kohen Gadol, that he send sages to his country to translate the Torah. Elazar complied by sending 72 sages. They were wined and dined and then the king put to them 72 questions, to test their wisdom.
A Letter From Shabbos To The Ibn Ezra
The Ibn Ezra awoke with a start. Rushing into his library he picked up a sefer given to him by a talmid. Sure enough, it attempted to prove that Shabbos was to be observed from Saturday morning until Sunday morning.
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.”
Great In Piety
“This way I am purchasing Olam Habah with the mitzvah of building a mikvah,” the rich man explained.
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.
Im Yirtzeh Hashem
Entering the city he visited the cattle market and saw two parei adumah untouched by any harness.
Galus Mitzrayim: The First Departure
A few stragglers managed to stagger back to Mitzrayim where they told the whole tragic story.
The Bread
The sages asked them, “Why are you unwilling to instruct others?”
Rabi Akiva Clarifies
The Strength Of Suffering
Man does not have it easy in this world. Sufferings are often visited upon him tempting him to curse his fate...
Poverty
When the Almighty saw the man’s struggles, He took pity on him and told Eliyahu Hanavi to give him four zuzim (coins).
The Shaagas Aryeh
Both giants of Torah rose higher and higher in the intellectual battle, each one asking and the other answering.
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.’
The Wedding of the Maharal of Prague and His Wife Pearl
Rabi Yehuda ben Bezalel Lowe, known as the Maharal of Prague, was born in 1525, in Posen. He married Pearl, the only daughter of the wealthy and prominent Reb Shmuel ben Reb Yaakov, but not without the help an anonymous soldier.
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 Moshe M’Sasov
The woman felt relieved and she departed, thanking him profusely.
The Translation Of The Torah
By having a powerful army ready and prepared to do battle at a moment’s notice. But he should be discreet in using the army. He should carry a big stick but speak softly.
The Golden Leg
Rabi Chanina prayed and suddenly the room became brilliantly lit and a huge hand appeared and snatched the golden leg and disappeared with it.
The Celebration Of The Water-Drawing
Four ladders led up to each candlestick, and four youths from a family of Kohanim went up, holding in their hands 24-log jars of oil, which they poured into the bowls.
Be Kind To Others So G-d Will Be Kind To You
While they were distributing relief to the poor, they saw a man give money to his divorced wife.
The Beginning Of Anti-Semitism
The story of Bnei Yisrael in the land of Mitzrayim is a tale that has become tragically repetitive in the history of our people. It is the story of a land which allows Jews to enter, and devote their talents and energies to building it up land and making it strong, only to have the ungrateful inhabitants turn on them through jealousy and greed.
Caring For Humanity
Thank G-d, I was sitting by the window when you came in and I was able to save you from sin.
Shmuel Hakatan
All day they prayed; all day they fasted. It was to no avail. The skies remained as before, the rain locked in and the land still thirsty.
The Honesty Of The Congregation
In front of all the people, the traveler gave the rav the money and he went away perfectly confident that his treasure was in good hands.
The Translation Of The Torah
Aristeas remained in Jerusalem viewing the sights. He was honored by being permitted to view the kohanim doing the avodah in the Beis HaMikdash.