story #411 (s5765-54/24 Elul 5765)

The Jerusalem Shofar

The shofar blowing of Yoel Chaim Weissfinger was legendary in the Old City of Jerusalem.

story #410 (s5765-53/17 Elul 5765)

The Price of Spilt Milk

The Baal Shem Tov succeeded in collecting the sum necessary to redeem a family imprisoned by a particularly stubborn landowner.

story #409 (s5765-52/10 Elul 5765)

Return From Israel

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev walked up and down his room in distress.

story #408 (s5765-51/3 Elul 5765)

Land of the Living

The Tzemech Tzedek used to send chasidim to hear chasidic teachings from his mouth.

story #407 (s5765-50/ 26 Menachem-Av 5765)

An Accompanying Soul

Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the holy Ari looked up at R' Chaim Vital standing in the doorway and rose in his honor.

story #406 (s5765-49/ 19 Menachem-Av 5765)

Also the Small Print

The attendant was shocked to hear Rabbi Aharon of Belz raising his voice; he never employed such a tone of voice when speaking to another Jew.

story #405 (s5765-48/ 12 Menachem-Av 5765)

Red Feather

Red Feather, whose mother was Jewish, had grown up to be the new Indian medicine man. He is known for his healing powers.

story #404 (s5765-47/ 5 Menachem-Av 5765)

The Lion of Safed

Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the holy Ari of blessed memory: a biography.

story #403 (s5765-46/ 27 Tammuz 5765)

A Modern Visitor

Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshischa and the Ramak and the Ari.

story #402 (s5765-45/ 20 Tammuz 5765)

A Hilarious Sight

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev and Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin sat opposite each other, their faces afire, neither saying a word.

story #401 (s5765-44/ 13 Tammuz 5765)

The Western Light

In 1743, the Baal Shem Tov traveled towards Israel in order to meet with the Ohr HaChayim.

story #400 (s5765-43/ 6 Tammuz 5765)

A Prolific Nap

On Shabbat afternoon he found the Holy Ari of Safed napping on his bed, but his lips were murmuring.

story #399 (s5765-42/ 1 Tammuz 5765)

A Subway Conversation With a Kohen

I saw the Lubavitcher Rebbe point to the sky and make a circle with his finger in the air.

story #398 (s5765-41/ 22 Sivan 5765)

A Cheeky Toast

Exclaimed Reb Shlomo of Redomsk: "How inspired was the Yid HaKadosh of Pshischah when he once visited this town!"

story #397 (s5765-40/ 15 Sivan 5765)

How to See Israel

After a year of seclusion, Rabbi Avraham-Dov of Avritch invited the Jews of Tsfat to a feast of thanksgiving.

story #396 (s5765-39/ 8 Sivan 5765)

Under the Ban

Rabbi Aryeh-Leib Heller, the Ketzot HaShulchan, was an opponent of Chasidism, and many chasidim of the Seer of Lublin lived in his town.

story #395 (s5765-38/ 29 Iyar 5765)

A Significant Bar Mitzvah Speech

"Whoever answers these three questions," the Shelah had stipulated, "should be appointed the chief Rabbi."

story #394 (s5765-37/ 25 Iyar 5765)

Three Rubles for a Mismatch

"But...won't I receive three rubles as payment for suggesting the match?" he stammered.

story #393 (s5765-36/ 18 Iyar 5765)

The Dream of Yochai

Yochai was scholarly, wealthy and respected; Sarah was descended from Hillel the Elder.

story #392 (s5765-35/ 9 Iyar 5765)

A Sunday Afternoon Prayer

His eyes were closed and tears streamed down his cheeks; his face was intense with concentration.

story #391 (s5765-34/ 2 Iyar 5765)

Withheld Blessings

Rabbi Shmuel of Lubavitch set a condition: "You must refrain from giving any blessings along the journey."

story #390 (s5765-33/ 25 Nisan 5765)

Time To Go Home

"Go home!" said Rabbi Mordechai of Neshchiz to Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz.

story #389 (s5765-32/ 11 Nisan 5765)

Four Boxes of Matza

Once upon a time in a small city in Midwestern America,,, the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

story #388 (s5765-31/ 4 Nisan 5765)

A Lenient Passover

"Tell me the truth, please," Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heschel of Apta said to her.

story #387 (s5765-30/ 26 Adar II 5765)

Wine More Valuable Than Money

After listening to the sad tale, Rabbi Yechezkel Landau of Prague promised to intervene.

story #386 (s5765-29/ 19 Adar II 5765)

A Worthy Cause

He said to Rabbi Meir of Primishlan: "Tell me if this cow I will slaughter will be kosher or not."

story #385 (s5765-28/ 12 Adar II 5765)

Fast or Feast?

Three emissaries of the Queen came to Rabbi Elazar Rokeach of Amsterdam on an urgent mission.

story #384 (s5765-27/ 5 Adar II 5765)

Chariots of Strength

Their challenges run beyond the physical; they struggle financially and must brave suggestions that they're not up to the task of parenting.

story #383 (s5765-26/ 28 I Adar 5765)

Trust Fund

Said the Ohel Yisrael, "I will give you a letter to another of my chasidim, but this man is not so rich."

story #382 (s5765-25/ 21 Adar I 5765)

Food for Thought

Rabbi Elimelech of Lyzhinsk sensed that his guest had not yet refined and elevated his appetite for food.

story #381 (s5765-24/ 14 Adar I 5765)

The Borrowed Pipe

The disciples of the Baal Shem Tov repeatedly requested that he show them the Prophet Eliyahu.

story #380 (s5765-23/ 7 Adar I 5765)

Recognition

The voice of Rebbe Yechezkel of Kuzmir rang out: "Why are you staring at me so much?"

story #379 (s5765-22/ 30 Shvat 5765)

The Second and Third Round

Instead of cursing Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz as he did the previous time, he greeted him with a smile.

story #378 (s5765-21/ 23 Shvat 5765)

Thailand Taught Me Torah

I was the only white person on an intercity bus traveling east from Chang Mai through Northern Thailand.

story #377 (s5765-20/ 16 Shvat 5765)

The Slippery Slope

One Tu B"Shvat, Rabbi Shalom Ber of Lubavitch and his son sat with a group of Polisher chasidim who were exchanging stories about Rebbe Meir of Primishlan.

story #376 (s5765-19/ 9 Shvat 5765)

Hippie Rage

"How did the Lubavitcher Rebbe know you were coming?"

story #375 (s5765-18/ 2 Shvat 5765)

The Chauffeur's Tale

"I would not dream of taking money from a member of the family of Baba Sali."

story #374 (s5765-17/ 24 Tevet 5765)

Give Me the Shivers

"Nonsense!" said Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Chabad ; "It is simply malaria."

story #373 (s5765-16/ 17 Tevet 5765)

Worse Than Poverty

"No," said Rabbi Yitzchak Meir of Gur; "I am not in agreement with that suggestion."

story #372 (s5765-15/ 10 Tevet 5765)

Switching the View

When Simon Wiesenthal he was in Mauthausen after liberation and was visited there by Rabbi Eliezer Silver.

story #371 (s5765-14/ 3 Tevet 5765)

A Chasidic Broker

"I will not ride with you to Rabbi Feivish of Zabriza unless you give me 25 silver rubles," said Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kossov.

story #370 (s5765-13/ 25 Kislev 5765)

The Broken Bottle

The guest was awed by the plush richness of the Baghdad merchant's home; only one thing perplexed him.

story #369 (s5765-12/ 18 Kislev 5765)

The Departure of the Maggid

His disciples were greatly agitated, but the Maggid of Mezritch himself kept silent.

story #368 (s5765-11/ 11 Kislev 5765)

The Brother, the Son and the Nephew

The two Chabad chasidim also wanted to receive wine from the Ruzhiner Rebbe's hand.

story #367 (s5765-10/ 4 Kislev 5765)

Pittsburgh Miracle

Marilyn was a respected lecturer in sports nutrition, who had been on the staff of the 1984 Summer Olympics.

story #366 (s5765-09/ 26 Mar-Cheshvan 5765)

Wellsprings of Salvation

"Accept the lease," advised Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac of Zhidachov, "and start digging a well there."

story #365 (s5765-08/ 19 Mar-Cheshvan 5765)

The Fallen Sword of the Sultan

The elderly Rabbi of the Hebron community, Rabbi Avraham Azuli, solved the dilemma.

story #364 (s5765-07/ 12 Mar-Cheshvan 5765)

Credit Not Accepted

Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kosov recommended him to recount his woes to Rabbi Uri of Strelisk also.

story #363 (s5765-06/ 5 Mar-Cheshvan 5765)

Healing Treatment

Rabbi Yitzchak Meir, the "Chidushei HaRim" of Gur, asked for a story concerning Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and circumcision

story #362 (s5765-05/ 28 Tishrei 5765)

The Secret of "L'Chaim" Revealed

Some Jews who were not adherents of the Chassidic path challenged Rabbbi Yisrael of Rhyzhin.

story #361 (s5765-04/ 21 Tishrei 5765)

Don't Mix!

During the High Holidays, the daughter of Rabbi Meir of Primishlan was severely ill.

story #360 (s5765-03/ 14 Tishrei 5765)

The Most Beautiful Sukka in Jerusalem

Reb Mottele of Chernobyl built the most elaborate and beautiful sukka anyone in WWI Jerusalem ever saw.

story #359 (s5765-02/ 7 Tishrei 5765)

The Holy Thief

The Shpoler Zeide befriended a number of thieves, and even used to boast to the Almighty about them.

story #358 (s5765-01/ Erev Rosh Hashana 5765

The Introduction

"I am a widely-acclaimed preacher, worthy of preaching in the shul of Rebbe Levi Yitzchok of Berditchov."