Tag: Jewish Stories

Rabbi Judah was a great sage, a wealthy man, and the leader of the Jewish People in the Land of Israel. He was admired and respected by everyone. But when Rabbi Judah was a little baby he had come very close to being killed. This is how it happened. Rabbi Judah was born not long after Rabbi Akiba was put to death for teaching the...

In the course of their long wanderings, the two brothers, Rabbi Zusya and Rabbi Elimelekh, often came to the city of Ludmir. There they always slept in the house of a poor, devout man. Years later, when their reputation had spread all over the country they came to Ludmir agai, not on foot as before, but in a carriage. The wealthiest man in that little town, who had never wanted...

Rabbi Zuya wanted to discover the mysteries of life. He therefore resolved to imitate the life of Moses. For years, he tried to behave like the prophet - without ever achieving the results he hoped for. One night, tired of so much study, he fell into a deep sleep. God appeared in his dream...

When Moses ascended to Heaven to write a certain part of the Bible, the Almighty asked him to place small crowns on some letters of the Torah. Moses said: Master of the Universe, why draw these crowns? God answered: Because one hundred generations from now a man called Akiva will...

On the Torah's day of joy, Ball-Shem's pupils celebrated, drinking the master's wine. The rabbi's wife complained: "If they drink all the wine, there won't be any for the ceremony," she said. "Put an end to the party," replied the rabbi. The woman went to the room where the pupils were drinking. But as soon as she opened the door, she changed her mind and went back to her husband. "Why didn't you do anything?" asked Baal-Shem. "Because...

The disciple of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov went to him: "I cannot talk to God." "This often happens," said Nachman. "We feel that our lips are sealed, or that the words do not come. However, the simple fact that...

Rabbi Ben Zoma was asked: "Who is wise?" "He who always finds something to learn from others," said the Rabbi. "Who is strong?" "The man who is capable of...

A disciple went to Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav: "I shall not continue with my studies of sacred texts," he said. "I live in a small house with my brothers and parents, and never have the ideal conditions for concentrating on that which is important." Nachman pointed to the sun and asked his disciple to place his hand over his face, in order to hide it...

figure. He was stunned to see that it was a man of the city who had recently died! What are you doing here? the Rabbi asked, you are supposed to be dead. Rabbi, you know, replied the ghost, that this is the night when souls reincarnate on earth. I am such a soul. And why were you sent back again?

In the last century, a tourist from the States visited the famous Polish rabbi Hafez Hayyim. He was astonished to see that the rabbi's home was only a simple room filled with books. The only furniture was a table and a bench. "Rabbi, where is your furniture?" asked the tourist.