Stories Archive:
#101-153 (5760)

Original translations/adaptations by Yrachmiel Tilles - co-founder of Ascent of Safed, creator of  Ascent's seminars,  editor of Ascent Quarterly, director of Kabbala Online and maintainer of this internet site and its e-mail lists.
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Story#153   PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEMS

(s5760-53 / 20 Elul)

"Don't despair. I have excellent advice for you. Travel to Lubavitch and see the Rebbe, the Tsemech Tsedek. He'll surely answer all your questions."

Story#152  THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK

(s5760-52 / 13Elul)

To separate from the Baal Shem Tov was very difficult, but the reason was that he was leaving for the Holy Land.

Story#151  A LESSON IN HOSPITALITY

(s5760-51/6 Elul)

He was aware that I had flown the year before to see the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

Story#150  THE RIGHT ADDRESS

(s5760-50/29 Av)

"The Rebbe of Lubavitch lives in New York. Perhaps he can save you from this terrible affliction."

Story#149   THE HOLY BEGGARS OF SAFED

(s5760-49/22 Av)

The holiest of our seedier citizens is not a beggar.

Story#148  DOUBLE TREATMENT

(s5760-48/ 15 Av)

Rebbe Elimelech of Lizensk, instructed the great Torah scholar, Rabbi Simcha of Bubraka, that he should travel to his brother, Rebbe Zusha of Anapoli

Story#147  A DEATH-BED CONFESSION

(s5760-47/ 8 Av)

Although everyone was aware of Bagalo’s great wisdom, no one had yet realized his great secret.

Story#146  SLAPS OF LOVE

(s5760-46/1 Av)

He had heard that it would be worthwhile for him to meet Rabbi Moshe Weber

Story#145  AN ALL-PURPOSE KADDISH

(s5760-45/23 Tammuz)

The Rosh Yeshiva summoned two of his great disciples: his son, Rabbi Shimon Sofer, and Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld.

Story#144  SLEEPLESS

(s5760-44/10 Tammuz)

“Of course! I should call the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Why didn’t I think of it earlier!”

Story#143  THREE SAFED STORIES

(s5760-43/9 Tammuz)

Rabbi Yisrael Najara, a kabbalist in 16th century Tsfat, liked to walk in the river-valley below the town.

  

Story#142  From Upper Galilee to Lower East Side

(s5760-42/2 Tammuz)

“Tell me,” he demanded; “Does the Lubavitcher Rebbe have supernatural powers?”

Story #141   A SURGICAL PROCEDURE

(s5760-41/ 25 Sivan)

He felt the penetrating gaze of the Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach, burning into him.

Story#140   WHAT WILL THE ANGELS SAY?”

(s5760-40/18 Sivan)

Rabbi Baruch of Mezhibuzh, sometimes used to speak harshly of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev

Story#139   A DREAM COME TRUE

(s5760-39/5 Sivan)

"You have to hear this amazing episode with Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi; it is my own personal experience."

Story#138   HOW TO HEAR THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

(s5760-38/4 Sivan)

“Enough!” The Shpoler Zeide called out. “That’s the final blow!”

Story#137   BASEBALL HEROES

(s5760-376/26 Iyar)

"My child cannot understand things as other children do. My child cannot remember facts and figures as other children do. Where is G-d's perfection?"

Story#136   HONOR YOUR TEACHER

(s5760-36/19 Iyar)

The Rebbe, R. Shlomo of Karlin, announced he was about to leave on a trip, and that anyone who needed anything of him was welcome to come along.

Story#135   LAG B’OMER MIRACLE AT MERON

(s5760-35/12 Iyar)

" ‘Exalted and blessed is His great name,’ and also the name of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai."

Hear this story in live audio!

Story#134 (s5760-34/5 Iyar)

A DELICIOUS OFFERING

A messenger from the “Holy Ari,” Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, strode into the shul and approached the rabbi.

Story#133 (s5760-33/28 Nissan)

A LESSON IN SILENCE

He couldn’t believe his eyes: Rabbi Yisroel Hager, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, in his house!

Story#132  (s5760-32/14 Nissan)

AT THE REBBE’S SEDER TABLE

He wanted to be with the Maggid of Koznitz for Pesach night, but he knew the Rebbe   preferred to not host chassidim at his Seder.

Story# 131(s5760-31/Nissan 7)

REBBE MATZAH, EXTRA MATZAH

The Lubavitcher Rebbe sized me up with a rapid glance and turned to break off a piece of matzah.

Story#130  (s5760-30/29Adar II)

AFTER THE DRAFT

The Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch repeated the same words for a third time.

Story#129 (s5760-29/22Adar II) 

THE EXTRA MATZAH

In the displaced persons' camp in March 1945, Rabbi Eliezer Zusha Portugal, the Skulener Rebbe, sought to obtain wheat that he could bake into “shmurah matzah.”

Story#128 (s5760-29/15Adar II)

THE CRAZY SON-IN-LAW

Several days after the funeral, he appeared to the Chief Rabbi of Prague in a dream

Story#127 (s5760-27/8 Adar II)

WALKING INTO FIRE

David had never before heard of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

Story#126  (s5760-26/1Adar II)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

His wife suggested going for advice and blessing to the Baal Shem Tov

Story#125 (s5760-25/24Adar I)

THE PRECIOUS COIN

The Ktav Sofer was visibly upset, his face white as frost  

Story #124 (s5760-24/17Adar I)
 
THE BOILING LEAD TREATMENT

The great Kabbalist, Rabbi Moshe de Leon, looked at the well-known sinner of 13th century Spain penetratingly

Story#123 (s5760-24/12 Adar I)

THE ONION PLOT

“Wow! This is exactly the opportunity I’ve been waiting for!” said Reb Naftali of Rofshitz, one of the leading disciples of the Seer of Lublin.

Story#122   A BUNDLE OF SPARKS

(s5760-23/6 Adar I)

Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi leaned his head on his hands, as he often did when entering a state of divine union.

Story#121   A LESSON IN TALMUD

(s5760-22/26 Shvat)

They started to make fun of the founder of the Chassidic movement, the holy Ba'al Shem Tov.

Story#120   THE 20,000 % PRICE INCREASE

(s5760-21/19Shvat)

Rabbi Yitzchak Ze’ev Soloveitchik [1886-1959; son of Reb Chaim of Brisk], was often asked why he permitted the Beis Yaakov girls’ school to be located in a non-religious neighborhood.

Story#119   AN ANGEL OF ONE THOUSAND

(s5760-120/12 Shvat

‘I heard that the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, is now in the United States.’

Story#118   A KABBALIST'S VISIT TO THE CITY OF KABBALAH

(s5760-19/5 Shvat)

During this sojourn in Tsfat, the miraculous kabbalistic powers of Baba Sali were revealed.

Story#117  A DREADLOCKS SHABBBAT DROP-IN

(s5760-18/ 27 Tevet)

A first-person story told at Ascent by a guest.

Story#116   SIMPLE LOGIC

(s5760-17/ 20 Tevet)

Rabbi Shnuer Zalman immediately said, “Don’t think that I made a miracle, or even that I was divinely inspired. "

Story#115  A SOUL’S SCREAM

(s5760-16/ 6 Tevet)

Eliezer HaKohein Isaac told this amazing account of his World War II experience to his son-in-law, Yitzchak Hershkovitz, of Petach Tikvah.

Story#114  THE REBBE’S PREPOSTEROUS ADVICE

(s5760-15/29 Kislev)

“Ah, good advice, a miracle, even” the rebbe repeated softly, stroking his beard. "For that perhaps you should go to the new Lubavitcher Rebbe. He knows about these matters.”

Story#113   FIFTH LIGHT - FIVE WEDDINGS

(s5760-15/29 Kislev)

My father was so shocked to hear these words again that he didn't hear the rest of the blessing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

Story#112  THE HIGHEST BID

(s5760-12/ 22 Kislev)

Before he departed for home, the Sadigora Rebbe always gave him a coin of pure silver.

Story#111   THE PRAYER BUSINESS

(s5760-11/ 15 Kislev)

Rabbi Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezritch, used to pray at great length.

Story#110   BUSINESS ON SHABBAT

(s5760-10/ 8 Kislev)

Once, when I able to speak with the Rebbe [R. Shneur Zalman], he said something that took me by surprise.

Story#109   “HIM–NOT HIM”

(s5760-09/ 1 Kislev)

He heard the Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom DovBer Schneersohn, muttering, as if he were talking to himself, but in Russian!

Story#108   FULL REPAYMENT

(s5760-08/ 24 Cheshvan)

Rabbi Shmuel Shtrashun (the Reshash) revered for his Talmudic commentaries, was devoted to the Jewish community of Vilna

Story#107   A GUEST FOR THE FISH

(s5760-07/ 17 Cheshvan)

The holy Rabbi Yitzchak of Drohovitch ... was nagged by puzzlement

Story#106   THE FARMER METHOD

(s5760-06/ 10 Cheshvan)

"Are you qualified to recognize lofty souls?” queried the Rebbe Maharash.

Story#105   FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS

(s5760-05/3 Cheshvan)

He was astonished to see that Rabbi Yisrael, the Rhyzhiner Rebbe, lived in extraordinary luxury!
Hear this story in live audio!

Story#104   THE SMILE IN THE PICTURE

(s5760-04/ 26 Tishrei)

Elimelech and Tzivia were both astonished. How did the Lubavitcher Rebbe know who they were?

Story#103   THE UMBRELLA PARADE

(s5760-03/ 19 Tishrei)

The Pasha summoned Rabbi Moshe Galante, who had moved from Tsfat around 1655 and was now one of Jerusalem’s leading rabbis.

Story#102   RETROACTIVELY KOSHER

(s5760-02/ 12 Tishrei)

The Rebbe, R. Chaim Meir Yechiel Shapira of Mogelnitz , stared at the vision in front of him.

Story#101   CAUGHT IN THE ACT

(s5760-01/ 5 Tishrei)

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev froze in his place. His face turned white as a sheet. His eyes bulged.

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