Stories Archive:
#255-309 (5763)
Stories Archive:
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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.To receive the Story by e-mail every Wednesday--sign up here!A 48 page soft-covered booklet containing eleven
of our most popular stories |
| story #309 (s5763-55/ 20 Elul 5763/2003) Saved at the
Mikva Replied Rabbi Mordechai Dov of Hornesteipel, "A person's sincere wish is never denied, but that wish must be the person's foremost desire." story #308 (s5763-54/ 13 Elul) The Delayed Answer story #307
(s5763-53/ 6 Elul) story #306 (s5763-52/ 29 Menachem-Av)
story #305 (s5763-51/ 22
Menachem-Av) story #304
(s5763-50/ 15 Menachem-Av) story #303 (s5763-49/ 8 Menachem-Av) Empty Bottles on a Window Ledge “When we have a good Simchas Torah, we will also have a good Tisha b’Av,” the Seer of Lublin remarked cryptically. story #302 (s5763-48/ 1 Menachem-Av) An Unusuasl Reward As "payment" for the trip, the holy ARI revealed to them a deep secret... story #301 (s5763-47 / 23 Tammuz) Heavenly Intervention One of the greatest of all Kabbalists was Rabbi Moshe Cadorvero... story #300 (s5763-46 / 16 Tammuz) The Fifth Aliyah Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi commented: "this young man is a chasid of sacrifice." story #299 (s5763-45 / 9 Tammuz) A Grandfather's Tears Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Scheersohn shared a very interesting idea from the Baal Shem Tov. story # 298 (s5763-44 / 2 Tammuz) In the Elevator "The Lubavitcher Rebbe's appearance has changed, but his eyes, ah, his piercing blue eyes are exactly the same." story #297 (s5763-43 / 25 Sivan) From Salah to Yehuda On his maternal side, Salah Abdel Manam's great-grandfather was a famous Safed mystic. story #296 (s5763-42 / 18 Sivan) The Holy Kiddush Cup, Aliyah and Redemption "My white beard is unwilling to allow any postponement," replied Rabbi Moshe of Lelov story #295 (s5763-41 / 11 Sivan) Coming Home from Ramalllah "I'd really like to sing Lecha Dodi again." story #294 (s5763-40 / 4 Sivan) Power Books "Why don't you give Alexei, the peasant driver of the Baal Shem Tov, some money with a bottle of whiskey." story #293 (s5763-39 / 26 Iyar) Salmon on Shavuot Special attention was given to the preparation of fish for Shabbos and Yom Tov for Rebbe Yechezkel of Kuzmir. story #292 (s5763-38 / 18 Iyar) From Mount Skopus to Mount Meron How could it be that so many people inside were crying, while outside an even larger crowd was singing? story #291 (s5763-37 / 12 Iyar) Gold Coins on Shabbat Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sassov had leased a hut in the middle of a forest in order to meditate and pray in the stillness of the woods. story #290 (s5763-36 / 5 Iyar) "Double Healing" When the Rebbe Maharash of Lubavitch was a young child, he was unusually serious but often a bit mischievous. story #289 (s5763-35 / 28 Nisan) Dire Obstinacy he local folk were stupefied: surely their Rabbi had not won over Reb Shmelke of Nikolsburg! story #288 (s5763-34/ 19 Nisan) Torn between Two Loves The prayers of Rabbi Yitzchak Aizik of Zhidachov on the second night of Pesach were not fired by their usual enthusiasm. story #287 (s5763-33/ 13 Nisan) "A Fortune in Whisky" Reb Koppel of Kikova hoped his small fortune in whisky barrels would provide dowries for his many daughters. story #286 (s5763-32 / 7 Nisan) "A Lesson from Baseball" "Do you ever play baseball with your friends?" the Lubavitcher Rebbe asked me. story #285 (s5763-31/29 Adar II) One Horse for Purim, one Horse for Pesach The Sassover Rebbe gave the most perplexing blessing I ever heard of in my life." story #284 (s5763-30 / 22 Adar II) The Slaughtering of Birds, Animals and People The Chasam Sofer and the Yismach Moshe differed in their rulings about the force-feeding of geese; the Tzemach Tzedek refers to the Beit Yosef and the Rama about lungs story #283 (s5763-29 / 15 Adar II) The Stale Comedian "Let's go to console the widow of the Mikveh Yid of Lemberg," said Rabbi Dov Ber of Mizritchstory #282 (s5763-28 / 8 Adar II)The Purim GovernorThe tzaddik, Rebbe Zvi of Zhidachov, afforded his dramatic nephew the honor due a king.story #281 (s5763-27 / 1 Adar II)A Well Kept SecretRabbi Chaim Halberstam of Sanz gave with an open hand from his own meager funds and solicited from others as well.story #280 (s5763-26/24 Adar 1)The Middle of The StoryWhen the Chafetz Chaim opened his eyes, they were filled with tears.story #279 (s5763-25/ 17 Adar 1)The Life of an HourThe tzaddik, Rabbi Yitzchak Meir of Ger, was unaccustomed to traveling on Fridays.story #278 (s5763-24/10 Adar 1)Protestant 'B'How a Gulf War dog tag forced an American soldier to reclaim his Judaism.story #277 (s5763-23/ 3 Adar 1) Beyond Space lthough he lived in the same town, he had never gone to visit the Maggid.of Mezritch story #276 (s5763-22 / 26 Shvat)Beginner's LuckRabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev hesitated to pronounce his verdict and finalize the case.story #275 (s5763-21/ 19 Shvat)The Shabbos Disease"Oh, no! Not again!" he cried out. He decided to go to R. Shmuel Abba of Zichlin, and beg to be rescued from this bizarre affliction.story #274 (s5763-20/ 12 Shvat)The Witnessing TreeBeing well aware of the Ohr HaChaim’s reputation as a miracle-worker, he left without questioning the great rabbi’s instructionsstory #273 (s5763-19/
5 Shvat)
Air Fright The Lubavitcher Rebbe added to the expected blessing a surprising instruction. story #272 (s5763-18/ 27 Tevet 5763/2003) "Master of the Universe: Enough Already!" "His
family and his chassidim pleaded with the Rebbe, Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl,
for an explanation." story #271 (s5763-17/ 20 Tevet 5763/2002) A Door on the East Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi mysteriously warned him not to enter any house that had its door on the east side. story #270 (s5763-16/ 13 Tevet) Yaakov The Innocent The Tsemech Tzedek told of a desperate tenant who travelled to Rabbi Yisroel of Rhyzhin and asked him to intercede story #269 (s5763-15/ 6 Tevet) THE ANGUSH OF SHABBAT Rabbi Hillel of Paritsh spent a substantial part of every year traveling through southern Russia in to arouse people to repentance. story #268 (s5763-14/ 29 Kislev) THE NEWEST MACABBEE R. Avraham of Slonim stood in front of the Chanuka menora staring at the wicks, meditating and contemplating story #267 (s5763-13/ 22 Kislev) BEND DOWN Rabbi David of Tolna stood before the menorah, involved in his last-moment inner preparations. story #266 (s5763-12/ 15 Kislev) THE MISSING VOCAL CHORDS "The Lubavitch Rebbe told me to start learning Tanya because of a miracle in our family." story #265 (s5763-11/ 8 Kislev) BRAVE BY DEFINITION Because of the drought, the rabbis of Jerusalem decided to dispatch Rabbi Avraham Galanti to raise money abroad. story #264 (s5763-10/ 1 Kislev) THE NOVICE AND THE MISER Feeling unclear about how to respond, Rabbi Schochet decided to consult with the Lubavitcher Rebbe story #263 (s5763-9/ 24 MarCheshvan) THE FIRST MATCH "I asked the Maggid of Mezritch to pray for me that the Al-mighty arrange that I meet my marriage partner..." story #262 (s5763-8/ 17 MarCheshvan) ONLY MINE Tamar, a young child, was much less likely to be noticed by the Nazi beasts than an adult. story #261 (s5763-7/ 10 MarCheshvan) THE BENEFITS OF AN EXCELLENT MEMORY "Don't you remember me, Rabbi Lehmann? A few years ago I heard you give the most wonderful sermon." story (s5763-6/ 3 MarCheshvan) CONTRARY COUPLES "May the Al-mighty help him," said Rabbi Yisroel of Rhyzhin to the skeptical woman whose husband believed in the holiness of the Rebbe. story #259 (s5763-5/ 26 Tishrei) SPECIAL GUEST TREATMENT Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev made his way to the local shul... unable to contain the rapture and ecstasy that fired him in prayer. story #258 (s5763-4/ 19 Tishrei) THE PLATE IN THE SUKKAH Before Rabbi Yissacher Dov of Radoshitz became the Rebbe, he lived in abject poverty story #257 (s5763-3/ 12 Tishrei) THE HORSE ETROG Before Rabbi Morechai of Neshchiz decided to accept a rabbinical position, he was a merchant story #256 (s5763-2/ 5 Tishrei) QUALITY OF LIFE Rebbe Zvi Hersh of Riminov reasoned that a Jew who lived to such an age must have some kind of merit. story #255 (s5763-1/ 27 Elul, for Rosh HaShana 5763/2002) SHOFAR MEDITATIONS x THREE The Baal Shem Tov - The Berditchever - The Tzemach Tzedek |