As told by Yerachmiel Tilles, the co-founder and first educational director of Ascent-of-Safed, originator and maintainer of this website, and managing editor of Kabbala Online, who has hundreds of published stories to his credit, with many having been translated into other languages. He tells them live in Tsfat (Safed) nearly every week, at his home on Friday evenings and at Ascent on Saturday nights. To receive the Story every Wednesday by e-mail--with a printable PDF option--sign up here!
1509 (5787-10) 29 Cheshvan 5787 (Nov.9) (Next Week) 1508 (5787-09) 22 Cheshvan 5787 (Nov.2) (This Week) "Choose, Table or Shelf" Rebbe Moshe-Mordechai of Lelov signaled to the unknown surprise visitor to approach him, then whispered something in the man's ear. The man turned away and rushed outside. Why This Week? Candlelighting as a mitzvah is not mentioned anywhere in the written Torah. There is, however, a hint to it near the end of this week's Torah reading (Gen. 24:67 + Rashi from the Midrash). 1507 (5787-08) 15 Cheshvan 5787 (Oct. 26) (Last Week) "The Rebbe and the Professor" Rabbi Sholom-Dovber Schneersohn (the Rebbe Rashab) told the student in his yeshiva to travel to Charkov to the famous doctor there, emphasizing that he should inform Professor Pabrikant that the Rebbe himself had sent him. Why this week? This Shabbat, the 20th of the Jewish month of Mar-Cheshvan, is the anniversary of the birth of the Rebbe Rashab in 1860. 1506 (5787-07) 8 Cheshvan 5787 (Oct. 19) "Mother Rachel Still Cares" “Dear G-d. My family has rejected me because of my choices; my new friends have rejected me because I don’t really fit in with them. I need to know that somebody cares about me.” Why This Week? This Thursday, the 11th of the Jewish month of Mar-Cheshvan, is the yahrzeit-hilula of Matriarch Rachel. 1505 (5787-06) 1 Cheshvan 5787 (Oct. 12) "A Chasidic Child's Reseurrection" The Chassid was overcome with emotion. He stood there before the Rebbe in utter astonishment, unable to utter a single word. The others present in the room were equally amazed to hear the Rebbe's words, yet none dared question him. Why This Week? The 3rd of the Jewish month of Cheshvan [2026: Wednesday, Oct.14] is the yahrzeit of "The Holy Rizhiner Rabbi". 1504 (5787-05) 24 Tishrei 5787 (Oct. 5) "Fish Store or Torah Scholar?" A few hours after Yom Kippur
he received a message that Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchov wanted to speak
to him. "I want you to know that your prayers caused a great uproar in
Heaven," the Rebbe said. Why This Week? First week after the many holidays - back to work! 1503 (5787-04) 18 Tishrei 5787 (Sept. 29) "The Miracle of Fire in the Snow" Most of the Hasidim who arrived in Liozna for Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah had frozen fingers and toes, and many had a nasty flu and a high fever.. Why This Week? Simchat Torah 1502 (5787-03) 11 Tishrei 5787 (Sept. 22, 2026) "An Etrog for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur" The Sinitieh synagogue administrators had never faced such a crisis before: Rosh Hashanah was about to begin, their hired cantor was sick, and no replacement was available. Why This Week? The story flows from Yom Kippur to Sukkot 1501 (5787-02) 3 Tishrei 5787 (Sept.14, 2026) "A Chasid's Skeptical Question on Yom Kippur" Rabbi Mendel Futerfass was transferred to a Siberian concentration camp and squeezed into a hall, where about sixty beds were crammed in tiers on the surrounding walls. All the hardened criminals snatched the best places, while he was pushed into a corner. He tried his best to be inconspicuous. Why this week? This coming Sunday night is the beginning of Yom Kippur. 1500 (5787-01) 25 Elul 5786 (Sept.7, 2026) "The Price for Blowing the Shofar in Shul" “My dear husband, others in your situation travel to England, and some even as far as America, and they return with substantial sums. Yet for you, going from Meah She’arim to nearby Zichron Moshe is as though you were traveling to the end of the world!” Why this week? Rosh Hashanah falls in Shabbat and Sunday
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