Stories Archive: |
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Original translations/adaptations by Yrachmiel Tilles - a founder of Ascent of Safed, educational coordinator of Ascent's seminars, editor of Ascent Quarterly, and maintainer of this internet site and its e-mail lists.To receive the Story by e-mail every Wednesday--sign up here! |
| 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." |
At the present time, approximately half of the stories are accessible in the archives. The other stories are available in WinWord v.2, 6, or 8 format. For now, email requests for 1 story will be honored at no charge; subsequent requests will have to be accompanied by a donation of $1.00 for each story, sent to: Ascent, P.O.B. 296, Zefat, Israel. Thank you for your patience.