Jewish stories for children of all ages

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok was the Rov of Berditchev, which had many wealthy Jews, and some that were not. Those who needed help were sometimes visited by a mysterious farmer with a fur hat and a red scarf who would deliver packages of food to those in need, along with some money. After Rabbi Levi Yitzchok went away from life, his talmidim ventured into the tzaddik's secret cellar, where they found the clothing of the mysterious farmer.

When the Jews of Tunis go to the Arab market erev Sukkos to buy haddasim for schach, they are shocked to find that the price has been increased from three coins to thirty coins. Soon Abdullah, the leader of the merchants, is shocked as Rabbi Yeshua Bosis buys a bundle of haddasim and then asks Hashem for a miracle.

When the cruel pasha of Tsefas orders the Jews to bring him 500 white roosters or suffer a bitter end, they become fearful as it is well known that no white roosters could be found for hundreds of miles. But Reb Yosef Sargusi advises them well, and soon the pasha gets a very big surprise indeed.

Senor de Pegoto is a wealthy, kindly Jew. When Chassan the Arab visits him and requests a large loan, Senor de Pegoto agrees as long as a guarantor is included. When Chassan says that Hashem will be his guarantor, Senor de Pegoto agrees and is very surprised when the Guarantor returns the loan the very next day.

When Boruch hosts the Holy Baal Shem Tov, he sees a wondrous sight- the Maharal of Prague visits the Baal Shem Tov during Tikkun Chatzos and tells the Baal Shem Tov to inform his host that he will expect a son who will have the Maharal's neshomo. This boy grew up to become the famous "Shpoler Zeide".

Kalman the shamash lights candles in the shul every afternoon. Boruch the butcher offers to buy this privilege, but Kalman does not desire money. Eventually, on Rabbi Yehudah Leib Assad's advice, Kalmen sells Boruch the right to light candles in the shul. Years later, Kalman and Boruch realize that they have both greatly benefited from Rabbi Assad's wise advice.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev faces his very first case as the new Rov of the city. It seems like an open and shut case- property in the possession of orphans cannot be claimed by a merchant with no document and no witnesses. But the Berditchever Rov suspects there is a deeper lesson to be learned, and his caution and patience is rewarded when the merchant remembers an event from fifty years earlier.

R. Eliyahu Baal Shem gives R. Avraham Moshe a set of instructions to arouse his great-uncle Moshe to teshuva. When he puts up a mezuzah on the front door of Moshe's house, this opens up the gates of repentance. As the Baal Shem Tov concludes the story 160 years later, the mysteries of hashgocho protis, Divine Providence, are revealed in all their detail, right down to the drink of fresh springwater R. Chaim Rappaport had enjoyed just a few weeks earlier on the site of the ruined estate of R. Moshe, son of R. Shmuel Tzadok.

Back in Prague, R. Yehudah Aryeh slowly forgets about his brother R. Moshe's sorry state. He sends his grandsons to learn with the Tosfos YomTov, and one of them, Avraham Moshe, receives special instruction in Kabbalah. Soon, an old friend of the family reminds them that their ancestor R. Shmuel Tzadok was punished with a son like R. Moshe because he himself would ridicule those who studied kabbalah. Avraham Moshe is saddened to hear of his great-uncle Moshe's situation, and asks R. Eliyahu Baal Shem, recently moved to Prague for advice.

After R. Shmuel Tzadok goes away from life, his business affairs are handled by his son R. Yehudah Aryeh while his son R. Moshe learns Torah all day. However, within a few years, R. Moshe turns his back on the straight path and follows the lifestyle and customs of the local nobility. This causes anguish to his brother R. Yehudah Aryeh, who moves back to Prague to ease his pain.

Several weeks later, in Elul, R. Chaim Rappaport visits the Baal Shem Tov in Medzibuzh and hears the underlying story behind his mission to the abandoned estate. 160 years previously, a talmid chacham from Prague moved to Lvov. Known as “R. Shmuel Tzadok, the opponent of Kabbalah and Mussar", his hostility to Mussar, and to Kabbalah in which he had no faith, he implanted in his sons R. Moshe and R. Yehudah Arye.

Meanwhile, R. Chaim Rappaport must travel to an abandoned estate outside Lvov to learn the first four chapters of Hilchos Brochos. A torrential rain almost prevents the journey, but as soon as the Rov begins to learn, the clouds part and the sun shines forth. He drinks a cup of water from a nearby spring before returning to Lvov.

The Baal Shem Tov sends his talmid Moshe Meshel to deliver two letters, both to residents of Lvov. The first, to the Av Beis Din R. Chaim Rappaport, contains mysterious instructions for an upcoming journey. The second, to R. Chaim Yisroel the Potter, is delivered in silence. Unbeknownst to anyone, Chaim Yisroel is a hidden tzaddik who must act soon to prevent a calamity.

When the Count makes a rash threat against the Jews, he soon regrets it and wishes to take back what he said. The local priest offers to help out, as long as he can debate one of the Jews. Hershel the fool soon makes a fool of the priest.

The Baal Shem Tov offers a brocho to a confident businessman, who turns it down. When the businessman loses his fortune 16 years later, he has a second chance thanks to the Baal Shem Tov's ruach haKodesh.

When a fire threatens to destroy a small town, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi extinguishes the fierce flames with a glance. Later, a Russian Army captain who had sent soldiers to unsuccessfully fight the fire shares a story about the holy Baal Shem Tov with the Rebbe.

The Rav of Ehrfurt has a dream in which a man dressed in white appears, holding a sefer tehillim and carrying an important message. 

Count Vladek is no friend to the Jews, so his fellow nobles are surprised to hear him vote against a new decree. They would be even more surprised to hear that his name was once Velvel, and would be again soon.

When the Czar hears that the Ruzhiner Rebbe might not be a loyal subject, he sends a spy to Ruzhin in the hopes of ensnaring the Rebbe into slandering the Czar. But the Rebbe sees through the disguise and sets the spy straight.

Yaakov Leib is a silversmith, a master craftsman whose works are very valuable. His most precious work is a silver seder plate, intended for his young daughter Miriam's eventual wedding. When cruel robbers steal the plate, Miriam is heartbroken to lose her father and vows not to marry until the plate is recovered. The holy Baal Shem Tov makes sure that every last piece of the silver seder plate is brought back to Miriam.

Yisrolik loves to stay late in the beis medrash learning Torah, but his father wants to make sure that Yisrolik gets enough rest. The shamash agrees to make sure that Yisrolik has only one small candle, enough to last for just one hour of learning. But Yisrolik is special, and the candle wants to keep burning.

The Chernobler Rebbe stops at a wayside inn for some refreshments, and discovers that the innkeeper's daughter is unwell. With a simple glance, the Rebbe soon sets things right but explains that it was no miracle after all. 

When Rabbi Yosef of Tulchin becomes unexpectedly stranded at a roadside inn for several days due to heavy rains, he offers the innkeeper a clock in lieu of payment. The clock hangs on the wall for several years until a visitor recognizes the chime and shares the message of the clock.

When Hilke the innkeeper is falsely accused, he visits the Rebbe for advice and a brocho, but when the Rebbe mentions that "even mice have a purpose", Hilke is confused. As the case goes to trial, Hilke sees that the Rebbe's words were actually profound.

When Yaakov was orphaned, a kindly blacksmith took him in and taught him the trade. Yaakov lived a solitary life, alone except for Chagigah, his beloved volume of the Talmud. Yaakov's devotion to Chagigah is rewarded when he needs it the most.

The holy Baal Shem Tov takes his talmidim on a journey. They stop at a spring on the way and then visit an old man who greets the Baal Shem Tov like a long-lost brother. Later, they travel to a city and spend Shabbos with a Jewish tailor and a local anti-semite. Many years later, the talmidim learn of the purpose of their journey.

When the "Sefardishe Yid" of Cracow (Kroke) offers to marry a young chalitza at the age of 80, the townspeople knew that something special was happening, but 13 years later, the child of this union shows that he is very special indeed, and later becomes the famous Baal Mofes, Rabbi Eliyahu the Baal Shem of Wurms.

When the Poretz's Jewish business manager loses his good position after being slandered by someone he had helped, he appeals to his Rebbe, Rabbi Meir Premishlaner, who in turn speaks with Rabbi Naftoli, the Lizhensker Rebbe's einikel. Rabbi Naftoli reminds the Jewish business manager that "Pesach lasts for eight days" and the business manager soon regains his position.

Before Rabbi Dovid became known as the Lelover Rebbe, he was a talmid of Rabbi Elimelech and once received a ride to Lizhensk from a wealthy Jew. Since Rabbi Dovid appeared to be a poor beggar, the wealthy Jew made fun of Rabbi Dovid's appearance. Soon afterwards, the wealthy Jew realized that he had made a big mistake.

The holy Baal Shem Tov is traveling to the Holy Land when he must stop in Constantinople with his daughter Udel for Pesach. During the seder, the Baal Shem Tov recites the verse "To He Alone who performs great miracles" with tremendous feeling. Later, their host asks the reason for this and discovers that a miracle had indeed happened at that moment, saving the Jews of the city from a calamity.

Sholom Mordechai Schwadron, known as the Maharsham, once fell ill as a young man. When he recovered, he told an incredible story of his encounter with a Yid named Eichenstein who advocated for him in Shomayim.

When the Crown Prince falls ill while on a tour through Russia, he is taken to a little town named Vardik and lodged next to the shul. Due to his condition, the doctors order complete silence, but it's Purim and one little boy saves the Jews with his simple joy.

When a Jew named Mendel is falsely accused of theft, he appeals to the Shpoler Zeide, Reb Aryeh Leib, for help. The Rebbe arranges for a lawyer after Mendel gives 300 rubles to help an orphaned bride get married and tells Mendel to make sure the trial will be held on Purim. While the townspeople of Shpole enjoy the Rebbe's Purim shpiel, Mendel sees a Purim miracle unfold before his eyes in court.

The Sheikh of Sana, capital city of Yemen, enjoys a drop of wine from time to time. The Imam does not approve and schemes to be rid of the Sheikh and his new advisor, Mordechai ben Yair, whose skill with the properties of ink brings a most surprising and satisfactory conclusion to a very dangerous situation for the Jews of Sana.

Leib is an excellent host, and when he takes pride in his performance of the mitzvah of hachnosas orchim, welcoming guests, it is decreed that his boasting must be atoned for. A greedy guest sets in motion a long journey of wandering for Leib, until one Shabbos when he stays with a familiar face.

When French forces under Napoleon besiege the Italian city of Fossano, in the picturesque Alps, the non-Jewish inhabitants use it as an excuse to victimize the Jews during Chol Hamoed Pesach, but the simcha of the sedorim and their pure faith intercede and they are miraculously saved.

Rabbi Nochum'ke collects money from everybody for the poor, except for a wealthy lawyer who never gives kopek. When the lawyer falls afoul of the law and is imprisoned for two years, Rabbi Nochum'ke makes sure his wife and children are cared for.

The cruel Pasha of Beirut finds out that he is a direct descendent of the wicked Haman, and demands ten thousand silver kikars be repaid to him by the Jews of Beirut. The tzadik Rabbi Yitzchak, sitting in Tzefas, hears their prayers and joins in with them, and the cruel Pasha soon changes his attitude.

At Boruch Mordechai's bris, which was on Purim, the Chasam Sofer quoted the famous line "Nichnas Yayin, yotzo sod"- when wine goes in, secrets come out. Seventy years later, after a lifetime of humility and kindness, Boruch Mordechai drank wine at a Purim seudah and revealed secrets of Torah.

A yishuvnik (Jewish farmer) hires a melamed to teach his sons, and when the melamed tells the yishuvnik that he will be leaving to spend yomtov with his Rebbe, the yishuvnik decides to go as well. He becomes a changed person when he has yechidus (private audience) with the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad chassidus.

Chacham Moshe is one of the Sultan's closest advisors, along with Achmed. When Achmed's jealous scheme backfires, Chacham Moshe becomes even closer to the Sultan, which drives Achmed to plot against him with even more cunning. Finally, deliverance comes when the Sultan's missing signet ring is miraculously found and Achmed gets his just reward.

The holy Baal Shem Tov is escorting young Shaul Margolis back to his father in Lemberg shortly after Purim, when they stop at an inn and the Baal Shem Tov asks young Shaul to sing "Shoshanas Yaakov" for the assembled non-Jewish peasants. Before they resume their journey, the Baal Shem Tov introduces Shaul to three young peasant boys about his age. Many years later, the reason for this strange occurrence becomes clear.

For the Jews of Tripoli, times were good because the ruler's favorite advisor was a Jewess, known as "Queen Esther". Her husband Mordechai was the Pasha's Finance Minister. But when Crown Prince Burgel rebels against his father, Ali Pasha, the situation becomes grim until the Jews remember that it's best to trust only in Hashem.

When Chief Rabbi Moshe Hammun, personal physician to the Sultan of Constantinople, is called urgently to the palace, he is surprised to hear that the Sultan has had a dream ordering that all Jews in Turkey must either convert or be exiled. Rabbi Moshe is unsure of how to help the Jews until a stranger tells him a secret that turns the situation around very quickly.

When the Berbers sack the Spanish city of Cordoba and destroy the Jewish community, young Shmuel Abinoam is orphaned and only escapes with the help of kindly neighbors to Granada. There, he finds new hope with the help of Dona Ezra, who teaches him to play the harp. Eventually young Shmuel Abinoam is reunited with his uncle Shmuel HaNagid and together they use Shmuel's musical skill to restore peace to the Jews of Granada.

When the sheriff outlaws the delivering of shalach-mones without a special license, which must be bought from him, the Jews gragger Haman extra hard that year and the situation quickly turns over just as in the days of Mordechai and Esther.

A melamed in Medzibuzh desires greatly to visit the Baal Shem Tov, but the melamed's employer has forbidden it. One Friday night, the melamed's desire is fulfilled in his dream, and when he awakes he can think of nothing else until finally his dream becomes a reality.

Shmuel HaKatzin finds a most excellent bride for his dear daughter Perel, until the wheel of fortune changes and the wedding is postponed for ten years. But a passing officer leaves an old saddlebag in payment for a loaf of Perel's bread, and the wheel of fortune turns again and they finally marry.

When the Rabbi goes to collect funds for a poor kallah, his very first stop provides him with all of the expenses as well as a very special story.

Matzliach's promise to his late father is to choose one mitzvah that he will keep no matter what the cost, and Matzliach soon discovers that his dedication to negel vasser brings him great success indeed, both physically and spiritually.

When two brothers inherit a farm from their father, they share the work and share the harvest. When each decides that the other deserves a larger share, Hashem takes notice.