Sage Advice
By Leibel Estrin Many years ago, two elderly widowers were speaking. “I don’t understand something,” one of the old men began. “Both of us loved and lost our wives. But I am inconsolable...
Category: Stories
Now That’s Humility
By Leibel Estrin Rabbi Yosef Rosen (1858-1936) was known for his diligence in Torah study. Even as a young boy, he spent his time pouring over religious texts. It wasn’t long before the teachers...
The Value of a Mitzvah
By Leibel Estrin Once upon a time, two souls met each other at a crossroads. One was going to Heaven, the other was going to a body on Earth. “Tell me,” the Neshoma on his...
In Pursuit
Rabbi Pinchas of Koritz once saw his students worried. Upon asking them the reason, they responded: “We are worried because our evil inclination is in pursuit of us.” The Rebbe responded: “I see that...
No More Rebbe
After the passing of Rabbi Yehudah Tzvi of Setrin, the elder chassidim refused to accept the leadership of his son, Rabbi Avraham, saying, “The face of Moshe was like the sun, while his student,...
Dancing In Pajamas
There was once a chossid who was accustomed to travel to his rebbe, Rabbi Yisroel of Ruzin for the holidays. Over time, this chossid became wealthy. Thinking that he no longer needed the rebbe‘s...
Late Prayers and Mail
By Rabbi Dovid Markel The chossid R. Chaim Moshe Alperovitz once related an exchange that he had with the chossid R. Yankel Zurbitzer. He recounted as follows: “Once, I met R. Yankel on...
A True Miracle
By Rabbi Dovid Markel Once, at a popular fair, where various merchants would purchase their wares, a group of rich Chassidic merchants were present. Each of them began extolling the virtues of their...
Saving a Town
During the time of the Baal Shem Tov, there was a certain town in which an edict was enacted to expel all the Jews. The people of the town came to the Baal Shem...
Proper Intent
In a certain town in Europe of old lived a certain Jew, who was both a Torah scholar and G-d fearing, who did the mitzvah of hosting wayfarers in an exemplary fashion. He had...
