Jewish stories for children of all ages

The well water was still sweet

When an innkeeper is threatened with eviction, he seeks advice and blessing from the tzadik Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov, who reminds the innkeeper of an encounter they had many years ago.

Rabbi Chaim and the lions

When Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar decides to learn Torah instead of working as a goldsmith, the Sultan punishes him by throwing the Rabbi into a pit of lions and tigers but soon learns that fear of Heaven protects the righteous from such things.

Mottel the Chosson

Mottel leaves yeshiva in search of a wife, and receives some excellent hospitality from the household staff at a Jewish home, including a mock wedding that turns out to be anything but.

The Prime Minister and the Shepherd

The Chacham Bashi (Chief Rabbi) has a brilliant plan to show the Sultan that his Prime Minister Abdullah is not as wise as he seems to be by having the Sultan ask him three questions.

The Rabbi who danced in the snow

The Chasam Sofer lends the head of the Pressburg community some money to go to the Leipzig Fair for some merchandise, and then shares a beautiful story about the preciousness of a mitzvah after the fair is over.

One for Purim and one for Pesach

Yankel the Clay-digger stops one cold, rainy day to help someone stuck in the mud, but Yankel gets more help than he gave when the "someone" turns out to the the tzaddik Reb Moshe Leib of Sassov.

Hershel Goat

Hershel is a simple person who works to earn money to feed his goats, but the Baal Shem Tov knows there's more to Hershel than meets the eye, as he has a shining pillar of fire over his head that very few people can see.

The Case of the Boiled Egg

When King David can't decide who is right between two disputants, his young son Shlomo is able to provide the right information to the right person in a quiet way, and the whole nation is able to see the wisdom and fairness of the Torah's ways.

The Treasure Hunters

Yankel's visit to the holy Baal Shem Tov leads him to great wealth, but only after his friend the tailor relates a strange dream to him.

The Wooden Sword

Czar Nikolai forced Jewish boys into a lengthy military conscription in an effort to sever them from their roots, but as the Czar learned firsthand, the faith of a Jew is a flame that will not go out.