Jewish stories for children of all ages

The remarkable lambskin

Moshe the Innkeeper is two years behind on his rent and the poretz has threatened to imprison him, but when Moshe visits the holy Baal Shem Tov on his wife's suggestion, the advice he receives makes the poretz very happy indeed and solves all of Moshe's difficulties.

The Shamash of Zlatapolye

Before Reb Aryeh Leib moved to Shpola and became the famous Rebbe "Der Shpoler Zeide", he was a simple traveler who spent time as the Shamash in a town called Zlatapolye, reading the Torah and sounding the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah for the plain, earnest Jews of the town.

Saved by the Baal Shem Tov

When a childless couple finally have a son after the holy Baal Shem Tov gave them a brocho, they guard the boy carefully until he disappears in a moment of carelessness. After the help of Udel, the Baal Shem Tov's daughter who brings a message of hope from her father, and months of searching, the father witnesses an open miracle and is reunited with his beloved son.

Reb Yaakov visits the Maggid

Reb Yaakov was very puzzled by the Maggid of Mezritch's parting words, but the mystery was soon cleared up when Reb Yaakov's sudden illness disappears after the King's private physician pays him a visit.

Rabbi Galanti visits Kushta

When Rabbi Galanti is sent to raise funds in Kushta (Constantinople), he arrives in the middle of a civic crisis as two of the Sultan's pet lions have escaped and are terrorizing the city. Rabbi Galanti's self-control saves the day, and the Sultan's gratitude means that Rabbi Galanti's mission is a success.

The bees gave more than honey

Meir's reputation for honest business pays off when he buys a tree stump with more than just honey inside!

Naftoli’s pears

Naftoli isn't as young as he once was and has a hard time earning a few coins, so he walks in the forest to console himself and meets an elderly farmer who hires Naftoli for the day and pays him with a basket of delicious pears. These pears command a huge price in the market as they have the taste of Gan Eden, and Naftoli's pears are there for the poor and needy long after he is gone.

New Year for the trees

Abiasar ibn Crescas is a famous physician in Spain, until the Inquisition forced him to abandon his profession if he would not abandon his faith. When he defies the Inquisition to help the Duke, trouble soon finds him and his son Avraham, but they remain strong and are eventually reunited.

Reb Michel Zlotchover

Reb Michel is a fine young man, dedicated to learning Torah and serving Hashem privately, but when some other young men decide to play a trick on him, his true greatness becomes revealed and he chooses to move to a new city to maintain his humble lifestyle.

The Jewish contractor and the Czar

When Reb Leib Batlan's son is imprisoned on the whim of the cruel Czar Nikolai, Reb Leib dismisses the danger and indeed the Czar soon releases Reb Leib's son and reflects on this strange turn of events.