Jewish stories for children of all ages

shmuelbollen
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Jewish stories for children of all ages

Timeless tales drawn from Jewish oral history are told by master storyteller Shmuel Bollen.

  1. 3D AGO

    To ignite a soul

    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.

    8 min

  2. FEB 24

    Barrels of honey

    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.

    11 min

  3. FEB 23

    The long Baal Shem Tov story, part 6

    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.

    9 min

  4. FEB 23

    The long Baal Shem Tov story, part 5

    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.

    15 min

  5. FEB 23

    The long Baal Shem Tov story, part 4

    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.

    15 min

  6. FEB 23

    The long Baal Shem Tov story, part 3

    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. ShmuelTzadok, the opponent of Kabbalah and Mussar", his hostility to Mussar, and toKabbalah in which he had no faith, he implanted in his sons R. Moshe and R. Yehudah Arye.

    12 min

  7. FEB 23

    The long Baal Shem Tov story, part 2

    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.

    7 min

  8. FEB 23

    The long Baal Shem Tov story, part 1

    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.

    16 min
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3.3
out of 5
4 Ratings

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Timeless tales drawn from Jewish oral history are told by master storyteller Shmuel Bollen.

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