Izzy Abrahmson's The Village Life Podcast

Izzy Abrahmson

Welcome to The Village! On the edge of The Black Forest, somewhere between Russia and Poland (and occasionally Germany) is a small community. Eighty or so houses, more chickens than people. As Reb Gold says, "Visiting the Village is like eating warm rye bread. You don't need to be Jewish to enjoy it."

  1. Menorah Malaise

    12/14/2025

    Menorah Malaise

    Winters in Chelm are cold. The Black Forest is especially dark, and the frigid air gets into the bones. Most years, the arrival of Chanukah is a welcome break, an excuse to rejoice and celebrate, and maybe overeat. This year… in one house… not so much…

    11 min
  2. The Village Baker's Challah

    09/28/2025

    The Village Baker's Challah

    THE SECRET TO GREAT BREAD IS FORGIVENESS… Reb Stein the Baker has always had trouble keeping apprentices. Yes, he works them hard, but he has a secret that's been eating at him for years.

    16 min
  3. The Marital Artist

    10/22/2024

    The Marital Artist

    Few people dare to travel in The Black Forest known as the Schvartzvald… except Doodle, the village orphan. One day, while wandering, Doodle meets a fearsome stranger… and, as often happens in the village, confusion reigns. This episode happens long after the events in THE COUNCIL OF WISE WOMEN and THE BROTHERS SCHLEMIEL

    26 min
  4. Spring Breaks Up

    03/09/2023

    Spring Breaks Up

    Winters in the village are cold and hard. Everyone welcomes the signs of spring…

    10 min

  5. 12/02/2021

    Behind Closed Doors

    Marriages are blessings. They can also produce anxiety and fear. In this episode, a young girl shares her pre-wedding jitters with her mother, and learns a long-hidden secret.

    12 min

  6. 11/18/2021

    The Village Butcher

    What happens when the butcher develops a conscience? A thoughtful and eloquent story about respect, integrity and consequences.

    12 min

  7. 11/18/2021 ·  Bonus

    Winter Blessings Live-on-Zoom tour Nov 28, Dec 4 and 5

    A Hanukkah program for the whole family. Stories song and conversation. It's free, donations accepted or buy a book. Book your tickets at https://izzyabe.com/tour

    1 min

  8. 10/28/2021

    The Contest

    You may have heard a version of the story, "Rachel the Wise." It is a wonderful story, but widely considered a myth. Not at all. The original wise Rachel was Rachel Cohen, a young girl from The Village. In this story, she pits her wits against wise Rabbi Sarnoff from the neighboring village of Smyrna.

    12 min
See All (15)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Village! On the edge of The Black Forest, somewhere between Russia and Poland (and occasionally Germany) is a small community. Eighty or so houses, more chickens than people. As Reb Gold says, "Visiting the Village is like eating warm rye bread. You don't need to be Jewish to enjoy it."

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