Rabbi Rachmiel (Rock) Tobesman is a maggid (Spiritual Storyteller) who journeys on many roads to the farthest places where the heart and soul can be found. And the path he travels is filled with wonder and beauty. And everywhere he goes he shares his tales and learns anew about the love of the Holy One, blessed be He that the all people have.
In addition to being a renowned storyteller and author, Rabbi Rachmiel Tobesman is also an accomplished presenter and educator. He has been presenting workshops and trainings for more than twenty-five years. He has conducted workshops for as few as three to as many as five hundred people. He has given numerous workshops on a variety of topics. A few of his more popular workshops about spiritual stories and storytelling include:
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Once Upon A Time: The Healing Tales of the Storyteller
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Oral History: The Telling of Our Past
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Once Upon A Time…Tales that Touch the Spirit
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Torah Flora and Fauna Hike and many more.
Many ask about his teachings, stories and books. Here are some books, lessons and cd’s of his stories and teachings.
Books from the Story Tour Blog and Rabbi Tobesman
Since 2009, the The Story Tour Blog has grown to over 300 short stories about faith. Many visitors to the Story Tour Blog have requested that the stories be gathered together into a book. 72 of these special tales are now available in the new book.
Story Tour: The Journey Begins
A holy man once said, “I came to teach you Scriptures but you understood it not, therefore I will tell you stories.” Spiritual storytelling always has an underlying purpose, which is to inspire people with faith and communicate wisdom and values. It has played an important role in most, if not all, spiritual traditions, religions and cultures. This book is filled with short stories of faith from the Story Tour blog. The stories have touched the hearts, minds and souls of people since the beginning of time. Gathered from many places throughout the world, Rabbi Tobesman’s timeless tales delivers lessons and enjoyment while entertaining in the tradition of maggidim (storytelling rabbis” of old).
The very backdrop to the spiritual stories is attractive to its readers allowing one to peek into the beliefs, and lifestyles of a vanishing age of a faraway world and reminding them that the messages are eternal – just as strong today as they were yesterday. “Story Tour: The Journey Begins” will remind readers that through the daily struggles and traumas, there are always stories of faith that strengthen and reaffirm hope for a better world.
Story Tour: The Journey Begins is available from the publisher, Xlibris, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Read some of the other books written by the rabbi
A Time to Mourn, A Time to Comfort
Rabbi Rachmiel Tobesman’s book, A Time to Mourn, A Time to Comfort: A Child’s Workbook for Remembering and Stories from Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow comes with a guide to help your children get by one of life’s most difficult moments.
Filled with activities, stories and explanations, A Time to Mourn, A Time to Comfort: A Child’s Workbook for Remembering and Stories from Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow is an invaluable resource for parents and children. These features help children to understand their feelings and the grieving process in the Jewish community. Each chapter in this exceptional book teaches children important skills to cope with many of the traditions and the confusion so common when someone dies. Most books can only be read, but this one allows children to write, draw, doodle, take notes, tape in pictures, and even fold the pages!
Time to Mourn, A Time to Comfort: A Child’s Workbook for Remembering and Stories from Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow is a well-crafted book that becomes an heirloom for your children. This is a must-have kit where they can read, enjoy, learn, and share their thoughts.
To purchase this book click here
Teacher’s Guide for A Time to
Mourn, A Time to Comfort
This Teacher’s Guide presents an approach in teaching about death and grieving in which a number of aspects such as:
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Stories and activities designed to help children through the grieving process
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review Jewish funeral and grieving practices
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self-evaluation for personal qualities and skills
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suggestions on dealing with critical incidents, and
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a review of the suggested teaching techniques and approaches.
A Time to Separate, A Time to Come Together
It is difficult when married couples decide to divorce, even more so for the children caught in the middle. Author Rabbi Rachmiel Tobesman helps them to cope with the hurt of divorce, to manage their anger and to rebuild a better tomorrow through A Time Separate, A Time to Come Together.
Sometimes, it’s hard for children to talk about what’s happening their life. When parents divorce, children feel confused, angry and hurt. They often feel that no one can understand them and isolate themselves from others. A Time Separate, A Time to Come Together is a workbook of activities, stories and explanations to help children to understand their feelings and the divorce process in the Jewish community. It allows them to read, enjoy, learn and share their thoughts that they can write down. Discover fascinating stories, activities and mysteries for you to explore!
Each chapter in A Time to Separate, A Time to Come Together teaches children important skills to cope with the traditions and confusion so common when parents divorce. Divorce does not mean the family will be separated forever. There will come a time that the family will come together again. This unique workbook is filled with many activities and much more, which makes it an invaluable resource for parents and children. It will help you grow closer to your parents and family. As you fill this book, it becomes your own-a special treasure that you can keep forever…
Tales of the Storyteller is a collection of lessons that are designed to serve two purposes:
To allow teachers to introduce Jewish values through the study of traditional Jewish stories and folktales. A short series of texts are included to help explain the stories.
To provide teachers with a collection of stories to teach about values used throughout the Jewish lifecycle
Storytelling is an ancient art. The storyteller’s stories passed down lessons of faith, history and language from one generation to another. In more recent times, stories have proved valuable in teaching morality and problem solving to children. The stories convey hopeful messages, create positive physical changes within the body, and relax the listener.
The mystery, magic and excitement of Jewish stories can bring the classroom alive as they stimulate students and encourage critical thinking skills. Jewish stories can better explain holidays, ethics, history and the Jewish lifecycle while creating an atmosphere to strengthen Jewish identity.
There is a rich history of Jewish stories and folktales that suggests that stories are a powerful method to transmit, store, and access values. When a story is told, the story’s context gives the value a reality that isn’t communicated without a clear example. Stories, however, are remembered much more than information or statements. They take on a life of their own in a student’s memory. Students may often find within stories ways to address issues in their personal lives. A story also gives a teacher a simple way to reference a story. It is fairly hard to ask a student, “Don’t you remember the when we learned about “Gamilut Chasadim”? A Hebrew term and a new idea are not likely to remain active long in the memory when is not reinforced. On the other hand, if the teacher should ask, “Remember the story about the rabbi who fixed the flawed stone?” is much more likely to be remembered and retained.
Each of the Jewish Tales of the Storyteller lessons allows students develop an appreciation for Jewish values through hearing stories and “finding its meaning.” A series of short Jewish texts allows students to explore the nuances of uniquely Jewish insights into its application. The values remain with the listener giving them the tools to address situation or conflicts they may experience at a later time. This in turn will allow later experiences to become insightful and heartfelt learning opportunities.
Embarrassment: Challahs for Shabbos
This unit is made up of five learning activities.
Activity One: Read and discuss the story “Challahs for Shabbos”
Activity Two: Discuss the meaning of the story.
Activity Three: Thinking about the Story: Look and learn with Jewish texts having to do with embarrassment, in chevrusa.
Activity Four: Explore the value. “Judging Religious Observance”, by analyzing a few interpretations of its meaning.
Activity Five: Prayers About Embarrassment: Discuss students’ own interpretations of the story’s message and students will make up a prayer/blessing about embarrassment
Embarrassment: Challahs for Shabbos
Grade: 4 – Adult
Time: 1- 2 Hours
Format: 8 page illustrated student Lesson – 5 page teachers Guide
Price: $12.00
To purchase Embarrassment: Challahs for Shabbos click below
Speech: One Tongue Instead of Another
This unit is made up of six learning activities.
Activity One: Read and discuss the story “One Tongue Instead of Another”
Activity Two: Discuss the meaning of the story.
Activity Three: What is Lashon haRa: Look and learn with Jewish texts having to do with embarrassment, in chevrusa.
Activity Four: Explore “The Power of the Tongue”, by analyzing a short midrash (Leviticus Rabbah) and its meaning,
Activity Five: Explore the concept: “In the Image of G-d” by analyzing text from Genesis and Pirke Avos
Activity Six: Closing Thoughts: Discuss students’ own interpretations of the story’s message
Speech – One Tongue Instead of Another
Grade: 4 – Adult
Time: 1- 2 Hours
Format: 5 page student Lesson – 10 page teachers Guide
Price: $12.00
To purchase Speech: One Tongue Instead of Another click below
This unit is made up of five learning activities.
Activity One: Read and discuss the story “The King and the Storm”
Activity Two: Discuss the meaning of the story.
Activity Three: The Torah of Friendship: Look and learn with Jewish texts having to do with embarrassment, in chevrusa.
Activity Four: Explore “The Test of a True Friend”, by analyzing a short midrash and its meaning,
Activity Five: Closing Thoughts: Discuss students’ own interpretations of the story’s message
Speech – Friendship: The King and the Storm
Grade: 4 – Adult
Time: 1- 2 Hours
Format: 6 page student Lesson – page teachers Guide
Price: $12.00
To purchase Friendship: The King and the Storm click below
Tzedakah – Charity Saves from Death
This unit is made up of five learning activities.
Activity One: Read and discuss the story “The Beggar at the Wedding.”
Activity Two: Discuss the meaning of the story.
Activity Three: Thinking about the Story: Look and learn with Jewish texts having to do with tzedakah, in chevrusa.
Activity Four: Explore the value. “tzedakah saves from death”, by analyzing a few interpretations of its meaning,
Activity Five: Closing Thoughts: Discuss students’ own interpretations of the story’s message.
Tzedakah – Charity Saves from Death
Grade: 4 – Adult
Time: 1- 2 Hours
Format: 6 page student Lesson – 5 page teachers Guide
Price: $12.00
To purchase Tzedakah – Charity Saves from Death click below
