The Bloodless Challah and a Bread Machine Challah Recipe

Posted on Thursday, 13, August, 2020Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The holy rabbi kept an open house. All travelers were welcome. No one in need was ever turned away. One Friday, a non-Jewish beggar came in and asked for a piece of bread. The holy rabbi’s wife had only whole challahs in the house at that moment – challah that she had just baked l’koved Shabbos (in honor of Shabbos). She did not want to cut into one of these special challahs, but her husband urged, “Cut the challah, blood won’t come from it.”

She did as her husband asked, and gave the non-Jewish beggar as much bread as he wanted to satisfy his hunger.

Sometime later, the holy rabbi had to travel along the road through a forest. He was lost in thought and was amazed at the beauty of the forest. There, he was surrounded and seized by a gang of robbers who took away everything he had. Then they marched him to their leader, who would decide whether or not to kill him.

The leader of the robber gang turned out to be the very same man to whom the holy rabbi’s wife had fed her challah! He recognized the rabbi at once, and told his men, “This holy rabbi kept me alive. Do not harm him in the least – and return everything that you have taken from him!”

The robbers did as they were ordered, and the holy rabbi was allowed to leave in peace.

When he returned home, he told his wife of his adventure and concluded by reminding her, “As I told you: ‘Cut the challah, blood won’t come from it.'”

Bread Machine Challah

4 Jumbo eggs, room temperature add water to make 1cup		3 1/2 cups bread flour
3-4 Tablespoons white sugar		1 Tablespoon yeast or 1 packet of yeast
4 Tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil		1 egg, beaten
1 ½ teaspoons salt		1-2 tablespoon water

Directions

Place liquid ingredients into pan of the bread machine

Combine dry ingredients and then add to the liquid in the Bread Machine pan

Select Dough cycle; press Start.

After the machine is done, take the dough out, and place it on a very lightly floured board, punch the dough down, and let rest for 5 minutes.

Divide the dough in half. Then divide into 4 equal pieces, roll into ropes about 12 to 14 inches, and braid into a loaf. Do the same with the remaining other half. Gently put the loaves on a greased cookie sheet or bread pans, mist with water, and let rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours in a warm, draft free place, until double in size.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a small bowl, beat together 1 egg and 1 tablespoon water.

Brush risen loaves with egg mixture. Bake in preheated oven for about 20 to 25 minutes. If it begins to brown too soon, cover with foil.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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The Prayer of the Simple Wine Maker

Posted on Thursday, 6, August, 2020Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Yosef the merchant, the wealthy merchant, was walking past the old wooden shul (synagogue) when he heard sad crying coming from the open shul window. Forgetting where he was headed, he rushed inside and was startled to find Dovid, a sincere but unlearned man, standing in the center of the room, his face red as he recited Psalms with such energy that tears soaked the small book held in his hands.

Dovid was considered a fine wine maker in the village. He was well known throughout the area, his wine — produced only in small batches and shared privately — was treasured as Kiddush wine. Perhaps he could have earned more if he were to sell large quantities, but Dovid enjoyed making and sharing wine that would be blessed and bless those who drank it.

This was the first time Yosef the merchant had seen Dovid pray with such feeling. When he reached the verse “My soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You,” his voice cracked, the words stuck in his throat. His body trembled with emotion and tears flowed unrestrained. Scrunching his face with concentration, Dovid uttered each word again and again. He appeared to be begging for his life.

“Ribbono Shel Olam – Master of the Universe!” he suddenly yelled. “Don’t let my family be hurt … Please, I beg of you!”

Rooted to the spot, Yosef the merchant watched in puzzled silence. And though it took some time, he waited till Dovid’s crying dwindled to sniffles before addressing him.

“Can you tell me what’s wrong?”

Dovid sighed weakly. “Less than an hour ago, I heard banging on my door and opened to a government official. Police, he told me, were on their way to raid my house. They’d received an anonymous report charging me with running an illegal wine business, and would arrest me if they found any evidence at all.”

“Who do you think told them?” asked Yosef the merchant.

“I suspect it’s the man who used to do small jobs around my house,” Dovid said with a sad expression. “We had a fierce argument over something not long ago. I ended up sending him out of my house. He swore revenge, and considering it an empty threat, I dismissed his words and forgot about the whole thing. It makes sense now. Since he knew my house pretty well and would certainly be able to make it look as if I have a whole wine business going.

“I recovered somewhat from the initial shock and managed to tell my wife the horrible news before running to the holy rabbi’s house to seek his advice and blessing. I was sorely distressed and saddened when they told me he wasn’t home. Apparently, he’s out of town. My head swirled. Without his prayers, what was left for me to do? So, I rushed to the shul to beg for G d’s mercy. If I am to go to jail, at least He should spare my wife and children. A jail sentence for a crime like this would be a very long one, indeed…”

As this took place, the police had been marching along to Dovid’s house.

Meanwhile, after he had slammed the door and disappeared in a panic, his wife hastily improvised a countermeasure of some sort. She brought in armfuls of straw from the yard and flung them down the steps leading to the tiny basement winery, sprinkling some around the door as well. Once everything was covered with straw, she bolted the basement door shut.

Moments after she had finished, she looked up to see the evil accuser leading the police almost pompously. All they had to do was follow the direction of his pointing finger and discover the wine. The seriousness of the situation, together with sheer terror, crashed down on her, and she felt overpowered. She hunkered in a dark corner of the house, muttering a prayer and hoping for the best.

The officers, their eyes scrutinizing the walls, trooped inside through the house and fanned out in a search. The accuser kept silent and watched the police search the house fruitlessly. With childlike impatience, he gestured toward the cellar door.

“Look over there! The wine’s just down that door,” he panted, eyes glinting maliciously.

The chief steeled his jaw, peeved at the interruption. “Quiet. Let the police do their job.”

The accuser’s shoulders sagged, his frustration mounting as he watched the officers overturning the house, steadily eliminating the potential hiding places, yet still failing to uncover traces of illicit wine manufacturing. House completely swept, nothing was left for them to do other than leave. When the accuser saw the officers turn towards the door, he once again failed to contain himself.

“The Jew is hiding his wine behind that door! I swear to you!”

The chief shot the angry accuser another smoldering look. He walked over to the door and opened it. At the sight of the straw strewn down the stairs, he erupted furiously.

“Don’t you know that straw interferes with fermentation?” the chief roared at the accuser, who winced with every word. “I’ve had enough of your lies. Do you seriously think the Jew would ruin his entire inventory of wine with straw?!”

When Yosef the merchant would retell this story, he emphasized, “Look how this simple Jewish wine maker instinctively reacted. When confronted with disaster, it never occurred to him to hire a lawyer or approach a public official. For him, it was either the holy rabbi or the shul!”

Pymet – Grape Mead

Small Batch – 1 gallon

1-3 lb honey

1 packet of wine wine yeast

Pure grape juice to make 1 gallon

Equipment:

1-gallon fermentation vessel

Method:

Sanitize your vessel (If you were to be using any tools — such as a funnel to get the ingredients into the vessel — you would want to sanitize them as well.)

Add honey and grape juice to your fermenter.

Pitch/add the yeast according to instructions.

Add yeast to the fermenter and mix well.

Make sure there is water in the airlock so you can monitor the bubbles (the visual bi-product of fermentation) escaping.

Wait approximately two to three months and your mead will be ready (the bubbles will have all but stopped). Depending on the type of yeast you use, it may take less or more time.

Aging the Pymet will improve the taste and body of the Mead-Wine

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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The Rabbi Who Ate a Whole Pot of Cholent Himself

Posted on Thursday, 30, July, 2020Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The holy rabbi was once the honored Shabbos guest of one of the prominent citizens of the village. The custom in those parts was that the householder would pass the whole pot of cholent to his distinguished guest, who would be asked—by way of compliment, as if he were the host—to apportion the steaming Shabbos stew into the plates of the members of the family.

As the cholent was passed to him, the holy rabbi caught a whiff of it, tasted it, then tasted it again, and again—until bit by bit he finished it all, leaving nothing for the others at the table. Then he asked: “Is there perhaps a little more cholent?” And this, too, he finished, down to the last spoonful.

The host and his family were dumbfounded—but it was known that tzaddikim (holy people) see a spiritual mission in eating, revealing the sparks of sanctity that are hidden in the things of This World. Who would be so bold as to pretend to guess at the hidden things that tzaddikim relish…?

But some of his students were present, and in all the time they had known him they had never observed him serving his Maker in this manner. So they gathered up courage and after some time asked him to explain to them about the hidden things that he had delighted in in that cholent.

“I am sure I can trust you with the explanation,” he said. “By mistake, the maid in that household flavored the cholent with kerosene instead of vinegar. I could smell it and taste it. I gathered that if our host and hostess would find out, the defenseless girl would never hear the end of it, and possibly lose her job as well—and she’s a penniless orphan, poor thing. So I ate up the cholent, and let them think of me whatever they please. Why should an orphaned girl have to suffer shame and abuse?”

Shabbos Cholent

1/4 -1/2 cup navy beans	2 – 3 Tablespoons oil for sautéing
1/4 – 1/3 cup northern beans	1/3 – 1/2 cup barley
1/4-1/3 cup pinto beans	2-6 potatoes, cut into eighths
1/4 – 1/2 cup red kidney beans or	3 – 4 carrots sliced
1 cup cholent beans	water for soaking
1 – 2 large onion, diced	2 lbs. breast flanken, chuck steak, or skirt steak
1 – 3 cloves garlic sliced	1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon oregano	marrow bones (optional)
1 teaspoon rosemary	2-4 Tablespoons kosher salt
2 Tablespoons paprika	boiling water to cover by 2″

1. Soak beans overnight in water to cover or place into a microwave dish, cover with boiling water by 2”, and microwave on high for 15 minutes. Drain.

2. In a 6-quart pot or crock-pot, sauté the onion and garlic in oil until golden.

3. Add all the ingredients to the pot and bring to a boil

4. If using a pot, lower heat and simmer until nearly Shabbos; then place on the blech to simmer through the night. If using a crock-pot, cook on low until ready to serve.

5. Before Shabbos, taste and adjust seasonings. If the water has been absorbed, add more water.

6. Cover and simmer until the daytime seudah.

NOTE: Cholent kugel, potato kugel or kishke can be placed into the pot.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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The Mysterious Kiddush Sleep

Posted on Friday, 8, May, 2020Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Shalom Aleichem and Eishes Chayil had already been sung. The lights from the Shabbos candles reflected softly in the dark wine in the Kiddush cup. A hush settled over the room as everyone moved around the Shabbos table to hear kiddush. Avraham the Miller took a deep breath and . . . fell asleep in his seat.

“Taty! Taty! Father! Father!” the family called….No response. Chana Sorah put her hand on her husband’s shoulder and shook him, but that didn’t help either. “Wake up! Wake up!” the children encouraged. Everyone thought he had fainted and began to worry. Someone ran to get the doctor.

The doctor found it difficult to wake him from his deep sleep and could not understand what had happened to him. He suggested to let Avraham sleep it off. Someone else would have to make kiddush.

Avraham the Miller didn’t wake up till morning. He was embarrassed to hear what had happened. He fell into a deep sleep the next Friday night and it happened again. It seemed that every week as everyone was waiting for Kiddush Friday night, Avraham fell asleep.

After several weeks, Avraham the Miller cried, “What is happening to me? How can I not say Kiddush? Something is very wrong.” He was sad and embarrassed and was determined to He rose from his chair, where he had fallen asleep at the Shabbos table in front of the Kiddush cup and sadly told his wife, Chana Sorah, “I don’t understand what is happening? Nothing helps! I can’t go on like this. After Shabbos I’m going to the holy rabbi!”

The next day he went to the old wooden shul (synagogue), and told the whole story to the holy rabbi. He cried as he asked to be cured so that he could enjoy Shabbos, they Day of Rest as he had done in the past.

The holy rabbi listened and then said, “It seems, that you have somehow violated Shabbos, which is why you are being prevented from honoring her.”

Avraham the Miller became even more upset. “I don’t understand. I’m so careful with the laws of Shabbos. Violating Shabbos? I can’t imagine how that ever might have happened.”

Sadly, he went home and told his family everything the holy rabbi said. They were shocked. They all knew how careful he was about keeping Shabbos. After listening to his father, one of his older sons spoke up. “Taty (father), I have to tell you that the holy rabbi’s words revealed genuine divine inspiration because, unfortunately, they are true. One Friday night, when I was up late, I saw you get up in the middle of the night. You were obviously still half asleep. I saw you light a candle so you could see your way to get a drink of water, and then you extinguished it when you were finished. The next morning it was clear that you had no recollection of what had happened, and not wanting to shame you or show disrespect, I never said anything. Now that the holy rabbi saw this violation of Shabbos, I realize I am obligated to share what I saw.”

The man immediately went and told the holy rabbi what his son had reported, and the rebbi said, “That’s it. How can a Jewish person allow himself to forget the holiness of Shabbos, under any circumstances? There are two primary obligations towards Shabbos: to ‘remember’ it (Exodus 20:8) and to ‘safeguard’ it (Deuteronomy 5:12), both of which, our sages tell us, were declared by the Almighty ‘in a single utterance.’ ‘Remember’ is accomplished through speech, by expressing the holiness of Shabbos in the words of the kiddush. ‘Safeguard’ is for the mind and heart, to be continually aware of the holiness of Shabbos throughout the entire day, that it not be transgressed. Sadly, you failed to ‘safeguard’ Shabbos, so you have lost the right to ‘remember’ her.”

“There is nothing I can do for you. The only ‘remedy’ there is for you is if you are challenged by a test in Shabbos observance, and you stand up to it. Then the Shabbos will be appeased of your insult.”

These final words made the miller feel a little better. He trusted the holy rabbi, and resolved to stand up to the trial, no matter what it might be.

Not long after a summons came from his poritz, the nobleman from whom he leased his mill in exchange for an annual rent and a percentage of its income. The latter informed him that he planned to greatly expand the flour mill’s capacity, and that in order to recoup the large amount of money that he would have to invest, it would be necessary for the mill to operate on Saturdays as well, starting now.

“That’s impossible,” the Jewish miller declared firmly. “I only work six days, never on Shabbos.

“Oh, come on,” said the nobleman, “I know that you can get around it if you want to. I heard that a rabbi can make some kind of contract where you can stay home, but the mill stays open and I don’t lose the income.”

“I’ve never employed such a leniency in relation to Shabbos, and I never will,” the miller firmly declared.

The nobleman raised his voice. “Stubborn fool! I’ll give you the two months it will take to complete the renovations to start to operate the mill on Saturday. If you don’t, I’ll throw you out.”

The poritz carried out his threat, and evicted the miller. Without any income, he and his family soon fell on to hard times. Even basic food for the children became hard to supply. What’s more, his “Shabbos disease” still afflicted him. Even though things were difficult, he persisted in his determination not to fail the Shabbos again.

Meanwhile, the mill’s owner had completed the expansion of the mill, and had found a manager who was willing to work a seven-day week. But right from the start it didn’t work out. Unusual accidents kept occurring, and all sorts of problems arose. Huge losses piled up. The situation was bizarre, and everyone realized it.

The nobleman was forced to admit to himself that his problems must be connected to his having ruined the livelihood of the Jewish miller. So he sent for his former tenant and, after revealing the mill’s desperate situation, offered to lease it to him as before.

“And what about my Shabbos?” the Jewish miller asked.

“Look,” he answered, “after all the unusual problems and sharp losses, I realize that G d is with you. Do however you see fit.”

So the Jewish miller returned to the mill, and was soon blessed with more success than he had ever had. Also, his affliction disappeared at the same time, just as the holy rabbi had said. But even with his new wealth, reciting kiddush on Shabbat night remained his greatest pleasure.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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Lekoved Shabbos – For the Honour of Shabbos

Posted on Friday, 6, December, 2019Friday, 10, November, 2023 by Rabbi

Lekoved (for the honour of) Shabbos…lekoved Shabbos…. On Shabbos everything you do is lekoved Shabbos. When you eat fish, you say lekoved Shabbos. When you eat soup, you say lekoved Shabbos. But this is what everyone does….

In book written over 200 years ago a holy rabbi shared a story inside the front cover:

When I was seventeen years old, I was desperate to have a holy teacher a true rebbe. A Rebbe is not someone who gives you information, but someone who connects you to the deepest depths of your heart and to the highest place in Heaven. I needed a rebbe. I traveled and met many rabbis, but none could touch my heart.

One day I was told that a holy rabbi was coming to the village I was in for Shabbos. He learned together with the holiest of the holy and that he knew all of the revealed and hidden Torah. I felt in my heart that this was my rebbe even though I never met him before. I remembered that when Eliezer was in search of a wife for our holy Yitzchak Avinu (Isaac our father), he made himself a sign.

In the village there was a Jewish porter called Yankele Lekoved Shabbos. He was a very strong person, but sadly he knew very little.

He would walk around in the market place and whenever someone would buy something which was too heavy to carry he would bring it to their home.

If say on Sunday, Chanah the widow would buy ten pounds of potatoes, she would say, “Hey Yankele, could you carry the potatoes for me?” Yankele would pick up the ten pounds of potatoes, and he would say to Chanah, “Forgive me for asking, but do you think that there will be some potatoes left lekoved Shabbos?” She would say, maybe only to do Yankele a favor, “Ten pounds of potatoes is a lot of potatoes, I’m sure there will be some left for Shabbos.”

Yankele would begin to glow. He would lift up the potatoes to Heaven and he would start singing, “Lekoved Shabbos… For the honour of Shabbos.” You could see that he was in such a holy place when he was singing. He would ask on Monday, and on Tuesday, but on Wednesday he wouldn’t even ask because from Wednesday on whatever you do is for Shabbos. But his day was Friday.

The whole marketplace came alive as Yankele carried apples, potatoes and onions to all the Jewish homes while singing, Lekoved Shabbos… For the honour of Shabbos.

So I decided that this will be my sign. When the holy rabbi comes for Shabbos, after the prayers everyone will say good Shabbos to him. If he says good Shabbos to Yankele like to everyone else, this is not my rebbe; but if he stops and pays special attention to him, then he is my rabbi and teacher.

The praying and dancing of the holy rabbi was so beautiful it touched everyone. After the prayers were over everyone said good Shabbos to the holy rabbi. Only two people were left. I was waiting for Yankele, and Yankele, nebuch (unfortunately), was so used to abuse that he thought that most probably the holy rabbi wouldn’t even shake his hand.

Suddenly the holy rabbi turned around and motioned to both of us. So I lined up behind Yankele and he walked up to the holy rabbi. The holy rabbi held out his hand, and Yankele reluctantly, bashfully, gave him his hand. The holy rabbi closed his eyes and said, “My friend, what is your name?” He answered, “Yankele.” “Do you have another name also?” He said very nervously, “People call me Yankele Lekoved Shabbos.” The holy rabbi had tears running down his face. He said, “Yankele, what an honor! I envy you for your name. People call you Yankele Lekoved Shabbos, what an honour!”

Tell me about yourself” Yankele said, while the holy rabbi was still holding his hand, “I grew up on the street. I never knew my parents. I’m very strong so I became a porter. I don’t have a wife because people don’t think I know enough. All I know is to pray a little bit and to recite the Psalms.”

The holy rabbi asked, “Yankele Lekoved Shabbos, tell me; when you carry something and you sing “Lekoved Shabbos” what are you thinking about?” Yankele began to cry. He held on so tightly to the holy rabbi’s hand and said, “Holy rabbi, I know the beginning, but I don’t know the end. I know in the beginning; G-d created the world. I know of our holy forefathers Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. I know of the Twelve Tribes. I know we built the Holy Temple in Yerushalayim ir haKodesh (Jerusalem the holy city). But I don’t know the end. When will G-d rebuild again, the Holy Temple? When will we all go back to Yerushalayim the Holy City? I sing Lekoved Shabbos, let it be soon. For the honour of Shabbos, let it be today. Lekoved Shabbos….” The tears of Yankele and the tears of the holy rabbi were flowing.

The holy rabbi said, “Yankele Lekoved Shabbos, if every Jewish person would know that everything that happens to us is only lekoved Shabbos, for the honour of Shabbos, The Great Shabbos would be so near and Moshiach (theMessiah) would come.”

One day after holy rabbi left the village, Yankele disappeared. It was clear to me that he went together with the holy rabbi but I never saw him. I became a student of that holy rabbi and after many years I had the privilege of becoming the rabbi of the village. I could never forget Yankele; I was still looking for him.

Then one day, many years later, I came to a faraway shteitele (small village) and I could hear the heavenly music, “Lekoved Shabbos… Lekoved Shabbos.” I looked at Yankele and suddenly it was clear to me: The holy rabbi came to my village, took me as his student, and I was privileged to become a rabbi and teacher.

You know what he did with Yankele Lekoved Shabbos? He became one of the lamed vov tzadikim – the thirty six Holy Hidden saints. Who else would become one of the thirty six Holy Hidden saints but Yankele Lekoved Shabbos?

May you be blessed that your life should be lekoved Shabbos.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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You Shall Honour the Sabbath Day

Posted on Friday, 22, November, 2019Friday, 18, August, 2023 by Rabbi

A wealthy merchant had two sons who lived in a distant city. The first was a rich merchant like his father, while the second was a penniless beggar. The two brothers had not seen their father for many years.

One day, the wealthy son received a letter from his father informing him that his youngest brother was getting married and that his sons join him and the rest of the family for the wedding. The father, in his letter, wrote, “I have a request to make of you, do not be sparing in the slightest; rather, purchase lavish attire in my honor, and come celebrate this joyous wedding with us. You needn’t worry — I will cover all of the expenses.”

Heeding his father’s request, the wealthy son, wife and children all bought beautiful richly embroidered clothing, befitting individuals of their stature. When the day of the wedding arrived, he ordered a magnificent coach to transport them to the celebration.

Prior to setting out, he sent for his poor brother ordering him to rush to his house. The poor brother arrived wearing clothing that was tattered and torn. He wondered why he had been called. “Get up into the coach quickly,” ordered the wealthy brother. “There is no time for explanations. We are going to travel to our father in order to participate in the wedding of our youngest brother.”

When news of his sons’ arrival reached the father’s house, he and his household, all of his servants as well as his many friends, went out to greet them. Adding to the festive atmosphere was a band of musicians, who marched in front of them, playing pleasant and joyous melodies. When the coach arrived, the wealthy son and his family — dressed ever so elegantly — got down from the coach, only to be followed by the poor brother who was barefoot and wearing rags.

“Who is this man?” whispered the shocked townspeople.

The more observant of the crowd were quick to answer, “Don’t you recognize him?” they said. “He is the man’s second son.” The wedding was held in grand style, and after seven days of feasting, the wealthy son approached his father to in order to bid him farewell. “Go in peace,” said the father. “May Hashem grant you a safe journey.”

“But father,” asked the son boldly,” what about the expenses that you promised to cover?”

“Look carefully at what it says in the letter that I sent you,” responded the father.

”I agreed to reimburse you on condition that you purchased beautiful clothing in my honor… Yet you did nothing whatsoever to honor me!” cried the father. “All of the money you spent was solely to enhance your own honor!

For if you were truly concerned with my honor, you would have made sure that your brother was dressed appropriately as well. Just look at the embarrassment and shame you’ve caused me by allowing my son to arrive barefoot and dressed in rags.”

A person should therefore try his utmost to honor and enjoy Shabbos – the Holy Sabbath day. How can it be that a person could sit in his home, dressed in elegant attire and enjoying of delicious delights, while his unfortunate brother sits in his home like a mourner, eating nothing more than just plain bread and simple food?

We learn, “Honor your father and your mother”: I would think that they are to be honored with words. It is, therefore, written (Mishlei/Proverbs 3:9) “Honor the L rd from your wealth.” Just as there, “wealth,” here, too, food, drink, and a new garment are understood.” (Mekhilta d’Rabbi Yishmael 20:12) We should strive to serve the Holy One, blessed be He and not exclusively ourselves.

Sadly, this is an indication that the money he spent on his Shabbos delicacies was not for the purpose of delighting in the gifts from the Holy One, blessed be He, but rather, simply to indulge himself. Hashem does not guarantee to reimburse such expenditures.

It is written, “If you refrain from trampling the Sabbath, From pursuing your affairs on My holy day; If you call the Sabbath “delight,” The L-rd’s holy day “honored”. And if you honor it and go not your ways nor look to your affairs, nor strike bargains Then you can seek the favor of the L-rd.” (Isaiah 58: 13-14)

May you be blessed by Shabbos with a special sense of holiness that lasts from Shabbos to Shabbos

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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Power of Speech and the Joy of Shabbos

Posted on Friday, 8, November, 2019Friday, 27, October, 2023 by Rabbi

“B’asara maamaros nivra haolam – With ten utterances the world was created. (Avos 5:1) “And G-d completed on the seventh day His work that He did, and He abstained on the seventh day from all His work that He did. (Genesis 2:2),” King David explains that “By the word of the L-rd the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth.” (Psalm 33:6) everything was created. Since words an be work, on Shabbos (the Sabbath Day) we must be careful which words we speak and how many of them.

Thinking about work or business is permissible, however, keeping to the spirit of Shabbos, as a holy day, it is discouraged and forbidden. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 306:8) teaches, “It is permitted to think about one’s weekday affairs; however, in order to enjoy Shabbos (the Sabbath Day), it is a religious precept/commandment not to think about them at all and it should be as if all of one’s work is done.”

There was once a very righteous man who owned a vineyard. His vineyard was protected on all sides by a wall. One Shabbos afternoon, when the man was taking a little walk, he noticed that a hole was broken in one spot. He became very worried. “If wild animals or passersby get into the vineyard and eat up my grapes,” he thought, “I will no longer earn money from selling grapes. I will have to fix the wall immediately after Shabbos.” In order to save time he decided, “I will go on Shabbos to someone who knows about building walls to find out exactly how to fix the hole. The sooner wall will be repaired, the safer my grapes will be. If I know exactly how to do it, I will be able to start as soon as Shabbos is over.”

When he came home after talking to the wall builder, he was calm at first, but soon he began to feel sorry for his actions.

“What have I done,” he exclaimed! “I made a terrible mistake; I’m afraid I violated Shabbos, ruined the holiness and spirituality. During Shabbos, we are not allowed to even talk about forbidden work that we plan to do after Shabbos. The Holy One, blessed be He wants us to imagine that all work is done. We should not worry about future work at all.” He was so sorry that he had discussed the wall repair on Shabbos. He decided that he must repent. But how?

The righteous man thought “I want to show the Holy One, blessed be He that I am really sorry that I talked about the repair on Shabbos. Therefore, I won’t fix the wall even after Shabbos is over. I will always leave it broken just as it is now.”

He was, in fact, allowed to repair the wall after Shabbos, but since he was such a religious person, he didn’t want to benefit from words that were forbidden on Shabbos.

The Holy One, blessed be He rewarded the man by performing a miracle for him. A large bush began to grow in front of the exact spot where the wall was broken. The bush completely blocked the hole in the wall. This bush was a special kind called a Tzlaf (Caper) bush. The Tzlaf bush grows a delicious kind of fruit. Both the leaves and the fruit are edible. There was always plenty of fruit on the bush because the Holy One, blessed be He made the fruit of the Tzlaf bush grow and regrow very quickly.

This amazing bush also provided the righteous man with a good income. He was able to sell its fruits which kept growing all the time. From then on, he was able to learn Torah without worrying about money. This was his reward for treating Shabbos with holiness and sincerely regretting his actions.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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Bentching Shabbos Licht Saves a Family

Posted on Friday, 1, November, 2019Friday, 25, August, 2023 by Rabbi

Bentching licht, kindling the Holy Lights before Shabbos, brings a healing into the world. The Holy One, blessed be He gave to our holy mothers and sisters the mitzvah of bringing the light of Shabbos into the home and community. Each week as the wicks are carefully prepared the anticipation of Shabbos kodesh (the Holy Sabbath) spreads throughout the house. Such little lights truly make a difference. You may ask, “Isn’t Shabbos itself such a great light? Isn’t Shabbos, as the Talmud says, a torch? Why do you need a little candle?” But you see, you are asking with the mind of six days of the week. Shabbos is indeed a great light, but the little candle, the little fire is so precious, so precious before G-d.

When our women and girls kindle lights, at that one moment, there’s no wall between them and the Holy One, blessed be He. There is no wall between them and their husbands, brothers and their children. There is no wall between them and all of the people. There is no wall between them and the whole world. What a holy moment….

You know, sadly enough, today we’re living in a different world. Sadly enough, so many marriages break up, so many hearts are broken, so many windows are just knocked out. Not so long ago this hardly ever happened.

One day the holy rabbi was told that the wife of one of his students had moved back to her parents. He was so heartbroken, he called the woman and this is what he said, “I want you to know, your husband loves you so much. He is up all night in the synagogue, reciting the Psalms and praying that you should come back to him, because he loves you so much. So I’m begging you, please, please, please, go back to your husband who loves you.

The young woman with a tear in her eye answered, “Rabbi, holy rabbi, let it be clear to you, I didn’t leave my husband because I don’t love him. I love him so much it causes be so much pain to be away from him. Sadly, the Holy One, blessed be He didn’t bless us yet with children, and a house without children is more destroyed than the Holy Temple. A house without laughter, without crying of children, is so lonely, so empty. I couldn’t bare it anymore, so I went back to my parents’ home. Holy rabbi if you want me to go back to my husband, bless me with children.” She was a very clever woman, so added said, “Holy rabbi, if you bless me with children, bless me to have a son like you.”

The holy rabbi just smiled and he said to her, “I’ll be so happy to bless you to have a son like me, but you have to promise me something: If you will be a mother like my mother, then you will have children like me.”

One Friday she was crying so much, and I guess she bent over the candles, and her tears fell on the candles. When she opened her eyes, it was already Shabbos. There were no more candles. The tears extinguished the fire. My mother said, “Ribbono shel olam (Master of the World), Heiligeh Tatteh in Himmel (Holy Father in Heaven), I can’t live without the light of Shabbos. Master of the World, Master of the World, Master of the World, how can I have Shabbos without my Shabbosdike licht (Shabbos light)? But it’s already Shabbos, so I’m begging You, Master of the World, please You, You Master of the World, rekindle my light, rekindle my Shabbosdike Licht.”

The holy rabbi said to the woman, “I swear to you, I saw a hand coming down from Heaven and kindling the lights of Shabbos.”

The holy rabbi gave his blessing to the young woman and she went home to her husband. Each Friday night as the sun was setting the young woman would welcome the heiligeh Shabbos (holy Sabbath) with prayers from her heart and one Shabbos before the year was over crying was heard from her home – a child was born.

A Gut’n Shabbos – Good Shabbos – Shabbat Shalom

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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Tzviki Moyz and the Blessings of Shabbos

Posted on Thursday, 12, September, 2019Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The holy rabbi of the city would prepare for Shabbos all week long. For him Shabbos was the most important time, so much so that it was all he thought about. If a woman came to him asking if a chicken was kosher, he’d answer, “It’s good for Shabbos.” If a young student would ask why the letter shin has three points, the holy rabbi would explain, “If we look at the letter shin we are reminded the element of fire – the Shabbos lights, the element or air – the Shabbos berachahs (blessings) and zimiros (songs), and the element of water –the Shabbos wine.”

For the holy rabbi everything was Shabbos. As the sun slowly set and the time for licht bentch’n (kindling the Shabbos lights), at that very second his wife kindled lights for Shabbos, the world changed. With her gentle gestures and heartfelt prayer, she invited the holiness of Shabbos into the house.

Tzviki Moyz was a simple Jewish tailor who was very quiet and did not speak very much. He would wander into the old wooden shul other would notice that he could hardly pray without making mistakes. One erev Shabbos he entered the old wooden shul and the people could hardly recognize him. He was full of joy. The spirit Shabbos was burning in his heart. A special holiness was upon him. The people in the shul asked him what had made this sudden change in him. Tzviki Moyz explained:

Everyone knows that I was very poor. Everyday was a struggle just to feed his family and keep a roof above their heads. One day my wife and I realized that if we continued this way all our lives, what will be with our children. They also would not have enough to live on. For five years, we decided to not buy anything extra. We saved over 500 rubles and hoped to buy a business. Possible we would be successful.

And so for five years, every coin they saved was hard, finally we saved more than 500 rubles. I came into the city for a business to buy. I searched all day for a good opportunity and the time slipped away, when I realized that Shabbos was only one hour away. I went to the house of the holy rabbi and told him of my situation, and asked him to guard the money until after Shabbos. The holy rabbi asked me to be his guest for Shabbos.

Tzviki Moyz and the holy rabbi were talking, when the door opened and a woman came in crying. Her husband was supposedly the richest man in city. He died recently, and his wife only then realized that he not only did not have a lot of money, but he actually owed a lot of money to other people. The wedding of her daughter was supposed to take place right after Shabbos and she needed to pay 500 rubles for the wedding. If she could not pay the money before the wedding, she would have to tell them that she was poor. It would be such an embarrassment. Who knew if the groom’s parents wouldn’t call off the wedding? She said, “I’m sorry I didn’t come before, but I couldn’t because I was too embarrassed.”

The holy rabbi said, “Oy! What will I do now? How can I collect 500 rubles only minutes before Shabbos!”

I heard all this and said, “Please give her my 500 rubles. I am still young, I can save again.” The holy rabbi argued with me, but matter what he said I decided to give my money to the widow. She left full of joy.

Now, open your hearts. The holy rabbi said, “Tzviki Moyz, I don’t even have to bless you that you should become wealthier than you ever dreamed of, because it’s obvious that you will. It’s also obvious that you will live to see the weddings of your great-great grandchildren. But there is one thing I would like to bless you with. Because of you, two precious souls had a wonderful Shabbos. What would this poor widow and her daughter have done all Shabbos? They would have cried all Shabbos. You gave Shabbos to two precious souls, so I want to bless you that you should have the blessings of Shabbos all your life.

Within a month, I became very wealthy. I really don’t know how it happened. I knew that the wealth I had was because of Shabbos and so every week I gave money to the holy rabbi to help others on Shabbos. There was one condition; no one was to know where the Shabbos gelt came from.

I bless you with the bliss of Shabbos.

How can we receive the bliss of Shabbos? How can we take all the anger and pain out of your heart, and really be able to taste Paradise? We have to first give Shabbos to someone who doesn’t have it.

Why do we have to invite guests for Shabbos? Because if I want to have the bliss of Shabbos, I have to first give Shabbos to someone who doesn’t have it.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Va’eschanan Shema and Cholent

Posted on Friday, 30, August, 2019Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The rabbi’s study was interrupted when the telephone rang “Shalom rebbe. This is Yaakov Binder. I want to invite you to the bar mitzvah of my son Mordechai on Parshas Va’eschanan.” The rabbi answered, “I’m very sorry, but I am leaving for Eretz Yisrael in a few days, and I won’t be back for three weeks. I’m very sorry I can’t be there in person, but my blessings for your son and family are with you.”

The rabbi paused for a moment and asked “What special foods are you planning to serve at the meal?” “Serve?” Yaakov Binder responded, surprised by the question. “The usual menu like kugel, gefilte fish, kichel, bobka.” “I noticed that you didn’t include the cholent,” the rabbi added

“Rebbe, there will be so many other foods, and cholent is so plain. I’m sure no one will miss it,” Yaakov Binder explained. “That would never do! Cholent is traditional! You should definitely serve it at the bar mitzvah meal. said the rabbi.

“Well, if you say so. I never realized it was so important! We never even have it at home,” said Yaakov Binder.

The rabbi explained, “Every item on the Shabbos table symbolizes something special. The fish reminds us of the meal the tzaddikim (righteous) will enjoy in the future; the 2 challahs remind us of the lechem mishneh – the two portions of manna collected for Shabbos; the kugel, with its crust, is a symbol of the mohn (manna) that the Jewish people ate in the wilderness, which was covered with dew! Everything has its own message!”

After a few more minutes, the conversation ended. Little did anyone realize, the great effect that this discussion would have on a certain person.

The Binders invited Adelajda, their Polish maid, to the shul’s Kiddush hall for Mordechai’s bar mitzvah celebration. Her natural parents had been killed when she was a little girl during World War II, and she had been raised by foster parents as a religious Polish Catholic. When she grew up, she came to America, where she was hired by the Binder family. Adelajda sat at the table with the Binder’s’ friends and acquaintances. That Shabbos she was not a maid, but a guest – able to relax and enjoy the celebration.

At the Shabbos noon meal, the room was filled with the special aroma of the cholent. Something from the past stirred in Adelajda’s memory. What was it that seemed to remind her of bygone years?

She remembered something. She must have tasted this food somewhere before – the smell was familiar, too. But how could that be – this was Jewish food, eaten on the Jewish Sabbath! Who were her real parents? Her foster parents had never wanted to tell her. Could it be that they were really Jewish, killed during the war with millions of other Jewish people? She decided that she must find out!

The next day, she informed the Binders that she had to go back to Poland for a short time. Upon her arrival in Poland, she hastened to her foster parents’ home. They we shocked to see her.

“Adelajda, what are you doing here? You wrote that you had a good job!”

“I came to find out the truth about my real parents. Tell me, were they Jewish?” Adelajda asked sternly. There was silence in the room as they began to talk. “You know, the Jewish people were rounded up and killed during the war. Before the Nazis deported them, many of them left their children in Christian homes for safekeeping. Your parents left you with us. The Nazis would have killed us if they had known you were a Jewish child.

We risked our lives to save you. But now that you have insisted – we told you everything.” Adelajda was stunned. “You meant well, but I want to find out more about my culture. Now, I will learn about Judaism”

She flew back to the United States and went straight to the Binders. “It’s true, I am Jewish!” She told them the whole story. “The smell of the cholent brought back my childhood memories. I owe it to my true parents to learn about my heritage and preserve their memory!”

Adelajda kept her word. She enrolled in a school for ba’alei teshuvah (people who want to return to Jewish observance), and studied hard. From time to time, she visited the Binders for guidance and encouragement. Adelajda progressed rapidly, both in her understanding of Judaism and in the performance of mitzvos.

After the rabbi returned from his trip to Eretz Yisrael, his phone rang. It was Mr. Binder on the line. “Welcome back from Israel, Rabbi. You will never believe this story!” Mr. Binder then told the story of the cholent miracle. “It all happened because or your suggestion to serve cholent, Rabbi!”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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She did as her husband asked, and gave the non-Jewish beggar as much bread as he wanted to satisfy his hunger.

The leader of the robber gang turned out to be the very same man to whom the holy rabbi’s wife had fed her challah! He recognized the rabbi at once, and told his men, “This holy rabbi kept me alive. Do not harm him in the least – and return everything that you have taken from him!”

The robbers did as they were ordered, and the holy rabbi was allowed to leave in peace.

When he returned home, he told his wife of his adventure and concluded by reminding her, “As I told you: ‘Cut the challah, blood won’t come from it.'”

Bread Machine Challah

4 Jumbo eggs, room temperature add water to make 1cup

3 1/2 cups bread flour

3-4 Tablespoons white sugar

1 Tablespoon yeast or 1 packet of yeast

4 Tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil

1 egg, beaten

1 ½ teaspoons salt

1-2 tablespoon water

Directions

Place liquid ingredients into pan of the bread machine

Combine dry ingredients and then add to the liquid in the Bread Machine pan

Select Dough cycle; press Start.

After the machine is done, take the dough out, and place it on a very lightly floured board, punch the dough down, and let rest for 5 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a small bowl, beat together 1 egg and 1 tablespoon water.

Brush risen loaves with egg mixture. Bake in preheated oven for about 20 to 25 minutes. If it begins to brown too soon, cover with foil.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

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“Ribbono Shel Olam – Master of the Universe!” he suddenly yelled. “Don’t let my family be hurt … Please, I beg of you!”

Rooted to the spot, Yosef the merchant watched in puzzled silence. And though it took some time, he waited till Dovid’s crying dwindled to sniffles before addressing him.

“Can you tell me what’s wrong?”

“Who do you think told them?” asked Yosef the merchant.

As this took place, the police had been marching along to Dovid’s house.

The officers, their eyes scrutinizing the walls, trooped inside through the house and fanned out in a search. The accuser kept silent and watched the police search the house fruitlessly. With childlike impatience, he gestured toward the cellar door.

“Look over there! The wine’s just down that door,” he panted, eyes glinting maliciously.

The chief steeled his jaw, peeved at the interruption. “Quiet. Let the police do their job.”

“The Jew is hiding his wine behind that door! I swear to you!”

The chief shot the angry accuser another smoldering look. He walked over to the door and opened it. At the sight of the straw strewn down the stairs, he erupted furiously.

“Don’t you know that straw interferes with fermentation?” the chief roared at the accuser, who winced with every word. “I’ve had enough of your lies. Do you seriously think the Jew would ruin his entire inventory of wine with straw?!”

When Yosef the merchant would retell this story, he emphasized, “Look how this simple Jewish wine maker instinctively reacted. When confronted with disaster, it never occurred to him to hire a lawyer or approach a public official. For him, it was either the holy rabbi or the shul!”

Pymet – Grape Mead

Small Batch – 1 gallon

1-3 lb honey

1 packet of wine wine yeast

Pure grape juice to make 1 gallon

Equipment:

1-gallon fermentation vessel

Method:

Sanitize your vessel (If you were to be using any tools — such as a funnel to get the ingredients into the vessel — you would want to sanitize them as well.)

Add honey and grape juice to your fermenter.

Pitch/add the yeast according to instructions.

Add yeast to the fermenter and mix well.

Make sure there is water in the airlock so you can monitor the bubbles (the visual bi-product of fermentation) escaping.

Wait approximately two to three months and your mead will be ready (the bubbles will have all but stopped). Depending on the type of yeast you use, it may take less or more time.

Aging the Pymet will improve the taste and body of the Mead-Wine

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two. Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

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The host and his family were dumbfounded—but it was known that tzaddikim (holy people) see a spiritual mission in eating, revealing the sparks of sanctity that are hidden in the things of This World. Who would be so bold as to pretend to guess at the hidden things that tzaddikim relish…?

But some of his students were present, and in all the time they had known him they had never observed him serving his Maker in this manner. So they gathered up courage and after some time asked him to explain to them about the hidden things that he had delighted in in that cholent.

Shabbos Cholent

1. Soak beans overnight in water to cover or place into a microwave dish, cover with boiling water by 2”, and microwave on high for 15 minutes. Drain.

2. In a 6-quart pot or crock-pot, sauté the onion and garlic in oil until golden.

3. Add all the ingredients to the pot and bring to a boil

4. If using a pot, lower heat and simmer until nearly Shabbos; then place on the blech to simmer through the night. If using a crock-pot, cook on low until ready to serve.

5. Before Shabbos, taste and adjust seasonings. If the water has been absorbed, add more water.

6. Cover and simmer until the daytime seudah.

NOTE: Cholent kugel, potato kugel or kishke can be placed into the pot.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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“Taty! Taty! Father! Father!” the family called….No response. Chana Sorah put her hand on her husband’s shoulder and shook him, but that didn’t help either. “Wake up! Wake up!” the children encouraged. Everyone thought he had fainted and began to worry. Someone ran to get the doctor.

The doctor found it difficult to wake him from his deep sleep and could not understand what had happened to him. He suggested to let Avraham sleep it off. Someone else would have to make kiddush.

Avraham the Miller didn’t wake up till morning. He was embarrassed to hear what had happened. He fell into a deep sleep the next Friday night and it happened again. It seemed that every week as everyone was waiting for Kiddush Friday night, Avraham fell asleep.

The next day he went to the old wooden shul (synagogue), and told the whole story to the holy rabbi. He cried as he asked to be cured so that he could enjoy Shabbos, they Day of Rest as he had done in the past.

The holy rabbi listened and then said, “It seems, that you have somehow violated Shabbos, which is why you are being prevented from honoring her.”